#spin cotton candy? carnie

[lowdowndandy]

Every time I tell my roommate about a cool skill i have they blame it on my carnie blood

[reggiejworkshop]

"Warner Crew At The Carnival"

Dr Scratchensniff thought he knew what to expect when he along with Ralph took the Warners out to the local carnival. Helping the Warners win Pinky and the Brain at a shady ring toss game was not one of those expectations.

The two lab mice had previously undertaken another one of their world domination schemes when one of the local carnies had mistaken them as take home pet prizes.

What followed would be an intense competion between the Warner Crew and another visitor from the reboot, body builder and new special freind, Nils Niedhardt.  Two Hundred rings and several stuffed animal plushies later, the lab mice rode away safely in the shirt pocket of Ralph the secuirty guard.

Ralph giggled as the mice wiggled inside. "Theys tickle me!"

"Gee, Brain. Who knew we'd finally get a free ride for once? Narf!" said Pinky.

"This isn't the kind of free ride I had in mind." Brain complained. "In fact I finds it's hygiene questionable. Why does he smell like coconut...?"

Ralph was also carrying two of the Warner Brothers in his arms.

"Look at it this way, he's a ride you don't have to wait on for once!" Yakko responded.

"Thanks for helping out with that last game, Scratchy! We were started to get tired" Wakko said as he reached for the cotton candy in Dr. Scratchensniff's arms.

The psychiatrist looked up in shock. "You kids are actually tired? For once?!"

The two adults were suprised at how well behaved the Warners were today compared to how they usually acted in the past. Normally it ended with the both of them chasing the trio all around the carnival, several vistors being at the mercy of their 'special freind' antics and moderate property damage, but today was relatively normal for them. 

Aside from the ring toss, there were only a few other incidents.  Dot and Yakko tightrope walking across the beams of the moving ferris wheel.  A pie eating competition that ended with Wakko in the first place and Ralph with a face full of coconut cream. And Scratchensniff nearly losing his lunch when the trio took control of a rickety spinning tea cup ride. 

Dot, who was resting on his shoulder peered near his ear to respond.  "We've been tired, our youthful demeanor just hides it well."

"Besides, now that our show is done, we finally have a moment to relax for once!" said Wakko. "Being zany to the max was starting to feel like work again"

Scratchensniff nodded in agreement.  "Well,  you three have been natural at this for years." 

The trio had been ramping up their antics for the reboot's abrupt final season. But the extra pressure of pleasing their eager fans made them work harder than ever before.

"Yep. But we're cartoon veterans now. We need some time off " Yakko responded.

"Dahhh, Veterans? I didn't know theys brought back the draft!" Said Ralph.

 "So what do you all  have planned now the shows over?" Scratchensniff asked them.

"Catch up with all the HBO Max shows that haven't been taken off, yet." Said Yakko.

"Update my Master class on nunchuck lessons." said Dot.

"Maybe visit Slappy Squirrel, or our old CEO" Wakko added. 

His older brother shook his head. "I don't about that, T.P is probably still comatose when he found out Ralph became CEO at the end of season 2"

The guard huffed indignantly. "Noes he wasn't! He was just personified with joy!"

Scratchensniff was about to correct the guards words usage when Yakko asked him. " What about you?"

Scratchensniff blinked at hearing that, he wasn't expecting to be asked about it. "Well, doing my job of course. That and looking out for you three, Which also my job"

"Wow,  we thought you would retire the moment the show ended!" Wakko exclaimed. 

The psychiatrist smiled. "This world is cuckoo enough as is, but if I am going to deal with it, I'd rather it be with you"

The trio smiled at his geneniunely sweet response.

Yakko looked over his shoulder. "How are you holding up back there Nils?"

The muscular overgrown adversary in question was carrying the group's victory spoils from the ring toss game.

"Hating this..." Nils grumbled. The stuffed animal plushies towered above his head.

After being such a great sport during their competition. The Warners let him pick out one to keep for himself. He ended up picking one that visually matched how he felt, a pink jackass.

I seriously had to force myself to keep this story from going on too long.

I had been meaning to do another digital painting for a long time.

But I wanted to go for a look that was more refined than my other ones. Something a little less sketchy and rough.

And with the shows final season out now, I finally felt  motivated to do it with an idea I had been sitting on for a long time.  The final season of Animaniacs actually ended up being really enjoyable and ended with a bang! ( Granted not the one the fans nor I were expecting)

So I decided to do a group shot with Warners and freinds again, but this time in a fluffy casual setting. 

[skinnyducky]

a player’s demise // v.h.

a/n i modified this request a lil bit since i already did something like this and completely forgot about it (”can’t forget”). so i changed some stuff but the them being in the talking stage and y/n finding out that he’s got a gf is still there. a lil inspired by euphoria. hope you enjoy !!!!!!

vinnie hacker x fem!reader

Word Count: 1441, slightly edited

WARNING: angsty, vinnie’s villain era, language, and that’s all i think.

---------

Y/n groaned, roaming through the fair in search of her best friend. “Bitch, where the hell are you?” She spoke loudly into the speaker of her phone, hoping Y/bff/n would be able to hear her over the loud chatter and ringing coming from the carny games.

“I’m by the Ferris wheel.”

“Which one? There’s two.”

“The one by the carousel. There’s like a funnel cake and pretzel stand across from it.”

“Damn, you’re that far?” Y/n sighed, “I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone and made her way to the other side of the fair. After a few minutes—which felt more like an hour—Y/n finally made it to the Ferris wheel where Y/bff/n stood, munching on a salted pretzel.

Once their eyes met, they both squealed in excitement. “Hey, B!” Y/bff/n said, taking another bite of her pretzel. “Don’t you look delicious, tonight? Give the people a spin.” Y/n did as she order, allowing the girl to hype her up.

“Right back at you, babes.”

“So, whatcha’ wanna do? Hit the teacups? Get a pretzel? What’s the move?”

Y/n shook her head. “I don’t eat carbs,” she said jokingly, looking at her friend as if she was insane. “Besides, I just walked a mile to get here and that’s not even including the walk from the parking lot to the gate. Let’s just chill for a minute and relax.”

Y/bff/n nodded, and the two girls proceeded to wander around the fair aimlessly. As she continued to chew on her pretzel, she noticed a particular boy absent from Y/n’s side. With furrowed brows, she asked the million-dollar question. “Where’s Vinnie?”

“He’s sick,” Y/n said. “He told me he ate an egg sandwich from a gas station, and he’s been puking non-stop.”

“He’s sick…again?” Y/bff/n busted out laughing. “Y/n, this is the fifth time he’s canceled plans with you because he’s sick. Either he’s got a really fucked up immune system or he’s doing this shit on purpose.”

“No…Vinnie wouldn’t do that.”

“You don’t know that,” Y/bff/n replied, “you two have only been talking for a month or so. You’re still in the process of getting to know him.” Whether she liked it or not, Y/n knew her best friend was right. As much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she barely knew anything about Vinnie. He was like a complete mystery, a case waiting to be solved. And him canceling all their plans, their dates, and hang-out sessions…just made her question if there was something more at play here.

Y/n groaned, “I guess you’re right. I mean, it is a little weird that lately every time we’re supposed to hang out he gets sick. It was understandable the first two times, but now it just feels like…he’s doing it on purpose. Like he’s trying to hide something from me?”

“Have you asked him about it or at least snooped around? I know if I was in that situation, I’d be running a whole FBI investigation. Busting through doors, hacking his phone, everything.”

“I get what you’re saying, but I don’t wanna be that girl.”

All of a sudden, Y/bff/n stopped walking. Y/n hadn’t noticed until she didn’t get a response from the girl. As she looked back, she noticed Y/bff/n squinting her eyes, looking off into the distance. “What? What is it?” Y/n asked, wondering what had her friend so shook.

“I think I’m seeing things.”

“What?”

Y/bff/n pointed straight ahead, slowly shaking her head. “That’s not who I think it is, right?” As curiosity struck Y/n, she looked to where her best friend was pointing, her eyes landing on the cotton candy stand. At first, Y/n didn’t know who the hell her friend was talking about, but as her eyes scoured around, they landed on the very person Y/n didn’t expect to see. There leaning against the counter of the stand was none other than Vinnie.

“You’re joking.” Y/n muttered, trying her damnedest to convince herself that he wasn’t real. But if Y/bff/n could see him, then that meant it wasn’t just her imagination. That was definitely Vinnie…looking ever so healthy.

“Isn’t he supposed to be sick?” Y/bff/n said, attitude riddled throughout her tone. “He don’t look sick to me.”

Y/n huffed, “That’s because he’s not.” Without hesitation, the girl stomped over to the boy with Y/bff/n in tow. The two pushed through crowds of people, ignoring the glares and profanities being thrown their way.

“Ain’t this a surprise?” Y/n sneered, Vinnie jumping at the sound of her voice. The second his eyes landed on her, he turned pale. “Looks like you made a speedy recovery, didn’t you?”

“Y/n, what are you doing here? I thought—”

“You thought what? That I wasn’t going to show up just because you couldn’t make it? Sorry to tell you this but my life doesn’t revolve around you, Vinnie. Now the real question is what the hell are you doing here?” You asked, staring daggers at the boy. “Aren’t you supposed to be sick?”

Y/bff/n chuckled, “Don’t look sick to me.”

Vinnie shot her a glare before fixing his gaze back on you. “Y/n I—”

“Hey!” At that moment, Y/n noticed a girl out of the corner of her eye making her way towards her and Vinnie. At first, Y/n thought it was just one of Vinnie’s fans hoping to score a picture, but the second she planted her lips on his cheek, she knew right then and there that this girl was something more. “I didn’t know what kind of slushie to get you, so I just got us both strawberry-banana.” She said, handing him the drink.

“Who the hell is this?” Y/n scoffed, looking the girl up and down.

“Excuse me?” She replied, giving Y/n the same look. “Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know”—Y/n turned to Vinnie—“is there?”

Vinnie sighed, “Walk away, Y/n.”

“You know her?” The girl looked to Vinnie, awaiting his answer.

Y/n smirked, “Oh, he knows me very well. Don’t you, Vinnie?”

“Y/n…walk away.”

“No, I’m not.” Y/n snapped, shoving her finger into his chest. “Not until you tell me who the fuck she is.”

“I’m his girlfriend.”

Y/n felt her jaw drop to the floor as those words left the girl’s mouth. “Girlfriend!?” She and Y/bff/n exclaimed in unison. “What the fuck do you mean girlfriend?” Y/n asked, crossing her arms. “You mean to tell me this whole time while you’ve been talking to me, you’ve had a girlfriend? Is that why you’ve been sick? You were with her the entire time?”

“What is she talking about, Vinnie?”

He looked between Y/n and the girl before his eyes landed on the latter. “Kate, it’s nothing. She’s lying. It’s just a fan trying to break us up.”

“I’m just a fan now?” Y/n snickered, appalled at the boy. “So I was just a fan when you hit me up in my DMs? I was just a fan when you sent me all those dick pics? Huh, was I just a fan then?”

“He did what now?” Kate turned to Vinnie, looking at him as if he’d lost his entire mind. “Dude, are you fucking kidding me? Is that what we’re doing now? We’re just throwing away a year-long relationship?”

Y/bff/n gasped from behind you. “A year?”

“Baby, I swear it didn’t mean anything.” Vinnie whined, grasping at Kate’s waist to pull her into him. Though, she wasn’t having it as she ripped herself from his grip.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” She shouted. “We’re over! I want nothing to do with you, Vinnie! Absolutely nothing!”

“Kate!” Vinnie reached for her but the second he even stepped a foot near her, she threw her slushie at him, covering his face in the pale pink liquid. It was like an artist splattering paint onto a white canvas. Y/n and Y/bff/n couldn’t help but laugh at the boy.

“Don’t call me, don’t text me, don’t come by my apartment, don’t even think of me. You’re dead to me.” Kate threatened before she marched off, avoiding the confused glances from all the bystanders who witnessed the scene.

As Vinnie wiped the remnants of strawberries out of his eye, he looked at the giggling best friends. “Yeah, yeah…laugh it up. You satisfied with what you did?”

Y/n shrugged before reaching for the boy’s slushie. Removing the lid, she raised it over his head and lathered him in more of the ooey-gooey substance. “Now, I’m satisfied.” She smiled, tossing the cup to the side. “Asshole.” With that, Y/n and Y/bff/n high-fived each other before making their exit, leaving Vinnie to lie in the mess he made.

[young-bev]

I just think the bad kids should go to a County Fair.

Just think about it

- Ragh and Fabian going HARD on every single carnie game

- Riz knowing all the little tricks that they use to keep you from actually winning and just hacking the system

-Kristen is very bad at every version of the coin toss game (4 dex babeyy)

- Zelda winning Gorgug the biggest stuffed animal every at the dart game

- Gorgug LOVES cotton candy

- Fig loves Candy Apples

- Ayda be in awe of all the rides

- Her and Fig doing everyone they can

- Ayda’s favourite is the Starship

- Fig makes the tea cups spin so fast that Gorgug throws up

-Adaine eats as much fair food that she can get her hands on, she then wakes up in the middle of the night to throw up.

-Adaine loves the scrambler and the Geewhiz 

-Tracker and Kristen make a big thing about going on the ferris wheel alone to smooch at the top

- Ayda uses them as an example as to why she and fig should ride the ferris wheel

- Riz hides in the mirror maze to scare Fabian and Gorgug

- Kristen absolutely eating shit on the spinning wheel of the fun house

- Adaine thinks the fortune telling machine called “The Elven Oracle” is the funniest thing she’s every heard. 

-They spend hours at the petting zoo

-Fig manages to get the attended to let her go on the pony ride despite being three times the height limit.

-They absolutely end the night by watching the Thistlesprings kill it in the demolition derby

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Diary of the Writing Raven; Birds of a Feather

For the 1100+ follower milestone, here is the next part of the cursed raven’s story!

This time, we revisit entries in Miss Raven’s diary. A familiar face assumes prominence on the stage--what role will he play in this story of ours?

Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4

Day 47

I feel like I am being watched.

Uncle says I am just nervous and excited from the ceremony yesterday.

I am not so sure.

Day 48

I ran into that weirdo again today.

The weirdo is named Rook Hunt. He also calls himself the Hunter of Love...? I do not understand what that means.

He said that he will not be fooled again by Mon-sure Mastermind’s tricks again. He said he knows I am a bird, and he will chase me to the ends of Twisted Wonderland to see me in flight.

...Scary.

He shouts many strange words and chases me around. I managed to narrowly miss him by diving into the bushes. He was distracted by some students with animal ears--and I was able to run all the way home safely.

I suppose it is good to be curious, but...Mister Rook is too curious...!!

Why couldn’t I have run into Mister Jade instead?

Day 51

Uwaaah, I saw a very pretty upperclassman today! He had golden hair, violet at the ends.

The pretty upperclassman snapped at Mister Rook and told him to stop scaring me.

I am thankful, but...it seems like that upperclassman was scanning me all over. Judging me silently. I wanted to disappear into my clothes.

Before we part, he tells me that my ponytails are not symmetrical. He adjusts it for me and sends me off.

Mister Rook’s friends are strange people, too.

Day 56

Another run-in with Mister Rook. They seem to happen every day now, though they are not always...eventful.

He says I am too formal, and that I can just call him “Rook”.

He would not stop pestering me until I agreed.

He gave me a toothy grin when I, at last, relented.

What a troublesome man.

Day 57

Ever since I tried Flounder’s Blue, I have been sampling new foods and drinks.

Today, I got a cup of caw-fee.

Silly me, though...I tripped and spilled it all over a Savanaclaw student. He was so angry. He threatened to gobble me up.

I was trembling and sobbing when the Savanaclaw student yelped. Rook had a tight grip on his trail and kept tugging it, saying weird things until he scurried off.

I thank him.

Day 60

It feels like I see Rook around every corner. He does not always approach--sometimes, he is just content with watching from a distance, or he gives a small wave.

Jade has noticed too.

He asks if Rook makes me feel unsafe..

Rather than feel unsafe, I am a little curious as to why Rook is...well, Rook. He is certainly an odd fellow, but when I think back to a few days ago, I can’t help but think he has a good heart.

I do not think he means any harm.

So I tell Jade I am fine.

Day 66

Rook smelled funny today.

He says there was an accident in the Science Club, so he will reek of tomato and basil for a few days. That hunting trip he was planning is cancelled; the smell will alert too many animals of his presence.

I tell him that he reminds me of the pasta served at the Mostro Lounge, and he laughs.

How he is able to stay so cheery is a wonder to me--but it is not a bad thing, I suppose.

Day 72

Rook tells me of a carny-vale in the nearby town, and says I must experience it for myself. I was curious, so I followed.

There are so many bright sounds and sights. It smells like something fried and sweet.

We ride the spinning tea cups and the carousel. They make me feel like I’m flying once more.

I’m no good at any of the game booths, but Rook is. He has impeccable aim and strength. The game booth runners cry and beg him to not run them out of business.

Rook just smiles and asks them for their best prizes. He has no use for most of them, so he dumps his prizes onto me with a part on the head.

My arms are too full to hold any food, so Rook helps feed me. He stuffs funnel cake, cotton candy, and candied apple into my mouth.

The last thing we do for the day is the ferris wheel. We go up and up against the sunset.

In the dying light of day, I realize something.

Rook has very pretty eyes, too.

Day 80

The pretty upperclassman came up and introduced himself.

Vil Schoenheit, Pomefiore’s dorm leader.

The queen.

He remarks that my pigtails are not asymmetrical today, and that I am a fast learner.

“You must be, little Shetland potato,” Vil comments, “if you are to deal with my huntsman.”

Day 84

...Rook was carrying a Pomefiore boy over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes.

He says that it’s his job to capture runaways, in service of his queen.

...I wonder how much he gets paid to do this?

Day 85

I told Rook about my hiking trip with Jade!

He seemed very interested, listening intently and nodding while I spoke.

Rook says that he, too, is a fan of the great outdoors, and that we should go on a camping trip together sometime.

I look forward to it.

Day 90

Today is the promised camping trip with Rook.

The weather is getting chillier, so he reminds me to dress warm. He will take care of the rest of the preparations. After all, he has had much more experience with these sorts of things.

I’m still cold, even when I show up in three layers. Rook tuts and throws his jacket over me, despite my protests.

He guides me through the forest, pointing out tiny things I would not have noticed on my own. That bunny’s burrow, those squirrels storing nuts for the upcoming winter, the rustle of the leaves, the trickle of water, how the sunlight filters through the trees...

Rook has such a poetic way of speaking.

He reminds me of a prince in a fairy tale.

Day 94

Rook told me that he has noticed that my speech has improved. He is proud, puffing up like a proud father. He spouts some nonsense about how “mon petit oiseau” (he helped me with the spelling) is becoming such a refined young lady.

I told him that his own manner of speech is far prettier than mine.

Rook just laughed and offered to help me improve more and more, if I wish.

I should pay a visit to Pomefiore, he said, and the queen will welcome me with open arms.

Day 95

Pomefiore is...beautiful. Violet tapestries, crimson curtains, and gold decorations dripping from every available crevice. And everyone is just as beautiful as their surroundings, skin like glass and eyes set in jewel-colored shadows.

I expected nothing less of the oldest dormitory at Night Raven College. The castle is steeped in years of history.

I was offered tea and a three tiered stand of snacks. Vil introduced me to a boy named Epel, who squirmed in his seat with discomfort.

He made us hold our tea cups all funny and barked at us to exchange words. Rook stands at his queen’s side and just...smiles at us as we suffer.

After that, Vil shepherded us to a large table, where two sets of cutlery were laid out.

I’m drilled for hours on end, until I can differentiate the several different variants of spoons, forks, and knives. Epel, too.

I am told to return every few days, to join Epel for his lessons. “It would do him some good to have someone to go through the motions with,” Vil insists. “It gives him some much needed...’encouragement’.”

More lessons for me.

...Somehow, I feel like Rook has me caught in a snare.

Day 100

Vil quips that we are learning ballroom dancing today.

I do not see the practical use of such a skill, but he will not take no for an answer.

Epel and I mutter apologies as we link hands and step on each other’s feet. Then the queen has us take turns spinning around with Rook.

He is very graceful on his feet--far more than myself or Epel. I’m nervous when my turn comes up, but Rook reassures me that it will be fine.

His arms form a cage to keep me from stumbling.

He clicks his tongue and says I need more practice.

Day 102

We focused on the arts today. Vil was busy with modeling (?) and told us that Rook would be our instructor. He says that the arts are his best subject, so please leave everything to him.

Rook shows us fruit bowls and pictures of scenery (he says he took the photographs himself)! Then he sets out canvases and paint sets and tells us to follow his lead.

His voice is a soft murmur as he beats his paintbrush against a blank canvas, breathing color into an otherwise lifeless world.

I do my best to do as he says.

Rook glances over--and he tells me, through a blinding smile, that my painting needs some work.

I have to agree.

Day 110

Epel is with friends today.

Rook takes this opportunity to grant me a language and writing lesson. He knows that I like writing, so now is as good of a time as any.

Rook hovers over me at a desk and suggests ways to make my writing sound...fancier.

I practice writing sentences like...

You are the light of my life, the lark’s birdsong in the still morning.

You are as lovely as the petals of a rose, lush and delicate and breathtakingly beautiful.

You are the moon and the starlight, twinkling in the depths of the darkness and guiding me to salvation.

I ask him what the point of these phrases were--and Rook answers, “For when you wish to woo whomever has captured your heart!” He makes it sound so easy.

He teaches me a few basic phrases of his flowery language, too.

I tell him merci.

Day 117

The queen puts books on my head and tells me to walk without dropping any of them.

Rook holds my hand and helps me keep balance.

It is warm, and comforting and supportive, just like Jade’s.

Then Vil whips out a pair of odd shoes, with stick-like things instead of a flat sole. He calls them heels and urges me to put them on.

I fall on my face, and Rook has to help me up.

On my second attempt, he catches me. He tells me I have the grace of a newborn fawn--that is to say, none at all.

Still, I feel safe in his arms.

Day 133

It is cold, and snowy.

Rook drags me outside anyway. He says exercise will do my frail little body some good.

But...no matter what I activity I do, I am miserable at it. Snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding. I am horrible at all of them, and more.

We settle for building a snowman.

I try to make it look cute.

Day 140

The cruise ship is boring. The beach is boring. It’s mostly older folks like Uncle sipping on tropical drinks and sunbathing.

I wish I had someone to talk to.

Of course, Jade would be nice and set my heart at ease...but Rook would be able to make even something as mundane as this fun.

I can already hear him shouting in my head about the clear blue waters, and the amber sunlight, and the snow white sand.

Look at me, I’m beginning to speak nonsense.

Well, nonsense it may be, but it is interesting nevertheless.

Rook is...interesting.

Day 149

There are lots of seagulls here.

...They remind me of Rook.

I am not quite sure why.

Maybe it is the incessant cawing.

Though...that is charming, in its own unique way.

Day 155

Rook brought back a souvenir from his home land--a bright blue feather on a beaded necklace. He says it is similar to the one the young prince of his country wears.

It turns out, he is from the Afterglow Savannah! What a surprise; I thought he would be from the Land of Pyroxene.

He regales me with stories of his adventures, of the many hunts he embarked on and his trophies.

His eyes are like emeralds, shining with excitement.

Day 167

I saw a play with Rook.

It told the story of two lovers whose families detested one another. The actors all speak quite frivolously, just like Rook. I can see why he would like this kind of thing.

My favorite part...it was the balcony scene.

The male lead cannot stand to be apart from the female lead, and so he sneaks into her garden at night. He summons her to the balcony and makes a vow that he will, no matter what, find a way to be with her.

...The play ends with death.

I cried a little, and Rook let me lean against his shoulder until I stopped.

Day 170

I penned a little story based on the play.

This one has a happy ending.

I want to put some hope into the world.

Day 185 (Continued)

I asked Rook if he was excited for Valentine’s Day, if he was expecting any gifts.

He gave me a mysterious smile in response and said, “Ah, that is for me to know and for you to find out, mon petit oiseau.”

I wonder what he means by that.

Day 186 (Continued)

I will give Rook some chocolate, too!

As thanks for being my friend.

Day 197 (Continued)

I made little heart-shaped bon-bons for Rook.

Perfect for the Hunter of Love.

Day 198 (Continued)

I want to curl up and die, diary.

Rook saw me crying today, under the shade of the great apple tree that towers in the school courtyard.

He asked me what was wrong, a concerned look on his face.

I snapped at him, told him to leave me be.

...But rather than bombard me with questions or annoy me with overly embellished words...

...Rook sat next to me silently. He held my hand until I stopped crying.

Then I spilled everything. I don’t know why I did. I...I guess I wanted someone to know of my story.

Starting with my arrival at Night Raven College. Ending with Jade’s betrayal.

I told Rook the tale through my tears and disgusting sobbing. It was absolutely pathetic, but...he listened patiently.

When I finished, he told me something.

“Mon petit oiseau, I would never lie to you.”

And I believe him.

Day 200

I cried again.

Stupid Leeches.

Day 202

I am scared of Jade.

I say as much to Rook.

He makes a joke about sharpening a harpoon and going eel hunting.

...At least, I think it is a joke.

Day 215

Rook now greets me as soon as my classes let out. His smile and laugh are reassuring to see.

He makes sure I get home safely, and without being accosted.

I cannot say merci enough.

Day 227

...It is ironic.

The man I once ran from is now the one I willingly go to for shelter, and the man I once went to for shelter is now the one I run from.

What a strange reversal of fortune.

Day 228

I feel eyes on me again.

...Leeches, most likely.

Day 230

Tomorrow is another day.

I will stay at Rook’s side.

It is the only place I feel safe beyond Uncle’s attic.

Day 231

I can trust him.

I can trust Rook.

He will tell an ugly truth right off the bat.

He values honesty, integrity--like me.

And birds of a feather must flock together.

[theresnosafeharbor4myships]

Ichabbie Vignettes

TITLE: Firsts (But Not Last) - Part 2: Cotton Candy

A/N: The 2nd in a series of vignettes that feature Ichabbie firsts (but not lasts, obviously). Also on AO3.

The first time he saw cotton candy his mouth opened into a little ‘o’ and Abbie chuckled.

“Come on, I’ll buy you some,” she enthused, looping her arm with his and pulling him towards the stand. She bought a blue, pink, and purple swirled wand of confection as he watched the carnie spin the fine yarns of sugar.

“What is this fairy confectionary called?” he asked as he inspected the treat she’d just handed him.

“Cotton candy.” She claimed a picnic bench, and he sat next to her, removing the wrapping from this new sugary sweet.

“Ommm,” he hummed, his eyes going wide when the sugar touched his tongue. A mere second later, his brows drew together. “It…it’s gone!? What devilry…?” He peered suspiciously at the wand of sugar.

Abbie couldn’t help smiling at him and his childlike wonder. “Here, come here.” She reached up to pluck away a wayward strand of sugar that’d stuck in his beard. “It’s magic,” she answered him, a sweet smile on her face.

One eyebrow arched up in disdain and disbelief.

And then, her hand still on his face, she drew him to her and kissed the sweetness from his lips.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #223: of Robin Hoods and Roustabouts

September, 1982

Apparently a “roustabout” is an unskilled or casual labor.

And lets admit the obvious that if Hawkeye is either of the two things, he’s a robin hood. And its not inaccurate but be nicer to Scott Lang.

Even if he manages to be even more hapless in this issue then in modern takes that leans into him being a fuck-up.

As for the cover? Pretty striking cover. I’ve been waiting for Hawkeye to shoot Ant-Man at someone. Its apparently an Iconic Avengers moment and to think it first happens in a filler.

Because I’m pretty sure this is a filler. Its written by David Michelinie alone instead of Jim Shooter getting a plotter or co-writer credit. It doesn’t really have anything from the dangling plot threads of Hank Pym or the Masters of Evil.

Between this and and the filler with the immortal child who badly wanted to die and all of the plotter or co-writer credits, you just really get a sense that Jim Shooter did not have time to devote to Avengers anymore.

So what kind of filler will this be? Weird? Impactless? Good Actually? Let’s see!

Well, apparently Hawkeye is going to the carnival so at this point, it could go either way.

I like that Hawkeye has a H belt buckle because that’s the kind of thing that he would do and that I can make fun of him for.

I know that it’s been a while since he’s mentioned kewpie dolls but Hawkeye came from the circus. He and his brother ran away to one when they were little and the Swordsman taught Hawkeye archery. The point being, “he’s come home.”

As in, this is specifically the carnival he used to work before he became very briefly a superhero, and then for slightly longer a supervillain, and then for much much longer a superhero for real.

Point is, he’s been away for a while. But he received a flyer in the mail and decided he just had to come.

Because someone wrote HELP! on the back.

Hawkeye figures that the previous owner’s daughter and current owner Marcy Carson sent it as a goof but heck if she’s going to go to that trouble, he’ll be happy to visit.

So he breezes past the workers outside the owner’s trailer and-

Actually they beat the shit out of him for trying to breeze past them. Goes to show.

When Hawkeye threatens to beat them up for this rude treatment, they get ruder and call him a rube. Can you believe! Him, a former employee himself being called a rube! Also they pull a fancy sci-fi gun on him.

So Hawkeye does buzz off. So he can change into his hawking eye duds and buzz right back on.

Roustabouts carrying laser pistols is very suspicious. And I guess Ant-Man isn’t the roustabout of the title. He’s moving up in the world.

MEANWHILE, Perfectly Ordinary electronics technician, ex-con, and Ant-Man Scott Lang is having a night out with his daughter Cassie. And they’re having a bit of a disagreement.

See, Cassie, future superhero, wants to ride the really cool roller coaster the Spin-’n-Heave. Scott Lang, dad with dumb views on gender apparently, insists that a roller coaster just isn’t ladylike enough and she should ride something more refined like the pony ride or ring toss.

Also, Scott is carrying the Ant-Man suit with him, loose in his pocket. And the helmet just drops out of his pocket and the damn fool would have lost it if Cassie hadn’t spotted it and mistaken it for a marble.

Geez, Scott! I stood up for you!

Scott’s attempts to dad by restricting what his daughter can and can’t do based on his own views on what is ladylike get dropped when he spots Hawkeye hauling ass across the carnival and decides that This Cannot Stand!

Scott Lang Ant-Man may not be an Avenger but dangit he can’t leave a fellow hero in the lurch! He must offer unsolicited aid!

So he caves on the Spin-’n-Heave issue because its a way to keep Cassie occupied for the length of exactly this issue.

Scott gives the operator a bunch of money and tells the operator to let Cassie ride until it runs out and then takes off.

Cassie is thrilled.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye has returned to the owner’s trailer but Marcy is gone and so are the two goons that were guarding the door. But he spots them marching Marcy through the crowd.

The goons are complimenting Marcy on being so cooperative but also say that if she’s not cooperative, her star acts are gonna get fed to the lions. And that might happen anyway once everything is said and done because their boss be like that.

Anyway, that’s when the two get hit by a KRAK THUBB arrow. Punch arrow? It looks nerf-y.

Hawkeye grabs Marcy and runs off with her into a tent so she can explain it all.

But first: he has to notice that she is beautiful. He has been gone a while so, y’know. People grow up or whatever.

Hawkeye: “There, that’s better! Now maybe I can get to the bottom of -- hey! You’re beautiful!”

Marcy: “I’ve waited a long time for you to notice that, ol’ buddy.”

Hawkeye: “Yeah, well, it’s hard noticin’ anything when you’re bein’ tripped into a pile of elephant dirt -- which, as I recall, used to be your favorite pastime!”

Marcy: “People change, Clint.”

Young Marcy sounds like a really interesting person. She certainly gave Hawkeye the business.

Anyway, she explains that it was pure luck that she was able to sneak that message out to him. And that the carnival has been taken over by some freak with powers.

Marcy: “Why, if he even suspected I was in touch with you he’d kill me deader than a Monday night in Des Moines!”

Off-screen Villain: “Nicely put, dumplin’! Should make you a dandy little epitaph!”

SCENE CHANGE TO PRESERVE SUSPENSE

Scott Lang has ducked behind some circus carts to change into Ant-Man.

Except he still has the whole shrunken costume piecemeal in his pockets so the process is one of slapstick. Scott goes digging in his pockets for the suit and accidentally drops it all in the straw.

Then he has to go digging around for the incredibly teeny pieces of gear while realizing that this was a stupid plan.

Maybe he should keep the suit in a tin. Like a mint tin or something.

But he finally gets all the pieces together and uses a safety pin to trigger the enlarging gas to full-size the outfit so he can put it on.

Huh! Enlarging gas! Early days in Avengers, they were all about the logistics of the shrinking and growing for Ant-Giant and the Wasp but it hasn’t been talked about in a long while. Wasp just changes size without the how being discussed.

But if it is Pym Particles, then I guess Scott isn’t at the point yet where his body naturally produces them so he has to use the gas canisters on the belt.

Scott does get dressed in his ant duds and uses the helmet to command some ants to find Hawkeye. And this is a carnival with a lot of dropped funnel cake and cotton candy so you know that there’s plenty of ants available.

SCENE CHANGE because we can only preserve suspense so far.

The mysterious off-screen villain hits the lights in the tent that Hawkeye and Marcy were talking in. Which reveals a bunch of gym and training equipment. It’d be nice if carnivals could provide such robust gym benefits to their workers but I feel that this is actually suspicious, finding this here.

Especially the combat flight simulator.

Hawkeye: “This place looks like a training ground for World War III!”

Off-screen villain, about to be onscreen: “And what better setting for the world’s greatest trainer? Namely... the TASKMASTER!”

Heyyy its the Taskmaster!

I forgot that he was a loose thread. He got away after the THREE-PARTER that introduced him. Then again, I guess since he’s the explanation for where villains get their armies of mooks, he didn’t really need to be tied up because that would defeat the purpose.

Anyway, Hawkeye wasn’t on the team for that three-parter but thankfully, the Avengers take thorough records.

Hawkeye: “Yeah, I remember readin’ about you in the Avengers’ files! You’re some sorta goon peddler!”

Taskmaster: “Watch yer mouth, bow-bender! What I am is a teacher!”

And then he recaps his goon, mook, henchman training business for the audience. He even clarifies that his series of secret academies are going great, thanks, but he’s trying to branch out with a mobile recruiting center.

Aka, this circus. And heck, according to Taskmaster, carnies already come off unscrupulous so having a bunch of goons hanging around won’t stand out.

THE PERFECT CRIME.

Actually. I don’t know if this is a crime? It’s not illegal to do combat training or learn how to fly a plane, probably. Then again, when 100% of your alumni wind up arrested for helping steal the Statue of Liberty, a legal goon school would get a lot of unwanted scrutiny. So best keep it secret.

And of course, extorting the owner and workers of a circus is definitely a crime. Pretty sure.

Anyway, the mobile recruiting center scheme is helped by Marcy telling anyone who asks that the new people hanging around are a new act that isn’t ready to open yet.

Hawkeye is sick of Taskmaster’s smarmy smarm and tries to shoot a grabber arrow? at Taskmaster.

Who just blocks it with his shield.

And takes the opportunity to brag about his photographic reflexes, where he only needs to see a sweet move once and he can do it perfectly.

He shows off by doing some Cap moves and then doing a Spider-Man move. Which he seems to do just to do.

And by Spider-Man move I mean hanging upside down from a line. Which, yes, Spider-Man does do that but it doesn’t really seem that necessary or helpful here and you’re totally doing it just to show off but really you look a little ridiculous.

Taskmaster even shows off some Tigra moves by kicking Hawkeye in the face. Its fun to me that he shows off Tigra specifically. Its for some acrobatics like flippy kick but there’s gotta be other acrobatic heroes. Like Spider-Man.

But Tigra was on the Avengers recently and briefly and dammit, he’s gonna show off what he learned!

Anyway, Taskmaster beats up Hawkeye until he gets bored of it and then just takes Marcy hostage to get Hawkeye to surrender.

He just really wanted to show off some of his sweet moves. And as soon as he ran through five different hero movesets (Cap, Spider-Man, Tigra, Daredevil, and Iron Fist) he’s just like ‘k I’m done’.

Meanwhile, back to Ant-Man ant-again.

He’s lurking around a corner trying to be inconspicuous while children are pointing and asking if he’s a clown. Perhaps realizing that he didn’t need to put on the full costume to use the helmet and that he’s just made himself look foolish.

But some of his ants report in that they’ve found Hawkeye so Ant-Man shrinks down to ride an ant into action.

Wait. Yeah. You could have just shrunken down and perched somewhere to wait for ant reports. You’ve made yourself look a fool and you fully had the power to avoid that in so many ways.

Meanwhile back to Hawkeye yet again, Taskmaster knows that killing an Avenger would attract notice so he’s going to make it look like an accident.

So he’s locked Hawkeye in an electrified cage with a lion, a normal situation that can accidentally happen to anyone. So now when Hawkeye gets mauled to death by the lion, nobody will suspect it was anything but an accident.

Taskmaster walks away because its villain tradition that you don’t watch the heroes you lock in the death traps. That’d just be gauche.

The lion sizes up Hawkeye and decides that he’s food and leaps for the kill!

And Ant-Man grows out from under the lion and throws it into the electrified bars, knocking him out.

Pretty good timing Scott! And that poor attempted man-eater lion! That poor five hundred pound lion! WOW SCOTT, do you work out?

I also feel that Republic Serial has aged poorly for more than just lion tossing.

Ant-Man and Hawkeye get each other on the same page. As it happens, Ant-Man actually has more experience with Taskmaster since he was actually in that three-parter. That’ll give them a tiny, tiny, tiny edge.

They’re still stuck in a locked cage and Hawkeye is like ‘gee whiz shrinking hero guy how can we possibly get out?’

Would you be surprised that Ant-Man just shrinks Hawkeye? Scott does muse that he could probably have picked the lock if he had the tools for it but shrinking just saves time.

Hawkeye does not care for it though.

I don’t know what he’s complaining about. Big sleepy cat even bigger now. You could live in the mane at that size.

You could be a tiny man living in a lion’s mane. Imagine.

Anyway.

Over in Taskmaster’s private tent, he’s telling Marcy she done fucked up calling for Hawkeye and she’s going to wish she was getting mauled to death by a lion in an electrified cage like Hawkeye was.

And Hawkeye does the equivalent of clearing his throat and saying ‘hey dingus, not dead’

Taskmaster reaches for a magnesium flare like he used against the Avengers but Ant-Man’s expert knowledge of meeting Taskmaster one time lets him warn Hawkeye who shoots it out of Taskmaster’s hand.

Taskmaster just questions why they didn’t go for a killshot when they had him surprised and then calls a goon squad on the heroes.

Of course, goon squads being called on heroes is just a setup to make heroes look really cool showing their stuff on some expendable targets.

“While the Taskmaster’s troops have been well-trained for normal combat, they fare woefully poor against these super-normal foes!”

And show their stuff they do. Like Hawkeye leaping around firing net and bola arrows!

And Ant-Man... shrinking down really small to punch a guy’s earlobe.

Look. He’s trying.

Also, Marcy is braining people with a juggling pin like some manner of alien clown because she is exceptionally irate at Taskmaster and his goons.

While the three beat up this crowd of goons, Taskmaster runs off to set up his “escape insurance.”

Ant-Man and Hawkeye chase him into the big top where there’s already a crowd watching the show. And waiting for the human cannonball act.

BUT! Taskmaster is apparently a cartoon villain because he’s replaced the human cannonball with a dummy full of explosives and he’s going to shoot it and blow up the grandstand, killing a couple hundred innocent lives.

Taskmaster tells them they can capture him or they can stop his ridiculous scheme.

Taskmaster: “Have fun decidin’, chumps!”

And then presumably he runs off giggling.

Hawkeye wants to go after Taskmaster and have Ant-Man take care of the nothuman cannonball bomb.

Ant-Man: “No, Hawkeye! There are too many lives at stake! And it may take both of us to stop that cannon!”

Hawkeye: “But we can’t just let that psycho walk! We can’t -- .”

Ant-Man: “Hawkeye! Think about it! Think! Please... !”

Hawkeye: “Yeah, I guess you’re right... blast it.”

Scott Lang has his heart in the right place to be a hero even if he is a bit of a goofus about it. I like you, Scott Lang.

Hawkeye runs back into the tent and shoots the goon manning the cannon with a bola arrow. he gets the goon but the goon falls on the button.

Fortunately, its the elevation control, not the fire button.

Unfortunately, there is no firing button, so the firing cycle is automatic.

Fortunately, hitting the elevation control accidentally made the cannon point up instead of at the grandstand. So the bomb is still going to fall and blow everything up but they have time and Ant-Man has an idea.

He has Hawkeye nock his fastest arrow and jumps on it.

Hawkeye shoots the arrow and hits the explosive filled mannequin in the neck right as it reached the top of its trajectory and hung very briefly in the air.

As the bomb starts to plummet, Ant-Man crawls up the arrow onto the bomb-man and to the detonator.

All too soon the bomb hits the ring

but doesn’t detonate.

Ant-Man managed to defuse the bomb!

And he also managed to survive the fall because of course! He’s not destined to die for a long while and only then in a really dumb way.

Thanks to Scott’s experience of watching Raiders of the Lost Ark twenty-seven times he’s a real expert on jumping from one speeding object to another.

Aka, from the falling bomb to a flying ant. Sure.

The heroes see that Taskmaster has escaped while all this was going on but Hawkeye decides he’ll get him next time.

Also? The audience has thought that this was part of the show the whole time so they’ve loved every second of this.

Soon the other Avengers arrive, too late to take part in the plot but in time to help clean up the goon operation.

Also, She-Hulk is in her tattered white dress outfit again. I really think there was some miscommunication here. Like with having her dressed like that on the previous cover and having her dressed like that here in this filler issue.

She doesn’t wear that anymore but its the Iconic outfit for her so if an artist needs a ref to draw her, they’re probably looking at a picture from her Savage She-Hulk series.

And Scott Lang gets the last page because whoops, he left his daughter on a roller coaster the whole time and forgot her in the heat of the adventure. DAD OF THE YEAR!

Scott runs to find her sitting outside the Spin-’n-Heave looking down, head in hands. Scott is worried that something is wrong with her but

Cassie Lang: “I’m a little tired right now, daddy *yawn* but can we come back an’ ride the ‘Spin-’n-Heave’ again t’morrow?”

Scott Lang: “Tomorrow? Again? *sigh* Kids.”

Hah, she tuckered herself out riding the roller coast over and over again but is game to keep doing it again tomorrow. That’s the Cassie Lang that will grow up to join the Young Avengers!

So, Avengers filler but it wasn’t weird or inconsequential. It doesn’t do anything with the ongoing plots but it feels like it does since Scott Lang has come back into the books recently because of the Hank Pym plot. And it follows up on Taskmaster who has gone unaddressed since his introductory stories.

Its just a nice story and by focusing on a guest star and one of the Avengers doing an impromptu team-up it has some fun energy.

Good times.

Hey. Follow @essential-avengers​ maybe? Its better than the Spin-’n-Heave! ... I can’t actually prove that. But also like and reblog this post because I’m a cool person. ... I can’t actually prove that either...

[theoreticalconstruct]

Carnival (FFVII, Barret x Tifa, SFW)

For Barret x Tifa week.

Fandom: Compilation of FFVII (post-AC) Pairing: Barret x Tifa WC: 1000 Summary: The two run into a relic of a pre-Shinra world.

If they'd arrived a day later, they probably would've missed it. Barret and Tifa had been traveling in the buggy for a while that time, headed to Cosmo Canyon to try to find more people to help them with the new projects, the renewable energy initiative that Reeve had brought them into. They could've asked someone else for help, a ride on the airship, but honestly they didn't mind taking the time, since they knew that Marlene and Denzel were both in good hands. They'd almost reached the canyon settlement; they hadn't expected to pass this on the way. Yet there it was, big as life. The sounds of cheerful organs and vibrophones hit them before the sights did, while the sun was still fixing to set, so they'd parked the buggy and approached it, walking side-by-side and ready for anything. But it came into sight soon and he could feel Tifa being caught off guard - he didn't complain when he felt her hand against him as the centerpiece of the strange place came into view. A gigantic ferris wheel, rising into the sky, decked with flashing red and yellow lights. "What is this?" Tifa finally asked, one hand still on his back. "An old-fashioned carnival," he said, staring at the flashing lights. The music was tinny and bright and real, not at all like the well-choreographed but soulless bells of Gold Saucer. "I ain't seen one in decades." "I've never seen one at all, not in real life." She was staring at the giant wheel, spinning slowly.   "Not surprised. You said you grew up with Shinra bein' in your town, right? They would've made sure they left town fast." He can smell smoke and cooked meat and cotton candy on the breeze. It's making his mouth water. "The fairs would pop up for a few days and then go away. Shinra didn't like letting 'vagrants and undesirables' use their power grid. That's why Gold Saucer eventually got big." She was quiet next to him. "I saw pictures," he said. "From my parents. I asked if we could ever go to one, but they never answered." He doesn't answer for a bit. So many memories to sift through. Being a little kid, rushing down those tall slides as fast as he could manage, pushing against the polished surface and imagining he could fly. Sitting in the swings and letting them spin him around and round, whooping as he kicked his legs. Being older, asking Myrna for a ride on the wheel, holding her hand as they went up and hoping that they'd slow down at the top so they could admire the view and be alone for a little while. "They would've been hard to find by then," he finally said. "More's the pity. I guess someone kept it in good enough shape, though, or we wouldn't be able to see it now. Now that the Saucer's hurting for energy without their reactors, they must've seen their chance t' come back." She nodded. "Barret," she asked, her hand moving down to his good one. "Do you think that Reeve will be okay if we take some time to see it?" "I think he'll understand." He grinned. "He woulda remembered these places too." They walk into the carnival hand-in-hand. He can see Tifa taking it all in, the midways and rides picked out in lights. The booths selling food that looked so much like the ones that'd been so popular in the slums, people hawking the kind of food they could set up and clean up quickly, fried cakes and caramel apples, chocobo beans and slices of pizza. The rides, flying swings and slides and the ever-present spinning cups, and the big Ferris wheel that flew above it all. "You wanna go on the rides, feel free," he said. "But I doubt they'd let me on 'em." He had to smile ruefully at that. Besides being a big guy, he was pretty sure the gigantic heavy prosthetic would dissuade the carnies from letting him on. "Even that one?" She pointed up at the wheel. "Well, maybe. It's usually the sturdiest thing." He looked down at her. "You know what it is, right?" "Well.. not first-hand. But my mother and father told me." She grinned back. "Said it was the kind of thing they would ride on a date." "Hm. Ain't wrong." He chuckled, looking up at the place, more memories coming back. He'd never had that moment he'd hoped for, where they'd stalled on top of the wheel. "Yeah. I mean, it's not like we ever had time for dates, did we?" "No, guess we didn't," he answered with a wistful smile. He'd met Tifa in wartime, at least in his own mind, and there wasn't time for dates in the middle of a war. Just quiet moments between battles. It had been enough for him, back then, but now maybe it was time to try something else. "All right. Might be a line, but let's give it a shot. Then maybe we can get a bite to eat?" "I hope so. What do you think will be good?" "Can't make that judgment without lookin'," he answered, amused. "But we'll take a look around when we're done." "That's fair. Come on, let's get in line." He kept smiling as he took her hand and squeezed it, and they walked together to the Ferris wheel. The wheel didn't stop when they were at the top, which was probably fine; that would've been way, way too perfect for a little chance encounter like this. But they let 'em stay on for a couple of spins, and  the view really was fine, the red canyons spreading out for miles around. Definitely beat Gold Saucer and its gondolas, he thought, and probably would've said as much if Tifa hadn't leaned in to rest her head against his shoulder. "You got the hang of this quick," he chuckled. "I'm a fast learner." "Ha... y'sure are."

[softbiker]

Born to Run - Chapter 3

Warnings: some language, descriptions of injury and blood

Word count: 2.4k

A/N: Next chapter!! Things are going to start picking up from here - Bucky (and the rest of the gang) will be getting more involved, and making more of a mess. Thank you so much for your support of this series! As always, let me know what you think! <3

Three weeks. Three whole weeks.

It had been 23 days since Y/N moved out to the middle of nowhere, and 20 days since she had taken over her tiny clinic. She had seen tick bites and viral infections and strep throat and cysts. She had passed out prescriptions and signed insurance papers and given flu shots. She had unpacked all of her clothes into the tidy wardrobe and closet, once the mothball smell finally dissipated. And she had spent every single night alone in her house.

Y/N had thought that having roommates all through college and medical school was a necessary evil - though she always got along with them, the real dream was having a place all to yourself, right? No one coming in or leaving at odd hours, no one stealing your leftover takeout. No one to talk to. Ever.

If she had to spend one more night scrolling through Netflix by herself, she was going to jump in front of a semi.

Which was why she was standing in front of a now-full closet, flipping through dresses and shirts to wear, discarding and debating her options. When Charlotte had informed her of Back to School fair this weekend, Y/N had practically wept with joy. Charlotte was planning to take her two boys, Ethan and Caleb, and welcomed Y/N to join them for the evening - she jumped at the chance to do something, go somewhere. To wear something other than scrubs. That was probably why she had been in front of her closet for 20 minutes now - there were so many options when she hadn’t been able to wear her fun clothes in nearly a month.

She settled on a sundress and sneakers and made it out the door on the tail of an “On my way!” text to Charlotte.

The fairground normally doubled as a public park and playground on the outskirts of town. As she pulled into the vacant field across the street and parked her car, Y/N marvelled at the sheer volume of activity they were able to fit into such a small park. There was a ferris wheel, a swing ride, and one of those spinning g-force rides with a blinking sign that read ‘Gravitron’. The overwhelming smell of popcorn and fried foods drifted on the afternoon air, promising the most nostalgic foods imaginable. Carnival games and craft booths filled the park, boasting prizes and homemade goods.

Charlotte was waiting next to a white gazebo at the front of the park, a young boy with curly dark hair standing next to her. She caught sight of Y/N approaching from across the street and waved, her smile big and bright. Y/N waved back, jogging across the street to get out of the way of an oncoming truck.

“Hi,” she greeted, slightly out of breath. “I hope I’m not late?”

“Oh no! We just got here,” Charlotte smiled her easy smile, squeezing the boy’s shoulder. “This is my younger son, Caleb. He’s 10.” Caleb lifted his hand and quirked his mouth shyly.

“Hello, Caleb, nice to meet you,” Y/N gave him her warmest smile. “Don’t you have an older brother somewhere?”

“Yeah,” Caleb nodded, frowning a little. “But mom let him go with his friends.”

“Well, sorry baby, but 10 is just not old enough for boys to go off unsupervised,” Charlotte rolled her eyes fondly. “When you’re 13 you can run around with your buddies like Ethan. Until then, you’re stuck hanging out with your very cool mom.”

Y/N stifled her laughter as Caleb sighed a long suffering sigh. Charlotte just winked.

“Now, come on, I’m dying for some lemonade.”

The three of them had a blast exploring the fair; in spite of having only two adult females for company, Caleb certainly enjoyed himself, indulging in fried oreos and corndogs and sodas, and somehow still managing to hold it down when they rode the swings. Y/N won a small pocket knife in a ring toss game, which she talked the carnie into trading back for a superhero action figure that Caleb could play with. They sipped lemonade and listened to the live music from a country singer they had never heard of.

“Mom, can we go on the ferris wheel now?” Caleb asked, urgently tugging on her sleeve. “Look, the line is really short!”

“Honey, I think the cars only take two riders…” Charlotte trailed off, her meaning understood. She didn’t want to leave Y/N sitting out, or sitting with a stranger.

“No, no - don’t worry about me! I can stay right here and watch your things anyway,” Y/N insisted. “Really, I don’t mind. I’m not a big fan of heights anyway.”

Charlotte seemed unsure, but after a bit more coaxing she let Caleb drag her away to the ferris wheel before the lines got long again. Y/N smiled watching them go, licking the powdered sugar off her fingers from her funnel cake. They had had a fun afternoon, but she felt she should let them spend some time together with just the two of them.

Wringing an overused napkin in one hand, she scrolled through the photos on her phone. Between the late afternoon sun and the fairground backdrop, she had taken some nice pictures. She should post one on Instagram, probably. Just to let everyone know she was still alive. Her thumb swiped through her phone and tapped on the app, pulling up a timeline full of bright smiles and baby photos.

“WE GOT A DOCTOR HERE?!”

Y/N’s head whipped around so fast her neck popped. Who said that?

“MY FRIEND NEEDS HELP! ARE THERE ANY DOCTORS HERE?”

A dark-skinned man in a blue t-shirt was running in between picnic tables and shouting, turning back and forth in his search.

“I am! I’m a doctor!” Y/N shot up from the bench, maneuvering around her purse and Caleb’s prizes. She waved a hand at the man. “Over here!”

His face briefly softened in relief, then intensified again as he jogged between tables towards her and grabbed her wrist.

“This way, doc, he’s really bleeding a lot,” he said over his shoulder, weaving between couples and children and cotton candy vendors. Y/N’s heart pounded, adrenaline sharpening her focus.

“Have you called an ambulance already? If it’s more than I can handle, they’d better be on their way - the hospital is too far.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he gave a sharp nod. “But somebody told me we had a new doctor in town - figured it was worth a shot to see if you were out here tonight.”

They rounded a shooting gallery game and she saw him, sprawled out on the grass and face covered in blood. That would be the patient, she assumed. Blood flowed from a gash on his forehead, slicking his face and neck like something out of a slasher flick. He was conscious, sputtering and spitting blood from his mouth as he tried to talk to the man that was holding his head and shoulders in his lap. Y/N was at his side in a second.

“How did this happen?” she questioned, all business.

“Uh, he fell, hit his head on one of the stakes holding up the tents,” the man holding her patient’s head spoke up.

Lie. A very obvious one, but fine. Without sparing the other man a glance, Y/N leaned forward over the bleeding man’s face.

“Sir, can you hear me? I’m a doctor, I’m going to have a look at this cut, alright?”

“ ‘kay,” he mumbled, nodding. The blood around his lips was starting to dry and crack.

Y/N glanced around, looking for something to stop the bleeding. With no other options, she unwrapped the denim shirt from her waist and pressed it to the man’s forehead, using both hands to increase the pressure. She turned to the man who had come to find her, hovering nearby and chewing his lip.

“I’ll need something to clean this with. Just warm water is fine if you can find it. Once I clean the blood off we’ll see if he needs stitches.” Nodding once, he disappeared into the crowd once again. Y/N turned back to her patient, lifting the shirt lightly to examine the bleeding.

“Sure bleeds like a bitch, don’t it?”

She actually jumped when the other man spoke - she had paid no attention to him, other than noting that he was holding his friend's head. She looked up. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me-

“We keep meeting in weird ways,” Bucky smiled ruefully at her from under his baseball cap. She blinked. Turned back to the matter at hand.

“I’d say this is a little different than shopping for brownie mix,” Y/N muttered. Who did he think he was, acting like this was some kind of meet-cute? And after the way he acted in the grocery store?

“You’re telling me,” he chuckled. His laugh jostled his friend’s head and shoulders a bit and the man groaned.

“Buck, stop flirtin’,” he said, exasperated. “You’re distracting the doctor.”

“Believe me, I’m the furthest thing from distracted.” Y/N rolled her eyes.

Bucky looked like he was about to say more, but then their other friend returned with water, towels, and a small first aid kit. They were helpful and followed her instructions while she cleaned the wound and wiped the rest of the man’s face - he was nearly as handsome as Bucky under all that blood, with a straight nose and sharp square jaw. She used a little disinfectant around the area and chewed her lip as she examined the edges of the cut.

“It looks like you’ll need stitches, Mr…?”

“Rogers. Steve Rogers.” His voice sounded a bit better after they had given him a sip of water.

“Alright, Steve. Let me unpack the kit here and see if we have a needle,” she nodded, reaching back and flipping the first aid kit open in her lap. Whoever packed the kit must have been a nurse or paramedic of some kind, because they had thankfully included a suture needle and surgical thread. She snapped on a pair of gloves and opened the sterile plastic packet containing the needle. “Sorry, I don’t think I have an anesthetic.”

“It’s alright, doc,” he sighed. “I think the Army might be ashamed of me if I can’t handle a few stitches.”

“He’s had plenty of stitches before - hell, he’s had more than anybody I know,” Bucky piped up. “He can handle it.”

“Thanks a lot, jerk,” Steve scoffed.

“You’re welcome, asshole.”

“Y’all wanna shut up and let the doctor do her job or what?” the other man, Sam, she had learned, glared at them both.

“Alright,” Y/N took a breath and threaded her needle. “If you need to bite something or squeeze something do it, just stay still.”

Steve was a model patient, he didn’t even flinch as the needle tugged the tear in his skin closed, though he hissed through his teeth and clenched his fist down on Bucky’s hand. Sam crouched down next to them and watched intently, but stayed quiet. They watched her work, hands steady and efficient. Y/N enjoyed the focus that came with her work - she blocked out the fair rides and the screaming children and country music. Her vision closed in on the needle and the skin, carefully weaving and tying the wound closed.

When she finished and cut the thread, she sat back on her heels and sighed, shoulders slumping. “Okay, Mr. Rogers. I think you’ll live.”

Steve smiled a crooked, all-American grin. “You’re a miracle worker, doc.”

“Hardly,” she scoffed. “Just faster than an ambulance. And actually, if you really did hit your head on a metal stake, I think I ought to check for a concussion.”

Bucky and Sam helped tug him to his feet so she could check his coordination and shine her phone flashlight at his pupils. He insisted his head didn’t hurt or feel dizzy, so she cleared him, though they did let the paramedics have a look when they finally arrived.

A few minutes later she was standing to the side, arms crossed, as she watched the ambulance pull away. She felt more than heard his heavy-booted steps come up beside her, but she didn’t turn to look.

“You did a great job, doc,” Bucky offered, trying to catch her eye.

“Thank you.”

“Lucky you were here.”

“It wasn’t a deep wound, he would’ve been fine waiting for the ambulance.”

“Still.” He took a half step forward, into her eye line and she turned to face him fully. His expression was full of something she couldn’t quite make out - hope? Admiration? Gratitude? Bucky’s eyes roamed her face, unwilling or unable to move away. The longer she held his gaze, the more she felt that something unspoken was passing between them, something she couldn’t articulate. But it was too much, whatever it was.

Y/N took a step backward, breaking eye contact as she glanced towards Steve and Sam, sitting at a picnic table 20 feet away.

“Keep an eye out for your friends. Wouldn’t want them to keep falling on sharp objects,” she said, continuing to back away from Bucky. He shifted his feet as if he wanted to follow, but decided against it. Without giving him a chance to speak, she turned on her heel and left.

Caleb spotted her first when she was back in sight of their table. He tugged on his mother’s arm and pointed; Charlotte visibly melted in relief when Y/N met her eyes and waved.

“We were worried you’d been kidnapped or something!” Charlotte half-joked as she approached. Y/N grimaced, realizing she had left their things out in the open - thank god it looked like nothing was stolen.

“I’m so sorry, there was an emergency, a man had fallen and cut his head,” Y/N rushed to explain, noticing Charlotte’s eyes dart down to her dress. Y/N’s eyes followed. “...and clearly, there was a lot of blood.”

“Jesus. It’s a good thing they found you, huh?”

“I guess so,” Y/N shrugged lamely.

“Who was it? Did you catch a name?”

“He said Steve Rogers?” She didn’t quite catch Charlotte’s eyes widening as she continued. “His friend was there, Bucky Barnes. He’s my neighbor across the street.”

Charlotte’s face looked pinched and she had a white-knuckled grip on Caleb’s shoulder, but she managed a pained smile.

“Oh. Well I guess you’ll be wanting to head home and get into some clean clothes?” Her words were strained. “We had a great time tonight, see you Monday!” And then she was practically dragging Caleb away at a clipped pace, just slow enough to seem sane.

What the fuck is going on in this town?

[sad-sweet-cowboah]

All Fair’s Fun

So someone asked me a while ago to write reader taking Arthur to the carnival, but I changed it to a county fair cause those are bigger and funner :)

I tried this is so lame I *flitters away*

“Arthur!” You called out in a sing-song voice as you walked in the house. You spotted him lounging on the sofa, fixated on the TV. Your voice roused him as he sat up, a smile on his face.

“Afternoon, darlin’,” he greeted as he stood up to close the space between you two. He gave you a peck on the lips. “You’re soundin’ chipper.”

Returning the kiss, you smiled at him. “That’s cause the county fair is in town!”

“County fair?” He repeated. “Those still exist?”

“Yes Arthur,” you answered with a giggle. “It’s one of my favorite events of the year, so we’re gonna go tonight!”

He couldn’t help but to chuckle at your enthusiasm. “Alright then, can’t wait for you to show me your favorite event.”

It wasn’t long before you were out of your work clothes and into something more casual, donning a simple tank top covered by a flannel and jean shorts. While the sun was low in the sky, the heat of the day still remained. The two of you hopped into your car and drove off, your excitement bubbling as the horizon gave way to the brightly flashing rides and colorful tent tops.

Glancing towards Arthur to see his reaction, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the rides. When you’d pulled into a parking spot and got out, he finally spoke. “Never seen anythin’ like that before. What are they?”

You smiled, reaching to loop your arm through his. “They’re rides, Arthur. They’re supposed to be fun.”

“Fun?” He repeated, his gaze set towards the Ferris wheel. “Bein’ up that high?”

“You’ll see.” Was all you said as you led him toward the gates. After waiting a decent amount of time, paying the entry fee and acquiring wristbands, you entered inside the fair. As it was dusk, the place was expectedly packed. Your ears rang with the sounds of carnie games, the unmistakable dings of the bells, indicating winners. Children ran around, their mouths sticky with cotton candy and other sweets.

Arthur dodged a couple of boys running wildly, wielding plastic swords. “Whoa-they let them kids play like that?”

You giggled at his reaction. “They’re fake, Arthur. They’re about as sharp as a paper ball. Though they still hurt if you get whacked with ‘em.”

He blinked in disbelief, and then shook his head with a slight chuckle. His gaze traveled across the fair as you walked slowly through the crowd with him. You’d been so lost in your own thoughts that you almost didn’t feel the tug on your arm. You stumbled to keep yourself balanced, only to realize that Arthur’s solid body was pulling you elsewhere. “Arthur-” you began, about to ask where he was taking you when the sight before you answered.

The one booth with guns. Of course.

He stepped up to the counter, immediately grabbing for one of the rifles that were placed upon it. They were definitely old and worn, although the look on his face told you he didn’t care.

Although the worker behind the counter peered at him with a surprised curiosity. You knew Arthur only sometimes had a competitive spirit. You understood why he was attracted to this booth. You stepped forward and paid for a round, allowing the worker to explain the rules and attempted to go over how to use the gun, but Arthur waved him off as he expertly wielded it, tucking the stock to his shoulder as he aimed down the sights.

You hadn’t watched him use any sort of firearm since…well, he was still in his game. Since his actual weapons were collecting dust in your closet, he hadn’t used one in months. While you’d gotten used to the sight of him firing his carbine repeaters and cattleman revolvers off the back of a galloping horse, seeing this held a different feeling altogether.

He had a look of focus etched across his face, his blue eyes trained to the targets. They weren’t anything but moving duck targets. You watched as he squeezed the trigger, promptly nailing the first with ease.

The rest went down easily him firing with absolutely no hesitation. Every target had fallen within fifteen seconds.

“Whoa.” You murmured, your eyes going wide.

Arthur placed the gun down, a small smile on his lips. He turned to you, the smug look prominent on his face. “What?” he asked, noting your look.

“That was…so cool!” you exclaimed.

He gave a slight shrug. “S’only natural for me.” He turned when the worker cleared his throat, wordlessly pointing to the many prizes hanging within the booth. Looking back at you, he said, “Your pick, darlin’.”

---

A little while later, you sat yourself at a picnic table, munching on greasy fair food. The giant Rottweiler plushie that you’d picked from the booth leaned on the table next to you. Arthur walked up with two glasses full of beers, sitting across from you.

“Might as well call this piss,” Arthur said before taking a swig, his nose crinkling from the taste. “And folks are lined up for this stuff.”

You giggled. “That’s why it’s cheap. Easy way to make money and easy way to get drunk.” You took a drink of your own, managing to get past the awful taste.

Arthur mumbled about having something better, yet he drank some more anyway.

Some more time had passed and you both had finished and you wanted to check out some rides. Arthur gazed around at them, the uncertainty pain on his face as he viewed the large and fast ones. You looked around as well, figuring you would start him off easy and work your way up.

You coaxed him onto the swing ride, pointing out there was nowhere to go but in a circle. He wasn’t too keen on how small the seats were, yet after allowing him to watch the ride go a few moments, he reluctantly agreed to get on.

Watching him sit awkwardly into the seat was entertaining, to say the least. Once everyone has been strapped in, the ride ascended and slowly began to spin. The warm summer air gently blew through your hair as you gazed at the lights below for a moment before looking toward Arthur again.

His grip on the chains were tight, his eyes directly on you. He was nervous, although tried to hide it behind a stoic expression. You didn’t say anything, only gestured below. He was hesitant, but eventually peered downward. You could see his eyes widen, but a slow smile crossed his face.

“Hey, this ain’t half bad!” he exclaimed enthusiastically.

“Told ya!” you responded over the gust of air.

He’d visibly relaxed throughout the remainder of the ride, which allowed it to be easier to convince him to go on more rides. From the bumper cars to the tilt-a-whirl, the pirate ship to the music express. He even gave the mechanical bull a go, which he managed to hold on for longer than average before finally falling off. He explained he’d been used to that sort of sensation from trying to break wild horses.

It was great to see him smile and laugh, as well as downing more alcohol in between activities. Decidedly taking a short break from the rides, you wandered back to some game booths.

You challenged Arthur to a few, in which you failed miserably, it wasn’t a surprise. He made it up by using his victories to earn you more prizes, thankfully small ones as you still lugged around the giant Rottie. You managed to win one, though. The water gun race which he somehow struggled to keep his hands steady for. You made it up to him by giving him a plushie of a white horse, a little reminder of his white Arabian.

You’d wandered over by a stage, where a band was performing covers of country music. Calm and relaxing to set the general mood of the night. You stopped for a while to listen, Arthur humming along to the music.

After regaining your energy, Arthur found a small stables tucked in the corner of the fairgrounds, with many horses and other farm animals on display. Arthur didn’t hesitate to spend some time with the horses, as it was the first time since his arrival since he’d seen one.

As the night wore on, Arthur had taken some of your prizes to hold for you, and you had to admit, it was adorable watching him carry around the biggest one.

“Y/N, do I got somethin’ on my face?” he suddenly asked.

You blinked. “Wha-?”

“You’re starin’ at me.” he pointed out.

You turned away, your face flushing slightly. You didn’t mean for him to catch you, and it was too awkward to explain the reason to him. Your eyes traveled across the fair, the ferris wheel practically a beacon in your view. “Hey, wanna go on that?”

Thankfully, Arthur didn’t press the matter. He looked to where you gestured, and nodded thoughtfully. “Okay then.”

After fifteen minutes of waiting on line, you’d managed to get a car for the two of you. The ferris wheel slowly made its way around, allowing a clear view of the entire fair. Arthur leaned over to observe, the lights shining in his blue eyes. His lips turned in a small smile, he said, “This is nice.”

You nodded. “Every year, I always wrap up my night here with the ferris wheel.”

“I can see why, it’s a great view,” He turned to look at you. “Beautiful.”

“Very.” you agreed.

He chuckled slightly. “I mean you, darlin’.”

That caught you off guard. Your face burned for the second time that night. Sure, you were used to hearing his compliments, although they still made your heart flutter every time. Shyly tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, you said, “Arthur, you’re making me blush.”

His smile, oh that smile of his. He reached over, his calloused hands gentle on your cheeks. Leaning forward, he placed a gentle kiss on your lips. He held it, his mouth soft against yours. You weren’t sure if the ride stopped or if it were still moving. Either way, you felt weightless.

He finally pulled back mere inches to whisper, “Thanks for takin’ me.”

[of-dxnger]

🙃 + 😙 / give me softs

Ferris wheel + interrupted kiss:

tw drugs

He’d been walking around the fair in a drug-addled state, all of the lights having that pleasant blurry glow to them and seeming just that little bit more colourful, his lips were coated in bright pink sugary goodness as he finished the last of his cotton candy. Euphoric. He must’ve stood in line for the ferris wheel for over half an hour, but it was nothing as he simply people watched, people in costumes passing by the line and making children giggle. It was so peaceful. “NEXT!” someone barked from behind him, spinning around he realised he was front of the line, doing his best to walk forwards normally, he was sure that everyone knew he was high, but no one stopped him. It was only when he walked around the carnie operator that he stopped in his tracks. Sitting on the other end of the bench was Jude. “Fuck.” It was barely more than a whisper. But as he stopped and there were still a lot of people in line, the carnie simply shoved him into the seat and pulled the bar down over the top of the two of them. Locking them in, trapping them. Suddenly he wished he could get off the ferris wheel, but it started moving, slowly pulling them up into the air only to stop a third of the way round. 

When the ferris wheel stopped at the top, the air whipped up around them, stinging his cheeks just enough to tint them a rosey pink. He shuffled over into the middle just a little as he turned to the other. “Jude I …” His words fell away, he couldn’t quite think of the right thing to say, what was the right thing to say in this situation. The wheel began moving again, stopping one last time before they’d have to get off. Now or never. Grabbing him gently, he pulled in into the middle of the bench, staring into his eyes with the briefest attention focused on the others lips. He was so lost in the moment and the euphoria that Nick didn’t even notice the ride had begun to move again. Biting into his own lower lip he inhaled slowly, calming himself as he built the courage to kiss him, “AHEM!” Someone loud and nearby cleared their throat, they’d arrived back at the bottom. The carnie stepping forwards and pulled the bar up, watching the two of them with raised brows. What perfect fucking timing. Climbing off the ferris wheel bench he looked back at Jude rather sheepishly and shook his head. “Sorry.” And with that he quickly pushed through the crowd. He needed to go. Far away from here. From Jude.

[nyc-hqs]

CLICK FOR VISUAL INSPIRATION

ENTRY WAY

Show your invite to security at the door and get ready to leave New York behind.

Enter through the curtained doorway and step into a world of wonder. You’re transported into what feels like a giant circus tent, with fabric draped across the ceiling turning the harsh shapes of the warehouse into soft curves. The entry allows you to step right into the fun in Carni-lane or by pass it on to the center of the room.

CARNI-LANE

Find your fun here in Carni-lane with ring toss games. Toss the hoop at twenty bottles, if it lands on the golden bottle in the middle you’ll receive the clue (on a card, important do not lose this card) on how to find the secret lounge. Any others get a piece of candy. Better luck next time! (clue found in the secret lounge section below)

Speaking of candy, take a moment to watch the candy man himself work some magic as he spins sugar into bunches of clouds for you to munch on. Sugar rush anyone?

It’s a new year and perhaps you have a lot of questions on what is to come. Sit down in Madame Belladonna’s tent, offer her your hand or let her read your cards. Perhaps you are doomed for a troubling year, or maybe you’re about to run in someone tall dark and mysterious. 

STAGE AND DANCE FLOOR

The center of the warehouse has been transformed to look like a circle ring where the lion tamers would do their thing and trapeze artists would take the audiences breath away. 

Fill the space, let the music take your worries away. On stage dancers and performers will entertain through the night. Fire breathers, burlesque dangers, acrobats, all the wonders of you can imagine. 

MAIN LOUNGE AND BAR

The main lounge is filled with booths and lounges for everyone to gather around. Though there are some seats spotted around the venue this is the spot to mingle with the crowd, take a moment to cool off from dancing, or do a round of shots with your nearest and dearest. Or make some new friends, if you’re feeling adventurous! Who knows what could happen in this world of wonders?

Food will be coming from behind the bar with servers dressed in carnival clothing, or perhaps even on stilts, carrying trays to pass out freshly made pizzas for all to consume. Don’t forget to pick up some of Shiloh’s cookies, shaped like circus animals and tents, or stick around for a slice of cake.

The bar is open for all. If you thought you’d have to pay you clearly don’t know your host. Wet your lips with one of the sweet signature cocktails Alexa has personally picked out herself. We’ve got rainbow shots for those of you who want to get drunk quick and in style with notes of cherry, blackberry and green apple, we’ve got midori martinis with a splash of lime and a cherry, a classic with a twist just like our girl Alexa. And what’s a carnival without a little cotton candy?  Just ask for the Fairy Floss and you’ll have a sweet treat with vodka, champagne, and cranberry juice. Not your style? Don’t worry, there’s spirits lining the walls with plenty of bartenders to pour them out. Not into booze? Try a mocktail or a simple soda, no one will go thirsty tonight. 

PHOTO BOOTH AND POPCORN

The best thing about parties these days is a good photo booth, especially if you’re a little tipsy and those photos get a little bit silly. 

Step inside the main photo booth set up to look like the back of a circus tent with a bunch of props to use. A giant elephant statue, big balloons, wigs and hats, clown noses are just a few things laying around. Great for group photos.

Or go without props and take something cute and intimate in a smaller booth with a simple white backdrop. Better yet, do both and take home the photos as mementos for the night!

But remember, any photo you take gets saved for Alexa to see later, so though they seem intimate they aren’t as private as you think. 

Whilst you wait for the line to the booth grab a cup of popcorn, just make sure you don’t have any in your teeth when you go to smile! Double bonus it acts as a prop too.

MIRRORS

There are two types of mirrors in this zone.

The first step through a door into a room filled with mirrors on every side. Close the door behind you and you’ll find yourself reflected back an infinite amount of times. A great place to take photos with friends, and you should certainly revisit it once there’s a few drinks in you.

The second type of mirrors are your classic silly mirrors. Along a wall you’ll find a bunch of them - each one doing something strange to your reflection. Stretch, shrink, widen, thin, swirl; see yourself n ways you never have before.

THE SECRET LOUNGE

Only those who get the clue at the ring toss will be able to enter this room with a plus one. The clue they received reads:

“Find the thing that makes you small and push right past it”

Push through the mirror which makes you look short and a secret room will open up in front of you. You’ll have to hand over your card as you enter - if you leave you will not be allowed back in.

As you close the ‘door’ behind you you’ll find the mirror was two-way which certainly brings a few giggles when someone’s pulling a face or odd pose at their reflection.

In the lounge you’ll find the lights dimmer with a set of booths for individuals to find themselves a little privacy. A smaller bar is found in the corner but in here you’ll find no food, so if you get hungry you’ll have to go back out into the crowd.

(We ask that this isn’t roleplayed by everyone in every thread they do, it’s suppose to be more exclusive/harder to get into. If everyone is entering 5 different threads it makes it come off easy to get into. You can always use the main lounge for the threads you could do in the secret one, it’s just not as private. Alexa can bring anyone in here at any time, she’s the only one who can enter without a card).

OUTSIDE

Smoke zone is the only area you can smoke, sorry but we don’t want the curtains catching fire now do we! The bartenders are already pushing it with a few flaming shots.

Ferris wheel. Yep, you heard right, there’s a god damn ferris wheel outside. It’s freezing right? Don’t worry, Alexa has you covered. This ferris wheels carriages are all shaped like hot air balloons, meaning there’s a roof over your head to cover anything that may fall from the sky, and glass around to stop the wind from freezing you up high. Each carriage fits 2 people, unless you someone like Nick who honestly shouldn’t even try fitting in there. Tall enough to see over the buildings around you and out to the New York skyline, but to be fare you’re surrounded by mainly one story warehouses.

You can not exit the venue this way. It is a closed off space.  You can only exit through the main entrance.

FOOD

As mentioned there will be pizza at the venue. Shiloh is catering the treats at the party including cookies and cake. There’s a cotton candy stand and a popcorn one. 

The bars are where you find your drinks, alcoholic or not.

TOILETS

Toilets are all together, no separation between ladies and gents. The room has several stalls for individuals but it’s the sinks where the room shines. The mirrors are lit up with neon strips and the sinks are automatic just wave your hand under it. Oh, and they’ll be cleaned throughout the night. You puke? Let someone know, jesus, what are you, an animal?

[eyebeastposts]

Writing Prompt Exercise 172

Prompt: A woman eats some cotton candy. She starts become big and fluffy and she likes it.

  The poor carnival worker shuddered as she heard someone bang against her counter. Her hiding place compromised, she rose her head up ready to meet the gaze of an angry mob. However, the people and cops chasing down her boss Mr. Barsel when they found out about the carnival’s eccentricities were long gone. In their place was a solitary, skinny woman with wavy brown hair.

   “Give me all the cotton candy you have,” the woman said, slapping down a few hundred dollars onto the counter.

   The carnival worker took a moment to understand what she just heard. “You…do know what our food does to people right?”

   “I am aware.”

   “And you’re still willing to eat it?”

   “Yup,” the woman replied with an excited smile.

   Pocketing enough money to start a new life, the carnival worker began spinning her machine to create the sweet treats. Handing over a dozen, pink fluffs of cotton candy, the carny watched the woman lick her lips. The woman grabbed the first stick and gobbled it up in a matter of seconds. As both of them had expected, the woman’s hair took on a fluffier texture and grew a bright pink. The woman took a moment to bounce her fairy floss follicles in her hand before she turned back to her sweet feast.

   The sticks of cotton candy went by fast, helping to pad out the woman by several hundred pounds. When the order came to ignore the sticks and just hand out blobs of the sweet stuff, the woman’s fat was already starting to look lighter. Emptying out the food vendor and licking the machine clean, the woman stood up and let her body wave in the wind. Her clothes no longer fit, but her sticky skin kept them stuck to her pink body. Like a sentient cloud she got up from her seat and almost floated her way through the empty alleys of the carnival. The big puffball stopped to turn around and jiggle her cottony belly for the carny, just before waving goodbye to the carnival that had made her deepest, unusual desire come true.

[kuromikoneko]

Miko @ Bangor State Fair 2019

I got an admission/wristband ticket thing for free from a pianist friend so I paid fairground parking price to be closer at the end of the trip.

The Skydive(r?). Note the upside down cage thing. It's like The Zipper and the Ferris Wheel had a baby (with the self spinning aspect of Tilt-a-Whirls)... But luckily I got to ride with a theatre/drummer friend’s daughter so it was a little easier with a buddy, but hard to breath because of the lap belt/bar thing and my fat stomach. It was quite the experience I will never partake in again. Marleina was sweet enough to treat me to some Mini Melts afterwards though.

PIKACHU WAS AT THE FAIR! I totally forgot to high five or hug them cause I felt awkward enough waiting around for the crowd to clear for a picture of them...

Note the Deadpool shoes... ;)

Deep fried 3 Musketeer (shoulda maybe gone with cookie dough but I accepted the vendor's choice). Pretty good, super goopy and squishy and I couldn't finish but enjoyable.

May have gotten bold and taken a few photos riding the Pharoh's...Revenge(?) It changes names all the time. Was once the Sea Dragon...Pirates Ship...you name it. I usually default to Sea Dragon tbh. The green to the far left was the rollercoaster (cause the other photo with it is blurry af) and it was pretty darn good!

Awkward angle is awkward, but that's the Skydive(r?). I was at an angle on my ride, it was apparently in motion, and I didn't bother righting my phone for the pic. Ah well.

Right side of the Pharoh's Revenge (?)

(Mainly) The Fireball ride. I think I rode it once but I don't recall if I enjoyed it or not...

Blurry af photo I warned about which is a shame cause it would have been a good one of the left side of the Pharaoh's Revenge.

Roamed the farm animals area before it got dark, tried a pulled pork sandwich (needed more sauce), curly fries (too seasoned but yummy), got two big bags of cotton candy (one for mother), lost the cap of my long lasting cold soda bottle cause of fizz I think?, nabbed a cute little soft penguin that is marshmallow looking, and got duped out of money by a balloon dart game carnie...but got two soft cute cat plush and really $19 of that carnie's money could be said to be my admission/wristband price.

All around a pretty okay excursion but I was reminder of why I don’t often go to the fair. The lines, yes disappointed me especially on my own, but there wasn’t much for rides there and two of them I wanted to try wouldn’t allow single riders and my drummer friend’s family had already left when I decided to ride... I was quite upset the Freak Out wasn’t present and also like...none of the rides really had music, maybe only of the ones I rode, the Graviton (the centrifugal force enclosed ride) had music.

[loubuggins]

Had three people request this back to back hahaha! So I’ll just tag @otaku211 and @excessivenerd. Hopefully you two plus the Anon will see this. So glad it was requested! Also, to everyone else waiting for prompts, I’ve started several of them, so they are in the works! Enjoy! @fluffbingo

It wasn’t something Lance was particularly fond of before now. The fluffy treat was always sweet and delicious, but he hated how the dessert made his fingers sticky and his mouth turn blue. There were better options available that would not result in his fingers being covered in wet, blue and pink sugar. Of course, he could not forgo using his hands, for if he simply took a chunk out of the silky sweet cloud, he would only end up with pieces of fluff on his lips and a disgusting ring of saliva that marked where he had sunk his teeth.

No, cotton candy was not his favorite Earthen food, far from it, but when the princess pulling on his sleeve gave him that wide-eyed, anticipating smile, then gestured to the machine spinning the candy thread, he knew he could never talk her out of it. The pair were out with their mutual group of friends, enjoying the boardwalk after a day spent on the sandy beaches of Cuba. It had been his idea to come to his home-country after General Holt gave them all permission to take a week off. The former scientist believed after spending two years in space protecting the universe, the “kids” as he called them, deserved some time to recuperate.

To Lance, that meant a vacation, and now that he had an official girlfriend, he could not think of a better place to go then his grandparent’s beach house. Not only because it meant he would get to see his goreous alien girlfriend in a bikini, but also so he could finally show her around his hometown. It was a promise he had made to her before they even began their romantic relationship and he fully intended on fulfilling it.

Up in space, he was an outsider and always felt completely out of his element (unless of course, he was flying his lion), but being back on Earth gave him a little dash of confidence again. His girlfriend was a genius to his eyes. She always had the answers to all of his burning questions regarding space and all the life in it. Sometimes it felt like she knew everything and for some second-rate cadet like himself, that was definitely intimating. So it felt good to be the one with all the answers for once, not to satisfy his ego, but because it made him feel better about himself. Plus, he loved being able to share his culture with her, and not just her, but the rest of his friends too.

So there they were, enjoying the boardwalk after a long day playing on the Cuban shore. As the princess dragged with over to the spinning machine covered in pink and blue fluff, he quickly accepted his fate. Her ocean eyes sparkled with a child-like curiosity as she watched the machine spin the sugary silk like a spider spinning its web. A fond smile spread across his face and he draped his arm around her shoulders, his tanned skin brushing against her soft white mane that covered half of her back.

When the two stepped up to the burly man operating the cotton candy maker, Lance dug into his short’s pocket and pulled out a few crumpled up dollar bills. He handed the cash over to the carnie and waited as the man stuffed the cash into his registered, then picked up a paper stick and twirled it in the blue and pink thread.

Lance stole a glance to the woman at his side. Her were the size of saucers and her mouth hung ever so slightly. It amused him to see her so awestruck by something that seemed so meniscal. As she gave his arm an elated squeeze, the corner of his lips lifted up in a genuine smile.

When the worker finished, he handed Lance the fluffy cloud of candy and after paying his thanks, the red Paladin escorted his girlfriend back towards their group of friends. As they walked, Allura stared curiously at the puffy object in his hands.

“So how does one eat this food?” She quipped while raising a brow up at her boyfriend.

Lance chuckled at her fondly, “However you want, but the best way, I think, is like this.” In one quick motion, he plucked a piece of cotton candy off the stick and shoved it in his mouth. It only took seconds for the fluff to dissolve on his tongue and he swallowed the remaining sugar.

Allura’s eyes widened again in amazement, as if she had just witnessed a magic trick. “Incredible.” She breathed out before reaching a tentative hand to the thick, pastel-colored pile of sugar. Her fingers lightly grazed the top of the mound and she was surprised by how tough the soft-looking fluff actually was. In a surge of confidence, she pinched the cotton between her fingers and pulled a out chunk of the sweet. She brought the piece closer to her for examination, then when curiosity finally had the best of her, she too stuffed the piece into her mouth.

It was an odd sensation at first, but as the treat began to melt in her mouth, she moaned at the sweet taste. Lance let out a hearty laugh, to which Allura simply returned with a smile.

“I’m guessing that means you like it?”

The blue Paladin nodded her head as she went in for another bite. Lance titled the stick towards her, his grin spreading wide across his face. “Please, Princess, help yourself.” He teased and a faint blush dusted the woman’s cheeks. That stop her from taking more though, and Lance watched her happily as she completely devoured the dessert. It may not be his favorite food, but it was nice to see it be enjoyed by his favorite person.

[mermaidspendant]

what would each of the bachelors and bachelorettes do if they were at a theme park?

Sebastian: Playing in the arcade, stomping on kids at Journey of the Prairie King 

Elliot: People keep stopping him for pictures between rides because they think he’s a (Disney??) prince.

Abigail: Riding roller coasters with Sam. She laughs hysterically on roller coasters because of the adrenaline.

Penny: Riding the carousel with Jas and Vincent.

Maru: On the ferris wheel to look at the sky and the view.

Shane: Found the bar…and also went on a ride with too many spins and now he feels sick.

Sam: Riding roller coasters with Abigail. He’s screaming and his hair seems even taller in the wind.

Harvey: With Maru on the ferris wheel, losing his shit.

Alex: Playing the basketball carnie game, trying to win a Junimo plushie the size of his torso.

Haley: Eating pink cotton candy and cheering Alex on at his carnie games. (If he wins that plushie, it’s hers, damnit)

Emily: On a water ride! She’s the only one who didn’t mind getting their hair wet.

Leah: Walking in the gardens (think Disney).