"I cannot believe," John says, for the umpteenth time, "that you dragged me into this."

Dorian turns towards him, puzzled. "It was a gift," he points out. "It would be rude to not use it."

"No, see, that's not how it works. If someone gives you something, there's not some...some kind of moral obligation to use it, especially when they're tickets to a kiddie park," John stares up at the approaching entrance gate with growing horror.

"It's going to be fun," Dorian says bracingly, turning back to the front as the line shuffles forward at an agonizing pace. "You'll see."

John bites back the obvious words, that clearly Dorian hasn't ever been to an amusement park and therefore has no idea what the hell he's talking about, and takes a single step forward to cover the six-inch gap widening between them and the family of six in front of them.

The girl behind the kiosk looks properly entertained when she glances over them, but Dorian hands over the premium passes Rudy pressed on them last Christmas and smiles, and she gives them two extra waves when they pass.

"Man," John says, as soon as they pass under the arch and he sets foot on the rounded cobblestones. "I haven't been here since I was a kid."

"I didn't know this park was around in the Stone Age," Dorian says blandly, looking around intently. His face flickers intermittently, like it's all a little too much for him to take in all at once

"Ha, that was weak," John dismisses. Another family passes, two parents with a little girl swinging between them, and he watches them disappear into the crowd before he realizes what he's doing.

"John, over there," Dorian says, his voice full of awe, and John follows his gaze to a chubby toddler in a stroller.

"What?"

"Those are ears."

John squints, and yeah, he can make them out now. The holographic bunny ears glowing gently from the band over the kid's head. The left ear is bending up and down slowly in a wave, the other swiveling back and forth, and it's nothing new, really, but Dorian's practically shorting a circuit with obvious envy.

"You want some?" John asks resignedly, already reaching for his wallet, and Dorian's head snaps around to stare at him.

"Really?"

"Hey, we're already here," John shrugs vaguely. "It can't get much dumber than this."

Dorian trails behind him to the shop with sunglasses, maps, strollers for rent, and John makes his best "I will shoot you" expression when the cashier raises a plucked eyebrow at his purchase.

Dorian's all but vibrating where he stands when John turns around with the headband, and he reaches out hesitantly with both hands. "Can I...?"

John considers him for a moment, then gives an amused huff. "All right, c'mere. Bend over."

Dorian looks at him plaintively, reaching again, and John pulls away. "Nope, bend over. Just do it, come on. People are staring."

"This is cruel and demeaning," Dorian says dryly, but he bends slightly at the waist and presents himself to John.

"It's satisfactory, is what it is," John corrects, adjusting the band on Dorian's head and giving the side of his skull a brisk slap. "All right, you're set."

Dorian straightens, shaking his head experimentally, and the holographic bunny ears flicker into place. John watches as one ear waves at him, and he finds it difficult to keep a straight face as Dorian widens his eyes, trying to look up at the ears.

"Huh." Dorian frowns slightly, and the bunny ears fizz at the edges, disappearing briefly before sparking back into view, this time shorter and pointier.

"Are you serious," John demands, annoyed and incredulous all at once. "Are you being completely serious right now, D?"

"Meow," Dorian says gravely. "How do I look?"

"Like an ass."

"It's supposed to be a cat."

John exhales in exasperation again, looking up at the sky. It's a pale blue with wisps of white cloud high in the stratosphere, and John has a dizzying flashback of a much shorter vantage point, a large hand around his and a gruff, blurry smile that he can't quite remember anymore.

Dorian's watching him when he looks back now, the stupid cat ears revolving intermittently, and John doesn't try to stop his mouth from twitching in repressed laughter this time.

"God, you look ridiculous," he mutters, and Dorian laughs quietly at him.

"I know," Dorian says smugly.