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[color=ff4500][sup][b]______________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/sup][/color]
[sup]🔥   [color=ff4500][b]LOCATION[/b][/color] 🔥   Pine Holler Fairgrounds[/sup]
[sup]🔥   [color=ff4500][b]OUTFIT[/b][/color]   🔥 See left [/sup]
[sup]🔥   [color=ff4500][b]INTERACTING WITH[/b][/color]   🔥 Mollie [@Moon Child], Ryan [@Sugar and Spite], mentions Sylvester, Kent[/sup]
[color=ff4500][sup][b]______________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/sup][/color]
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[color=wheat][indent][indent][indent]It wouldn’t be an understatement to say the last week was hell for the rookie of the Pines Holler PD. An understatement would be that he was mildly annoyed with his partner or with Dal and how she just sprung her new romance with Clive Evermore on him without really a warning. An understatement was how miserable it was being at home after being in the unforgiving heat without any power (which thankfully came back after three fucking day).

No, Aiden Quinn went to hell and back and finally FINALLY! He has a day off. He was forever grateful for it but he was even more so because it coincided with the 4th of July Festival at the fairgrounds. He was more than grateful for the fact he didn’t have to worry about which scumbag was up to no good on this day. He wouldn’t have to arrest anyone or do any fucking paperwork. Let the night shift handle that.

Tonight, Aiden was free as a bird and you bet your ass he was going to enjoy himself.

Aiden had already been at the festival for about an hour. He was hungry and had an appetite for something sweet, so his first stop was by the funnel cake stand. When he got in line, he looked at how long the line was, leaning to the side first to see he was a few people behind. Speaking of that, he looked behind him and saw Mollie King. He didn’t fully expect to see her out and about. Everyone knew how she had been taking Kent’s death and Aiden was the last person to ever judge how long it would take someone to rejoin society. It took him almost a year to find reasons to get out of the house for more than a drink or a bite to eat.

It appeared Mollie was at that point. “Hey Mollie,” he said, not in any excited tone but more so a simple greeting. He didn’t want to bring any attention to her. [color=#ff4500]“Enjoying the festival?”[/color]

Mollie, who had been taking the opportunity to do some people watching (sprinkled in with mental judging of some) with her eyes shielded behind dark sunglasses, turned around at the sound of her name, and smiled when she noticed who it was. [color=#694553]"Hey Aiden,"[/color] she greeted the young man addressing her. His close friendship with Dallas meant she was well-acquainted with him, so it wasn't strange that he would strike up some small talk. [color=#694553]"In my own way,"[/color] she answered with a devious grin. "The heat and I don’t get along, but I couldn't help swinging by to get some food," she explained, taking a few steps forward as the person in front of her moved up the line. [color=#694553]"How about you? Having any fun yet?"[/color]

Aiden made a slight chuckle at the heat comment. He felt that to his core. The line was proceeding quickly. Seems like the person running the stand was making quick work. Aiden noticed it was just one other person before it was his turn. At her question, Aiden smiled and nodded. [color=#ff4500]“Already played a few games. I intend on getting my grub on. First cake, then I might stop by Sylvester’s elote stand and get me one of those. And who knows? Maybe I’ll get a deep-fried mars bar too.”[/color] Aiden had intended to maximize this one golden opportunity at this festival in pigging out. He was off and he would really just enjoy himself to the max.

The line moved up again and then it was Aiden’s turn. Quickly said [color=#ff4500]“One funnel cake please.”[/color] The person running the stand nodded and started to make it. 

Aiden turned around one more time. [color=#ff4500]“How you doing by the way?”[/color]

Mollie chucked at Aiden's reply. It seemed like she wasn't the only one planning to go all out for food tonight. [color=#694553]"Sounds like you have it all covered and planned out,"[/color] she teased, lightly poking him in the arm. 

At his inquiry about her well-being, the blonde offered him a small smile. [color=#694553]"Better,"[/color] she answered with a nod.[color=#694553] "Still miss him like crazy, but every day it gets a little easier."[/color]

That was a sentiment that Aiden could understand completely. That feeling of being so overwhelmed by trauma that you can't even get out of bed or find the desire to want to. He knew that feeling all too well and what he knew about Mollie's situation, he knew she knew that feeling better than anyone, but there was something like a light in this dark that he could see.

She was out and about and not still at home. 

[color=#ff4500]"We all go at our own pace, but.."[/color] he paused, seeing that his cake was ready and he grabbed it, [color=#ff4500]"the fact you're here is a great first step!”[/color] He raised his funnel cake up like a toast. [color=#ff4500]"Hope you have fun if you plan on staying, if not then, well see ya around!"[/color]

After he left the funnel cake stand, Aiden wandered about, enjoying the sights. Earlier he was unsuccessful at some of the games, so now he was rewarding his failures with food. So first it was funnel cake. The next stop was Sylvester’s elote stand, where he would help himself to a big elote on the cob.

So to recap: in one hand, Aiden held the remains of a funnel cake that was nearly gone and in the other, he held a messy elote on the cob, slathered in equal parts mayo and cheese and some sort of chili spice. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to enjoy himself at the festival. Aiden hasn’t had many days where he could just be himself and enjoy himself. He hasn’t had many days where he felt like he could enjoy himself. Before he even got the job or motivation to want to do something, all AIden could do was drown in his own regrets from being discharged from the army. 

But now, he was starting to feel like he mattered in society. He had a job he liked. He had friends (even if they were massive pains in his asses) and maybe…even had someone that he might…

As if it was divine intervention, Aiden looked over by the lemonade stand and all his times spent at the club, he’d recognize that ass anywhere. Even in jeans, he could spot it.

Ryan Reid. His delectable Candy.

Aiden couldn’t resist. But it also appeared that he was thirsty. 

Dumping the rest of the funnel cake in the trash near him, Aiden stole the spot behind her in line and just said, with probably the most rizz he could muster up, [color=#ff4500]“Feeling hot, are we?”[/color]

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