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After the poker games, Meg walks Dane home, which isn't too far out of town. He's never seen where she lives and she seems very deflective on the topic. So, the walk is nice. Upon reaching his house, she gives him a really tight hug and says, "I hope you come to the festivities tomorrow. I'll be running a book show until some of the fun events come up. Maybe we can team up for the three legged races or try the obstacle course." She smiles sadly while she looks into his socially vacant eyes. He isn't sure why. Without another word, she just leaves.

This confuses Dane. He isn't used to females actually showing him attention. It's... alien... He pours himself a glass of apple soda, compliments of Coulee brewing, and thinks about the day. Today was definitely different once he reached the library. oO(If you really think about it, I'm at the top of the most wanted food chain. If Meg likes me, Teddy likes her, Kendal likes Teddy and Johnny likes Kendal. I'm slave to no one.)Oo

His dad comes home late, as usual. He peeks into Dane's room, "I hope you've eaten tonight. I'll wake you up when I leave." He puts on a proud grin, "Sheriff tells me that you kicked some ass! And... might have a love interest?" he pumps his fist, "I knew you could do it!" He never really waits for Dane's answer and heads to read the weekly periodical then heads to bed.

Dane begins reading a manual of the model of computer at the library. He then finds himself waking up to his dad shaking him. The manual is laying next to him, on the very page he was last reading, "Up and at em, son. Go have fun and here," He hands Dane 25 credits, "Treat your lady friend to a nice day." He heads towards the door, "Oh yeah, there is a list of events on the table. Lots of things to do."

Dane eventually gets up, slaps on some random clothes, shoes and combs his hair. He heads down, pours himself some oats and fruit and covers it with milk and a light sprinkling of sugar and a drizzle of honey. He's halfway through his breakfast, while reading the list, when there is a rapid knocking at the front door.

The List:

Competitions and Gambling:
Horse Races (1st place: 100 cr, second place: 50 credits, 3rd place: 25 credits) and a trophy
Steeple Chasing: (1st place: 100 cr, second place: 50 credits, 3rd place: 25 credits) and a trophy
Arm Wrestling (1st place: 10 credits and a trophy, 2nd Place: 5 credits and a trophy)
Billiards (Winners receive 5 credits and a trophy)
Dart Tournament (Winners receive a bottle of whiskey and a trophy)
Axe Throwing (Winners Receive a chainsaw and a trophy)
Annual Beer drinking games: Winner gets a keg of beer and a trophy
MMA Fights (undetermined matches) : Prizes yet to be determined and a trophy
Barrel Racing: Winner gets a bottle of wine
High Jump: Winner gets either 1 credit or a bale of hay
Tug o War: Winners receive 2 credits each and the rope
Texas Holdem
Poker (5 card draw)
Roulette
Black Jack (played with 5 decks)
Dance off: Winners (top two) receive two credits and an all expense (travel, food, room, some entertainment) paid trip to Smith Falls for a day and night and a trophy.
Singing Competition: (Winner receives 5 credits and a boombox)
Marksman Competition: (Winner receives a newly made 30-06 with a new distancing scope and a trophy)
Archery Competition: (Winner receives a newly made compound bow with a quiver of new metal arrows and a trophy)
Relay Races: (Winners each get 1 credit and a trophy)
Three legged races: (Winners each get 1 credit)
Sack Race: Winner gets a 50# sack of potatoes.
Cooking competition: (Hosted by Phil Williams, popular chef from Smith Falls) Winner receives 5 credits and new professional cookware.
Chess Tournament: (Winner gets a new carved granite chess set)
Checkers Tournament: (Winner gets a new carved granite checkers set)
Cornhole Tournament: (Winner gets their own cornhole game and a trophy)
King of the Ring: (Winner gets 100 credits and a trophy)
Obstacle Course: (Win one credit per checkpoint completed within time limit. Win 1000 credits for completing the course)

Events and Attractions:
Fortune Teller: Costs 1 credit
Massage and spa tents
Chiropractic Tent
At least a dozen food vendors
Constant Live Music with Dancing
Balloon Pop (Prizes vary)
Bottle Break
Helter Skelter Slide
Roller Coaster
Tilt-a-whirl
Ferris Wheel
Carousel
Ring Toss
Magic Show
Mirror Maze
Petting zoo
High Striker
Egg Toss (Winner gets 1 credit and a basket of eggs)
Boxing Exhibition Match (Vi "Warwick" Trent vs Teddy "The Terror" Swenson) Prize: 20 credits
Grease Pig Run: Winner gets free food for the rest of the day (wear disposable clothing)
Greased Pole Climb: Prizes are on the pole (wear disposable clothing)
Credit hunt (up to 50 credits: Age limit (no one under 2 or over 10)
Produce Judging and prizes
Theatre Drama Show
Art Show and Judging
Human Piñata
Bingo


Upon answering the door, Kendal is standing there, looking like she's going on a date. Jewelry on her fingers, wrists, ankles neck and ears. Her white shorts and black crop top are almost too revealing. Her makeup is on point and the half smile on her face screams that she needs a favor. "So," she pauses in thought, "I think you and Meg make a very cute couple. So, I thought I could give some advice and maybe walk with you to town?"

Dane just… stares. The pause drags on long enough to register as uncomfortable, his steel-gray eyes fixed on her without a flicker of expression. Before Kendal can fill the silence, he finally breaks it with a flat, almost mechanical, “Umm… what?”

Not exactly the smoothest response—so much for his earlier fantasy about being at the top of some “most wanted” chain. He blinks, recalibrating, his thoughts scrambling between gorgeous girl on the doorstep, ‘cute couple’, and ‘advice’, none of which fit into a system he can process cleanly.

After a beat, he manages something more coherent, his voice low and clipped: “Thanks. You think Meg’s actually interested in me?”

The words hang in the air—half inquiry, half calculation. Then, as if realizing he’s supposed to do something normal in this situation, he steps back and gestures stiffly inside. “You want a soda or something?”

Dane just… stares. The pause drags on long enough to register as uncomfortable, his steel-gray eyes fixed on her without a flicker of expression. Before Kendal can fill the silence, he finally breaks it with a flat, almost mechanical, “Umm… what?” Not exactly the smoothest response; so much for his earlier fantasy about being at the top of some “most wanted” chain. He blinks, recalibrating, his thoughts scrambling between gorgeous girl on the doorstep, ‘cute couple’, and ‘advice’, none of which fit into a system he can process cleanly.

Kendal stares quizzically for a moment, then a smile slowly forms.

After a beat, he manages something more coherent, his voice low and clipped: “Thanks. You think Meg’s actually interested in me?” The words hang in the air; half inquiry, half calculation. Then, as if realizing he’s supposed to do something normal in this situation, he steps back and gestures stiffly inside. “You want a soda or something?”

"Yeahhh, sure," she comes in, giving Dane an interested smile as she walks past into his house. Dane swears that he sees his dad riding up the street; maybe checking on him. Kendal peers around the house, fascinated at some of the things that his dad has decorated the place with. She pauses, turns back to Dane, "You never talk about your mom. What happened?"

His mother is a touchy subject. She's the reason he'd become so interested in computers, games and not getting close to people. He was only four years old on the day she passed. At one of the annual festivals, during the marksman competitions, a bullet had ricocheted from a rock behind a target, flew back into town and struck his mom, Daisy, in the neck. At the time, she was checking a pocket computer to update her library schedule. She was the former librarian. Dane tried to fix the computer, but there was so much blood that it shorted the chipboard and overloaded the power supply. It took her ten minutes to die while Dr Lewis did his best to save her. Her last words to Dane were, "I love you, Dane. You'll glide with the machines and give them a soul that will... make... you..."

Then the grief his dad went through. Years of drinking and passing out on the couch. First it was the bar, but he became the most available bachelor. So, he preferred to drink at home, where he could protect Dane. Some drunken nights, his father would talk in his sleep about some war. He always referred to the "Basson Protocol or run." He would wake up screaming some nights. Sometimes he would call out to someone named Bruce. He asked once, but, his father would always say that it was a different lifetime ago.

His mom and dad met in Smith Falls and decided to move to Fort Hammer after one of the festivals. Since then, they never missed one, till she died, practically in Dane's arms.

Kendal's expression seems genuine.

While he hands Kendal a drink, Dane hesitates, his gaze drifting past her before settling back.
“That’s… not an easy topic. I don’t talk about it much.” His voice is steady but low. “She was killed by a stray bullet at a festival when I was about four. Died in my arms.”

The words come out clipped, as if each one costs him something. His eyes glisten for just a second before he looks away, shutting the door on the memory. He doesn’t mention the rest—the blood, the computer, her last words. That part stays buried.

After a pause, he clears his throat and forces the subject to shift.
“So… you think you could help me be a little less… me? Someone Meg might actually want to be seen with?”

While he hands Kendal a drink and hesitates, his gaze drifting past her before settling back. “That’s… not an easy topic. I don’t talk about it much.” His voice is steady but low. “She was killed by a stray bullet at a festival when I was about four. Died in my arms.” The words come out clipped, as if each one costs him something. His eyes glisten for just a second before he looks away, shutting the door on the memory. He doesn’t mention the rest—the blood, the computer, her last words. That part stays buried.

Kendal is about to open the soda but decides against it. It's choke cherry soda anyways. It takes a few tries to enjoy. But she seems more interested, because Dane opened up slightly.

After a pause, he clears his throat and forces the subject to shift. “So… you think you could help me be a little less… me? Someone Meg might actually want to be seen with?”

Kendal's expression is reminiscent of someone who just realized that they're out of their league. "Yes and no. I think being you is important, but maybe show more emotion? Most important, be happy around her. This brooding torment, while I understand it was traumatic, needs to be left out of your time with her. Does that make sense?" She grabs his hand, more aggressively than Meg would have and pulls him towards the door, "Come on, broodypants! Let's go have fun!"

Dane blinks at her, then lets out a short breath that might almost be a laugh.
“Brooding? I thought I was going for… thoughtful intensity. Shows what I know.”

He lets her tug him a step toward the door, his expression caught between somewhat resigned and hopeful.
“Fine, I’ll try to dial it down a notch. But if I trip during a three-legged race, I’m blaming you and your ‘broodypants’ slander.”

His words come across as playful, but there’s still a tautness in his shoulders, a stiffness in the way he moves. He’s not used to anybody paying him this much attention—except maybe his dad.

Dane blinks at her, then lets out a short breath that might almost be a laugh.
“Brooding? I thought I was going for… thoughtful intensity. Shows what I know.”

"Oh shut up," she playfully pokes as she opens the door. The roar of the crowd can be heard even from a few blocks away. There are more unfamiliar people than usual walking up and down his street, admiring the small town atmosphere.

He lets her tug him a step toward the door, his expression caught between somewhat resigned and hopeful. “Fine, I’ll try to dial it down a notch. But if I trip during a three-legged race, I’m blaming you and your ‘broodypants’ slander.” His words come across as playful, but there’s still a tautness in his shoulders, a stiffness in the way he moves. He’s not used to anybody paying him this much attention—except maybe his dad.

"That's the spirit!" she says, forcefully placing the inside of his elbow with hers, making them look like a couple, "I know this will draw attention, but you want that. Makes you more desirable."

They cut through a neighbor's driveway, reaching main street between the courthouse and Lord Stein's manor. Lord Stein stands there, on his massive stone arched porch, smoking a cigar, wearing his signature crown and smiling at the festivities. There are so many people that Dane doesn't recognise anyone, other than present company. He swears that he sees Megana for a moment. Across the way, he sees that the blacksmith shop hasn't opened yet. Hopefully Vi is okay.

Lord Stein notices the two, "Oh my! Are you two fine kids a couple?"

Before Dane can answer, Kendal replies, "I don't know! We'll see how today goes."

"Young Stryker!" Lord Stein announces in a regal tone, "Remember to keep the Lord in mind. He's always watching. So enjoy the day. These times are rough and one never knows when their last day is," he gives a respectful nod to Dane, obviously knowing his past.

OOC: I rolled (vs IQ AND perception) to see if Dane could figure out that Kendal is playing him to: 1. Make Teddy jealous or 2. Make Miss Hoffman jealous and try harder with Dane. It could force Ted to quit chasing her and notice Kendal. Both rolls were critical fails. So, sorry man, Dane has to play this one out, thinking she may actually like him. Who knows? Maybe she does.

OOC: You need new dice. Either way, these girls are gonna get the crap beat outta Dane.

OOC: Lol if he isn't careful, yeah! And yes, my dice, for both games, have been sucking hind udders. I have my regular tabletop dice stored away. So, I might go grab them. One of the dice, I have to exclude. It has a tendency of rolling nothing but 1s and 2s or 18s, 19s and 20s, rarely anything else.

Dane stiffens when Kendal hooks his arm, the move too sudden and too public. He doesn’t pull away, but his posture turns taut, the muscles in his jaw working as the crowd noise presses in.

He tries not to look too shocked at Kendal’s “I don’t know! We’ll see how today goes.” comment. His steel-gray eyes cut toward her in a quizzical look before he addresses Lord Stein with a clipped nod.
“Don’t worry. Just looking to have some fun today… maybe win a few credits.”

Once they’re moving again and the crowd noise covers them, he leans slightly closer, voice kept low for her ears alone.
“What was that about? You’re not interested in being my girlfriend.”

His gaze lingers on her a moment before drifting away, thoughtful. Meg’s kindness from yesterday still sits fresh in his mind, and with it, the faint hope that maybe he could kindle something real there.