fallin' all over myself...

HERCULES had never been too caught up in trends or the latest fashion. He mostly just wore whatever was the most comfortable, it wasn’t until he began travelling and seeing different styles in different cities did he start to feel a little out of touch with the times. As he stood wide eyed in front of a man in colorful accessories he began to feel super self conscious in his boring shorts and a shirt.  “What?! No way man!” he called out, only just registering in his head what had been said to him. His eyes lit up, he wanted to look just as cool as this stranger! “I was just going to ask where you got them– If i bought the green we could match!”

♡

Benji couldn’t wipe the grin off his face at Herc’s approval. He was the kind of person that was going to wear what he wanted to wear no matter what anyone thought, but it was still nice to get compliments. And to make people smile, that was the best thing in the world. “Right inside here,” he gestured to the store behind him, buzzing with excitement over the idea of matching with this kind stranger. “Do it! You should totally do it! We could take such a good selfie!”

He had been on his way back to the bed and breakfast his mom ran with groceries in tow when he ran in to a person he didn’t recognize….. and damn, was he dressed fantastically. For the longest moment, he stared, unsure of what to say in regards to what he was wearing. He himself had chosen comfort over style since he was running errands for his mama but this man looked like he was going to a party. Finally, he found words to describe what he was thinking. “No! No, you look great!” He stammered out. “I couldn’t pull it off but you make it work!”

♡

He was starting to get nervous. Not that Benji cared what anyone thought, not really, he wouldn’t change for anyone but Riley, but with the way Landon was staring he was beginning to wonder if he looked like an idiot to everyone passing by. Then he spoke. “Oh, thank you,” he breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sure you could pull them off! You wanna try?” He removed the glasses from his face to hold them out to the other. “Here, try! Check your reflection in the shop window! They’d suit you too!”

Prentiss didn’t get too many sunny days, but today the sun came from out behind the clouds and Iridessa took advantage of it. She loved the heat from the rays on her skin, and how it made her unbelievably giddy. Today was going to be a good day, she was going to make sure of it. What could make a good day a better one though? Shopping, of course! Iridessa was about to swing the doors open when someone with an eccentric outfit was already stepping out. Causing her to back up a little as she admired his outfit with a bright smile. “No, no! I think pink suits you. It’s definitely a vibe.”

♡

He beamed immediately. “A vibe, yes! A good vibe? I hope a good vibe, that’s what I was going for.” Benji lowered his glasses to see her better, with less of a pink tint, stepping out of the doorway to avoid getting hit if someone else burst out the way he had. “Are you going inside? They’re having a sale! Half the store is on clearance! These were not, unfortunately... but the hat was! You should get one of the hats, I’m sure there’s half a shelf left, one of them would look spectacular on you!”

Kriss would have preferred to spend his time working; cultivating people’s lawns and working out his anger on hedge rows was ideal for him if not always plausible. Like today. He had nothing to do so he dragged his moody self to the beach, deciding to go for a swim since that’s what most people tended to do during the summer.

He dived into the waves and swam through the salt water with his eyes open, relishing the burn as he cut through the water. He only came up for air when he couldn’t hold his breath any longer, breaking the water with a gasp. He slung his hair out of his face and began to swim back towards the water, coming out onto the sand where he flopped down on the ratty towel he used for rare visits to the beach

He tilted his face towards the sun, letting it dry him off and bake his skin. It was a crap shoot as to whether he’s ran or burn but he didn’t care either way. Aloe worked miracles.

♡

Despite it being a short walk away, Benji didn’t spend much time on the beach. He was happier bouncing around town, exploring the woods even, than wading through the sand and waves. Collecting shells could be fun, though, and that was what he’d decided to spend his day doing.

Taking an uninvited seat next to Kriss, he sat his bucket of colorful seashells beside of him, pulling a pink tinted one from the top to look over.

“I’m a little worried about getting in,” he informed the guy at random. “Last time I tried to swim, I almost drowned.” To no fault of his own. It was hard to keep your head afloat when your arms were disappearing. Luckily Benji had stopped flickering before his lungs ran out of oxygen and he’d made it back to shore, but it had been quite anxiety inducing. “You want a shell? I’ve got lots of shells.”

“OH! Wow you have a lot. Can we get this one anyway? I’d like to keep it,” Wally finished that sentence a little sheepishly, realizing that these shiny objects might not be as rare as he thought. It would fit in with his collection of items so well, he could place it right between the spoon and the object that someone told him was a used canister of film.

Wally looks at the trash again, reaching in deep to trying to snatch the coin. He’s seen a lot of people staring at him while preoccupied with his mission but he couldn’t bring himself to care much. Feet lifting off the ground, Wally finally grabs his prize. “GOT IT! Pull me up Benji! It’s time to eat,” Wally kicks his feet in excitement as he yells towards his friend. 

♡

“Of course! You can never have too many!” Or maybe you could, money could lead to corruption, but one coin certainly wasn’t going to turn anyone into a greedy person, and Benji didn’t want to get into that discussion in the middle of movie night. Besides, Wally didn’t strike him as the type of person to turn into a money hungry business owner.

Yanking the man out immediately, Benji held up his hand for a high-five. “Way to go! What are you in the mood for? I’m feeling some cotton candy!”

Riley rolled her eyes, looking at him with a large grin. He was exactly what she needed right now. She wondered if he knew that or if fate had brought them together again. “Yeah, but I can imagine you to be however old I want sooo….” Her voice faded off as she started to walk back to her things to gather them up. It had been awhile since she wasn’t thinking about anything at home. That’s why Benji was so perfect for her, he always had a way of taking her mind off things. “Any ideas? Or think it’s a walk until we find something kind of day?” She asked while putting her supplies back into her backpack. 

♡

“Oh no! Stop it right there! Are you going to make my hair go gray?” Benji reached up, grabbing fistfuls of his curls in his hands. “Riley, please! My beautiful locks are all that I have!” Dropping the dramatics fairly quickly -- he had the attention span of a squirrel hunting puppy -- he let out a long ‘hmmm’ as he thought it over. “I’m always down for a walk until we find something kind of day! Or we could go to the art museum, I haven’t been in a long time!”

“Not as old as you!” She joked back, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re practically a relic!” Of course he was only as old as her imagination had created but that wasn’t the point. She’d always thought of him as an older brother. He guided her through life when no one else could, not even her own parents. “Well yeah, we’re the dream team, silly.” Riley’s smile continued to grow as she spoke. This felt like a part of her childhood was returning, the happy part. “I’d have to pack up my stuff but I have some free time today before dinner if you’re up for it.”

♡

“If I remember correctly,” he tapped his chin with a hum, as if he was thinking hard about it, “you were born before me. So it looks like we’ll have to be relics together!” It was so nice to hear her say that --- a relief. Riley knew more people now than she did when she was a little girl. He couldn’t be offended if she’d replaced him as her best friend. She most likely didn’t need to rely on someone from her imagination to keep her company anymore. So to know that she hadn’t outgrown him completely... hadn’t forgotten about him, even... “Always! I am always up for it! Let’s go find some trouble to get into!”

That shiny object looked so much closer than it seemed. Wally had his hand deep in the trash can but it still seemed just slightly out of reach. He reaches in further, fingertips inching closer to the object. A familiar voice stops his journey and he looks over his shoulder to see Benji. Perfect, he thinks. The perfect partner in crime. 

“Hello Benji! Come over here and look at this.” Wally points in the trash can, looking back and forth between the object and his friend. He loved showing things off to Benji, it was always so much fun. 

“I think we can trade this for the food they have over there, want to try? You might have better luck than me.” 

♡

Benji wasted no time doing as he was told, leaning head first into the can himself to take a peek, always curious, especially when Wally was around. He didn’t notice anything other than common trash, though, before peeping back out.

“What is it? Is it the coin at the bottom?” It was the only guess he had, and Wally was right, it could be traded for food, but they’d need more than a dime. “I have some money,” he fished in his pocket to pull out a handful of change and show it to the other. “We can use this if you want a snack or two! Maybe even three!”

Riley felt her eyes well but fought back so he didn’t see her emotion show. She didn’t want him to know how she really was, how she was just trying to hold on. He had come back into her life at the perfect time. She felt similarly now to how she did when she first created him. As she pulled away and found her smile she gave him a look. “I’m not a kid anymore you know.” Life was so much simpler then. “I’m all grown up now! Or, uh, kind of!” Riley was just glad he was here now when she needed him. “No way, you were always the one bringing the adventure! I just was lucky enough to tag along.”

♡

“I know, you’re getting old,” he teased, sticking his tongue out at her. It was emotional for him, hidden underneath his positive expression. He still remembered when Riley was just a little girl, barely old enough to talk, still using crayons to color her pictures. Here she was, an adult now, and he couldn’t protect her anymore. He felt like a parent--- no, an older brother that had to watch his baby sister fly away from the next. “I think we made a pretty good team,” Benji replied with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m always up for another adventure when you are, just say the word!”

TIANA’S shoulders visibly dropped with relief at his enthusiasm for her homemade snacks, in theory it had been a good idea to prepare a good mix of junk and healthy and sweet and savory bites– but when it came down to eating it she was a little screwed. Plus she had way more at home too. “Please take as much as you want, hell you can take it all!” she smiled, and she meant it, her teeth would soon be sore with sugar if she wasn’t careful. “Uh huh– its all made with love and spare time. My secret ingredients!” Tiana’s eyes followed his finger to the fruit. “Oh its fresh pineapple in dark chocolate. Its one of my favorite’s.” her brows furrowed as she looked up the screen, she hadn’t bothered to check either, she had been too caught up in preparing. “Hmm.. I don’t know actually– but between you and me I hope its somethin’ funny.”

♡

“I think I’d balloon up if I ate all that at once,” Benji cackled, but he was digging her generosity. Not only because it was benefiting him at the moment, either. He adored kind people. It was his favorite thing about Riley, how goodhearted she was, it made him want to do better every day. “Everything made with love is wonderful! I was made with love!” Not being born or created the same as humans, he didn’t realize how strange that may sound to... a human. “Oh, I’ve never tried that! Can I try that?” He nodded in agreement, reaching for a piece of the dark chocolate pineapple chunks. “Funny movies are the best. I just watched Tommy Boy the other day, and I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt!”