// Aidene
“How very open minded of you, Aidene,” Ivan replied sarcastically. He smiled back at her to show he wasn’t being too serious about what he said. Talking with her was much different than talking with anyone from the Agency… they were blunt and to the point whereas he and Aidene could joke back and forth. He laughed at her remark about the other people at the carnival. “I’d rather be in an illusion than see things from your eyes,” Ivan said, even though he didn’t know if that was true. His eyes widened as she poked him in the forehead. “Hey. I did it better.” She quickened her pace, raising a brow at him. “How good’s your stamina?” Ivan tilted his head. “Why don’t you ask my ex?” He laughed lightly, his tone confident and cocky.
“Is that so?” Aidene asked him, seeming to be processing something. He nodded, glad she hadn’t asked him to prove that… it would be hard when he had less than half the money he had started the day with. I deserve a raise… “Yep,” he said, watching her chuckle and stuff a piece of pink cotton into her mouth. “Do you like it? I think it suits you. Princess.” He repeated the nickname, taking a bite of cotton candy for himself.
She looked surprised, then cleared her throat uncomfortable, the tips of her ears as red as the carnival tents around them. He wondered if he had come on too strong or she was getting suspicious. But agency business aside, it would be nice to get to know a bit more about her. Her favorites, her least favorites… He smiled slightly as she agreed, offering “Question for question.” “Sounds good!” He agreed, a bit too excitedly. Calming himself down, he added, “You can go first since I’ve spent the last few minutes interrogating you.” It was only fair. Besides, he needed to decide what to ask first.
“Sooooo… do you have anything you want to wish for?” Ivan asked somewhat tentatively. He didn’t know what Aidene could possibly want, but everyone could use a wish. Besides, she was probably thinking about what she wanted too-she was in line for a wishing booth. “Sure…” Aidene said, snapping out of some sort of thought. Ivan shifted his weight, confidently flashing a smile somewhat in their direction. The idea of actually looking at them felt a bit embarrassing.
He noticed everyone was getting a small slip of paper-a ticket or something. Had the wishing not yet started? Was it more of a raffle, where only a few lucky people could wish? That could explain why they were moving so quickly. Ivan knew it was foolish, but he’d likely chance it anyways… Plenty of people were whispering now, glancing at Ivan like he was a piece of meat. Ivan felt sweaty. Did they know? Had someone recognized him, someone from a Kingdom he had once visited? He pressed his hands together and clenched his teeth, trying not to let any emotions leak out. When they reached the booth, a short girl with pink hair smiled at them. Ivan felt a bit uncomfortable under her hungry gaze. “Welcome, sir, to the Wishing Kissing Booth! We couldn’t fit that all on the sign so we just wrote Wishing Booth-anyways, we need more participants to be kissed.” Ivan’s eyes widened and his hopes came crashing down. He tried not to let his face fall, but his heart felt like it had crash landed in his stomach. Why would anyone write “Wishing Booth” in short for a kissing booth?! Maybe they were somewhat famous at carnivals and people already knew what they were getting into, but still… Ivan tried to smile again and stop reasoning with himself. They were here now, and he wasn’t getting a wish. He’d have to deal with it. “Honestly, I pity you.” I pity myself too… Ivan thought, remembering all the whispering girls from earlier. “How does forty percent of your profits sound?” Her bright blue eyes were even bigger than his as she looked at him expectantly. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Aidene trying not to laugh. He couldn’t glare at her, since he was still looking at the pink haired girl. “Er… I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake. We read the sign wrong or something…” his cheeks were link with embarrassment as he tried to explain. He couldn’t possibly enter a kissing booth-there were countless reasons why. Besides… forty percent of fifteen… Ivan’s brows furrowed, he was horrible at math. But it couldn’t be that much, right? “I’ll have to pass.” He finished.
ORP >> @katabasis NOOOO YOURS WAS GREAT! I get worse every time I post seriously 
But I can’t wait to continue heheheh 