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]

Well that figures.

[She's picking her way back over to him now.]

First time I "do right" and it's for a bunch of dead kids.

[wizardcop]

Oh, stop. You've done right plenty of times.

How about we all go home, hm? [ He casts a glance at the ghosts, who all nod. They're ready.

He's done this spell dozens of times before, and while he casts it with confidence, the nature of it makes him feel like he should treat the process with reverence.

For a moment, they're there, visible to even Kara's eyes. Eight smiling faces, and then they're gone, blown away by some nonexistent breeze. The quiet that settles over the skeleton of the roller coaster is almost... peaceful. ]

[salamandher]

Uh huh. You still owe me a pizza.

[But the teasing sort of dies down when he starts doing his thing. She goes quiet, standing next to him. It's never really... something to tease about, given the circumstances.]

[The sight of their faces actually makes her throat feel a little tight. And she leans on his shoulder.]

...

Well.

That was a thing.

[wizardcop]

[ A soft chuckle- so eloquent, Kara- and he leans over to kiss the top of her head. ]

Let's get back to the car and get out of here, just in case someone saw our little display.

[salamandher]

[No, you're not getting away that easily. She's going to go for a real kiss dammit.]

That's the smartest thing you've said all night.

[wizardcop]

Really? And here I was going to suggest stopping for dinner.

[salamandher]

...

I'm listening.

[wizardcop]

Come on, love. Let's get back to the car and see if we can't find someplace that's still open.

[salamandher]

"Love"? That was incredibly British.

[But she's going to latch onto his arm anyway.]

[wizardcop]

[ Heading back towards the gate, then! ]

Is there something wrong with that?

[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.