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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 6, 2010 10:54:50 GMT -4
Safely away from the others, Christine, Athena, made her way down the paths, staying clearly away from the areas the others were bound to venture to. She was not in the mood to deal with Kitty, the mere thought of the "princess" caused her nose to wrinkle in irritation. That slip of a girl always seemed to make her hackles raise these days - through, probably no fault of her own. She'd probably give her a peace offering - later. Once her temper stopped flaring (as unlikely as that seemed right now).
She gave a tired sigh and continued to wander, not really knowing what she was looking for but at the same time looking for *something*.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 6, 2010 16:04:19 GMT -4
Now that was seriously odd. Christine was so apparently lost in thought she had snubbed both Kurt and the clown. Walked right past them as though they hadn't existed. His smile vanished and he knitted his brow.
Both he and the clown watched her storm past.
With a quick glance sideways and a polite "Danke!", Kurt snatched the red balloon the clown had offered her and hurried off after Christine.
Behind him he could hear the clown's laughter resume.
"Christine!", he said - hoping he was loud enough to catch her attention without drawing too much undo notice to himself. He kept his head low, hoping that anyone who caught a glimpse would just assume his appearance was another Halloween costume.
Late October was about the only time of year felt at ease in any kind of crowd. At least then they were less likely to go looking for torches and pitchforks if they got a look at him.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 6, 2010 21:09:25 GMT -4
Christine's blue eyes blinked when she heard her name and she turned, tilting her head to catch sight of the man who had addressed her. "Oh, hey," she said quietly, embarrassedly smiling at Kurt. "I didn't mean to walk by you, it's just," she sighed and tapped her temple, indicating part of her problem. "It's rather loud."
She knew that Kurt was Kitty's friend (had heard as much) but he was also the subject of a crush that she had so she was trying very hard not to reveal that since well, she wasn't sure about his feelings for either girl, but damn it, she mentally swore, she knew her cheeks were turning pink as she looked at him.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 7, 2010 14:37:49 GMT -4
It was easy to forget that although his ...gifts - to use the Professor's word... were of the more visible kind that there were others who dealt with just as many constant reminders of how different they were. And some of those involved pains of a very different kind than what Kurt had to deal with.
He was silently grateful.
"I am sorry", he said as he matched Christine's pace. He moved to offer her the red balloon and a friendly smile but found that the clown's gift was no longer there. He blinked and glanced around but decided he must have lost track of it as he caught up with his friend.
"I wish that there was something I could do to help", he told her. He could see from her expression that she wasn't enjoying this little excursion the way Kurt had been.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 7, 2010 22:23:42 GMT -4
"Just being a friend is more then enough to help, Kurt," she said softly, a shy smile in her voice. "It's just... I.. don't know how to explain it really, I guess.. with all these memories of what had happen, you know, all those weird dreams... I remember being a guardian where ...I.." her voice trailed off. Of course, the weird dreams about the bird of fire were not going to be brought up, if ever - they always, always troubled her and she had no desire to recall those dreams especially while awake.
"I'm sorry, I'm babbling and making no sense right now," she said with a minor laugh. "If I'm like this over a few dreams, I hate to see what happens when I get a drink added into that mix." Her shoulders shook in silent laughter before she shot him a smile.
"See, just like that, you got me to lighten up. Something very few have achieved recently."
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 8, 2010 10:11:38 GMT -4
Kurt had put a lot of thought into the weirdness of the last several days. He was as confused as anyone, but one thing seemed obvious:
"Something happened", he told Christine. "I do not know exactly what it was, but the fact that none of us clearly remember....it must have been terrible."
"If someone did not want us to remember", he continued, "then all we can do is hope that it is someone who wanted to protect us." He gave his friend the most confident grin he could manage. "And if not...", he added with a shrug, "...we must go on." Continuing to wonder and worry had done nothing for Kurt but drag him down. If something bad was lurking in the shadows, it was going to happen and worrying wouldn't do anything but ruin the wait.
"Either way", he beamed, "we survived it. Once again."
Go us.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 8, 2010 15:54:44 GMT -4
"We're like cockroaches," she said, giving a tight smile. Granted, it was a smile but it was a somewhat forced one - as if she didn't like her own self-made comparasion. "They try to smush us and we bounce back. Granted, with some damage but we bounce back. Either that or the powers that be are playing with loaded dice and we're just.. Okay, stopping bad analogies now," she said with a tight laugh.
She glanced at one of the rides they were near. "So, um.. what have you been up to since," she gave a small absent gesture to stand for something, something she wasn't sure, but something.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 8, 2010 20:49:09 GMT -4
Kurt smiled supportively at Christine's derailed metaphors. He knew what she meant, and the fact that it didn't come out exactly right seemed only to underscore the confusion that all of them felt.
Her question, too, spoke of the uncertainty of what had happened. It made Kurt more resolute than ever to focus on moving forward rather than trying to look back.
"I have been checking out this verrückt carnival", he answered. The goofy grin on his face betrayed how he really felt about it, despite his description.
Circuses, carnivals, it really didn't matter and it didn't matter how awful they might be. Kurt was hopelessly addicted to them. Always had been. Always would be. They reminded him too much of his childhood not to make him feel that way.
Hands in pockets, he offered his arm to Christine with a grin. "Care to join me?", he asked.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 8, 2010 21:00:41 GMT -4
The drawback of having fair skin was that it was very easy to reveal when one was blushing - which she was. Thankfully, it was a soft rose on her cheeks and not a full blown tomato red across her nose and onto her cheeks (that would have been a telltale sign of what she thought about him). That would be a total outing of her crush on him. Thankfully, only Bobby knew about it and that he hadn't told anyone else yet... Hopefully.
"Um, sure," she said, blushing. "I'd like that," she added, sliding her arm into his proffered arm. "So, where to first in this place?"
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 8, 2010 23:27:27 GMT -4
"That is easy", Kurt answered with a gleam in yellow eyes, "wherever the screams are coming from."
And that is precisely where he led her. Toward a monstrous wood and metal coaster called "The Banshee".
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 8, 2010 23:31:42 GMT -4
Christine's blue eyes widened as she stared up at the monstrosity that Kurt had lead her to. Loops and giant hills that went up to touch the sky then come crashing down - she didn't even need to get on the ride to know her heart rate was racing.
Still, Kurt had guided her there and she did trust him, completely. If he deemed it safe (which it sure as hell didn't look), then she'd go on it. Her grip on his arm tightened a moment before she relaxed - somewhat.
"Tell me you've been on this before."
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 9, 2010 10:26:39 GMT -4
"Never", Kurt answered gleefully. He pulled her through the crowd.
He couldn't help as he led Christine toward a ticket booth analyzing and anticipating the ride. Far from the kind of technical engineering rundown Forge might have given it, for Kurt it was all about putting it up, taking it down, how many flatbeds they must have used to transport the thing and just what it felt like to plunge from its heights. He stumbled lightly as a small, noisy group of children ran in front of them, his attention drawn upward instead of where he was going. He laughed and mumbled apologetically after them.
They never seemed to notice.
At the booth, Kurt bought a long string of bright red tickets. He turned his attention back to his companion. "Ready?", he asked.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 9, 2010 10:37:27 GMT -4
Christine wasn't quite sure she was happy to hear that he never been on that ride - it would have been slightly more reassuring if he had but well, water under the dam and all that. She took a steadying breath and looked at him, a small smirk crossing her lips. "Ave Wagner, morituri te salutant," she said, giving him a wry grin. Have him puzzle out the Latin - would do him some good to try and logic it out. Besides, it was her turn to tease him a little.
"Sure, I'm ready."
OOC: edit: misplaced comma.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Nov 9, 2010 22:06:09 GMT -4
Latin was an elemental part of the practice of Kurt's faith. He would have understood the words even if he hadn't recognized the expression.
He responded with another phrase born in Italy at Battaglia del Solstizio, though much later than the one Christine had chosen. He translated it into English.
"It is better to live one single day as a lion", he retaliated with a crooked grin, "than a hundred years as a sheep."
Kurt handed tickets to the ride operator and they passed through the turnstiles still arm in arm. He led Christine to the very front seat of the coaster. After a short wait in line, they climbed aboard.
"Allons-y!", he said gleefully as he pulled the restraints into place.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Nov 9, 2010 22:23:39 GMT -4
It was hard, she thought, not to playfully baa after he said that, but she managed - barely. The twinkle in her eye indicated what she did not say or do. "I'd quote Nightwish in regards to sheep and lions but shh..." She paused as she realized something. "I hadn't realized you spoke Latin," she admitted, slightly embarrassed. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you, Kurt?" she asked, a wry grin crossing her features.
She settled into place next to him, making sure her restraints were set. She decided to trust the equipment and not add in the telekinetic reinforcements that she wanted to do to make sure she, he, they were safe. If he was trusting the equipment, then damn it, she could stop mother henning and just relax and let things happen for once.
OOC: the prior Latin translation: Hail Wagner, we who are about to die salute you. Of course, it's supposed to be Caesar and not Wagner, but in this case, Wagner fit better ::snicker::
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