let the monsters know you're willing

Well look on the bright side. At least you’re not in a free clinic. Now that’d be gross.

But it would be free. Priorities. 

Kingsley noticed the disdain written on her face. “Are you more of a suburb or maybe a country kind of girl? Like a small town? I guess there are always pros and cons to everything.” She grinned at Carmen and said, “Thank you. I honestly don’t know how my parents came up with it.”

Carmen pursed her lips. "I mean, I've never lived anywhere that's not a city. At this point I'm dying to move someplace small and quiet. But who knows, being me, I'd probably end up hating it there too." She cocked her head to the side. "Well, maybe they named you after Kingsley Amis, an old fat Englishman who coincidentally wrote the book One Fat Englishman. Not that you're English, or fat -- I don't know, just a theory."

"Put a carrot on my nose and call me Olaf." He bit his lip. "I’m not homeless now. And I wasn’t quite so homeless for the past few years.”

"God, I love Frozen." Carm muttered under her breath and slowly quirked her lips into a smile. "I'm glad about that. I was about to kick my dog out of my guest room and offer it to you, but I think Hermes will be happy that I didn't. Have you lived here for a while, or did you stay somewhere else?"

Have you ever injured anyone badly? Sorry, that’s probably a horribly crass question, but I’m genuinely interested. Yeah, if you think that sitting at a desk fixing grammar mistakes is wild, then I’m a daredevil.

Mmm, sure! I've sent plenty of people to the hospital -- And I've gone a few times myself -- but I don't think I've ever done irreversible damage. I think the worst thing was a dislocated shoulder. Or maybe a bruised spleen. [laughs] Yeah, that's really hardcore. So you don't write actual articles? Man, I was gonna ask your name so I can google you and read up on all the excellent stories by you, but I guess I can't do that now. 

"Always hot? I would melt." Stiles laughed, crinkling his nose. "I think I’m part popsicle, or something of the sort. If it gets too hot, I cry.” He kept smile, looking down for a moment before looking back up. “Erm…Well, a lot of those places aren’t very kind to the homeless.”

"Sounds like you're a snowman," Carmen replied lightheartedly, but softened her features when she heard his next statement. "I suppose not. But that's why you come to New York, where the people are not necessarily kinder, but you can get away with almost anything."

"Really? Wow, I can’t believe we ran into each other here. I’ve driven to San Francisco when the mood strikes me and I love it there. I must admit, I’m not a huge fan of the hills there. Walking around the city can be a nightmare in certain parts." Kingsley gave the blonde a huge grateful smile and said, "Thanks! That would be super helpful. Oh, where are my manners. It’s nice to meet you Carmen, I’m Kingsley."

"Oh, it's a gorgeous city! But I am anything but it's biggest fan. The hills are annoying and there's dog shit on almost every sidewalk. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of any city, and I'm just waiting to get out of here." Carmen paused, then shrugged it off. Whatever. "Kingsley, it's nice to meet you. You have a very pretty name."

"California? That is…West, yes?" He slapped himself mentally. It had to be West, he was on the East coast. “Beautiful?” Stiles shrugged. “Sometimes. Sometimes it’s rather…horrible.”

Carmen nodded and smiled. "Yep, you're right. Over there it's almost always hot, and never snows -- hell, if it rains, we cry." She began to laugh but stopped suddenly when she heard his words. "Oh, no. What does that mean?"

Kingsley’s face lit up at her revelation causing her to exclaim, “Really?! Which part are you from? I’m from Sacramento, so it’s very different to New  York. And I hope I do get better. Getting lost everyday is not something I want to experience everyday.”

"San Francisco! You weren't too far from me," Carmen stated with a grin. "When I moved here, oh, 5 years ago, I only had to really know how to get to one place every day. Once I mastered that route, I quickly became much more comfortable exploring a bit more. But in case you do find yourself needing guidance, you should really find some people you can rely on. Like I said, people on this coastline are pretty stiff -- but if you need it, I can help you out... I'm Carmen, by the way. Hah. Did I already say that?"

"I’m from, eh, I’m from Russia, you know? And grew up mostly in Germany and Switzerland. So, snow has a very special place in my heart."

"Wow. That sounds pretty surreal. Me, on the other hand, I'm from California. I didn't see snow until I moved here a few years back. I love it, but you probably appreciate it a little more than me. Is Europe as beautiful as everyone makes it out to be?"

"And in this case, bravery slapped me upside the head." she said with a laugh. "Gosh, I would hate to think of what would’ve happened if I ended up somewhere unsafe. A West coast girl like me shouldn’t just dive into the deep end."

Carmen perked up suddenly when she heard Kingsley's words. "You're from the West Coast too? I'm not alone!" She laughed. "All New Englanders are really stiff. Everything is different here -- the people, the architecture. But take it from me, you'll get better."

"i really love, uh…the snow. Cold weather. And everyone seems so happy now."

"I admit, I do like the cold. But everyone's happy on Halloween, too -- I mean, free candy!"

Oh same, my parents just smothered all of us with love.  And I was a little reckless, honestly I think my parents were more proud than annoyed by that.  Oh you’re really going to try this huh? Alright then what’s in it for me if I do it? *she smirks* And we definitely can’t have that.  Confidence is fine, but any more and you might get into assholey and I can’t imagine you being assholey

The more you talk about your parents, the more adorable they sound. I'd love to meet them one day. What's in it for you? Well, you get pink fucking hair, and all of my adoration for the rest of time. Is that enough? Don't worry, I'm only part-asshole. At least that's what I'd like to believe.

Do not knock the hillbilly dad, didn’t he own a vineyard. Probably with really great wine. Not really interesting yet you say you’re a boxer? Boxing is awesome and probably really really hard to do. Well, I’m a principal ballet dancer at NYCB, I’ve got a pet turtle named Crush… And on Sunday nights I like to karaoke in my pjs.

Okay, I understand your point. He's got an accessible vineyard which provides easy clearance to steal wine. If that life was offered to me, I'd take it. Boxing's kinda cool, but ballet is so much cooler! You have to be so graceful to do that stuff. I'd fall on my face and make a fool out of myself. [laughs] I'd love to see you sing karaoke, I have a feeling it'd be very amusing. 

Yeah my mother is like addicted to hair dye and allowed us to dye our hair whenever we wanted.  I’m not sure a green would turn out well but I may do pink, if you talk me into it.  Oh we definitely can’t have you full of hot air.

That's sweet. My parents were pretty protective with us, but I did stupid, reckless things anyway. Well, looks like I'm going to have to do a lot of talking, because it's my new mission to see this through. You with pink hair. Priceless. [laughs] I'm already pretty full of myself. If you go any further, I'll pop like a balloon. 

"I’m rather…fond, of, uh, this…uh, holiday season."

"That makes one of us. I'm more of a Halloween fan."

What?! Taylor Swift is amazing, though! I mean, she is now, after she released 1989. That album is amazing. Have you not listened to it? 

I've listened to it many hundreds of times. It's almost on Beyonce's level. Almost. But people are clinging onto her Love Story days and they're really bringing me down. 

'This' being where we find out we're secretly Lindsey Lohan in the Parent Trap. It's a very cool feature to have. Any other cool features to go along with it?

Hell yeah. I'm the British one that had to get her ears pierces with a needle and a lemon, and you can be the one with the hillbilly dad. Hm, let's see... I'm not very interesting. I'm a boxer... I grew up in California... I have a pug named Hermes. That's really it. What about you? Got any quirky facts about yourself to share?