[Third Person Pov]

"Where are we going now?" Thalia asked once she noticed Lucian leading her away from the library and further into downtown. His steps had a clear direction, he wasn't just wandering around casually.

"Hmm, good question," Lucian said with a grin, glancing back over his shoulder at her. "I think I'm just letting the wind guide me, you know, going with the flow."

"You're such a liar," Thalia replied, rolling her eyes without missing a beat. "But whatever. I'll figure it out when we get there."

"What a smart cookie you are~" Lucian teased as they walked, casually placing a hand over her shoulder and pulling her a little closer to his side.

Thalia rolled her eyes again, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I don't have to try very hard against someone like you," she shot back.

"Wow!" he exclaimed, scoffing in mock offense, which only made her laugh.

They continued walking for a while longer. It wasn't something Thalia minded in the slightest. If anything, she found herself enjoying it more than she expected. The pace was slow, unhurried, and for once there wasn't anything pressing them forward. She leaned slightly against him, quiet for the rest of the walk, content to let the silence settle between them. It wasn't awkward or empty, just calm, something rare enough that she didn't feel the need to fill it with words.

Before long, they reached their destination, or at least the place Lucian had clearly been aiming for.

The street opened up into a wide space that had been cleared out and reserved. Large tents filled the square, each one packed with games and small attractions, colorful prizes like stuffed animals hanging from the edges. Families and groups of people moved through the area together, many of them carrying treats—corn dogs, candy apples, and fluffy bundles of cotton candy. Above it all, towering rides stretched into the sky, a ferris wheel slowly turning alongside other large contraptions that lit up the area with bright colors.

"Lucian… where are we?" Thalia asked, her voice softer now, clearly taken aback as she looked around and tried to take everything in.

"Well, since it's summer, looks like the carnival's in town," Lucian said with a pleased grin. "I spotted it while we were on the way here."

He stepped in front of her, turning to face her fully. Taking her hand in his, he looked at her with that same easy, confident grin that always managed to make her feel a little off balance.

"I know the library thing was technically supposed to be our date and all, but that's kind of boring," he said. "My girl deserves something better than that."

Thalia immediately felt her face heat up, and she looked away with a small huff. "Who the heck is your girl?" she muttered under her breath.

"Cute," Lucian replied simply, which only made her glare at him more, though the embarrassment was doing most of the work.

He gently pulled her a bit closer and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Come on," he said, his tone softening just a little. "Let's actually enjoy ourselves. Let me take you on a proper date."

That was enough to completely disarm her.

The sudden, open affection left her flustered, her usual sharp responses nowhere to be found. All she managed was a quiet, almost shy, "Okay…"

She let him lead her forward, their fingers naturally interlocking as they stepped into the crowd. Thalia glanced down at their hands for a moment before smiling softly to herself, the warmth in her chest settling in as she followed along beside him.

(A/N: girl is so smitten)

…

The first game they came across was a ring toss set up right near the edge of the walkway.

Lucian stepped forward and bought a set of rings, taking a few more than usual and stacking them all in his arms. "There's a certain method to this that most people don't understand," he said confidently. "A normal person would try one ring at a time. A genius throws them all at once."

Thalia, holding her own set of rings, looked at him like he had just said something completely ridiculous. "I've never really played this before," she said, "but I highly doubt that's actually the method."

"It's all based on the laws of relativity. My sources are rarely wrong," Lucian replied with a smug grin.

"Your sources?" Thalia asked, clearly amused.

"Yeah. Me!" Lucian declared proudly.

Without hesitation, he tossed all the rings into the air at once. They scattered, bouncing awkwardly off the bottles before clattering down around them.

Not a single one landed where it was supposed to.

Thalia tried to hold it in, but the sound that escaped her quickly turned into full laughter. She bent slightly as she giggled, while Lucian just stood there, staring straight ahead with a completely flat expression like nothing had happened.

Once she managed to calm down, Thalia stepped forward and started tossing her rings one at a time. Each throw was careful and controlled, and one by one they slipped neatly around the necks of the bottles.

When she finished, she placed a hand on her hip and shifted her weight slightly, looking over at him. "What was that you were saying about the laws of relativity?"

Lucian didn't even respond. He simply turned around and started walking away. "It was a stupid game anyway," he muttered. "Obviously rigged."

Thalia picked up her prize, laughing even harder as she followed after him. "Is someone genuinely upset that his 'law of relativity' didn't work?" she teased.

Lucian rolled his eyes, then reached out and pulled her in by the waist, dipping her slightly backward. "Relativity isn't really my area," he said with an over-the-top grin. "I'm more of a law of attraction kind of guy."

Before she could respond, he leaned in and gave her a quick peck.

Thalia let out a loud groan as she tilted her head back dramatically, nearly losing her balance. "Oh good lord, you are easily the cheesiest person I've ever met!"

Lucian just laughed and pulled her back upright, looking far too pleased with himself.

She rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of fondness behind it. "If this is how you're going to be for the rest of the date, I'm going to end up lactose intolerant by the end of it."

…

A little while later, the two of them stood side by side at a whack-a-mole booth, each gripping a mallet tightly. There was a clear competitive spark in both of their eyes now.

The machine lit up. "Ready… Set… Go!"

As soon as it started, the moles began popping up rapidly. Both of them moved almost instantly, their eyes darting side to side as they struck again and again with quick, sharp motions. The squeaky thuds of the mallets hitting their targets echoed in quick succession as their scores climbed.

They were taking it far more seriously than anyone around them probably expected. Each hit added points, the numbers rising quickly as neither of them slowed down for even a second.

When time was finally called, they both looked up at the scoreboard.

15,900.

Both of them.

They had not only beaten the high score, they had tied with each other exactly.

"Bullshit! No way we tied!" Lucian and Thalia shouted at the same time.

"My hammer was already over those furry fuckers before they even popped up," Lucian argued, clearly offended. "There's no way you caught up to me."

"Oh please," Thalia shot back immediately. "Do you know who you're talking to? I'm the definition of fast. My reflexes are lightning quick. You never stood a chance!"

"N-Now, you both did wonderful—" the game master tried to say.

"You shush!" Thalia cut in, making a quick zipping motion over her lips.

The game master awkwardly mimed zipping his own mouth shut.

"Stupid game is rigged too," Lucian grumbled. "I don't even want the prize anymore."

"Yeah, same," Thalia agreed with a dismissive wave, holding up a small pamphlet instead. "Just stamp this."

After getting their stamps, they stepped away from the booth together. Thalia glanced down at her pamphlet, which only had two stamps filled in so far, but her expression had softened. She seemed more relaxed now, clearly set on filling out every remaining spot before the day was over.

********************************************

+10 advance Chapters and my other patron exclusive content on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3