"A roller rink?"

"An abandoned roller rink."

It certainly looked it. The building was crumbling where it stood nestled at the far end of town and hidden away in an alleyway. Unlike the brightly lit Ulipus Hill this corner of the city was marred in shadows. Viole could only just make out the sight of cracks that spider webbed across the walls of the rink and the faded yellow lettering on the top that read "The Hillside Rink" – not because they were shallow and faint but because visibility was just that poor.

"How do you know about roller rinks anyway?"

Flash of blue hair gliding through the ring, a giant figure stumbling in place, a black-haired youth reclining back on a table as a man in a tracksuit and a short lizard demihuman bicker. Viole squeezes his eyes shut. "I just know, okay?"

"Okay," She repeats, tearing her eyes away from him to fasten on a pair of roller blades.

"So how do you know of this place?"

"I used to come here quite a bit when it was still open," Taeyang said.

"Have you lived here long?"

She finished tying on the shoes then straightened up to look him in the eye. There was a smile on her face, but for some reason the sight of it made him want to frown.

"Sorry, I can't tell you that."

And with that she pushed off and entered the ring.

…

It wasn't the same.

As Viole glided around the ring, having put on the shoes and took off the disguise, he could only think of how different it was. His memories were of bright lights on the ceiling and the buzz of conversation. But in here, darkness swallowed the place and a silence seemed to fall over the place…especially on Taeyang. The young woman had not uttered a peep from earlier, and from what Viole could see of her face as he glided behind her Taeyang seemed…distant. Eyes dim as she moved about in a circle.

Wherever she was she was not here.

…for some reason, Viole just didn't like that look on her face.

He sped up to reach her then Viole's hand darted out to slap her, Taeyang tumbled – falling to the ground with a thud. She snapped her head up – that distant look replaced with one of surprise and growing anger, "What the fu –"

"Tag."

He rolled away as she stared at his retreating back, "Seriously?"

Viole sped up.

To be honest, Viole was pretty certain that when Taeyang initially followed after him it was not at all due to her wanting to tag him. Her red face told him that she was pretty pissed off. So he swung around, moving backwards, to face the young woman.

She didn't understand what was going on when Baam pulled his first funny face.

He stretched out his checks with his fingers and rolled his eyes up. Taeyang cracked a smile. He stuck his tongue out on his upper lip, beneath the nose, and held his hands up in supplication…or like Shopin. She snorted a laugh. Viole rolled his head around three times spinning in place, and spanking his own butt to honking noises.

A full-bellied laugh, finally, followed.

A game of tag was really underfoot. Baam and Taeyang traded turns being "it" back and forth in rapid succession. But then Taeyang upped the ante. One time when she was it she decided to jump into the gong, twirl around in place, then while upside down pulled out a bobby pin that she chucked over to him.

Baam slowed down to a halt. "That can't possibly count."

"It does now."

And so it began that to "tag" him Taeyang would start throwing random objects at him.

He was just glad she didn't chuck the toaster at him – that could cause some damage.

Dodging this way and that, Baam was determined to also add something to spice up the game – namely shinsoo reinforcement. If she could use her Class skills as a Spearbearer he could use his as a Wave Controller. Fair is fair.

Her eyes widened a fraction as Baam barreled into her – not tapping her like before but full on shoulder ramming her. She fell over but he managed to catch himself just in time before he managed to tip over himself.

"Tag."

She sighed, bangs flopping in her face as she exhaled.

He extended down a hand.

But instead of using it to hoist herself up, Taeyang clasped his forearm. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For this. It was fun – I haven't had that in a while. And I wasn't expecting to have it here of all places."

"Then why – "

The main door was flung open. He jumped to the side, his bang already formed – densely packed with power and filling by the moment. Taeyang got to her feet too, her hand flying up to her skull for some reason.

The figure revealed itself.

"Ruard?"

Honestly, he shouldn't have been surprised. He knew the boy was still in Ludina and hadn't gone far. He scanned over the two of them, taking in their stances with a lazy eye, "I figured you both would be here. Now calm the fuck down and follow me."

With that, he turned on his heel.

Taeyang then sighed, shrugged and stepped out of the ring.

He looked at them both for a moment then Viole stepped out as well.