Fire's Child
Chapter 2- Swords and Flame
Jak was surprised at how many people turned up. It was like one of the class 1 NYFE races. The entire stadium area was swarming with people.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Daxter.
There was no other way to describe it. It was amazing! The large tent rose high above the sky. Lively music played. People in vivid costumes pranced around, entertaining passers by with acrobatics and comedy acts.
Maybe this will be fun. He thought.
He saw a young woman in a red and yellow costume talking to a young girl. The woman pointed to them and the girl rushed over.
"Good evening, and welcome to the Wasted Circus, the circus where all the staff are completely wasted. Would you like a programme?"
The girl was so sweet, and she said her lines so casually, as if it actually were the 'Wasted Circus'. The woman snorted at the 'wasted' comment, shaking her head.
"Aw, how sweet." commented Keira
"Look, toots, they pay me by how many pamphlets I give out, so take the fucking programme!"
At this the woman just burst out laughing, but every one else was shocked, particularly at the swearing. They each took a programme and watched as the girl toddled off back to the woman, who picked her up and carried her into the tent, still laughing hysterically.
"Hey, she was right!" said Daxter. "They are all wasted!"
"Come one, Chilli Peppers. We're gonna miss the show!" said Sig.
Inside, the tent looked twice as big. Seats ran almost all around leaving a gap for the audience to enter/exit and one for the performances. In the centre was where all the action was going to happen. There was a construction suspended in the air that was probably for trapeze and aerial acts.
"So, Sig, when are we going to meet your friend?" Samos was asking.
"Well, we're gonna meet her after the show but we're gonna see her in act 3 and 7." Sig replied.
"Ooo. Is she gonna be bending in impossible yet interesting positions?" asked Daxter.
"Look at the programme."
Well, this 'friend', who ever she was, was going to appear in the acts called 'Swords and Flame', a fire twirling and sword juggling act with two other people, and 'Circle', a hoop act.
"She's supposed to be really good." commented Sig.
"She sounds dangerous!" exclaimed Daxter. "'Swords and Flame', that's a dangerous mix!"
"There doesn't seem to be any acts with animals in them." said Samos.
"What's up with that?" asked Keira.
"I think it gives the people more to do. You should see some of the things they do!" Sig replied. They could do amazing things. Sig didn't think any one could do the things he had seen. And to them it was just natural.
"Shh!" said Daxter. "It's about to start."
Jay was juggling three razor-sharp knives. Bo, one of her partners in 'Swords and Flame', paced impatiently. The Tumblers had just gone out for the first act.
"Where the fuck is he?"
Jay liked Bo. He was really nice and caring but could get very agitated. He was taller than Jay by at least a hand span, and had silver-blond hair, which was spiked up for the show.
"Knowing Len he's probably out trying to score." Jay commented. "Catch."
"I feel sorry for the girls." Bo caught one of the knives Jay threw at him and began juggling them with her.
"Not just the girls, babe. Not just the girls."
Bo looked at her, trying to figure out what she meant.
"You mean...?"
Jay nodded. Bo cringed. He never though Len would be that desperate.
A clatter of metal was heard. Jay dropped one of the knives they were juggling. Something that never happened.
"Jay? Is something wrong?"
"Huh?"
"You look a little pale. You feeling ok?"
"Sure, just... happy to be home."
Len, tall and dark haired, came waltzing in. His cheek was unusually red and in a strange hand-shaped shape. He had that look he had; the one where he knew something the others did not.
"You'll never guess who came to see the show!"
"Ashlin. Governess of Haven city. Accompanied by the commander of the New Krimson Guards. I believe his name is Torn. An old green guy thing, a blue- head female, a blond female. There was also a blond guy with a squirrel on his shoulder. And Sig. Am I anywhere near your train of thought?"
Bo and Len just stared. Len was surprised at how accurate she was.
"I hate you" Len glared and Jay snickered.
Jay also liked Len. He was like a brother to Jay, and always on the same wave-length as her.
"I know. Pass me a hoop would you, babe?"
Jay studied the red mark while the hoop circled around her hips.
"And was that a gift from the almighty Governess?" she asked Len, gesturing at his red cheek.
"She's taken. Can you believe that!?!?!"
"By whom?" asked Bo.
"Why, she has captured the heart of our beloved commander." said Jay.
"No kidding." Bo stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Len was still ranting. The Tumblers, dressed in blues, came off stage laughing.
"Who landed on their butt this time?" asked Bo.
"There was this squirrel trying to hit on Lena. He got thrown on stage by this hot blond and Yaz stepped on his tail!" said one of the older males of the group.
They all burst into fits of laughter. The Tumblers left, wishing them luck. The next act, three young girls in a hand balancing dance routine, nervously went on stage, leaving Jay, Bo and Len in an uneasy silence.
Bo had a new routine he had to do. He'd never done it before in front of an audience. He could never pull it off during practices.
Len just wanted to impress the ladies.
Jay was feeling these strange vibes. She felt them before, but never this strong. Why was it here?
I guess I'll have to visit the Hut. I hope it's still there.
This was really freaking her out. Her mind was working over-time, trying to find all possible explanations to these strange feelings.
Something touched her shoulder lightly and made her jump.
"Hey," whispered Bo, "We're on."
Jay nodded and grabbed her torches. She held out one of her torches as if were a sword.
"Let's torch 'em, fellas."
The boys held out their torches over hers.
"Right on!"
"Let them fry."
They got into position and walked out onto the stage. A familiar rush of excitement drifted over everyone there.
All the lights went off, it was impossible to see your hand in front of your own face.
Three lights were the only illumination in the whole tent. They moved gracefully around then came to a stop. A larger flame sprouted from each of the smaller ones in a large bowl-like thing. Music had started.
Three young people were standing, swaying slowly to the gentle music. There were two males and a female; all were dressed in reds and yellows.
They moved to the centre and started juggling the lit torches to each other.
They pulled of some impossible moves; already they were wet with sweat. Stopping suddenly, the dark-haired male walked around the other two, looking dominant, and picked up a long pole. He walked back to the centre and held the pole up-right.
The blonde male and the red-head female, who were just standing there, now moved towards the centre. They held their torches near the pole, setting it alight and causing the audience to jump in surprise.
The blonde and red-head moved out a bit. The music got more intense with the addition of a fast-passed drum rhythm. The brunette then moved the pole around and under the red-head, who flipped to avoid the large flame. The crowd stared in awe as the blonde did the same in his turn.
This went on for a while, the brunette swinging the pole and the blonde and red-head jumping over it. At one point the blonde back-flipped on the spot numerous times as the pole went under and over him, leaving the crowd stunned.
The music changed again, going slow. The pole was back in the centre and was extinguished. The three performers went to different positions of the stage and grabbed three swords each.
Like with the torches, the swords were juggled, this time the performer somersaulted in between the exchanges. The audience continued to gawp.
The music stopped. The performer stopped. They moved to the centre. They dipped their sword in a tub of something-or-other and moved to the three lit bowls from earlier. They held their swords in the fire and the caught on.
Fast-passed music came on suddenly. They moved rapidly and rhythmically, performing the more dramatic and wowing acrobatics.
At one point, the female got on the shoulders of the males while still juggling the fiery swords then back flipped off the human pyramid.
When they finished they flipped to the centre, faced the audience, crossed the flaming swords above their heads and posed, the female crouched I the centre and the males at her side, standing.
The crowd roared in applause as they jumped off stage.
The end came too soon for most of the audience. The rush they felt every time one of the performers pulled off a complicated move. The curious glares they gave at the convincing mime acting during a performance. The side splitting laughter at the clowns, who were not dressed in rainbow colours and had painted faces, but were probably trying ever so hard to be serious and not laugh themselves. But it was late and everyone needed some sleep.
Sig proceeded to make his way backstage, the rest followed.
"So, what exactly does she want?" asked Torn.
"I'm not too sure." confessed Sig. "Maybe she just wants to say 'hello'."
"Oh ha ha."
"Excuse me."
They were stopped by a man as talk and bulky as Sig himself.
"You are not allowed to be here. Please leave." the way he said it made it sound like an order.
Jay had told Sig this might happen.
"Jay wanted to see us. Ask her yourself." he said what she told him to say.
The man grunted and glared at them for a while. He then told them to follow.
"We'll see."
"Jay."
"Aagghh!!! Don't do that!!!" Jay cried, gasping to calm herself.
"Sorry, it's just... are you going somewhere?" the man, Kel, asked.
"Say what?"
Jay noticed he was referring to her packing a few things into her small bag. And the fact she had changed her clothes.
"Oh, yeah. I just wanted to check something out. Why?"
"There are these people who say you wanted to see them."
Jay's hand went to her mouth. She had completely forgotten about Sig. But she could always go to the Hut later, and she did need Sig's help.
"Yeah, they can come in."
Sig came in, with a whole bunch of other people. She noticed the Governess and couldn't resist. She snorted to herself.
"LEN!!!"
"What!?!"
Len came running in but stopped as soon as he saw Ashlin, and she saw him.
"You!"
Len gave Jay the most evil look.
"I hate you."
All Jay could do was smile as Len walked way rather hurriedly. The physically had to clamp her mouth shut with her hand as to not burst into laughter.
"So, babe," she was saying to Sig, still slightly laughing, "Who are the others?"
Sig introduced them one by one. She already knew the Governess, Ashlin, and Commander Torn. The small green man was Samos and his daughter, Keira. The blonds were Tess and Jak and the Ottsle was Daxter.
Jay just stared at Jak. There was something about him. He was quite good- looking, tall, green goatee and blue eyes. The eyes were so familiar, like they had met before. She frowned.
No way!! It's impossible.
"Jay?"
"Huh?"
"You wanted to ask me something."
Jay remembered where she was and what was going on. She needed to go to the Hut right now.
"Sig, I'm kinda busy now. Is there somewhere we can meet later?" she whispered.
"I'm always at the Naughty Ottsle." Sig told her. This was weird.
"Ok. I'll meet you there as soon as I can, this is just really important."
"No sweat."
Jay grabbed her bag and left.
I don't believe it.
Cirque du Soleil is the love of my life in the field of miscellaneous entertainment. I have seen Quidam, Dralion, the Solstorm series and most recently watched Varekai. Everything about it is so cool! I love the clowns and the costumes and the storylines. Obviously, Cirque du Soleil was the inspiration for this chapter. I would love to be a part of the French-Canadian circus. But as a costume designer slash make-up artist, as I can't do cartwheels for shits. Well, I can, but that's about it. I did summersault in sport with a trampoline and a fat mattress once. I'm so proud.
Luck and Love,
Anita