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One of the problems with being Stereotypical Ken was that no one ever came up with housing for Stereotypical Ken.
He had a wide array of outfits and accessories, mostly to complement Stereotypical Barbie’s many hobbies. But no one ever thought to give him a house. Perhaps they assumed Barbie would share her dreamhouse with him…but they were mistaken. At most, she’d let him stay in her pool house. But now she had left Barbieland.
Of course this problem wasn’t unique to him. Other Kens didn’t have a set abode. But veterinarian Ken could stay in the clinic. Kens in some form of business naturally seemed able to have a house, regardless of whether their plastic counterparts in the real world were sold with them. Those in the entertainment industry could always get a hotel room since they were always on tour.
But Stereotypical Ken…his job was beach. He could walk on the sand. Swim. Surf. But he hadn’t been created with any skills that would let him secure any type of shelter. So when night fell, he would prop a surf board up on anything he could find and sleep under it.
Before his trip to the real world, the only problem he had seen with this was that it meant he was away from Barbie.
But now…he’d grown used to a bed. He’d grown used to walls and a roof to stop the wind from blowing sand at him. And he’d grown used to it not snowing every time the Barbies wanted to ski.
Waking up to snow starting to drift under the surfboard was unpleasant. Especially considering he’d fallen asleep in swim trunks.
Teeth chattering, he stumbled to his feet. The ski resort would be where it always was when this happened. Even though the Barbies and the Skier Kens would be asleep, there would he hot chocolate in the lobby. No one would mind him sleeping on one of the couches.
If only it weren’t a mile away. If only his rollerblades would work fine in snow-covered streets. There was no death in Barbieland. But Kens could experience illness, injuries, and discomfort. All so doctor Barbies could heal them.
It was not going to be a pleasant trek. He-
”Ken?”
The voice came from off to his left. Peering through the snow, Ken could just make out a figure framed in a doorway. The voice was familiar. Another Ken. But he couldn’t place it.
“What are you doing walking around in this weather? Get inside!”
Ken didn’t need any more encouragement. He darted through the doorway and sighed as the warmth hit him. At the sound of the door closing behind him, he looked up.
Ah. Naturally, his savior would have to be that Ken. But Ken wasn’t going to be the one to start something. Not now.
“Th-thank y-y-you.” Ken chattered out.
For once, the other Ken didn’t have a mocking look on his face. Instead, he looked astonished and confused. “What the hell were you doing out there in that weather?” The other Ken’s eyes flicked over him. “And wearing those clothes?”
“I-I was going t-to the ski r-r-resort….” Stereotypical Ken trailed off as the other Ken came toward him. He tensed, preparing for…he wasn’t sure.
But the other simply grabbed a blanket off a recliner and pulled it around Ken’s shoulders. “You wanted to go skiing at night? With nothing but swim trunks on?”
“No!” Stereotypical Ken flushed. He took hold of the blanket. Damn, it felt good. “I’m n-not an idiot! I just…I just needed…” He muttered the last words. “A p-place to warm up.”
He didn’t know why he was reluctant to admit he had no set shelter. He wouldn’t be the only Ken to have none. But clearly this Ken had a home. And it was nice. It was clearly small. More of a cottage than a house. But the living room had a couch, a recliner, a tv…Ken could see a kitchen area to the side.
“Oh.”
Stereotypical Ken avoided the other Ken’s gaze and waited for the mocking retort. But all the other Ken said was, “Well, sit down.” He pushed him gently toward the couch. “You can stay here until it’s warm out again.”
The offer was unexpected. And on any other day, Stereotypical Ken would have loathed being indebted to this Ken. But he was just starting to feel his feet again. So...
“Thank you!” He said before the other Ken could change his mind.
“Great!” The other Ken seemed genuinely pleased. Then he bit his lip. “The only thing is…I only have one bed…” He seemed almost embarrassed by this. Whereas Stereotypical Ken had no bed. “So we’ll need to share.”