[Wally resolutely ignores the fact that it's a lot less stressful to make Artemis laugh than it is to piss her off. Both are fun (he tells himself).]
Yeah, they've got a splash ride, hold on. [Wally shoves the monster doll into Artemis's arms and grabs the map from his pocket, flapping it out.] There's a couple coasters on the way to it though. And some kind of adventure ride nearby, we should hit those up. Ergonomics.
We'll never get to all of it if the lines are as bad as that one.
[See, this? This right now is kind of nice. They're enjoying themselves and joking around and Artemis is even holding the stupid purple monster without complaining. Artemis has a fairly realistic idea of how long this pleasantness will last under theme-park-line conditions.]
[Yeah Wally is likewise reluctant to stand in another line like that again. 1) because he really hates it and B) because he doesn't have enough money to buy everybody ice cream again.]
They shouldn't be. That's the most popular ride here so that line is the longest, plus it broke down for a while. [Wally frowns at the map and turns it sideways, like that'll help somehow.] If we hit up the coasters during lunchtime, the lines will probably be shorter.
So we should probably eat now. [She grins crookedly at Wally] I'm guessing you're hungry, since it's been all of five minutes since you put food in your mouth.
Aw, am I getting predictable? I hate that. [Wally returns the grin though, because she's not wrong.] I think about four or five pizzas should be enough. I did just have ice cream, after all.
And he remains that way, even when they have to wait in more (but thankfully shorter) lines for the other rides, when he and Artemis break for water or to walk around and comment on the park, other people, why he's still carrying around that stupid monster doll and what does he mean, he's keeping it forever?
He's still comfortable when they get on the water ride and he ends up soaked to the bone. He's comfortable when they ride the big coaster two more times, always in the front. He's comfortable when they stop to look at the pictures that were taken on the rides and he and Artemis are sitting, side-by-side, grinning with knees touching and hands up and hair back like they're a pair of normal kids, just teenagers out having fun.
He's not all that comfortable when he accidentally (ACCIDENTALLY!!) grabs her hand during a ride, but it only lasts a second and he thinks he managed to make it seem like an accident. It was a jump scare. The stupid ride just surprised him, that's all.
Wally has a rainbow flashing plastic necklace around his neck and Artemister clutched under his arm by the time they're finally tired out, making their way to the entrance of the park and he's thinking about how he's going to run them back home and make Artemis sick again and things will go back to being uncomfortable between them.
So. Before that happens,] Hey, uh. Thanks. For coming with me. [His cheeks are a little pink as he rubs his nose and looks away from her.] It's helped take my mind off stuff.
[This has been a good day. A good normal day, and Artemis can't say she's had many of those, even before she was brought here. To think--this morning, she had never been on a roller coaster before, now she's been on all the roller coasters. She even has a favorite (it's the big one--of course).
It's remarkably easy to be around Wally. Sort of like it was in Bialya, although with less running-for-their-lives and more funnel cake. So really, it's nothing like Bialya. She tries not to think about it too much, though that does get a little tricky when Wally grabs her hand. Oh yeah, like she wasn't going to notice that. Still, she's just as happy as he is to pretend it didn't happen.
She doesn't have a whole lot of faith in their truce lasting (something always goes wrong), but this was a good day.]
Yeah... same here. Thanks. It was... fun.
[She glances over at him, wanting to make some sort of gesture of... gratitude? Friendship? Something to mark the occasion when Kid Flash and Artemis hung out for a whole day and no one got maimed. But he's looking away, so... Hmph. She quickly busies herself with getting ready for the ride back home: cowl, sunglasses, and her own hoodie (courtesy of the Six Flags gift shop--the idea of wearing a hoodie that two teenagers had sweated through and then stored, all soggy and rumpled, in a backpack all day was just too gross.)]
[Wally disappears for a second into the bathroom before emerging as Kid Flash, trying to stuff Artemister inside his backpack before forcing the zipper shut and slinging it over his shoulders.]
I can go slower if you want. So it's not...y'know, awful. [He kind of feels bad about Artemis hating being carted around by him, maybe a little offended too. Robin loves going for runs. Sometimes Robin even goads him to go faster than is technically safe (which Kid ends up doing) and then they get into trouble with either Batman or the Flash or both but it's worth it, even if Robin wobbles around and smacks into things when they come to a halt.
Whatever. High speed runs aren't for everyone. And Artemis did say it made her eyes hurt, mostly. Maybe if she keeps them closed she'll be fine.]
No, it's okay. I just spent all day riding roller coasters--riding you should be easy.
[Wait a minute, what did she just say? Oh god, no, that did not come out right. She is immediately grateful that between the cowl and the sunglasses there is not much of her face left exposed, because she can feel her face turning red. She hastily continues, trying to cover the weirdness.]
I mean, you're faster, but you don't go upside down or anything. And I think my eyes have adjusted.
[Wally's face is pretty hidden too but what's visible is scarlet. He scoffs, rolling his eyes, and just grabs Artemis up in his arms before she even finishes her last sentence.]
And you guys think I say stupid stuff. Seriously, Artemis?
The trip back isn't any more pleasant than the trip out, but it's at least devoid of any smartass remarks on Wally's behalf and he slows to a jog in front of Artemis's house, sets her down and holds out a hand to keep her from going inside.]
Hold up, don't go yet. [He digs through his backpack, pulls out Artemister and shoves the doll into Artemis's hands to hold while he looks. What he pulls out is one of those cheesy gift mugs, the Six Flags logo and the name ANNE painted on the side. Only...he'd crossed out the NNE and written in RTEMIS in sharpie.
He thrusts the mug at her.] You drink a lot of tea, right? So. Here. Housewarming present.
[Artemis watches suspiciously as he roots around in the bag, as if expecting him to pull out a grenade or something. Actually, she is seriously expecting him to pull out his hoodie and ask her to wash it.
But it's a mug. And he's right--she does drink a lot of tea. She had no idea he'd noticed that.]
Thanks...
[She pushes the stupid monster back to him and turns the mug over in her hands. That's when she sees the half-sharpiesdname. Despite herself she snorts a laugh.]
Yeah, you try finding a mug with "Artemis" on it. [Wally stuffs the doll back into his backpack and shoulders it.] I had to arm wrestle the cashier for that marker, you could be at least a little grateful.
Sorry, that's kind of my M.O. [Wally grins at her, obnoxiously (of course) and takes a few jogging steps back before turning and bolting down the street. He's starving.]
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Yeah, they've got a splash ride, hold on. [Wally shoves the monster doll into Artemis's arms and grabs the map from his pocket, flapping it out.] There's a couple coasters on the way to it though. And some kind of adventure ride nearby, we should hit those up. Ergonomics.
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We'll never get to all of it if the lines are as bad as that one.
[See, this? This right now is kind of nice. They're enjoying themselves and joking around and Artemis is even holding the stupid purple monster without complaining. Artemis has a fairly realistic idea of how long this pleasantness will last under theme-park-line conditions.]
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They shouldn't be. That's the most popular ride here so that line is the longest, plus it broke down for a while. [Wally frowns at the map and turns it sideways, like that'll help somehow.] If we hit up the coasters during lunchtime, the lines will probably be shorter.
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[She bumps his shoulder with her own, feeling remarkably comfortable, given the company. Call it left over adrenaline]
Come on, lets go. I want to at least get a slice before you buy them out.
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And he remains that way, even when they have to wait in more (but thankfully shorter) lines for the other rides, when he and Artemis break for water or to walk around and comment on the park, other people, why he's still carrying around that stupid monster doll and what does he mean, he's keeping it forever?
He's still comfortable when they get on the water ride and he ends up soaked to the bone. He's comfortable when they ride the big coaster two more times, always in the front. He's comfortable when they stop to look at the pictures that were taken on the rides and he and Artemis are sitting, side-by-side, grinning with knees touching and hands up and hair back like they're a pair of normal kids, just teenagers out having fun.
He's not all that comfortable when he accidentally (ACCIDENTALLY!!) grabs her hand during a ride, but it only lasts a second and he thinks he managed to make it seem like an accident. It was a jump scare. The stupid ride just surprised him, that's all.
Wally has a rainbow flashing plastic necklace around his neck and Artemister clutched under his arm by the time they're finally tired out, making their way to the entrance of the park and he's thinking about how he's going to run them back home and make Artemis sick again and things will go back to being uncomfortable between them.
So. Before that happens,] Hey, uh. Thanks. For coming with me. [His cheeks are a little pink as he rubs his nose and looks away from her.] It's helped take my mind off stuff.
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It's remarkably easy to be around Wally. Sort of like it was in Bialya, although with less running-for-their-lives and more funnel cake. So really, it's nothing like Bialya. She tries not to think about it too much, though that does get a little tricky when Wally grabs her hand. Oh yeah, like she wasn't going to notice that. Still, she's just as happy as he is to pretend it didn't happen.
She doesn't have a whole lot of faith in their truce lasting (something always goes wrong), but this was a good day.]
Yeah... same here. Thanks. It was... fun.
[She glances over at him, wanting to make some sort of gesture of... gratitude? Friendship? Something to mark the occasion when Kid Flash and Artemis hung out for a whole day and no one got maimed. But he's looking away, so... Hmph. She quickly busies herself with getting ready for the ride back home: cowl, sunglasses, and her own hoodie (courtesy of the Six Flags gift shop--the idea of wearing a hoodie that two teenagers had sweated through and then stored, all soggy and rumpled, in a backpack all day was just too gross.)]
Ready to go?
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I can go slower if you want. So it's not...y'know, awful. [He kind of feels bad about Artemis hating being carted around by him, maybe a little offended too. Robin loves going for runs. Sometimes Robin even goads him to go faster than is technically safe (which Kid ends up doing) and then they get into trouble with either Batman or the Flash or both but it's worth it, even if Robin wobbles around and smacks into things when they come to a halt.
Whatever. High speed runs aren't for everyone. And Artemis did say it made her eyes hurt, mostly. Maybe if she keeps them closed she'll be fine.]
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[Wait a minute, what did she just say? Oh god, no, that did not come out right. She is immediately grateful that between the cowl and the sunglasses there is not much of her face left exposed, because she can feel her face turning red. She hastily continues, trying to cover the weirdness.]
I mean, you're faster, but you don't go upside down or anything. And I think my eyes have adjusted.
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And you guys think I say stupid stuff. Seriously, Artemis?
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Just shut up and run?
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Wally shuts up and runs.
The trip back isn't any more pleasant than the trip out, but it's at least devoid of any smartass remarks on Wally's behalf and he slows to a jog in front of Artemis's house, sets her down and holds out a hand to keep her from going inside.]
Hold up, don't go yet. [He digs through his backpack, pulls out Artemister and shoves the doll into Artemis's hands to hold while he looks. What he pulls out is one of those cheesy gift mugs, the Six Flags logo and the name ANNE painted on the side. Only...he'd crossed out the NNE and written in RTEMIS in sharpie.
He thrusts the mug at her.] You drink a lot of tea, right? So. Here. Housewarming present.
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But it's a mug. And he's right--she does drink a lot of tea. She had no idea he'd noticed that.]
Thanks...
[She pushes the stupid monster back to him and turns the mug over in her hands. That's when she sees the half-sharpiesdname. Despite herself she snorts a laugh.]
Classy, Wally. Real classy.
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I am grateful--don't ruin it.
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