jcksonfields

[jcksonfields]

JD shoves his hands into his pockets, gushing his breath as he watched Chandler toss the last ring. Not realizing he was holding his breath, he let out a groan as the ring bounced off the bottle. "Damn," he shook his head and then let out a chuckle, "Hmm, you know your strength better than I do. But I like to think I know you pretty well." His shoulders lifted into a shrug as he grinned and looked at the prizes. As Chan picked one out and then received said prize, JD smiled, before eyebrows shot up. "We?" He asked, playfully feigning shock and awe, batting his eyelashes at his friend. "Hmm, Whitney like Pink Whitney would be funny," he laughed, he himself was accidentally named after a drink so why not pay it forward.

Chandler glanced down at his last ring, and tried aiming it at a coke bottle only for it to go over that bottle and bounce off the one behind it. "Maybe I just know myself better than you do." Chandler joked, and then picked out his prize. Since he only got one ring, the options were pretty limited and small. Soon enough, he was being handed a tiny pink poodle stuffed animal. "What are we naming her?" He asked, offering the toy to his friend to look at.

[jcksonfields]

He rolled his eyes and thoigh he usually would say the same thing regarding a win to anyone else, he didn't always live by that philosophy himself. "Yeah, yeah, but look at you," he nodded towards the net, "didnt know you were such a basketball girl. And a good one too!" He was impressed, but not surprised knowing she could do a lot of things very well. "That's okay, that's what you have me for right? To kill all the bugs and spiders that bother you," he nodded, puffing out his chest playfully before shaking his head with a light chuckle. "Neither can I so no worries, we won't be having any spades or cards tournaments between us. Though Uno? Hmm that's a touchy subject. That and Monopoly, my inner beat kind of slips out when I play either," he winced as a hand rubbed the back of his neck before giving her an awkward smile. Looking around at the mention of a prize, he then focused on her, "would it be corny to say that I already have the prize I want? Because you're kind of the best prize here," he gestured about then watched as she sunk another basket. "If so, then the blue monkey for sure, if not then your choice."

"A win is a win, still hit the net but hey, everyone makes mistakes. you're doing great.." She teased giving a thumbs up. Naomi knew it was true, but that didn't mean she had to agree in the moment. She was clapping for him on the inside. Now was not the time to get distracted and play cheerleader even if she wanted too . "Oh yes, plenty like kill a spider." She had thought about it and Naomi was very serious. "Or play spades." She had never quite grasped the concept no matter how many times she was shown. "Uno is probably the only card game I can sadly play." It still counted right? People got serious about Uno. "Sooo when I win, what do you want your prize to be?" The prizes had ranged in variety of sizes. She tossed another ball into a net.

[jcksonfields]

Who: @mariah-h-kenmore and JD

Where: Whats the Tea

When: July 2025

"You know, you're coming up on your six month Merrock-versary," JD replied as he sat down across from Mariah, a glass of iced tea in his hands. A chance encounter between them had sparked a friendship, one where JD tried to coax her out of her shell. Tried to coax her into going out more, shedding that guarded exterior, and though he didn't know why, he understood there had to be a reason. But that didn't mean she couldn't go out from time to time and have fun. "I know it's still a month out but half a year in town is a big deal."

[jcksonfields]

"That's absolutely true, look at you spitting facts," he playfully mused with a grin and a wink, trying to woo her a bit to catch her off guard. Not that he was cheating or anything but he just really enjoyed making her blush and smile, her smile lighting up his world. He was by nature incredibly competitive but with Naomi it didn't matter, though he played it as if it did, he actually liked to see her win and beat him. As he had set up the shot and made the basket, he rolled his eyes at the technicality, "it still made it in right? A win is a win." He grinned again before watching her set up and ace the shot right back, before he whistled. "Damn, is there anything my girl can't do?"

“Well, a winner never quits on themselves.” She nodded her head in agreement. She had never taken it seriously but that didn’t mean she was had plans to lose. Naomi stood quietly and patiently watching him. Maybe she had silently prayed on her boyfriend’s downfall in this exact moment. Her eyes rolled seeing it fall into the net. “It still hit the rim.” She deadpanned. Twirling the basketball in between her fingers, she took a breath letting it go seeing it fly into the net. “You were saying?” She rose her brow.

[jcksonfields]

Tipping his nonexistent hat, JD grinned at his best friend as he stretched a bit and looked at his watch. "Just on a run, you know gotta stay in shape for the summer," he patted his stomach and then laughed, "not really but a change of scenery never hurt anyone right?" He asked more rhetorically but still before shaking his head. "You knew about that!? Damn I gotta learn how to be more inconspicuous next time," he was only teasing before leaning against the fence as Mikey did.

Laughter shook Michael’s shoulders, shaking his head with amusement. “Howdy.” He countered back, raising his chin in greeting. “What brings you out here? Not your usual scene, is it?” Swinging his foot and remounting, Mikey tied Stevie to the post loosely by the reins before leaning against the fence with a jestful grin. “You aren’t stalking me again, are you?”

[jcksonfields]

"I sure hope not," he looked around playfully and pulled her closer with his arm slung across her shoulders, "because despite my momma teaching me how to share, I'm not to keen on sharing you." I fact he didn't want to share her, except with like friends and family but he loved having her as his girl. Grinning at her and her confidence, his heart fluttering at it all, he was excited for it all and just to have fun. "Hmm that you do, and that they do," he hummed and narrowed his eyes while focusing d upon her, refraining from chuckling at the seriousness of it all. But he was competitive and so was she but it was all in good fun. "You're cute when you're fiesty, you know that?" He asked before being handed the ball and feeling the grip with his fingers, setting up, he shot it and it bounced on the rim and into the net. "Guess I can throw a football and shoot a basketball."

“Is there anyone else here that I call my boyfriend?” She wore a smirk across her features. After consistently frosting baked goods for years, Naomi would like to think she somehow had almost mastered hand to eye coordination or whatever. “Challenge accepted.” She grinned even if it didn’t matter if they actually won anything. It was all prizes they could find around town for a little cheaper, it was the thought that counter. “I know where you sleep at night and your dogs like me so it’d be easy.” She jabbed clasping her hands together. “I only need one opportunity to distract you now what? It’s your turn try to make it in since you got your degree and know everything.”

[jcksonfields]

He rolled his eyes at her and playfully scoffed, "Whatever," he teased as he walked beside her. Always happy to hang out with her, he loved the added fun of the carnival. The games, the food, the rides, he loved it all. Not having been able to see her as often as he liked, he was stoked to be able to do so now. "Whatever you wanna play, I'm game," he then let out a laugh, "that's fair. And hmmm we could also do a ring toss or something. That's gotta be a game where we're both on the same level."

"Not giving me the benefit of the doubt? I see how it is," a playful roll of her eyes, she laughed softly walking alongside JD under the neon lights of the carnival. Aisha always enjoyed it, finding it nostalgic, eating fried dough, or waiting in the queue for a ride alongside other smiling faces. It was better with company, and she was happy to catch up with him and hopefully beat him at some games. "I'd say balloon pop, or maybe the one where you knock down milk bottles? Though I fear that you may have an unfair advantage with that one, and I deserve to have a level playing field."

[jcksonfields]

"I'm pretty sure I was definitely one of those kids who had to wear one," he winced slightly before laughing, as he leaned and draped an arm across her shoulders. "Those things in general are creepy," he laughed as he shuddered knowing what they looked like and yet so many people were obsessed with them, but hey to each their own. "Absolutely," he grinned and kissed her on the temple as they walked along, the first summer where he didn't feel something was missing or rather someone. "You beating moi?" He feigned shock and surprise before letting out a laugh, "I mean I'd love for you to win me a prize but I wanna make I win for you." He saddled up at the basketball game and watched her, arching an eyebrow as it only hit the rim. "A warm up shot huh? How many of those do you need?"

“Thats’s great idea. Much better than the backpack leash situation from back in the day.” She understood the reasoning but it was still crazy. She was certainly one of those kids that couldn’t run far with those things. Now she had all the free will in the world to explore whatever she wanted. “Thank you darling because the knock off laboubou keychains are creepy.” She didn’t understand the obsession but she wouldn’t knock other people’s interest. “Perfect, I’ll happily oblige to beating you at water guns and winning you a prize.” She took the basketball from the attendant and threw it seeing it hit the rim. “It’s called a warm up for a reason.”

[jcksonfields]

@jcksonfields

[jcksonfields]

JD let out an exhausted sigh, moreso as he felt like he had been trapped in that mirror maze for hours instead of mere moments. A boundless ball of energy, he wasn't one to usually stay when told, but figured it would do more harm than good to try to figure this one out alone. "I mean I know that, but like," he laughed and let out a groan of frustration, "imagine though!? People getting stuck in here for eternity? The thought alone amused him as he shook his head. "I meant up that maybe you'd see it on the ceiling," he then looked up, "wait never mind, they're floor to ceiling mirrors!"

Zarah was a bit different. She definitely didn’t know how to stay still, especially in moments where she was lost. She would have had to be told to stay where she was. That was why she’d requested it of him. She nodded, laughing to herself as she tried to figure it out, using the mirrors to help figure out if she was getting closer or further away. “It’s meant to do that,” she told him. “The positive is that people always get out of this place or otherwise you’d be seeing skeletons in the mirror.” She liked to think that was the truth. They probably at least cleared out the skeletons each season before opening back up. “I don’t know that it would help. It might just blind me.”

[jcksonfields]

The day had been long and hot, but there was absolutely no way JD was about to miss the carnival. Whether it was the rides or the games, but either of them (or both) had a stronghold upon him ever since he was a kid. The summer being his favorite season, everything about it had been exciting for him. So he had been buzzed off life for the entire day, and even into the night.

Standing next to Chan, he watches as his friend tossed a ring and it landing on a coke bottle. He pumped his fists into the air in excitement, "holy shit dude!" He replied and turned to his friend, "I did. That was dope! Don't sell yourself short, maybe you could do it again, only one way to find out! "

who? @jcksonfields what/where/when? carnival games triggers? alcohol

Vodka was already Chandler's favorite spirit, but it really came in handy nights like tonight. The carnival was supposed to be a dry event, but after day drinking at the beach Chandler wasn't coming down from that at a carnival of all places. He wasn't trashed - he had been earlier in the day but even he couldn't consistently keep that up at beach bash. Instead, he had slept some of it off in the sand and now had a mild sunburn and a buzz he was trying to nurse back to tipsy. This was all made much easier by most people assuming he was drinking actual lemonade.

Even sober, Chandler wasn't good at things like ring toss. Drunk, he felt like there was no way he was going to succeed. So when the ring landed on the coke bottle, Chandler was shocked. "Did you see that!?" He asked JD excitedly. "I will never manage to do that again, so you better've been watching!"

[jcksonfields]

[jcksonfields]

Who: @aishathevar

Where: Carnival

When: July 2025

"So which games did you wanna try first?" JD asked as he slung an arm across the shoulders of one of his best friends, Aisha as they walked along through the carnival. "Or should I say which games do you mind me beating you at?" He asked, playfully as he was only teasing her, evident by the smirk and stifled laugh from him. He was happy to send some time with Aisha and catch up with her as their lives had been pretty hectic as of late.

[jcksonfields]

As JD had finished riding one of the rides with an old friend, he realized he got turned around and didn't necessarily see where Naomi had planted herself. He knew they'd meet back up, but he wasn't sure if he should meet her by the snacks or stay put. So he wandered a bit closer and then saw her, almost laughing at her sentiment. "Next time you should tie a balloon to me so you could see it above the crowd," he grinned and draped an arm across her shoulders. "Well if it doesn't I'll happily win you one," or at least he'd try to, "hmm maybe basketball then water guns then rides? Hopefully we cod beat the crowds for the lines."

Who: Naomi & @jcksonfields

Where: Carnival

When: July 2025

Naomi tossed the plate that had crumbs left of an elephant ear in the nearby trash. She cleaned her hands as she ventured further into the carnival. It was her one free day to not worry about putting on her best customer service face and a smile. “How does one lose a tall man?” She narrowed her eyes, feeling her back pockets for her phone. She squeezed past people using find my friends. Was it healthy or weird? Who cares! “There you are. Having to almost do a search party at a carnival is crazy.” She bumped his hip. “I hope the Houdini act calls for an overly gigantic stuffed animal.” Naomi grinned. “Water guns or basketball then maybe all rides?” Was she picky no but was she about to explore every inch of the carnival for the first time in years, absolutely.

[jcksonfields]

Not that he'd ever panic, but JD found himself staring back at numerous versions of himself, which actually made him laugh. Then he could see an ever tiny sliver of someone else based upon the angles of each mirror. "Trust me, I'm not going anywhere," he replied with half a laugh and half a defeated sigh, it's not like he could get out of there if he even tried. "I'm not one to ever overthink anything but this has got me tripping balls," he laughed, "err uh tripping on something. If I raise my arm does it help? Or would shining my flashlight on my phone?"

Her track record with mazes wasn’t exactly stellar but to be fair there was a big difference between a mirror room in a fun house and a corn maze, especially when she was remarkably sober. She laughed hearing him say he was stuck. “Stay where you’re at,” she said, letting her hand touch the mirrors, trying to find the openings to get where he must be for the mirrors to pick up on him. He couldn’t be far and once she found him, she could help him sort it out. “It’s meant to play tricks with your mind. If you overthink it, it only makes it worse. You can’t be too far since I can sort of see you and I hear you. I’m sure I can find you.”

[jcksonfields]

@naomiayodele

[jcksonfields]

always down for a fun adventure, JD found himself alone at the fun house. Though he'd usually go with friends, he opted for a solo run through first, never afraid to have the edge on his friends for the next go around. The way the different rooms affected someone had always given him a laugh, though as a kid he wasn't a fan. Now as an adult he found the appeal of them, especially when it would turn you around or distort your senses in some way. Finding himself stuck in a tight room, it was a bit darker than he had expected, and he could have sworn he wasn't alone. It was confirmed when he turned a corner and got stuck but heard someone call out. "Hello?" He answered back, "uh, I think I'm stuck."

Who: Zarah & @jcksonfields

Where: Carnival

When: July 2025

One of Zarah’s favorite places in a carnival was the fun house. Some people found them a bit creepy but honestly there was something fun about pushing past one’s preconceived notions of normally and enjoying something that changes your perspective quite literally. Her head was still a bit spinney after walking through a moving platform that swirled around and through off her equilibrium as she moved into the room of a million mirrors. While the space was generally quite small, it gave the perspective of there being more there. A flicker of something other than herself caught her attention. “Hello?” she called out, assuming there was someone slightly ahead of her in the maze.