#11.12.24

Arte gave her a soft smile, knowing she'd always wanted to visit but never could with her Infection. "You don't have to say anything," he reassured her, offering his hand. 

She took it, letting him excitedly lead the way.

He guided her to one of the park's main attractions—Twinkle Coaster. The massive roller coaster looped and soared against the skyline of the park, leaving streaks of light in the sky. Starting with it was a surefire way to get them in the Twinkle spirit. 

As they boarded the rocket-shaped cars, Arte grinned at Ivy, a gleam of playful confidence in his eyes. "You're free to hold my hand if you get scared," he affectionately teased as the safety bars clamped down over their laps.

"We’ll see," she stated, not about to be won over by his charm, but she was glad her mask hid the tiny smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. As the countdown to launch announced overhead, she added, "Just try not to scream in my ear the whole time."

Arte, unfazed, grinned wider. "Your wit is why I love—"

The coaster took off with a sudden lurch, and the adrenaline hit both of them like a punch. Arte let out an excited whoop, his arms thrown up in the air, while Ivy gripped the safety bar with white knuckles. The ride soared and dipped, twisting in impossible loops, the lights of the park flashing around them like stars in a galaxy far, far away.

Ivy couldn’t help herself—she let out a small scream as they plummeted down a particularly steep drop, quickly covering her mouth at how ridiculous she must have sounded.

As they screeched to a stop at the end of the ride, Arte looked over at the spider, noticing she was covering her face with her hands. His face washed over with concern. "Ivy? You okay?"

He felt a wave of relief as he saw her shoulders shake with mirth as she couldn't help but let a laugh escape her lips.

Ivy looked up at him with bright ambers, her heart still racing from the rush. "Can we go again?"

~

They spent the next few hours bouncing from one attraction to the next—Arte confidently taking the lead, Ivy following with quiet excitement. 

They partook in all the park had to offer, from interstellar carnival games to out-of-this-world snacks. The merry-go-round was a nice change of pace from the thrill rides. And the go-karts encouraged a bit of friendly competition.

At one point, the cryokinetic tripped over the edge of his go-kart, almost falling flat on his face. He somehow managed to catch himself, but he accidentally froze his go-kart in the process. "I, ah, meant to do that," he said with a nervous laugh.

Amused, Ivy couldn’t help but shake her head. "You’re a disaster," she teased, though there was warmth in her voice.

Arte winked. "A disaster you love~"

Ivy blushed like a tomato behind her mask.

They ended their night at the park’s Observation Tower, an enormous spinning spire that offered a breathtaking view of the entire galaxy-themed park below. The twinkling lights of distant rides blinked like stars, and the sound of electronic music filled the air.

As the gondola slowly ascended, Ivy found herself caressing the glass window, staring out at the city of lights below. "Wow," she breathed, her voice softer now, as she admired the view. 

Arte stood beside her, his cyan eyes reflecting the sparkling lights. "Was it everything you thought it would be?" he asked, his tone quieter now, a little more sincere.

Just as Ivy turned to respond, the gondola tilted slightly, throwing Arte off balance. He stumbled into her, and they both crashed into the window with a gasp.

With noses inches apart, Arte chuckled. "Maybe I am a disaster," he admitted humbly.

As he drew away, Ivy pulled him back in by his cravat. The stubbornness in her eyes was gone, replaced by the warmth that the cat seemed to always draw out of her. "A disaster I love."