10687/Roller Coasters Are Required

Roller Coasters Are Required
Date of Scene:	06 April 2022
Location:	Coney Island
Synopsis:	Cael celebrates her birthday for the first time in a long time. With family. Jon clarifies their gender preferences, and Agnes rides her first roller coaster.
Cast of Characters:	Cael Becker, Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood

---

Cael Becker has posed:
    It's a sunny day in April - warm enough that all you need is a jacket, and people are starting to come out after months and months of winter chill. As a result, the Boardwalk on Coney Island is packed relatively tight, with families taking their children on a few rides, and couples strolling arm in arm, and teens looking for a little independence and fun. Cael's gaze lingers on one such group for a few moments, thinking back to her own youth - even if most of her trips to amusement parks had been chaperoned, with some charity group or other.
    Her gaze then goes up to the Cyclone - a towering wooden monstrosity, a crooked smile growing on her features as she watches a car rattle around on the track. "Fuck, it's been forever since I did this," she remarks.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon is wearing a light jacket over his Led Zeppelin t-shirt, somewhat self-consciously covering up the prosthetic even if it looks "real." He's also in jeans and sneakers and with his hair dyed a deep violet finally looks not only his age but maybe a little younger. Certainly not old enough to be the father of the thirteen-year-old tagging along with the adults and staring at everything with very wide eyes.

    "People get on those things?" Agnes asks as she stares up at the Cyclone. "That looks dangerous." A pause. "Can we go?"

    Jon rolls his eyes. "That is, in fact, the entire point of this endeavor. Cael needs some excitement, because our last trip to the astral was horribly boring and involved musical numbers."

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin is in jeans, boots, and a black leather jacket over a grey v-neck tee. "We're going to be sore for a week if we ride that" he says softly. "But it will be fun for the what... minute and half, two minutes we're on." He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at Cael and Jon with an arched brow.

    "Musical numbers?" he asks. "You attacked an archangel of Heaven with... song and dance? And... won?" he seems more than dubious of the suggestion. "That seems... even a bit far fetched for your crew. If I may say so?"

Cael Becker has posed:
    "...you get sore after roller coasters?" Cael asks Martin in a disbelieving tone, turning to stare at the man, for a moment. She's dressed very similarly - jeans, boots, a leather jacket - one and only one necklace chain tucked under a t-shirt that says 'I'm out of (image of a fox) to give.'
    As talk of musical numbers comes up, she lets out an overly dramatic sigh and protests with, "Yes! Both singing AND dancing, and it was- like a contagion. You just got... sucked into it. UGH." She pauses a beat. "...Jon's number wasn't that bad, but Terry's was- ...over the top." I mean. //Terry//.
    Without any other preamble, she takes Agnes' hand and starts leaning the girl towards the entrance to the ride. "You're going to love this." Probably. Hopefully.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon grins. "Yes, Terry. I think it was his fault, somehow, the Chaotic Wonderland energy, but... it all worked out, in the end. We planted the seeds of doubt, and that's the important part." A pause. "I thought it was great fun." Well, he would.

    He eyes Martin archly. "Most fun in life is had in about two-minute spurts. The really good part of a musical number, or riding a rollercoaster. /You/ need to learn to enjoy yourself more. Are you coming, or are you going to stay down here and write a poem about the coaster?" He's in a /mood/. He's been in a mood all weekend.

    Agnes beams at Cael and comes along with a bounce in her step. "Elias took me on the London Eye once, when I was small. I loved the view from the top. But this is /fast/, right?"

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin rolls his eyes at Jon's jab. "I'll ride it. Come on." He says moving forward after Cael and Agnes. "It'll be intersting to see if the durability of the arm is up to par." Of course, Martin always intersted in the theory of magical things. "I can write a poem about the experience just as well as the marvel of its construction and longevity."

    He catches up to the pair and looks at his phone. "According to the internet it has a top speed of 60 miles per hour." Of course he was looking up specifics about the roller coaster. The thing is a relic and the safety of even the newst of its ilk is suspect. "Maximum height of 85 feet. It's 58.1 degree drop ranks as the ninth steepest drop worldwide."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "If it isn't fast, then it isn't worth our time," Cael counters with a grin - glancing towards Jon and Martin at their inceasant friendly bickering. At the back of her mind, she can't help but register just how used to that she's grown.
    "How much of a mess do you think Bear and Lady will make while we're out?" Cael asks as they stop in the line. She leans back against a rail, arms crossing casually. "I can already picture the innocent look on Bear's face. 'I didn't do it. It was Lady Grey. Honest. I tried to drop her - she wouldn't listen.' He communicates a lot with those eyes." She'd debated it briefly - but in the end, not bringing the dog and having to fuss about whether or not there was a place to leave him at each ride seemed much simpler.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "Good lord, when did we swap places?" Jon teases, grinning at Martin. "Aren't I supposed to be the one spouting random useless facts about everything and you encouraging me to get into trouble regardless?"

    Agnes blinks. "Is... is the rollercoaster trouble?" She looks at Cael with wide eyes.

    Jon sighs. "No, that's not... what I meant..." He shakes his head. "The coaster should be fine." He glances to Cael and raises an eyebrow. "They'd better not make a mess. We left them with plenty of food and toys and water." Huffs out a breath. "This is why I prefer cats. Much less worry."

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    "And much less interaction" Martin counters in favor of the dogs. "I'm sure it will be fine. They both are well mannered, the most we'll come back to is a great deal of shedding as it is getting warmer and both of them are loosing their winter coats."

    He gives a look to Jon. "I like to know what I'm getting into when I climb onto a relic." He gives Agnes a reassuring nod. "It'll be fine. They do regular safety checks and maintenance. But your arms and ribs might be sort from the shake." His eyes track to Cael. "I'm surprised you're asking me about the soreness. Given your interests."

    He looks up at the coaster. "You know the most physically punishing professional sport in existence is Professional Racing right? More injuries than any other sport," he adds. "Riding a roller coaster, especially a wooden monster like this, is a sliver into that lifestyle. So yes... soreness is to be expected."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Unless they get into the trash," Cael counters. She's not helping matters, and she knows it - but she has a perverse sense of humor, and it amuses her, as shown by the grin on her features.
    Looking back to Agnes, she gestures to all the people around them - the people in line, the people walking back with hot-dog-on-a-stick, the teens giggling and taking selfies while trying to subtly get a cute boy in the background of the shot... "If roller coasters were 'trouble' do you think it'd be public, and crowded like this? Hrm? Don't worry - this is good, classic, teenage fun. This was the //wholesome// part of my childhood. It's the rest of the shit I did as a teen you're not allowed to do."
     She smirks at Martin in amusement as she adds, "I've never once felt 'sore' from a roller coaster. We just have different tolerances to pain, I guess."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "To be quite frank, given the sort of lifestyle the Archivist tends to lead, potential soreness from rollercoasters is going to be the least of Agnes' worries in the long run," Jon notes. They give their daughter a comforting smile. "Don't worry about it too much, though. It should be fine."

    He glances around and then casually adds, "Ahh... so by the way, I've been thinking, and... I think it's about time to, ahh..." He clears his throat. "Trying out the idea of using 'they/them' pronouns, on Friday, it was... quite comfortable, really. I don't think I'd /only/ use those? I think 'he' and 'they' both work. But I was... wanting to let you know, that I had... decided that."

    Agnes just smiles and nods, like that's the least surprising thing Jon could have said.

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin had been waiting for the permission on such matters ever since that evening they had been in the car when Jon was rescued from the vampires. It had been three months since that conversation and he had assumed that Jon was just taking his--no their--time on the subject. "I think that's a good idea" he says with a smile for his husband.

    He moves forward a bit as the line shifts. "Any other aspects that need to be changed or just the pronouns for now?" he asks. He wanted to be clear and precise on these things, it was important--especially so, when this topic came into play.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Oh?" Cael responds to Jon's announcement - giving a nod of acknowledgement, before reaching out to take his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Of course, Jon. Whatever you like. The only thing that matters to any of us - I'm sure - is that you're happy. And comfortable with yourself." She likewise shifts further up the line, holding onto Jon's hand a few moments longer, before releasing it with another squeeze.
    "Is this a trial run with just us - to continue getting used to it? Or...? I mean, you're driving this bus, and we'll follow your lead."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "I think I'd like to try out gender neutral terms like 'spouse' and 'parent?' See if that feels better than 'husband' and 'father.'" Jon says this to Martin and Agnes, mostly, as he shifts forward in the line with them all. "And umm... well, I don't know if I'll specifically ask everyone to do so just yet, but you can feel free to use those pronouns around others."

    They sigh and shake their head. "It's strange... it's easier to /be/ out than to /come/ out, if that makes sense? I don't mind people /knowing/, but the act of /telling/ someone just feels so... odd. Far more frightening than a rollercoaster."

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin nods. "That makes sense" he replies, accepting the changed terms as easily as the pronouns. "There's less direct scrutiny if you just do it rather than making some open announcement." He smiles and gives Jon a squeeze on the shoulder. "It's also more likely to produce a shift in others if you just make it the norm through everyday use. Have a small subsection of your associates set an example for others."

    He nods again. "So spouse and parent. I can do that just fine. I mean, I'm still just Martin to you, ri--" he cuts off and remembers the fact that Agnes called him her stepdad back at the Troll Market and rubs the back of his neck. "Or... no I'm not -just- Martin am I?" he asks the girl.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael's silent for a moment, mulling over this before asking Jon uncertainly, "'Significant other'?" It's a... soul-less term, in her mind, but... it is gender neutral. "I mean. 'Lover' just has all the wrong connotations and implications," she adds wryly.
    As she takes up her place propping up the railing once more, she stands close enough to Jon that her shoulder presses up against them gently. "I get that - the anxiety of... coming out. I mean, it's not the same thing - but when I told Sam and Cap about my past... It was hard. And scary. So... yeah. If you'd rather just have us talk about you as 'they' until people start catching on, //Doctor// Sims... We can definitely go that route."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon reaches out to wrap his arm around Cael and frowns thoughtfully. "It's similar. You worry about how people will see you. But... hmm. Sara's your partner, so that doesn't work, and implies an... exclusivity." A pause, as he mulls that over. "Person of your dreams?" He smirks, and then says, "'Boyfriend' sounds alright, actually. I like the ambiguity of being a boyfriend and a spouse both."

    Agnes grins at Martin. "That means I have a parent and a /stepfather/ then, yes. Jon is my parent, biologically. You are married to them, and you are a man unless you're /also/ coming out?" A pause. "No? Well, then, ipso facto, you are my stepfather." She glances at Cael. "She, however, wouldn't be my stepmother even if her and Jon got married." She says this like it's an obvious fact everyone should know. Cael as a mother? Nah. "Auntie Cael, maybe?" Her dark eyes twinkle with mischief.

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin gives a shake of the head at the option of changing his gender. He is very decidedly a man and happy with that and then Agnes drops the term Auntie on Cael and his cheeks darken a few shades.

    "I don't know if 'Auntie' is the best term. I mean certain Cael and I aren't in any sort of relationship like that but even so it paints a worrying picture on Jon to even erroneously imply that we are siblings" he says with a wry grin. "But... it is better than any other option" he concedes.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Alright. Still boyfriend," Cael agrees. Honestly... it's a bit of a relief, because- ugh. 'Significant other' is just the WORST term. Who came up with it?! She rests her head against Jon's shoulder comfortably - just as Agnes starts in on what //she// should be called. "Oh, God - //fuck// no. I am //no//one's mother. That would be- ugh." Awful for all involved.
    At being dubbed 'Auntie' though - she blinks Agnes uncertainly. It's better than 'mom' - much, much better. But still. "...what's wrong with just 'Cael'?" she asks. "Or, hell, 'that crazy bitch my da- parent's dating'? Though that's a bit of a mouthful."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "You're not a crazy bitch, is the problem with that," Agnes says simply. "I grew up in a cult, so I ought to know. Actually I find you quite refreshingly /normal/, even if you don't know basic things like how to give an offering to--" She pauses. "Wait, no, that's not... /basic/, is it?"

    Jon chuckles. "No, dear," he says, fondly. "Not for most of the world."

    Agnes frowns for a moment, then seems to shake it off. "Anyway, I was /going/ to say 'Cael' is just fine. Or 'my parent's girlfriend.' Or 'the fun one.'" She grins.

    Jon splutters. "Wait, why is /Cael/ the fun one?!"

    "Because she wants to do rollercoasters and takes me shooting and promised to teach me how to drive and ride a motorbike," Agnes says with a shrug. "You and Martin fuss over my bedtime and make me do my homework, like /parents/." That's actually fairly easy; Agnes is one of those driven teenagers who manages her own bedtime and study schedule, mostly. The bigger problem is that she wants to do things like learn to bake within a weekend and gets the kitchen dirty without talking to anyone first.

Martin Blackwood has posed:
    Martin looks at Jon with a resigned expression on his face. "She has a point" he says. "Not much room to argue with her on that." He grins at Cael and nods at her designation as "the fun one." The line moves a bit more and he shuffles along bringing them closer to the access of the roller coaster.

    "We have to be responsible and ensure that you do those things, even if you do most of them on your own without our input" he says to the girl. "But it's good for you to have an adult you can just have fun and do more..." he searches for a word and decides to go with what first came to his mind, "reckless things with while they can ensure your safety because they know what to do in the situation."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Jon, I'm disappointed that you even needed to ask that question," Cael replies with a broad grin. "Of COURSE I'm the fun one."
    She nods in agreement with Martin, adding with a grimace on her features, "I would not relish bringing you home with... so much as a broken finger. I'd never hear the end of it. And, for the record, if Jon and Martin ever went off on their own and left you in my care - I would absolutely have to be the responsible one who made sure you got your homework done, and went to bed on time, and didn't miss so much as ten minutes of school," she remarks solemnly, shifting her position slightly so Agnes can see that Cael's fingers are crossed - while Martin and Jon cannot.
    It occurs to her that Agnes PROBABLY doesn't know what that means. Hrm.