Arcade Date: Keegan Black and Evelyn Flores
 

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BING! ZOOM! RIIIIING!

It's a little noisy in the arcade, but you and your date have been provided with a limitless tokens! No limits! So jump on a muggle motorcyle game and race to the finish line! Play ski-ball! Throw darts! There's also table tennis, dance dance revolution, and a weird little game where a yellow blob eats other blobs! There are endless games for you to play!

If video games get old, have a go into the giant ball pit!

There is a snack bar if you work up an appetite. Everyone likes corndogs, right?

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Keegan seriously couldn't believe he was here. More than that, he couldn't believe he'd let his older sister talk him into it. Desdemona was persuasive, to say the least. He'd pointed out that she should send in an application if she was so eager, but she'd gotten offended and stated, with a flick of the head that sent her dark hair swinging and one poor man banging into a lampost as he stared at her, that she of all people didn't need help with dating. Keegan, on the other hand ...

He sighed. At first he'd blatantly refused. Then, after enduring Des' pouting and pleading for a fortnight, had finally relented and sent the form in. It hadn't helped that his uncle Kieran had agreed wholeheartedly with Des, his cousin Lex (who was three years older than Keegan) had laughed in his face about it, and his younger sister Jezabel, who was in her second year at Hogwarts, had sent a disbelieving letter back to him when he'd sent one telling her about his problem.

Keegan hadn't been on a proper date in a year. Not since Jaime. Not since what had happened in Australia. Not since May 2076, when he'd lost almost everything. Keegan shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around him, even though he wasn't cold. He lent against a wall, observing everyone with a curious stare, wondering which of the pretty girls here was his blind date.

Evelyn sighed and ran her hands through her hair as she made her way to the entrance. It took some sucking up of pride and courage to send in that application. She wasn't much of the dating type, much less a 'people person', but after realizing that she would not be able to move on with her life while practically still hanging around Josh every day, whether it was intentional or not, she had to do something. Taking up another hobby was out of the question.

And she knew, she knew, that woman would have done something to muck it all up. Whatever she was expecting, it was not this. This certainly couldn't be the place. Not here. It was so LOUD and there were a bunch of people that didn't mind invading people's personal spaces as they ran around. Young kids, teens, adults, they were all here.

She was not going in there by herself.

Instinctively, she glanced to her wrist, having had the habit of wearing a watch nowadays, but quickly noticed that she was not wearing it. Perfect. That was perfect. Noticing a man standing nearby, she put on a friendly smile before trying to get his attention. "Excuse me." Yes, you. "Do you by chance know the time?"

Keegan's gaze flitted to the young woman as she asked him the time. He glanced at the gold watch on his wrist, noticing the small crack across the face for the first time, and silently cursing himself for it. He'd gotten that on his seventeenth, by far the nicest present his parents had ever gotten him. Why couldn't he keep one nice thing of his in good condition? "Um, 10:50." He looked back up at her, taking in her facial features now. "Waiting for anyone?" he asked, gently probing her mind with his Legilimency. He'd worked hard on refining that skill over the past year, and had used it quite a lot.

After a second, he got what he needed. Yeah, she was his date. "You wouldn't be on a blind date here, would you?" he asked, smiling softly, careful not to raise suspicion through his words. She looked to be nice enough, but he'd learnt the hard way not to trust so easily.

Oh? Lovely. "Thank you." she smiled with a nod of her head, ready to turn so she could go wait by the opposite wall of the entrance, but she was stalled. If she had to wait ten minutes, she didn't particularly want to do so talking to some random muggle.

Though his question was an easy answer. Obviously she was going to say no, yet the second question shut her mouth momentarily. Raising an eyebrow, she regarded him for a moment, taking everything in; from that smile to the way he dressed."I um..." All signs pointed to him being her date. Could always be extra sure though. "Juliet Raphael?"

If he was, than he'd know who she was talking about.

Keegan's smile widened as he realised she was testing him. "I believe that's the name of the charming matchmaker," he said, nodding. If he hadn't been certain before that this was his date, then he was now. He held out his hand to the woman, pondering for a moment on using an assumed name, then realising that the matchmaker lady would probably find out somehow. "Keegan Black," he said, not adding the 'Drake' part in the middle. He'd never liked his middle name, so why use it in the introduction? "And you are ...?" Of course, he already knew the woman's name from his little trip into her mind, but it was better to be introduced.

He glanced around the arcade, his violet eyes lighting up slightly as they fell on the games. "I haven't been in one of these places since my little sister left for Hogwarts," he said, thinking about what he, Jez and their little brother Than had gotten up to. "I forgot how noisy it is," he added as an afterthought with a slight chuckle.

Charming? Hardly.

She did however, did not complain when shaking his hand as he introduced himself. Keegan Black. "Evelyn Flores." she smiled in return, a bit more relieved now that she found the man so quickly. The less she had to wait in the cold.

Glancing towards the games as he did, the sight of them bothered her, but knowing he'd been to one of these places before was settling. Thank Merlin. "Really?" she asked, turning her attention back to Keegan, the man with very...interesting eyes. "How long ago had that been?"

Evelyn Flores. A pretty name. Somehow it made Keegan think of flowers. She seemed a little relieved to see him - maybe the loud arcade made her jumpy?

He had to think for a moment - that was how quickly the time seemed to have gone. "About three years now. Jez is in second year." She always had been his favourite sibling, and now it was just out of her and Des, Jez won hands down. "Do you have any siblings?" he asked, although his brain told him to move this conversation out of the dangerous waters of family. He wanted to get to know Evelyn, and apparently learning about a person's family was a good way to learn about them.

Three years wasn't that horribly long, thank Merlin, so there was less of a chance to get lost and whatnot, right? Unlike that grocery shopping experience in the muggle world she had not long ago. "Second year. Wow." she muttered, nodding her head ever so slightly. Did she know a Jez? She tended to stay away from the younger years at school.

"I do actually." Unfortunately. "One younger brother, Felix. Can't quite decide what school he wants to go to." And that was that. The whole family topic wasn't the best for her, especially with someone whom she just met not more than five minutes ago. If she could turn the conversation back to him though... "When did you graduate?"

Keegan refrained from asking for clarification about Evelyn's brother's school, since it was pretty clear that family wasn't a great topic with her. Instead, he went along with the turn back to him. Hogwarts was always a good topic.

"About two years ago," he answered. "I miss the house-elves sometimes." Now he had to do his own laundry. "I was the only Gryffindor in my family," he said, shifting slightly against the wall and running a hand through his messy black hair. It needed a trim, he should have done that before coming on a date. "Rest were Slytherins, except Jez. She's in Ravenclaw, and it suits her. She's got a smart mouth." That was the understatement of the century. Keegan always wondered why his sister wasn't in Gryffindor, but she seemed very happy in Ravenclaw.

Due in no small part to her boyfriend, he was very sure.

"What about you?" he asked, smiling at Evelyn. "Let me guess ... Slytherin? Ravenclaw?" He could have just named every house and have a one-in-four chance of getting it right, but that wouldn't be playing the game right.

Two years, that would have made him, what? Nineteen? Twenty? She had to resist the inevitable sigh once he stated he was a Gryffindor while in school. Apparently she couldn't get away from them. Might as well embrace the fact now.

A small laugh did escape her as it was apparent his sister had a smart mouth, though caught herself only moments later. Laughing so early on caught her off guard. Where in Merlin's beard was her guard? "Don't they all." It must have had something to do with having their common room so high up in the castle. Them and the Gryffindors. Though this one...

So far so good.

"Me?" she asked, eyebrows raising a little. Ravenclaw? Really? "Slytherin." She smiled. "First guess. Lucky winner."

So the pretty lady did laugh. Keegan was glad about that. He'd met some girls who's faces seemed permanently set in a scowl, and had been praying that Evelyn wasn't that type. She didn't seem it, but it was nice to have a confirmation.

So far, so good.

Keegan laughed as he got her house right on first try. "Ding ding! So, what's my prize?" He held out his hand to Evelyn. "How about a little trip down the rabbit hole? Seems a shame to just be standing here for the whole thing." His eyes twinkled slightly under the loose strands of hair that flopped over his forehead in what some people called a fringe and others a haystack. He knew all the best games in a place like this.

Thankfully she was saved from having to come up with a prize, though if she were to think of one, it probably would have been along the lines of what he'd suggested. For a split second, she regarded his hand, still trying to get over any space issues. Well, why not. What he said was true enough. They were here to have fun, weren't they? "Took the words right out of my mouth." she said, taking his hand. Just if it would help her not get lost in here. For now. Perhaps. Lead the way!

Keegan lead Evelyn into the darkened arcade, searching for a particular game he'd always made a point of going to first. Finally, he found it.

Whack a croc.

Keegan pulled a token out of his pocket and pushed it into the game's slot. He was good at this. Well, technically he was just good at whacking plastic crocodiles as hard and as much as he could. But wasn't that all the same in this game?

After a few minutes, Keegan had to admit defeat. There was too much of them! He faked a dramatic cowboy death, stubbling backwards before straightening, grinning in his usual bright way. That smile hadn't graced his face since last summer. "You're turn," he told Evelyn, handing her the hammer. "If you beat me, you'll get a prize." Not telling what, but he'd just make up one if needed.

Following along with Keegan, she let him do the searching while she examined each and every game while passing by. Some were louder than others. There were a few that were flashy with their lights and sounds. Others were actually intriguing to Evelyn. Finally, they stopped at one. Whack a croc?

Standing next to the game, she glanced from the crocs to Keegan, not being able to keep the smile from creeping onto her face. This looked both ridiculous and childish. A short laugh escaped her at this dramatic defeat, yet it was cut short when he said it was her turn. Seriously?

The bet of competition made it too hard to resist though. "Alright." she said slyly, narrowing her eyes playfully at him as she took the hammer and took a coin from her hand bag before keeping it quite safe between her feet. The game was a lot harder than it looked. Even her seeker agility couldn't keep up in the end.

"Merlin." Who would have thought she'd end up in a giggling defeat? "Aww. Missed it by nine."

Keegan watched Evelyn try the game, noting her agility. Had she played Quidditch at Hogwarts? He laughed as she admitted defeat. "I win!" he crowed, raising his hands in mock triumph.

"So, what do you want to do now?" he asked when he'd finished playing the winner. "Your call. This place is limitless to us!" It was true, and that made it even more fun. Keegan wanted Evelyn to have fun here. Arcades weren't all bad, although they were extremely noisy, he'd give them that much.

He also had his eyes on the giant ball pit, but that was for later.

"Yea, yea." she tried to look serious as she waved her hand at this triumph like victory dance. Not as serious as she thought she was though. "I'll get you next time."

Shaking her head a little as she looked around, there was just too much to pick what to do first! "I have no idea where to even start." she chuckled slightly as she looked back to him. There was an idea that popped in her mind first. She wanted to look around, though doubted he'd find that as fun as she would have.

"Start on one side and go around?" There was some racing game from the looks of it on this side.

Sorry I was so late posting!
 

Keegan nodded happily, walking to the racing game and getting into the big seat like a kid at a ... well, arcade. "Time for me to beat you again?" he teased, one eyebrow raised.

It turned out that Keegan wasn't as good at this game as he'd thought, however. He managed to crash his car almost every time he accelerated, which was more often than necessary. He sat back in the chair, laughing, as the game screen flashed GAME OVER at him. "This is why I failed the Muggle driving test," he admitted, looking over at Evelyn. So he wasn't supposed to run over the orange cones - is that really enough to fail him? Yeah, especially since he'd run over the instructor's toes in the process. "How'd you do?" he asked curiously. In the game, not driving test.

omgosh, forgive me lol
 

"Game on." she said, sending a smirk his way.

Driving cars was not her thing. Motorcycles were. She was actually terrified of cars. And this game somehow made her zoom off the road so many times, she was pretty sure she made a new road on top of the original road. Letting her hands drop to her sides as the GAME OVER words flashed on her screen not very long after him, she laughed and shook her head. "Not bad, not bad." she said, looking over at his screen and finally him.

"You tried to get a license?" Why in Merlin's beard would he do that?

"Yeah. I thought it would help with ... stuff." It was easier to be disguised as a Muggle when you were on the run, especially a Muggle with a car. Seriously, every Muggle seemed to have a car now! "My older sister passed with flying colours on her first try, of course," he added. "Des wouldn't shut up about it for weeks. My parents weren't too thrilled, though. They ... don't really like Muggles. Didn't like them." He always forgot it was past tense now, not present, even though it had been two years. And 'didn't really like Muggle' was putting it in the best way possible.

"What do you want to play next?" he asked, trying to change the subject. He had a nasty feeling that if Evelyn heard his history for the past few years, she'd run screaming. Which was probably better for her.

Turning sideways in her seat to face him, ignoring the possible fact that others might want to play the racing game, she raised an eyebrow and leaned forward a little as if to say 'yes, do go on with what you're saying'. Especially about the part of his parents not like muggles. Or...hadn't. Wait, past tense?

"What about now?" she asked, prying a little. What about him? Did he like muggles? And the reason? She'd learned in school it was a bit rude to ask, but it was something that she really wanted to know. Something she wanted to know about all people. Well, all wizarding folk that is.

Straightening up a little after a moment, she glanced around, just in case he brushed off her question.

Keegan stiffened slightly at Evelyn's question, then noticed and tried to relax. No need to get antsy. "I like Muggles," he said, playing with the fraying sleeve of his jacket. "But I grew up in a household where they weren't particularly ... respected. Most of my siblings just followed my parents' example, but I got Jez and my youngest brother Than to realise that they're not that different to wizards." Keegan's heart tightened thinking about Than. "I had six siblings," he said quietly. "Two older, four younger. Three brothers and three sisters. Now I just have Des and Jez." He bit his lip hard. Merlin, what was wrong with him? Why was he telling Evelyn this stuff?! Jez had made the same mistake with her best friends, and just look how that turned out!

"So, what about you?" he asked, turning the conversation back onto Evelyn. "What are your thoughts on Muggles?" Now we're being open about that subject.

Evelyn listened quietly, not nodding or fiddling with her sleeve or anything. Just listening. Yet it was kind of hard in this noise filled place. It just meant she had to pay extra attention to him. There was a lot of past tense going on, and she very much wanted to know what happened to his other four siblings.

Too soon though.

Realizing she was leaning even more forward to try and hear what he was saying, she sat up in surprise when the conversation was turned back to her once again. "I um," Her? "I'm...starting to understand a bit more." she said, standing up and moving around his seat to the game next to the racing one they were just playing. Whatever this thing was. It had lots of lights. "I grew up with probably the same perspective your parents had."