+ Somewhere a Grandiose Carnival Was Going on in the Sky +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The grounds of the Mansion
When: March 9-16
Rating: PG-13 (warn if you go higher)
Summary: The Red Queen has thrown a carnival for everyone!
The Story:


From Friday, March 9, through Friday, March 16, the gardens and grounds of the Mansion will be a sprawling a carnival. The masked, unspeaking vendors will be selling trinkets and running free game booths. Carnival rides, exhibits, and foods represent all of the various cultures of those currently residing in the Mansion.


Of particular note, and perhaps incongruously, everything is decorated with red hearts.

Use this log for any and all of your carnival needs!

Comments

[henrydaniel]

[ He chokes a little, coughing to cover it up as they walk hand in hand. ]

I think it's your turn to pick. And there's definitely no ride I'll turn down so go crazy.

[ Henry's watching her, a smile on his face that matches hers. He's seen her frown a lot in Hyperion Heights for one reason or another, mostly because of him, so to see her completely lit up like this is amazing. Damn, she's beautiful. ]

[justella]

Well you’re giving me a lot of power with that. [ Shes looking around before she spots something that makes her grin. ]

Come on. [ She grabs his hand, pulling him towards the bumper cars. She’s a lot more carefree here- more like the Cinderella he first met than the single mother trying to keep custody of her kid. While she’s worried about Lucy there isn’t anything she can do here and she’s beginning to see leaving isn’t an option- so making the best of this is her new strategy. ]

[henrydaniel]

[ Something tells him that he'd let himself be led by the hand, by her, always. It's probably what made him fall in love to begin with. ]

Classic. We can ram each other over and over again and there are no losers. Only winners.

[justella]

[ Such a romantic sap. ]

If that’s how you want to look at it. [ She smirks at him, she can do win at bumper cars. And she proves in once they are in cars and are off. She goes immediately after him, laughing as she rams into the side of his car showing no mercy. ]

[henrydaniel]

[ His surprise at how impressive she is at knocking the shit out of him really shouldn't be so high, and he laughs in surprise. And so he drives away but tries to impressively turn to double back on her, hitting her head on as he laughs harder, then realize he has to go, quickly, before she does the same thing to him.

In the end, she winds up t-boning him as they come to a stop, and he grins at her. ]

You know what? You did win. But you never told me what you wanted your prize to be.

[justella]

[ Victory is sweet, and she laughing as they get out of the cars. ]

Hmm, I might just have to think about that, and get back to you. [ She knows what she wants it to be...]

I think it’s your turn to pick the next ride.

[henrydaniel]

[ Jacinda, you're already thinking it. Just do it. You know you wanna.

Henry looks around and then turns back to her, just taking her hand and leading her toward a ride. ]

Drop tower, me and you. Ride all the way to the top and shoot back down. You in?

[justella]

[ It’s not the right time.

She follows his lead. At the rate they’re going one of them is going to end up throwing up. ]

My favorite kind of ride.

[henrydaniel]

[ No one is puking today, okay? ]

Really? Drop scares are your thing?

[ He grins, pleasantly surprised somehow. When they get on the ride, this time he holds her hand through the entire thing, and okay, when it's over, he might look a little green. But he's a champ, and he doesn't throw up, letting out a breath. ]

How about some games?

[justella]

[ Are you sure about that Henry? You’re looking a little green after that one.]

Games sound good, I think we can keep our feet on the ground for a little while.

[ She grins at him playfully, linking her arm through his. ]

Let me guess, you’re really good at wack-a-mole.

[henrydaniel]

Honestly, I would take that and run with it, but everyone's good at whack-a-mole. The real skill is in those games where you shoot water at a target and race a horse to the top of the ladder. If you're good at that, well, color me impressed.

[ When she looks her arm in his, he pulls her close and very nearly kisses her temple, but stops himself, not wanting to ruin this moment. ]

[justella]

Oh that’s easy. You just need good aim and the ability to squeeze a trigger. Now if you can win a prize at ring toss? That’s always rigged. [ No one wins at ring toss]

I’m good at the ones where you knock the milk bottles down.

[ She leans into him when he pulls her closer as they walk, spotting the exact game she’s talking about near by. ]

Come on, I’ll win you something.

[henrydaniel]

Look, I hate to say this, but you can't win me just anything.

[ It's okay, he's not doubting her abilities, it's just, well, he points at a giant panda bear. ]

It has to be that. I won't accept anything that isn't the size of a small child as a prize. So, you'll have to be really good.

[justella]

Are you doubting my abilities, Henry Mills?

[ You will be sorry once you are carrying this giant bear around the rest of the day.

She motions to the game attendant and gets three balls for three tries. She doesn’t need three, the first shot only hits one bottle but the second knocks the rest over and she lets out a little cheer. Turning to Henry with a smug grin as the attendant hands him the panda.]

[henrydaniel]

[ Henry is so stunned that all he can do is laugh while he takes it, and he's genuinely pleased. ]

Lucy would love this thing. And you? Are officially incredible. I mean, I've been thinking it for a while but it has to be said. You're incredible.

[ He looks at her in awe because she's also amazing and beautiful and he can't believe he's here with her right now. ]

[justella]

[ She can feel her cheeks heat up at his words, and she averts her gaze turning her attention to her shoes. ]

I’m not sure I’d go that far. [ oh look, someone who doesn’t know how to take a compliment because no one ever really gives them to her. ]

[henrydaniel]

[ The blush? Doesn't matter. What matters now is that she's looking down, and nothing else. Someone should be telling her, every day, that she's strong and smart and perfect, but if no one ever did before him, then he'll spend the rest of his life doing it.

Turning to face her fully, he reaches out with one hand to tilt her chin up just enough to see her eyes. ]

Maybe you wouldn't. Luckily, you have me.

[justella]

[ still blushing as she meets his eyes.]

Henry...[ Shes not really sure what else to say. If he knew her better, knew the things she had done then he wouldn’t be thinking that. He would be headed for the hills. She was far from incredible. ]

[henrydaniel]

Nothing matters except right now. What you do here. Everything else at home, we'll figure it out.

[ He knows she'll assume he's just talking about the two of them, but he means so much more that he can't even explain yet. ]

One of my foster parents used to say every day's a choice, so every day we have a chance to make a new one. And I don't know about you, but I know what choice I'm making today.

[ But he leaves it up to her, his choice doesn't mean it's her choice, but his eyes do move to her mouth for a second before he meets her gaze again. ]

[justella]

[ thays a dirty trick Henry Mills, being so perfect that she can’t help but rise to the unspoken challenge. He’s right, they aren’t home right now and maybe being here is a good thing in its own way. It lets them figure things out with nothing else in the way.

He made his choice, it was only far for her to make one too. She leans up, stretching on her tip toes and before she can rethink this decision she is kissing him, pressing their lips together because it’s everything she’s wanted to do since she laid eyes on him. ]

[henrydaniel]

[ Holy shit she's kissing him. He knows, logically, it's not the first time, and seeing as how they have a kid, well. But still. He can't remember any of that, so the fact that she's kissing him is like, mind-blowing.

He also realizes there is no whoosh, no suddenly onslaught of memories. But it's okay, it's a first kiss, not the kiss. Now that they've made it here, everything in him relaxes. They'll get there. One of his hands is cradling her cheek, his thumb stroking the very soft skin, and then he pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against hers. ]

You...are an excellent kisser. I mean, maybe one more time, just to be sure?

[ He grins, then kisses her himself, just a light one, as a hand threads through her hair. ]

[justella]

[ She smiles against his lips when he leans in and kisses her again. He’s...pretty perfect and how exactly is she supposed to fight against that? She’s not. Nor does she really want to, even if a part of her is still a little hesitant. ]

Has anyone ever told you that you’re a dork, Henry Mills?

[ She has her arms wrapped loosely around his waist and their lips are still brushing as she talks. ]

I like it.

[henrydaniel]

Honestly, probably, but I never liked it when someone called me that so much before now.

[ His forehead lightly presses to hers and he smiles before reaching for her hand. ]

C'mon. One more ride with me.

[justella]

[ She returns the smile, that only gets wider when he picks up the giant bear in his free hand. ]

Which one? [ She asks as she lets him lead her across the fairgrounds. At this point she would probably follow him wherever. ]

[henrydaniel]

[ He gestures out into the distance at the Ferris Wheel. ]

Kinda always wanted to kiss a girl at the top of one of those. What do you say?