thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste wasn't even sure how she'd found herself in the shop, yet here she was, listening to the man in front of her and raising her brow in amusement at his sale's pitch. "You gonna sell a harness or something to go along with the snow surfboard? Or just hoping for the best as people barrel down a hill?"

open: @aurorabaystarter location: surf's up

"Although, it's like rare to get, like, a lot of snow round these parts. I'm telling you, these surfboards are multipurpose with their deattachable fins. Easily can be turned into sleds for your snowing adventures. Honestly, you're getting a bargain if you think about it... surfing in the summer, sledding in the winter." Jared said to the customer, always the salesman. "They'd make perfect Christmas presents to those you know in snowier regions too. All regions if you think about it, as I said, multipurpose."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste didn't know the girl, but the comment was overheard just the same and she looked over, raising a brow, "Does it really matter though? Like if it makes people happy?" She countered, tilting her head. "Like I'm not Queen Christmas or anything, but I dunno. the world is shit enough as it is, so if someone finds some joy in pumpkins or twinkly lights or some tinsel or something...leave them be? Not like they're hurting anyone. Other than your eyeballs I guess."

Open : @aurorabaystarter

Where : town square.

"God, this place is like so confusing." With her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, she scans the various shops around them. "You know how neighborhoods have HOA's and all that?" she continues. "I feel like the storefronts should have something similar. There’s just no reason for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations to all be up at the same time," she adds, a sour look crossing her face. "It’s like... a whiplash of seasonal depression."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste smiled at the other woman, nodding. "Solidarity." She echoed in agreement, fully prepared to be as bitter and spiteful as needed despite not knowing the man in question. She didn't need to- she knew Layla so that's where her loyalties lay, "Oh absolutely--even if he's actually older than me." Celeste told her with a laugh. But just the same, Theo was more personable than they were, so he could keep up the positivity train for the place.

Hearing that Layla's own relationship was going well genuinely made Celeste smile then, happy for the other woman. "At least one of us may get a happy ending then. Cheers to that." And since she didn't have a glass, she just playfully tapped her knuckles against Layla's arm. "Not rushing things seems like a good idea, and he's a good man, so...yeah. I'm happy for you. Both of you, really. And remember that if you two truly end up together and you wind up owning this place too. Don't wanna be out of a job after all."

"Solidarity sister." Nice to know she was backed up on the aversion to the place, even if Celeste's reason wasn't as bitter as Layla's. "He's the youthful personality this place needs. The rest of us are all a little too jaded." Plus she was pretty sure a decent cross-section of their younger clientele came in, especially for Theo.

"You absolutely can." The fact Layla had a relationship in her life one actively wanted to live vicariously through was a feat of its own. "It's going really good." She nods, honestly, with a warm smile. "We've been taking things slow, for obvious reasons." Looking over Celeste's shoulder towards the bar, Layla shifts her stance. She still hadn't completely gotten over the guilt and personal expectations from coming after Gabriele. Especially since Layla was her previous employee. The dynamic is not something that anyone had ever vocalized to her, but Layla knew the ethical fine line she walked in this relationship. "But it's been worth it. I never wanted him to feel rushed."

— @thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste tended to walk everywhere which is how she found herself walking by the hotel on her way to work at the bar, one airpod in as she absently listened to music. She wasn't distracted enough to not notice the guy jumping a fence though and she paused, blinking in confusion. "Far be it from me to judge someone for jumping a fence and potentially breaking into some place." She mused, pulling out the bud from her ear as she watched him. She unable to help but raise a brow at his excuse though--even if she did see a phone in the distance "I'd work on that excuse though, especially since a cop could roll by and definitely not care to listen to it regardless of it being the truth or not."

With: @aurorabaystarter Where: Seascape Hotel

"shit." Kai cursed under his breath as he realized he'd left his phone beside the pool, he could see it through the fence. He really could not be bothered to go all the way back inside and explain that he'd just been in visiting the pool to give a little lesson to the last of the tourists for the season. It would be a whole drama that he wasn't ready for, when he could just hop the fence, grab his phone, and hop back. Simple.

Climbing in wasn't the problem, however. The problem was someone had seen him climbing in, so with a sheepish grin he looked up at the stranger. "Hey! Just grabbing my phone, I swear."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste looked around, wrinkling her nose up as she hummed, "Maybe? But see, I have the complete opposite and I get all the same shmucks who get wasted off warm beer and attempt to shoot pool, so I think maybe at times I'd rather your atmosphere. Maybe we should swap one day, see how the other half lives."

She looked his costume over as he spoke, smiling at all the little accessories he had before the comment was turned onto her and she nodded, "Oh yeah. Livin the dream." She said it deadpanned as well- just like Wednesday would. "At least people get my costume this year. I went a little too niche last year as Raven from Teen Titans."

"listen while the tips are higher down at f&i, I'd kill for an atmosphere like this night to night instead of the rich yuppies I get most of the time." zach adjusted his wig, fully unprepared for how itchy it would be to wear all night. "plus, I literally saw someone leave the bartender an extra twenty so I'm feeling the jealousy creep in."

he chuckled at her little hair flip. "any time, any time." reaching for his paint palette, he began lazily rotating it on the tips of his fingers. "oh, hell yeah. good music, fun costumes, what more could you ask for on halloween?"

"what about you, ms. addams? is it everything you hoped to be and more?" a cheesy smile resting lazily across his lips, the multiple drinks of the night catching up to him.

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste was momentarily surprised by Mariana suddenly appearing beside her but she almost immediately put a smile on and sucked down the last dregs of her drink, "You didn't need to bribe me but I'll happily say yes to another drink anyways." She replied teasingly before sliding off the barstool and nodding for Mari to lead the way. "All good?"

closed starter for: @thecelestexzhao

location: sharky's monster mash

"So glad I found you." Mariana said to Celeste, "Do you want to go to the bathroom with me?" She was hoping she'd say yes. She needed to go but she didn't want to go alone. "Your next drink on me if you say yes." She smiled as she raised her clasped hands up to her chin as she was begging for that three letter word.

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste couldn't help it as she snorted at his remark, eyes scanning the crowd before she saw a red balloon dangling in the air from someone, which meant It shouldn't be too far behind. "Steer clear of that dude in the raincoat with the balloon then, his date is Pennywise. Wouldn't want any holes in the wall after all." She joked before nodding to him, "And you're meanwhile dressed as....?"

Trevor was the last person who should be judging somebody else's Halloween costume right now, considering he had blown back into town on a whim and only showed up to Sharky's tonight in search of his brother and sister without a costume of his own. Still, he couldn't help but agree with her observation.

"If I see a fuck ass clown at this party then you will see a me shaped hole in the wall when I buck it the fuck out of here."

[thecelestexzhao]

"...Pikachu? Like the Pokemon?" Celeste echoed, frowning in confusion and even narrowing her eyes a bit, almost as if squinting would help before she shook her head because nah, that wasn't it. But then the man spoke again with another costume suggestion and she hummed, nodding slowly, "Maybe? That makes a bit more sense at least--but now the question is if they have a Pennywise?" She wondered. "That's the problem with paired costumes. Some people look ridiculous if left alone."

Trevor followed her line of sight, pinching his brows together when he found who—or what—she was looking at. “Is it a Pikachu?” He doesn’t remember Pikachu having a red balloon or bloody hand prints on his chest. “Oh!” Trevor gasped out loud, “It’s the dead kid from IT.” He added matter-of-factly, unable to believe it took him so long to realise what he was looking at.

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste followed his line of sight, glancing around before shrugging. "Everyone's off doing Halloween-y shit. But I don't really mind it. Means I get a little peace and quiet for once- even if it means less tips." She'd take the loss though if it meant having a little down time.

His question surprised her and she snorted, shrugging again, "I find it kinda fun, yeah. Not like bartending is my passion, but it's not an awful way to spend a work shift." She watched as he tried it then, looking to him expectantly before he spoke and when he did Celeste hummed, a little smile pulling onto her lips, "I guess I'll take not bad. You a cocktail connoisseur?"

Jay scrunches up his nose. "Not sure how anyone could," he murmurs. He leans his arms down on the surface of the bar, brushing his tongue along the edges of his lips. He turns his head to look around the inside of the bar, finding it a little more empty than usual. "Did I happen to miss the rush hour? He asks.

He keeps his eyes on her as she starts to make the drink, wondering if he was able to tell what she was making just by watching her. He was used to sneaking any and all alcohol he could so he wasn't really used to have something with flavor. "You like making drinks?" He tries to make small talk, he might as well with the place not being as busy as usual. He pulls it close to him and raises it up to his lips, taking a sip of it. "Hmm," he murmurs. "It's not bad actually."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste looked over when she heard the comment, raising a brow for a moment before realizing who it was and she relaxed, smiling over at him, "It's definitely nice to have a night off for once, especially given the demand that they're under right now. I almost think the tips wouldn't even be worth the chaos. Almost."

Celeste was still smiling as she took a sip of her drink again- a smile that just grew at the compliment and she hummed, playfully flicking a braid over her shoulder, "Well thank you." She replied before nodding to him, "Are you enjoying yourself, Mr. Ross?"

closed starter

where: sharky's halloween party when: night with who: @thecelestexzhao

"happy to be on the other side of the bar tonight?" a small smile forming over his lips as he sat at the bar, taking another sip of his drink. "but damn, I might be a little jealous of all the tips they're going to get tonight."

"you look great tonight, by the way." a little nod buttoned his sentence. "wednesday's always a good choice."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste looked to the woman beside her as she spoke, interested in the opinion solely because if she had to witness...whatever the hell that was, then so did everyone else. "What the hell is crazy frog?" She asked, frowning in confusion as she tilted her head to the side, looking at the costumed person again. "At least it's not sexy Shrek? Cause that woulda made me just turn and go home."

Julieta was going to opt out of Halloween festivities this year, but when she heard that there'd be drinks, she knew she couldn't pass it up. Letting out a small laugh at the other's words, she takes a sip of her own drink before then thinking for a moment. "No clue. At first, I thought Shrek, but now I'm thinking Crazy Frog."

[thecelestexzhao]

"That's kinda phoning it in, but okay." Looked like it could be an everyday outfit, but she supposed some people didn't care about putting in much effort--and on the flip side, some people cared too much. She liked to believe she was right in the middle. Hopefully. "Lavagirl?" Celeste tilted her head as she looked at him, clearly drawing a blank on what he was supposed to be "Looks like I'm one of those people cause I'm not sure what you're supposed to be. Times like these I wish there was a Blockbuster still around." She smiled as she said it too before she nodded, absently twirling one of her braids around her finger. "Figured I couldn't go wrong with a classic. I was Raven from Teen Titans last year and it was exhausting explaining who I was all night."

"The guy in black? Oh, Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing, hands down." Hunter nodded, as he took a sip of his own beverage that had somehow been crafted into some green gloop. His eyes scanned through the crowds, letting out a small huff. "No Lavagirls yet. Can't say I'm not disappointed, it's like people these days don't want to appreciate and celebrate quality films." He sighed. "I take it you're Wednesday Addams."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Any time someone did anything 'sexy' it made Celeste's practically roll back inside her head. "I saw a sexy Minoy from Spongebob earlier and I damn near just turned around and went home. But that said Audrey could at least be funny and doable. Just walk around in a bodysuit with a plant or something. People could make it weird though if vine tentacles got involved."

"I think she's supposed to be a sexy Polly Pocket?" Vanessa guesses with a tilt of her head, mouth twisting to the side as she eyed Lucky's girlfriend from across the room.

"My second guess was Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors but I think that would maybe be a little too niche for someone her age."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

"A Moo Deng.....okay." She trailed off with a deadpanned voice, looking over at the costume incredulously for a moment longer, "I'm sure Sigourney would be thrilled to see it." the sarcasm was still thick in Celeste's voice as she shook her head. "You think he could win most creative? Or is there something even more unhinged lurking in the room?"

"It's a Moo Deng Chestburster," Salvador says like that's a regularly used combination of words, ensuring to tack on how and why he knew that, "He came into Lost Spirits earlier and asked me if I knew what it was. I didn't, now I think I'll be seeing it in my nightmares."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste frowned in confusion at the comment but then tilted her head slightly and even squinted before she snorted out a laugh, "Oh--shit. Yeah. Wonder if it was a lost bet or a choice." Even as she shook her head she kept on laughing, grinning at the other girl's comment. "Listen, get another shot or two in me and I wouldn't be opposed to doing just that." She teased before shrugging and holding her hand out, "Sure. What's is supposed to be?"

"It looks vaguely phallic," Nara commented, lips tweaked at the corners. She stood, cradling her drink—something blue and sugary but exceptionally strong. "Maybe he's compensating for something. Should we ask?" Revamping her expression to one of slight disdain, she stirred the cocktail straw in her cup. "This is gross. Want to try?"

[thecelestexzhao]

open - @aurorabaystarter

where - sharky's halloween party

Celeste wasn't really one for dancing (at least not while sober) so she happily stood to the side, leaning against the wall as she people watched, sipping on whatever bright red 'blood' drink she'd been given at the bar. "What the hell do you think that costume's supposed to be?"

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste: Dude I didn't say that Celeste: I just said I think it's smarter not to go? Seems like the easier route is all Celeste: ....Will you judge me if I say I have no idea who they are?

Sage: ARE YOU NOT GOING???! Sage: you can't not go girl wth 😭😭 Sage: I do have a costume! I'm going as Star and Sully is going as Michael from the lost boys! @thecelestexzhao