(Untitled)

[playingtheenemy]

When another Halloween had come and gone and she had survived physically (and mentally, seeing as her boyfriend had suddenly become one very afro-fied little boy), she was beginning to think that there would never be a holiday on the Island that was normal ever again. That was what had prompted her into action. She had spent the morning helping to

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[goingtodorking]

Having seen Ainsley go down the stairs, a few minutes later, Karen trots down after her, a lollipop left over from Halloween in her hand. She sits on the bottom step and leans on her knees, sticking her lollipop back into her mouth. It's apple flavour.

"You're not supposed to throw things at people, Ainsley," she chides gently. Rollie and Shadow are alway tell her not to throw things at them, especially not Puffin.

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley turned and her face immediately went pink, as if the very sight of Karen with the object in her hand were a chemical combination that caused her to do that. "I don't want to throw it. I just want to put it away and never see it again."

[goingtodorking]

Karen tilts her head on one side and crunches her lollipop very deliberately between her teeth.

"What is it?"

[playingtheenemy]

"It's a silly costume that the Island made me wear and now I don't want it anymore because it's not a nice costume," Ainsley said in a very lecturing mode, very serious about it because the last thing she wanted was Karen to think it was okay to wear that kind of thing.

[dumbassbastards]

"That," says Rollie, "is pretty much the last thing you want to be saying to what is possibly the most malevolent inanimate object on the island." He slams down the lid of a washing machine and then stands in the doorway to look at her. "What you need to do, if you're that desperate to get rid of--" He has no idea. "--a lime green lace teddy, is pretend you don't care what happens to it. Or better yet, pretend you want it and you've just accidentally dropped it in the box."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley cleared her throat and tried to ignore the way her face flushed with terrible, horrible embarrassment as she turned and tilted the bag to Rollie so he could see what was inside. "Before you say anything, anything at all, this is because of a cruel trick the Island played on me."

[dumbassbastards]

"I think we all need to stop worrying so much about the Island's sense of humour," says Rollie. "Anyone who's been here more than a week knows what kind of a bastard it is." Then he peers into the bag. "Wow. I feel like I missed out on something there."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley couldn't help the horrible laughter that passed her lips and she covered her mouth to make it stop. "Yeah," she agreed wryly. "And at that point in time, there really wasn't anyone around to appreciate it in the manner it was supposed to be appreciated in."

[palmthemoon]

"Tempting fate, saying something like that," Shadow pointed out from the doorway. He gave her a smile as he came closer to see what she'd banned to return to the fabric hell from whence it came.

"Farewell, Hot Cop outfit. Long may you..." There was a moment when he couldn't find a proper eulogy as he settled an arm around her shoulder. "Long may you honor scantily clad police officers."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley grinned as she leaned into his arms and let out a pleased and quiet sigh. "Have I mentioned lately how very much I am appreciative to have you back to your normal size because not that I didn't find you adorable before, but really, I do enjoy you being able to wrap your arms around me like this."

[palmthemoon]

"I like being this size too," he agreed and rested his other hand comfortably across her waist. The night had ended with a blur of trick-or-treating and then the ferocious intensity of a sugar crash, which resulted in Ainsley having to carry him home and put him to bed. "As good as you and Rollie were about it, glad it was just a one-day thing."

[playingtheenemy]

"Me too," Ainsley exhaled with heavy relief. "I mean, honestly, it's one thing for that to happen for a day, but I think, no I'm sure that I was plagued with nightmares that night about it being more than a temporary thing and then what was I supposed to do? Not mourn you because you weren't gone and I don't know that being a Freudian mother to you would be all that healthy and well, suffice to say, I am very, very happy you are yourself, Shadow."

[playingsmart]

Laundry had never been a task that Sam particularly enjoyed. Of course, who did? He could remember liking it in college; though his suspicions were it was the way they'd sit and talk, ostensibly studying while their clothes went through.

In Washington there were dry cleaners. Places you could drop things off and pick them up again a day or so later. If he was lucky, he'd convince Ginger to grab his cleaning for him once in a while. A very very occasional once in a while. Here, there was no such luck. Of course, walking into the laundry room and seeing Ainsley talking to the clothing box? Now that was interesting.

"What thrown back at you, as I doubt it's your cunning wit."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley felt like she was going to die of mortification. It might be then, it might be twenty minutes later, but oh yes, she felt as though it was bound to happen and lying to Sam felt pointless when he could find out by nosing. "Just an article of clothing I happened to accidentally wake up in one morning," she explained through a strained tone.

[playingsmart]

The tone was enough to back him drop the basket of clothes and wander her way, trying to peer over her shoulder. "Really? I didn't know this place tried to dress us as well."

[playingtheenemy]

Ainsley flushed heavily as she tried to hide the bag all the more, because Sam Seaborn, of all people, would never let her live this down. Or he might, but only after Ainsley inflicted violence. "It is a few and far between thing, I swear," she assured.