𝓵𝓪 𝓿𝓲𝓮 𝓮𝓷 𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓮

And you're so good at it, too! I don't know anyone who's quite as good at dressing up as you are, I feel like whenever I need to raid someone's closet for something, I know that I can rely on you to have what I need. I probably spent a little too much time at that carnival -- and too much money, too. But I won a couple of stuffed animals, got good ice cream, managed to squeeze on some rides, it was great! Did you enjoy?

I do my best! Let’s be honest here, I don’t know what I’m doing half the time so I make it work how I can. Nothing wrong with collecting stuffed animals though! You’re not the only one. I love my stuffed animals. I ended up going on a few rides as well. I know, Joella on carnival rides?! Yup, it happened! You heard it here first! Are you excited for the big gala coming up? I may need to request your services to do my makeup that day, by the way.

Location: Pizza Thyme, The Suburbs Who: @xjoellasuh

“Hey girlie!” Jo waved to her friend. “Of course,” she grinned. “Anything for you. I have been craving pizza for some time now and this is perfect,” she said, tossing her keys into her bag and nodding. The Dine and Dash was a perfect opportunity to get some good food and help the town out at the same time. “Oh yes! I’ve got the next couple of nights off so I get to treat myself a little bit,” she said. “And maybe while we’re at it, get a manicure too?” She said, looking at her nailbeds. “Mmm, I can already smell the cheese bread from here,” she said as they walked into the restaurant together.

"Do I need to trust you?" Xander questioned, his eyebrows lifted a little as they were guided to a carriage by the attendant. After a moment, he went back to the mention of lemonade and cotton candy, though, a small smile appearing on his features. "That would be nice, though, thank you."

"Maaaaybe..." Jo grinned at him. She was excited, though. Ferris wheels could always be a bit of fun. And with a good view. "You got it. Don't worry, I'm a woman of my word, I got you!"

Not a bad way to spend your summer, and I'm assuming you got your night life on at the carnival this past week, too? I know, I've actually bragged about it to every person that I come across, and they confirm that it is nearly impossible to get you to sit down and open a book, so I'm pretty proud of myself. I did! I very much enjoyed myself, probably ate a little too much, but we do that at carnivals, right?

I stayed up way too late maybe ate a little too much cotton candy but I had fun! What about you? Ha! Did you pass that message along to my mother? Maybe she’ll believe you! Carnivals always bring out a good time. There’s always always something to do. Are you looking forward to prom? Maybe I should dig out my old prom dress.

“Maybe,” Jo said with a smirk. She looked over at Marisol, and winked. She laughed and made a mental note to give Elena a call about shopping soon. “That’s what I love about Merrock. We’ve got endless parties but it’s all about love and charity. Honestly, it keeps everyone on their toes. I’m just happy that things are going smoothly. There’s also the whole thing about the benefactor too.”

"Okay, I'll take something with less of a kick then." Taryn chuckled softly. "Off duty? I don't think I've seen an off duty Joella before. I like it though. I see. Well, I'll have to come back and see you while you're working. I love seeing your shows." Joella was a great performer and Taryn was definitely here to support her. "You seem like you have it all planned out. It sounds very exciting! Are you doing that all during Pride or just for tomorrow?"

“Yep, that would be me. Don’t worry, I’ll be back to work soon. I’m excited to have tonight off so I can party with everyone!” Joella grinned. “The Mirage also always has some colorful stuff going so I’ll be back before we all know it. In my tiny outfits and high heels.” She grinned. “All through June. So there will be plenty to do for us there,” she said with a nod.

I guess if you're really, really picky about the clothes that you wear and how you live your life... maybe there's something good about it not changing? But for the rest of us, then variety really is the spice of life, and it's hard to see something bad about it! Right, that would be kind of fun, since you don't have to wear the same outfit you always do, you can go by something else! I'm proud of you, too, cracking books, googling important things, you're a smart cookie. Me too! I want to ride some rides this year.

There is that! I'm not all that picky but I also like to dress for a fun occasion or the weather! Gives a boost of confidence. I guess there are some people who just want to dress for comfort because it's easier and not so much because it's fab fashion or something. Yes! The good thing is that there's still plenty of choices to go for. Absolutely. I've even got a reading list going. Mhmm. Have you been able to?

"Hey..." Taryn said with a soft chuckle. "It's going pretty well. I avoided my drink being spilled on me so that's a plus." she grinned. She could tell that Joella was very much in fun mode and she was happy for her. "Oh...you don't have to. I still have to drive home so maybe this was the universe's way of telling me I didn't need anymore to drink." she said with a soft shrug. "I'm good. Just trying to get out more and be more present. I'm always working and I'm trying to change that. I figured this party was a good start." she smiled, taking a sip of her drink. "Wait, are you working right now? Like this party?"

"Oh good! Hey, no one likes a spilled drink," Joella nodded. "Well that is a good point. I mean, we could always get something with less of a kick." She waved her hand and shook her head. "Oh no, I'm off duty tonight. I'm working tomorrow, though. I've got my glitter and rainbow pumps and everything ready. Pride in the prohibition era? My favorite thing. The tiny dresses just get tinier, headdresses get bigger and booze gets boozier."

"Were you going to tell me no?" Jo asked with a huge grin. "This is me we're talking about. I've done weirder things in heels, I promise you that," she nodded. She smirked at Marisol. "Oh, this one knows that Auntie Jo won't steer her wrong," she laughed softly. "But yes, lemonades are my treat. Shall we?" she stepped forward in the line again.

Once is better than non! And look, now it's summer time, and you need to take out books to read at the pool or the beach, right? Or is this the part where you tell me that the sun is too bright and the air's too hot and you can't read in those conditions? But it's true, I do feel like I've left an impression on you and am watching you blossom as a young scholar right before my very eyes!

Exactly that! Oh yes. That is absolutely the plan. I get my tan in and get to relax a bit whilst getting some minutes in on my reading goal. That's always a good start, right? You should be proud of yourself. Not a lot of people can say they got me to sit down and read a book in my free time. Absolutely love that for you! Having fun at the carnival too, I hope?

At the question posed to him, Xander was quick to shake his head, making it very clear that he definitely wasn't afraid of heights —- not in the slightest. "Yeah, just a ferris wheel," he answered her. "I didn't really feel like going on alone. Not afraid of heights." He didn't recall ever being afraid of heights. At least, he didn't think so anyway.

“Doesn’t seem like it’s that bad,” Jo looked up at the structure. “It’s not like a free fall tower or anything,” she looked back at him. “I’ll even treat you to a lemonade and cotton candy after just for funsies,” she elbowed him playfully with with a smirk, sidestepping into line, and watching the previous group disembark from the ride. “Do you trust me?” she grinned.

For: Open ( 0/5 ) Location: Summer Carnival, by the Ferris Wheel

Joella had been wandering about the carnival, snacking and finding things to do. She hadn’t gone on any of the rides (yet). And just in time to see someone standing in front of the structure, stopped at the Ferris wheel. Adjusting her sunglasses, she looked up at it. “Sure,” she smiled, taking them off and sticking them in her purse. “At least it’s just a Ferris wheel, right? And you’re not afraid of heights, now are you?” She mused with a hum.

That's incredibly true, imagine how boring it must be for people who never get to shop for warm sweaters for the winter, or cute shorts for the summer? Definitely could not be me! Absolutely is time to refresh the closet. I'm sure there are some things that you're excited to wear again, yes, but even more excited to get new things, right? Yeah, no kidding... I feel like we hear rumblings every so often of someone doing just that, but I like that we're doing things proactively, finding ways to fight back in a community-kind of way.

Right? It’s hard to imagine that there are actually some people like that. Who don’t like to switch things up and keep their wardrobe the same all four seasons. Wearing sweaters during the spring. Cardigans, sure. Hmm, yes! Absolutely. I like to switch things around, and sometimes we have a themed night that gives me a little more freedom to get creative. Oh same. I feel like I have learned so much doing the research. I’m proud of myself. I’m also looking forward to the carnival coming up!

"Like how P!nk with the exclamation point goes with green? Or how that Aaron guy is the in between of both?" Jasmine wasn't into musicals the same as Joella was, and said as such. "What? Just because they aren't my thing doesn't mean I won't spend like, five minutes looking at things my friends into," she explained. "Anyway, it did take me a year to ask the person I was into out but if you needed a wingman... and no that's not a theatre pun."

Joella just gave her an amused expression. "Hey, you are doing great, girl. Although P!nk would probably pull off a fabulous Elphaba riff, not gonna lie," she said. If there was one thing everyone knew about Jo, it was that she was very much into her musicals and shows and anything theatre-related. She loved music and dramatics. "Well, you two are very sweet together. That makes it all the more fun, though, right? Being friends beforehand and letting that kind of build up." She laughed and lifted her drink in toast again. "I'll take it. You're an honorary theatre kid. How's the store?"

Incredibly proud of you -- have you gone back since then? We have to get you a library card, if you don't already have one handy. But I'm glad, I think sometimes we live in a place like this and don't always realize just how much there is to learn, you know? But this was a good educational experience for a lot of people, too.

I... once. I had to return a book and then I got curious and started looking at newspapers then I got to the part about numbers and my brain sort of shut off. But. Think of it this way, that's waaay better than when we first started! I had a lot of fun with it, I feel way more informed. I'm a grown up now!