A Fairly Good Date

>The smell of fried foods in many varieties, from funnel cakes to corn dogs.
>The glow of bulbs on carts and stands that look like they haven't been changed in years.
>The sounds of shoddily constructed attractions and that same two minute loop of music blasting over the loudspeakers.
>There's nothing quite like the county fair!
>And especially nothing like spending the day at it with your pink haired partner.
>She saw an ad for it while the two of you were grocery shopping, and mentioned that she hadn't been to one in a very long time.
>Asking if you wanted to go, you agreed and set a date; during the weekend when neither of you had work, you'd go and check it out.
>The two of you had just gotten out of your car, and were walking towards the fairgrounds hand in hand when you saw her face.
>Lit with childlike wonder, you wondered when the last time she had been to anything like this was.
>You thought it was likely when her mother was still around, and when her dad wasn't what he currently was.
>Deciding not to bring it up and ruin the moment, you found yourself being pulled toward the fair at heightened speed from the excited Natsuki.
>Soon enough, the two of you were standing at a crossroads both figuratively, and metaphorically.
"What should we hit first? Rides? Food? The games?" You asked the short girl, who had her hand on her chin in thought.
>"Well... games sound fun, but if we win any prizes we'll have to lug em around all day. Maybe we could grab a bite to eat?" She responded.
"We could, but if we eat first then the rides might make us hurl. How about we go rides, then food, then games?" You suggested.
>"Nah, I think we should eat first."
>You noticed she had a slightly nervous expression.
"Nat, are you scared of the rides?" You ask with a cocked eyebrow.
>"What? Hah, nah, nothing can make me scared." Her nervous expression turned to one that was almost purely smug.
>You recognized that face; the one she makes when she's trying to put on her tough girl persona.
>And it was incredibly cute, even if she was bullshitting.
"Alright, whatever you say. We'll eat first, but you better not throw up, alright?"
>"Sounds good!" She says with a nod.
>With that, the two of you walked to a nearby stand, and bought some grub.
>She got a hot dog, some fries, and a drink.
>The two of you got a funnel cake and some cotton candy to split.
>And for you, another drink as well as a stranger food at the suggestion of the cook; alligator nuggets, deep fried to perfection.
>"Gator nuggets? Really?" She turned to you with a questioning look.
"The guy said it tasted like chicken. Besides, may as well try something new. How often do ya get the chance to eat alligator?" You said as the two of you gathered condiments and went to find a picnic table.
>"Yeah, I guess." She said, shrugging as the two of you sit down at the table and behold your feast.
>A feast fit for a king!
>With a price to match, given the toll taken on your wallet by the slightly overpriced food.
>Still, it was all worth it as your cupcake chowed down on the unhealthy masses in front of her.
>Cracking a smile, you popped a gator nugget into your mouth.
>Huh, really does just taste like spicy chicken.
>Seeing your pleased reaction, she began to sneak a hand over to your tray, to which you spun it towards her slightly and laughed, remembering a similar situation from your time in school.
>She returned the laughter, putting her tray beside yours to share her fries.
>Splitting your food and getting your fills, you chatted about nothing in particular and enjoyed yourselves.
>Once done, you discarded your trash in a nearby can and began to walk towards the portion of the grounds dedicated to the deathtraps.
>Feeling the weight attached to you by the hand start to pull you back, you look towards her.
"Hey, Nat. Do you want to just skip the rides?" You ask.
>"What? Nah, I just, uh... wanted to try and win some prizes first." She says with that triumphant look once again.
"Alright, fine by me." You snort as you change course towards the carnival games.
>Arriving in the alley, you're met with a decision.
>There are quite a few games to play, all with varying prizes.
>Skeeball, which you feel like you can knock out of the park.
>Balloon darts, which you feel less comfortable with knowing that the carnies have tricks up their sleeves to rig.
>And knocking down milk bottles with baseballs.
>You know these shifty fucks have em glued down.
>Beginning to pull your girlfriend toward the skeeball machines, you're met with a resisting force.
>"Oh my god, Anon! They have Guintara plushies!" She practically squealed, pointing to a booth.
>You looked in the direction of her finger, and met the plushies with your eyes. All sorts of sizes and colors of chibi-fied guinea pigs.
>Oh, yeah, that anime that used to come on TV. Why did they still have those prizes? That show went out of American syndication like, a million years ago.
>Your eyes drifting to the actual game, your face turned to one of slight frustration.
>Of course it's the fucking milk bottle game.
>"We've gotta get one! I loved that show!" She says, pulling you towards the booth.
"Well, alright. Let's do it!" You prepared yourself mentally.
>Your girl wanted a prize, and you'd get that prize. Stepping up to the booth, you pulled out your wallet. Three throws for a dollar; not a bad deal at all if they weren't cheating.
>Purchasing your first set, you sized up the situation.
>The tables with the stacks of bottles on them were about ten feet away. Three bottles per stack, knock em all off of one and win a low tier prize. Knock em all off of two tables, win a medium tier. And knocking down a whole stack with each of your three throws would earn you a huge guinea pig that you could probably buy for like five bucks from a wholesaler.
>But it wasn't about the pig. It was about the conquest.
>You were winning that pig.
>And so, you began to throw.
>Twenty five dollars and several "it's okay, I'll just take the small prizes, really, you don't have to play anymore"s later, you're met with a cacophony of milk bottles clattering to the ground as you manage to knock down the third stack of the attempt.
>You're practically jumping with excitement at your victory, and Natsuki has joined you, hugging against you as the carnie smiles a warm smile.
>The smile of a man genuinely happy for you, for your young love, for your excitement at winning a game of skill and proving yourself.
>And also genuinely happy that he just took your fuckin' money.
>"So, what prize'll it be, my dear?" The man asked Natsuki.
>"Hmm... I'll take that one!" She pointed to a white plush with tufts of hair tied up in green ribbons, before turning to you. "Trinquette was always my favorite!"
>"Excellent choice, excellent choice!" He said, reaching up to the prize and retrieving it with a pole, then bringing it back down to you two. Natsuki immediately grabbed it and wrapped her arms around it, looking up to you as she did. You smiled back at her, still beaming.
>The thing is just about as big as she is, minus her legs. Looks a bit like her too, what with the ribbons. Adorable!
>Bidding the carnie adieu, the two of you set off back towards the rides.
>"Hey, uh, Anon?" The half-plush half-cutie mass asked.
"Yeah, Nat?"
>"I don't think this thing will go on many rides." She said, a tinge of nervousness in her voice as she hiked up the plush and got a better hold on it. You got the point.
"That's fine. How about we just go on the Ferris wheel and call it a day? I'm sure Trinquette would be able to come with us." You chuckled.
>"That sounds good, yeah." The relieved pink one responded.
>Purchasing your tickets to ride, the three of you boarded the small seating and began the slow ascent into the evening sky.
>Her hand in yours, the slight chill of the air, her pink eyes lost in your own, the amber sunset cascading it's light onto the two of you.
>All of these added to that warm feeling of love, of being truly content.
>You pulled her close into a hug, and resting there for a moment, took in the scene with her as you crested to the top of the wheel.
>Pulling away for a moment, she smiled before reaching a hand up and pulling your head down into a passionate kiss.
>After this was done, you once more pulled away.
"Hey, Nat?" You asked.
>"Yeah, Anon?" She responded, knowing what the answer was.
"I love you."
>"I love you too." She smiled, her fang prominent.
>You returned to holding hands and enjoyed the rest of the ride with little chatter.
>Returning to the ground, you picked up the plushie and hefted it as Natsuki exited the seat.
>The night coming to an end, the two of you return to your car and begin the ride home, an additional passenger buckled into the backseat.