Your name for the moment is Karkat fucking Vantas. You pray you won't have to redo this whole charade again, pretending to be a flip book character and not a real person. Like your feelings didn't matter compared to the masses. The fourth wall has been broken in the first paragraph, meaning this story has to have the highest potential. You should stop sassing the author by now, and be a good actor. They guarantee the rest of the story won't be so drudgingly awful, but just like Act 1, introductions need to be made.

You are the Ring Leader. You have many nicknames, each more disturbing to you than the next. For humor's sake you'll supply an example; The Pale Inferno, Bloody Mary, Skelletor, and as of late Casper. When you were born to this forsaken world lack of any pigment besides your blazing red eyes, you never expected it to turn into such a fiasco. The experiments, the needles, all the damn blood work. Albino mammals weren't so uncommon, and you loathed the sight of your body fluids so much you often ended up unconscious in the chair whenever they tried doing transfusions. That's what made you the Freak Leader.

Sitting in the sweltering hot tent you curse quietly, wondering why you couldn't book a venue like usual. It was seldom you actually had to bust the tents out- but this region did like color and excess. The show tonight had been a blast, fucking perfect as usual, if only the spider queen didn't need to go get all hungry mid performance and pop the contortionist's arm out of his socket, claiming it was an accident. They were a bunch of heathens really, and you hated playing care taker. But there were some merits- like how as soon as that thought enter your head a pair of long spindly arms snuck from behind your chair to hug you tight.

Before you let him into this freak show, you would have jumped and screamed. You would have broken him in two. Would have, but you know this man now. The biggest freak of them all that certainly didn't have your heart on his sleeve like a trophy. And then, impressively fast, he was already trying to make a move even though you clearly told him you were not looking for a relationship. Never had and never would, because real love didn't exist. Especially not now.

You remember you're mad at him and push him off, not bothering to turn to look at him. "Aw Boss, what I up and done now?" He laughed, LAUGHED like every thing was one big fucking joke. Clowns. "You FUCKED her, that's what you up and did. And I found her ass half naked and dumped in the dressing room like a used rubber. You were never very good at covering your tracks." And then it was quiet. Blissfully you sighed, thinking he was gone, until you heard the utterly pathetic whisper; "You gonna fire me?"

You should have said yes. Should have. "No, I'm just a little upset. I'll forgive you, you dumb ass, just like always, but this won't be forgotten." Why did your mouth have to be so damn big? There he was, back to hugging you and kissing on your neck, like nothing you said even mattered. He was getting to be way too damn pushy with this stuff, and your impulse was to slap him. You always followed your impulses. And he just stared at you, and you saw that rage dwelling down in his dark purplish eyes, making your stomach flip.

"You know it's cute and all that you wait for true motherfucking love, but I've been all kinds of patient. I wouldn't have to fuck sluts if you weren't such a motherfucking prude, just like your damn brother." And then he left. He left you sitting there, jaw practically on the floor, eyes wide as plates. You were NOTHING like your older brother. How DARE that clown. You might just hold his pay now. This was a circus, not a god damn soap opera, and you were going to remind him what business meant. Not because you held grudges or anything.

Now your name is Aradia Megido. It's a doozy to go by order like this, but you think you can manage to follow up after the ring leader just fine. After all they do call you Casper too, along with many other things. But you like it. You like damn near everything here, and every day is another adventure. Just like today. It was amazing how many people were amazed by magic- if that's what you could call it. They always assumed there was a trap door or some hoax, but everything here was real. Not that you'd prove it.

Since you were young you could pull your atoms apart at will, and just… "Poof". It was fun and all until your parents gave up on you, and tried taking you away somewhere. You were so young you hardly remember, but you disappeared and never went back. Now here you were celebrated, you could party every night and no one thought it was weird when you decided you were done and suddenly weren't there anymore. And then there was the whole reason you stayed, like a moth to a flame.

But the light technician, dreamy as he was, was hired to put the spot light on everyone. He didn't notice you. It was hard, and so you might have flirted with his friends, but what was a girl supposed to do? You weren't as bad as the other Asian slut, but your heart was lonely. This was a circus, not a dating site, but you couldn't help it. You had a really big heart, or something. If only the other tech didn't pant and heave every time you walked by, then you could at least make it.

Not that it matters, because you're now Tavros Nitram and you couldn't give a shit if you tried. You're lying in your tent with your arm in a sling because that BITCH got you again, and you can't believe you sit here in your twenties and still don't have her figured out. You met young, an unfortunate destiny, while your parents put you in a specialist hospital for general child abnormalities. They said you made the dog attack your mom, and while you did, you were only four. How could you have really known?

She was a freak. A real one. She had looked pretty normal at first, a pretty little girl with cute glasses that made her eyes all big like a bug's. Then you realized one pupil was deformed, and she had a pair of arms crossed over her chest and clasped behind her back. You were four, and you loved her. She grabbed the back of your head and bashed your face into the table. That was the first time she broke your neck.

If you could count all the times she broke your bones you would be a mathematical genius, but you supposed you could thank her for it. It was odd how your body could create joints between broken bones, a genetic anomaly you never understood. She did it to keep you with her, and you weren't really mad. But you liked to pretend you were, just to make her apologize before taking it out on her face. You were the contortionist here at this fine circus, and you weren't the same little push over you were as a child. This place changed people.

Unless you were now Sollux Captor, which you are. You never changed, unless it was your mood. Your interests and actions were pretty steadfast, but you happiness came and ebbed like a wave. The wave crashing over your life repeatedly, each and every day, punching you in the face and pulling your hair and fucking you senseless. You did this for the money, besides the fact that the ring leader was a pretty legit guy. And you liked working lights and surveillance anyway. But then those two evil little freaks had to come join, and everything went to hell.

They were too cute and close to be cousins. But they fought like family, so you bought into it. And you always wondered why they weren't together, until the magician noticed you eyeing up his assistant at a cast party. You'd never had a fight like that, and never had a man throw you against the ground and start kissing you right after trying to pound your face in. How you hadn't seen it earlier you would never know, but this guy was gayer than the pony boy who took care of the animals after hours, and that was saying something.

But it couldn't be so easy. His little cousin had seen you staring too, and she liked it. She liked you. A whole lot. You couldn't say no to her, sneaking around with her, and one night she even told you the secret of their act. Of course the only hoax in the whole circus would be that fake ass hipster magician, because his cousin had been gifted with fully functioning gills. They were beautiful and let her remain chained up in his dunk tank for as long as she needed to trigger the release at just the right time for the magician's "spell". Her kindness consumed you, his flamboyance and false confidence invigorated you. There wasn't a way to choose, you'd always been split down the middle. This was a circus, and you didn't have a funhouse. But you sure were seeing double.

As Kanaya Maryam, you now sit in the back dressing room hemming a torn sleeve for the Spider Queen. You loathe her, as she uses you nonstop. It wasn't your fault you were born with this addiction to women's asses, and you growl to yourself as you think of all the times that slut teased you into a favor even though you knew she was a taken straight girl. But then again, you knew a thing or two about straight girls, and that was that they never really wanted to be alone no matter who they had to abuse to remain feeling wanted.

So you fixed her costume because you were paid to be the seamstress, but you wouldn't do anything else. Besides, you needed to forget about those long hot legs, because you had a much bigger crush to deal with. She was the sun and the stars to you, nothing but towering hot blonde dominatrix written all over her whenever you looked at her. She could make these predictions that scared you, way too good at telling the future to not be gifted. She would go catatonic some nights, speaking in tongues, and she let you take care of her. Only you. She was gorgeous like that; a black witch bubbling with some sort of aura that you knew was old as time and dimensionless. You kissed her once, when she passed out after a particularly violent fit, and never told her. You were one lovesick costumer, and she was too vastly superior to ever be yours. Even if you acted tough, you think she probably even knows. But when she calls you her moon, you know she has to be joking. You can't be a witch's muse, you can't be her destined familiar, you can't be any of the shit she says. Even if this is a circus, and she is a fortune telling witch, you can't believe it.

But as far as the love and relationships of this place go, you need to be Nepeta Leijon to understand anything. Like how your partner's daughter is a total lesbian and a total freaky accurate witch who was destined to be with the seamstress. You knew, because her mom could see the future just as clear- when she stopped drinking. Which she hardly ever did, for a reason. Sometimes you didn't want to know anything about the evils of the world that wasn't necessary.

You love this pretty dumb blonde, and you were going to be by her side for a very long time. It wasn't as intense as the crush you had on the ring leader at first, and you still hadn't told her because the chase was most of the fun. Besides, she'd already said she could never see herself with a woman. You wish she'd spend a day sober and really think about it, and know for a fact what the future held. Because you knew different. You knew there was no way a woman like that could stick her hand in your pussy the first day they met and not be after your heart- And you meant your lion, Ponce de Leon, by the way. This was again, a circus. You were a lion tamer and she was your tamer, and as much as she liked cats you knew she had to love you. She had to.

As far as train wrecks go, you are probably the furthest off the rails right now. Your name is Terezi Pyrope, and you wake up in your tent with an ache in your ass something fierce and the distinct knowledge of what you've done. It's slutty and awful, but it was damn good. You shouldn't go fucking men who beat you, but there's something about the violent way he pulls your hair and beats you for breaking his little fake boyfriend's heart. You don't care why he's into you, as long as he is in you.

Besides, you're just here for the safety. You can't see the traditional way, but what you do see is enough to get you killed. You can read anyone's mind, and your ability of prediction is unsurpassed. It isn't constant, it takes effort, and it makes you tired. But it's worth it, to blow the pants off an audience waiting for the secret to be revealed. The only secret was there was no secret. Deep stuff there.

But you can't help but hate yourself, because you did fuck up pretty bad. You had liked him, honestly. You weren't leading him on, until that blonde vixen strolled up to do the sound board and thought you were the hottest thing he'd ever seen. That was probably the start. When he realized you didn't want a relationship, just wanted the friction… The ring leader withdrew his favoritism like a spring. He probably deserve better anyway, you thought. This circus may be a lot of things, but it wasn't a church and you weren't looking for marriage here. It was seedy and raw and that's how you liked it, and he needed to wake up.

He needed to wake up, because you're now Vriska Serket and referring to your broken toy passed out in his sorry bed. You were full of such raw evil, had seen more hate than half the people here, and had drug him into your web with you. You had been abused, tormented, picked apart just like a spider. You were a gorgeous girl and you knew it, if not for your fucked up eye and extra limb. You resented everything that didn't like, and absolutely hated the one thing who did because he had to be lying.

But when he sleeps so peacefully you can remember the boy you met in that hospital, the cute little thing who had looked at you with such shock that first day you had to beat him. You didn't know how in love you both really were, had no clue he'd looked at you like that because he thought you were heaven-sent. You didn't talk, you fought and you fucked and that's what there was. But every night during your trapeze act, when you work as a team to do things with your bodies no one else could even comprehend, you know it's meant to be on some level. If you could open up, maybe there'd be peace. But this was a war that started long before the circus, and you weren't sure if you were ready to tell the truth and wave the white flag. He was a dumb brat and whined too much. Way too scrawny and never took his show seriously. But you were madly in love with him.

Until you become Equius Zahhak, and are a confused mess with no dedication like the majority of the freaks here. Your brain is split between still trying to win over that sweet energetic vanishing girl, and giving in to the stable boy who's been fucking with you for far too long. You know with the girl you'll have a quick victory, a short fling, and then go back to your life. With the stable boy, there are complications. Like his abs, and brilliant sunny eyes. He knows how to help you fix the trucks and mechanics, set up the tents and concessions, and is always the first to be there helping you every night. He flirts with you, but you know it can't be real. He's fucking the head of security and everyone knows it, because he's screaming his name every night.

But everyone knows the head of security is fucking the concession manager, and he thinks he's getting away with it. You feel bad for Ponyboy because he deserves better. That's the thing- you have real feelings for him. You could love him. If you let him get into your heart you'd be letting a taken man have control over you, and you can't allow that. Mainly, your best friend won't allow it. The lion tamer was way too spunky and protective to let anyone hurt you. You're a sweaty manly man of a mechanic, and this is a frilly fabulous circus, but you'll be damned if you let the lights dazzle you into thinking a pretty boy like that could ever like you that much.

Next in the motherfucking line up is the despicable creature introduced earlier, slinking from your boss's tent feeling all kinds of wrong. Why do you have to go and open your big mouth? You know you love him, you know he needs to love you, but you have to keep doing these sick things to torture him like revenge really matters. You should just tell him, but you're afraid. Because words are never enough.

You lead the clown trio, finding solace in their company. The other two have been lovers for so long they readily welcome the spice you bring to their bed, but it's nothing. Them, the psychic, hell, you've fucked half this circus. And none of it ever mattered, because it wasn't satisfying. It wasn't him. And you hate that you've fallen for him, because you used to love the meaningless hook ups and drug induced comas. He's had you sober for over a month, a deep depression and rage bubbling up inside. You didn't want to do anything but burn this place down, and then you remember why he doesn't want you. Why he's still hung up on that stupid whore you'll never know, but you're going to turn around and go right back to her tent, right back to splitting her open, because there's no one else more worthy of being your human fleshlight tonight than that vacuous little witch. You're a clown alright, but there's nothing funny about the look on your face or the worn down club you use to beat her on the regular. One day you're going to really lose it, and then who the hell knows what'll become of this place. If only he would let you in.

And even as Eridan Ampora, infamous dud magician, you feel that. If only he would let you in, you could push your dumb cousin right out. She is always taking your things, and you've almost had it. Besides, anyone could tell that twiggy nerd needed a strong tall prince to come toss his salad. He just didn't want her heart getting broken. Besides, he was never very good at sharing, even if she wanted to share everything.

But there's a secret you have that you won't be telling anyone. Only the blonde fortune teller knows, because she's directly involved. You know that the seamstress is catching on, and starting to loathe you. She knows you aren't interested that way, but you're taking up the time she could be spending with the blonde and she doesn't like it. You need to watch her, because she could be dangerous. But the blonde is teaching you real magic, something you didn't think could be possible. She's going to make you powerful. She said it only takes allegiance with the right power, even if she won't share her source yet. Not till you can prove yourself.

You were the world's shittiest magician, and now you can summon bunnies from a hat and make money appear out of thin air. Maybe they are just stupid party tricks, but the thing is, you know it's real. You know there's no rabbit until you will it into creation, and the fact that she has done this for you is immeasurable. You have no clue that in this circus, dark magic runs rampant, and she's preparing herself to use a spell to summon things much more special than a bunny's soul.

And lastly, grand finale (for today) you are Feferi Peixes. You love this circus, these people in it, and you're so very glad you signed in and donated your fortune to their cause. You've come so far, are almost known globally, and there's no denying how many fans you all have. You're making a change, making a good name for freak shows again, not just flashy production circuses that run on fantasy. No one sees you as more than a pretty girl with your bathing suit on, but the gashes in your sides and the flippers you were born with remind you constantly how abnormal you are. But then there's that tech, that beautiful boy with all his demons, after you and your cousin.

Soon you know the magician will come around and you'll work as a team, and the idea excites you endlessly. The poor boy deserved two loves; he'd had enough heartache anyway. And you would love to share a lover with your cousin, because he is your everything. You fight sure, but he is your right hand. He can do no wrong in your eyes, as for now. But this circus is a crazy mess, running off the rails, about to implode. You don't know he's going to stab your back, you don't know any of the behind the scenes conspiracies. And worst of all, none of you know that your manager has just signed a contract allowing the devil to sponsor your fine show.