Welcome to Gaia! ::

Things had been quiet for some time now, at least since Candace had come back from the outpost. She'd mostly been keeping to herself since the new year, and even Candace wasn't quite sure why, but today she felt like..doing something. Something off-island. Something fun.

And there was someone she felt could use a bit of fun in his life.

Someone who grew too quickly.

That was why Candace was standing outside Gale's door, dressed in jeans, hoodie and comfortable shoes instead of her usual heels and ready with a plan. The plan was very complicated, a lot of stealth was required for--

"Gale! GALE!" She opened the door and looked all around. Candace didn't seem to be panicked but it was clear she was in a hurry. She pointed at the boy once she found him in the house. "GALE! Quick! I need your help on a really important mission there's no time to explain just dress comfortably bring a jacket just in case keep it civilian go go go go go!"

You're going to give the boy a heart attack. Atropos chuckled. That or he's going to hit you so hard when he realizes this act is all simply an act.

Worth it.

Candace kept up the act until Gale was ready. "No, no one's hurt! Just something really important we need to get there fast." She then grabbed Gale's hand and dragged him out of his house, though she did pause long enough to make sure his home was securely locked and everything, and then headed straight for the portals. She had spoken ahead of time with one of the technicians in charge of entering their coordinates, giving him a grin and a wave before she pulled Gale through with them.

On the other side was a theme park. Rides, characters, people, music, the smell of delicious food. Everything. "See, Gale. This really important mission...is to show you what the definition of fun and relaxing is."

Candace was totally ready for any angry reaction Gale might have to this trickery, but she was grinning anyway, an arm draped around the boy's shoulders. Big sister will take care of you, Gale.

Candace let Gale free himself, though she still rolled her eyes at his protest. "And tell me, what is your idea of fun?" Was it anything even his own age? Gale was what, seventeen now? He didn't act it, and sometimes while Candace admired how mature she young boy was she wanted to see him be seventeen.

"That's what I thought." Candace chuckled and draped an arm around Gale's shoulders. "Come on, let loose. This place is all about letting go and having fun and acting like a kid." A couple teenagers around Gale's age went running by, cheering and going on about everything they were going to do.

Like kids.

"What do you say? You've been through so much, you deserve a day to just go crazy and do whatever you want." There was genuine concern behind that thought. She didn't want Gale to be all work and no play, he needed to have fun. He needed to relieve the stresses of being a Hunter before it drove him crazy or something. Gale was too uptight.

Candace moved to stand in front of Gale, bending enough to be eye-to-eye with her 'little brother'. She kept her arm draped loosely over Gale's shoulder while her other hand reached out and gently lifted the boy's chin, showing him a warm smile and shaking her head. "It's not pathetic. You just grew up too fast. You can learn how to be seventeen today, okay?" She tapped his nose and gave Gale a wink. "Today is about fun. As big sister I forbid you from frowning beyond this point. Every time you frown I'm finding a stupid hat to put on your head until there's a friggin' stack of them." She pouted and did her absolute best to look serious.

It kind of failed.

"Okay~. What do you want to do first?" Despite him saying she should lead the way she was still going to let him choose what he was ready for. Her hand found Gale's as she walked further into the park with him.

Around them were screams of joy and laughter and just general fun-having park goers; rides of all kinds, stores, activities, places to go meet the various characters around the park. It was busy and lively and huge. "My parents took me here a few times, I loved it. Oh! We could start with that!" She pointed at a smaller roller coaster. "Think of it as..a beginner's coaster."

Gale looked wary. Understandable, it was his first roller coaster apparently. Candace smiled, ruffling the boy's hair. "You'll love it! Trust me, come on. I wouldn't take you on something I didn't think you could handle." They'd have time to talk and catch up while in line, too.

Candace took Gale's hand again as she led him into the line, leaning back against a wall once there. "So how've you been? Been awhile since we had time to spend together."

Candace leaned back against a wall while the line wasn't moving, watching Gale quietly while rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb. Uh oh..something had happened. What happened? Come on, Gale. Don't do tha--

Oh.

She blinked. Her first instinct was to say 'is that all?' but this was Gale, her little Gale, she had to be delicate.

"I'm sorry to hear that, for your sake." Candace said quietly, pulling Gale to her for a brief hug before the line started to move again. She draped her arm across the back of his shoulders, leaning over to press a kiss against the top of his head. "I know that kind of thing hurts to see." Personal experience, really.