Hogwarts - Assignment 7: Ballroom Dancing - #3: Pasodoble - Write about someone being dramatic.
let's make this night last forever
Lucius can't imagine anywhere worse for their first date than a funfair. But he'll endure it, simply because it's Ted.
It's warm as they walk from the apparition point and Lucius is in a great mood. It's his first date with Ted. They've known each other for years now, and their friendship has been begging to become something more. But they've had to wait until they've finished Hogwarts.
The only thing ruining the walk is the level of noise, but there are buildings in the way and Lucius can't fathom what it is. There are screams, various songs playing at full volume as though trying hard to drown each other out and random alarms and bells and high-pitched sounds.
As they round the building, Lucius finally sees what it is. It's a Muggle funfair, and he sneers at the sight. Dangerous places. How Muggles go on unsafe rides without magic baffles him. But to his horror, Ted starts to lead them over there.
Lucius stops walking, and Ted does too. "Surprise," Ted says. "You said you've never been to one, and when I saw the signs for this place…" he looks delighted, as though he's found the perfect date venue.
Lucius glances towards the fair in horror. He'd assumed by the request for casual clothing that they were having dinner in one of the unrefined restaurants that Ted frequents. He had never imagined that Ted would bring them here.
"Remember, when I told you about bowling and ice-skating and fun-fairs, you said they sounded fun," Ted continues, his smile dropping. Lucius did say that. They did actually sound fun, and Ted's face lit up when he talked about them. But they sounded entertaining from the standpoint of someone who has no intention of ever participating.
But Ted looks disappointed, as though he's let Lucius down. Lucius hates that look, because knowing Ted, his partner is already trying to think of a new plan.
"It's acceptable," Lucius manages. It's really not, but he wants Ted to be happy. He takes the first step towards the funfair and Ted looks relieved.
It's not Ted's fault that his upbringing caused him to visit such primitive places. But Lucius is mad about Ted. He'd have to be to even consider going out with a Muggleborn, but he finds he doesn't care about blood status when it comes to Ted. "I just didn't want you to miss out on something like this before we get too old to do these things."
Something flutters in Lucius' stomach. Not butterflies, he tells himself, because butterflies are for common folk. Something more. For Ted, he can do this. Even if people do undignified and disgusting things like throw up after going on rides, or using the disgusting toilets.
"I knew you'd be up for it," Ted says approvingly. "Tell you what - you pick the second date. We'll go somewhere appropriately boring."
"I do not like boring things," Lucius gripes. "The word you're looking for is sophisticated."
Ted chuckles. "If you say so, but I'll have fun doing whatever you like, as long as I get to spend time with you, Lucius."
Lucius can't help but smile.
Lucius tries to drive the car in a circle. When the side of it gets hit by another car with a force he hadn't expected, he turns and glares at two kids, who laugh at his expression before driving away. It's the third time someone has hit him in the last thirty seconds and he's fuming.
How do people enjoy these silly cars anyway? Why would people enjoy bumping into each other? He's certain that the funfair employees don't even wash the cars in between rides.
"Sorry," comes a familiar voice as his car is hit again. He turns to glare at Ted, who smiles back innocently, and Lucius feels his anger rising. Even more when the innocent look fades and Ted starts to laugh.
Lucius drives away, quickly spinning the car around. Ted is coming around the circle again, and Lucius makes sure he's facing him as he wills the car to go as fast as possible. If Ted likes being bumped, well...
They'll see who is laughing after this.
"Not to point fingers, but you came at me," Ted points out as they walk away from the bumper cars.
Lucius glares at him. The force of the collision caused him to be thrown back a little and he's sure he's caused irreparable damage to his back.
"It's not my fault. You brought me onto that hellish ride, Edward," Lucius says accusingly.
"You know you can call me Ted, right?" Ted points out, amused, but Lucius ignores him. Ted is a common name. Edward is a little more suitable. Besides, Ted likes to call him 'Lucy' at times, and Lucius is adamant that nicknames are beneath them.
"Waltzer," Ted murmurs, pointing to some teacups that are spinning at an alarming rate. "You'll love it."
"I will most certainly not." Lucius crosses his arms.
"Don't worry, we'll go on something a little slower," Ted says. Lucius side-eyes him because he knows that tone and he very much hates it. "What's more your speed?" Ted reaches out and points to the carousel. "Is that too fast for you too? Or do you think you can handle that?"
Lucius knows what Ted is doing. He knows that Ted is trying to provoke him to go onto the ride. But still, it's working.
"I'm not scared," he says haughtily. "I can handle anything." Though he looks warily at a ride that flies fast into the sky, because it does not look safe.
"Come on, a few rides and then we'll eat and check out the stalls. I have the perfect way to end the evening."
Lucius nods. He allows Ted to lead them to the waltzer, because he needs to prove he can do this.
Three rides later and Lucius understands why people throw up after the rides. He's leaning against a lamp-post as he waits for the world to stop spinning.
"You okay there?" Ted sounds amused and Lucius tries to focus enough to glare at him. He's glad they haven't eaten yet, because he's not sure he'd have kept it down.
"I am perfectly fine," Lucius mutters.
"How about some food?" Ted suggests. "Do you like hot-dogs?"
"What are those?"
Ted stares at him, a little shocked. "You've never had one? Well, you're in for a treat." He pulls them over to a nearby food truck and he starts to order. Lucius hasn't tried most things on the menu, but he trusts Ted's judgement.
Because Ted has excellent taste. After all, he's asked the best of the best out on a date. That proves that his taste is flawless.
He begs to differ, however, when he bites into the foul-tasting food. But he's hungry and Ted is having fun, so he forces it down.
Lucius blames himself. He noticed the peacock. Giant soft-toys hanging from the top of one of the stalls, and they're enough to give him pause. They look of a higher quality than the rest of this junk, and Ted notices the look and before Lucius realises what's happening, Ted is walking up to the stall and handing over Muggle money.
"What do you have to do here?" Lucius asks curiously.
"Darts," Ted explains. "You throw the darts at the balloons to win the prize."
Lucius glances at another couple trying. It looks quite hard to achieve.
"You won't manage without magic," he murmurs.
Ted's smile widens. "You think? I'll have you know that I play darts in my youth group, and I'm not that bad." The darts are placed in front of him and he picks one up. "I'll do it."
"Why?"
"I want to win you a prize," Ted says, grinning at him. "A reminder of the perfect first date." His gaze moves to the peacock.
Lucius looks at the peacock in horror. Whatever would he do with it? He's not a child, nor is he a love-struck teenager who craves a tacky souvenir.
But there's no way Ted is going to be able to manage this. Lucius is sure of it, so he says nothing.
Lucius can only watch in horror as Ted throws the dart with perfect aim, popping the balloons swiftly.
"I'll take the white peacock," Ted says, and the item is pushed into his arms.
Ted looks delighted with himself.
Lucius is horrified.
Lucius has apologised more times this evening than he has in his entire life, and it's all because of the blasted peacock. It's hard to navigate the place with a soft toy that is almost the same size as him, and even harder to do so without bumping into people or accidentally knocking them.
Ted finds it hilarious, the twit, and tries his hand at a few more activities. He doesn't win again, and Lucius is glad he's not stuck with two stuffed animals. One is one too many.
"So… there's just one more thing I want to go on," Ted says. "Not that I want our date to end. But… I think we're done here, unless there's something else you want to go on?"
Lucius quickly shakes his head. He'd have been happy without any of the rides.
Ted leads them to a big wheel. "Ferris wheel. Our last stop." There's no queue and Ted nods to Lucius to climb aboard.
Lucius does. It's the last ride and then this nightmare will be over. He can only hope that it doesn't go too fast. He shoves the peacock in the middle, and he glances to where Ted is talking to the guy.
His date slips the man some Muggle money before joining him.
"Does it go fast?" Lucius asks, doubtfully.
Ted shakes his head and reaches across the peacock to hold Lucius' hand. "Not at all. I paid extra so we can sit at the top for a bit."
Lucius can't think of anything duller than sitting on the Ferris wheel doing nothing, but he holds his tongue, and the wheel starts to move.
"Bloody peacock. You should've put it on the side," Ted moans, though he doesn't sound annoyed. "I can't put my arm around you."
"Well, you were the one who saddled me with it," Lucius mutters as he tries to move closer.
Ted laughs softly. "If you don't like it, I'll be happy to take it home myself," he offers, but Lucius glares at him.
"It's a prize that you won for me," he says. "How dare you even entertain the notion of taking it back. I shall be keeping it."
Ted looks even more amused.
"And what are we even doing up here?" Lucius complains.
"Well, it's supposed to be romantic. I was going to put my arm around you and hopefully get a kiss, finally. But I don't know if I can reach."
Lucius shoves the peacock down. "I'm sure you can manage," he says, because he's been waiting for this moment longer than he cares to admit.
Ted leans in, and their lips manage to brush softly together. When he opens his eyes again, Ted is watching him intently, eyes wide. He looks nervous.
"Well?" he murmurs. "Was that… good? You feel something?"
Lucius nods. That damned fluttering is back again. "Very much so," he admits. "We should do that again."
Ted smiles softly. "Yeah. But next time we'll go somewhere where you actually have fun. I'm sorry, I thought you'd like it here."
Lucius doesn't reply straight away. The rides weren't all that bad, and it was fun seeing Ted enjoying the stalls. And perhaps if he wasn't dragging this stupid peacock around, he'd have been able to show Ted how to win at the other stalls. Plus, they've just had their first kiss on the Ferris wheel.
"It's been acceptable," Lucius says. "But I don't want it to end. Perhaps we could go for a walk? Get something to eat?"
Ted nods as the ride starts to move again. "Yeah. That sounds perfect. It'll be easier to kiss you again too."
1999 words
Reviews are very much appreciated :)
Prompts used:
Autumn Seasonal:
Days of the Year - 7th December - National Cotton Candy Day: Write about someone going to a carnival/fair.
Indigenous Peoples Day - 12. Goodland Academy: stuffed toy (item)
Crystals and Gemstones - 11. Green Tourmaline: (restriction) Male Slash pairing
Ravenclaw OTPs - 5. Lucius/Ted
Moony's Neon Cafe Table: 12 (word) Warm
Writing Club
Gotta Catch Them All - 17. Sinistea - (feeling) dizzy
Film Festival - 14. (Trope) Friends to lovers
Lizzy's Loft - 7. Giants - Wanna make you proud of me
Lyric Alley - 4. You said that you'd never been
Artist Appreciation - 2. Positions - Prompt - Write about someone going out of their way to please another person
TV Spree - 15. Determined
Autumn Funfair -
Bingo: 3. Emotion - Afraid
Costume Party - 26. Cheerleader - a. Pom-poms - (emotion) cheerful
Hogwarts Cafe - 2. Cinnamon Maple Latte - (genre) romance
Monster Mash-Up - 11. Godzilla (word) giant
Fortnightlies
Ice Cream Sundaes - The Base: Sugar Cone - Marauders' Era
Coming Out Day - 11. (emotion) nervous