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Xiu nodded and let out a silent chuckle as he quickly floated after Lazarus and towards the carousel. It was indeed a magnificent (if small) carousel and the white raevan was excited. The loud music, the excited chatter of children as they hurried over to pick their horses and the general lightheartedness of the crowd was proving to be a very good meal indeed. Already the white raevan could feel his rune glowing and absorbing the innocence around him.

But the feeding would have to wait. Right now he needed to choose a horse fast or he’d be left sitting in one of those carriages that were nailed to the floor of the carousel and thus could not go up and down like the horses. Selecting a handsome brown horse with some kind of medieval getup and a real leather harness, Xiu grabbed the pole connected to the horse and mounted it; letting his ribbon trail loosely behind. Beside him was another horse, a dapple grey charger with bells that could really tinkle if their reins were shaken.

"Hurry up!" Xiu mouthed to the other two Raevans as the carousel began filling up fast. Already there was a little kid running excitedly towards the grey horse beside him...

Pausing for a moment, he let Xiu choose a horse first so he could choose the one next to him after. Oh how much he will regret this notion later. The kid was already ahead of him when Xiu chose his horse, quickly zipping forwards, he was hoping that he could beat the kid to the horse first. But someone was faster than him, and that someone helped the little kid get on the grey horse.

Rivener.

Lazarus could only stop and look at the scorpion with his mouth slightly agape, stare at him as he calmly and swiftly got on the carriage seat behind Xiu's horse. When he snapped out of it, the horse beside the carriage was already taken, and so was every other horses nearby. He looked at Rivener and the small empty seat beside him in the carriage, and didn't feel like sharing it with the scorpion at all. Emitting a soft, frustrated grunt, he went around and looked for another free seat, weaving in between the numerous occupied horses and carriages. Finally found one empty white horse, but it was almost all the way on the other side of the carousel from where Xiu and Rivener is. Getting on it, he let his ribbon fall to the side as he looked around, arching his neck as he did so to try and see Xiu. But alas, he couldn't even get a peek of his horse all the way from this side. Perhaps it was for the better, so that they wouldn't need to see his gloomy expression as the carousel started spinning.

Rivener was starting to feel bad about all this. He watched Lazarus move to the other side of the carousel, the Fire Sigel looking rather... well maybe upset wasn't the right word for it? But something like it. And suddenly the Scorpion wondered if he was really doing anything good at all here. Was he only going to drive them all apart? What if Lazarus never gathered the courage to say anything? What if the stars hadn't been speaking about Xiu when they mentioned how the white returned the fire's fire?

Sighing, Rivener leaned an elbow on the side of the seat as the merry-go-round started spinning, propping his chin into it and staring out at all the faces that were going by.

...At least it looked like Xiu was having a good time. And the little boy too. Riv was glad he'd chosen to give the horse to him.

Eventually the ride came to a stop, Rivener forcing his mask back on. Fake smile bright, the Scorpion got up from the bolted-down seat. "Well that was fun! ...What next? Another ride? Maybe a rollercoaster?" Though he and Xiu needed to move to the exit along with the crowd, Riv slowed and paused by the outside fence to wait for Laz. The guilt was starting to make this seem not worth it. I wish he'd just ******** say something already! the dark Sigel thought with a huffed sigh.

Xiu chuckled and nodded. Yes, the ride had been fun and now he was full too. By then, Lazarus had arrived from his corner of the carousal and had asked Xiu a similar question to that of Rivener’s. Xiu pursed his lips a little. It was all fine and well that the two older raevans were letting him choose the games but it should not be him hogging all decision right? Xiu turned to eye the roller coaster Rivener had suggested. Perhaps the Scorpion wanted to try out this ride but was too shy to ask?
…
The concept of Rivener being shy was a little hard to grasp but nevertheless the white Sigel nodded and pointed to the ride. It looked interesting and a little scary too judging by the crowd’s screaming...and the fact that one of the riders and come off wobbly legged and thrown up...

...

Perhaps next time...that sudden dive followed by rapid swirling made Xiu's stomach clench at the sight. Quickly scanning the area, Xiu noticed yet another 'safe' ride. It was a Ferris wheel. No fair was complete without them. That said, the white Sigel began floating towards it, all the while urging Rivener and Lazarus on.

It was only when the trio floated to the Ferris wheel that Xiu noticed the seats were only double sitting, meaning that one of them would have to sit alone. Or the three of them couls separate to make it fair…
…
Perhaps another ride?

Xiu turned to Lazarus and Rivener and pointed out this problem by holding out two fingers and to the ride’s seating.

The ferris wheel looked alright, Lazarus decided. The wheel was moderately tall and spinning slowly, momentarily he wondered how would the night view of Barton looked like viewed from up there.

However, when they reached the bottom of the ferris wheel and realized the seating restrictions, he frowned slightly. Is the carnival a place for couples to visit or something? It just brings all sorts of problems and awkwardness when you visit in odd numbers. But before he could ask Xiu to go on the ferris wheel with him, Rivener beat it to him first.

With an expression of mild shock, the incubus stared at the scorpion, then pressing his lips together, he looked at Xiu. The white Sigel looked so happy, he didn't want to be the sour apple and ruin his mood. "Y-yeah, you go ahead first, I'll just wait down here. I'm not that interested to get on anyway." He lied with a forced smile, despite the growing frustration in him. Lazarus does not want to ride the ferris wheel alone, yet at the same time he did not want to make Xiu go twice onto the ride with him as well, so he opt to not ride the ferris wheel at all. "Maybe I'll go grab a drink or something while I'm at it, I think I saw a drinks booth further ahead. See you guys later?" Slowly he began to back away, tearing himself away from the group as he waved and headed off, not noticing that the board in front of the ferris wheel said that the ride will take 15 minutes.

Great. Rivener felt like a massive a*****e now, watching Lazarus float off so dejectedly. Now it looked like Laz wouldn't even want to go on later with Xiu... The Scorpion sighed softly. He'd failed. He should have known better than to try to do this in his state. How could he help love appear between these two when he was completely depressed?

The ride operator was motioning them forward, and Xiu moved to get in the seat, so Riv had no choice but to follow. He plastered that fake smile onto his face and sat, grinning over at Xiu half-heartedly when the bar was put down into place. The white Sigel was looking at him, a question in his eyes.

Rivener forced himself to keep up the smile, despite really wanting to just let everything drop. "This is going to be a really nice view when we get higher up. Fun, huh? I'm sure Laz will change his mind after and want a ride, don't worry." Well that was a blatant lie. Riv didn't know what Laz was thinking anymore. Maybe I should just quit while I'm ahead. ...I don't want Laz to hate me. Or Xiu to hate me. ...or Zul to learn of me flirting with Xiu or something, he'd never believe me if I told him it was just an act. Maybe just one last desperate action, then he'd stop. "Maybe you should ask to go with Laz after? If you don't mind going twice. I think maybe Laz just didn't want to sit with me."

Xiu waited patiently as the wheel was being loaded with each loading bringing the two of them higher and higher into the air. Already Xiu could see all the way out of the park and very soon (just a couple more loadings), Rivener and him would be positioned at the very top of the Ferris wheel. Xiu wondered how far they’d be able to see then.

Crk, crk, crk…

The Feris wheel groaned as the seats began moving again, bringing the two of them to the wheel’s summit. Rivener had mentioned something about sitting on the ride again with Lazarus and the white Sigel nodded. He had no objections to riding the Ferris wheel again but nevertheless couldn’t help but feel surprised when the Scorpion said that perhaps Lazarus preferred to not sit with him.

But that would mean…

The white Sigel bit his lip and turned away from the Scorpion, thoughts running in his head. That would mean that…Lazarus preferred his company then? The very thought of it was…

A faint colour came into the white Sigel’s features but Xiu quickly brushed it aside. Nah, as unlikely as it seemed (to Xiu), Rivener and Lazarus probably had some past misunderstanding perhaps and had tried to reconcile by going to the park. He (Xiu) was probably here as a neutral ground for the both of them. That might be a little more logical, even going so far as to explain the two Sigels’ odd behavior to one another. Well then, he’d definitely see to it that the next ride had three seats. Three because they had to do this together!

The wheel had begun moving by then and as they passed by Lazarus with his drink, Xiu gave the Fiery Sigel a wave. Lazarus did not seem to notice it though as the he floated with the drink in his hand in a less crowded area of the carnival. Xiu did not blame him. The drink seemed to be leaking juice after all and having all that sticky sweet water spilling over you was definitely no fun. Xiu wondered if Rivener had a packet of tissues with him. Did not really matter though as there were enough stalls selling them along with food and drinks in the carnival.

Lazarus already finished the little box of juice and was cleaning his hands with tissue when Xiu and Rivener got off the ferris wheel. He was chucking the used tissue paper into a rubbish bin nearby when Rivener announced their presence. "Oh, you're back!" Although he tried to sound cheerful as he waved, but it was quite obvious that it was faked. To be honest, he really didn't know what to feel at the moment. Finally realizing his feelings for Xiu, his bitter jealousy and trying to come to terms with these feelings, it was all so difficult and it's weighing him down. A mere 10 minutes just weren't enough.

However, when Rivener suggested that Lazarus go up the ferris wheel with Xiu, he was stunned speechless by the idea. Stunned because of two things. The first one being, he finally realized what Rivener was up to. He should have known, but being blinded by jealousy and bitterness, he did not notice. Rivener was... trying to get him and Xiu together? Flirting with Xiu, hogging him, it was all to get Lazarus to feel jealous, and he succeeded in that. Now that he think about it, some of the scorpion's actions felt a little awkward at times too, like it was forced, only with better acting than Lazarus. The other thing was... being alone with Xiu. His heart skipped a beat at the idea as his face colored a little, although it was difficult to see in the dim environment.

"Really..?" He choked a little, his expression devoid of all the forced expressions he had on earlier, and now just stared in disbelief at Rivener, then at Xiu. He wanted to; he wanted to go up the ferris wheel with Xiu, that was what his heart is telling him. But... what if Xiu doesn't want to? What if... Xiu didn't return his feelings? Changing his mind, the incubus physically backed away a few inches as he shook his head. "N-no it's alright... I... I don't want to." He lied, afraid of what he might say, or what would Xiu's reaction be if he said anything stupid. He don't want to make a fool of himself in front of Xiu, especially alone with him.