Post by Fiona McFly on Apr 10, 2018 22:43:09 GMT
”Oompa-loompa doo-ba-dee-doo
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa-loompa doo-ba-da-dee
If you are wise you’ll listen to me
Why, on your birthday, you’re feelin’ so DOWN
Such a joyful time, so go out to TOWN
Meet many faces but hope you never FROWN
Make sure to smile and spend some bucks.
Even if your day just sucks!
Oompa-loompa doo-ba-dee-doo
If you’re not sad, then you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa-Loompa doo-ba-dee-doo!”
CHAPTER 1
“In Which Fiona Spends Her Birthday Alone...or Does She?”
7 April 2018 + 1100 GMT
Three months after the tournament…
The day was unseasonably cold and damp, the skies were gray and overcast…
…and for Fiona McFly, this was surely going to be one depressing birthday.
She found herself completely out of her element, surrounded by complete strangers whilst touring one of the Dallas-Ft. Worth’s biggest tourist traps. She found herself in the “Gotham City” area of the park, watching from a bench as families with moms and dads bringing their sons and daughters passed her by and gazing upon popular rides like the Riddler Revenge, a Zamperla Giant Discovery flat ride, or The Joker, an S&S 4-D FreeSpin roller coaster. Yet even in a seemingly “joyful” place like Six Flags Over Texas, where the sounds of excited screams could be heard everywhere, Fiona shook her head as music blared around her.
She was just another face in the crowd, unrecognisable even in stature.
She was alone in a sea of happiness and humanity.
It wasn’t easy for her, watching the life forces around her flow freely. It had been three months since she mentored young Sarah Dawkins into winning the state’s premiere club wrestling tournament, but the sport was the last thing on Fiona’s mind. In the time since, she had fallen into a deep depression over Jack’s death, a state of mind which had affected her work both mentally and physically. Oh, she tried and tried and TRIED to suppress what was going on in her head, hoping to at least be able to find some sense of “normalcy” in her own life after the events of December 26, 2017.
Alas, she wasn’t strong enough to do so--at least, according to her friend, James Gilmore.
And as toxic as others have labeled him in the past...he was right.
On this day, her 36th birthday, Fiona set out to do the one thing she never dreamed of doing--taking care of herself and simply enjoying what was going on around her. A female stranger, wearing a Vegas Golden Knights sweater and carrying a small professional-grade video camera, cautiously approached her, giving her the space she needed.
“‘Scuse me ma’am, but...are you gonna ride somethin’ or just enjoy the view?”
Fiona perked up her right brow, a la Spock from Star Trek.
FIONA MCFLY:
I...I do not know.
The mystery gal chuckled.
“Oh, SURELY you wanna partake in on the fun, right? I know the weather’s kinda depressing but the day as a whole can’t be, right?”
Fiona didn’t say a word, but her guest’s body language was an indicator that she wasn’t going anywhere until she got her target to at least make an effort to ride something.
“You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want...but c’mon and check out some rides. You seem like the type that...well, needs a l’il cheerin’.”
Fiona nodded, not wanting to ruin the stranger’s fun. The pair walked around for a few minutes or so, passing by the Johnny Rockets location before heading towards a section of the park featuring the entrances to Batman The Ride and a certain ice cream factory that belonged to a famous villain in the franchise.
“This l’il ditty we’re gonna hop on is Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast--best coaster in the park alongside Texas Giant.”
She told Fiona with a slight grin on her mug as they entered the ride’s indoor queue. The anticipation built up, in spite of a “walk-on” line given the day’s weather conditions, as they made their way towards the B-side. Fiona gasped, watching as an A-side train was shot like a cannon in reverse. They eventually placed their handbags into a white loose article basket before taking their seats in the blue train’s front row. When side A returned to the station and positioned itself towards its loading platform, we hear the voice of a female ride-op as she places the B-side into launching position.
”All right, Side B...hold onto those lap bars and keep your heads back against that headrest at all times. Now lemme ask you...are y'all folks ready!?!”
A cheer went up from the other riders as Fiona looked at her surroundings whilst strapped to her seat via a lap bar that was further secured by a safety belt.
”Whaaaa--are y’all sure…?”
Without warning, Fiona felt a slight tug as the train is launched backwards from 0-70 miles an hour, through an inverted top hat element, an overbanked turn, and up a vertical spike. She found herself screaming in a mix of terror and delight as the train zipped through the course, the cold northerly wind blowing right at her back. The coaster traveled up to the top-most part of the vertical spike, guided by several LIMs before coming to a stop. She opened her eyes and saw nothing except red track and earth down below.
She was looking straight down, her eyes widened like saucers as the ride went through a brief lull...
FIONA:
Oh dear, I’ve got a baaaad feeling about this...
...before careening down the spike and through the course again forwards.
The train made its way back into the station, coming to a stop with Fiona wondering what the hell she had just experienced. Surely it was only a 36-second ride from launch to brake, but in her mind....it felt like an eternity to her. Yet somehow, in spite of the seemingly terrifying ride, she found herself giggling as she exited the station and back onto the pathway towards Batman The Ride.
Fiona looked everywhere in an effort to thank the stranger for riding with her.
Alas, she was gone--nowhere to be found.
Deep in her soul, Fiona was still hurting. Yet she watched the people pass her by with a sense of optimism, knowing that perhaps she could fully learn to heal her wound with time and patience.
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa-loompa doo-ba-da-dee
If you are wise you’ll listen to me
Why, on your birthday, you’re feelin’ so DOWN
Such a joyful time, so go out to TOWN
Meet many faces but hope you never FROWN
Make sure to smile and spend some bucks.
Even if your day just sucks!
Oompa-loompa doo-ba-dee-doo
If you’re not sad, then you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa-Loompa doo-ba-dee-doo!”
CHAPTER 1
“In Which Fiona Spends Her Birthday Alone...or Does She?”
7 April 2018 + 1100 GMT
Three months after the tournament…
The day was unseasonably cold and damp, the skies were gray and overcast…
…and for Fiona McFly, this was surely going to be one depressing birthday.
She found herself completely out of her element, surrounded by complete strangers whilst touring one of the Dallas-Ft. Worth’s biggest tourist traps. She found herself in the “Gotham City” area of the park, watching from a bench as families with moms and dads bringing their sons and daughters passed her by and gazing upon popular rides like the Riddler Revenge, a Zamperla Giant Discovery flat ride, or The Joker, an S&S 4-D FreeSpin roller coaster. Yet even in a seemingly “joyful” place like Six Flags Over Texas, where the sounds of excited screams could be heard everywhere, Fiona shook her head as music blared around her.
She was just another face in the crowd, unrecognisable even in stature.
She was alone in a sea of happiness and humanity.
It wasn’t easy for her, watching the life forces around her flow freely. It had been three months since she mentored young Sarah Dawkins into winning the state’s premiere club wrestling tournament, but the sport was the last thing on Fiona’s mind. In the time since, she had fallen into a deep depression over Jack’s death, a state of mind which had affected her work both mentally and physically. Oh, she tried and tried and TRIED to suppress what was going on in her head, hoping to at least be able to find some sense of “normalcy” in her own life after the events of December 26, 2017.
Alas, she wasn’t strong enough to do so--at least, according to her friend, James Gilmore.
And as toxic as others have labeled him in the past...he was right.
On this day, her 36th birthday, Fiona set out to do the one thing she never dreamed of doing--taking care of herself and simply enjoying what was going on around her. A female stranger, wearing a Vegas Golden Knights sweater and carrying a small professional-grade video camera, cautiously approached her, giving her the space she needed.
“‘Scuse me ma’am, but...are you gonna ride somethin’ or just enjoy the view?”
Fiona perked up her right brow, a la Spock from Star Trek.
FIONA MCFLY:
I...I do not know.
The mystery gal chuckled.
“Oh, SURELY you wanna partake in on the fun, right? I know the weather’s kinda depressing but the day as a whole can’t be, right?”
Fiona didn’t say a word, but her guest’s body language was an indicator that she wasn’t going anywhere until she got her target to at least make an effort to ride something.
“You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want...but c’mon and check out some rides. You seem like the type that...well, needs a l’il cheerin’.”
Fiona nodded, not wanting to ruin the stranger’s fun. The pair walked around for a few minutes or so, passing by the Johnny Rockets location before heading towards a section of the park featuring the entrances to Batman The Ride and a certain ice cream factory that belonged to a famous villain in the franchise.
“This l’il ditty we’re gonna hop on is Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast--best coaster in the park alongside Texas Giant.”
She told Fiona with a slight grin on her mug as they entered the ride’s indoor queue. The anticipation built up, in spite of a “walk-on” line given the day’s weather conditions, as they made their way towards the B-side. Fiona gasped, watching as an A-side train was shot like a cannon in reverse. They eventually placed their handbags into a white loose article basket before taking their seats in the blue train’s front row. When side A returned to the station and positioned itself towards its loading platform, we hear the voice of a female ride-op as she places the B-side into launching position.
”All right, Side B...hold onto those lap bars and keep your heads back against that headrest at all times. Now lemme ask you...are y'all folks ready!?!”
A cheer went up from the other riders as Fiona looked at her surroundings whilst strapped to her seat via a lap bar that was further secured by a safety belt.
”Whaaaa--are y’all sure…?”
Without warning, Fiona felt a slight tug as the train is launched backwards from 0-70 miles an hour, through an inverted top hat element, an overbanked turn, and up a vertical spike. She found herself screaming in a mix of terror and delight as the train zipped through the course, the cold northerly wind blowing right at her back. The coaster traveled up to the top-most part of the vertical spike, guided by several LIMs before coming to a stop. She opened her eyes and saw nothing except red track and earth down below.
She was looking straight down, her eyes widened like saucers as the ride went through a brief lull...
FIONA:
Oh dear, I’ve got a baaaad feeling about this...
...before careening down the spike and through the course again forwards.
The train made its way back into the station, coming to a stop with Fiona wondering what the hell she had just experienced. Surely it was only a 36-second ride from launch to brake, but in her mind....it felt like an eternity to her. Yet somehow, in spite of the seemingly terrifying ride, she found herself giggling as she exited the station and back onto the pathway towards Batman The Ride.
Fiona looked everywhere in an effort to thank the stranger for riding with her.
Alas, she was gone--nowhere to be found.
Deep in her soul, Fiona was still hurting. Yet she watched the people pass her by with a sense of optimism, knowing that perhaps she could fully learn to heal her wound with time and patience.
Well howdy there pardner.