The crowds flocked and swirled in the summer heat. All sorts, all ages they called, shrieked and laughed as the sun beat down. The tall thin man in the black t-shirt and jeans stalked through the crowd, weaving his way through the merrymakers with almost careless grace. A few people who happened to glance at him were struck by a strange feeling of recognition but dismissed it instantly as foolish daydreaming.
Pausing for a moment the man glanced around him, as if orientating himself when a voice hailed him.
"Brother." The man glanced around, then upwards to see the girl leaning down from a walkway, black hair falling over her brow. "Come on up!" She called, beckoning with one hand, lips parted in a mischievous smile. The man walked towards the entrance before him. A turnstile blocked its access and a young lady stood behind it, checking tickets. The man walked through the turnstile, but the ticket inspector stopped him.
"Can I see your ticket please sir?"
"You've seen it." The girl looked puzzled for a moment then smiled.
"Thank you sir, have fun."
The man walked upwards to where his sister stood, arms folded, expression inquisitive.
"I didn't expect to see you here Dream" She said looking up at him with a smile, and touching his arm gently. The black Sigel she sported under one eye made her white skin seem even whiter. He looked down at her from his greater height, staring back at her through black orbs. His skin, the colour of falling snow, appeared to glow even brighter in the sunlight, and the play of light on his black hair gave it an even darker appearance.
"I was looking for you, sister." He replied calmly. She cocked her head, her expression surprised. "Yes." He continued, "But why are you here?" She smiled again;
"Just hanging out, what did you want?"
"Sister, I need to know, is it true…." He did not finish, her attention was diverted as the people in front of her began to move forward.
"Come on" She pulled him by the arm, propelling him along with her onto the dark platform. "Come on." She repeated, tugging him to the head of the queue. He looked at her in bewilderment. "Haven't you ever been on a rollercoaster before?" She asked with a playful smile.
"No, but…"
"Come on!" She pulled him into the first seat, pulling the bar down over his head, and then settling herself to do the same. "It's fun." He gave her an exasperated glare and she giggled.
"Why do you want to ride a rollercoaster?" He asked, settling himself in the hard plastic seat.
"It's fun" Death said again as a warning claxon sounded and the floor beneath their feet dropped away.
The Dream Shaper sighed, resting two fingers against his temple as the car moved slowly upwards towards its first drop.
"Hold on." Said his sister, next to him. "This one has a long drop"
The car lurched to a halt, high above the multitude below, and then swooped down, twisting and turning at stomach churning speed. Death laughed and whooped as the track turned in a barrel roll then soared upwards in a full loop the loop. Glancing sideways she saw that her brother's teeth were gritted and his eyes firmly closed as the ride rocketed around the final corner and slowed as the car re-entered the station.
"Whee." Her brothers eyes opened, and he managed to unstuck his jaw enough to say.
"That was fun??" His sister shrugged;
"I liked it. Its better if you keep your eyes open though." She laughed suddenly; "Just because you're too stuffy to kick back once in a while."
"I am not stuffy."
"You are." The ride stopped and she glanced sideways at him. "Shall we go round again?"