Chapter Text
April XX, 20XX. Four and a half months before the Pizzaplex fire.
A woman with braided hair stood out in the evening air. She was leaning forward against the chest-high parapet of the building’s roof, looking down at the brightly lit parking lot, and took another drag of her cigarette. The sun set hours ago, but the purple and blue neon lights that covered the exterior of the Pizzaplex kept the edges of the roof well-lit. She exhaled smoke, letting out frustration. Her uniform was simple. A burgundy red and green racing jacket along with slacks that matched the jacket’s red, and plain shoes.
People were leaving. She should be leaving. Her shift had ended hours ago. Early. Because the Raceway had closed early. The racetrack-and large parts of the floor-falling apart in the middle of the day tended to cause that sort of thing to happen. But she had stayed. At first to make sure nobody had gotten hurt (thankfully they had not, at least not from the sinkhole) and then just because she had no clue what else to do. She was used to the Pizzaplex not being up to code, but it usually didn’t cause (potential) mass death.
She stood in silence. Until it was broken by the sound of the ‘VIP Exit’ opening. Of course, the Pizzaplex being what it was, the door wasn’t actually hooked up to anything. Who could expect otherwise, right?
She glanced sideways at the shorter ginger man who joined her in her leaning. “Hello, Tanya.” He greeted in a tone that was probably an attempt at casual.. He was dressed much the same as she was, though in blues and oranges, and with a vest and dress shirt combo instead of a racing jacket. The outfit usually included a space helmet, and a big clunky backpack, but those weren’t supposed to be taken outside Fazerblast.
“Ralph.” Tanya sighed.
“I, uh. Heard what happened. At Roxy Raceway, I mean. I mean, everyone did. There was a whole meeting about it, and…yeah.” Ralph said, tapping his finger against the parapet restlessly.
“Just tell me what the official story is.”
“The ground fell apart. Act of God.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Tanya groaned, rubbing her temple. “Yeah, and what a coincidence it happens right after the Roxy Raceway storage areas get closed off.”
“No conspiracy talk, please. I’m up her so I don’t have to carpool with Mick.” Ralph chuckled weakly.
“How can you laugh right now?” Tanya asked. It came off harsher than she had intended. She saw him wince from the corner of her eye. “Sorry. Just…”
“Yeah, no. I get it.” Ralph shook his head. “It’s. Um. You know, just…how I cope, I guess. Laugh, and smile. All that.”
“It must really suck to always have to be on.”
“I mean, it’s not like I’m Julie, or anything.”
Tanya sighed softly. It was true. That girl was…something else. She could not believe anyone could be THAT positive and be genuine in any way.
“...got any smokes?” Ralph asked after a moment.
Tanya scoffed. “You do NOT smoke.”
“I do! Well, I mean. I used to. Back in college.”
“What, you smoked weed with Mick or something?” Tanya said it as a joke. They had been roommates back in College, but…
“...I mean yeah. Once.”
“Bull.”
“It was so weird! I don’t like doing it. But smoking alone seems kinda like drinking alone.”
Tanya shrugged, and pulled her carton of cigarettes from her pocket. She fished one out, and offered it to Ralph. The ginger took it and gave her a thumbs up.
And then lit it with a fucking Freddy Faz-Lighter.
“Are you for real right now?” Tanya asked.
“Unfortunately.” Ralph agreed, earnestly. It was kind of why Tanya was surprised when he didn’t light the cigarette from the filter. And then why she was not at all surprised when he started hacking and coughing after one drag.
“...I appreciate the attempt.” Tanya said after a moment of watching Ralph with raised brows. He gave another thumbs up.
“Yeah, I might just chew some gum instead, or something.” Ralph chuckled.
“If you pull out a pack of Chica Gum right now-”
“Nah, just…Five Gum. Peppermint. Nothing special.” Ralph shook his head.
Tanya relaxed. Just a little. They fell into comfortable silence together. And then it was interrupted again by the door opening. Two people, this time. A woman with her half-pink dyed blonde hair pushed back by a hairband, wearing a pink and green uniform, and a man with brown hair wearing blue and red.
The blonde approached Tanya and gave her a hug. It was insincere, she suspected, but a kind enough gesture. “...thaaanks Julie.” Tanya finally managed, once it got a bit too awkward.
“I am SO sorry about what happened! Ness told me everything. That must have been awful.” Julie frowned.
“I’m mostly worried about the guests. I’m fine.” Tanya said, as though she wasn’t still shaken a fair bit by the chaos and panic that had ensued following the incident. She was friends with these three, of course. Solidarity in their shitty jobs, but she didn’t really feel like having a full on therapy session with them.
The man, Mick, tilted his head, expression impassive. “...alright.” He said. “Julie, let her go, I think she’s fine.”
Julie blinked, but released Tanya and took a step back. “Sorry, I just…hadn’t seen you since the incident. And if anyone had gotten hurt…oh…” Julie paced.
“Vanessa’s gonna kick us out if we hang around here too long.” Mick said, probably to snap her out of it. “Our shifts are over. We shouldn’t even be here.”
Julie considered. “Oh! What if…it’s the weekend anyway, so! How about we all hang out tonight! We can watch bad movies and have snacks, and-”
“Got something hard to drink?” Tanya cut her off.
“Um…well, I think I might have some stuff left over from New Years still-”
“I’m in.” Tanya nodded. She glanced at Ralph, who had fallen silent. “Better than drinking alone.”
Ralph smiled. “Well…uh. Yeah. I mean. Early twenties is generally too old for sleepovers, but if we record it we can sell it as a podcast, or something.”
“I can show you all my favorite garbage horror.” Mick’s lips quirked upwards briefly, which for him might as well have been a full on smile.
As the other three started heading back towards the door, Tanya lingered a moment longer, before putting out her cigarette.
Right. No letting a job at a shitty mall/amusement park break her.