I'm back, and have been attacked by the plot bunnies once again. After returning from Quebec City (16 hours there and back from my hometown) and being inspired by the old part of the city, I began furiously retyping this chapter. And so, I present to you, in it revised glory, chapter 5.

Asher needed a game plan. Something that would make the two of them become closer than possible.
And he had just the thing.

"Hey Fenrir! Wha'cha doing?" Dagger said coming up behind the tall lanky boy. The knife thrower had just escaped with his life when he had implied that Avery loved Smile. The small girl had lunged at him, trying to strangle him.

Asher was seated on the hard ground outside the big top, thinking about anything that could give the two an indication of love.
Asher then wrote in the dirt: 'Do you think Smile and my sister could have something together?'

"Ya, for sure!" Dagger replied smiling largely.
Asher smirked and continued scratching letters into the dirt.

'Will you help me figure out a way to get them together?'

"Hell ya! T'is not every day I get ta play match maker!" Dagger laughed out. "Wha do Ye plan on doin?" Dagger asked after his laughter died down to a small guffaw.

Asher thought carefully before scratching into the dirt: 'What if I was SICK and Smile had to replace me in the act?'

"Good idea! I'll get him to work on his strength so he can lift yer sister for all of those up in the air moves." Dagger replied enthusiastically.

'And when he isn't with Black, Doll or Bast, I'll teach him some of the dance.' Asher wrote, then erasing what they had coversed about.
"Then let the teaching begin!" Dagger yelled dramatically.

Dagger had Smile lifting sand bags and running laps around the big top. Asher was in a corner practicing the Swan Lake Suite as it was called. All he had to do basically was lift Avery a couple times and follow her around as if entranced by her beauty and grace.

"Okay Smile. Ye take a breather, then head over ta Fenrir for an intro ta ballet. Ye are his replacement if anything bad happens ta 'im." Dagger said smiling the whole time.

Asher observed Smile as the thin boy dragged his arse over to the brightly painted benches that served as a place for the audience to sit at. It was gonna be fun bending the boy to his will. When Asher was done with him, Smile would be a perfect match for his sister.

Let's visit Avery, shall we...
Avery looked up from the wash bin, potato and a scrubber in hand. Smile had been peeling potatoes beside her for the majority of an hour.
But Avery soon realized that the peels had more potato than the part they were planning to eat.
"Smile, be careful. Soon there won't be anymore potato to peel." Avery said absent mindedly.
"Huh?" Ciel grunted before realizing the tiny potato chip in his hand.
Avery chuckled before drying her hands on her dress. Taking the knife from his hand, she spared a glance at the small pile of potato chips.
"Don't worry, I made this mistake awhile ago." Avery assured him, hoping to relieve some embarrassment from the boy. "But, unfortunately there goes two pounds of potatoes..."
"Well, perhaps I could fry them for fish and chips." Black said, lifting the shredded remains of potato off the ground.
"Would you really?" Avery exclaimed.
Black just smiled in reply.

"So, why do you help the second string? Your a member of the first tier so you don't have to work. I don't understand it." Smile said giving Avery a frustrated look.
"I was raised in a world where everything was handed to me on a silver platter. I was a bit of a brat then, and when I was sent here, I knew how to do nothing. I was useless. So now I jump at the chance to help out, make everyone else's load easier to carry." Avery said drearily. She hated to admit that she had been a snobbish noble girl, even if she was adopted. It just made the new string members wary of her.
"So, I guess I better get some food before the second string descends like dogs on it." she spoke, breaking the quiet silence.
"Oh, one more thing. Beware the showers." Avery told Smile, couldn't have an almost-friend getting sick due to a cold bath.

"Hey big brother!" Avery said cheerily to her tall and lanky twin. Their size difference always made a good joke such as big brother and little sister. Asher heard the cheeriness in her voice and with a few motions asked if she had nearly killed Dagger again.
"No, haven't seen brother Dagger since this morning. And I don't hate him. We just have this love-love, love-hate relationship going on. You just don't get it."
Asher shook his head briefly before letting out a body shaking cough. When ever Avery was around, his coughs would seem to worsen. He'd probably had too many showers in the cold December air.
When Asher saw his sisters worried gaze, he gave her a pained smile and waved her away.
"Okay just make sure to see Doc if your cough gets worse!" Avery shouted as she ran.

Avery ran among the crates and empty caravans, laughing as tears streaked down her face. The wind bitterly slashed at her beared skin, adding a rosey glow to her cheeks and nose. She didn't stop until a cold, wet body slamed into her own; knocking her to the ground.

As Avery gazed at the gray sky, she felt the body slowly struggle to get up, their clothing dripping cold water onto her body; every drop made a shiver go down her spine. She finally began to focus on who was on top of her, all she could see was a single, dark saphire gazing steadly into her shocked ice blue ones.