Elegy of the Circus
Welcome to the Birmingham Annual Spectacular Circus!
In large bold letters these banners covered the brick buildings, the wind knocking and shaking the banner and spinning into the autumn air and up into the cloudy grey sky. The date was October 1st, the year was 1810. Outside Birmingham, England's Near the Western point where Ashted Circus is today, there was once a tall tent it's grandeur made many line up to venture inside the circus tent. Many signs, be they painted or printed on the press were scattered about the street sides and pavement; as if the place needed more attention. The fee was two pounds to admission.
To Arthur; a young lad of twenty, this was just fine to him. He was not very rich in money, but his job got him a flat in the city near his job. He had just come back on a trip to Scotland and had little to do and barely a friend to talk with. He pulled his vest over his messy white shirt hoping no one noticed the stains from his job as a painter. He did not make much money except from the people who wanted portraits of themselves. They paid a good chunk to have one, but not too many really did. As Arthur approached the show he sighed a bit, two pounds was a dent in his wallet. He would only have three pounds left. As Arthur wandered to the circus he was too busy thinking of how he would get his next meal more than the signs on the way.
Menagerie the Glass Girl and The Two Headed Man With large interesting pictures of a girl with a chandelier on her head and another picture two men fused together by the arms. Arthur still continued to walk, making sure his brown vest covered the paint stains of his previous work. As the tall man took his pay he felt himself thrust into a crowd of people. None of which appealed to Arthur, a poor artist. They were higher classes who did not need to worry about trivial things as what to eat and thinking two pounds was anything expensive. Arthur did not care for much of the people around him, all wanting and expecting the same thing, the two headed man was probably not as fused at the hip as these people, who would never allow people they deemed 'weird' into their little clicks'. Arthur wondered if these people thought normal human beings as weird, what they would say to these 'Freak Shows' as they were so lovingly referred to. As he was seated in the arena stage seating looking down at some trampolines and suspended rings and looked up at the trapezes up above, a tall man walked out his big top hat, short pieces of blonde hair under his ears and was dressed in a very flashy red suit was a large bowtie that depicted a skull in the center. He waved his hand up, a cane encrusted with jewels in his hand. He wore white gloves and had bright blue eyes. His pants were white his red coat striped with white as well. As the crowd silenced his voice echoed in the arena.
"Welcome, one and all. I am the Ringmaster, you can call me… Constantine." the man had a large grin, his eyes hidden under his short hair and wide-brimmed top hat. "You may know, that this is no average circus show, these people I have collected from all over the world, from the coastline of Asia, to the Orphans abandoned by Londoners alike. You may see why many stare at them, reject them, curse them. I ask you to welcome them with open arms- they have been abandon by perhaps the Heavens themselves. Here, I wish them to be welcomed by you; they are very shy…"
Constantine smiled brightly, pulling his hat back to expose his eyes, the crowd clapped for him, his voice was deep and serious, and people seemed to eat up his genuine compassion. Arthur clapped as well, Constantine seemed to stare directly at him, his smile wide. He felt a shiver on his spine and blush on his cheeks.
"Well, let's get on with the show then!" Constantine clapped his hands and the curtains behind him drew back, a large inflated ball rolled out and a man prancing on the top. He had a small now, and ears sticking up on his head with little nubs as well. He had dark eyes and chocolate brown hair, his upper torso was fine, but lower down his legs were awkwardly proportioned and there was fur on them, they had large thighs, short shins and hoof-like feet. The crowd jeered and hollered, Arthur sliding back in his seat at the odd spectacle. Suddenly the man jumped down, flicking his ears.
"This is my friend Sika, raised by a doe in the forest, he was forced to live life as a half-deer, please make him feel welcome in his performance." Constantine replied patting the animal man on the back. Sika cowered as he touched him and shook his head. His ears flicking softly.
"And welcome his shy little friend, Papillion."
Out of the curtains came a small girl, her skin was dark and her hair brown. The crowd was slightly agape at the sight of a darker skinned girl. Her hair was back in a red ribbon and her eyes were pitch black and shiny. She had four large wings on her back, each one fluttered slightly as she began to walk forward. Papillion stood next to her friend, holding his hand.
"They are very good friends, always side by side. Truly beautiful. Now they will do their performance!" Constantine threw his cape back, looking around. Papillion jump as he did so and she lifted her feet off the ground hovering for a few moments her wings beating quickly. She hovered for a moment, and dropped down. The crowd murmured and gasped.
"It's no joke ladies and gentlemen, just watch!" Constantine looked over Papillion and she shivered lifting herself off the ground again. Constantine swept his cane under her feet, she was shaking in mid air, lifting her feet some more. He swept it over her, her head dropping. The crowd clapped and gave loud remarks in amazement. Constantine seemed pleased as the two did their routine, Sika showing his jumping ability and Papillion flying through some of the rings. As they were called off the stage. Some few more performances came on and all marvelled at the man with two heads, Antonio and was not much done but yelling and jeering at them, they seemed scared and despite staring Arthur felt guilt over his body, thinking how much pain they could've been in embarrassed like that. Constantine had to calm the crowds mocking as someone threw a stone at one of the heads trying to see if it could bleed. Blood dripping down it's eyelashes and the other wiped the face. The body had two arms and legs as a normal body, just with the added head. As Constantine pulled them off he reminded the crowd that they were real and were very sensitive. The crowd did not calm down from this, but were more interested in the torture of it. Constantine approached center stage, looking down.
"Now; ladies and gentlemen, we would like to introduce the final concluding performers. Whose bodies are so deformed they were rejected by so many people, broken and battered, I searched them out from the ends of the earth, so welcome them dearly. First! The girl from the West! A tall woman pale and clean, she has been hurt many times and so easily by those who see her. A sweet little Canadian we call Menagerie; here she is! Menagerie; the girl made of Glass." as he announced a tall girl with long blonde hair slipped out, her body was a slight green colour reflecting the light on the tent and glittering brightly. She had cracking lines on her face, she wore a short ballerina tutu that was black, she had what looked like a chandelier in her head, candelabras sticking out with glassy surface on it. She silently spun around, her slippers tapping the ground as she hopped forward. The glass made a clinging noise and her body shined as she came forward. Constantine held her close by the back, her entire body was covered in glassy surface. She stood in a ballet pose.
"And now, all the way from the land in the East, past China and to an island country like our own, we have the Asian beauty, Hanako, she is really quite the doll…" he said. Out appeared a small woman with short black hair and a frilled white dress. She pranced about and as she got closer you could see the black eyes covered in makeup had a blank expression, her shoulders, elbows and knees were ball jointed.
"The Human Doll of Japan, Hanako." Constantine announced.
The crowd clapped and cheered and began to jump at the sight of the two beautiful girls. Even Arthur began to lean forward, rising out of his seat for a closer look. The two began to dance as a lesser worker began to play the accordion. They danced gracefully, The glass girl shimmering, the human doll always in par with her performance. They danced gracefully and with beauty until the crowd was mesmerised and Menagerie kneeled down as Hanako headed for the trapeze.
She swung back and forth jumping across the trapeze and landing on the mat. As she rose her arm clicked a bit and slid slightly. The doll-girl began to grab her arm, clicking it back into place as she returned to Constantine, she stumbled a bit looking down. The two girls head backstage and Constantine ended the performance, the crowd cheered and clapped. Arthur was a bit disgusted by them. Even the ringmaster knew that the people only liked the pretty ones and nothing else. As the crowd drained out of the arena Constantine headed back of the stage and slipping from the crowd Arthur slipped under the shadows and followed after. The room inside was a big holding pen with cages to hook up to buggies. As he looked around he could see Sika in a cage full of hay, Papillion in another cage close by, covered in flowers. She nipped at some of the petals. Silently he marched on in the darkening area, they were in a fairly large tent on the side and he could hear empty commotion of people playing and eating sweet treats outside. He walked down seeing the two headed man, Lovino was calmly brushing Antonio's forehead where he had been bandaged. Quietly Arthur pressed on, feeling a bit of terror. He looked around, none of them lifted their head to him. As he continued Menagerie looked petrified staring into a small room of another tent. As Arthur pressed in, he could see a man bandaging up Hanako, her arm was bleeding out at one of the joints and there was a wire shoved between the joint and the arm. The man standing over her twisted it a bit and her emotionless eyes seemed filled with pain. Arthur stepped back hearing muttering and clinking, a silhouette was all he could see of the man fixing her. He looked around.
Couldn't get enough?
The man jumped three feet in the air. Constantine stood behind him, his hat off, his blonde hair came down his forehead, his eyes blue and bright.
"C-Constantine!" Arthur blurted out.
Constantine grinned softly.
"That's only a stage name. Real name is Alfred." he hissed. "And you are…?"
"A-Arthur." the man replied.
"Arthur? I see…" Alfred replied. "I saw you earlier during the show. You are very eccentric compared to them. Everyone feels the need to dress their best."
"I.. I don't have that much money actually." Arthur admitted.
"Oh really? Don't despair, I'm glad to see you here. I always get rich snobs who want to have their way with my precious friends… I'm glad you came to the show." he replied.
"Alfred doesn't sound so British, neither Constantine…" Arthur said.
"I know… It's American. I came back from the colonies for a little bit as soon as I heard about this group. I wanted to take care of them They are so unfortunate… I want them to be happy. When I make enough money, I want to take them back to America. That place is built on freedom you know? I want to give that to them…" Alfred smiled nodding. Arthur looked around. He was surprised.
"I'm willing to comprimise for you though. Here." Alfred pulled out four pounds, and placed it in Arthur's hand.
"Take it, we'll reimburse you. Will you come back tomorrow though?" Alfred said. "Please? We work so hard for this…"
"O-of course…" Arthur shoved the four pounds in his pocket looking down. "C-could I maybe see the girls?"
Alfred chuckled.
"Oh I don't know if you'll want to. They're actually guys." he said with a grin.
"W-wha?" Arthur said shocked.
"Hanako's real name is Kiku. Menagerie is my brother from north of the colonies I live in. His name is Matthew. He was… cursed. You could say. With glass skin and bones. Very delicate. He was always delicate like a girl, so we decided to keep it that way. They work so hard they want to leave so badly… You will still come back right?" Alfred asked.
"Of course! I… I'll come by tomorrow." he replied.
"Good… And, if you're low on money…" Alfred fluttered his blonde eyelashes.
"You can always work here."
"T-that sounds like a good idea." Arthur said, a bit flustered, he turned around and ran off telling Alfred he would come by tomorrow, needing to go home. Alfred stood by watching.
"He'll find out eventually." Matthew said.
"The only reason he'd find out is because of you, glass boy…" Alfred hissed. "Unless you want some snipped vocal cords too?"
Matthew shut his mouth, looking down, the chandelier shaking a bit on his head, he touched it softly, shaking as he curled up in a ball.
"The glass will hurt less if you relax…" Alfred hissed.
A dark chuckled emitted from the back tent. A tall silver haired man held the limp Kiku in his arms, covered in blood. The doll like man was dead looking except for a small glimmer in his eyes.
"Heheh… You're very funny, yes? Freedom and friends… Freaks will always be bound down by their appearance. No one is free…" he hissed.
"Ivan… how is he?" Alfred asked.
"He's not going to be performing tomorrow if that's what you're thinking. His arm is fucked. The wires attached to the bone in his arm are rusting. You have any idea how that can stop?" Ivan asked.
"You can cut if off and build a new one." Alfred snapped.
Kiku whimpered in pain.
"Please, you know the only person who'd pull that off successfully would be the Chinese doctor. And he's long gone. We should've pain Wang when we had the chance." Ivan snapped.
"We don't need him. Put Kiku away. We'll just use Menagerie tomorrow." Alfred walked up to the cage smiling.
"You can do the trapeze… right little glass girl?" he hissed.
Ivan dropped the man into his cage, the man let out a moan, clutching his arm. Ivan wiped the blood on his coat and looked around to Alfred.
"Oh, there's a new recruit coming in tomorrow. Someone made a deal to dump some guy on us. A Swiss toy company made him." Ivan huffed.
"Oh good… We'll have quite the set tomorrow then huh?" Alfred huffed. He looked around at the group.
"He'll be welcomed with open arms."
October 1st, 1810
I feel a pain of sympathy for those cursed to be freaks. I sometimes know the feeling of being in a crowd, yet being alone. I saw someone today who made my heart ache. A Human Doll. Even if it was a male, I still feel saddened for him. I wonder if they still live like humans, still have hearts like them. I know they do. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be in a fishbowl like that. I can only imagine that they're suffering. But the Ringmaster told me different. What should I believe? I want to talk to Hanako. Kiku. Whoever that was.
Arthur had attended that second show. He waited until Hanako would come to perform, today's crowd was a bit rowdier and had been throwing things. Luckily none of them walked off injured but now Constantine; or Alfred; didn't seem to stop anyone. He seemed in a different mood. He was constantly staring over to Arthur and it made him nervous.
"And now for the spectacular Glass Girl! Menagerie!" It was evident that the crowd wanted to see the beautiful girl after the first crowd had told of her. They cheered and shouted as the tall man dressed in drag walked out daintily and the chandelier on his head shook. Arthur could tell slightly that he looked nervous.
"Sorry for those of you who came to see the human doll, but she was injured in yesterdays performance. However we have a more daring show! Menagerie would like to attempt the trapeze act! What do you think crowd?" Alfred asked.
The crowd burst into applaud, cheering on Matthew. The glass man shakily approached the trapeze, he shakily moved back and forth on the swings, jumping up and catching the ropes and swings. The crowd cheered and screamed, one of the antsy members began jumping up and down. Some sneaky man had stashed some rocks away just to cause trouble. He pulled one out and before anyone could stop him he threw the stone at Matthew. The tall figure suddenly fell back as the rock missed. Matthew slipped from the swing, he fell back, and missed the trampoline.
CRASH!
The sound of glass shattering everywhere was suddenly heard. Someone hit the man who threw the rock and a fight ensued, Matthew was clutching his leg, his glassy skin was completely gone and covered in blood, his face twisted in pain.
He cried out, sobbing silently. Alfred lifted his hand.
"Enough!" he snapped.
The crowd silenced.
"Thank you for coming out tonight. Please give her a round of applause." Alfred snapped.
The crowd cheered for her and Matthew slowly rose to his feet, shaking. He smiled softly looking around at them, as he turned you could see pain written on his face. He was led back by Alfred as the crowd dispersed chattering and exclaiming in shock of what happened. Arthur walked forward, so did some other people they ran past him going to Alfred, and looking at Matthew.
"Oh Constantine can I get your autograph? And Menagerie?" the boy asked. Another person followed him.
"Hmm. I suppose so." Alfred seemed very calm. "Oh. Arthur. Come with me in a little bit." The two began to give signatures and some other people came up offering flowers to Matthew and calling him a pretty lady and all that. He smiled softly but was writhing in pain. He sat in front of his cage, accepting the flowers and comments. Slowly he looked around. Alfred grabbed Arthur.
"Come with me. Let's have a chat." Alfred murmured taking Arthur away. Slowly as the man exited Matthew felt a sudden fear shoot up his spine. Alfred looked to him as Arthur was turned away, he pressed his finger to his neck drawing a line as if to say. You're dead.
Matthew nodded.
Then he panicked.
That sign, was not to be taken lightly. Not around here.
He waited until they were in the other tent and ran off, his leg shooting with pain as he limped jumping forward to the exit. Kiku watched him, tilting his head. Kiku lifted his fixed arm outward, Matthew grabbed the cage door as fast as he could and opened it. Kiku walked out, unable to talk to him. Matthew limped as fast as he could. He began to shift leaning on the wall, the chandelier breaking on his head as he hit the wall. He began to sprint trying to pull his broken leg forward.
"Come on, come on!" he cried out loud, tears in his black eyes. His leg bleeding horribly leaving a trail in his wake. He turned getting past the crowd of fans and continued to run. Kiku followed behind, asking with his body language to help but Matthew shoved him off. They exited the small sectioned area of town and head through the brick housing. Slowly the two began to make there way through, suddenly Kiku's arm fell off. The small Japanese man picked up his arm and stopped. He signed Canada to wait but the man was not paying attention.
Canada turned around the corner nearly sprinting down the alley. Suddenly he stopped as he ran into a wall. He turned around and saw a shadow.
"Kiku?" he asked. "Hanako?"
"Wrong guess…" a tall figure came forward, holding a sledgehammer.
"I-Ivan…" Matthew fell to the floor. "Please… Don't…"
Ivan only smiled.
"Your contract with the circus has be terminated."
As Kiku picked up his arm he heard the noise of glass shattering, and the sound of squelching blood.
A tear fell from his eye as Alfred picked him up and carried him away.
"Come on… you're smarter than this Kiku…" Alfred chuckled.
The man only whimpered.
As Alfred returned he headed back to the small tent where Arthur remained.
"Oh god!" he yelled. "It's my fault! What was I thinking! Damnit!" he hit his hand on the table.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"Matthew is dead… My poor brother! The injury killed him! What will I do…? I wanted them to be free…" Alfred hissed.
"Oh my God…" Arthur said. "I'm so sorry. What should I do?"
"Please… don't show up tomorrow. I shouldn't have tried to replace Hanako! I was so stupid! Now my brother will never be free!" Alfred snapped.
"Well… m-maybe he is. You know… Um… after-life… wise?" Arthur said.
"I guess you're right. Arthur… I didn't mean to get you involved. But it seems I have… Forgive me. I am too saddened right now. Maybe we could meet tomorrow… Around the city square?" Alfred asked.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk?" Arthur asked sympathetically.
"No no… please go. I'll be fine here." Alfred folded his arms and buried his face into the table. "Please go…"
Arthur slowly got up, looking around, he nodded and walked out of the small tent. As he left he looked around, seeing a dead glassy figure of Matthews broken body, and Kiku in the cage next to his. The small man was extending his hand to Matthew, calmly petting the shattered bloody glass skin. Slowly Kiku looked to Arthur. He slowly lifted his arm waving at Arthur. The British man gave a sad smile, but Kiku said nothing at all as he walked away.
"Damn it. That was close. He could've seen that." Alfred snapped. "Ivan. Is he dead?"
"Completely." Ivan replied, wiping blood of his cheek.
"Good. I should never have tried to replace Hanako… Where is the new toy we have coming in?" Alfred hissed.
The box in the corner, I was going to wait until your performance was over." Ivan replied.
"Too bad I had to kill him off. He was getting famous." Alfred huffed. "I could've made money specifically off of him. I didn't think he would break his leg, much less be stupid enough to miss the mat. I'm assured this new one will be less… fragile?"
"Indefinitely. He's from a little toy company. His name is Basch. But the toymaker called him Lariat. So we'll call him that." Ivan explained.
"Where is he, where?" Alfred snapped his fingers.
"In the box…" Ivan walked over to the corner pulling out a square box that would be too small for a regular dog to fit in. He opened the side, and reached in, slowly he twisted a small metal knob until the clicking sound stopped. A small blond haired man stuck his head out slowly climbing from the box. He was painted and dressed as a solider with their gun on his back full of blanks. He had a large shiny knob on his back.
"Tinker toy?" Alfred asked.
"Yes?" the dull voice of the man asked.
"Not you… Rhetorical. So he's a tinker toy…" Alfred hissed.
"Yes. A Swiss tinker toy, he looks a bit like Hanako, with tin parts instead of wooden ones." Ivan explained. "The toymaker hypnotised him to think every time the knob stopped ticking that he should be asleep."
"Controlled already. Good. He can replace Matthew. Go clean up the cage." Alfred snapped. "But I feel like the little animal people are getting to old… Heracles. The faun is kind of old news…" Alfred brushed his hand across the table. "I think that Arthur looks cute… so innocent… so kind. Maybe we can get the Chinese man to sew bunny ears on his head…"
"You're already looking at new… freaks?" Ivan asked.
"Yes… I think it's time we get another one. Especially with the cute little British man…" Alfred replied.
Ivan pulled the small silver knob out of Basch and he fell forward limply. The Russian picked him up and carried him to Matthews cage. As he picked up the blood covered Canadian with a big broken dent in his chest, Kiku slid back, he turned to the Butterfly girl, Papillion's nest, and pulled a flower, laying it on Matthews arms as Ivan carried him away, never to be seen again.
The Swiss man was placed in the middle of the small cage, Ivan set the silver knob next to his body as he locked the cage.
Silently Kiku sat there sighing as he slowly fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, Kiku slowly heard a scratching noise. Rips in the tent had let in starlight and as the small man looked around her could see the Swiss man standing there outside his cage, his silver knob slowly being slid into the door as he tried to pry it open. Quietly he clicked the cage open.
"Quick. Let's go." he snapped.
Kiku stood up, looking confused.
"Come on woman!" he snapped in a hushed whisper. Basch grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. Kiku was pulled to his feet.
"We have to run." Basch snapped.
Kiku blinked nodding. As he did a small light turned on as a lantern was lit.
"What's that noise?" came Alfred's voice.
"Hurry!" Basch pulled Kiku and the two began to ran quickly, turning around the corner. They disappeared and continued to run until the circus was out of sight. Basch pulled Kiku close.
"I know we don't have anywhere to run. But anywhere is better than the freak shop…" Basch panted. "We needed to get out of there. Do you understand?"
Kiku nodded firmly.
"Good." Basch replied. "Come on, run!" The two took off as fast as they could muster, the dark night was gloomy and Kiku ran as fast as he could. Basch kept up with him.
"They called me Lariat, but my name is Basch okay?" Basch asked.
Kiku nodded running faster a pain in his breath. The two continued to run around the alleyways of Birmingham. Basch looked around.
"There needs to be a way…" he hissed.
A small lantern light began to approach.
"Hanako…? Lariat…? Come out… We wont hurt you…" Ivan's naturally creepy voice sent shivers up the twos spine.
"Run!" Basch snapped. "Find people! I'll distract them!"
Kiku ran off disappearing into the dark alleyways as Basch stood up pulling out the silver knob, looking around boldly. Ivan began to approach him, the lantern lighting the Russian's face. He set the lantern down and ran after Basch, the man flung the knob at him but Ivan smacked it out of the air and pinned Basch to the ground.
"Sad." Ivan said. "Alfred usually makes this less sad and painful. I'll give you one warning. I'm not going to kill you though."
Ivan pulled out a pair of scissors.
"Where did Hanako go?" he asked.
Basch thrashed under him, trying to deliver a punch. Ivan grabbed his throat, pinning him. Basch growled his eyes dark and aggressive.
"Nothing?" Ivan asked. "Then don't speak again!"
The scissors glinted in the moonlight with blood as Ivan shoved the them into the area between Basch's neck and shoulder.
Kiku continued to run, looking around up and down at the alleys. He panted as he rested. Foggy air was thick in the lower streets. As he walked around he moved towards where a group of people were. There was a small brothel where the smoke was almost as thick as the fog. Kiku looked around. A group of drunkards were situated around a bar. Kiku looked around dazed. Suddenly a man pinned the Japanese down.
"Oh… Well what's a girl like you doing here?" the mans breath was full of alcohol and smoke. Kiku gagged and pulled away as he stumbled into the arms of another man.
"Pretty girls shouldn't be all alone at night." the new man snapped. He grabbed the thin dress strap, pulling it down. Kiku pulled the dress up turning, he made a soft whimper.
"Aw… so cute…" he whispered, biting the neckline. Kiku pulled back.
"Leave him alone!"
Kiku looked up. Arthur stood there with a bottle of whiskey.
"Hey, screw off." the drunkard snapped.
"Take this. You can have it. He's mine." Arthur snapped.
Arthur shoved the whiskey in the drunkards hand, who took it gleefully. Kiku looked up. He pulled out of the drunkards hands and cowered into him. Arthur pulled him close carrying him back into the bar. He continued upstairs, holding Kiku close. He arrived at an old flat with a dusty bed and a small kitchen. Slowly he set Kiku down.
"What are you doing out here?" Arthur asked.
Kiku looked down. He was shaky, tears in his eyes. Arthur kneeled down.
"Come on. It's okay. What's the matter?" Arthur slowly pet his hair back. Kiku shivered looking down. He shook even more, wiping his eyes as he pointed to his neck. He ran his hand over the cover.
"Oh… you can't speak?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Oh, it's okay… Um… here. Give me a second." the man walked off, pulling out a piece of parchment and pen. He sat down by Kiku, beckoning them man close. He pulled him into his lap. The man was still traumatised by the whole incident with the drunkard. His dress was ripped a bit and he was shaking. Arthur held him close. Kiku gently pressed up on him. He gave a soft smile to try assuring he was all right. Arthur held him close.
"Cute…" Arthur smiled, holding him close. "It's okay. You're like a kid. Just sit with me. Can you write?"
Kiku nodded.
"You can write out what happened then." Arthur gave him the fountain pen and Kiku looked up at him. He took the pen, looking at the note.
"Why are you here? What happened Kiku?" Arthur asked.
Kiku wrote out two words.
Run Away.
"You ran away?" Arthur asked. "Why? What happened?"
Freed.
"Freed? You were trapped?"
Prison
"You mean they're imprisoning all of you?" Arthur felt a bit sickened as he went on writing.
Yes.
"O-oh… I'm so sorry… I didn't know. I thought you were all working to be free."
Liar.
Arthur felttense, unsure of what to say. He looked over the man, looking at the wooden doll like figure of his body.
"I… I didn't know." Arthur pulled him up. He looked over him. "Why do you look like this?"
Kiku touched the wooden parts on his arms.
Mannequin shop.
Arthur frowned, looking down. He slowly ran his hand over Kiku's shoulder. Kiku wrote one more thing.
Lucky.
"Lucky?" Arthur asked.
I'm lucky.
"Why?"
Not permanent.
Kiku set the pen down, silently he clicked at the wood and it fells off his arm. Slowly he pulled off the wooden plates on his face and forehead. He continued pulling off his dress and clicking the pieces of wood off until he was naked in front of the man, armour like covers all over the floor. He looked up. Arthur was bright red seeing the man undress and bare in front of him. He pulled his dusty blanket off wrapping it around him.
"Everything is going to be o-" Arthur froze looking down at Kiku. He had wood spheres on his larges joints- shoulders, elbows, thighs, and knees.
"Why didn't you take those off?" Arthur asked.
Can't.
Kiku wrote out quietly, holding the blanket around his shoulders with his other hand. Arthur could see wires twisted inside the wooden joints and Kiku's arm going directly into the fused joint.
"T-that… doesn't that… hurt?" he whispered his voice small with shock of seeing the man fused with fake parts.
Not any more.
Arthur hugged him close. He looked down.
"And you still call yourself lucky!?" Arthur snapped.
Kiku flinched, he buried his face into Arthur's shoulder, nodding and whimpering softly. As Arthur looked close he could see scars over his throat from his vocal cords being removed. Arthur held him close, stroking his black hair. Kiku leaned on him, whimpering softly.
"He won't take you back okay?" England snapped. "I wont let him do this to you again. You're going to be safe okay? You're so skinny from all that stuff you have to fit in. I'm going to feed you and take care of you. Okay?"
There were tears in Kiku's eyes at his words. Slowly he leaned on Arthur, pressing their foreheads together. Arthur kissed his cheek softly, setting the parchment down. He pulled Kiku close in his lap, wrapping the blanket around him. He gently touched his shoulder and kissed the area where his shoulder was fused with a ball-joint. Kiku sighed uncomfortably.
"Sensitive?" Arthur asked, touching the wooden shoulder.
Kiku nodded.
"I wish I could do more for you… I wish I could fix you. I guess I could… no. I don't want to mix this with magic. I'm not going to meet Alfred tomorrow. I'm turning him in. That Russian cop downtown can figure it out for me. Are you all… twisted up like this? With wires and scraps? How does Papillion fly? And the two headed men? What made them like that?" Arthur asked.
Kiku looked down taking the parchment.
Experiment
"A science experiment?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Sick bastards… Who'd do such a thing?" Arthur asked.
Kiku shrugged. He gestured to his head, making a top hat outline.
"Alfred?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded, then making a symbol for money and gestured to himself.
"Alfred… bought you like this?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded. He made a big gesture like a group.
"He bought all of you like you were…"
Kiku lifted his finger up.
"But…"
Kiku gestured two people talking with his hands, one being bound and cut.
"Alfred… met you first. And… kidnapped you?"
Kiku nodded. He gestured someone cutting into his arms and legs.
"Someone… cut you up… and sewed the wooden parts back together…"
Kiku continued to make a top hat gesture with people talking.
"Because… Alfred told them to do that?"
Kiku nodded.
"Alfred kidnapped you, paid a man to cut you up and make you like this then bought you back and forces you to perform…"
Kiku nodded again. He pointed to his eyes and then stuck two fingers out point to his head.
"You saw the… two headed man…"
Kiku made a sawing gesture.
"Get cut up…"
He made a threading gesture.
"And sewn together."
Kiku touched Arthur's left leg and arm and made cutting gestures, he leaned over, making gestures to his right arm and leg and pretended to hack them off, he leaned on Arthurs left side and made the sewing gesture again.
"They were two different people!? And they cut them in half a-and sewn them together!?" Arthur felt colour draining from his face, his body shaking. Kiku slowly nodded pulling the bed sheets around his body.
"This is… this is too much… it's sick… why would he… who would do such a thing!? What would he gain!?" he snapped.
Kiku pinched his fingers together rubbing them.
"Money… of course… People become fucking nutcases for it. I'm so sorry this had to happen to you… Lets not talk about it okay? Lets talk about happy things. Do something else. I don't want you to ever have to think about it." Arthur asked.
Kiku looked down at his ball-joints.
"Of course… as long as those are attached you'll always remember…" Arthur held him close, picking the man up and placing him in the bed. He took the tattered dress and placed it on the table. Kiku looked around, feeling a bit cosy. The ceiling was high and it was all stone ceiling and brick on the outside. A lantern lit up the room with a good amount of light. There was some clothes laying on the table to dry, a pair of pants and a shirt. There was a crude kitchen which was merely a stove where Arthur put a pot of dirty water on.
"We'll take a bath when the water heats up." Arthur huffed taking out the matches to light the stove. Kiku sneezed with all the dust in the air and Arthur chuckled at how cute the small man looked sitting in bed with a sheet wrapped around him. He leaned over picking up the doll pieces from Kiku's body and placed them on the table. He walked over to the small room nearby and poured cold water into the bathtub. The place was crude but it was manageable.
"I should probably tell you about myself…" Arthur said scrubbing Kiku's dress in the tub. "I'm an artist but I don't have much money… that's why I was working at the bar downstairs. I need that money but I hate the people… I'll get over it eventually. I just want to get by. Someone gave me a pound tonight, so I have six. I can pay rent and get some food… Anything you like?" Arthur turned to Kiku, who was still curled up in the bed. He shrugged his wooden shoulders exposed. He sat there covering his naked body loosely, he was probably used to mistreatment and not having clothes. Arthur turned red as he slid out of bed with the blanket around his shoulders his front exposed and he walked to the small empty area by the table. There were some small painting Arthur had stashed there. Kiku kneeled down, pulling the sheets off of the other paintings. Arthur pulled the dress from the tub and walked over.
"U-um, those aren't really good." he said a bit embarrassed.
Kiku turned to him and gave a soft smile that made him melt. He shook his head.
"W-well.. If you want to look… y-you can…" he stuttered.
Kiku pulled a few paintings out, looking over them, one was a dog out in the streets. Another was a woman with red hair sitting in a carriage. The third was a man with a child in his arms, holding the mothers hand. He touched one of the canvases softly.
"I paint people I see on the street… I like to make up stories and names sometimes…" Arthur said. "I called the red haired woman Sarah… I don't know who they are, but I've never seen them twice. A lot of people just visit from London, you know? Never really stay…"
Kiku looked over the painting of the family with the baby. He touched it softly, the paint had dried long ago. Silently he looked to Arthur, keeping his finger on the man in the painting.
"I never really made up a name… I just watched them walk for a little bit. They seemed… Happy. I hope they are." Arthur said softly.
Kiku buried his face into Arthur's chest. Arthur looked down, scooping up the man, he set him down in the bed again and cleaned up the paintings, pulling a blank canvas and an easel out. Arthur kneeled down by the bed, smiling at him.
"T-the pot'll take some time to boil… W-would you mind if I paint you?" he asked setting the easel up.
Kiku shook his head as Arthur smiled getting the paint.
"Thanks… I've been working on water colours, since everyone seems to like oil-based paints I wa-ohh…" Arthur felt himself turn red as
Kiku placed the blanket on the ground, lying down on his side, legs slightly hiding his shamed private area as he curled up in the sheets, eyes shining like bright black orbs.
"Ah.. Um… O-okay…" Arthur nearly spilt the oil based paint as he searched for his watercolours awkwardly. Kiku waited patiently in the nude, cuddling the pillow. England sat down, running his hand on the canvas. Swallowing the lump in his throat he tried not to shake as he began to sketch Kiku's body and head. He noticed every time he looked away he was intently staring at Kiku, usually his crotch which made him nervous and upset with himself. He took the black paint adding less water to the hard paint to make it thick and began painting his hair, the short thick lines came up easily on the canvas and Arthur could barely think about his lessons on fat lines and thin lines at the correct placement for hair. He was a bit too mesmerized by Kiku's body. He shuffled his feet in the sheets, exposing himself as he curled up a bit. Finally he had a position with his knees slightly up blocking his groin. Arthur smiled awkwardly.
"S-stay still, Kiku." he said.
Kiku nodded keeping himself in the position. Arthur felt himself turning redder as he began to paint out Kiku's midsection.
"What am I doing!? I don't even know how to paint nudes!" he was freaking out in his own thoughts. "Okay, just keep calm, do your best. You'd never be able to live down an ugly painting."
Arthur began to add little details of scars on his neckline, painting the skin a soft pink around his cheeks and shoulders, turning red as he reached the thighs. As he turned to look he saw Kiku sitting upright facing him in bed, his big glossy black eyes looking at him, his body pink and naked. Arthur turned red and approached him, dropping the paint on the ground as he cupped the mans face in his hands and kissed him firmly on the mouth. Kiku let out a soft gasp, touching Arthur's face gently. Arthur slid him back into the bed, pressing him into the pillows. He murmured sweet talk in his ear for a little bit, nipping at his skin. Kiku let out a pained gasping noise and went back to kissing Arthur's mouth. Arthur pulled his vest off, biting Kiku's lip. Kiku opened his mouth and panted as his tongue slid in, letting Arthur slowly dip into his mouth as he kissed him deeply. Softly he bit his lip, kissing and snuggling the man to comfort him, as he pulled away Kiku's eyes were wide and Arthur felt ashamed.
"I… I'm sorry." he stuttered.
Kiku shook his head, he turned to the stove, pointing at the pot, which was boiling with water.
"O-oh. R-right…" Arthur awkwardly pulled himself up. Feeling embarrassment, he turned the cast iron stove off, and pulled the hot water off. Walking to the bathroom he pulled Kiku's soaking dress out of the tub and dumped the boiling hot water in mixing it around so it was evenly distributed. Arthur beckoned Kiku over and the man walked up not covered with anything. Arthur smiled softly.
"U-um, here, come take a bath. I bet it's been a while. You're a mess." Arthur said. Quietly Kiku entered the tub smiling softly at the warmth of the water. Dirt came off of his feet and he dipped his hands in, wiping caked makeup off his eyes and face. His actual bare face was a bit more colourful, a slight paleness with blush on his cheeks. He curled up in the bathtub and Arthur bowed a bit.
"I-I'll leave you to it." he said taking a step back. Kiku immediately jumped up grabbing his shirttail. Arthur jumped turning around. Kiku's eyes pleaded him.
"You want me to stay?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded. Arthur turned red kneeling by the tub. Gingerly Kiku undid his shirt beckoning him in. Arthur discarded his clothes to the side. Arthur slowly climbed into the tub with him. Kiku smled softly letting Arthur lie back. Kiku slid into his lap, smiling softly. Arthur turned red feeling his own groin getting a bit hard and turned to his side. Kiku grabbed a bar of soap and began washing the makeup caked on his face off. Arthur felt his hand sneak up on his neck as he began scrubbing his hair. It felt nice as Kiku scratched and combed through his hair calmly, smiling and kissing his neck. Arthur pulled him close. Opening his mouth and pressing another kiss to Kiku's needy mouth. Kiku bit softly, giving a pleasurable gasping noise. Arthur leaned back, feeling his erection against Kiku's bare thigh. Kiku turned red and Arthur smiled softly, pushing his nose against his neckline and nipping. Kiku gave a strangled noise and Arthur felt a bit of concern at the noise. Suddenly Kiku reached down, softly rubbing at his erection. Arthur moaned softly and it make Kiku smile.
Arthur kissed his cheek softly as he sat up in the water. Kiku felt the erection and blushed as it was on his leg. Arthur looked over him.
"I'm wondering how I can have sex with a mute person to be brutally honest…" Arthur said gruffly. "You know that if you can't gesture to me what you want I wont stop."
Kiku touched his own chest, patting it.
"I know you're strong. But you can't even moan. God forbid I hurt you… you've been though enough." Arthur huffed.
Kiku gave a quick kiss to his lips. He shook his head, giving a smile.
"Of course you don't mind… I do!" Arthur snapped.
Softly Kiku gripped Arthur's hand and pulled it under the water. He gently led it to his own erection. Arthur turn red. Kiku gestured up and down, slowly stroking himself with Arthur's hand. Arthur felt his heart stop as he saw his face. Tears of pleasure formed a bit, his hand getting faster on the cock and Kiku was starting to blush, his mouth open and panting his mouth failed to produce the noises he wanted to hear, but the man had his mouth open, tongue slightly out and his head back as if he was crying out or moaning. He leaned on Arthur's shoulder biting it as he continued, Arthur squeezed the tip, running up and down the base softly. Kiku was panting, his face red, mouth biting Arthur's shoulder. Slowly Arthur reached back, touching the softly cleft of his butt.
"Hah…" came a gasp from Kiku.
"It's okay… You've felt this way before, huh?" Arthur asked.
Kiku touched his throat on the scars.
"Ah, before when you could speak huh?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Did you… have a family?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Kids?"
Kiku shook his head.
"Siblings?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"I'm sorry…" Arthur kissed him, opening his mouth, laving his tongue and panting. Kiku panted and gave a soft whimper as Arthur pressed two digits into his backside. Kiku pressed back on the fingers, riding it a bit. The two were red in the face and Kiku was in a bit of pain, trying to hold onto Arthur's shoulders. Slowly Arthur lifted him out of the tub in his arms, his two fingers still probing his back.
Arthur slipped a bit exiting the tub and his fingers slipped in deeply.
"Ah! S-sorry, sorry." he apologized and suddenly felt nails raking his back as tears came out of Kiku's eyes. He was panting hard his face completely red. Arthur looked over him, sitting on the ground, Kiku in his arms. His fingers were constricted by soft flesh and wetness from the bath. Kiku was reeling in his arms, mouth open face red, panting loudly which still was not really much of a noise but to Arthur nothing sounded hotter than his panting. Kiku reeled again, clawing and digging his nails into Arthur's back trying to gesture something.
"Is that… your spot?" Arthur whispered in his ear. Kiku nodded pulling himself up on his own and suddenly thrusting himself down wildly. He cringed in pleasure, legs tightly clamped and his face red and eyes full of pleasured tears.
"I'll hit it again with something bigger…" Arthur promised into his ear. He purred shoving his tongue into the ear, Kiku was panting his fingernails in his back again as he bit the sensitive skin around the ear. Kiku's hands were off his back as Arthur supported him a bit with his other arm as his first one was adding a third finger, trying to scissor the man until he was going wild. Kiku was tightening and gasping his face red and his eyes teary, it was a perfect expression as Arthur tortured his spot with his fingers, slowly rising from the floor and bringing him to the bed. Kiku felt his body slipping down and up more and more trying to get the spot hit again. He felt his eyes get watery and hazy his vision crossed as he shut his eyes, mouth open, hands clawing at the bed sheets desperately.
"A-aack… ahh! Hah! Aahah… Hah…" Kiku let out a chorus of strangled moans and began milking his erection at his orgasm. Arthur could only hear the strangled gasp as he felt Kiku release on his stomach. Softly he smiled letting the man have a moment to rest. Kiku's eyes were narrowed and teary from his pleasure. Arthur couldn't help being hard after seeing how his face looked after orgasm. He looked down, Kiku was still taking some breaths to gain his senses. He clung to Arthur suddenly, and pressed himself up against the erection.
"You think you're ready?" Arthur asked softly.
Kiku nodded fiercely, kissing up and down his body. Slowly Arthur pressed the tip to Kiku's insides. Kiku threw his head back, mouth open. Arthur wished he could hear him, but his facial expression made up for it. Kiku was too cute to handle himself, Arthur leaned back trying to moderate going faster or deeper. He wanted to see Kiku from a distance. The mans eyes were squeezed shut, his mouth open, his cheeks red like cherries. He had some saliva escaping his mouth and his hands fisted and curling into the sheets. He looked breathtaking and Arthur let himself bury his erection into the man until he gave a sharp gasp and his eyes were wide open. He knew he had hit his spot.
He continued to ram the spot senselessly until it looked like Kiku was going numb. His eyes were glazed over with pleasure, his mouth was open, panting and making the most adorable whimpers with the back of his throat. Arthur felt himself lose it and lifted his thighs up on his shoulders going in as deep as he could. Kiku's mouth opened wide and he screamed silently, nothing but a large exhale as his face turned bright pinkish red and he looked like he was seeing stars. He slammed hard into his spot until he could see Kiku mouthing words in Japanese, making gestures that didn't even make sense. Arthur could see how evident the pleasure was and decided to give his lover as much of it as possible. He got into Kiku until he could feel him rubbing the base.
"It's all the way in…" Arthur panted, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Haaa…" Kiku was in tears, the pleasure was too much to cope with as he trembled under him. All he could do was nod firmly and claw Arthur's back. Arthur knew he would monopolize the whole conversation. He trusted so Kiku would curl up again, crying out silently.
"Is it good…?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded, tears falling softly.
"It feels good… It's so tight…" England whispered want to tease him more. Kiku turned red tightening up around him even more. Arthur wanted to hear him scream, but this would have to do. He got faster pulling another pale white leg up on his shoulder. Kiku looked near fainting his entire face red, tears in his eyes, head back mouth open in silent screams of pleasure. He clawed the sheets pulling them off the sides of the small bed. Slowly Arthur licked the mans knee area, Arthur was moaning softly trying to keep steady. He bit around the wooden joint and Kiku began shaking as he remember that the area was fairly sensitive. He smiled softly thrusting faster watching Kiku's face.
"Kiku… K-Kiku… can I… come? I-Inside…" Arthur panted slowly while Kiku's response was a furious nod of the head, Kiku was gripping the sheets his brain going a bit numb his body trembling, his hands clawing the bed as he cried tears of pleasure. Suddenly he shot up, curling his legs around Arthur's back. Arthur watched him mouth something in Japanese probably as he couldn't understand. He felt fluid dripping on his legs and he could see Kiku's face flush his body tightened. Arthur felt like he was going crazy. Suddenly he thrust releasing himself into Kiku, the man gasped clawing him silently. As he released he could hear a soft strangled whimper that made Arthur turn red. Kiku fell back, his release now smeared on his stomach. Arthur smiled, curling around him. He smiled kissing his neck. Slowly the two went to sleep, Arthur held Kiku close, petting his hair. As Kiku leaned on his arm he opened his journal, writing something down before retiring to bed.
October 2nd, 1810
I'm in love.
I'm in love with a mute human doll.
I think I've gone mad.
A small room covered with blood and broken metal parts there stood a man of average height, bound up, his neck scratched up. Basch slowly leaned back in his binds. He was tied up, barely being held up by a hook. On his toes so his feet would ache and it would be hard to breathe, his chest constricted by binds. Basch hissed a bit. Slowly he leaned forward, wobbling a bit in the constriction of the ties. Alfred looked over him.
"Fall and I kill you…" he snapped.
Basch stood upright.
"So you won't tell me where Hanako went… I figured that you of all would know your place. But I guess not. You're lucky your vocal cords aren't completely destroyed. Because I want you to tell me where he is. I know you did this. That little hypnosis thing with the gear was a lie, huh?" he asked.
Basch nodded.
"Well, because of this. I'll hold off killing little Sika… but you better cough up some information quick…" Alfred snapped. "Damn it… I never should've tried to replace Hanako with my idiot brother. I shouldn't have taught that bitch how to write…"
"He'll tell them…" Basch choked out in a pathetically strangled voice.
"Oh will he? Tell who?" Alfred snapped. "I'm not stupid… If he tells someone they'll go to the police. But what if I know that policeman? He'll just… persuade them otherwise."
"You…" Basch's eyes widened as he realized what he meant. "Not…"
"I'm sure Ivan's killed the policeman. We'll be good to go if anyone dares turn me in. Now I need to wash the blood off the trail when that British man shows up… I want him in my collection." Alfred hissed.
"It wont work…" Basch coughed.
Alfred smiled pulling out his cane, slowly he pulled a small hidden blade in the cane.
"Oh yeah? And whose gonna stop me?"
Basch looked down, he had no reply.
"That's what I thought." Alfred gripped his face, growling.
"Remember this one thing. You all belong to me."
The man hooked Basch up on the hook coming from the ceiling, he cried out, his arms painfully pulled on.
"And once you belong to me… You don't go anywhere else without me…"
To Be Continued.
AN: Please R&R