I own nothing. Not even this computer. Review.
"So this is the dining tent." Adrien said, impressed by the scale of the thing. Hazel was leading him past the tables that held all of the workers of the circus. A good number of them called out to Hazel who nodded and shot back finger guns or quips as easily as she could. Adrien followed her with a grin.
None of the circus performers recognized him. Or if they did none of them called him by his name. They all said nicknames like Blondie, or Curls, or Baldie. One or two Cueballs. He took it all in stride. He knew that he looked very strange without his hair. But he was not too concerned about it. Hair would grow back eventually. And he was actually enjoying the change of pace.
He was so used to people touching his hair. Or running their hands through his hair without his permission or styling it so that it would look just so. It got grating after a while. And he was enjoying the feeling of the wind on his scalp and the tough bristles of hair on the back of his neck.
He didn't like that he had to wear such restrictive clothing though. He was used to high quality fabrics and furs and silk garments fit for a king. But he was not going to complain. These had been a gift from The Gorilla after all, and he couldn't be mad about that. The dining tent was a low massive white sheet hung up between six or eight poles. On one end was a large table laden with food, on the other end was a large bucket filled with soapy water.
"Here. Eat up." Hazel said pushing an empty plate into his hands. Adrien glanced around, wondering where the silverware was. Or where the salad section was. Most of it looked to be carbs. Lots of bread and butter, cheap slabs of meat, pasta, and very few greens, most of which was covered in thick slabs of oil. He felt his stomach churn a little bit. The food didn't look incredibly fresh.
But Hazel was digging in with a massive spoon as she heaped pasta and red sauce onto her own place.
"Hurry up. A line is forming." She snapped as she began to lob food onto his plate for him much to Adrien's surprise. He tried to keep up and followed her down the table. There seemed like plenty of food for everyone. But all of the workers, from the acrobats to the animal trainers to the freak show to the motorcycle group to the clown group were all pushing and pressing and trying to be the first ones in line to the table. As if they expected to starve within a few minutes.
Adrien followed after Hazel as she walked to a group of people who were chattering loudly away. Adrien did a double take as he realized that one of the people had lobster like claws instead of fingers. A woman had a beard, and a rather obese man was daintily eating a cake.
"Gang this is Blondie. Blondie these are a few members of the freak circuit. Goldilocks." She pointed to the woman with the beard. "Stretch." She gestured to the smiling man who waved his fork at Adrien with a happy go lucky smile on his round cheeks. "And Lobsterman."
"Larry." The lobster handed freak actor said holding out his hand. Adrien took it and shook it. It felt like any other hand would. He had expected something different, a bolt of electricity, a warning crackle. But Larry was as average as anyone else that Adrien had ever met.
"Nice to meet you my name is-"They all hiss and covered their ears. Stretch tuts and finishes his slice of cake before leaning downwards.
"You are new here Blondie that much is obvious. You will get a name when you get a name. That is how this works. But Hazel has already introduced you." He smiles and leans backwards before picking up an orange and starting to peel it. Stretch's voice was incredibly high pitched.
Adrien nods, he still didn't understand this entire name situation. After all, he was Adrien right? Wasn't that all that mattered? Wasn't that the truth? He was actually starting to wonder it a little bit himself. After all if they kept on insisting that he was Blondie and not Adrien...
He shook his head to clear it of all of these strange and confusing thoughts. He instead turned to the circus performers.
"So. How long have you all worked here?" He asked. Goldilocks chuckled before she slurped up her food. Everyone was eating so quickly and heartily. Adrien took a small bite o fhis food and choked it down. It was very greasy, he didn't know how they could stand it. Maybe he was just used to a more...subtle diet. But this felt odd and strange in comparison.
He was hungry though so he ate some more.
"I've been working the circuit since I was twelve. Those two joined up about a decade back. You sure are green newbie." Larry said as he cracked a walnut effortlessly between his fingers and chewed it down. He grinned and winked before eating another in the same way. Adrien was transfixed.
"Sorry if he seems a little weird guys. I can't begin to explain how green he is to this entire situation." Hazel said rolling her eyes. Adrien glowered at her in irritation.
"Hey! I resent that remark!" He said as over the top as possible to let them know that he was just kidding. Hazel rolls her eyes at it while the others chuckled as if it was the funniest thing that they had ever heard.
"A good set of pipes on him. I might be out of a job soon." Stretch chuckles before slapping his belly.
"He does have a good build, I could see him joining a few of the horse riders though." Goldilocks said through her thick beard as she studied him with a wide searching pale eye. She was older then Adrien had first thought, probably older then his Dad.
"No no no. Look at those hands. Animals for him? That is much too soft. The stage Magician is looking for a new assistant. He would do well there." Larry said with a cluck. Hazel rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"Haven't you three heard? The stage Magician was canned for drinking. I heard that the Ringmaster is just doing a favor. He will probably be on just side work."
"Are you worried that they might group him in with you?" Golidlocks chuckled. Adrien glanced at Hazel, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. To his surprise she was blushing.
"I doubt that they will make a green boy an acrobat so fast." Hazel said with a sniff. Adrien nodded in agreement, but his mind was racing. An acrobat. That would be fun! In fact he could practically see it. Flying through the air with the greatest of ease, dancing on a tightrope, jumping and spinning. It would be just like being Chat Noir again! That would be incredible!
He sighed and rubbed his bare finger. He missed his ring. Plagg might still be around but it wasn't the same as actually having his powers and cool costume and baton. Adrien needed to be Chat Noir, he needed to get back into the city in case there was an akuma attack! His lady was depending on him! He had to start searching for his ring. And fast!
"I think that I need some more cheese." Adrien said standing up. Plagg would bug him if he didn't bring him something stinky and old and covered in mold and maggots to chew on.
"Too late. Food is over." Hazel said thumbing back towards the food. Adrien turned with a frown as a large number of older workers stood up and started pulling off the grub. Adrien sighed. Plagg would not let him sleep well tonight after this. Adrien felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and in amazement turned to see an equally large hand holding a tray of cheese out to him.
"Wow! Thanks-" Adrien's gratitude was caught on a laugh as he saw the ridiculous costume that The Gorilla was wearing. The Gorilla frowned in embarsassment and Adrien tried to play the chuckle off as something caught in his throat.
"You look good! Like a real lion tamer!" Adrien said as encouragingly as possible. The Gorilla continued to frown. He was wearing the leopard print leotard, his shaved head was covered in fake scratches and he had a couple of handcuffs attached to his belt. He felt almost naked since his arms were exposed. He had no idea how superheros ran around wearing those skimpy skin tight suits all day. He felt like he was going to be a laughingstock within a few seconds!
Adrien took the cheese and took a big sniff. He grimaced. Yep. Vey old. And very fresh.
"Thank you. Are you a lion tamer?" Adrien asked as the two sat back down at the table. The Gorilla shook his head before making a bicep. "That's right! I'm sorry I forgot. You are a strong man. It's very impressive."
The Gorilla nodded to Adrien and ignored the rest of the people at the table. They seemed nice enough. And it was good to see Adrien talking to other people during his meals. Normally the young man was forced to eat at home alone. The Gorilla was actually happy to see him interacting with others. Of course it was a table full of circus performers who were all very different ages. But it was still something.
Anything was better then locked in that house with that mad man. With all of his actions controlled and beyond his control. The Gorilla smiled gently to himself. This was good. This could work. Now if only the Ringmaster would get a move on and pull up stakes so that they could get out of the country already!
"Okay...This is probably not going to work." Mrs. Cesaire said as she rubbed her forehead. The pantry was empty. Totally empty. It was actually incredible. She had worked in kitchens for close to twenty years and never once had she gone into an empty one. There was always food. Even if it was expired, or just a sack of potatoes. Rich people always had food.
But apparently not the Agreste mansion. Marlena Cesaire mother of four took out her phone and glanced at the screen saver of her four daughters Nora, Alya, Ella and Etta standing and smiling. She smiled for a second before pulling up a grocery store and dialing quickly.
"Hello? Yes. I will need the following ingredients."
She made a quick list and continued to go about her work. The kitchen was small cramped and old fashioned. The house was mostly composed of the front hall and the dining room. It was strange and very intimidating. Marlena cleaned the entire kitchen top to bottom. It looked like only a few choice pieces of equipment were used.
She had taken the job from Mr. Agreste since it would be a pay bump of nearly triple her salary and since she worked at the biggest hotel in Paris that was nothing to scoff at. But this was entirely unprofessional. And it was already late. She doubted that she would get home before one or two in the morning! And then she would have to come back here to make them breakfast as that was stipulated in her contract...
Marlena sighed. This was crazy! Whoever worked here before was smart to quit.
Nathalie walked past and paused in the doorway before glancing around and walking in.
"Chef Cesaire. We expected you to be cooking right now."
"I am sorry Ms. Sancouer. I will get right on that. But the ingredients need to arrive. And I was curious what time you would expect me for breakfast tomorrow morning. And would I need a pass key for the gate or-"
Nathalie cut her off by holding up a hand and going through her notes on her pad. She frowned and shook her head.
"I am sorry Chef Cesaire. But we will need to make you a copy, which might take a few days to go through our supplier. Until then you are more then welcome to use our spare bedroom so that your commute will not be as extreme. In return we can bump up your salary until it is all sorted out. Does that sound good? Excellent."
Without any room for argument Nathalie marched out and shut the door, debated locking it, but felt that was too extreme and walked to Gabriel's study. Gabriel rubbed his chin as he studied Alya's charts.
"Seperation from her mother should speed up the emotional process. But I am not sure if she would be the perfect victim. Chloe might work but she is so..."
"Bratty? Spoiled? A loose cannon?" Nathalie said listing all of Chloe's negative traits out on her fingers. Gabriel nodded before he looked back at the papers.
"Someone emotional. Loyal to Adrien. And broken. I need broken." He mused as his stomach growled. He was hungry.
I own nothing. Not even this computer. Review.