Ignis Aurum Probat ~ Fire Tests Gold
Authors note: Alrighty, so this is a little (kinda longish I guess) intro to my OC Penelope c: Don't fret! This will have regular updates as well as the threading theme of TMNT in the next chapter. I just wanted to get this started first to kinda get the right mood for the next bit. I hope you understand and don't mind! ^-^ I'm unsure exactly how long this'll end up being before it's complete, but I hope to at least do up to 5 parts (after this one) but it's still unclear. Please stick through this with me, there will be some steamin' smut in later parts, there WILL be kinky parts (Well I'll try my best with them anyway) maybe some angst and attempts at feely feels - again, still undecided exactly - but all will be revealed! ;D hah get it, get it- right yeah read this part and then maybe it'll be more funny XD Okay, ima shut up now. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: TMNT are not mine, I take any credit for their fabulous characters or anything, I'm just a fan c:
Prologue -
'There comes to a point in our lives where we realise that things aren't as glorious as the world makes them to be. Excuse me if I sound pessimistic at all, it's just that I'm noticing things - simple things that have different meanings today than they did yesterday; little reminders that the world is changing around us and it's inevitable, we can never prevent it. We just have to roll with it. Why couldn't we have been informed of this when we were younger, though? I suppose that it's because we have to figure it out for ourselves eventually, I guess no one really knows what to expect anymore. Things can change; unfortunately, sometimes the changes can be very sudden and unwanted. As I said, I'm noticing things now, bits and bobs that were different in my child eyes compared to my more aged ones. I'm young still - no doubt about that - but so much is contorted and just... different. I don't mind it, I'm one of the lucky ones really, but how come I never realised at a younger age how change can really affect the person, the family that it disrupts, and how that can control so many factors later on in-'
The door swinging open and crashing against the metallic walls of the camper van caused the scribbling hand to jolt and lurch away, leading the pen off the paper.
"Five minutes! I wudda expected yee to be in yer costume by now! What are yee doin girl?" The camper groaned as the heavy man took a step in, a threatening motion in an attempt to exert dominance and control. Penelope knew better than to test his patience, but she wasn't exactly scared of him. He was big, greasy and pretty much a slob of all possible combinations - even his voice sounded slick with slime and grossness. Erdan was the money guy; bossy of course but the second in command. Boss is the main guy behind the show. Literally. Erdan took another step in, Penelope briefly pausing mid turn to him to watch her pen roll from the small desk.
"I said, what are yee-"
"I heard ya, big guy. I was just making some notes is all... Don't give me that look," swatting her hand at him, she took a small step forwards, automatically he had to take one back. "I was literally just about to get changed. So, if you don't mind..." She gestured to the door he had previously barged through, just about managed to get through anyway.
Scoffing and backing out completely from her trailer, he closed the door finally. Letting out a breath, Penelope's shoulders dipped as she slouched. Looking back to her desk, she couldn't help but feel not at all surprised by the interruption. Whenever she got the nerve to attempt to write to her family something would always come up to stop her. As usual, this time it was her work.
Typically, the showbiz lifestyle seems glamorous and dazzling, but for Penne, it had taken a different route. Circus business has always been a tough industry, even more so for a freak circus. In some places, one-night appearances haul in so much profit that the crew wouldn't have to work for up to a month. Other times, they'd all go through individual stages of hell. People react differently for each place they perform. Since posters on lampposts and corner shop doors announce their arrivals and dates, anyone could turn up. Not always adoring fans of the strange and 'unique' either. The past two cities they visited, the audience that turned up wanted their own type of entertainment, which forced the crew to do an emergency pack up and get the hell out of there as soon as they could with as little injuries as possible. Unfortunately, Penelope's partner was wounded rather badly, their magic act being set back as a last minute plan-B if the unicycle dancing hairy women weren't up for their act before them. Magic was always set as the closing act, but with the magician an antenna down, it all depended on her.
Compared to her comrades in the freak joint, Penelope is the more... 'normal' looking. Hence why she's set as the assistant for the magic show. Hairy women, the Cyclops guy, Markus the Magician who was also part locust, the Twins - one body shared between two, the spider lady - don't even go there. There are others too, but they have more... facial scarring 'freakiness' than the others do, so they feel more comfortable working with the animal acts. Everyone who was in the circus all joined for their own reasons; they felt like they could fit nowhere else, they wanted the excitement of working in the entertainment business, they were bored of their lives at being laughed at for no reason - whatever it was, they all somehow wound up together and made it work. Then there's Penelope.
Squeezing into her 'magical assistant costume' - basically a black and silver striped corset with a simple frilled lining and high-waisted shorts sold the deal - brought a slight nerving sensation to travel up her gullet. Looking in her murky mirror, she swiped a hand over her reflection, an attempt to see herself in better detail but it only smeared the dirt further. Grunting in the knowledge that she'd have to sort that out once the evening was over, she turned and quickly slipped into her thin heels. As much as she hated wearing them, her size really didn't help at all, so some height and shape to her legs was much needed. Give the majority of the crowd what they want anyway. Finally ready, she delicately picked up Markus' cape and fitted it in place. She'd always admired it, but now on her, it gave her no real sense of power. For a good 7 years she'd been part of the 'freak' family, only up until now did she start feeling like she was missing out on so much more.
A heavy and persistent knocking shook her from her wandering mind.
"C'mon lass! Time to go already!" Grabbing her hat and opening the door, she gave one last scan of her small tin personal space - a hoping look for anything that might give her some confidence for leading the act for the first time. Nothing seemed to be helping, and she could already hear the cheerful music playing. Flicking the old light off and locking the door, she turned and faced the dry dirt trail, leading up to the rather small tent. They had no big acts, so if anything did happen they could quickly dismantle the smaller equipment and could be off in no time; hopefully that wouldn't be necessary for tonight. Picking up the pace, she carefully trotted down the path, joining the queue with her colleagues. The sky is clear and fresh, the outskirts of New York always being one of her favourite places to perform. The gentle breeze gave some reassurance to her bare legs and arms, cooling and settling her spiking anxiety and excitement. Boss stopped beside her, snagging her hat from her hands to her surprise and then kindly setting the prop on her head.
"Markus wishes his luck lass." He nodded, and quickly disappeared off into the tent before she could say anything else. Reaching her hand up to run her thumb and forefinger over the black hat's velvety rim, a gentle smile spread over her features. Up until that moment, everything seemed scary and alien and new; but if a freakoid locust-man could entertain children, men and women, then so could she.
Boss spoke out through the mic, and Penelope gazed up and down the line at her chatting crew, her own adrenaline picking as she could see each individual's posture growing and widening like a flower basking in the height of the sun. They were talking about their acts, how well it went and any other things that occurred. It was typical for them to do so, it also made being last so much easier - they were all talking and happy, which gave her some relief. The curtain drew, her breath held as she broke into a bouncy swagger, then jumping out from the curtain presenting herself into the bright light of the tent. She hoped to have just as much visible enthusiasm as those who came on before her, despite almost blinding herself from the contrast of the dark of the night outside compared to the wash of white spotlights inside. As she joined Boss in the middle of the performing ring, her vision calmed while her heart rammed against her chest cavity, a wide grin expanding as Boss introduced her before narrating a short intro about her act. She couldn't help but take a quick glance around the audience - Penelope being sure that it had a good handful of people still, regardless of the time of the evening. They were clapping and cheering, as well as gasping and awing, so it was a good sign at least.
Just as quickly as Boss' intro began however, he was off, and she's left on her own. Fortunately, the magician's hat already had a mic to it, so she didn't have any need to strain her voice, but a flash of white heat broke through her core. She extended out her arms, begging internally that her own voice would break out too, though not break like a hormonal teenage boys would and that her right arm wasn't too distracting. The music faded and she knew it was her time to speak, to announce and draw in her audience members - she had to. Licking her lips before pulling another wide grin, her arms moved in front of her, hands turning and twisting in an attempt to replicate Markus' opening part before she spoke.
"Ladies, gentlemen, all you other cuties out there..." oh Christ, oh Christ, oh god... Okay keep it together Penne, you got this..."Welcome! To the magical part of tonight's show!" Throwing her arms up, she dropped a coloured smoke pellet down to the floor, the audience gasping as the sound of it boomed, thankfully Erdan's sound effects were still on point despite his crappy mood. Waiting for the smoke to fade, she stepped out into the top of the audience row, the spotlight moving and shining on her as she spoke. The audience clapped to the disappearing and reappearing trick, which egged her on to say the least.
"The saying is leave the best til last, but I find that a bit harsh personally," Placing a hand to her chest, she slowly made her way down the steps, careful to take them one at a time with the light being heavy on her eyes. "My friends before me are all brilliant, don't you agree?" The audience members whooped, which she lightly laughed at. Even though it was a smaller crowd, it still amazed her how they can all have such a loud voice all together. Swinging a leg over the plastic barrier of the ring, she hopped over and followed it around, making sure to cover both halves of the audience.
"So! As you all agree, to which I am very thankful for that you are all so kind, shall we call some of them back on? C'mon! Tell me who you want back on once more!" Throwing her arms up again, the lights turned on above the audience, giving them the card to deal for the fate of the evening. She had twenty minutes to go, once she got a few colleagues back on to help be 'professional' assistants; she'd be able to then close with members of the audience. They called out different names and acts, to which she enjoyed running up and down the length of the ring to encourage them to be even louder. Once she repeated the two names of the acts, she held her hands back up again, the lights fell from the visitors back into the centre of the ring. She followed the collected lights and turned to 'magically' draw open the curtains, a mist machine allowing the outside to be more mysterious, and to add to the build up of course. Every little detail they made throughout their acts was for the spectators' enjoyment, and over the years, they found what really kept them interested. A bit of coloured light affect on a mist machine seemed to be popular, especially with Markus' magic act. Fortunately, the old thing was still running strong, and working for tonight.
"You heard the people, friends! Come, come join us once again!" They jumped out, gaining applause from the onlookers as they skipped round the ring, thanking the people in the front row and the rows behind. Joining in the clapping too, Penelope took the moment to gather her wits and figure what the hell she was going to do next. She'd only ever been the assistant, but at least she knew how the tricks worked... well, some of them anyway. It'd be enough for the Juggling dog trainer and The Twins at least. Cards were a safe bet but that'd have to be a quick one, as she always found them boring after a while. She had good reason to call the act short, but pride was too much involved now. She was determined to do it. Not just for the show itself, but for her own sake.
She could do it, and will do it, whether it falls on its face or rises above that and is glorious. She'll do it, wow her audience and be able to share the story of how she stepped up to the mark for once in her life and managed it perfectly.
"Right my friends, let's do this!"
