Roller Coaster Fever (open)

[Tristan Carter]

Tristan didn't come here often. Not only was an amusement park loud and crowded, but it was also the one thing he didn't want to deal with in current circumstances: expensive. If it weren't due to the general lowering of prices to attract customers in the newly enclosed economy, he wouldn't even have been able to come today. He had to scrounge up extra cash anyways though. 

Sighing, he wandered around. He wondered if he would be able to meet anyone interesting. He had come here to put the thoughts of shadows out of his mind, but nothing seemed to work. He kept trying, but the rides, food, and people just wouldn't help. Still, there was one thing he hadn't tried yet: the main roller coaster of the park. And while the line was long, he was willing to wait if it would be able to help him relax a bit.

[John Nicholson]

John was out for a walk at the beach today. The crisp sea air invigorited his aged frame. As he walked near the pier, he decided to go to the amusement park for a change. He did not intend to ride in any of the attractions, just walk around the place and bask in the light hearted atmosphere there. Most of the attractions didn't seem terribly engaging for a man of John's age anyway. They were either to simple for a man of his wisdom or too wild for his old body.

As he wandered around like this though, he saw a familiar figure standing in line at the rollercoaster. Easily the centerpiece of the park. John hadn't talked to Tristan in quite a while. He didn't know how the boy had reacted to Vice's passing. In fact, John had been quite out of the loop for the past few weeks. Deciding that now was a good time as any to talk to the youngster, John stepped towards the line and, after some cutting forward through pretending to be related to the young man and other shenanigans, walked up next to his less aged compatriot.

Unsure of how to initiate a conversation verbally, John gently tapped His friend's shoulder to get his attention.

[Tristan Carter]

Tristan felt a tap at his shoulder. Hoping against hope that it wasn't somebody who had figured him out, he turned to see the face of the old war vet, John. The shadow was relieved and wary at the same time. His surprise likely showed on his face, but not his suspicion. He had learned to hide his suspicion.

Smiling slightly, the shadow looked at the old man. He was one of the original's friends, one of the few who didn't simply think of Tristan as a problem."John!" he yelled slightly so as to be heard with the screaming of those on the rides. "What are you doing here, oldtimer? Isn't this place just a bit, I dunno, childish? I'd figure you'd be busting a hip or dying of boredom!" He laughed as he said this, but the laugh didn't quite fully go to his eyes. It did, slightly, but Tristan was careful to be watchful. If John were to make a move that said that he suspected Tristan's shadow identity, the shadow would run.

I don't get it, though. I don't think I left enough clues for someone to guess. But why else would he be here?

[John Nicholson]

John burst out in laugther at Tristan's expression of surprise at his presence. "Tristan, I'm old, not antisocial. We had theme parks back in my day too you know." The old man adjusted his beret and decided that it was time to catch up now that introductions were out of the way. "So how has life treated you since I last saw you?" It was a honest question. John hadn't seen tristan in quite some time now. It had been since that whole dramatic shebang at the shrine a month or so back. In fact, many of the people John knew seemed to have simply dissappeared.