( redemption. )

After making every shot at the basketball game, Leia turned around, throwing her arms up enthusiastically. “Woo! Let’s see someone do better than that - you can’t do better than that,” she said, trash talking no one specifically. She was getting looks from the people passing her by, some amused, others judgmental, but Leia paid no attention either way. When it came to this side of her, there was really no holding her back. “There’s no game I won’t kick ass at,” she continued, getting louder in hopes of finding someone to challenge her. “Someone buy me a funnel cake! This is my fair now!”

Brigley was apart of the group would were highly amused by Leia’s outburst of cockiness that she was reflecting, oh how it was to be young and full of life when it came to games at the fair, he quickly cleared his throat, “ How about you and I go one on one and loser buys the other a funnel cake? “ he raised an eyebrow with a smug grin on his face, he was always joining in with the community to keep close to everyone. Afterall he took a vow to keep the town safe and happy. Brigley pulled out a ten dollar bill and held it up, “ One round each, first one to five consecutive shots? “ 

I was watching the kids who live down the hall from me last night while their parents went out on a date– to sum up the evening, I was begged to be in a TikTok video from the moment I walked in the door.

Good ole’ tiktok making everyone bust a move and attempting to break a hip. 

Savannah didn’t plan on finding herself at the fair by herself, but here she was, wandering the grounds and trying to decide what she wanted to do next. She was down by the area where all the games and rides were and found herself looking up at the ferris wheel. It was one of her least favorite rides, if only for the fact most of the time you’d look and see couples making out in the cars as they whirred around. Sav just shook her head as she made the decision to go play one of the games for some fun and when she turned around, she bumped into someone by accident. “Oh, whoa, sorry dude. That was totally my bad.”

Brigley would rather be enjoying a funnel cake or some fried food then making sure everyone was playing nicely around the fair, He, of course, loved his job more than life but there were moments he would rather be enjoying something else than be working. Luckily his shift was ending soon and he would be able to get some food to go, he was looking up at a ride, the screams of children and young adults echoed through the evening air as they enjoyed themselves, Brigley went to walk when another body came in contact with his, with instinct his hands went up to grasp gently at the other’s arms, his shoulders tensed slightly before the words filtered in his head and he relaxed, “ No worries, you’re okay though, right? “ he questioned as he let his hands fall and move to steady on his belt. “ Hope you’re enjoying yourself tonight. “ he added.

Summer was pretty excited for the fair, she loved hanging out with the various farm animals, chowing down on all the fried foods, going on the rides, and playing the games that she knew were most definitely rigged. But it was the kid in her that made her love doing all these things so much. She’d just been over at the milk bottle game, doing her best to try and knock all of the bottles down and was on her last ball. And with some stroke of luck, she pitched it and all three came crashing down. “Holy shit! I did it! That’s right, I’m the champion, I am the master!” She jumped up excitedly, grabbing the prize from the guy running the game. “Beat that!”

Brigley walked through the fair, his black slacks, blue button down fitting snug on his body while his belt held his holster and badge on his waist, he was content, he had spent the last few days in a low place, it was a rough time of the year but when it came to the Castlewood Fair he was happy, reminding him of all the fun times he endured when he was younger and before he left for the Marines when he was eighteen. Brigley laughed as Summer beamed with excitement over the game she beat, it was always luck of the draw with majority of fair games but sometime you had the luck of the draw and you beat the system. “ alright, let’s see you beat it twice.” he taunted with a smile. 

There were only two weeks left before the new school year started and Ella was doing her best to make sure she’d spent some quality time with her daughter. As was tradition, she and Alice were walking around the fair, Ella letting Alice pick where to go next and what activity to do. Currently they were heading towards the animals, her daughter rushing just a little ahead of her as she lead the way. “Alice, honey slow down, remember mommy isn’t as young as she used to be.” Ella hollered a little out to her, just as they finally reached the goats.

It was Brigley’s favorite time of year, although he would personally never admit that out loud,  the fair was his favorite town event, it took him back to when he was a kid. Now he was patrolling the event he once ran wild through, the corner of his lips were curved into the smallest of smiles as he walked around, listening to banter and laughter as people ran past him to get to their favorite rides, games or food stands. He was walking through the games when he almost tripped over a kid running towards a load of animals, he chuckled softly when he saw Ella coming up behind her, “ Have you signed her up for rugby yet? She’ll be taking out grown adults in no time. “ Brigley joked lightheartedly. 

He was a fighter. He really was. I’ve watched people tear him down, and then ask for his help. And he would help them. He would spend hours helping them. I’ve always admired that part of him.