"Now I'll give ye a quick tour." Joker said, holding his arm out. "Come with me."
Leading the trio down an area where tents are lined up together, side by side.
"First, these are the tents ye'll be sleeping in. This is where the so-called 'second-string members' -the stagehands, newcomers, and the like- live." He said as he pulled back a curtain, showing the inside of a vacant tent. "There's usually two or three to a tent."
Walking away from the spot, the four walked over to a nearby line of tents.
"And that there's the dining tent and the tent that serves as our larder. It's up to ye new folk to cook up the meals too, so give it your best! The tent all the way back is the first-aid tent."
Walking a little way back from the first-aid tent, the four arrived at a barbed-wire fence. Beyond it were large purple tents.
"From 'ere on back are the private tents of the main cast."
"Private tents?" Ciel asked as his butler eyed the place in suspicion.
"Well…once ye hit it big, ye get a place to yourself. Oh, 'n' one more thing…" pointing over to the first tent near the fence, Joker said, "That's Snake's tent, so ye should stay away for your own good. There are a great many poisonous snakes roaming free, so one bite, and off ye go to the other side. Snake and his slithery friends are still very shy, so newcomers especially should stay sharp 'round these parts…Right then! Moving on."
The four left the area, Red looking back at the tent one last time, before making their way down another row of tents.
"By the way…what's become of your right eye, Smile?"
"Eh!?" Ciel said, alarmed by the question. "Ah…this…there was an accident…"
Placing his skeletal hand under Ciel's chin, Joker lifted his face to meet his eyes.
"How sad…for someone so little to have had such misfortune befall him." He gave the boy a smile as he patted his head, Sebastian's face showing no emotion. "Well, everyone 'ere's got their own issues, so ye'll get along just fine!"
"Y-Yes…"
"Like us, did everyone here join the troupe while the circus was making the rounds?" Sebastian asked.
"For the most part, yes. But all the first-string members come from the same town. Guess ye could say we're all childhood friends."
"Childhood friends?" Red wondered.
"Yeah. But Snake's still a rookie. He's a genius with his snakes, he is… and we were without a snake charmer at the time, so he became a member right quick. If ye join the first string, ye don't have to help with prep, and ye don't have to worry about fighting for your meals. And ye can get your own tent. That's why everyone does their best to get to the top…"
Walking back to the larger tents, Joker pulled a curtain to reveal people stretching and practicing their acts.
"And here we are. The training grounds. Newcomers train and train 'ere with the hope of debuting in an actual performance one day. Ye must always start with the basics. Once ye've made quick work of your warm-ups, then-"
"Joker!" Beast called, entering the tent. "It's almost time!"
Turning to her, he replied, "I hear ye!"
Sebastian and Beast made eye contact, her face turning into a glare at the man as she walked out.
"Well, give it all ye got, ye three." Joker said as he exited the tent.
"A tent full poisonous snakes at the entrance of the main cast's private quarters, hm?" Sebastian thought aloud.
"Guard snakes instead of guard dogs, eh?" Red chuckled.
As Sebastian and Ciel discussed of how they were going to get past the snakes while stretching, Red was leaning forward on her elbows while in a split in front of the two males.
"D-Doesn't that hurt?" Ciel asked, cringing in pain from his stretches.
"Nope." She replied, looking at her nails. "Anyway, back to the plan at hand, poisonous snakes won't kill you, Sebastian. Go see whether the children are here or-"
"They are not here." The demon interrupted the girl.
"Eh?" Ciel said.
"I have not sensed the presence of any children at all in this circus, not last night and not during the tour earlier."
"But we have yet to find proof that the circus has no relation to the missing children." Ciel said, trying to elaborate. "We can't leave until we've looked into all the nooks and crannies of this place."
"Quite. It is entirely possible that they may be in such a condition that I would be unable to sense their presence."
"Don't say such an ill-omened thing." Red muttered, balancing in a handstand with one hand.
"She wishes for the children's safe return." Ciel added, attempting to hold Sebastian's weight on his back from the stretches.
"Yes, sir." The butler replied. "That reminds me…instead of the children, I did sense-"
"Hey! Ye can't be stretchin' all slow and steady, like! Pick it up!" Dagger exclaimed, looking at the small earl who was currently hanging off of his butler's back.
"Huh? Dagger ol' boy, wot about yer act?" A second-stringer asked.
"I was up first today! I'm all done, so I'll supervise yer practice, like." He replied. Turning back to the trio, he said, "First, we gotta decide on what'cher act's gonna be! Requests?"
"I'm fine with anything that doesn't involve me using my body, like the tightrope. Anything but that." Ciel said as he had a flashback to the tightrope.
"Yeah, ye do look awful weak!" Dagger laughed. "Then I'll teach Smile all 'e needs to know 'bout knife throwin'. What about you Angel?"
"If it is quite all right, I would like to stick with the silks." Red smiled at the taller boy, who grinned back.
"Right then! We haven't had anyone on the silks since the last performer's accident."
"Accident?!" the two younger teenagers exclaimed.
"Yeah, she didn't make it when she fell from the silks, came down too fast." Dagger sighed, making the two worry. He then turned to Sebastian. "Black?"
"Well, I do not have any requests in particular…" the demon said.
"Ye've got good reflexes, right? I'll be watchin' so show me what ye can do."
"Yes!"
And with that, he took off and began performing every act with ease, attracting an audience…mostly of women.
Red sighed as she walked over to the silks that had been set up. Turning to the earl, she said, "I'll just go practice…Let me know when Black is done showing off."
Red's practice. ( watch?v=n_maAdhj4sY&app=desktop)
(Ciel's POV during Red's practice)
Even though Sebastian was overdoing it with everyone's attention, I couldn't help but notice Red practicing. From the way she moves fluidly on the silks, as she calls it, to the way she moves as if she's portraying her emotions. I'll never understand how she isn't worried about falling every time she hangs upside down or is high up in the air.
Heh, I thought. She doesn't even know the crowd she's attracted herself.
I can see why Joker picked the name "Angel" for her. She's kind, guiding, not afraid of heights…not to mention willing to risk her own safety for others'.
Damn!
I have a hunch I know what this feeling is now…
(Third person POV)
Red sat up when she heard the sound of applause and noticed the small group that was around her. Smiling, she bowed as she walked back over to Ciel who just snapped out of his thoughts.
"That was tiresome…" Red muttered, then her eyes widened as she shouted, "Black, what the hell!?"
"Okay, okay!" Dagger shouted at the tall demon who was about to do sword swallowing.
Women swarmed around Sebastian, complimenting him. Ciel snuck up behind his butler to reprimand him about overdoing it.
"Man, I give up. Another mad great new feller!? For real!? I can't lose to ye! See, now ye've got their attention…"
"Another newcomer?" Ciel questioned.
"There's this guy who's just joined. 'E's amazin'! O'er there." Dagger said, pointing up.
Sebastian's and Ciel's faces changed into ones of alarm as they looked up at the man. Red's smile grew wider.
"He used to be a civil servant or somethin' and is serious like ye wouldna believe! Hey! C'mon down 'ere fer a bit! Suit!"
The man, known as Suit was standing on the tightrope, his face serious. This man, known to the trio and Grell, is actually William T. Spears. Looking down at the people below, William sighed as his eyes narrowed.
"I thought I sensed something unpleasant…it was you, was it? Good grief." Will said.
Suddenly, the end of his scythe, or garden shears, stabbed into the dirt on the ground in between Ciel and Sebastian, right in front of Red who didn't flinch.
"I never thought we would meet again…Goodness. What ever did you come sniffing around to devour this time?" he asked as he leapt off the tightrope in front of Red and pulled her to him, pointing his scythe at the demon. "You devil!"
The crowd murmured as Dagger muttered, "De…vil…?"
The crowd became silent as they stared at the scene.
"In this day and age, when there are rarely enough grim reapers to get the job done even at the best of times…the appearance of a devil means I shan't be able to clock out on time yet again."
"'E-'Ey what're ye talkin' about…?" Dagger stuttered. "Grim…reaper…you…!"
"N-No, he's just-!" Ciel tried to provide an excuse until Red's laughter cut in, startling everyone.
"Suit, you old fiend! You have to stop saying things like that!" she said in between laughs, the crowd and Dagger joining in.
"Ye said it with such a serious mug, I couldna tell ye were jokin'!" Dagger patted Will on the head, messing up his hair. Turning to the others, pointing at William, he chuckled and said, "Been shootin' off strange jokes from day one, 'e 'as! 'e's always goin' on 'bout souls and the like and 'e's mad fer anythin' to do wiv 'em ghosts 'n' stuff."
Fixing his hair and glasses, William said bluntly, "I am not one for joking."
"I'll introduce ye. These're the rookies who joined today. The tiny one's Smile, the big one's Black, and the little lady's Angel. Yer all risin' stars, so play nice now!"
Turning away and walking, the emotionless man called over his back, "I do not, by any means, wish to make nice with a noxious beast."
"Ah." Dagger said, his eyes widening as he shouted after the reaper, striding off. "'By any means'!? C'mon, teamwork's important in the circus, ye know!"
"Why is a grim reaper here…?" Ciel whispered.
"It is unusual for a grim reaper to go about snooping of his own accord. But now we can be sure of one thing." Sebastian replied.
"There is something going on at this circus after all." Red added.
"It looks like he's worth investigating." The young earl said as he narrowed his eye. "Sebastian."
But he and Red were quickly pulled closely together by Dagger.
"'Ey! What are ye doin' Smile, Angel!? Ye gotta practice, practice so ye don't lose out to Black!"
"R-Right…"
"I doubt I'd be able to catch up to Black, Mister Dagger. My main skill is balance and the silks…knife throwing was something I picked up from my crazy father…"
"Very well then! C'mon Smile! I'll teach ye the art o' knife throwin'!" Dagger said as he dragged the poor boy away, the female waving and whispering an apology as she went to go practice more.
Looking over to the side while making sure the silks were safe, she noticed Sebastian and William refraining from killing one another as the demon dragged the reaper away.
That wasn't suspicious at all…, she thought as she stared at the two older men. Using the silks, she lifted herself up and climbed herself up to the top and tied the two materials together to form a seat, making sure her feet were secured to where she wouldn't fall. She began to aimlessly swing back and forth slowly, as if she was on a playground's swing set. A small smile surfaced as she watched Dagger attempt to teach Ciel knife throwing. The poor boy looked so determined even though he knew his efforts were futile. Though she would never admit it to anyone, she did feel a slight attraction to the young earl, but discarded it seeing how he will eventually marry Elizabeth.
She'll bring him happiness, she thought as her smile faded. That's more than what I could do for him. Seeing as how I'm…different from society.
Sighing, she leaned back as she fell but stopped thanks to the silks holding onto her feet. Swaying to and fro, she was completely lost in her own world that she didn't notice Sebastian or Ciel below, looking up at her.
"Re-…Angel, what are you doing?" Ciel asked, almost using her actual name.
"Oh…you know, just…hanging around."
A sweat drop appeared on the back of the pair's heads at her attempted joke and merely nodded.
"Come along, Joker needs us."
"Ok!"
After untangling herself from the silks, she untied the knot from where she sat and slid down in front of the duo, following behind them as they walked out of the tent.
"Now here's what ye've been waiting for!" Joker shouted over the small audience. "Time to announce room assignments for the rookies!"
Ciel sighed as he sat on a crate, completely exhausted due to his weak figure.
"Yes…" he mumbled.
"What's wrong there, Smile? You look down! Smile, Smile!"
"Y-Yes…"
"The results of the impartial lottery are as follows. Smile will be in tent eight. This is your roommate."
Red watched a brunette girl, though she looked like a boy, walk up to the trio. Part of her hair covered her left eye as she smiled.
"Black will be in tent nine."
"Angel, and I won't be in the same tent!? Or with Black!?" Ciel asked in alarm.
Dagger laughed as he said, "Smile sure is sweet on Black 'n' the little lady. Must be somethin' special!"
"Th-That isn't what I mean-!"
"Ye gotta learn to be more independent!"
Red placed her hand on Ciel's shoulder, making him look back to her. She smiled and nodded in reassurance that it'd be alright. Begrudgingly, he nodded.
"Black's roommate is…Suit!"
Red could easily hear a loud crack at how weary the demon's and reaper's patience has become as she stared at the two who were at war in a staring contest. Joker listed off the names of the other rookies' roommates, waiting for her own.
"And finally…Angel's roommate is…Snake!"
"Crazy-orange-haired-man-say-what-now?" She said at top speed in shock.
Snake walked up to the girl and nodded in hello, two of his snakes waving their tails in greetings on his shoulders.
Not very talkative, huh?, she thought.
Both Joker and Dagger laughed as Dagger said, "Black 'n' Smile 'n' Angel're already friends. This's yer chance to make new friends! Guess we're outta here! Sleep tight!"
Sebastian and William were still in a stare down, Ciel and the girl were staring in awkward silence, Red smiled as she was petting one of the snakes named Emily.
"It's wonderful to meet both you and Snake, Emily! I hope we can get along!"
This will surely be interesting…, the trio thought as they headed off to their separate tents.