The Deucalion Restaurant

🧁Chapter 19🧁

"Why's it gotta be so cold," Hawthorne whined.

Morrigan didn't need to look at her best friend to know he was pouting... or shivering.

"Well maybe if you had your scarf you'd be warmer."

"Oh c'mon, Cady - you know I lost it."

"Mm, doing what again exactly? Trying to ambush your older brother with snowballs on his way home from work?"

"Yes, but it was Baby Dave's fault for giving us away-"

"-Oh, please. Homer would've heard you a mile away, with or without your little sister. The surprising thing is that he tackled you first. Now, tell me, Thorne in my side, how many times has someone referenced the phrase 'bull in a China shop' to you?"

He was definitely pouting now.

Morrigan couldn't help the smile etching its way into her face, as she nuzzled into her own very-much-not-lost scarf, wrapped loosely - but snuggly - around her neck.

She looked up where her friends walked slightly ahead of her - curse their long legs! - suddenly suspicious of the silence since Cadence's last comment. And sure enough, they were glaring at each other - one challengingly and the other obviously stitching together a plan of attack.

"So, guys! What are we thinking of doing tonight? Visit the usual stores? Have a ride on the Ferris wheel? Try something new?" Morrigan said cheerfully, deciding it was time to step in before Hawthorne tackled Cadence into someone's snow-covered garden. She quickened her steps to walk between them, looping her arms easily between one of both friends.

And missed the look her tall-and-curly-haired friend shot their tall-and-long-haired friend over her head.

"Something like that."

"Well, I do recall a certain someone agreeing last year to go on the Inferno."

Morrigan's eyes widened. "Oh... right." She'd forgotten about that.

She wouldn't say she's afraid of the Inferno... no, it was more about her dignity. The ride was known to be intense, characterised by the high loops around balls of fire. Flames lit the entrance and exit of the ride, and quite frankly, Morrigan didn't know how, thus far, there had been no reports of burns - she just knows there are people like Hawthorne out there, just dying to swipe a hand through the dancing light source. As for her dignity, Morrigan was known to be a stoic rider of rollercoasters - no one has ever heard her scream on a ride. Not once.

Not in Mr Jone's Haunted Hotel, or  Coven Thirteen's Reading Tent. Certainly not on the children's Fire Blossom ride, where patrons sat in giant Fire Blossoms - large orange flowers - that spun around on a platform. She hadn't even screamed when Umbrellachuting off the highest building in Nevermoor.

She just sits there with a neutral expression, no reaction unless she finds it particularly enjoyable in which case she'll crack a smile, maybe a laugh. 

Hence, it was Hawthorne's life mission to find a ride that will make her scream, yell or shout something. When the two of them and Cadence had first attended the Christmas Carnival, four or five years ago now, Hawthorne had begged the girls to go on the firey ride with him. Both had been apprehensive, though Cadence gave in two years later, while Morrigan was still standing strong... well, until last year, apparently.

Cadence snorted. "You forgot, didn't you."

It wasn't a question.

"What? No, of course not..."

Cadence rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Yeah, right."

Hawthorne cackled, an evil loud sound in Morrigan's opinion.