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Raegan leaned casually against the edge of the stall, though “casual” was a bit of an act when Whiplash’s giant head kept bobbing closer to inspect her, his breath puffing warm across her arm. She gave the horse a side-eye glance that was somewhere between curiosity and mild suspicion, but the tilt of her mouth betrayed the fact she was secretly fascinated. Charlotte’s first line — about intimidating the most intimidating-looking person ever — earned her a slow, approving nod from Raegan, who didn’t even bother to look at Axl’s inevitable glare. “Impressive,” she said seriously. “It’s not every day someone not only survives being in his orbit but also manages to intimidate him. I’m tempted to take notes. I’ve been working on my methods, but apparently sarcasm alone only gets me so far.” She gave Charlotte a conspiratorial smile, the kind you’d exchange with a co-conspirator just before pulling off a minor heist. The teenager’s segue into the moon landing debate, though, nearly made her choke on her own laughter. Raegan straightened up, crossing her arms like she was listening to a witness deliver crucial testimony in court. “Alright, I’m just saying — I knew you were dangerous, but I wasn’t expecting the conspiracy theories to come out before we’d even exchanged three full sentences.” Her tone was light, teasing, but her eyes danced with genuine amusement. “Vacuum, flag-waving, the whole thing… you’ve clearly been training for this moment. And I’m with you — the flat earth comment was absolutely bait. He looks like the type who’d start arguments at dinner parties just to watch everyone implode.” She didn’t turn her head toward Axl, but she knew he was listening. When Charlotte declared herself “the smartest kid around,” Raegan tilted her head thoughtfully. “I can believe that. But you should know, being the smartest kid around also comes with a solemn duty: making sure you use those powers for good. Or at least for harmless chaos. You seem to have that down already.” The 'you two would make a GREAT couple' comment, though… that one hit like a dart aimed with unnerving precision. Raegan’s smile froze for a half-second, her gaze flicking — entirely involuntarily — toward Axl before she snapped it back to Charlotte with a kind of “nice try” expression. “Ah, so that’s your game,” she said finally, shaking her head with mock solemnity. “You get people all comfortable and then — wham — matchmaking ambush. I see you. I respect the hustle. But if we’re making up fictional titles for each other, I’d like to inform the court that I have already cast him as the tragic, possibly royal hero type. That’s a lot of pressure for one man to live up to.” Charlotte’s over-the-top serious tone about “riding since the break of dawn” made Raegan press a hand dramatically to her chest, as though she’d just been in the presence of greatness. “The dedication! 10/10,” she said, her voice hushed and reverent. “The poetry. I feel like I should be taking off my shoes before stepping into your arena, or bowing, or at least addressing you as Master Horseperson.” She glanced over her shoulder at Whiplash, who flicked an ear in her direction like he knew exactly who they were talking about. “Though I have to admit, Whiplash has the better name. You might want to consider adopting it as a title.” When Charlotte announced that Whiplash wouldn’t bite unless you pretended your finger was a carrot, Raegan made a face of mock horror and instinctively curled her fingers into her palms. “I don’t intend to pretend my finger is a carrot, but knowing me, I’d probably accidentally give him that idea just by existing. He seems like the opportunistic type.” She studied the horse for a moment, then lowered her voice slightly, as if confiding a terrible secret to Charlotte. “Between you and me, I think he’s already decided I’m suspicious. He’s been giving me the side-eye since I walked in. Can horses smell fear? Or sarcasm? Because I’m definitely guilty of one of those right now.” Charlotte’s final “kudos” earned her a little bow from Raegan. “I’ll take my medal in the form of baked goods, thank you. Brownies preferred, but I’m flexible.” While Axl muttered darkly from somewhere inside the stall, Raegan leaned slightly closer to Charlotte, lowering her voice just enough that it might carry but still feel like a shared aside. “You realize he’s pretending not to listen, but he’s probably cataloging every single thing we’ve said so he can throw it back at me later, right?” Her smile was wickedly amused, but there was affection there too — like she knew exactly how the game worked and was perfectly fine playing her part. When Axl finally emerged, Raegan straightened up, flashing Charlotte a final grin. “Well, Master Horseperson, it’s been an honor to witness your skills and your terrifyingly effective detective work. If I survive whatever dramatic thing happens next, we’ll have to compare notes.” She stepped back toward Axl, still grinning like a madman, holding her hand up in a sort of wave as they left. And then, because she couldn’t resist twisting the knife just a little, she glanced at Axl with mock deference. “Alright, Your Highness. Let’s go see if this kingdom of yours has any events worth knitting about," she chuckled, kind of bumping his side in nothing but a playful manner. Once they'd turned the corner, she kind of found herself still chuckling. "I like her!" She grinned. |
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Axl mumbled something about how he was being ganged up against, but stayed in near silence throughout their reaction. However, subtle things proved he heard every word. The tilting of his head at specific words, the twitching of his fingers as he brushed Whiplash, the shifting of his weight when something interesting came up. All proved how carefully he watched everything around him, how observant he truly was. Charlotte smirked quite smugly at the compliment, looking like she had just won the Olympics. All of it. "Oh, sarcasm never works. Believe me, I've tried. He always has a smart alec response to everything you can possibly say. I've lost months of my life using that method. The only thing I've found that works is the same thing that works for any boy in between the ages of 6 and 20. Tease them about anything having to do with a girl." She stated, pretending to adjust glasses that weren't there. "He once merely glanced at this lady walking by and I said one thing and his entire world nearly collapsed. Until the end of the show he was commenting about how he was looking at the horse, not her. Lies." Charlotte couldn't resist a purely evil giggle. Axl wouldn't be the least bit surprised if her eyes started glowing red and she bit someone. A low growl came form somewhere in the stall and his head poked around the horse. "I was looking at the fricking horse." He hissed, disappearing again. Damn kids. They were more annoying than Raegan by a long shot. He would gladly obliterate all children under the age of 16 from this earth. Or just make them mature. That would be a less destructive method. He may like Charlotte, but holy hell. Charlotte just burst into a laughing fit, almost doubling over. "Silver tongue, a forked design. Lies seep from lips like crawling vines. Shadows dance upon the wall. Truth hides, as falsehoods enthrall." She whispered, then ducked down. It was right in time as a brush came flying out of the stall, through the bars, and almost smacked into the other side. "THE DEVIL IS POSSESSING HER. DO YOU HEAR THAT EVIL SATANIC WORSHIP. SHE IS CALLING TEUFEL." He exclaimed, stalking out the stall and grabbing the brush, wheeling to point his finger at Charlotte. "I will get an exorcist if you keep pulling chants like that out of your sleeve." He threatened with narrowed eyes, yet a good natured twinkle resided in the golden depths as he disappeared back into the stall. After Charlotte was out of the flying brush zone, she nodded seriously towards Raegan. "I have been training. I knew the time would come when someone asked the important questions." She mused, then nodded far more enthusiastically. "Oh of course! Only for harmless chaos! Yes." She chirped, grinning like a chershire cat. She smirked again as even Raegan froze and glanced at Axl, who was saying something about demons, looking entirely innocent. "Aw, you have? Pity. Actually, I can see it." She peered into the stall thoughtfully. "Yes, I can see it now. Very good thinking, Miss Raegan. And of course, he cannot fall into more than one special role." She nodded slowly. "Okay. You got me. No more matchmaking." She raised her hands in surrender, giggling again. "10/10." She repeated in a whisper. "I feel lucky. Special." Her hand lifted to the sky and she swept it across like a banner. "Master Horseperson, direct descendent of Grand Master Oogway. Please, feel no need to bow at my feet, humble peasant. I am a fair ruler. Not all of us were destined for greatness." She stated solemnly, calling herself better than Raegan and lifting her up in the same sentence. Perfection. "Well, I could never steal his title. I will stick with Master Horseperson for now." She sighed. "But I will be asking for a better name later." "No, believe me, you won't." She huffed. "He is literal perfection and would never bite you if you don't actual stick your finger in his mouth. To be safe, just avoid petting his mouth." She shrugged, grinning as she cooed to the horse and poked them in the nose. "Adorableness in a big black package." She purred, then her eyes widened and she turned to Raegan. "Of course he can't smell fear! He feels it. And he loves it." A snicker of wickedness escaped. "if he could smell sarcasm, he'd have died by now." She added with a wrinkle of her nose. "Brownies. Check." She chirped, deciding she was able to get that done somehow. She liked this person and would love to make them brownies. "Yes, I will see you at a later time, Miss Raegan. I hope you survive long enough to learn my skills and become a Master yourself. Good day." With a wave, she went into the stall as Axl came out. Axl's lips twisted into a grimace as Raegan spoke, making his way out of the barn. After they had gotten a little way away, and she was still cackling evilly, he side eyed her for a moment. "Uh huh. I knew you would." He grumbled. "I'd like to note that I knew this would happen and I sacrificed my sanity to let you two meet." He added with an aggrieved sigh, turning towards the line of vendors. They wandered around for a little while before returning to the stands, where they did cheer Charlotte on when she went. Overall, she had four good times. Barrels- 16.98 Poles- 15.12 JF8- 19.39 Keyhole- 9.61 They weren't blindingly fast, but fast enough to get her two first and two seconds in her age group. After they went and congratulated her, it was time to go see everything. "Fireworks starts in an hour, until then, you have free reign of the fairgrounds. Drag me wherever. However, before this starts..." Axl moved towards a specific booth, the cowboy hats hung everywhere. "We need to get you one of these." |
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Raegan couldn’t help the little bursts of laughter that escaped her when Axl finally butted into the conversation. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from snorting outright. There was something quietly hilarious about the way he’d tried to act stern, as if he weren’t completely caught off guard by the chaos of the moment. She could see it, even if he’d never admit it—the kid had him wrapped around her finger. Charlotte’s smug little grin didn’t help, either; it just made everything feel ten times funnier. A soft gasp slipped past her lips when Axl’s expression shifted, that almost-scowl as he looked at Charlotte, like the world—or at least the girl—was entirely to blame. “Oh, Axl! So defensive,” she murmured, her voice light, almost teasing, as she glanced at Charlotte and let herself grin quietly. “He was definitely looking at her…” When Axl excused them, Raegan felt a small burst of exhilaration. She practically bounced along beside him, still chuckling at the memory of Charlotte’s cackling fit and the flying brush. “I swear,” she said, eyes wide, her hands pressed against her sides as laughter threatened to bubble over again, “she could take over the world with just a whisper… and a flying brush! Who even trains for that?!” The image of a brush hurtling through the air like some sort of enchanted projectile had her shaking her head, still quietly laughing. The thought that Charlotte might have some kind of friends or co-conspirators ready to launch them at a moment’s notice made it even more absurd—and amusing. Watching Charlotte compete had been pure joy. The excitement in the stands, the clatter of hooves, the cheers from the audience—Raegan couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so caught up in something purely exhilarating. For a little while, she forgot that Axl only had a year left. Seeing him genuinely enjoying something, watching his focus and quiet pride in the little victories around him, gave her a weightless feeling, like maybe the heavy parts of life could pause for just a little while. She decided then, silently and firmly, that every moment they spent together should be about him—his laughter, his enjoyment, the little sparks that made him happy. She’d follow him to the ends of the earth, if he asked. She’d catch stars for him, she realized, without hesitation. By the time Charlotte was finished, Raegan could barely contain her excitement. The girl had clearly given it everything she had, and it showed in the scores. “They went so fast! Two firsts, two seconds? That’s… wow! That’s incredible!” she said, leaning forward to squint at the sheet of results. “Barrels… Poles… JF8… Keyhole… I have no idea what any of these mean, but they sound fancy. Like… some super secret horse code or something.” She giggled, her delight spilling over. Just being there, seeing all of it—the precision, the speed, the laughter—it was infectious. Her attention shifted when Axl mentioned the hats. Her brows lifted, and she laughed softly, waving him off with an airy shrug. “I was joking, but if you insist,” she said, before bouncing toward the booth with light steps. Buying one was never really the point—she probably wouldn’t even wear it again—but the sheer ridiculousness of trying hats made her giddy. Every oversized brim, every sparkling embellishment, every exaggerated feather was a chance to play, to imagine, to laugh quietly to herself at how absurd and delightful everything was. By the time they reached the cowboy hat booth, Raegan’s grin had settled into an amused, eager smile. She wandered slowly along the rows of hats, picking up ridiculous shapes and textures and placing them on her head to test their personality. The first was a tall, over-the-top cowboy hat. She tilted it, spun once on her heel, and let out a soft laugh. Instant villain vibes. She might need this one for dramatic cookie heists, or maybe just to stare ominously at funnel cakes. A sparkly purple hat came next. Then a wide-brimmed leather hat. A floppy sunhat. A feathered crown that looked more like it belonged in a costume drama than a barnyard. Each new addition earned her quiet chuckles, little tilts of the head, and mock-struts across the booth. She caught herself laughing so softly at one point that she startled a passing child, and she gave a sheepish, small wave, her grin unshaken. “Sorry!,” she murmured, momentarily stopping when she realised how... insane she must have looked. It didn't last long, placing a feathered creation atop her head and examining herself in the mirror. Some of the hats made her feel like a villain in a whimsical storybook, some like a wandering queen of absurdity, and some just made her laugh at the ridiculous angles they sat on her head. Even the wide-brimmed leather one made her pause, tilting it and pretending to survey her imaginary kingdom of cotton candy and funnel cakes. She tried on ten, maybe fifteen hats, losing track, delighting in the way each transformed her just a little bit. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, the quiet hum of amusement around the booth matching her mood perfectly. Each hat was its own little adventure; each tilt, each step, a chance to invent a new persona. For ten minutes or so, she existed entirely in that tiny, playful world, exploring the possibilities, laughing at herself more than she probably should have. Finally, she returned to Axl’s side, still hatless, but still glowing with delight. She held out her hands slightly, a small, conspiratorial grin tugging at her lips. “Pick one for me,” she said softly, a little teasing, a little sincere. Silly as it was—she’d buy the hat herself—it meant something that he had a hand in the choice. Something a little more permanent than all the other little things she tended to lose or forget. It was a small thing, but it mattered. She checked her watch, brows furrowing just slightly, and tilted her head, a soft pout forming on her lips. “Can we get some drinks or something before the fireworks?” she asked lightly. Then, after a pause, a little laugh escaped her. “And some overpriced chicken wings. Because priorities,” she added, eyes sparkling. The world felt lighter, brighter, ridiculous in the best way, and she wanted to soak in every bit of it before the sky lit up with fireworks. |
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Axl blew out an annoyed breath, but the look in his gaze said that he was definitely enjoying all of these. Even being teased by a 14 year old girl about looking at a woman- as if he wasn't supposed to use his eyes and realize that there was a human being walking by. It was all absurd, all silly, all just jovial and fun... but it was all so special. He would rather be no place but here today, or any other day. With Raegan, watching Charlotte, eating expensive food and buying expensive things. It was all... perfect. His gaze landed on her as she almost started laughing again, blabbering on about Charlotte. He knew they'd love each other. A smile played across his lips as she continued, a content look on his face. "She knew it was coming because it has happened before. Everytime she says something more than a little outrageous I chuck a brush at her. At frist I purposefully missed, but now I couldn't hit her if I wanted to." He explained with a slight chuckle. "Well, mostly. If I thought about where she was going to jump off to and aimed there instead, she'd be nailed. But I wouldn't want to do that." All throughout the evening he could see how overjoyed and happy she was. She barely walked the entire time... she bounced. Skipped. Bobbed. He had no idea, but she wasn't touching the ground most of the time, and it reminded him of a 4 year old given cotton candy and free rein of the house at 9 pm when their bedtime was usually 8. The sheer look of joy and excitement on her face was enough to make him happy for the rest of his life. Her eyes were bright and she had obviously forgotten about everything bad that had ever happened to her. It was absolutely amazing. The whole evening he was smiling softly, filled with a soft warm bubbly joy that came only from watching someone you cared about enjoy their existence. So much, in fact, that it rubbed off on everyone. She got more than one grin from people, and many more confused looks. Every one made him smile wider, proud, pleased to be the one walking next to her. Although he wasn't as... energetic, he still seemed to glow. Every step didn't feel weighed down by everything, although he remembered. His eyes were bright, soft, and his lips were always curled up. It felt amazing. He grinned at her words about what Charlotte had done, shaking his head. "They were good times. Barrels was the first thing we watched.. where they ran a cloverleaf pattern. Poles was where they weaved the poles. Jumping figure 8 is where they jumped, weaved the barrels, and jumped back. And Keyhole is where they ran straight down through the poles, turned around, and ran back." He explained, even if she wasn't really listening. She seemed to move on fast, but he was fine if she didn't hear a single word. As long as she stayed like this. "I do insist." He mused quietly, knowing it was smart of him to. He found a post to lean against nearby and watched her run from rack to rack, trying on random hats and giggling as they fell down over her eyes when they were too big. Although he was enjoying watching her act like a little kid in a candy store, his mind did wander... not to bad places, per say. Actually, to a song. A song that hadn't been written yet. He had been making a melody for a couple months now on the guitar, and had been trying to find words to fit to it... but he hadn't been able to. He needed a topic, and he hadn't found one that seemed to fit. However, as he stood there, pondering the melody... words started flowing in. Oh the words I want to say, they get stuck in my head. I'm searching for a way to let you know what's in my heart instead. Unspoken words, they weigh me down. Afraid to let you see the truth I've found. The chorus came together perfectly in his mind. After literally weeks of trying to think one up, the fact that it came to him in approximately 12 minutes kind of made him mad, but it didn't matter. It was there. And it was perfect. He could work with this topic. In your eyes, I see a friend so true. But in my heart, there's something more I feel for you. I want to say the words that I've been holding in. But fear of losing you makes my heart spin. The first verse came just as easily, his head tilting as he watched the sky, head rested against the pole. What had Raegan done to him. He pulled out his phone and wrote the thoughts down quickly, then slipped it away and glanced up just as she bounded over. His face brightened immediately. "Me?" he arched an eyebrow, glancing around as if she was talking to someone else. "But you seemed like you loved every single one. How am I supposed to choose? I almost died over a wrap. Don't make me do this." His eyebrows drew together slightly in immense concern. At her comment about food, he nodded. "Of course. Overpriced chicken wings and some sugar filled beverages seem like a great idea." Axl smiled, glancing at the booth filled with hats. She had probably tried on every single one. How in the blazes was he supposed to pick one? And know she would like it? What if she preferred one and she was internally hoping he'd pick that one? He hadn't watched closely enough to see which ones she liked better. He could almost already feel the panic setting in. Jeez. |
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Raegan slowed her step a little as Axl spoke, letting her eyes rest on him instead of scanning the crowd. There was an ease in the way he talked about Charlotte, a casualness that told her this wasn’t the first time they’d had these brush-throwing incidents. She smiled faintly, imagining the scene exactly as he described it—Charlotte saying something outrageous, Axl with a perfectly-timed throw, the brush missing by just enough to prove his point. The mental picture made her bite her lip against a small laugh. “I think that’s the most Axl thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, voice warm but quieter than her earlier teasing. “The whole… ‘I could hit her if I really wanted to’ energy.” She gave him a sidelong look, letting her smile curve a little higher. “But of course you wouldn’t. Because then you wouldn’t get to hear her keep running her mouth, and I’m guessing you secretly enjoy that part.” She didn’t bounce as much now—she was still happy, but the rush of earlier excitement had mellowed into something softer, more like the slow burn of a campfire than the spark of fireworks. Being around him always seemed to do that, eventually. The thrill of the moment gave way to something deeper: the comfort of simply existing in the same space, of knowing he didn’t need her to fill the air with constant chatter to want her there. When he explained each of the events, she listened more than she expected herself to. Usually, technical details about things she knew nothing about just washed over her, but here, his voice caught her attention in a way that made her want to picture each pattern, each turn, each stride. She nodded slowly, eyes narrowing a little in concentration. “So… basically, Charlotte is an actual wizard,” she said when he finished. “You just… threw that all at me like it was nothing, but I’m pretty sure I’d trip over the first pole and end up wearing it like a crown.” The corner of her mouth pulled upward, her tone quiet and light. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m not competing.” Sort of split from his side when he started stressing out under the pressure of choosing a hat, and rolled her eyes as she went to explore, a little grin still spreading across her face. She didn’t feel the need to rush anymore. Instead of darting from one to the next, she let her fingers trail lazily along the brims, pausing when one caught her eye. A pale cream one with a narrow brim. A heavy dark brown that looked like it had been worn through a hundred dusty summers. A ridiculous oversized shape with a drooping brim that practically swallowed her head. Each one went on for a moment, long enough for her to glance toward him and see if he was watching, before being set back in place. It wasn’t so much about finding “the” hat anymore. The game had changed. It was about knowing he was there, leaning against the post, his gaze flicking up from time to time. It was about the warmth in her chest that came from the smallest signs he was paying attention. He did that a lot - pay attention to things. At least around her he did. He seemed to clock everything, and did everything in his power to keep her comfortable. He noticed when she was getting nervous, or when she wasn't fully comfortable, and took actions to change that. They were still trying to fix what had happened, she supposed, but she didn't want him to feel like that. Like he was walking on eggshells every time he was near her. It was her own fault, really, but she'd made her mind up there and then to fix that. He might not have long left, and she wanted the time he spent with her to be similar to the way it always had been - the way it used to be, anyway. For it to be fun and lighthearted and... well, she wanted them both to relax, just a little. She noticed the way he tilted his head up toward the sky, the faint crease at the edge of his brow like he was caught in some thought he wasn’t about to share just yet. She didn’t push. If there was one thing she’d learned about Axl, it was that he’d say things when he was ready, and not a second before. By the time she wandered back to him, she’d tried on more hats than she could count, and none of them felt more “right” than the others. She stopped in front of him, letting her weight settle to one hip, a faintly mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Alright,” she said, drawing the word out, “I’m officially delegating responsibility. I can't do it. You pick one.” She held up both hands slightly, palms out, as if to ward off any argument. “I’ve given this serious thought—by which I mean, I’ve tried on literally every single hat they own—and I’ve decided that you, my dear Axl, are now the appointed hat chooser.” His mock protest only made her grin widen. “Yes, you. Don’t look around like you’re hoping for another volunteer. There isn’t one. This is your cross to bear.” She kept her tone light, but there was a real gentleness in her eyes, a small trust in giving him the decision. When he agreed to food, her smile softened. “Perfect,” she said, the word simple but warm. “Because I’m pretty sure my stomach has been sending out distress signals for the last twenty minutes.” She took a small step closer, her shoulder brushing his as she glanced toward the nearest row of vendors. “And maybe something sweet after, if we’re not already too broke from buying the world’s most expensive chicken wings.” She lingered there a moment, not moving toward the food yet, just letting herself stand next to him. She didn’t have to talk or fill the space. The noise of the crowd, the faint music in the distance, the smell of fried food drifting on the air—it all blended together into something she wanted to remember exactly as it was. She thought about how he’d looked all evening—more relaxed than she was used to seeing, his smile less guarded, his eyes brighter. She wondered if he knew she’d noticed, if he realized that was the real reason she was so happy to be here. It wasn’t the hats or the food or even watching Charlotte—it was watching him in moments like this, when the heaviness seemed to lift. Finally, she nudged his arm gently with her elbow, breaking the pause. “Come on, Hat Master. Pick the winner, and then let’s go feed ourselves before I start gnawing on the display rack.” Her tone was playful, but she meant every word about wanting him to choose. It wasn’t about the hat—it was about having something from today that would always make her think of him, something she could tuck away for later, on days when things didn’t feel this light. |
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Axl tilted his head slightly as he thought back to the first time he had thrown a brush at Charlotte. The girl had been flabbergasted, but she immediately responded with sarcasm and fiery insults. It only took her three times to learn, and by now, it was habit for both of them. His lips twitched up as she spoke. "Good thing I don't really want to." He answered with a twinkle in his eyes, nodding in agreement to her next musings. "Why do you think I hang around the most mouthy, annoying, sarcastic people ever?" He asked with a teasing tone, his smile turning to a smirk as he glanced at her. If he didn't enjoy it, he would be awfully stupid to stay around them. And he liked to think that he wasn't awfully stupid. . He hadn't reaaaally expected her to listen as he explained the events. Usually he gave her way too much information just in case she wanted it and she understood none of it or it went in one ear and out the other. He didn't mind... it was her decision if she was interested or not, and apparently, she was interested. "Nooo, she can steer." He contradicted with a slight snort. "Good thing you wouldn't be the one running, then. The horse won't usually trip over anything as long as you steer them right." He shrugged, then studied her for a moment. "Then again, you may just let them crash into the pole. I feel like you'd need... a lot of work before steering at high speeds made any sense." His tone took on a joking lilt, but he knew she would whole heartedly agree with him. No running horses for Raegan. Unless, of course, she suddenly decided she was a horse woman. . He watched her split off again to go look at the hats, everything seeming more slowly and lazy now. Her fingers brushed over the brims, touch so light most of the hats didn't even shift. He tried not to watch too closely most of the time, but he loved just observing her exist. Specifically times like these, when she was happy and calm and looked like she didn't have a care in the world. . Although he still kept an eye on her, he was contemplating the song again. More lyrics had already come together in his mind, and he had resolved that as soon as he got home he would start fitting them to the song. And writing them down on an actual piece of paper. That would be important too. He supposed every artist had to have their Muse, and he should've known it would eventually come circling back to her. It always did. . His gaze landed on her again, her own face soft and almost glowing with a gentle calm pleasure as she weaved around the small stands, observing each hat like they were a special trophy. His lips turned up slightly at her expression- still the biggest thing keeping him sane. He didn't feel like there was anything to worry about if she was enjoying this. Enjoying life in general. As long as he could keep her happy, he would stay happy. He didn't need to be doing a bunch of stuff with her... he just needed to know that she wasn't grieving over something that hadn't happened yet, or worrying about things she couldn't control. . His gaze had flicked over to the rest of the fair for a moment before he heard footsteps, head turning back to where she was approaching. His eyebrows lifted slightly at that look, knowing it meant he was going to have to choose. A small sigh escaped before she even managed to get the words out, though he had to bite back a chuckle. "I cannot believe you're giving me this responsibility and expecting something good to come out of it." He groaned quietly, moving towards the hat stand. Once there, his eyes narrowed a twitch and he scanned the rows of hats, columns of hats, heaps of hats. It was obvious that he was quickly combing through them, dismissing some and keeping an eye on others, till his gaze landed on one in particular. A dark brown hat with light blue wrapping around the brim, a pheasant feather fastened to it. It wasn't super flashy, wasn't super huge, but it was pretty. Quiet. Just a nice hat. "I've made my executive decision." He announced as he lifted the hat and turned to her. "Do you approve?" His eyebrow arched in an almost comical questioning look. . Since he had a feeling she would, after she responded, he went and paid for that hat, bringing it back to her like a trophy and presenting it to her. "Your headpiece, m'lady." He stated with a swooping bow, straightening with a grin. . His mind now firmly fixed on food, he sniffed the air like a bloodhound and gestured to the vendors. "Let us go forth and tame your stomach, then." Wasting no time, he led the way towards where even the worst of human noses could smell BBQ chicken wings frying at a vendor. Once he made sure they were insanely overpriced- they were, at 15 bucks for 10 wings. Just stupid. Why would he care, though? He got the wings, triumphantly handing the basket like bucket thing to Raegan, looking pleased. "Would you like to snatch a drink or a treat, or sit down?" He asked, tilting his head. |
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Raegan tried to hold in her grin as Axl groaned about the “responsibility” of picking her hat, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. Honestly, she’d been hoping for this exact reaction—the over-the-top protest, the way he acted like she was forcing him into some world-ending decision. It was fun seeing him in mock distress, and she knew deep down he’d take the task more seriously than he let on. Sure enough, she watched as he started scanning the racks, his expression sharpening like he was choosing a weapon in battle instead of a simple hat. Her arms folded lightly across her chest as she leaned to one side, watching him comb through row after row. He was trying not to, but she could tell he was thinking hard about it. That, in itself, warmed her more than she expected. It meant something, didn’t it? That he wasn’t just grabbing the first thing to make her laugh. When he finally stopped and reached for the dark brown hat, Raegan tilted her head, her brow arching curiously. The light blue band caught her attention first, then the feather. Simple, not gaudy, but with enough detail to make it special. She blinked at him, then at the hat, then back at him again as he held it up. “Okay…” she said slowly, lips curving upward as if she was trying not to give him too much satisfaction too quickly. “You might actually have an eye for this.” She reached out and took the hat, balancing it carefully in her hands as if it was more important than the dozens she’d tried before. Her grin broke free when she saw the slightly comical way he raised his eyebrow at her. “Yeah, Axl. I approve. I approve big time.” The moment he disappeared to pay for it, her chest gave a small flutter she hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just the hat—it was the gesture, the quiet thoughtfulness tucked underneath his smirk and sarcasm. She had no doubt she’d keep this one, and not just because it fit well. That was the point - to have something from Axl. Although, she hadn't expected him to be paying for it. She just wanted something he'd picked. When he returned, presenting it like a knight delivering a sacred crown, Raegan couldn’t help the laugh that spilled out. “You’re ridiculous,” she said warmly, but she took the hat with a little bow of her own, slipping it on with a small flourish. She tipped the brim at him, eyes glinting with playfulness. “Your services are appreciated, good sir.” But then, of course, food called—and Raegan was far from about to argue. She followed at his side, the smell of BBQ teasing her long before the stand came into view. She hadn’t realized quite how hungry she was until then, her stomach giving a little growl of approval at the scent. She wrinkled her nose when she caught sight of the prices, though, and leaned closer to Axl as he paid, whispering with faux seriousness, “At these prices, these better be the most life-changing wings I’ve ever tasted. Like… wings that rewrite my soul.” The basket landed in her hands and she looked at it like treasure, smiling despite herself. The ridiculousness of it all—the overpriced food, the way he’d handed it over so triumphantly, the fact that she was walking around a fair in a cowboy hat he’d picked out—it all made her chest feel light. Like this wasn’t just an evening; it was a memory. One of those ones she knew she’d pull out later when she needed something to smile about. At his question, she tilted her head, considering. The truth was, she didn’t much care. Drink, treat, sitting down—it didn’t matter as much as just being here. But she didn’t want to say that too plainly, so instead she lifted the basket toward him in offering. “Let’s find somewhere to sit. Somewhere not too crowded,” she decided after a moment, her voice still light but with a softer undercurrent. “That way I can eat these properly without worrying about accidentally elbowing a stranger.” She gave him a pointed look, her lips twitching upward. “Or you.” She fell into step beside him again, walking more slowly now. The energy of earlier had settled into something calmer, more steady. Raegan felt good—content, like this was exactly where she was supposed to be. The fair stretched around them, full of music and laughter and smells that reminded her of summers she couldn’t quite place, but it all faded into background noise compared to the quiet thread of comfort she felt at his side. She glanced at him again, her smile small but real. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a day like this before,” she admitted softly, adjusting the hat once more. “Not just the show. The whole… being here with you-" She paused, trying to find the right word without making it sound too heavy. “It feels easy. I've missed you," she murmured. It was a bit odd, she supposed... she had missed him, though. It had been so long since they'd just spent the day together and not had to worry about anything. Of course, his illness wasn't ideal, but it nice all the same just to be here. |
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Snow and Sleet Mix, Clearing at Night
