this is where fun goes to die

[salamandher]

[This is where fun goes to die.]

[The stereotypical abandoned amusement park. Everybody says it's haunted. And, in their line of work, when multiple people start saying something's haunted, it either is, or it's damned close to being so. There's probably some kind of correlation, but that's not important.]

[What is important is that traffic was so terrible. Terrible enough that they pull up into the weedy parking lot as the sun is starting to go down. It's cold. Not enough to snow, but enough to see your breath when you talk. There's a wind blowing up off the lake, and the old ferris wheel carriages swing out in the distance. Something calls out, long and lonely.]

[It's probably an owl.]

[But that owl is not helping anything.]

I'm so not getting out of this car. You know that, right?

[She's still buckled in, in fact.]

Comments

[salamandher]

No. I think it's kind of cute.

[wizardcop]

I'll make a note of that, then.

[salamandher]

You'd better. Or else.

[wizardcop]

Or else? Or else what?

[salamandher]

Do you really want me to answer that?

[wizardcop]

Well, now I'm simultaneously curious and filled with dread.

[ It will have to wait, though, because there are red and blue lights flashing on the other side of the gate. It does look like someone noticed the ruckus. ]

... Well, damn.

[salamandher]

As you should... be.

[Wellp. That's not good. She looks up at him, then back to the cars. And back to him.]

... so. Do you flash your badge or do we try and hide in the bushes like a couple of teenage delinquents?

[wizardcop]

Well, there are a lot of places to hide.

[salamandher]

So... you're going to play bad cop and hide in the old tunnel of love?

[wizardcop]

Frankly, I don't have it in me to BS answers to their questions, so.

[ He casts a quick spell and the rusted gate snaps back onto its hinges, good as new, but no doubt startling the officers out front, who come running to see what the hell that noise was. ]

That should buy us some time. Shall we?

[salamandher]

So, we play Bad Wizard Cop. Gotcha.

[She just holds out her arm. Come take it like a gentleman.]

We shall.

[wizardcop]

[ He quirks an eyebrow. Playing "Bad Wizard Cop" sounds rather like something they'd do in their private time, but he'll keep that to himself for the moment.

And yes, he will take her arm like a gentleman. ]

Lead the way, love.

[salamandher]

[She sees that look.]

What?

[But the hand on her arm sort of throws that out of her head. For the moment.]

I have no idea where I'm going.

[So she'll just pick a direction. And walk.]

[wizardcop]

[ Behind them, someone is calling for something to cut the chain on the gate with. ]

... I'd say lead the way a bit faster.

[salamandher]

[Picking up the pace, then!]

We could go in the funhouse. Full of creepy mirrors and clowns.

[wizardcop]

Why not? But if we find something else living in there, I'm blaming you.

[salamandher]

Why is that my fault?

[INTO THE FUNHOUSE THEN.]

[wizardcop]

Because it was your idea?

[ slijfsdkj he stumbles a bit because there's debris all over the floor. As much as he doesn't want to, he calls up his little light again, though slightly dimmer so hopefully the cops won't see it. ]

[salamandher]

I'm not the one who told a potentially terrifying whatsit to come live in here.

[Regardless, the prospect makes her stick a little closer to him. And his light.]

[wizardcop]

We'll be fine, Kara. The worst that's around here are probably rats.

[ Nevertheless, Fedora takes point, picking his way around the less structurally sound areas. And Jacob isn't really minding the closeness- he might even take her hand again. ]

... Maybe one day I should take you to a functioning amusement park.

[salamandher]

You say "rats" like it's no big deal. Those things have the plague.

[She takes his hand. She will take that hand and hold it like it can ward off the hypothetical plague.]

... What, really?

[wizardcop]

At least they're not R.O.U.Ses?

Yes, really. I hardly think this constitutes as a proper date.

[salamandher]

... The what now?

[Sorry, Jacob, she missed that one.]

But I thought you liked it when I burned things.

[wizardcop]

... Have you never seen the Princess Bride?

[ paaaaause. Is that a trick question? ]

I'd prefer a less life-threatening situation. But... you are stunning when you throw fire around.

[salamandher]

... Maybe forever ago?

[Maybe. But they are in the dark in an abandoned, graffiti'd fun house.]

So then, yes, this is a date, because you saw something you liked.