The man put his face uncomfortably close to Maeve's and asked, "Are you positively sure?"
In response Maeve's eyelashes fluttered before she made a sound similar to that of a snort while stumbling backwards a blush forming on her bewildered face. Joker wrapped his boney hand around her waist when she collided with him stopping them both from becoming an entangled heap on the ground.
He sighed forlornly . "To tell the truth, my current Master is so willful that I have had quite enough of him.
Joker looked surprised, "Master ye say...Sir, are ye a servant at some grand house." He took in the man's appearance," Ye dress so well I figured ye for a gent."
The man chuckled and shook his head, "Me a gentleman? How absurd." He put his hand over his heart, "I am merely a butler."
Joker and Maeve looked rather baffled so he continued.
"So were you serious about wanting to recruit me for your troupe? If so, I would like to join at once."
Maeve stepped out of Jokers arms, "Sir, are you serious?"
The man looked truly confused, "I am always serious, you see?"
Maeve's laugh twinkled, "You're funny!" She looked at Joker with a radiant smile, "I like him!"
Joker joined Maeve and repeatedly patted the man's shoulders, smile beaming. "If my little Maevey likes ye than you can come by at any time if ye want to join!"
"Hey! Joker!" Beast stormed up to the ringleader once she found out she was being ignored, "How could you decide just like that!"
Joker looked at Beast innocently, "Now, now he's got great talent."
As the pair argued the man interjected, "If you please." He lifted his hand, "There is one other I would like to introduce to you."
Joker looked up, copying the man's action he said, "Certainly if there's another like ye...but I would like to run him throughout a tryout."
The man looked rather pleased, "Understood. Well than the two of us shall impose upon you tomorrow. Thank you so much for today."
Maeve held out her hand, "It was our pleasure. Do you need anyone to see you out?"
The hand took her hand and planted a soft kiss on the artificial skin, red eyes never leaving her green ones. "You do not need to show me the way out. I thank you Miss."
With that the man disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Beast let a hiss escape her lips, "I can't believe this." She shot a glare at both Joker and Maeve and stomped off to her own tent for the night.
Dagger, not wanting to be left behind, began to follow but was called back by Maeve.
" Whaddya want Maev-Ow!"
Dagger stopped as he was smacked harshly on the back of his head by Maeve, "What was that for!"
Maeve just smiled, "You better be glad I didn't wail out on you." She frowned, and again in a haunting tone threatened, "Don't act defiant against me or I will hurt you." She laughed and hugged him, "Well, bye Daggy!"
Dagger just huffed and quickly walked away.
Maeve pouted crossing her arms, "What's with him?"
The red-head just smiled and through his arms out. "I have no idea, but I do know that ye need to get to bed."
Her pout deepened.
"Ah ah no pouting ye know ye get...cranky when ye is tired. "He yawned showing his fang, " I'm tired myself so I will hit the hay jus' like ye."
She pouted for a while more before smiling and throwing her arms around Joker, "Alright then, good night!" After that she walked out of the tent, but not before giving Joker a goodbye wave.
He watched as she disappeared, smiled to the heavens and fondly said, "What am I goin' to do with her."
{Morning}
Maeve yawned as she tied her knee high boots, not used to getting up so early to welcome recruits. As she walked out of her tent she regretted wearing the weird black shorts that Beast got for her. There was a chilling wind in the air that seemed to moan through the circus site. Maeve stretched and adjusted the suspenders over her jade shirt, while she was slowly making her way to meet the recruits her vision was blocked by purple.
"Maeve ye need to hurry up, we're already late!"
Joker hoisted Maeve up to his shoulder and paced to the entrance, Maeve pounding his back as he went.
"Goodness me ye sure brought an incredibly adorable little child!" He set Maeve down beside him. "Are ye a boy?"
As Maeve blinked her eyes she notices that the man from before was giving her a smoldering gaze, he looked into her eyes then his red gaze slowly traveled down her body resting on her bare legs before meeting hers once again. A smirk slowly spread across his face. Maeve blushed and looked at the child in front of them and automatically knew he was a boy, his navy hair brushing the tips of his dark blue eye and, eye patch? She frowned, he was covered in bland clothes and his expression was blank, but she could make out a touch of sadness underneath. How could a child so small have an expression that was so adult like? Maeve turned to Joker and jabbed him in the side, "Of course he's a boy Jokes."
The boy looked at Joker, " I was a pageboy at the manor ummm...I'm Finnian."
Joker bent down and smiled at the boy, "What a grand sounding name you have. We'll give ye a stage name if ye make it into our troupe."
Maeve looked and saw that the man was surrounded by the women of the circus who were in awe by how handsome he was.
Joker continued, "But being cute isn't enough to work in a circus." He looked at Maeve and smiled, "That is unless your Maeve here. Isn't she jus' the cutest thing?"
Maeve rolled her eyes, "What Joker means to say is you got to know how to do tricks."
Joker chuckled, "So little fellow, what are you good at?"
The boy looked confused for a second like he didn't know what he could do. "...Darts?"
"Knife throwing it is!" He looked at Dagger, who had joined the little party." Dagger lend him your knives."
As Dagger gave the knives over to the boy Joker pointed out a target.
"Hit that target over there from over here."
The boy turned around and saw how far away the target was his expression turned shocked.
Maeve, Joker and Dagger all stood to the side as the boy readied himself. Dagger put his mouth to Jokers ear. "Awww man. What a bully y'are ol'timer! With them scrawny arms, 'e'll never 'it the target.
"I'm not being mean. Ye couldn't call it an act 'twere any closer."
Maeve looked at the two men, "Hey don't be mean show some support." She looked at the boy, "YOU CAN DO IT FINNIAN! WHAAA-OOOO!" She jumped up and down waving her arms in the air despite the weird looks she was getting.
The boy looked at her like she was crazy, but blushed and looked away as the man smiled. The boy then looked at the target so Maeve quieted down. He flung the dagger, and it came up short.
Dagger and everyone else smiled in pity, "Aww, I knew it..."
Before it hit the ground the dagger flew up and hit the target.
"NO WAY!" Everyone around had an absolutely stunned faces.
The boy smirked and readied another dagger. Maeve looked for the man to see how he looked, if he saw what just happened his face must have been priceless. But it wasn't he was smirking; Maeve looked down and saw that he had a small rock in his hand. She looked back at the boy and saw him about to throw the dagger so she quickly watched the man again. Maeve saw that the man flicked the pebble with the accuracy of a devil to hit the bottom of the dagger. She heard it hit the target. The man made eye contact with Maeve and before he could do anything she nodded her head. He made a puzzled face, but Maeve understood. He wanted the boy to stay with the boy, so she wouldn't do anything to keep them apart.
"Will that do?"
Joker nodded and went up to the boy as Dagger rushed to the target, probably thinking how the heck did a scrawny boy like that do this.
"Ye seem to have good control. Next up it this! Tightrope walking!"
Joker shouted up to the tightrope walker. "Doll tie the life-line nice 'n' tight now! He's yet a novice, so he'll hurt himself if he falls."
The boy looked rather frightened up so high like that. "W-wont you test me with something else?"
Joker smiled teasingly at the boy. "Ohhhh? Retiring already, hmmmm little fellow?"
The boy shook his head quickly,"N-no, but something other than this-"
Joker yelled up, "Then getta move on, would ye?"
The boy pressed his lips together and began his walk. Maeve glances at the man beside her, wondering what he would do in here. Maeve heard a shout of panic as the boy lost his balance she made a noise of fright as the boy began to tip over. Thankfully he snapped back into place. It was the man; he had more pebbles and was keeping the boy balanced. Maeve sighed.
"Ohhhh, that was close but he recovered."
Maeve looked at Joker, did he not notice this? She looked back at the boy and saw than he looked mad so she looked at the man and saw that he looked like he was enjoying what was happening. Maeve had to smile. She started laughing uncontrollably when she heard the noises the boy was making. Maeve knew that it wasn't very nice to laugh at people's pain, but what was happening at the moment was hilarious.
When the boy was done she was still laughing.
"Amazing! I never thought ye would actually walk the tightrope!"
The boy was rubbing his backside, "Thank You..."
The action made both Maeve and the man laugh, each very differently though. Maeve fell down gasping for breath laughing grabbing everyone's attention while the man discreetly snickered into his hand.
Joker looked at her. "Maeve...what's so funny?"
She immediately stopped laughing and gazed at Joker after quickly glancing at the man who was now staring at her. Maeve then said stupidly, "...I don't really know."
This made Joker smile and pat her fondly on the head, " Oh Maevey...what am I going to do with you?"
Dagger, who was slightly freaked by Maeve's behavior, turned the attention back to the boy. "Ohhhhh okay then" He then smiled brightly shaking the boys shoulders, "Then this cutie-pie passes, ol'chap?"
"Not yet." Joker pointed to the boy who looked both surprised and lost, "The little fellows missing something important." Joker smiled the best joker smile he good, "A first class...smile."
"Wha-"
The man seemed to find this amusing because he turned around, his shoulders shaking from the effort it took to hold in his laugh.
The boy was shaking, his hands clenched into fists as if he were doing something harder than smiling. Maeve bit her lip as she waited for the boy to explode with some sort of emotion. His face was in the shadow of his bangs and his teeth clenched. He then looked up with a beautiful smile on his face. Maeve gasped and couldn't control herself; she grabbed the boy and squeezed him tight.
"Ahhhhhh you're so adorable. Joker can we keep him! PLEEEEAAAASEEEE!"
Joker laughed at her action, "Of course." He looked at her, "But before we announce it to the others why don't ye take 'em to your tent and get 'em all circused up."
Maeve laughed and grabbed both the man and the boy by their sleeves, "Alright then."
In her tent, which was covered in mostly teals and blacks, consisted of a bed in the middle covered with many pillows and blankets, a table beside her bed, a dresser with jars and boxes on it, a desk over flowing with papers , a mirror, clothes hanging on the wall, and many chests. Maeve rummaged through her chests of circus clothing, "...Okay...what should they wear...ahh that's perfect...oh that to...ok I think that's enough." She rose with her arms full of clothing and a hat. "Ok this is for you," She handed the man a top hat with a purple belt like ribbon around it, and a purple tie with a skull on it. "I think I know what Jokers going to name you so that should be all you need." She turned to the boy. "These are for you. I'll wait outside while you put it on."
Maeve waited outside the entrance of the tent looking up at the sky until the man poked his head through the flap and invited her back in. She walked in and took in the boy. He had shorts on much like her own with suspenders, a striped shirt underneath a vest will frills, he traded his plain eye patch with a pirate like one, on his head lay a hat with a black feather protruding from the side. He had stockings on much like Dolls except for one was black. Maeve squealed at how cute he was but refrained from glomping him.
"OK now all you both need is face paint." As she picked out brushes and paint colors from her dresser the boy looked like he was thinking of something to say.
"Umm do you not perform in this circus?"
Maeve motioned for the man to sit down, "Who me?" She looked at the man, "Would you please close your eyes." She mixed the paint with the brush, "No I hate performing in front of people it makes me feel like a dancing monkey."
The boy froze when he heard his own cocky voice say back to him, "That doesn't mean I can't perform at all, in fact I could probably be in a one-man-show being as good as I am." Maeve looked at the boy and giggled. "I can do that and other thing to." She turned back to the man who had a curious glint in his eyes. She finished the simple purple stripe going through the man's left eye and blew on it. "Ok you're done. Finnian if you would sit here." She cleaned off the brush and chose another jar of paint. "I don't perform but I do help around the circus. I help the performers practice; help then with their clothes and makeup, amongst other thing." She painted three black stars like shapes under his left eye. "Ok, well that's it I think." She looked at both of them grinning. "If either of you need help or advice feel free to come here."
There was a crowd in the Big Top where Joker was announcing the arrival of newbies. Beast looked upset, Dagger had a grin upon his face, and sweet Doll stood there like she didn't know what was going on. Which she probably didn't.
"Friends! Lend me your ears! We've a couple of newcomers joining is today." He pointed to the man, "This here is the rookie "Black"...and this little one...is "Smile"!"
Maeve giggled at their reactions, Black snorted and Smile looked absolutely horrified of the name. Which Joker was oblivious to.
"Ye people get along well now." Joker tuned to Smile and Black. "Now I think it's time for your tour, which Maeve and I will be the guides of."
Maeve trotted beside Joker like a good puppy nodding her head.
"First these are the tents ye'll be sleeping in. This is where the so-called "second string members, the stage hands, newcomers, and the like, live." Joker opened a flap, "There's usually two or three to a tent." He let the tent fall back into place as Maeve pointed out the mess hall.
"That tent over there is the dinning tent and that one over there serves as our larder," she smiled, "You are responsible for cooking and cleaning, but I will be there most if the time to help if you need it."
Joker nodded, "Yep, and from hear on back are the private tents of the main cast. The only one not it the main cast allowed back there is Maeve."
Smile gave them a suspicious look, "Private tents?"
Joker shrugged, "Well, once ye hit it big, ye get a place to yourself. Oh 'n' one more thing..." He pointed to a lone tent in the corner, "that's Snake's tent, so ye should stay away for your own good. Snake and his friends are still veeeery shy so newcomers must be extra careful 'round these parts." He gestured to Maeve, "She's the only one out of all of us who's invited to go there, but that's because she can worm her way into people hearts in a jiffy."
Maeve looked away blushing telling Joker to shut up.
They continued the tour, "By the way...what's become of your eye, Smile?
Smile grabbed his eye in shock. "Eh?...There was an accident..."
Jokers face fell into one of sympathy as he laid his bone hand on the side of Smiles face. "How sad...for someone so little to have such misfortune befall him." He looked at Maeve, "Just like our own Maeve here."
Smile glanced at Maeve's artificial limbs with a newfound curiosity.
Joker smiled changing the sullen mood, "Everyone here's hot their own issues so ye'll get along just fiiine!"
Black stepped forward, "Like us, did everyone here join the troupe while the circus was making rounds?"
Joker smiled, "For the most part, yes. But all the first-string members come from the same town. Ye could say we're all childhood friends."
Black looked confused, "Childhood friends?"
"Yep, all but snake who's still a rookie. When he showed up the show didn't 'ave a snake charmer so he became a member real quick."
Smile looked at Maeve, "What about you?"
Joker grabbed Maeve and twirled her, "Maeve here doesn't know much about her past. She didn't find the circus we found her when she was about sixteen. She's been here for two years."
Maeve once again received curious stares from Smile and Black.
Joker took off again followed by the others, he pointed to a tent similar to the Big Top, and "Well here we are...the training grounds." He waved his gloved hand toward the other members, "As you can see this is where second-string members came and practice hoping to one day perform under the Big Top. Ye must always start with the basics. Once ye've made quick work of your warm-ups than-"
"Joker!" Beast entered the tent, "It's almost time!"
"I hear ye!"
Before she left Beast through a hate filled glare at Black, "Just hurry!"
Joker turned Maeve, "Will, ye explain the rest to 'em Meavey?" He began walking backwards waiting for a response.
"Sure, you just get out of here before Beast gets more upset than she already is." She smiled at the two in front of her, "Okay guys do you have any questio-"
"MAEVE!" Dagger jogged up to her and smiled brightly.
"Hey Dagger what are you doing here? Don't you have to perform?"
"Nope, I was first today." He danced around happily, "Things went real well today toooooo!" He turned his gaze onto Black and Smile. "Do ya know what'cher acts gonna be."
A tick mark appeared on Smiles face as he glared at Black, "I'm fine with anything that doesn't involve me using my body. Like the tightrope...Anything but that."
The marksman laughed, "Yeah, ya did look awfully weak!" He then looked at Black, "So I'll teach Smile all he needs to know 'bout knife throwing. What'll ya do Black?"
Black answered with his all too serious voice, "Well I do not have any particular requests..."
Maeve thoughtfully looked up, "You've got some good reflexes so I bet you could do most things." She smiled, "Why don't you show us what you can do."
Before she finished Black rushed forward giving an understanding 'yes'.
"First up, Trapeze!" He grabbed the bar and flew through the air like a professional on the ropes alighting many gasp from the other trainers below. When he landed perfectly on the ground he grabbed bottles and began juggling with skills that matched Jokers. He inhumanly ran up a pole, passed through fire without even singeing one of his long tail coats. As he reached for a sword Maeve stopped him.
"I-I believe that will be enough." She took the sword from him, "I could never stomach this anyways."
Dagger look ecstatic over the performance Black just gave, "Man, I give up. Another mad great new feller! For real! I can't lose to ya!"
Smile looked at Dagger perplexed, "...Another newcomer?"
Maeve nodded, "Yep, there's a guy that just joined us. He's as good as black," She pointed, "He's over there."
Black and Smile looked up at the tightrope with knowing expressions on their faces.
"Come on down Suit!"
The man above looked down and at Black then he abruptly threw the garden tool in his hand so that it landed right between Black and Smile. "I thought I sensed something unpleasant. It was you, was it? Good grief." Suit jumped off the rope grabbing his tool and pointing it straight at Black, "Whatever did you come sniffing around to devour this time?" He slightly moved it closer, "You, devil?"
Maeve looked gob smacked at the show of violence and ran over to Suit, "Now, now Suit!" She said shakily, "There's no need for this now is there!"
Unfortunately she was ignored and the man carried on with his words, "In this day and age, when there are rarely enough Grimm Reapers to get the job done even at the best times...the appearance of a devil means I shan't be able to clock out on time once again."
Dagger who didn't understand what was going on like most people walked forward, "...Devil...Grimm Reaper...?"
Smile looked distraught, "N-no he's just-"
Dagger smiled brightly patting Suit on the head, " That's enough o' that me big fore'eaded friend! Ya said it with such a serious mug I couldn't tell if ya were jokin' or not!"
Maeve sweat dropped at Daggers stupidity, she didn't think he was joking. She looked at Smile who looked relieved.
Suit took out a comb from his jacket and preceded to slick back his messed up hair with it. "I'm not one for jokes."
Dagger didn't notice what he said. "Okay I'll introduce ya then! These're the rookies who joined today. The tiny one's smile. The big ones Black." He patted them on the shoulders," Ya'll the risin' stars, so play nice now!"
Suit turned and began to stride away. "I do not, by any means, wish to make nice with a noxious beast."
"'By any means'! C'mon teamwork's is important in the circus ya know. "Dagger whined shaking his fist in the air. He then grabbed ahold of Smile and drugged him away, "C'mon ya can't lose out to those two so I'll teach ya the art o' knife throwing."
Maeve again sweat dropped and turned to talk to Black, only to see that he too was gone.
"Ahhh what am I going to do!"
