Prompt from oOStarryEyedOo: Carnival (Hey, I'm getting better! Didn't you see that expert chopsticking at the conveyor? Yeah. That's what I thought.)
Laughter, carnies yelling "Step right up!", and the swirling noises of rides. It's the background noise to the closest conversation, which was a collection of teenagers debating about what rides to go on.
"We have to go on the Freak-Out!"
"What? Thalia, are you mental? I went on that once, and I closed my eyes for most of it, but when I opened my eyes at one point things weren't right."
"What does that even–" She sighed. "Okay. How about... the Pirate Boat ride?"
"No! It goes upside-down! It flips over! And all that protects you is a bar!"
"Percy, it does not flip over. I have never seen them flip over, and I have been to a bunch of carnivals."
"I saw one flip over once," he said adamantly.
"Okay, how about the Cyclone? All that happens is it spins, and gravity helps keep you in place."
"No, Nico, that one's boring–"
"HEY there kids, come and play! You win every time!"
"Is it a job requirement for a carnie for their voices to be extremely annoying?"
"Probably."
"Hey, so, we're going on rides, yeah?"
"We have to go on the ferris wheel!"
"And the slide!"
"The slide?" Thalia sounded bored and I'm-way-too-good-for-that.
"Yeah, the slide. It's the best ride!" Grover sounded overly excited. "It's not like it's only ten feet tall."
"The ferris wheel is taller..." Annabeth murmured.
"Fine, we'll go on the ferris wheel. And then, the Freak-Out!"
"NO!"