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]

“No place I would’ve rather been,” Liam agreed. “Of course, things are different now.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Got rid of all your girlfriends, huh?" she asked.

[firstofitskind]

“Well, one of them decided she wanted to marry me, so it seemed like the logical choice.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"And now you take up all her space on carnival rides," Verity said sadly, giving him very pathetic puppy eyes.

Worked for the mice.

[firstofitskind]

"She can tell me to get lost anytime she pleases," Liam retorted.

[arboreal_priestess]

"That would be incredibly inconvenient," Verity declared. "Because then she'd have to go out and find you."

[firstofitskind]

"Then I suppose we're at a bit of an impasse, aren't we?" Liam smirked.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Hmm, some kind of compromise might be in order," Verity said as the ride started to slow down.

[firstofitskind]

"Oh?" Liam arched an eyebrow. The ride stopped and the lap bar came up, Liam extracting himself from the seat before holding out a hand for Verity.

Not that she needed the hand down, but Liam liked any excuse to take her hand in his, okay?

"You have anything in particular in mind?"

[arboreal_priestess]

Something that always gave her a happy smile, considering how hard he worked to not touch people otherwise.

"Nothing I'm allowed to say in public," she said, giving him a dirty wink.

[firstofitskind]

"Now that's my kind of compromise," he grinned back at her. "So? Where next? Ferris Wheel? Bumper Cars? That Gravitron thing?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"Bumper cars!" Verity decided, tugging on his hand with excitement. "It'll be like Chicago all over again!"

[firstofitskind]

Liam snickered. “Hopefully not exactly like Chicago.”

There had been a lot of colorful language. And there were a lot more children within earshot here.

[arboreal_priestess]

But they could learn something new! Think of how many more insulting gestures you knew now, Liam!

"Of course not exactly like Chicago," Verity said. "...I get to legally hit the annoying drivers here!"

[firstofitskind]

"Predictable," Liam said fondly, shaking his head as he let himself be dragged over to the bumper cars.

[arboreal_priestess]

"You wouldn't let me even fender-bender any of them," Verity pouted as they handed their tickets over. "Rude."

She was claiming a car for herself. Liam could get his own ride.

[firstofitskind]

"Because we were expected in time for dinner and I didn't want to be late due to having to stop and give a statement to the police," Liam said reasonably, immediately gravitating towards the one black car of the bunch once he saw that Verity wasn't gonna make room in hers.

The angsty goth preteen he beat out for dibs was scowling at him, but Liam was totally oblivious.

[arboreal_priestess]

Whereas Verity was watching and cackling from her own cherry-red one. Because of course she was. "That's the problem," she called to him. "You assumed we'd stop!"

[firstofitskind]

Wasn’t his fault his stride gave him a natural advantage!

Liam just sighed and shook his head. “You’re terrible,” he declared. “Why’d I marry you, again?”

[arboreal_priestess]

It was a pre-teen, Liam!

"Because I give good--" She winked at him. "--Advice."

[firstofitskind]

Yeah, and? They had tiny legs!

“Sure,” he smirked back at her. “Let’s go with that.”

[arboreal_priestess]

You can't just be mean to kids, Liam! Even the goth ones!

"I'm being family friendly," she told him, punctuating the sentence with a slam to the side of his car as the ride turned on.

[firstofitskind]

It wasn’t on purpose! He just hadn’t noticed the kid!

“Good,” Liam said with a grunt as their cars collided. He twisted his own car around to face hers, aiming to hit at not-quite-head-on. “You’re going need the practice, after all.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Pretty sure that's not true," Verity said, hitting reverse to get away - And slamming into the poor preteen, who glared at them. "Those kids didn't strike me as not knowing what's up."

[firstofitskind]

“Still think there’s some topics it’s best to avoid until they’re a little older,” Liam said drily, lining up to attempt to hit her again. “There’s some things you just don’t talk about in front of toddlers. Especially if you don’t want it repeated to everyone within earshot.”

Had he been reading up on parenting? You bet.