[ prp ] takes one to know swan (America & Taym)

[lizbot]

It is Valentine's Day and America has been fixed on taking this one off. No stress, no big magics, no life or death situations, no big mysteries. Just sweet sweet pampering and adoration directed firmly at America Jones. It wasn't often she could get Taym to get smooshy and gross with her in public, so Valentine's for her this year was a lot like a kid in a candyshop on their birthday. Today's a special day! Now give me everything.

"There's swan boats," America sings at him, voice cajoling even in her victory. She's taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather in a breezy little sundress and strappy little ankle breakers. There's a little anklet glittery up at the in the sun, a tiny heart lock charm. She assured him, when she'd arrived at the Broiler, that everything he couldn't see was even cuter.

"You think they have cotton candy?"

rejam

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

He has noticed her increased propensity for anklets and strappy ankle-breakers and is quietly grateful for it as much as he's alarmed by what's suggested, if she's reaching for them. It doesn't stop him from commenting on them approvingly anyway, with a vague sense that she doesn't actually need the conditioning.

In concession both to her shoes and the holiday and her general mood he's got his fingers laced with hers. There is, after all, a kind of horrible selfish pleasure at being seen with her: young and beautiful with a traffic-stopping smile. Look what I pulled. But also: don't look at me.

"I hope so, since you know how to have a good time," he intones solemnly. It's been a while since he's had the luxury of inside jokes with anyone. He allows himself to be tugged gently, haplessly in her wake, towards the ticket booth, where he's unsettled by the--person? thing? manning it, and the more when it turns an expression on him that he can't for the life of him remember afterwards but makes him feel uncomfortably examined and suddenly, as he pays for the ticket, procures from nowhere a cone of cotton candy that is inexplicably still warm from a spinner that isn't there.

He hands it to America, feeling a bit as though he's passed a test he wasn't sure he was taking.  

[lizbot]

Tipping her head back she laughs and later, cotton candy in hand and strange ticket being behind them, her nose scrunches up into a little snarl as she playfully tears into the treat all smiles and lipstick and teeth.

"Oh my holy moly, Taym, these are actual feathers," she lets go of his hand to brush at them before letting him guide her into a seat. After, she tucks into his side, fully in gross couple mode as the boat drifts toward a romantic garden, filled with nice music and other gross couples. She wiggles excitedly in her seat, turning to look at Taym all suggestive eyebrows and kissy lips, but her mouth drops open into a little o, as the ticket being approaches Taym and hands him a lovely bouquet wildflowers.

rejam

Once you step into the swan boat you immediately realize that one) those are totally real feather 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.

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!)

16/20  

[Rejam]

lizbot

He is distracted in the act of touching her knee in a slightly inappropriate fashion (this is easier for him than waggly eyebrows and kissy duckfaces and is the only compromise he's willing to make at the moment), wheeling in his seat at her expression of shock like he's expecting something much more horrific than what it is.

"Oh," he says, a little helplessly. "I--thanks."

He gazes at the flowers in bewilderment and then obediently thrusts them at America. "Being all thoughtful and s**t, I got them just for you," he informs her drily.  

[lizbot]

Delighted, she finishes off the cotton candy with a dire swiftness, and then takes the bouquet. "Why thank you, Mr. Romantic! This really was a great idea," she compliments herself, peering down at the flowers, noting some she hadn't seen in awhile with growing pleasure.

The boat moves on and fog so thick it's basically clouds over the water and ground around them. The moon appears to serenade them, and a dancing couple soon follows. Eyes shining, she exclaims, "Holy s**t, it's like a movie!"

There is an elephant.

There is also, the ticket being again, leaning down to offer America a large velvet heart box. Looking inside, she gives a soft snort and presents it to Taym. "Just 'cause you light me up."

It's filled with packs of Camels.

xrejam

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.

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!)

12/20  

[Rejam]

lizbot

Taym is a person with limited disposable income and tends to smoke whatever is cheapest three packs at a time. He allows himself his preferred brand only when feeling especially sorry for himself or especially reckless--two things that often occur simultaneously--and thus is maybe a little more moved by an entire carton of Camels than anyone really should be.

"They're beautiful," he says sincerely.  

[lizbot]

"Only the best for you, babe," she croons.

The boat sails on, and it looks like they're being treated to increasing theatre and drama. Watching the couple fight back to back in a flashing dance of blades and limbs, America leans forward and whispers, "I think I tricked you into going to the theatre." She doesn't sound a bit sorry for it either.

There's a chill breeze, and America presses in close to Taym, providing him with girlfriend warmth.

rejam

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 an face it together. The scene fades as the boat is once more pulled forward on its watery path.

6 - a slightly chill breeze blows through, making you want to press close to one another (or hug yourself).

 

[Rejam]

lizbot

As a shaky chihuahua man, this is one of the only acceptable reasons for public snuggling, and thus he allows it, trying very hard not to shiver as he pulls her into his jacket. And just as well, lest she chalk this up to his being moved by the little scene playing out in front of them, and he isn't, of course. Not even a little. Never mind that it's the first one he's seemed even remotely interested in looking at instead of looking at her while she's too distracted to see him do it.  

[lizbot]

The light dims and there's a crackling fireplace. Lending itself to the notion that this is indeed some kind of theatre piece, there's also a couple on a giant stuffed unicorn. They start getting heated and America wonders out loud if this is gonna be like that DVD...

Again the ticket being appeared at Taym's side, a little gift bag in hand. Inside there's a pair of T-shirts with holo lettering across the front, one says Unicorn and the other Princess.

xrejam

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.

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!)

2/20  

[Rejam]

lizbot

"Oh hey!" Taym says, perhaps a little too transparently relieved to get off the topic of the DVD. There are things of which we do not speak. "More free s**t."

He peers into the bag, holding it open so America can also nose around the contents, and then--self consciously not checking the sizes on the shirts because he isn't sure what kind of message he'd be sending--he picks up the Princess one and with a very solemn and dignified face tucks it into his omnipresent backpack along the velvet box of Camels without consulting her first as to which she'd prefer.  

[lizbot]

"We're wearing those next time we go shopping," she warns him, grinning down at her own.

The next area was huge and beautiful, with flowering vines and the gentle light of paper lanterns reflecting off the water. It feels secret and special, and America doesn't notice any other couples, because she's leaning in for a kiss of her own.

Flower petals gently rain down on them, filling the air with a sweet, relaxing scent.

rejam

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.

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).

0/20  

[Rejam]

lizbot

It is a testament to, if not the romantic powers of the swan boats, at least his occasional willingness to humor her for the greater good--the greater good often meaning a lack of sulks and a warm bed later, but the greater good nonetheless--that he doesn't just fail to lean away, he reciprocates, albeit briefly and with an intense sense of paranoia barely offset by the soporific flower fall.

He finds--and this is rare for him--that he genuinely wants to admire the view--the actual view, not the redheaded one--and so he touches his fingertips to her knee in a little moment of apology to do so before releasing her from the confines of his jacket.

"Are you satisfied?" he asks, all dry and drawling once more. Too cool for this school.  

[lizbot]

Arms wrapped around her neck, she runs them lightly over his shoulders as she just smiles at him in answer and then pops his collar before letting go only long enough to take his hand again. "This was a great idea," she repeats, a little flushed and giddy in that way she has that means getting home is likely to be a handsy affair.

The ride returns back to the starting point and the booth is closed. She pauses by it a moment and then, handing off all the good to Taym for another stint of Boyfriend Duty, she pulls out her little notebook and a pen.

The page is carefully torn out and folded in half. She spend a few minutes on it before slipping it under the closed ticketing window. There's a heart and a poorly drawn stick figure on the front that could possibly, in some ways, be as an accurate a representation of the ticket being as one could make really. Inside there's an equally bad swan drawing and the words:

azuredreams

It was a swans in a lifetime ride!
Thank you!
xoxoxoxox
America Jones & Obadiah Thompson