true blue.

"You'd think that I would know what to expect, going to a few events in town now, but it's surpassed my expectations," she announced, doing a quick turn where she was standing, as though taking everything in. People talked a lot about small towns, how they could be a bit backwards, a little small minded, but Ashleigh hadn't seen any of that in Merrock. And she had also seen first hand how well they came together to make things happen. "Yeah, exactly! Sure, the money part is fantastic, I hope they make a lot, but it feels like it should be in one of those cutesy movies," the kind that you watched and wished you could live in. "Rides fi-- oh, good point," she let out a loud laugh, realizing that getting on something that could spin her around with a full stomach might be bad. Duh. "Tea cups, maybe? Get the most whip-around kind of ride out of the way?"

"I'm glad to hear it!" Kennedy gave a fond smile, bumping her shoulder against Ashleigh's in a playful manner. "But you still have a few things to look forward to before your first official year as a Merrockite; Creekfest still holds my number one ranking." Although the heat and sunshine in Texas would make Ken seem like she was a Summer girl, it never stopped her from living up each season to its fullest. She appreciated the fall, and the seasons in between that came with living in an eastern town. "Exactly! It's Hallmark-y in a way, like you wouldn't be surprised if you'd fall head over heels for a soggy park ranger," she teased, referencing the dunk booth, which, in its essence, was quintessentially small-town. "Great first start; that way we can gauge how we feel after spinning. Should I lead the way?"

"I'm sure we will," JJ agreed, grinning. "I haven't taken any of her classes myself, but I'm well aware of her artistic talent. I have a lot of respect for that. I'm not going to lie. The only artistic thing I've ever done is draw anatomy diagrams when I was in medical school. My friends used to say that they looked very accurate. But that's as far as my drawing skills will go. I think Mia would be better off getting that art lesson from someone like Mandy," he explained with a laugh. "I'll see if I can swing by, but I'm not making any promises. Spring Fling is going to be all about Mia." He leaned over to give his daughter a kiss on the top of her head.

"Well, you got through medical school, right?" Kennedy raised an inquisitive brow, a teasing smile on her lips. "I'm sure your drawings were informative enough to get you through, but I'd leave the creative lessons to Mandy myself. I've taken a few paint and sip classes to know she's good at what she does." She always gave praise to those who earned it, and for someone as unfamiliar with a brush as Kennedy was, she made a creation or two not worth discarding, which called for it in her eyes. She supposed teaching Mia would be easier than those slightly tipsy on wine. "No worries. I know the Daddy-daughter days are special to you, but figured I'd extend the offer if you were inclined."

For: Kennedy @kennedyxwarrenWhere: Summer Carnival

Kennedy had been deciding on her next sweet, so she gladly took a piece of candy from the offered bag from Allison, a small smile on her face as she laughed. "I'm in full agreement with you on that one. The carnival is one of my favorite summer activities," she admitted, before nodding. "Maybe not the whole elaborate set-up, but I had a couple who really insisted on a fortune-telling machine and a cotton candy station. They wanted a sort of whimsical reception, but in my opinion it seemed more like a fever dream. It was easier said than done."

WHO: Seungbin & Kennedy @kennedyxwarren

"Right, we're keeping things silly and goofy today," Kennedy joked, although it'd been a nice reminder for herself. She always struggled with her work-life balance, keeping herself from reaching for her phone to check something or the other on a day off. She supposed it was nice having someone to keep that same energy of trying their best to de-stress. "Beau would like any of them if I'm being honest," she smiled, her golden retriever a bit too rambunctious among the late-night crowds, so she brought him during the day hours, when things were calm. But he deserved something for being the good boy he was. "But I think the Lobster would be our best bet. What are you leaning towards for LeeLee?"

WHERE: Summer Carnival, downtown WHO: Sam and OPEN (0/4)

"Me? I'm just trying to support the cause," Kennedy gave a teasing grin, though, to be honest, it was probably her competitive nature shining through. Even if it was just a silly little carnival game, she got annoyed every time the target barely budged. She wasn't sure if her throwing arm was off, or if it'd been intentional, but she'd been locked in on the concept of finally dunking someone. "Nothing on you, I'm sure I'd be just as determined if it was anyone else in hindsight," she laughed, before she gave a nod at the mention of the sweet treat. "Suppose that's as good a consolation prize as any."

WHO: ash & @kennedyxwarren

"Right?" Kennedy gave a bright smile, taking in the various booths surrounding them. She was glad Ashleigh was able to see how she saw Merrock, for the charming, not-quite-overreaching concept, unlike some other big cities would put on, as proved by the walkable carnival grounds. "Wholesome is a good way to describe it, kind of feels more Hallmark-y than a money grab," she giggled, before considering her question with a hum. "Rides first, then food, I've learned that the hard way in the past." An amused smile, as she turned to her with an inquisitive brow, "What's calling out to you?"

Although Erin had only been living in the neighbourhood for a year, her friendship with Kennedy had become something that she had begun to cherish over time. It was rare to find someone who understood what it meant to be a career-driven woman in this day and age. The fact that Kennedy was one of the kindest human beings she had ever known was just an added bonus. She was grateful to have someone like her in her life, who was constantly checking in and making sure she was taking care of herself. Erin would do the same for Kennedy as well, so it had not come as a surprise to see her appear unannounced at her door on a Friday night. "Hey, you know I am." Erin greeted her friend with a rather wide grin, stepping away from the door to let her inside the apartment. "You're the best, Ken. I was just about to order myself some takeout and put on something to binge-watch. But this is so much better."

"Me? 'Naw, pretty sure you've done the same for me one time or another," she grinned at the comment, as the brunette opened the door for her, stepping into her place. Erin had done a lot of work at the firm, so she knew the beginning of the weekend would be the best time to catch her. Just as busy reviewing legal work, as Kennedy was rifling through vendor contracts, or meeting with clients, she knew she could use a reprieve. "I brought wine, if you feel like indulging with me- have any glasses?" She rested her tote on the living room coffee table, pulling out the various goodies she'd brought with her. The bottle from Handpick'd to start, chilled before bringing it over to her place. "And you can catch me up, how has everything been, darlin'?"

WHO: rafael & @kennedyxwarren

The heat of the summer was normal for her. Growing up in the South, she wasn't all too deterred by the weather on the East Coast. Except for the first few winters that took an adjustment, Kennedy always found herself looking forward to the more proper seasons. The early days of summer, especially, when she'd been able to spend as much time on outdoor patios or her porch outside of work, soaking in the extra hours of daylight when the sun hadn't been beating down on her too much. She was happy to get Rafael's text, glad to spend some time in the sun with good company.

with: gavin & open (capped at 4/7)

Even if it hadn't been football season, Kennedy still liked coming to Touchback. A sort of camaraderie between those watching whatever sport was on, even if she may not have been invested herself. Shrugging off her blazer before stepping through the doors, her eyes caught the screen. The World Cup, something she wouldn't mind watching some of. Heading toward the bar, she ordered a glass of wine before the other spoke up, looking over as he spoke. "Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect. I'll just cheer when whoever the collective bar is rooting for scores," she gave a teasing roll of her eyes. "Gavin, hi! I'm Kennedy or Ken if you prefer. I think we've briefly met around our neighborhood, but nice to formally meet you."

"Don't mention it." JJ shrugged, his smile not fading from his lips. "Well, I do hope you enjoy the activity. Mia and I will be at Spring Fling, and I'm thinking of taking her to the Color Wine booth for the art lessons that Mandy's offering. I think that would be exciting, and it's definitely more kid-friendly. I can't imagine having a toddler around thorny roses and scissors just yet." He chuckled softly at the thought of making flower arrangements that weekend. Perhaps he could give it a shot if his parents were able to take Mia off his hands for a few hours.

"That'll be so fun for her! Mandy's always scheming up creative activities for all ages, and they're more kid-friendly than flower arrangements for sure. Hope y'all enjoy it," She gave a bright smile, knowing that the event would be a great day out for the two, the father and daughter day, probably special to him. "But, I'm sure there'll be plenty of flowers, if you are so inclined to test your own hands, and happen to be free for a few minutes, I'll be around."

"You mean we damn well better be quick about it?" she asked, unable to keep a laugh out of her voice when the accent slipped through a little bit, but… there was some truth to it, right? If you were going to do something that was going to draw attention, then you might as well do it as quickly as possible to make sure that you weren't going to land yourself in any kind of trouble. Hopefully. Ashleigh didn't want to know what people talked about after church on Sunday mornings, but she did know that she didn't want to be it. "I mean, I am good at putting my foot in a stirrup and throwing myself up over a horse, so you might be on to something," and the wall wasn't going to move the way that a horse could -- was this going to be easier than Ashleigh thought? "Alright," she nodded her head, "cup your hands so I can get a boost, and then when I'm over, I'll heft you up there with me." Between the two of them, how hard could this really be? Ashleigh peered over the fence again, and nodded with more confidence, rolling up her sleeves and getting ready to make her move whenever Kennedy got into position.

"Well...yes. So we'd better hurry this thang' up." A giggle fell from Kennedy's lips at her words, especially as the Texas twang slipped into the words after she heard something similar from Ashleigh. It brought her memories back to her younger years, the two of them thick as thieves, maybe in their sneakier ways as teens. Chatting in the evening during late nights over the phone, or Kennedy having snuck into her house when she was overwhelmed at home. Merrock was different, in all the best ways, though she still did not want to be the subject of town gossip. Glancing once more over her shoulder, she nodded at her friend's suggestion. "Got'cha," she didn't give it a second thought, before she knelt down slightly, cupping her hands to give her the boost she needed to climb the fence. Careful dark eyes to make sure she made it up okay, before deciding on her next move, pulling herself over in the same way.

"Leave it to me to make sure everyone is staying fed and hydrated!" Shay truly lived to care for others. Whether it be her daughter, the children at school, her friends. Food and forcing some down time was the least that she could do for someone like Kennedy. "I'm just happy that you're even willing to take a break. Music and food, who can beat that? Let's go grab some seats." Shayna happily led the way toward the stage, making conversation as the pair walked. "How has the booth been going? It looked busy when I was by earlier."

"One of the things I admire most about you." A genuine smile appeared on Kennedy's lips. Usually, she was the same way, making sure the people in her life were taken care of, even before herself, in times. It'd been nice to see that energy returned to her from Shayna. "Well, I'm glad I had a few extra volunteers, so I was able to," she gave an airy laugh, following alongside the brunette as she eyed where they could find a place to sit. "Oh, it's had a great turnout so far! Kind of surprising, but I'm glad everyone's able to embrace their inner creative."

"I'm not kidding." JJ playfully rolled his eyes at Kennedy's remark before the waitress approached to pour her a cup of coffee. "Alright, alright..." He shrugged before turning to the waitress and placing an order for some scrambled eggs and a short stack of pancakes for Mia, and an omelette for himself. "Well, I do appreciate what you're doing a whole lot, Ken... In case that wasn't all that clear."

After taking a long sip of her coffee to wake herself up, she was happy letting JJ order for himself and Mia, before placing an order for French toast and a fruit cup for herself. Putting her mug down, she gave an appreciative smile. "I know, and coming from you, it means a lot," she was happy smiling on the sidelines, but it was nice to hear it every now and then that the efforts she put in were worthwhile.

"That's amazing! I'm so glad this event is having such a great turnout. I think all this will really change the Benefactor's mind, don't you?" Taryn really hoped it would. She would hate to see the business at the Cobblestone decline as well as any other small business in town. "You know what? I'll make sure to put some donuts and drinks aside just for you so we will make sure that you have some." she smiled as they walked. "People love bouquets! I want to make some before the weekend is over. Also, I was thinking, what if we made something of a deal? I was thinking that the Cobblestone would be perfect with some flower bouquets on the tables and such. Changed weekly and I would love them to be your bouquets. In exchange, I could curate some sweet treat platters that you could have for your appointments. If something like that would interest you."

"I'd hope so! I'm kind of cautiously optimistic about it all. But still- it's nice to see the turnout this has," Kennedy gave a bright smile despite. She knew it was a small step in the grand scheme of things at the beginning of the event's planning. But for now, she'd take it all in, the work the committee put in the past few months. "Truly, that would be so sweet of you, and I'd never pass up pastries from Cobblestone," she let out a small laugh, knowing her sweet tooth was insatiable. At Taryn's suggestion, Kennedy's eyes lit up. "I'd love to see whatever type of bouquet you make. And I can definitely see it fitting to have some bouquets for the cafe! The ambiance is already stellar, but just as a little something extra. And I'm sure my clients would love baked goods during their meetings, since I already try to sweeten the deal with them, it'd be fitting if they were yours."