cool and groovy

#title: (missed signs)#ch: (destiny paras)#(water toys)

@it-is-your-destiny

"Ohmahgosh, yes!" he said, excited at the prospect of getting to eat one of those again. Then he cleared his throat, correcting his tone back to Calm and Casual, "No pressure or anything but, if you do bring them back let me know?"

Ken shifted his weight, getting the pressure that had been accumulating on his heels from his stance to redistribute.

"Do you have any other plans for the summer?" he asked because, upon reflection, he felt like he didn't really know Destiny as well as he wanted to! He didn't know if she took holidays out of the country, or road trips with other friends. Or if she had other summer traditions, like picnics or concerts or certain hikes she ventured on or family she visited or who came to visit her.

Write For Me || GroovyRadish

Dear Ken,

Oh gosh, you're right. I never experienced the Hunger Games dreams either. Thank goodness really. I don't know how I would have handled those. I'd like to think I wouldn't end up horribly traumatized but I don't know because I haven't experienced it. I still can't quite comprehend the cat one. That really happened too?

I would definitely appreciate some inspiration there either way. I know there is a better way to balance things than I am doing. But I can't help but want to go overboard at work I guess.

I think it does make sense. You get so used to what expectations are and leaning into those expectations. And it takes a while before you can step back and think... hey that's not it for me. I think it's smart to make sure you know what you're feeling and where you stand on things. I am doing everything I can for my career and to feel like I'm doing well in it.

And I do think I'm trying a little more on the personal front, but I don't know if I'm doing enough either if that makes sense. I don't know. I'm over 30 and I do want a family. But it's hard.

Wishing you well, Judy Moon

#title: (write for me)#ch: (judy moon)#(groovyradish)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

Dear Judy Moon,

Yes, the cat one really happened. That's another thing I can appreciate those dreams sometimes for a perspective shift. Whether that's just living a different life from the one I have here or for letting me see what it would be like to be a cat.

Yeah, I can see what you're saying! It is hard to have a balance, especially when a job is pretty demanding, like I can only imagine yours is. It does sound tough. But, if you'll allow me to say so, I think you're made of stronger stuff than to let that get the better of you! You're a very stellar person, Judy Moon, and I have enjoyed knowing you and getting to write you letters but I have really liked getting to read your letters. They're great because you're writing them and they're your words.

It's going to be hard to get what you want out of this world, but you're the only one who's going to be able to do it for you. I know the number of people in this town might be small so getting out there on the personal front it makes it all the more difficult, but don't let that stop you from trying to find what you want. As long as you're out there and doing what you can, I think that'll always be enough! Don't worry, it's hard to miss what a great person you are, I have no doubt that you'll find what you're looking for. Or that it will find you! Just don't give up, I think that's when things stop completely.

From, Ken Carson

Dress to Impress || Possessed Doll

"Black," she said instantly, letting out an amused breath. But it was true. "I mean, some color is probably okay, like accent stuff, but mostly black." Thank fuck that was one of those colors typically considered professional. As long as it didn't look too much like she was going to a funeral.

"But besides that I guess...I don't know. I usually only wear dresses and stuff when its like, prom or Pierrot's, so I guess more trousers for work stuff? But maybe a skirt of a dress would be better considering these are like, old stuffy academics."

See, it was this kind of stuff she didn't like to have to think about. Now the way she looked was going to say something to these people and they were going to make decisions about her. It sucked.

@kenneth-carson

#title: (dress to impress)#ch: (mary 'boo' gibbs)#(possessed doll)

@kenneth-carson

Ken was waiting for it! He'd been anticipating that almost reflex of an answer from her, but was pleasantly surprised to hear that she was willing to accept some color too! Woo!

His head tilted a little as she continued to talk, describing the people that he figured were going to be at this presentation. It gave him pause, thinking that over. Ken's first instinct was, of course, to say who cared what those people thought? She should be dressing for herself– but that was apart of this whole thing. She was dressing to impress these people. It should have just been based on the merit of her work but even Ken knew what the power of someone's overall appearance played into their opinion of them.

"Maybe. But I think what will matter more to them is how you're going to present yourself, right? I feel like if you're more confident in trousers you'll be thinking about what you're saying instead of what you're wearing. So you should go with the trousers," he reasoned. "So then, blouse, yeah? With something like a blazer or just try to find something nice enough on its own?"

Slice Of Life || Toy Bunny

"Alright. I'll be sure to do that," Judy agreed with a laugh. "I'm somehow very good at the skiiball game," she declared. That was a more factual statement at least. Though in her opinion it was still mostly a lot of luck more than skill.

Air hockey. She hadn't really thought of that one, but hey maybe it was one Ken really liked. And that was exciting. She was looking forward to discovering what things he liked more anyway.

She nodded and turned toward the air hockey machine. "Let's do it! Those games always look super fun too." She had never played it that much, but her brothers Kevin and Jacob had always gotten insanely competitive with it. So much so that she had just figured it was easier to leave it to them.

Judy made her way over to the air hockey machine and picked one side of it. "Is this where you're going to shock me with your amazing air hockey abilities?"

@kenneth-carson

#title: (slice of life)#ch: (judy moon)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

In all honesty, this was probably a rather bad idea given his condition.

That being that his brain was still on the recovery from being possessed, and a game that required things like good reaction time, tracking something bouncing around, and doing several things at the same time while surrounded by the many sights and sounds of an arcade without being distracted was.........well it was a rather tall order!

The last thing he wanted to do was start misspeaking and jumbling words in front of her. Mostly because he didn't want to have to explain why he was doing it– it would just open up a whole can of worms that seemed like a lot for a first date. Especially one in such a setting.

He slotted the designated amount of coins being asked for a game and set the cup on the edge of the table. Ken stepped to the side Judy was not occupying, watching as the air started to blast through the little holes on the table top. He quickly grabbed for his bright green mallet before it floated out of reach.

"Absolutely not," he laughed faintly. Reaching to get the puck where it had dropped into the slot below and placed it on the table, "I'll be lucky if I can get a point. Ready?"

At her confirmation, he sent the puck over her way, it pinging off his mallet with a satisfying sound.

Missed Signs || Water Toys

Destiny blinked and blushed.

It was a fair question. She supposed many people wondered it. Just like she wondered how many people stopped at her booth just because they saw her sitting there and wanted to take pity. (Even though she didn't need the pity or their money.) She viewed every interaction through this lens. That everyone around her was either making fun of her, pitying her, or taking advantage of her.

She had never, really, known much else.

Whatever one Ken fell into right at this moment...she wasn't sure. Probably pity. Wondering how a poor, disabled girl was able to do all of this on her own.

"Yes," Destiny said, somewhat shyly and a little defensively too. "I know it isn't as fancy as the other booths...but I'm not really doing this to actually make money. I am just trying to raise some funds for the Royal Foundation for the Blind."

@kenneth-carson

#title: (missed signs)#ch: (destiny paras)#(water toys)#no gif solidarity

@it-is-your-destiny

It did not occur to Ken, from either the way she worded it or from her tone, that she was trying to say anything other than what was written on the tin. This also meant he didn't notice he may have offended her with his question. He just thought she was sharing information with him! Information he had sought after.

"Yeah, I remember!" he said with a little nod, thinking back to when they had first met once more. Only now he was looking at that sign with that instruction and formulating a plan.

She did this all on her own, and she did it for a good cause. Destiny deserved something nice for her efforts! And it might do her booth some good, too, which meant more good for that good cause she was doing it for.

"And, pssh, are you kidding? Your cupcakes are plenty fancy," Ken argued in good nature. "Those Rosehips cupcakes you had last year blew my socks off."

Write For Me || GroovyRadish

Dear Ken,

it's true. Some people do take more drastic views on the dreams. I think we can learn from them, but I do think it can be dangerous to take too much with us as well. I'm glad we share a similar outlook on that. Maybe the dreams are more intense for some people? I don't know. I've never had one that made me feel too many overwhelming things.

That's good. I think it helps when you really love what you do. It's still work, but it's something you can be happy to get up and take care of. That makes it less draining or exhausting I think. But it's good that you do balance it pretty well. I think that's something I could stand to be a bit better at maybe.

You're right about time. I've noticed that more recently and I am trying to balance it a bit more. But it's hard. I want to prove myself at work still, but I also do want to find love and happiness on a personal level too. Open to some tips if you have any.

Wishing you well, Judy Moon

#title: (write for me)#ch: (judy moon)#(groovyradish)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

Dear Judy Moon,

That's probably a fair guess! Different people are more sensitive to different things. I don't have magic, but maybe those who do might have a better tie to that sort of thing. I won't speak (write??) on it since it's not my place, but maybe. I also have not experienced anything too traumatizing within them that it carried over as I'm sure many others have. Like those Hunger Games ones! Seriously dark stuff. I can even remember the cat one being scary at times with the fighting.

It is hard thing to work out. I don't know that I have any good tips for you, though since your job is pretty intense compared to mine. But I'll write down what I do so that maybe it could give you some inspiration at the very least?

My outlook on life has changed in the last couple of years. Not a lot, because I've always thought of it as something to be apart of rather than to have happen to me. But as hard as I tried, it did always feel like my life wasn't entirely my own. If that makes any sense. There were commitments to others that made me think I had to do certain things or act a certain way. It's not exactly new material here, but I guess I learned the hard way that things aren't just going to work out that way I wanted them to if I just kept waiting for the right opportunity. Life keeps going, full steam ahead. It doesn't care if you're aboard or not. Stuff happens! You can't control it. What you can control is yourself and how you're going to react to it.

I've started to really make sure that my reactions are my own. That isn't to say I don't factor in other people, because I do, but not to the point where they're the ones in charge of what I'm doing. I try not to leave stuff to chance and I don't let myself wonder about stuff. If I have a question, I ask. If I want something, I try my best to make it happen. If I know I'm doing everything I can then there's nothing to regret.

Yours, Ken Carson

Slice Of Life || Toy Bunny

Judy pulled away from him after a moment, her smile still lighting up her face. It felt nice to get those in. Even if it was largely luck too. It was a good feeling. And she was able to show off a little bit in that somehow. Not a bad way to start a date, in her opinion.

She shrugged her shoulders, a laugh escaping her. "Well it's been a long while since I've last played. Sort of good felt like the right description," she explained. She reached down to grab the good amount of tickets she had received for getting that good score. She gathered it all together so that later they could maybe see about grabbing a good prize.

"But that was really fun. I'm glad we decided to come here to play." She could remember some hot summers where there was no will to be outside, not even by the lake, and she and her brothers would try to beat each other in every arcade game imaginable. "Should we try another game?"

@kenneth-carson

#title: (slice of life)#ch: (judy moon)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

"You can definitely upgrade that descriptor now," he said, blowing out a little breath as he looked back up at the board that was lit up with her score.

As Judy collected her tickets, the machine he'd played on was making the noises to indicate that that game was over, too, lights growing dim. It spit out a few tickets that were more of a participation prize than anything else. He plucked them free, only to realize– oh shit. Ken was still holding the ball in his hand.

But then Judy was speaking and he looked her way to listen, tucking his hands behind his back to hide this blunder. He nodded, smiling. "Yeah! Yeah, absolutely. Uhhmm..."

His eyes scanned the room, looking at the other games, and then suggest, "Air hockey?"

As soon as she turned away, Ken barely looked as he quickly sent the ball rolling up the ramp. He picked up the cup of coins, hurrying after her to fall into step as they walked toward the table.

Missed Signs || Water Toys

"If it is only raining a little bit," Destiny said with a small shrug.

She didn't mind the water, of course. It always made her skin feel nice and hydrated. Sometimes, it even felt like she could breathe easier. Though, she was sure that wasn't quite the truth. Not that she had anyone to ask. Her mother had told her not to ask such silly questions. And that it didn't matter, because they were human.

They needed to be human.

Still, Destiny liked the rain. The dismal skies washed everything in gray, which made colours stick out better and left everything else in shadow for everyone. Not just her.

"If it rains too hard, or is too cold, then yes--we usually have to pack up. And I tend to leave if it is more than a drizzle because my cupcakes will get soggy and no one likes that. Some people have umbrellas or little awnings that protect them."

@kenneth-carson

#title: (missed signs)#ch: (destiny paras)#(water toys)

@it-is-your-destiny

Ken hummed with acknowledgement, once again looking around at the other booths with a new perspective– less as the customer he had always been and more like what would be needed if he was Destiny, or a booth owner. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed like an easy gig! Just bring the product, a table, and something to keep money in. Boom, done.

Except it wasn't all that easy. What about how to carry all the products? How did you display them? Did you get a card reader or use one of the apps if someone didn't have cash? How did you cope with whatever the weather threw out you? Did you bring a chair? A source of power to plug into? What about lunch? Snacks for yourself?

"And you do this all on your own?" he asked. "No one else helps out?"

Dress to Impress || Possessed Doll

Right. Actually giving information and not just expecting Ken to read her mind. Weird how that worked.

"Yeah, exactly. I need something that looks sort of reasonable for other people to look at and go 'yes this is a responsible woman who isn't crazy and pinning red string all over her apartment, but instead conducts normal research that is respected'."

Which was the tricky part. It was so much easier to be the crazy woman with the red string. At least when the judgement came, you knew what it was.

"But I also want to still sort of feel like me when I'm talking to people."

@kenneth-carson

#title: (dress to impress)#ch: (mary 'boo' gibbs)#(possessed doll)

@boointhenight

Ken didn't really understand why putting ring string in one's apartment would make other people view you as crazy, but that didn't matter! What did was getting Mary some clothes that she was comfortable in and that looked good!

Then again, given Mary's confidence and general attitude, it was hard to imagine her looking bad in anything– except for something that made her feel like someone she wasn't, as she had alluded to.

"Okay. And what makes you feel like you? Start from the bottom to the top. What kind of shoes? Trousers or a skirt? Blouse or dress?" he asked. "If you could pick anything, what would it be?"

Write For Me || GroovyRadish

Dear Ken,

I really appreciate your opinions and I'm grateful that you think that way! I think some people think once you're an adult that you should be living independently by default. But there is also so much one can gain from living with family longer! I've read that in America parents often cut their kids off at 18 right away and just expect them to get it together right away. I find that alarming honestly! I agree with you. If we're getting along and doing well that's all that really should matter.

And I'm glad Swynlake has given you so much! You deserve everything good that comes to you.

Also wow your dream sounds incredible! You were the hero who cared about the dragon. That sounds like a really lovely dream honestly. It suits you too, shows how kind you are in dreams as well as reality.

Those dreams usually just leave me frustrated I didn't catch the person, but I don't think I've ever woken up out of breath at least. But that sequence sounds really fun. Skates to sled and all that. I wish I could say I know anything about dream interpretation, but I don't. I honestly... I think it can be fun to find meaning, but I don't think it's good to get too deep into what the meaning might be. You know?

Like people can get wrapped up in these big town dreams too and read too much into a relationship in a dream or otherwise. And I don't think that it means as much as people fret over it. But it can be interesting to look into a little. I did google and chase dreams apparently represent a fear you're running from or feeling overloaded. But I don't think that's me. I love what I do and I work hard!

Although... I suppose some might say I do obsess over my job a bit too much. I don't know. What do you think about that? How's your work-life balance generally?

Wishing you well, Judy Moon

@kenneth-carson

#title: (write for me)#ch: (judy moon)#(groovyradish)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

Dear Judy Moon,

I admire your opinion about the dreams. It's a lot less drastic than some of the takes I've heard around town. I know they're a pretty regular thing, so a lot of the people who have lived here for a long time just brush them off most of the time. I think I have the same outlook on them as you seem to, or something similar at least.

I think they are what we make of them, just like a lot of things in life. We can put meaning to them and because we did, they'll have meaning. Same thing with if we don't want to put any stakes behind them and just see it as a dream, then that's all it has to be. They are our dreams, so I think we get the choice to question them and interpret them, even if they are coming from an outside source.

My work-life balance as of recently has been tipped in the direction of work, but in general I like to think it's pretty good. I see my friends a lot and have a life away from the shoppe. I also really like what I do. It can get overwhelming sometimes, dealing with the public can get a bit scary, but overall it's great. It's work but it's not something I dread. I look forward to going into the shoppe. I like the big things, like seasonal rearrangements or a tailoring project, but I also like the small things, like sweeping the floors or folding clothes.

I don't think there's anything wrong with loving your job. I think the only time it might be a problem is if you're sacrificing things that you'll regret later for the job. Maybe this doesn't apply, given your line of work! But I've learned that time is the one thing you can never get back, so might as well spend it on the things that matter.

Yours, Ken Carson

Slice Of Life || Toy Bunny

Judy couldn't help but smile wide at her success. Even if she wasn't sure she'd get it a third time. But the idea was nice. If she did she might even be able to win one of the prizes at the arcade. Maybe she could win them both something matching to commemorate the date.

She hummed, glancing over at Ken and then at her skiiball game. "Alright. I can give it another try. Wish me luck," Judy added, because even though she was okay at the game, getting another 100 was really tricky. They were difficult shots for a reason.

She reached for her ball and realized it was the last one anyway. That was good. She could give it one more try and then be done with it. "Here I go!" Judy said and she swung her arm and threw the ball, watching as it rolled and rolled down the lane and up the ramp. It launched up too far in the center and just ricocheted off the 50 in the middle and bounced to the left.

"Come on come on..." Judy mumbled as it arced up again and just managed to dip into the 100 on the left side. "AHH!" She couldn't help the excited shriek that escaped her, tickets coming out from the machine even as she turned around and hugged Ken in her enthusiasm. "We did it!" Because even though Judy was the one who had thrown it, she felt like Ken had been along for it with his cheering her on.

@kenneth-carson

#title: (slice of life)#ch: (judy moon)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

"Good luck," he said as soon as she had finished her sentence, happy to as she asked, but doubted she would even need it. Ken turned, eyes watching the lane now instead of her, thinking it may lessen any sense of pressure she felt over it if he wasn't staring at her. Even if he wanted to be looking at her instead.

He heard the ball hit the solid surface before it came into view, rolling forward and popping up as it hit the lip. When it knocked against the other pocket his brows rose, head tilting, anticipation curling tightly once more as the action seemed to stretch out and yet happen so fast he almost missed it.

The ball finally sunk, joining the two before it, and Ken grinned, ready to congratulate her– but before he could get a sound out Judy's own excitement beat him to it, filling the space alongside the victorious sound effects of the game itself. Then he felt pressure around him and warmth. Suddenly Judy Moon was pressing all that happiness into him, sharing it with him. It took Ken a second to realize he was being hugged and even longer for his body to sync up with his brain to take action and return it.

One arm came up and around her shoulders, the other caught between his body and her arm already. A second later he was pulling back to look down at her so he could say, with full sincerity, "That was amazing! And you said you were just sort of good."

Missed Signs || Water Toys

Destiny's head tilted, hearing the slight distraction in Ken's voice. Tone of voice was often all she had to go on when it came to how people felt and she was good at discerning the differences. (Though, it also lead to assumptions...)

She wasn't sure what his tone might mean. It made her blush, thinking that he didn't really mean it. He was just saying what was polite to say, because they weren't really friends. They didn't know each other at all. Maybe it had been too forward of her. Destiny always so desperate.

"Oh, uhm, I've been good!" she said, trying not to over do it now, wanting to follow the proper social script. "Glad it is nice out again, I am not a fan of the cold. What about you?"

@kenneth-carson

#title: (missed signs)#ch: (destiny paras)#(water toys)

@it-is-your-destiny

"Yeah! I'm ready for warmer weather. I'll miss sweaters and coats, but absence makes the heart grow fonder," he said, thinking she wanted his opinion on weather rather than his well-being and didn't mind talking about it all. In fact, Ken was a big fan of small talk. He didn't consider it small at all, thinking it was as big as any other conversation to be had. "We'll see about the rain, though, I'm scared to think today might be the only time we see the sun until it's full blown summer."

Ken leaned back a little to peer up at the sky, taking in the clear blue of it that stuck out between the lazily drifting clouds passing by. It was a nice change of pace from the grey blanket they usually sat under.

"Do people still come here to this when it's raining?" he asked.

Dress to Impress || Possessed Doll

In other circumstances, the reaction to her statement would have been enough to make her laugh. In this moment, she could only feel the pinching stomach nerves.

Fuck, she deeply hated clothes shopping. Especially for a thing.

Following him over to the sofa, she let the door swing shut behind her and sat down.

"My defense is coming up."

Even saying the words made her feel vaguely ill. She couldn't do this. She actually couldn't do this and it was ridiculous to think she could. Antartica was probably lovely at this time of year right? Maybe demons liked to hang out down there.

@kenneth-carson

#title: (dress to impress)#ch: (mary 'boo' gibbs)#(possessed doll)

@boointhenight

It took Ken a second to understand what that meant, his excited expression creasing slightly as his brain tried to come up with an answer. Defense? Defense?? What the heck? Had she gotten sued for something that he hadn't known about–?

Oh. Wait! No, she was talking about the presentation! The big one for her thesis! Riiiiiight. That defense.

His features smoothed back into a pleasant smile, brows arching. "Oh, yeah? That's great! Congratulations." Ken went to pat her arm, another way to communicate how he felt, only to pause when the game controller was still in his grasp. Whoopsie daisies. He quickly leaned forward to set it aside on the coffee table.

"And you need something to wear," he prompted, hoping to get more information. "I'm guessing it's...kind of like a job interview in terms of formality?"

Write For Me || GroovyRadish

Dear Ken,

That's such a lovely reason to be so drawn to clothes. I'll admit it is nice... that feeling you get when you find something that fits you so perfectly and makes you feel the most beautiful you ever have. I do appreciate the power in fashion there.

Thank you Ken. It's just that I do recognize my age and to still be living with family instead of getting by on my own does seem ridiculous from the outside. But it is saving me money. And I guess my thought is if I'm going to move then I want it to be another more permanent move. And not a temporary place that I might outgrow in a year as well. If that makes sense.

Oh gosh, I'm sorry. That does sound really stressful and hard. I hope that you're feeling better here where you are now. Because you seem like such a positive energy, and I'd hate to think anything might bring you down too much.

Really? What other dream did you have that involved dragons? My first dream in this town was that one about wishes I think. I don't remember if there were dragons in that, though there definitely could have been. But I woke up before getting to what I wanted, of course. Isn't that often the way in dreams?

Sometimes I do, yes. Like I had a dream where I was chasing after a thief, which is something I have done in reality of course. But my dreams tend to make the location weird or the chase itself impossible. Like chasing a thief in a water park. Or maybe chasing them up a tree or a mountain or something incredible outrageous.

What about you? Any dreams like that for you?

Wishing you well, Judy Moon

@kenneth-carson

#title: (write for me)#ch: (judy moon)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

Dear Judy Moon,

You're welcome! For what it's worth, I don't think it is ridiculous for someone to still be living with their family. At any age, really. I know I'm just one person, but since I'm the only one who will read this letter I don't want you to think I'm judging you for it. I guess I don't really see where people would think that way, but I guess I also never understood the need to pass judgement on other people's situations. If you're happy and your family is happy to have you, who else matters?

I appreciate your kind words, but there's no need to feel bad about it! I know that wasn't how it was. I love my family and they love me. I am happy I'm back in Swynlake, though. It has given me so much more than I had ever thought possible.

No, I don't think it was that dream! In fact, I don't really think it was one of those shared dreams that the whole town got hit by. It might have just been my own. From what I can remember, I was some kind of knight but instead of having to go slay the dragon, like in the books, I was trying to help it. I think it ended up saving my life, too. Pretty cool!

Your chase sequence dreams sound pretty cool, too! Although I feel like I would wake up feeling out of breath and like I already got my exercise in for the day. I don't think I've ever had anything similar to that. Aside from dreaming I'm on roller skates, but it usually turns into something else, like a sled or suddenly I'm driving and then I'm on a bike instead.

Do you think they have any meaning? Dreams in general?

Yours, Ken Carson

Slice Of Life || Toy Bunny

It was so satisfying to get it, even if it was just once.

Judy was always the most competitive with herself. She liked to see if she could do better each time. So the fact that she got it in the 100 was so exciting! A smile lit up her face, and she shrugged her shoulders at her date.

"I don't know if that's it, but that was cool." She glanced at Ken. Technically he still had a turn too, but she did want to see if she could pull it off again. Judy turned back toward the game and threw her next one, watching it roll faster and faster and launch up and arch almost as perfectly as the last time.

It went into the one hundred again. "Yes!!" She shouted, throwing her hands up with glee. "Did you see that Ken?"

@kenneth-carson

#title: (slice of life)#ch: (judy moon)#(toy bunny)

@officer-judy-moon

"I did!" he replied, his gaze still cast on the pocket the ball had just disappeared into. His smile had remained on his face, the expression held more of an awe to it now than it had before, impressed at the back to back hits.

He was also aware that he should probably be tending to his own game. The machine he was standing in front of was standing idle, the timer running down while his score remained the same. But it didn't matter to him. It didn't feel like a waste. The point of these things was to have fun, wasn't it? At least, it was to him.

And, in that moment, he was having fun watching and cheering Judy on.

"Three for three? Come on, you got it," Ken encouraged.

Missed Signs || Water Toys

Destiny laughed.

It was a silly way to have met someone and, honestly, she had gotten so sick of peaches last summer. But now, whenever she had one, she did think of Ken and smile to herself a little, thinking about it. Which was nice! Destiny often felt that way about people--like they didn't really quite remember her, so whenever she thought of them it felt as sweet and when they were right in front of her.

"I think I will be alright," Destiny said, still laughing. "Though, I won't say no if you do bring something by. It was fun trying to figure out just how many things I could make out of peaches!"

@kenneth-carson

#title: (missed signs)#ch: (destiny paras)#(water toys)

@it-is-your-destiny

"I will keep that mind," he said, somewhat absently as he was thinking about something else and, well, for someone like Ken, that was a lot to juggle! (And not just because he was still recovering from another entity having scrambled his brain.)

"How have you been?" he asked. This was not done out of a sense of obligation or because it was only polite to have done so– Ken genuinely wanted to know. In his mind, Destiny was his friend! She hadn't said otherwise, and had helped him out several times over now. What else was there to it than that?

Ripple Effect || Kerc

kouros-herc

But Hercules wanted to reach out and grab all of the things that made him happy before it was too late. How many times had he said no to plans with Michael, with Bruce, because he thought there would be more time? How many times did he wish he could just go for one more footie session with Michael? Or to sit in the garden with Bruce and just sink a couple of beers over their dinner?

Life was short, and he didn't want to miss a moment of it.

He wanted to be present in every single moment of it and somehow spend it all with the people he loved even ... even if the moment he thought that, he knew it was silly.

"I just want you to know that you make me happy too, Ken, ok?" Hercules mumbled, feeling a little bashful about it all. His heart felt like it was about to float up his chest and right into his mouth.

"Making time for you matters too, that's all I'm-" He said, before trailing off a little limply. Ken's big playful smile was hard to be serious in the face of. "Just don't want you to forget that," he mumbled.

"Just make yourself at home," Herc added, a rueful smile on his pink face.

@kenneth-carson