"The animal part doesn't start until 1pm," You inform the blonde as you scroll through the circus's information on your phone, your free hand still holding his as he walks, in fact he hasn't let go since you left the café. "We could go on some rides until then."

Of course, you didn't need to ask him twice, his eyes already scanning the circus grounds and lingering on each attraction he sees before his gaze finally sets on you. 

"You pick." You speak before he even has the chance to do so, knowing that he was about to ask you what ride you'd like to try out and beating him to the punch, you don't like to be the one choosing these things.

He responds with a slight grumble but he doesn't argue much at least, instead just glancing around once again and tugging you playfully toward the first ride that piques his interest, which just so happens to be a small rollercoaster. "This one~!" 

Your eyes instantly taking in the clownish theme for said ride; the red and white striped rails, the creepy circus music and the animatronic clown stood outside the entrance that let's out a horrible laughter any time somebody passes it. 

Why did it have to be an animatronic?

Despite being mildly freaked out, you still follow your cheerful date as he guides you along to the ticket booth where a grumpy man with very long blonde hair sits playing cards, he exchanges the money Rosi gives him with two tickets, not even faking a smile whilst ominously murmuring; "Don't fall out." as you pass him to enter the tunnel leading into the cart station, the short sentence sending a shiver down your spine.

You actually like rollercoasters but clowns, especially the creepy animatronic one you're about to pass...that's a different story, immediately observing it's wide bloody smile and glowing yellow eyes. It would seem this thing was put here to purposefully creep people out.

Your body jolting as the object suddenly twitches and lets out a loud laugh beside you, even when you knew it was going to happen, it still made you jump.

Rosinante glancing over his shoulder at your small frame after feeling your little spasm and chuckling in response, but he still pulls you closer despite finding it amusing, protectively wrapping his arm around your shoulders as you both walk over to the rollercoaster carts. 

"Not a fan of clowns?"

"Mmh...nor animatronics." Although, you do feel a little more secure when being held by him, oddly. 

"Alright, you two," A new voice emerges as a certain raven comes into view and your cheeks rapidly heating up when you realize it's Ace - you hadn't considered the fact that he works here when you agreed to come. The freckled boy blinking at you for a moment as he pauses but thankfully, he soon continues as normal, effortlessly lifting the bar inside one of the carts and waiting for you both to get seated before pushing it down again, a devilish smirk spreading across his lips as he stares down at you. "Keep hands and feet inside at all times, no cameras, oh and if you feel yourself slipping out of the cart, hold onto the rail."

That's the second person who has indicated that you'll be falling from this ride now!

"Should I be worried about slipping out?"

"M'yeah, maybe definitely. Enjoy~!" He teasingly chimes before moving onto the next customer, leaving you mortified and Rosinante chuckling to himself, the blonde's arm softly tightening around your figure and as if by instinct, you nestle yourself deeper into his side for safety. 

"Don't worry, you won't fall." He calmly consoles, he smells like cigarette smoke and cologne but his jumper is so soft and warm, it feels so inviting that it's hard to pull yourself away from his embrace - though you still do so anyway since you don't like to appear vulnerable.

Your hand grasping the protective bar as the cart finally begins to roll forward, haunting carnival music filling your ears as the ride carries you out of the station and immediately up a steep slope, you can see all the people down below as well as many other rides, one in particular catching your attention. 

The Waltzers. 

It was a little like the teacup ride, you'd sit in a circular seat and when the ride starts, it merely takes you around in circles but what made the ride so great was that while it's spinning around the track, somebody will also be spinning the booth which your sat in, sometimes spinning it so fast that your brain would feel as though it's rattling inside your head.

You and Bonney used to ride it quite often with your other friends when you were back in school, a smile spreading across your lips as your gaze returns to Rosinante to see the blonde was eyeballing the attraction also.

"You wanna go on that next?"

Oh yes, he already knows.

However before you get the chance to answer, the rollercoaster dips, plummeting down a slope at 100mph and drawing a loud scream from your lips as several excited swear words blurt from the blonde's beside you, you don't miss how a flash catches you mid-carnage either, the rollercoaster's automatic camera capturing you in all of your unbridled terror.

Once hitting the bottom, the rollercoaster curves upwards once again and does a loop, it's at this moment the warnings spring to mind as you slip, your back lifting from the chair and causing a wave of panic to spread through you, although Rosinante is swift to grab your hip, tugging you back down to the seat with him and it's within this moment you essentially attach yourself to his clothing, no longer caring how weak you look.

It's better to look weak than fall out of your damn seat. 

The ride doing a couple more loops and one more slope before it returns you to the cart station, Ace once again coming over and lifting your bar with a cheeky grin etched into his features. "Did you two have fun~? There's pictures being sold at the desk, talk to Drake over there if you're interested." You can hear the teasing little snicker in his tone as he speaks, watching as you both get out before he drops the bar again, greeting other customers whilst Rosinante leads you toward the ginger man at said desk beside the exit.

Screw you, Portgas!

"Would you like a photograph?" Rosi questions, immediately calming you as you flash him a thoughtful glance. 

"Hm...Yeah, I'll get it though, they're expensive." Of course the blonde completely ignores you, handing the money over to the boy on the desk before you have the chance to do so and request two copies of the moment caught on camera.

He's a gentleman, sure, but you can't help but feel guilty.

You're not used to somebody else paying for your stuff. 

Next you head for the waltzers, your eyes still focused on the photo as you trail along beside your date, the cutie giggling as he points out how afraid you looked - not that he was any better, you can tell he was tense just by how his shoulders were level with his ears and his eyes looked as though they were about to fall out of his skull.

All in all, he's quite adorable. 

Slipping the photograph safely into your bag, you join Rosi as he makes his way to the ticket booth, paying for you both to ride the waltzers and following a worker over to your booth. 

"Are you gonna let me pay for anything?" You softly jest as the blonde takes your hand once again to help you into the ride before he climbs in himself, the worker lowering your bar with a kind smile and wishing you both a good experience, your date waiting until the man leaves before he speaks.

"No. When you invite somebody out on a date, you're expected to pay for it, even I know that. Besides it makes me happy." Your brow quirks at his sentiment but you decide against questioning him further, instead just admiring his adorable little smile whilst humming in understanding. 

The ride soon begins, drawing your attention as you scoot a little closer to the blonde for security, you had perhaps almost fallen out of the booth when you and Bonney were on it alone as teenagers, the two of you weren't sturdy enough to stay in the seats at the time so ever since then, you've been wary of falling out despite loving the ride. 

The ride spins on it's own for a minute before the worker from before appears behind, rapidly spinning your booth and causing you to fall against the blonde, Rosinante however seems unmoved by the speed, a giggle rumbling in his throat as he holds you in place, something you're lowkey thankful for. 

The worker doesn't ease up at all though, spinning the booth faster each time, you can't even make anything out anymore, you're going so fast that the world is practically a blur and all you can feel is a strong hand pressed against hip, pulling you into a warm chest.

Despite being held though, you still get tossed around a little and it feels endless but you enjoy every second, a playful chuckle escaping your lips as you fall into the blonde's side, your hands clinging to his bicep helplessly as the rides madly spins.

Soon the employee leaves you alone though, allowing you to gather your senses as he spins another booth full of customers.

It's only when the ride begins to slow down your vision begins to go back to normal, blinking a few times before your gaze shoots down to your hand, only to notice that whilst getting thrown around, you had ended up placing it in a very...delicate area in Rosinante's lap. 

You're quick to jerk your limb away of course, the blonde seemingly unbothered at least, merely holding his hands over his eyes and lightly rubbing at them, likely feeling just as dizzy as you do - you partly hope that he somehow hadn't felt your touch down there but you just know the likelihood of that is very low, it's a sensitive spot. He definitely felt it. 

An announcement blaring out over the speakers as the ride finally draws to a slow stop; "Hey brats, this is Buggy the Clown! If you've come here to watch the holograms then look no further! It'll all be ready for you in 5 minutes, better start buying your tickets now before the spaces all get swallowed up!"

With much difficulty you pick yourself up and step out of the booth, Rosinante following in your tracks but being the one unfortunate enough to fall over, earning a small giggle from yourself in return as you crouch down beside him, linking your arm around his own and helping him stand once again. 

"Come on, you be my support and I'll be yours." You don't miss how his cheeks slightly pinken at your words but he nods nonetheless, a fond smile tugging on his lips as he lightly leans against you. 

"I could really use a cigarette..." 

"That can be arranged, let's just get the tickets first."