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]

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.

[wizardcop]

... Don't you think it's a little sad that we have to consider this a date?

[salamandher]

... After the swamp monster assassin in the oil field? No, not really. That one's sort of hard to beat.

[wizardcop]

I'd still like to take you on a real date one of these days.

[salamandher]

... Do you really think that's ever going to happen? Given... everything?

[wizardcop]

Oh, let me dream. I'd like a nice, quiet evening with the woman I love.

[salamandher]

...

If you're trying to make me blush, you should wait until you can actually see it.

[wizardcop]

If we're considering this a date, then I should get to make you blush whenever I want.

[salamandher]

No, there's not nearly enough alcohol for me to allow that.

[wizardcop]

You can't get drunk, Kara.

[salamandher]

You can.

And you turn British.

[wizardcop]

I don't turn into anything.

My accent just becomes more prominent. [ He might have dialed up the British on that last sentence, though. ]

[salamandher]

You do. You're like a were-brit.

I think the word you're looking for is "posh".

[wizardcop]

I am not a---

[ Suddenly there's flashlight beams poking into the ragged remains of the building, and voices from outside. Using his grip on her hand, Jacob tugs Kara into a corner, pulling her close and dousing their light as he does so. The cops outside can be heard discussing if they heard something in there or not.

Jacob hisses between his teeth. ]

Fedora, buy us some time.

[ The slight smell of smoke is the only indication that the wolf has gone. ]

[salamandher]

[She's ready to start up an irritated rant when he tugs her into a corner, but the sound of voices cuts her off before she gets more than a breath out.]

[And then she's holding that breath, making exaggerated "DO SOMETHING MORE" faces at Jacob in the dark.]

[What is Fedora going to do?]

[wizardcop]

[ Fedora is going to scare the pants off of those guys, apparently. Suddenly a long, lonely howl sounds in the relatively quiet night. The cops fall silent, flashlights sweeping out of the funhouse to shine on the overgrowth.

Another howl sounds from a different location, and now the cops are talking to each other in nervous, hushed tones.

Jacob takes the opportunity to move along the wall, tugging Kara after him. ]

[salamandher]

[She has to work very hard to choke back a laugh. Granted, if she didn't know what that was, she'd probably have had a heart attack. It sounds creepy as hell out there.]

[So she follows, squeezing his hand a little tighter.]