A Day For Adventure

=><= //Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!// <== Oh, that's the clock... At the harsh sound, Penny's eyes clenched, unwilling to open, not wanting to give up sleep just yet. Five more minutes couldn't hurt, right? [[She's a responsible adult.->Guess I'll Wake Up]]

Just as she make the decision to actually get up, Penny felt something fuzzy rubbing against her cheek, the something letting out a quiet purr. Seems like somebody else wanted her to wake up too. When her eyes cracked open, she saw the familiar face of Ares staring down at her, his eyes wide. He blinked. She blinked. He blinked again. She blinked again. He purred and licks her nose. She smiled. "Come here, you stupid cat." Penny cooed at him, sitting up. He scrambled away, dashing down her front and jumping off the bed. She heard him scamper through your cracked open bedroom door, soft feet on the hardwood flooring of the hallway. With a sigh, Penny ran a hand through her frazzled bed head, her other going to slap the alarm clock off. Time to get up. Penny swung her feet over the edge of the bed, catching sight of [herself]<FirstPass| in the mirror.(click: ?FirstPass)[ (replace: ?FirstPass)[her [face]<SecondPass| and [hair]<ThirdPass|] ] (click: ?SecondPass)[ [The bags under her eyes were hard to miss, and... did she forget to take off some of her makeup last night?] ] (click: ?ThirdPass)[ [God, was her hair really back down past her shoulders? She swore she got it cut last week. And those were definitely a couple of split ends there on her bangs...] ] [[Time to clean herself up->Bathroom]]

Penny swung her bedroom door open to find Ares cleaning himself just outside of the door. He glanced up at her, as if to say 'What're you lookin' at?'. Penny raised her brow at him, unimpressed, but he simply went back to licking himself. Oh well, he'd come running back to her eventually. Which happened to be the moment she start moving again. Ares got up and trotted after her as she make her way to the tiny apartment's bathroom. He pranced in once the door was opened enough, and hopped up onto the toilet so he could go back to preening himself in a different location. "Well aren't you just the most vain little shit in the apartment?" Penny snorted, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. Ares disregarded the comment entirely, wholly absorbed in licking a bit of fur on his paw. Penny rolled her eyes. He was just lucky she loved him so much. With her piece said, Penny move to stand in front of the sink and do some damage control. That was definitely some foundation still caked on her cheek. Still, it wasn't in the right place to cover the blotchy purple under her eyes. You yawn at the simple sight of it. God, she already felt dead tired, and the day had just barely begun. Still, work was work, and it was a Thursday. One more day after this one and she can sleep until noon. And what a joyous day that would be. Penny grabbed a washcloth and, as the water in the sink started to warm up to an adequate, not freezing temperature, she stared at herself. She almost forgot it was Thursday. Or rather, almost didn't remember. Everything seemed to blend together nowadays. She tried to look for the bright side in things, but lately... well, lately it seemed to be getting harder. Still... things could get better. Right? Maybe she'd go on an adventure today. [[Be real.->No Fun Today]]

At the thought, Penny snorted. Yeah, an adventure, sure. Sure, a fancy pantsy adventure. On a work day. For a twenty three year old, grown ass woman. What kind of thought even was that? Made her feel like a moron. From the toilet, Ares let out a quiet purr, having relaxed into a position that made him look like a loaf of bread. The sight was comical, and Penny started to laugh, stopping when a bit of toothpaste spit found itself on the mirror. Whoops. Nothing a quick rub with the pad of her thumb couldn't fix. Ares cracked open an eye to watch, looking about as amused as a cat could. She shot him a fake glare. Still, as she move to rinse your mouth, cool water washing over her tongue, Penny's mind began to wander. An adventure. It'd be nice to get a break from monotony, sure, but... what dumbass adventure would a normal, unassuming person like her even get up to? [[A regular day, but more exciting.->A Normal Life?]]

As you brush your teeth, you find yourself cracking a stupid smile. Yeah, an adventure would certainly sound nice. It'd be fun to get away from the same old, same old of everyday life, even just for a single day. From the toilet, Ares meowls, clearly perturbed by something. You glance over and cock an eyebrow at him. He stares at you for a moment before meowling again. The two of you share eye contact before he suddenly springs at you. "Mmph! Mmrms!" You shout, nearly falling at the sudden impact. His claws dig into your thin shirt, pricking at your skin as he scrambles up to layer himself over your shoulders. You scowl at him through the mirror, though it quickly fades into an irritated smile when you hear him purring. You roll your eyes and finish brushing your teeth. As you do, your mind drifts back to the whole 'adventure' thing that you find yourself unable to break away from. What kind of adventure awaits you today?... [[Technological! One with robots and threats from space!->The Future Is Now]] [[Magical! One with wizards and warlocks and ancient creatures!->Magic is Everything]]

Penny spat water into the sink and glanced up at the mirror again. She supposed the most she could get would be a deviation from the regular crap that happened on the daily. It'd be nice to get some variation in the same boring schedule once in a while, but she doubted that'd be the case. But hey, a few small things that shake things up would be more than welcome. Ares seemed to agree, purring directly into her ear. Penny reached up, tired smile on her face, to scritch him on the head. Welp, no point in wondering what today was gonna bring. She had a good feeling about today now, though, and her therapist always said a good outlook is key. Still... she should... probably clean herself up sometime. Perhaps that was something different she could do after work today, instead of coming straight home and passing out. A haircut... a nice warm meal from a quaint restaurant... a pint of ice cream and some funny YouTube videos... Yeah, that sounded like a great idea. [[First things first... breakfast.->GoodDay 1]]

Ugh. Penny dropped her toothbrush into its holder and stared blankly at the mirror for a few moments. Jesus she looked gross. Penny brought a hand up, prodding at the dark bags under her eyes. Dammit. She honestly just wanted to go back to bed, but... well, she had to make her last sick day worth it. Still, after all the stupid 'adventure' thoughts, she felt really... weighed down. A gross feeling of dread settled down deep in Penny's stomach as she wasted more time just staring at herself in the mirror. Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh. She eventually turned away, clenching her jaw. Awesome. Now she was in a terrible mood, in addition to being dead tired. Ares let out a trill, hopping onto the sink so he could rub against Penny's head. She crack a tired smile, but even Ares couldn't lift her foul mood entirely. Still, today was just another day, and then she could pass the hell out as soon as it was over... if she even make it that far... [[Breakfast time.->BadDay1]]

Yeah, (link-reveal: "you can see it now... ") [//You'd head out of the apartment, and a swirling portal filled with all variety of blues would tear itself open. From within, a being of metal rather than skin. Shaped like a human, but with glowing eyes. Your eyes would widen in fear, and it would march up to you. Instead of smiting you with never before seen tech, it would speak in a synthetic voice. "I'm looking for Penny Serrata." It would say. "This is her." You'd reply...//] Before you can get too into your daydream, Ares lets out a quiet huff into your ear, letting you know that he's hungry. You sigh, putting your toothbrush down. Your hand goes up, and Ares nuzzles it with a purr. "Let's get you some food, big guy." You tell him. [[Breakfast time.->SciFi Part 1]]

A magical adventure... yeah... yeah, (link-reveal: "you can see it... ")[//"Penny!" Somebody would call your name as you're walking down the street. As you stop and turn around, you'd see him, an older gentleman, with a three piece suit and a cane. You'd turn left and right, because surely he's talking to somebody else? And yet he would approach you. "Penny Serrata." He would wheeze out. "I've finally found you. "Ah, sorry sir, I don't know you." You'd reply. "Perhaps, but I know// you.//" And he would place a hand on your shoulder. "Penny, I need your help. Not many have the potential to control the Great Flame. But I sense it within you." "The 'Great Flame'?" You'd ask. "Yes." He would reply, lifting his cane. And then he would pull his hand off your shoulder, and a brilliant green flame would bloom in the palm of his hand. Your eyes would widen. "I have been seeking the Scion of Light for decades. And, now, I have found her..."//] Before you get lost in your daydream, something sharp pricks into your shoulder. You yelp in surprise, turning your head to see Ares kneading your shoulder with his paws. You frown. Well, it was probably for the best. You need to prepare for work anyway. [[Who's hungry?->Magic 1]]

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Breakfast was the same old, same old. A bowl of cereal and a glass of the juice of the week, apple juice this time. Ares scarfed down a bowl of his dry food, though Penny had some mercy this morning and gave him half a tin of wet food as well. He'd get the other half for dinner. Her (link_reveal:"phone buzzed. ")[When she checked it, it looked like an email from your boss. Penny scrolled through it while slowly chewing on a mouthful of mini wheats. Apparently, he needed her a few minutes early, because they were gonna be training a new intern, but needed her help specifically. She rolled her eyes and took a sip of juice. What the hell could they possibly need done with a new intern that only she can do? It better be good. Penny took a few moments to stare out of the glass sliding door next to the table, taking in the sight of both the empty ass apartment balcony and the city beyond her apartment. Today... she wanted today to be a good day. A quiet //'chff'// sound caught her ear, and Penny quickly whipped her head to the side to find Ares with his head an inch away from the milk filled cereal bowl. "C'mere you little stinker. You already got something special this morning." Penny said as she grabbed him around the middle, hauling him off the table. He let out a clearly unhappy sound, but she simply rolled her eyes at him. The bowl and glass were quickly whisked away and Penny actually spent a few moments hand washing them instead of letting them sit in the sink for a couple days before throwing them in the dishwasher. [[Let's get out of here.->GoodDay2]]]

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"And be good while I'm gone." Penny told Ares as she finish putting on a bit of mascara. He didn't reply from his spot curled up on the bed, so she just assumed he understood. Penny make sure the collar of her shirt was aligned right. Okay, she look presentable. Good, good. "Okay, I'm leaving. Love you." Penny said. Ares yawned and curled up on the foot of the bed. She smirked and blew him a kiss before grabbing her bag and heading out of the apartment. Once outside on the street, the sun shined down, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair. Penny run your hand through it, adjusting what the breeze blew out of place. Okay. Okay. She wasn't really... feeling like garbage, so today was just like any other day. But now... now for the big question. [[Bus?->GoodDayBus1]] [[Or metro?->GoodDayRideTheRails1]]

Penny jogged up to the bus stop, having noticed that she dawdled just a little bit too much this morning in getting up. The stop wasn't far, but she was still in a bit of a rush. She arrived just as the last of the people waiting had piled on. The bus lurched forward slightly, and then jerked to a stop at her approach. Penny put a hand against the door frame, taking a moment to catch her breath. The bus driver offered her a smile when she look up, and Penny reciprocated. And then (link-reveal: "she stuck her hand into her pocket. ")[There was nothing there. Penny's stomach dropped as she realized she didn't have the change for bus fare. All you had was her ID, metro card, and debit card.] [[Dammit.->GoodDayBus2]]

Penny found yourself running, because she knew that she wasn't gonna make it to the right tram if she don't. She heard the name of her tram called as she booked it through the terminal. Her hands moved quickly, withdrawing her metro card from her wallet as she ran. Through the turnstile and down the stairs, there was the feeling of wind at Penny's feet as she run. It playfully toussled her hair and ruffled her clothes as she went, though she didn't really have time to enjoy how it felt. At the last possible second, Penny slid into the tram, the doors slipping shut behind her and nearly catching the back of her shirt. She wrapped an arm around one of the poles in the center of the tram, leaning over to catch her breath. [[She wasn't used to running.->GoodDayRideTheRails2]]

Before she could sulk off the bus, however, a hand laid itself on her shoulder. "Thanks for holding the thing up, Penny." A familar voice said. Penny glanced up to find your boss there, a smile on his face. "You're lookin' a little pale. Things good?" "H-Hey Boss." She replied. "I just... don't have bus fare." "That's it? Don't worry about it, I'll cover it." He grinned and pat her on the back, nudging her into the bus before him. Penny silently moved in, blinking, as he handed fare for two to the bus driver. The two of them made their way into the bus and took a seat near the back. "Uh..." Penny managed once they were seated. "Thanks, Boss." "No worries." Her boss said. "And call me Richard. We're not at work." He smirked. "R-Right." They did their best to make small talk as the bus rumbled along, (though Penny felt it was particularly hard to make small talk with her //boss// of all people). [[Off to work.->GoodDayBus3]]

Once at the office, Penny trotted after Richard as he headed inside. He chattered about the recent merger, which sort of just flew over her head. Eventually, they reached his office, and he glanced back at her once his hand maked contact with the door knob, and a surprised look crossed his face. "Boss, the uh... email." She said simply. He looked really confused for a brief moment before his face lit up in recognition. "Right! Right. The intern. How could I forget? Follow me." And then he was off. Penny once again followed closely as he headed to one of the lower offices. Upon entry, Penny took notice of two figures. One was a fellow worker, Genevive, who offered her a curt wave. The other, she figured, was the intern. She was shorter than Penny, with a thick spattering of freckles across her tanned skin. Her eyes were a sharp honey brown, and her hair was done up in a thick braid. She looked pretty irritable, though she did blink at upon Penny's entry. "Hello, Ms. Isome." Richard greeted happily. "This is Penny Serrata. She'll be the one working with you. Unfortunately, I have some work to attend to, so I cannot supervise, but know that you'll be in good hands." And then he was gone, leaving Penny alone with Genevive and the eerily quiet Ms. Isome. [["Um... hello. I'm Penny."->GoodDayBus4]]

The room was silent for a few seconds after she spoke, the tension thick enough to grab out of the air. Ms. Isome blinked at you, looking irritated, then shot Genevive a half-lidded stare. "Oh, right!" Gevevive let out a nervous laugh. "Penny! The reason we need your help is that... well, Marilyn here is mute. And since you're in HR and you know sign language, we figured..." "...oh!" Your eyes lit up and you turned towards Ms. Isome. "Of course! Um... here." You smiled and (link-reveal:"started to sign. ")[//"Hello Ms. Isome! I'm Penny Serrata. Do you prefer Marilyn?"//] At your signing, Marilyn's irritation with the situation seemed to quickly drain out and, though she didn't smile, her mood seemed to improve significantly. She (link-reveal:"signed back. ")[//"Marilyn is fine."//] Your smile grew. You (link-reveal:"signed. ")[//"Marilyn it is! I'll be showing you the ropes. Are you working in HR too?"//] Marilyn (link-reveal:"replied ")[//"Yeah."//] She looked surprised. [[This was going well!->GoodDayMarilyn]]

With a common mode of communication established, Penny felt good. Marilyn was easy and fun to talk to (once it was possible to get a conversation going), and that made the work they needed to get done so much easier. Though Marilyn wasn't one to smile or share her thoughts, Penny quickly picked up on some tells that made things a whole heck of a lot easier. Marilyn bit her lip when she couldn't figure something out. She'd snort when something was going well and would pick at her nails when she was getting frustrated. Little ticks and fidgets that helped Penny understand when she needed to help and when she needed to let Marilyn work it out on her own. Their work got done, and for some reason, Penny's day flew by quickly. With a smile, Penny (link-reveal:"signed to Marilyn. ")[//"Well, Marilyn. That's our work for today. You did excellent, and I can't wait to finish our training tomorrow."//] Marilyn seemed lost in thought, and (link-reveal:"simply replied. ")[//"Yeah. Me too."//] Penny stared at her for a moment before rubbing the back of her head. She offered Marilyn a sheepish smile. Suddenly, an idea came to her, and Penny scribbled something out onto a (link_reveal:"scrap of paper. ") [It read: 'Here's my number. You can text me or something if you need help with any work stuff. Or anything else.' Beneath that was Penny's cell number. Penny held the paper out to Marilyn, a shy smile on her face. Marilyn slowly accepted the paper, her eyes scanning the scrap of paper offered to her. Her eyes widened as she took in the words. And her signing back to Penny was (link-reveal:"awkward.")[//"Thanks."//] And before Penny could stop her, Marilyn was gone, scurrying out of the room with the piece of paper cluched in her grasp. Penny felt her smile grow awkwardly, but it was one she couldn't stop. Cool. [[Time to clock out.->GoodDayPostWork]]]

Apparently, her panting was really loud, because somebody taps Penny on the shoulder. It was a young woman, shorter than her, with tanned skin covered in a thick spattering of freckles. The young woman's eyes were a sharp honey brown, and her hair was done up in a thick braid. She looked Penny over and then motioned to the seat she had been sitting in. "Th... thanks..." Penny managed, eagerly plopping herself down into the seat. The young woman simply nodded at her, and then looked away. Penny took a moment to recover her voice and breath before glancing back up at the young woman, still standing nearby. She waved at her and, when she looked over, Penny speak up. "I just... wanted to thank you for the seat again." Penny said. The young woman nodded. Penny nervously glanced around and smiled. "Um, I'm Penny Serrata. Can I... have your name?" At her words, the young woman stared at her, then shook her head. Penny frowned. "I... can't?" She asked. The young woman grit her teeth, already looking exasperated. She glowered at Penny and raised a hand. Her fingers came to touch her thumb, and she opened and closed her hand a few times before taking her thumb and running it across her neck. It took a few moments. [[So insensitive.->GoodDayRideTheRails3]]

Penny felt so stupid. She signed to the young woman. (click-append: "signed to the young woman.") [ //"I am so sorry. That was really stupid of me. Is this better?"//] The young woman looked surprised at Penny's knowledge of sign language and signed back. (click-append: "signed back.") [ //"Forget it. This is better though, thanks. Oh, and my name is Marilyn Isome."// Marilyn seemed a bit embarrassed when she tells you her name.] Penny smiled and responded. (click-append:"responded.") [ //"Pleasure to meet you, Marilyn. Thank you for the seat."//] She offered a lame shrug and a reply. (click-append:"a reply.") [ //"Don't worry about it. Felt like being nice today."//] [[That went better than expected.->GoodDayRideTheRails4]]

The two of them made pleasant conversation during the entire metro ride. They both figured out that they worked at the same place, and together, they managed to deduce that Marilyn was the intern Penny was supposed to be training, likely because Penny was the only one in the office's training program that has any sort of proficiency in sign language. Go figure. Penny found herself thinking about how easy it was to 'talk' with Marilyn. Upon arrival at their job, Penny tailed Marilyn to wherever the hell she was supposed to be meeting her, and the two returned to pleasant conversation until Penny's boss showed up, surprised to see the both of them together already. He told Penny what he need her to be doing to train Marilyn and headed out, leaving Penny and Marilyn to their devices. Excellent. [[Ain't nothin like a work day.->GoodDayMarilyn]]

Penny stared up at the sky as she plodded out of her office building. The sky was a tame orange, streaked with blue from the fading daylight. The sun was beginning to set, and Penny couldn't help but think that it looked lovely. She thought it was going to rain today, but apparently it had cleared up. Penny felt her smile growing as she walked down the sidewalk, warm breeze fluffing her hair ahs she went. Maybe walking home today wouldn't be so bad. Though she could take the metro... [[Why not walk?->GoodDayWalkHome1]] [[Eh, let's get home->GoodDayMetroHome]]

As Penny walked down the street, it occured to her that she had thought up some things to do today after work. Her hand unconsciously drifted upwards, moving to play with her hair. Honestly... it was a bit too late to get a haircut today (she was pretty sure the hairdresser she went to closed early on Thursdays), and she wasn't particularly in the mood to sit down at a restaurant. Still... Penny glanced at her reflection in a passing window. She kind of wanted to do something out of the ordinary, as opposed to just tromping home and passing out on the couch for an hour before moving to bed. Maybe... Her eyes lit up as she passed a convenience store. Of course! She could make something for dinner, something simple and quick. It'd been... far too long since she'd made dinner. The multitudes of takeout boxes in her trash can were evidence of that. Something simple, something simple... Penny's mind wandered even as her feet changed her path, getting her headed towards the grocery store near her apartment. [[This is gonna be fun!->GoodDayWalkHome2]]

Penny shrugged to herself as she plodded towards the metro station. No point in dragging this stuff out. Better just get home and figure out what to do from there. As she swiped her way through the turnstile, however, Penny remembered that she had wanted to do some things today after work. Shoot. She didn't have too much time to think about it at the moment, a tram quickly pulling up to the platform the moment she arrived. Penny quickly slipped into the train and found a seat on the surprisingly sparse car. Within moments, the doors slid shut, and the train lurched into motion, speeding through the metro tunnels. [[What is there left to do?->GoodDayMetroHome2]]

The grocery store wasn't exactly an unfamiliar place for Penny, but... well, let's just say takeout was easier. A lot easier. Well, whatever. Penny snagged a basket as she sashayed into the grocery store, a spring in her step. Something about being here was making her feel like she was having fun. Maybe it was because her day was going well. Whatever the reason, Penny casually bounced through the aisles, picking up a variety of ingredients. Tomato sauce, spaghetti noodles, garlic powder, pre-made meatballs all found a home inside her basket. Penny almost didn't want her foray through the store to end, wanting to make the harsh fluorescent lights overhead and linoleum tiling underfoot last just a little while more. But she couldn't stay in the grocery store forever, and Penny quickly made her way through the self check out, bagging her items with little fanfare. And then she was heading out again, a smile on her face as she hummed a song she'd heard playing over the bus radio yesterday. [[Well now we need to make dinner.->GoodDayWalkHome3]]

Within moments of entering her apartment, Penny felt a certain little somebody curling around her legs, purring quietly. She smiled down at Ares, nudging him to the side with her foot. "Move, little man." She demanded, shuffling towards the kitchen while Ares trotted along, playfully batting at her feet as they went. Penny hummed as she laid out all of her groceries onto the counter, yanking the plastic bag out of the way right before Ares could get to it. With his potential toy taken away, Ares sulked away, moving to drink out of his water bowl in the corner. Penny smirked at him as she (link-reveal:"fired up the stove. ")[With her ingredients laid out, Penny began to cook her sauce, moving to boil some water for the pasta. This wasn't anything near hard to make, but... Penny was a bit out of practice. Still, making her own dinner for once was... nice. Yes, that was a good way of putting it. It didn't take long to prepare everything, especially for such a simple meal, and soon Penny had filled a small bowl full of spaghetti. She made sure to cover the pot so that a certain rascal couldn't get into it, and made her way to the living room. Penny flicked the TV on and sat down on the couch. Ares let out a sound as he once again weaved in between her legs, settling himself indignantly on her feet. Seems somebody was mad that he didn't get any pasta. [[Cats get their own food anyway.->GoodDayWalkHome4]]]

Penny hummed to herself as she washed her dishes, the leftover pasta packed into a tupperware and put in the fridge. The warm water flowed over her hands, and Penny took a moment to appreciate it. This was nice. This was a nice day. Ares stood in his corner of the kitchen, happily chowing down on his dinner. Penny glanced out the window as she dried her hands. Dusk was on its way, evidenced by the dark purple sky, orange from the setting sun still holding a faint grasp on the horizon. There was only one thing left to do. Penny made her way to the fridge, pulling open the freezer and retrieving the carton of ice cream she remembered was there. Mint chocolate chip, and it was just close enough to empty that she didn't feel bad about eating straight from the carton. Score. [[Finally... time to relax.->DayEnd]]

Hmm... Penny sat on the train, staring at her foot as she tapped it on the floor. It was a bit too late for a haircut (she was pretty sure her hairdresser closed early on Thursdays anyway), and she was a bit too tired for one anyway. Dinner though... she could get some dinner. There was a cute little Indian buffet that had opened up near her apartment recently, which she never went to because she'd been too busy or tired. But... well, she was certainly in the mood for some Indian food now. Yeah, that sounded great. Penny made up her mind as the train slid to a stop, doors swishing open quietly. Yeah, that sounded nice. [[Dinner waits for no woman.->GoodDayMetroHome3]]

Penny pushed the door to the Indian restaurant open, the warmth of the small place and the smell of spices washing over her. Just being here made Penny straighten her back a little bit, just a bit more cheer entering her veins. This was really nice. Definitely a good idea to come. "Hello, ma'am," The young waiter at the front caught her attention. "Will you be dining alone tonight?" "Ah... yeah." Penny nervously rubbed the back of her head. "Just me tonight." "Sounds good." He smiled at her, directing her to a table near the edge of the restaurant, a small table against the wall. Penny followed, just soaking in the environment. "Here's your table." The waiter informed her. "The buffet is near the back, flag me down when you're finished and I'll bring you your check." "Alright, thank you." Penny smiled at him, and he returned it before heading off. [[Time to have some dinner.->GoodDayMetroHome4]]

Penny read over her recipt as she exited the restaurant, making a mental note to come back here some time soon. The food was warm in her stomach, and she felt a feeling of heavy satisfaction settle over her. Nothing like a good dinner to make her feel good. She found herself staring up at the sky, dusk settling in with a deep purple hue. Sunlight clung to the horizon with its dull orange fingers, still not quite willing to let the day go. A gentle breeze blew over Penny's shoulders, playfully ruffling her shirt. The cool wind reminded her of something, and her eyes lit up. She had ice cream in the freezer. Yes. Yesssss. [[Yessssssss.->DayEnd]]

Penny sat, curled up on the couch as some sort of late 70s comedy show squawked at her from the TV. Ares, too, was curled up, resting at her feet with his eyes closed. Penny glanced at him as he let out an errant snore, leaning against her feet because of whatever dream he was having. She smiled. Good for him. Her mind wandered as she brought a spoonful of ice cream up to her mouth. The day was over, and... it hadn't really turned out like she'd expected it to. But then again, that was exactly what she had wanted. She wondered what the chances were that her good outlook kept the day fresh. 'Who knows,' she mused, 'maybe it really did.' Either way, she could definitively say that it had been a good day. She had a good time with work, and had a nice dinner. It wasn't particularly exciting, nor was it excessive. But it was certainly the right amount of different to make it feel like she had gotten something out of it. Penny's phone buzzed. She glanced down at it, smiling at the words on the screen. 'Hey, it's Marilyn.' =><= The End