Carnival Date
Written for @microcest Prompt# 112 – Carnival
Story: Original Work (My Ao3)
Content Warnings: Context is a larger original story that contains consensual incest between cousins. This piece only has SFW interactions.
Rating: Teen and up
Word count: 1004
Syden held the bow straight and steady, pointing towards the target, the center of a circular wooden slab painted in a red-and-white swirling pattern.
They were at one of the many stands at the carnival. The day was summerlike with a gentle breeze, like most days in his state. Living in a place like this had its advantages, one of them being the multiple festivals that occurred year-round.
It truly was the Land of Dreams, at least in the eyes of those who did not aspire to anything beyond play and work and study. And yet, in spite of all the dissent he had towards the laws of the land and its rulers, on this day he was feeling as one with the world—as if he was willing to smile at strangers and be conscious of his manners.
Her presence might have had something to do with it.
Cela stood beside him, looking tranquil and lovely in her white summer dress, her fine, dark hair flowing free over her slim shoulders, with a few strands pinned up by pearl-studded silver hairpins. He himself had on a black coat, handsome black pants, and a pair of matching boots.
Her eyes reflected the evening like sunlight on water. It wasn’t easy to keep his eyes off her long enough to focus on much else.
But he kept his gaze fixed on his target, as their host, the owner of the stand, stood off to the side, in his brown tweed waistcoat, watching patiently.
Syden pulled back the bowstring, fixed his aim, and released.
The arrow went hissing through the air, then hit the mark with a thud.
Cela clapped for him and Syden turned to see her smiling face. Few things gave him as much of a thrill as making her proud.
A few yards away stood the bodyguard, thick arms crossed over a broad chest, with a stubbly beard and set jaws, blending somewhat into the surroundings by merely standing still as a scarecrow. Ever since the incident at the summer festival the year before, his father had insisted that he accompany them (specifically Cela) everywhere they went. After some initial resistance, Syden had come to feel that he really didn’t have a problem with the man, as long as he remained at a comfortable distance. He had weapons of his own he could use in her protection as well as his own self-defence if he ever needed to, strapped to his calves and safely out of sight. If nothing else, the bodyguard made for passable backup.
After taking some more shots, all with equally satisfying results, Syden and Cela walked around the carnival grounds, exploring the lively and decorated terrain.
There were several stalls dedicated to serving fresh food and drink, along with costumed entertainers and animals, gambling games, and other fun contests. Syden thought he would try knife-throwing at the end of the day.
Despite the country-wide weapons’ ban, they did make exceptions for some events such as archery, and knife or axe-throwing competitions, but this was done in a strictly controlled environment, whereas a festival overseas might involve actual violence and bloodshed.
As they strolled side by side, the ground dusty and dry beneath their shoes, in search of their next entertainment, they heard music floating through the air: the melodic whistles of flutes and the divine, gentle stirrings of harps.
“Do you want to get some spun sugar?” he asked her.
Cela nodded, and he led her to a stand selling candied items. The woman behind the counter, with long blond hair and hazel eyes, who looked to be about five or six years older than them, went to the back of her stall where the candy was being made by two or three helpers, returning with two sticks topped with blushing, edible clouds. These she presented to them with a charming smile.
They thanked her, and continued in their meandering.
Cela seemed to be enjoying her treat, as she took little bites, savoring the sweetness on her tongue.
“What?” she asked him, as he stared at her. They had stopped near another stall, leaning against the counter of an outdoor wine vendor.
“You look really nice,” he said, taking a bite out of his own rose-colored sugar cloud.
Cela smiled bashfully, her delicate chin dipping down a bit, the way it did when she was feeling charmed or shy.
Syden gave her a little half smile. He wasn’t timid, just captivated.
As they stood there, eating their candy, immersed in their own little cocoon, with few words passing between them, Syden noticed a familiar face across from them, a boy with wispy, brown hair, wearing a simple vest and pants, whose face conveyed the light-hearted ease that came with being on holiday. He recognized him as one of their schoolmates. The boy waved at them. Syden waved back. Both were friendly enough on the surface.
But Syden did not like the way he looked at Cela. He did not like the way most boys looked at Cela. It was hard to imagine they didn’t feel anything special when their gaze lingered a little longer than usual on her figure or face.
She’s mine, he thought to himself. If you even try to come close to her, I will end you.
This was the difficult part of being in love. It made him feel all kinds of intense passions—one of them being insatiable lust, and another, a readiness for violence. Oddly, he hadn’t felt this way about his first lover.
There was only one cure for this.
Syden turned towards Cela, and moved closer to her, pulling her face gently towards him with his hand on her soft cheek. He kissed her, in full view of anyone who was watching them. As Cela gave into the kiss, and he tasted the tip of her tongue, he felt he was feeding all of his hungers in the one act.
And anyway, the spun sugar tasted even better on her lips.
