WRONGTVRNS.

Something ached deep within him when Sophie looked to her uncle to answer instead answering him herself. He wanted to believe his daughter was just getting a leg up on teenage angst, but the truth of the matter was that the move had been hard on her, and it hadn't exactly helped that Dom had spent the previous year becoming more distant as he threw himself into work. They were still trying to find their new dynamic, and while he should be happy she was bonding with her Uncle Bear and had that comfortability with someone, all he could feel instead was just... sadness. Yet another person he had let down...

As much as Bear could understand and accept that their life experiences had been different and they therefore experienced the shared hardships in different ways, he couldn't fathom his older brother's loss. There was nothing for him to base it off of or compare it to, not that he'd personally want to, but he wasn't so dense to know that post escape from their messed up family and Woodside that life hadn't exactly been a cakewalk for Dominic.

     "In a place like this with that as one of the activity options?" India's smiled deepened a little. "Seeing that satiated look on your face as well? Yes, there's only one thing that could leave a woman looking that satisfied." It was a joke yet she still chuckled along with it. Despite everything she'd never been all that drawn to expell aggression and frustration so India wasn't entirely sure how it'd work for her. Seeing Kira, however, she was tempted to give it a try. "Why don't we pair up and do both? We can go karting first and then have another drink break, then head for the smash room again." That way they each got to try something at least somewhat new or different. "Oh," India laughed softly, "I just meant by swinging so hard I throw a shoulder out or something to that effect."

The lopsided grin on Kira's face grew exponentially as India ticked off how easy it was to guess what activity had put color onto her cheeks. Before replying she sipped her hot chocolate and refused to let the amusement fade just yet. The brunette hadn't feel this good in a while. And it was true, usually a good, hard workout was great for clearing her head and relieving stress but this had a little something extra to it. There was a magic about it. At least for Kira. "Aside from a mind blowing orgasm you mean?" Maybe she needed to test out this boyfriend while she was using him. It'd been too long since she'd had something like that as well. "Sounds great to me," the brunette nodded and sipped her cocoa unsure if India wanted to get going on that now or enjoy their drinks a bit longer. "Maybe I should have a real drink first because it's going to be sad getting passed up by a bunch of kids on the track," she mused with a laugh. "I'd never claim to be the best driver but I'm not one of those girls that hits curbs either." For a moment she searched India's face, Kira frequented The Vine, she found it hard to imagine this woman had any rage built up inside of her. Then again some people carried it better than others. "Must have something really painful stored away if you start swinging for the fences like that..." In all their chats it had always been Kira going on about her woes, maybe India needed someone to talk to as well.

Josie couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head at Bear’s teasing. She tilted her head slightly, giving him an amused look. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve never thought about it that way. Maybe I’ve been a little too... focused on everything else to notice what I’m capable of. You’re a good influence, you know that?” Her tone was light, but there was a glimmer of genuine thought behind her words. She wasn’t sure if he was joking, but the idea of finding something new about herself was something she hadn’t considered in a while. "I stopped by the Southern BBQ food truck on my way here," she said with a grin. "Grabbed an assortment of things for us to pick at—thought you’d appreciate some good food for once." She reached into the bag and pulled out a couple of containers, each packed with different mouthwatering offerings: smoky pulled pork, ribs with a tangy sauce, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and a few orders of cornbread and peach cobbler. "Figured we could make a little spread out of it," she added, giving him a teasing look. "Not exactly gourmet, but I’d say it’s pretty close. You’re welcome."

One of the more difficult things for Bear to accept was a good word about himself. Whether that came in the form of a compliment, praise, or a thank you for something he'd done the park ranger was always avoidant or fumbling in accepting. If he could at all. His head kind of shook off Josie's words, not meaning to be disrespectful or dismissive, and he made a bit of a joke instead. "Time sure does change things, doesn't it?" Little more than a decade ago her family had been shooing her away from the likes of him due to his bad influence. "I think that's how it is for most people, though. You know?" Distracting from his dismissal that he was doing anything good, Bear chose to speak generally about it. "Not really being aware of their influence on others, or acknowledging of it?" It came out like a question because he was curious if she agreed.

Zuri let out a quiet laugh and swirled the wine in her glass. “That is a tempting offer, I have to admit."

Up until, well, today Kira hadn't known the therapy that smashing things offered up. It was an outlet, a way to expel all that energy that sat dormant inside and possibly festered into something uglier and dissimilar it's original form. It didn't change the past or what had happened but it helped you to release it.

WHO: Anyone (0/5)

The before, during, and after had been a nightmare for Genesis. As the blizzard had built she'd felt as though she were on a never-ending shift. It wasn't until the ambulances were grounded at the hospital, completely snowed in and with no ability to travel anywhere, that she had a bit of a reprieve from the craziness the storm caused. As soon as it passed through and they started clearing the roads? Well, she was apart of the damage control and tending to people that needed aide and assistance following the surprise, severe weather.

Sid didn't know why the hell he never actually spent time learning how to do any of these sports, especially since he was sure that his younger siblings had in fact spent a ton of time here over the years. It just hadn't been his thing back then, nor had he been willing to cut back on his studies enough to learn, so at least he had the time now. When a beautiful woman took pity on him, he was far too busy admiring her facial features at first to realize what she'd just said. "Huh?" He blinked, slowly letting her words sink in before he shook his head. "I have a high pain tolerance, but I'm not sure I want to test that out right now. I've gotta be in court in a few days, so I don't need to be injured for it." He teased, though he truly couldn't handle sitting in those hard ass chairs in the court room while in any sort of pain. At the mention of something else, Sid shrugged. "Is that the thing where you lay down on like a sled or something and just...glide down a track? Is that safer than the other options?"

"Court in a few days, huh?" Eyes alight Genesis wiggled her brow at him as a smirk took shape. "What'd you do?" By the looks of him he was likely the lawyer but where was the fun in jumping right to the truth? "Well... noted on the high pain tolerance," the wavy headed brunette winked. Genesis never resisted a moment to flirt if she found a window, no matter how small it may be. "I suppose I should inform you I'm a paramedic so if you stick with me, and I hope you do, you'll be in good hands should anything happen." Nothing was likely to happen. With all these free adventures she was sure they'd toned down anything that could be considered extreme. Otherwise that could be unsafe or leave them liable or whatever. She wasn't the lawyer here. "It is and I know on Olympic levels it can get really fast but I doubt they allow that here. Not sure how much safer. There's risks involved with any of these. They have two person sleds, y'know..." If his handsome self wanted to feel safer, of course.

Camila couldn't help but laugh as she twisted her wrist to show a cut along her arm which was the result of shards of a television jumping back towards her while she was breaking it. "I think that I need therapy after that rage room. Even the guy at the front was judging me, I could feel it." It had been fun, despite being a little worrisome for her, once she realized just how much anger she had pent up. "I'm having a good time. I love anything that's free so this has been the best."

"Oh my god," the brunette exclaimed as she chuckled and shifted closer immediately to gingerly take Camila's arm in her hand, "you smashed a little too hard, huh? What'd the asshole do?" Surely this was due to an ex-lover that had fucked her over. It almost always was. "The guy at the front can get fucked. He should be well versed by now on why people go to rage rooms." Kira released her hold on the brunette's arm and returned some space. "Good," she smirked and raised her drink in cheers, "until the next free therapy session at least we have these." The alcohol might not have been free but the discounts were nice.

The assumption was one that Hazal couldn't shoot down even if she'd wanted to, and she was sure that Sunny knew that. Hell, anyone who had been outside of Woodside could probably attest to most places being better, but definitely when compared to Paris. "You're not wrong, but I guess everyone needs a break from the place they've been in forever, you know? Figured I should get back to the US and get some more...life experiences." Sure, that was a great way of saying she'd needed to put some distance between herself and that scandal she hadn't even been privy to until it was exposed, but it could have still been true. At the mention of the French Riviera, she smiled softly. "Only in my dreams. I liked to visit every now and then, but my parents said I spent too much money and got into too much trouble any time I traveled out that way. As if it's my fault that there's nude beaches there." She teased, though she for sure stirred up some of her best mishaps out there, along with most of the people she met and traveled with. Sunny giving her compliments shouldn't have been making her blush, yet she just decided to roll with it anyway, as she did whenever a gorgeous woman thought highly of her. "Oh please, I'm sure you've said that to half of the women here. For such a boring city, this place is like a magnet for attractive people. And honestly, I'm well versed in the art of selling bullshit, which makes me a diamond in my lane. I simply got lucky." Hazal teased, though she truly was sure that there were people who truly were more invested in the arts that could have done her job as well, maybe just not as well as she did it apparently.

"Oh is that what you're doing?" The brunette smirked, amusement displayed in her gaze as she wondered to herself on why someone from Paris would seek culture or life experience in a place such as Woodside. Sunny always tried to mind her own business so she didn't ask for the particulars or the dirty details because she wouldn't particularly like it of someone were to dig in on her. "I've always wondered about that, though. Does someone who grew up in a place like Paris get bored of it? Can a city like that lose its romanticism over time?" To her, who'd not traveled much outside of Michigan couldn't fathom it but what did she know. "Spent too much money and scrounged up too much trouble in the French Riviera," the brunette mused, "hmm... sounds like my kind of woman." Even though she hadn't exactly meant how that sounded, she wouldn't be so forward with a stranger she'd just met on the street, and Sunny couldn't afford to let anyone in closer to her, she let the words remain unedited regardless. "I'd be the worst person at a nude beach," she chuckled, thinking about it, "I would be that problem person gawking at everyone." Essentially a neon sign saying, 'HEY EVERYONE SPOT THE AMERICAN'. "I mean," another chuckled rolled out at Hazal's comments, she even pulled at her collar playfully, "I agree there's way too many good looking people in this town for it to be normal but nah I don't go around laying such compliments out. I'm very much in a focus on me phase and trying not to fall for or hook up with every pretty face." It was a challenge and one that she regretted taking on sometimes but Sunny did have her mission. The humility surprised her a little, mostly because Hazal radiated so much confidence. "Well, lets put it this way, I've never wanted to get involved in the Woodside arts until now... how about that?"

Josie smiled warmly as Bear greeted her, appreciating his effortless kindness. The familiar comfort of his house, with the fire crackling in the stove, felt like a perfect escape from the cold. "Thanks, I do need to thaw out," she replied, letting the heat from the fire spread across her chilled skin. As she walked further in, the faint scent of wood burning mixed with the more familiar, earthy tones of his place, and she couldn’t help but smile at how perfectly him it all was. “Yeah, I was in the neighborhood,” she said with a small shrug, feeling self-conscious but hiding it behind a playful grin. "And I figured, what’s a visit without food?" She held up the takeout bag, her eyes glinting with mischief. She gave a light laugh at his comment. "You always make me feel like I’m a mind reader or something. But, I’ll take the credit," she teased. "And I wouldn’t turn down a beer. Sounds perfect."

"Maybe you are and you're just not accepting or tapped into your talents or whatever..." A slight tilt of his head and a brow raise along with his smirk said he was teasing but also giving way to it possibly being something worth thinking about. Bear led the way into his kitchen and glanced at the bag she'd set on the counter. "So, what'd you pick up?" A couple of beers had been pulled from his fridge. The drink might not have been mosts first choice in just coming out of the cold but he was confident she'd warm up quickly in his home. His blue eyes moved over the blonde, fond memories tangled with the soft edges of the heartbreak that was unique to them, curious about her as always. "Yeah," he agreed to her sentiment, "I'm glad you stopped by." Bear wanted to add that they needed to do this more often but it felt like a corny line. Action was the best response.

"Put my name on the thank you card too. I just finished a few rounds of axe throwing and I feel all glowy." Qui playfully batted her eyes, chuckling back at the other. She reached for her cup of tea, blowing softly over the top before taking a sip. "I am. It's actually my first time in here. I've been really busy with work and I haven't had much room for a little fun. I thought I would treat myself today."

"You look all glowy," Kira replied, smiling at how satiated she looked. "The smash room was great. I feel so much lighter, but... I might need to try for that glow now." The brunette sipped her cocoa while she listened. "Business is booming over at the dance studio, huh?" Many times Kira had thought of taking classes it had just been a matter of when to fit it into her schedule. "It's good that you did. You need to glance at yourself in the mirror. You're all smiley like you've got a crush or something."

"Can I make a guess on where you've been?" With a simper of her own Senna arched a brow at the younger woman. When she'd read the advertisements one of the things that had stood out to her was the rage rooms. What lies beneath the surface of a woman like Senna, someone who'd had to adapt into a chameleon-like life to escape the horrors, was quite a lot of rage. It was too bad they didn't have wine here at the food court within Action Avenue, they did have one of her favorite cocktails though and that was a win. "Not really," she somewhat grinned against the rim of her Transfusion before sipping. "But I haven't really gotten started yet," Senna tacked on when she'd set her drink down. "This isn't really my scene but I was drawn in by that whole free therapy thing."

"Go for it," Kira smirked, dimples still on display before taking another sip of her drink. Even if she knew it was an easy guess... that was the whole point, wasn't it? As she looked over at the older gorgeous blonde her dark eyes fixed on the cocktail the woman was nursing. It looked good. "What is that? I love the colors." It surely made her hot chocolate seem dull. As the woman answered however Kira felt a certain kinship. "You know, I should've done what you have and stopped for a drink first. That likely would've elevated the experience. I can't say it over all solved any problems but I definitely feel a bit lighter. It's crazy how it all really starts coming out once you get started." In fact, Kira was pretty sure she saw a woman with tears in her eyes when finished.

Zuri let out a low chuckle , stirring her drink lazily . “ Hey , I’ll take credit where I can. If footing the bill means I get to watch someone else work out their frustrations , I’ll call that a win. ” She took a sip, then tilted her head slightly, eyeing Kira with amusement.

That was the best thing she'd found about the rage room. It required no verbalizing of her feelings. Of trying to convey in strings of sentences and definitions the things that had happened to her and how they had affected her. How do words even begin to shape around such atrocities? "It must have been quite a scene..." The brunette commented, eyes lingering on Zuri wondering how it all might've looked. Someone losing themselves in a moment of letting it all out.

     "Let me guess," India returned the smile, eyes bright and sparkling under all the ultraviolets, "you just spent a chunk of time in a smash room?" Even if the woman appeared to be happy the winemaker was well aware that, with woman especially, appearances could be decieving on that front. There was something saited in Kira's expression, it bought India to wonder if she should go release some long buried rage. "I came to try the go-karts," she offered. "I haven't tapped into the fun just yet. Seemed like zipping around a track could be a mindless way to enjoy this bait and switch week." With a smirk of her own she playfully shrugged a shoulder. "And one that likely wouldn't cause me bodily harm," she'd added on with a light laugh.

"Is it that obvious?" The brunette grinned a little, cheeks still somewhat flush from all the exertion. Which had to say something given she was a professional athlete. "Go karting, huh?" Briefly, at the mention, Kira ventured some thought toward it. Years ago she'd given it a try a couple of times but hadn't took to it in the same way as she did in the smash room. Then again they were very different things. "Are you looking for some company on that? I haven't done it in years but I do remember it being fun. If you're not quite ready to jump into it though you could always join me for another rage room..." Yep, she still had enough in her for another round. "No bodily harm. Promise. You're doing wrong if so," she commented with a dimpled grin.

"What's that saying... there's no place like home?" It was a phrase that had made her grin. While she hadn't been born in Woodside much of her formative years had been spent here, growing up. "I think I saw or hear about a statistic once about how the majority of people end up close to where they had grown up." It felt true yet also didn't in the same breath. "So, who knows, you could be back to what you truly know in no time." The brunette couldn't keep a soft smile off her face. It was a breath of fresh air to have someone she considered a good friend close by once again. The warmth of it felt especially needed. Comforting and familiar when she felt left out in the cold. "I'm saying the word so you better be there!" Kira laughed. "My ex, Leti, got traded to the team so I can definitely use some support in the stands." The fans were incredible but it was different when it was someone you knew personally and had a history with.

Dylan chuckled, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "It's funny how a place you don't expect to return to can call you back when you least expect it." He nodded thoughtfully at the mention of the statistic. "I've heard that, too. Once you've built your foundation somewhere, it can be hard to stray too far, even if you try." He smiled softly at her. "But hey, Woodside has its charm, right? If I'm not careful, I might end up sticking around longer than planned." Dylan's expression warmed at the mention of Leti. He could tell Kira valued having a familiar face in the crowd. "Of course, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it."