[Solo] N.S.F.S. (Rabbit and Sirens)

[Smerdle]

(not safe for squeeps)

"Is that a swan?"

He registered his whispered words as a mistake as soon as they had left him, but by then it was too late to take them back. The kids were sprinting toward the giant bird in the distance, cloaks flapping behind them, and Rabbit was forced to give chase, afraid they might be spotted or photographed or shot before he could jump in to save them. As it turned out, he needn't have worried. When he saw the thing that was manning the ticket booth, he knew they were relatively safe. Safe, but...

Rabbit glanced at the festive holiday signage and made a face.

"This isn't for you guys. C'mon, slide on out of there."

"It's the Tunnel of Love, Dad."

"And we love you."

He snorted, shaking his head at Sywyly's feigned innocence. They had seen Liv and Jim stare at each other with schmoops in their eyes often enough to know there were different kinds of love, even if he had been kind of lax with any talk of birds and bees because how did you do that with actual birds?

"You can cover our eyes if it's too grown up?"

"Pleeeeease? We just want to ride in the swan!"

Rabbit looked for backup from the ticket booth operator, but when he was met with silence, he relented with a sigh. "Yeah, sure, fine. Just keep your arms and legs in the boat, okay?"  

[Smerdle]

Rabbit took a seat in the back row, leaving Nev and Sy leaning into the lap bar trying to absorb everything they could. The boat floated on into the tunnel silently and smoothly at first, though it wasn't long before Rabbit was leaning forward too, straining to hear the faint music ahead. He raised his hands, ready to cover eyes as needed, but all he saw once the light rose around them were a pair of humanoid figures bent toward each other, a table in between. Various pieces of fresh fruit and chocolates were spread between them, and every so often one would feed the other, whispering something Rabbit couldn't understand.

He didn't notice the ride had paused until it started up again, and he might not have even noticed then if it hadn't been for the mysterious man. He appeared from nowhere, holding out a single rose for Neverain to take. The boy grinned, passing it back to Rabbit.

"Hold this for me, Dad?"

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Points: 16

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AREA ONE
Once you step into the swan boat you immediately realize that one) those are totally real feathers and two) that somehow you have traveled down the water to what looks like a romantic garden area.

Soft music plays, you hear the laughter of couples, and there is a table and chairs with a pair sitting across from each other and leaning forward to press their foreheads together and whisper sweet nothings to one another. The scene plays out and the paused swan boat moves forward once more.

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4 - stepping forward from the scene (out of nowhere), the something that runs the ticket booth appears and hands over a romantic present (your choice of present to give to your partner or keep for yourself!)

 

[Smerdle]

He couldn't see whether or not Sywyly responded at all, but she must have done something because it wasn't half a minute later before the ticket booth guy popped in once more, handing her a rose of her own.

"Thank you." She ducked her head and faced her father, passing it to him for safe keeping. "Hold this too, Benben." Sy smiled and sat straighter as she turned back to the action.

The narrow stream they had been traversing up until now had grown cloudy while Rabbit's attention had been elsewhere, but he focused on his surroundings more deliberately now, taking in the mechanical elephant in particular. The size of the building they had originally entered hadn't suggested elephants. A pair of dancing, presumably happy gentlemen spun and hopped over the dark rooftops, and eventually they landed atop the pachyderm with a chaste kiss and a bow as they stepped inside to the sound of the sirens' applause.

"Did you see that, Dad?" Nev said, clasping his hands after his final clap. "Do you think I'll be able to do that someday?"

Rabbit doubted he meant 'kissing a man on an elephant,' considering how hung up the kid was on flying, but he knew he shouldn't necessarily be discouraging safari-smooching either. "Yeah, sure." He smirked. "Just keep practicing."

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Points: 12

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AREA TWO
As you come around the bend clouds blow in, hiding the ground and water. Building tops are visible, the moon high in the sky (does it have a face? is it singing?) as a pair dances across the clouds without a care in the world, their eyes only on each other. They dance and eventually have a romantic moment on top of a giant elephant.

It’s a little weird.

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4 - stepping forward from the scene (out of nowhere), the something that runs the ticket booth appears and hands over a romantic present (your choice of present to give to your partner or keep for yourself!)

 

[Smerdle]

The clouds melted away as quickly as they had floated in, leaving the rising sounds of chaos behind. Sy drew forward in her seat when another pair of figures faded into view, the intensity of their expressions pulling the eye their way in spite of their vibrant backdrop. One held a sword, its blade coated in old and new blood, and the other gripped an out of place, futuristic-looking blaster. They fought furiously against foes the three in the boat could not see, and it was only when the bulk of the horde had been defeated that their true enemy slid into view: a gargantuan, clawed lizard, orange and yellow scales shimmering by the light of an unseen inferno.

"Oooooooooooooooh!" the sirens breathed as one.

Their awe turned cold, however, as the figures rushed out of sight and the swan swam on.

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Points: 10

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AREA THREE
Leaving the pair of dancers behind, the sound of swords clashing and fighting fills the air. Not all the parts of the ride are apparently for the disgustingly romantic sort and instead, it’s a battle as two people fight back to back, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the other safe and see them live through the day.

A large beast appears after they’ve knocked down their foes and, with a battle cry, they charge and face it together. The scene fades as the boat is once more pulled forward on its watery path.

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2 - flower petals fall from above, showering you in a sweet smell that relaxes you (unless you’ve got an allergy and then it’s little bits of glitter).

 

[Smerdle]

Nev and Sy sat back simultaneously, a wave of rose petals from the previous room wafting from the crowns of their heads back into Rabbit's lap. They were joined by a new storm of floral confetti, this one much more appropriate considering the approaching unicorn. The sirens didn't notice the gargantuan stuffed creature. Their focus remained back with the battle. They clearly thought they had missed something awesome.

"Did you see that monster?"

"Why'd we have to go right before the good part?"

The unicorn grew closer, close enough for Rabbit to make out the two people sitting astride it. They were both shirtless, and as he watched, the woman's breasts began to sparkle and glow as the couple reached for each other.

"What the..."

The sirens, noticing their father's distraction, started to turn to see what he could, but Rabbit quickly moved to stop them, clapping his hands over their eyes. Small fingers pried at his own in an attempt to dislodge them, but they didn't try very hard. They had told him he could do it, after all, though that didn't mean they weren't going to put up a token fight.

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Points: 8

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AREA FOUR
The lighting dims, the flicker of a fireplace the only thing that illuminates the area. There’s a couple sitting close to one another on a stuffed unicorn. The boat does not linger long in this area, instead only giving you a glimpse as things appear to be getting heated quite quickly.

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2 - flower petals fall from above, showering you in a sweet smell that relaxes you (unless you’ve got an allergy and then it’s little bits of glitter).

 

[Smerdle]

The unicorn couple faded from view, leaving behind a movie-perfect lagoon hung with dangling vines and dotted by a handful of picturesque rocks. Again it felt impossible that all of this was contained in the building they had initially entered, but Rabbit was keenly aware that magic worked in mysterious ways, and it was obviously in play here.

The swan floated on without a guide, and Rabbit dropped his hands from the sirens' eyes so that they might once again enjoy the view. Neverain reached over the side almost immediately, pulling back just as quickly. Keeping his hands to himself had been a condition of the ride, but the danger of catching feathers in guard rails or malfunctioning animatronics had passed.

"Go on. I think the boobs are done."

The space around them opened up as the kids trailed their fingers through the water. Muffled giggles floated through the air as well. Boobs.

Up ahead, a pinprick of light flickered to life on the horizon. An exit, perhaps. A second boat appeared, its passengers hidden in shadow. Rabbit squinted, trying to pick shapes out of the darkness.

Bennett.

Two more tiny lights. No concrete form. His vision blurred and he rubbed his eyes.

"Do you guys see that?"

Sy squinted too. "The door?"

A pale shape cut in front of them. A lantern. It was pretty enough, but the prettier it got, the easier it would hide something sinister.

"We should go."

Rabbit forced the boat forward by sheer will, or at least he liked to think he did. The light grew brighter the closer they got to it, though when they floated back outside it was still night. The ticket booth was closed, the mysterious flower-gifting man missing.

"That was fun!" Sy said, pushing herself out of the boat.

"Glad you liked it." Rabbit sat a little longer, catching his breath. He doubted that whatever that was would follow them out here, but that didn't mean it hadn't been startling. "You ready to go?"

Nev nodded. "Mmhm. Do you think this place will be here if we come back?"

Rabbit kind of hoped not. He smiled anyway. "I'm not sure. I guess we'll have to come by and see."

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Points: 5

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AREA FIVE
As the ride comes to the last area, the path of the boat becomes unclear - water is everywhere. There are small craggy rocks in the water, flowering vines hanging from above, and the drip of what sounds like a deep cave.

Yet that feeling ends as one by one, paper lanterns start floating by and then a few float down from above landing in the water and continuing down the path the boat came from. In the distance you think you see another boat and another pair but look away as you realize they’re just about to kiss.

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3 - something stalks the area you are in, glowing eyes watching you. you cannot see it, not clearly and it makes your eyes water, but you hear the growls and swear you hear it whisper a name, your name.