nothing to hide [KENNY] ●

[Harper Collins]

It was kind of chilly out, which was to be expected since winter was on its way. Harper had always rather loved the season, even if it tended to kill most of the plants, especially all of the beautiful flowers. With her new powers she could keep the flowers alive, but it came at such a cost of energy that it was hardly worth it. Besides, plants died in winter for a reason, and who was she to mess with that cycle? She had always believed that things happened for a reason, and that sometimes that reason couldn’t be comprehended by the human mind.

She moved forward fluidly, stepping off of the sidewalk and onto the beach. This had always been one of her favorite places to be. That, of course, had a lot to do with the fact that Connor’s family’s restaurant was located here, and therefore she’d found herself here a lot over the years. Back when her mother was sick, this was a place where she could go and feel kind of okay again. And now that her mother was better, she found herself here even more. She felt naturally drawn to the place where she had once, and still did, find comfort.

Eventually she would find herself close to the water, looking out over the vastness of the ocean. It was strange to think they were trapped here. It seemed like she could just dive into the water and swim until she found herself somewhere else. That was a silly thought, though, wasn’t it? No one could swim for that long. And besides, it wasn’t really bad here. This was where her family and friends were, and she wouldn’t leave them for anything. A small smile graced her serene features as she pulled her coat more tightly around her body.

Kenneth Johnston

[Kenneth Johnston]

Contrary to popular belief, the drummer for Phoenix Fire, Flint Embers, did not smoke. It was an easy assumption to make considering he frequently carried a while ‘something’ between his lips. However, what fans might have assumed to be a cig was actually one of his favorite substances in the world showing itself subtly: candy. He loved lollipops especially, and those that knew him past his alias, as the Kenneth Johnston underneath, knew this rather well. It was not uncommon to find him sneaking out the back way of a candy store after paying in a ditch effort to avoid recognition, but the truth of the matter was he was almost more addicted to it than any addictive substance recognized could have been.

Sweets made Ken happy, made him pepped up, made him relaxed, made him chill. He was always in the best mood when he had some sort of sugary substance, and one could bribe him rather easily because of it. Of course he tried to avoid being bribed, but sometimes it could not be helped. Sometimes people knew exactly which candy was his favorite, and it was game over for one Kenneth Johnston.

That afternoon during his lunch break, Ken had a craving and found himself in short supply. Rather than head down to a restaurant or the grocery store to get food, he found himself walking up the street of the beach district towards the familiar candy store that carried his favorite fixation. Hands placed in the pockets of his black jacket and the last of one of his lollipops in his mouth, Ken moved smoothly allowing his eyes to sweep and gaze here and there habitually. However, when those red spheres fell upon the light hair of a familiar form, Ken stopped walking.

He could recognize a bandmate anywhere— though perhaps their choice of hair color and markings had something to do with it, and without hesitation, he raised one hand to cup and amplify his speech. “Hey Harpsichord!” he called briefly before raising that very hand to usher out a wave and start towards her, the candy store forgotten for the moment. “What are ya up to?” Ken asked as he drew closer.

[Harper Collins]

The silence of the moment was broken as those familiar vocals called out to her. She would recognize that voice anywhere, but that nickname also gave away the identity of the person who was calling to her even before she turned to face him. Most people were content to call her ‘Harper’, or even ‘Harp’, but it wasn’t like she minded. She liked receiving nicknames from people; she found them to be special. She turned in on her heal in the sand, digging some of it out. “Kenny~!” She greeted, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him in a brief but warm hug. Harper was always delighted to see her friends, even if she saw them rather often, and that delight was expressed clearly on her features.

She raised her hands to tuck her long, white hair behind her ears. Her hair had always been something that made her easily recognizable. And now the insignia that traveled up her arm made her even easier to recognize – even if most of it was covered by her jacket right now. The beginnings of it could be seen on the back of her hand. “Nothing really,” she said in answer to his question. “Mama basically threw me out of the shop, said I needed to get some fresh air.” She shrugged and then grinned thereafter. She knew her mother felt bad about the fact that she hadn’t gotten to enjoy her teenage years. “What about you?” She went on to ask.

[Kenneth Johnston]

A small smirk pulled itself across Kenny, disguising the more obvious grin that would have been there readily at the acknowledgment otherwise. He was happy to see her and just as happy that she seemed happy to see him. The brief hug that came was returned for a moment before Ken stepped back again setting his hands in his pockets as he watched her briefly run her fingers through her hair. He had to say she took good care of it- even if he had no idea how. He could barely keep his own hair at the length it rested at without it becoming a mess, but he supposed it was something girls were generally more skilled at controlling. Heh, any longer and my hair’d look ridiculous anyways he snorted softly to himself.

However, thoughts were dropped as Harper explained why she was out, and instead, a small chuckle escaped from him at her description. He could imagine it readily, really, her mother telling her to get out for a bit. “Don’t flowers-er-plants give fresh air though?” he jived with a grin before shaking his head a bit at her question. “I was headed to the candy store,” he admitted with a sheepish sort of expression. There was no lying to Harper; he wouldn’t dream of it even when it made him feel a little silly admitting it. “My stash is low again,” he grinned briefly after that.

Glancing out at the water for a moment, Ken took a slow breath in. Despite having lived there perpetually all his life, Ken had never once gotten used to the sight of the sea. It always managed to mystify him each and every time. “Too bad the water’s probably freezing,” he commented outwards not quite directing his words at Harper but perhaps at the seat itself. “Swimming doesn’t sound too bad.”

[Harper Collins]

She grinned a bit at his jive, shaking her head. “You tell Mama that, then~” She joked back easily. Her mother was a fierce woman, really, now that the sickness wasn’t keeping her down. Not to say that she wasn’t warm and friendly, either. Harper drew most of her best qualities from her mother, and most of her worst she had gotten from her grandmother. Really, all of the women were more than capable of handling themselves, and they all had big personalities. They fought from time to time, but the warm undercurrent of love in her house could never be ignored.

She laughed lightly when he admitted where he was off to. “Really, Kenny, you’re going to rot your teeth out!” She told him, falling easily into the motherly roll that she seemed to make for herself in every relationship that she had. “You better brush your teeth at least three times a day.” She went on to say, not even aware of how ridiculous that sounded since she was telling a grown man – a man older than herself – what to do.

Her blue gaze moved out over the ocean as his did, a softer smile appearing on her features when he commented on swimming. “That would be nice. Hopefully this winter will be over soon. There’s more to do in the summer~” She stated, turning her blue gaze back on him.

[Kenneth Johnston]

Ken grinned. It was all he could do considering he knew better than to attempt to correct Mrs. Collins on anything. He’d rather fight a bear, ok maybe not a bear. Bears could eat people— not that he didn’t doubt that Mrs. Collins could if she wanted to. She might even use its middle name if it had one. He let the conversation go on by explaining where he had been going though.

Briefly, a sheepish expression crossed his features when she chastised him before a snort escaped thereafter as he subdued a laugh. “Yes ma’am I know, I know,” he replied back. In the years he’d known Harper, Ken had learned it was easier to simply agree with her on such topics. It was probably easier to argue with a stump than Harper on a bad day, but it made her endearing- at least sometimes though now it was time for the return. “But don’t you forget either,” replied when she was fully done extending a finger and pointing at her forehead. “Ya better be taking care of yourself,” Ken huffed crossing his arms in front of herself. “Cause if I hear you haven’t…” he shook his finger only briefly at her before offering a wry smirk.

Thereafter, however, the sea caught Kenny again. Had he ever once wanted to be in the marines? Or coast guard? Nah, he’d rather be a pirate if anything. The freedom of the sea was too alluring like that, heh. He was better on land, or so he thought. As Harper spoke, Ken looked back to her and gave a small nod. “It’ll prolly get colder before warmer though,” he shrugged a little before a smirk came to his features. “Sides, we have to get through Christmas first,” he continued. “Ya know what that means.” Christmas was a special time of year even if winter wasn’t that fun overall. Ken enjoyed taking the small vacation from his two main jobs to have some fun, to say the least.

[Harper Collins]

While she was quite certain that her mother would use Kenny’s middle name if the situation called for it, her mother had also managed to perfect the art of being strict but also kind and warm at the same time. She looked up to the woman for that, and barely even realized how much like her she was. Outwardly Harper didn’t appear to be as strict or harsh, but push her buttons just right, and she could give you a tongue-lashing that rivaled her mother’s. It wasn’t a skill she had to use often, but it wasn’t one she was afraid to use when it came to defending her friends either.

A warm grin presented itself on her features when he simply agreed with her. She didn’t quite realize the reasoning behind it, she was just happy that he was taking care of his teeth! Oral health was extremely important, and he had to make up for eating all of that candy in some way. She couldn’t quite bring herself to tell him to stop eating it, so she chose the next best thing. However, when that finger was pointed at her forehead, her eyes crossed slightly when she tried to look at it. She laughed at herself thereafter, her face lighting up easily. “Silly Kenny~ You know I always take care of myself!” She grinned warmly, not even aware of the fact that she’d just lied. Now-a-days the girl was taking much better care of herself than she had when her mother was sick, but when someone she cared for needed her it was all too easy for her to forget that she had needs as well.

She was thoroughly distracted from anything and everything when the topic of Christmas was brought up. Harper loved Christmas. It was her favorite holiday. She loved everything about it. She loved getting gifts for everyone, she loved decorating, she loved cooking. It gave her a chance to basically pamper everyone, and they weren’t allowed to complain about it! “It means you gotta come over for a Christmas supper soon! And you get a huge stocking of candy!” She gestured wide with her hands here, “And we get to decorate the shops and Connor’s restaurant and we can watch Christmas specials together and I get to help the kids with their play at church.” She rambled on and on, her features only growing more excited with every word.

--

Kenneth Johnston

[Kenneth Johnston]

Watching those eyes cross, Ken fought the strange urge to do the same though her laughter dispelled it quickly enough. Her assurance that she took care of herself earned a smaller grin and a head shake. “You better!” he proclaimed after a brief moment regardless. He’d let the topic float away, however, as a more fun one was reached.

Christmas was always a fun topic whether it be the enjoyment of it or the planning that went into it coming forth. The thought of his stocking filled to the brim with candy was enough to make Ken’s mouth water for a second or so. He could just taste the peppermint flavoring of the candy cane mixed with the subtle crunch that came with it. He could never just suck on those types of things. They always ended up bit and chomped down on. Perhaps it was worse for his teeth, but Kenneth would let Harper worry about such things. As she went on to talk about decorations and movies, Ken gave a nod to each though in the end it was the notion of helping the church kids with their play that warmed him like no other. Kenny loved kids more than he would ever truly know. They made him happy with their innocence and naivety mixed so perfectly with their ingenuity.

“And don’t forget,” Ken continued on with her train of thoughts more or less. “We have to make up some new Christmas songs.” It wasn’t necessarily a necessity so much as an idea that had come to mind more spontaneously than not. What Christmas songs one could do on the drums outside of the little drummer boy was questionable, but Ken had faith they could make it work, somehow. If nothing else, he had faith Connor could drag them far enough along to get it done. It was their unspoken leader’s greatest power or so Ken felt anyways.

[Harper Collins]

She gave him an encouraging nod when he told her she better take care of herself. She planned to! How else could she take care of everyone else? She couldn’t if she was sick. The white-haired girl did make sure to do her best not to get sick. She took vitamins, always remembered her coat, never went outside in the cold with her hair wet, etc. Her phobia of being sick, and of the people around her getting sick, was hardly noticed by her – though it was hard for other people to miss, really. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone close to her had gotten sick, but she watched them closely either way.

Her smile only brightened when he brought up Christmas songs. “Oh yeah, definitely! Connor will love that.” She bounced on her feet a bit. “And me. Christmas songs are the best. I love playing them and singing them.” She grinned warmly at the taller man, tucking her hair behind her ears yet again since her bouncing had knocked it loose. She allowed silence to fall between them for a minute before she stepped forward and looped her arm through his. “I’ll go to the candy store with you~” She offered.
--
Kenneth Johnston

[Kenneth Johnston]

The redhead grinned. Like Connor’s, Harper’s excitement was infectious, and while he may have been more down to earth than the rest of the band, Ken could resonate with it. He liked it, was grateful for it, even. It was what held them together and let them grow. It made them strong. Their band burned brightest with positive emotions, and if Ken could help it, he would ensure it stayed that way. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing to worry about, anyways. They were friends first and would stay that way.

The brief lull in conversation was seconds of mental recoup time and thus nothing to fret over for either band member. Ken allowed his eyes to drift away from Harper for a moment and reflect the horizon. I was doing something before this he reminded himself. As if on cue, Harper offered to go with him to the candy store. Ken glanced back and allowed a laugh to escape from him. He knew her power had nothing to do with mind reading, but he couldn’t help but imagine she might have glazed over his surface thoughts. “Getting some candy for yourself?” he questioned mischievously before making a brief head gesture up to the sidewalk area once again before starting up.

The store was just up the street once they made it back to pavement, and Ken could see it coming into view even from there. Briefly going over what he wanted to stock up on in his mind, Ken glanced upwards as if perhaps consulting heaven. “Ah got it,” he smirked more to himself than Harper. “Give ya three geusses as to what I’m getting,” he grinned briefly.

[Harper Collins]

She grinned a bit as the question as to whether or not she was getting candy was posed. She stepped back up onto the sidewalk slightly after him, waiting until her feet were firmly planted on the concrete before she gave her answer. “I might. I’ll need stuff to decorate a gingerbread house anyway~” She answered, walking alongside him fluidly. She wasn’t as big on candy as Ken was, usually preferring things like fruit to the artificial flavors, but she would be lying if she said she didn’t like it at all. Seriously, she’d never met anyone who just didn’t like candy. Certain types, certain flavors, sure, but she was almost certain that there was no one who disliked all candy.

She had a slight bounce in her step as they walked along, her blue gaze fixating on the store in the distance at it came into view. Her gaze would return to the redhead beside her when he spoke again and she would purse her lips a bit as she thought over his question. “Well, suckers and candy canes for sure.” She decided. She knew that Ken had a thing for hard candies, he typically always had a sucker after all. “And… hmm… maybe some cinnamon candy too.” She said, finally deciding on what the third type of candy might be.

--
Kenneth Johnston

[Kenneth Johnston]

A grin flashed across Ken’s lips as Harper spoke. “Mmmm gingerbread,” he hummed aloud. It wasn’t too good on its own, but with the right flavors added in, it could taste pretty great. “Do you know if we’re doing some gingerbread men decorating this year at the party?” he asked lightly folding his arms behind his head as they walked before allowing his features to fall into something more neutral. He couldn’t remember a time when Connor’s restaurant Christmas party didn’t have some sort of decorate-it-yourself type of thing, but there was also always something new to be had in terms of food. It was as if the Logans were constantly progressing. Ken thought it was pretty neat all things considered, really.

As Harper named a few of his favorite sweets, Ken couldn’t help the small smile that came to his features. She knew him well. Hard candy tended to last longer which was why he preferred it to the soft things that he could eat by the scores if he wasn’t careful. As Harper finally listed the last of the candy she guessed he was going to get, a small laugh escaped from him. “Way to hit the nail on all three heads Harpsichord,” he beamed warmly at her. “Are you sure you’re not psychic?” he asked lightly. Though it was clearly in jest, the question wasn’t as farfetched as it might have once been. People with powers and familiars galore had become the norm, after all. Briefly, Ken’s hand reached up as if to smooth over the bat that tended to clasp ahold of his shirt and hang upside down from it. When he found it not there, however, he dropped his hand.

[Harper Collins]

She tapped her lips lightly as Kenny raised the question about Connor’s party. She couldn’t quite remember if the greenette had told her anything in regards to what they would be decorating at the party or not. She knew there was typically something like that to do, but the gingerbread house she was planning on decorating was for her shop to make things seem a little more in the Christmas spirit and such. “I’m not sure.” She answered at last, turning to gaze up to look at Kenny momentarily. “Bet there’ll be something, though~” She went on to say, swinging her hands at her sides as she walked along.

A brighter grin appeared on her features, however, as he confirmed that she had guessed the sweets correctly. Harper took some pride in knowing her friends and what they liked. She went out of her way to get to know what they liked so she could buy it for them sometimes. “Not psychic!” She answered with a little giggle, a bounce in her step. “I just know youuuu.” She grinned and skipped ahead of his just slightly, turning back to look at him. “Betcha some people are now, though.” She said, more absently than anything.

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Kenneth Johnston