A Traveling Carnival Currently Set Up Somewhere In Virginia, Wednesday Afternoon

[firstofitskind]

The other day, Liam had offhandedly mentioned to Verity that he'd tried funnel cake, and been unimpressed with it. He had not been prepared for the outraged grumbling that had followed that pronouncement. Or the vaguely ominous declaration that this needed to be 'fixed'.

Come Wednesday afternoon, she'd told him that they had a portal booked to the mainland and to bring cash. Actual physical cash, not just a credit card. Curious, he'd pressed her for details, but all she'd say was just "You'll see when we get there."

'There' was apparently a traveling carnival, complete with rides, midway games... and, of course, food stands.

"Is this the one you threatened to ground Hayley from for the summer?" he asked, curious.

[ooc: for the wife!]

Comments

[firstofitskind]

"Huh," Liam said thoughtfully. "Anyone tried running any of their guesses past you?" Not that she would have said anything, but if someone thought they could get some information out of a reaction...

[arboreal_priestess]

"Nope," Verity said, all mischievous grins. "Because they know I'd cheat."

[firstofitskind]

“And that’s just one of the many things I love about you,” Liam said cheerfully, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Hey, if I'm not getting a cut, I have no reason to make sure anyone else is, either," Verity said, beaming up at him.

[firstofitskind]

“Oh, so this is purely financial motivation?” Liam asked, eyebrow arched.

[arboreal_priestess]

"They certainly think so," Verity said, looking like the cat that found the cream. "Which is why they're not looking for any other motivations."

[firstofitskind]

"Good answer," Liam decided. "So, should I, uh. Should this be a video call thing? Or can I send an email? Maybe a carrier pigeon?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"You wanna send a telegram?" Verity teased. "It's your secret to share."

[firstofitskind]

"One of those singing ones?" Liam replied. "... Not that they'd make it to your parents' doorstep."

[arboreal_priestess]

"They'll be lucky if they get stopped by the outer gate," Verity groused. "Otherwise, it just mean that Timmy's feeling playful. And that means pit traps."

[firstofitskind]

“And there’s nobody in any service industry that gets paid enough to deal with her pit traps,” Liam agreed.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Exactly," Verity agreed, not that Antimony would ever actually trap a civilian.

But being a big sister meant that you didn't always need to be accurate in your bitching.

[firstofitskind]

"More seriously... I suppose it depends on whether I'd want to do things in one fell swoop or tell one person and let things disseminate," Liam mused.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Also if you think it'll be easier in person, rather than virtually," Verity pointed out. "Since you don't have to worry about my parents dragging you out to the taxidermy barn, it'll probably be easier to keep an eye on the emotional currents of the room in person." She shrugged. "Or you may prefer the distance of virtual. It's up to you."

[firstofitskind]

Liam nodded. "I'll think on it," he promised. But at the moment, there were far more pressing things at hand... like more carnival food. Or midway games. Or rides. All of which were things that his only experience with was secondhand.

[arboreal_priestess]

Hence the other reason Verity had wanted to bring him along to a carnival. It was high time he got to experience this stuff for real.

"Okay, so then what's next?" Verity asked. "More food, games of chance and skill, or rides?"

[firstofitskind]

“Rides,” he said, without hesitation. Best to do those before filling up on too much carnival food, he figured.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Wise man," Verity said, who would have at least warned him had he chosen food first. "Let's see...Oooh! Tilt-a-Whirl!"

[firstofitskind]

He may never have been on a carnival ride before, but he was a shuttle pilot, you think he didn't know what messing with gravity could do to your insides?

"Starting me off easy, I see," Liam said, in the tone of someone who knew full well 'starting someone off easy' was not how Verity operated.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I'm a giver that way," Verity replied, giving him a guileless smile.

Which, of course meant that she was absolutely full of guile. Just full of it.

[firstofitskind]

“You’re absolutely adorable,” Liam declared fondly as they got in line. “And also full of shit.”

Did he sound like he minded about that second part, though?

[arboreal_priestess]

"I don't know what you're talking about," Verity informed him. "I'm a very wonderful wife introducing her husband to the joys of a traveling carnival."

[firstofitskind]

“Hmmm,” Liam grumbled. “Why do I hear the music from that goose game the mice like so much when you say that?”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Peace was never an option," Verity said with a wicked grin as she handed their tickets to a bored attendant and entered the ride.

[firstofitskind]

"You do keep things interesting," Liam had to admit as they found themselves a car and settled in.