Hello! I'd like to link to Silica's performace's music! It's actually considered Circo's theme song!
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=6jaVKYZRzUo
To keep with the rhythm I kept while writing, click play at the sight of: (***)
Stranger watched as Rose exited the break room herself, Charge Knight in tow. Her lips drooped into a frown and she heaved a sigh before fixing her jacket and turning to Charge who gave her a nod. With that, she left the room and went to check over Silica. Charge Knight stood at the steps of the trailer known as the break room and his eyes shifted to his side to get a better look at Stranger's silhouette in the dim moonlight. The Wanderer let out a heavy breath and walked towards the puff of a knight with an uncertain swagger in his steps. He stopped when he reached to be right in front of Charge and crossed his muscled arms over his chest in a heavy manner, scowling at the knight. Charge, in turn, cocked his head to the side, utterly confused as to why the Wanderer seemed to be mad at him.
"Oui?" the knight voiced in his purring voice, his tattered cape wrapped tightly around him. Stranger raised an eyebrow and his scowl deepened.
"Why didn't you tell me who she was?" Stranger muttered.
"Pray tell, who is the she you are referring to?" Charge inquired with a lift of his shoulders.
"Rose."
"Rose was Rose. There's nothing else to it," Charge Knight answered rapidly, swiftly turning to the side to follow his master. But Stranger placed himself in the knight's way to ensure he wouldn't leave.
"You answered too quickly for my taste, Charge," the man growled with a tedious tone.
"Excuse moi? Too quickly? Should I answer too late, you'd be even more irritated than what you already are."
"Rose wasn't always Rose. I can see it in her eyes," Stranger muttered, somewhat angry at Charge for having replied to him. Charge was beginning to get irritated as well, heaving a sigh and letting go of his cape so it would fall to the gravel-coated floor. His eyes narrowed in the Wanderer's direction.
"And just how many times have you stared into her eyes long enough to open the doors to her soul, mon ami? Hmm? Maybe not enough if you claim she was someone else before being herself."
"Long enough to find the eyes of someone else lingering within her own! Long enough," Stranger screamed crossly as an answer, turning on his heel and leaving the knight alone under the lights that so intensely shined around the trailer, the carnival music adding edge to the Wanderer's mood and the bright colors clashing with his dark clothes as he slipped back into the tent and next to Athelas, who was sharing a word with some Waddle Dees before the performance started. Rose stood beside Silica as the white-tinted performer demonstrated some "warming up" tricks. When Stranger entered the tent, his eyes immediately fell to Rose, even though he didn't want them to. It was as if she had called out to him and she didn't know it herself.
He was still mad from before with Charge Knight and his lips still curved into a frown. His eyes narrowed in her direction as she gave Silica praise, smiling sweetly at the acrobat. Athelas caught him staring at her and quickly pulled at the corner of his hood so he'd face her. Her blue eyes were glinting with worry and her brows drew together in confusion. Her lips tried to form words, but they stuttered before she could voice anything out.
"What… who… uh…" she scoffed to herself as she met Stranger's angry gaze, his towering height and deep scowl intimidating her more than she imagined. Stranger's gaze softened at the sight of Athelas' afraid reaction and he gave one step forwards, bringing her closer. Her eyes widened, but they were still afraid.
Because he was still mad.
"What's wrong?" she whispered, her eyes scanning his face for any possible suggestions of a smile.
"Nothing," he whispered back, his warm breath engulfing Athelas in a cloud of fog. She blinked and frowned when she noticed he smiled falsely to get her to stop worrying. She gave a smile too and pushed him away gently with her hands over his chest, turning to meet Rose. Rose had her arms crossed and a grin spread across her lips, waiting for Athelas to pay attention to her.
"The kissing's for later," Rose said with tiresome tone, "right now we have a performance to start!"
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Rose began as she reclined against her staff.
"We present to you, the best acrobat the world's ever seen…" Athelas continued, gesturing to the trapeze post on the right side of the tent. It was then when a spotlight shown over the post, over Silica as she gave a graceful bow to the public.
"Silica!" Rose and Athelas voiced together, soon throwing a smoke pellet and disappearing like custom.
The audience whistled far more than anything else at the very pretty gymnast wearing an ebony suit contrasting over her white skin, and a bow to match tied well on one side of the ponytail she wore. She put one foot forward, on the tip of its toes, a red slipper glittering under the spotlight, before the acrobat extended her hands as salute.
The crowd cheered while the performer took to standing on her hands atop the trapeze pole. She weighed herself with her hands before stepping onto her feet again. She waved at a few spectators before moving a few steps forward, placing a foot over the thick thread that led across the two trapeze posts. She heaved in a breath and stuck out a hand.
The spotlight that shown above her quickly snapped in the direction her hand stuck out to, and shown upon Knuckle Joe as he twirled a sort of staff between his hands. With style and grace, he quickly threw it in Silica's direction, making it land just at the hand she'd held out. The spotlight raced towards Silica as she smiled and secured the staff on her hands. With delicacy, she held it in front of her and both her hands gripped an edge of the tool.
She heaved another sigh and straightened her posture, waiting for one of the ringleaders to announce her actions. It was then when Rose's silky voice boomed through the loudspeakers.
"Spectators and watchers!" There was silence as everyone directed their gazes to the box at the top left corner of the tent. A spotlight clicked open, echoing against the quietness and they could spot Rose's silhouette next to the outline of an old-style microphone, a boom mic. Next to her was the tall and muscular silhouette of Stranger and if you narrowed your eyes ever so slightly, you could see Charge's round head at the corner of the glass.
"Circo de los Sueños is a top-notch, five-star circus attraction! Our performers are professionals and prove to be so by performing without the safety equipment required to perform. Please don't alter our performers and turn off all flashing devices near you, thank you!" Rose's voice said almost mechanically, seeming to have rehearsed this many times before. (***) Immediately, music began to play. A beautiful symphony between violins and cymbals and cellos and drums and pianos. The Dees outdid themselves, really!
Silica began walking forwards; the staff helping her keep her balance. She began by walking on the tip of her toes, ensuring her feet didn't slip off the cord. Soon enough the violins raced and she sped up, dashing through the cord. In the snap of a minute, she twirled the staff before placing it under both hands and doing a cartwheel over the cord, making the crowd exclaim in awe. When she landed on her feet again, she ensured the staff within her hands and kept prancing around the cord as the spotlight tailed behind her.
From down on the ground, Knuckle Joe watched was the acrobat performed with a blissful sigh, soon hearing metallic footsteps nearing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Charge Knight as he advanced to him with his cape wrapped around himself.
"She's doing well, no?" the knight purred in his accent.
"Yeah…" Knuckle Joe replied with a smile, his eyes glazing over as he observed how Silica did a pirouette.
"Hm," Charge chuckled, following the other's gaze.
Then Rose approached them, trailed by Stranger, her voice barely audible under the strong sounds of the orchestra. Charge quickly dashed to her side after noticing Stranger's presence and glared at the Wanderer no-too-friendly. Of course, Stranger returned the thought. And yet, Rose was unaware of the situation at hand…
Or was she?
The clash of cymbals suddenly snapped Rose out of her trance, as she was glaring at the gentlemen beside her from the corner of her eyes. She offered Charge a place in her arm for him to stand, but he shook his head no and simply snuggled against her leg, enjoying how the legging's silky fabric felt against his mask. Knuckle Joe wasn't estranged by a bit, he knew the knight was very judicious of who spent time with his Rose and preferred to stand by her side whenever possible. Stranger, however, raised a brow in confusion as he noticed how Rose was unperturbed at the knight's touch, which seemed uncomfortable in the man's view. But Rose had already grown accustomed to Charge's abrupt caresses and shrugged it off.
Seeing as Charge Knight wouldn't budge from his current position and that it'd be awkward for Stranger to crouch down beside him, the Wanderer resorted to sharing a few words with Rose herself. He'd take a chance to ask her what he wanted to know…
But they were in the middle of a performance… Stranger stopped himself from making a big mistake and simply walked closer to where Rose stood. Yet, a bad habit he'd gained was that of walking up to Athelas until feeling her back bump into his chest, having him breathing into her cheek. It was his version of Charge's habit of caressing his mistress. So, absentmindedly, Stranger brought his hands to Rose's waist and brought her closer like he'd do to Athelas…
Huge mistake!
A stinging slap ran through the Wander's face as Rose turned to him, face flushed in embarrassment and anger at the same time. She pushed him off and Charge Knight immediately took action in cocking in his gun and tangling it in his fingers, aiming it at the Wanderer. Only a few fans could see what was going on and quickly they shouted out to the ringleader. She, in turn, glared at Stranger and gave him her back, eyes snapping angrily back at Silica. Instantly later, she remembered Charge had aimed at Stranger and she gestured for the knight to heel, her head not even turning to see Stranger behind her. There was a silence between the leaders, their disciples and Knuckle Joe. The music still played in the background and the people was applauding Silica's antics, only a few attending to what was going on between the group of humans below the trapeze posts. The sweet sounds of pianos and violins clashed horridly with the atmosphere down below, but Rose didn't mind. She just heaved heavy breaths and let a scowl form on her lips.
Charge gave a reluctant sigh and put away his gun, turning swiftly on his heel and tapping his lord's shoe to get her attention. But she simply lowered herself and picked the knight up, squishing him between her arms like a plush doll. His feet dangled in the air and his arms rested in her crossed arms as his head and body squirmed over her torso. He quickly repositioned himself to be standing on her shoulder. She never budged, she only let him go so he'd climb next to her shoulder, but her arms were still crossed over her chest.
Stranger tried laying a hand on her other shoulder, but she pushed it away with a dismissing glove, crossing her arms once more. Stranger frowned and stroked the red hand-shaped mark on his cheek once, feeling it sting still. He gave up on trying to find Rose's good side and raised his gaze to the heavens, watching how Silica did a handstand upon the thread.
The music suddenly sped up again and Silica quickly did 7 front handsprings in a row. At that, the crowd went wild! She landed perfectly on her feet and stopped in the middle of the chord to give a bow. The chord sagged with her weight and she let the music fade in the background before letting herself slip. Her feet slid off the thread, but she swiftly caught the chord with her hands, her body dangling in the air almost a two hundred feet in the air! The hand that swayed in the wind held the staff securely and she twirled it in her fingers to ensure its place.
The audience shrieked in despair and some even rose from their seats, but they all sighed in relief when Silica curled herself between the thread, throwing a foot over it and now with half her body holding onto the chord and the other half at gravity's mercy. It was part of the show!
Now she swiftly replaced herself over the thread, doing another cartwheel and having her feet land safely over the chord, stretching out the staff to help her maintain her balance. There were only a few feet left for her to reach the other pole and she took a chance by leaping forward, the violins racing as she twirled in the air and abruptly, the music stopped, as her feet landed against the base of the thin line and a huge thump was heard echoing against the hollow tent. The lights slammed off and a single spotlight shown above Silica as the piano marked her final bow to the crowd. With her head inclined and a smirk sprawled across her face, she heard how the crowd rose from their seats to applaud her performance. Her eyes soared through the multitude, her head not budging from its position.
Then the echo of another spotlight filled the air and everyone turned their gazes to Rose. With an uncharacteristic scowl, she brought a mic to her lips and spoke.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Silica!" she said through gritted teeth, stretching an arm to point at the acrobat atop the trapeze pole. Silica, in turn, rose from her position and took a velvet rope that swayed in the air near her. She took ahold of it and threw herself off the pole, using the rope the swing around it before landing in the sandy floor next to Rose. Rose forced a smile on her lips before the lights turned off and everyone went crazy while applauding the act.
"WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING?" Athelas raged at Stranger, pushing him off after he had approached her when the show was over. She walked ahead, infuriated, her face red from the anger. Her lips veered into a frown and she let out a small sob, pushing everyone away as she headed to her trailer. The night was beginning to get colder and a soft breeze blew, making her hood stray from her face.
"It's not what you think, it was a mistake! Athelas, please!" Stranger ran after her, but Rose's usual sea of Waddle Dees stopped him from reaching her. He'd held out his hand to see if she'd stop, but all she did was keep walking ahead. Mad at himself, Stranger kicked a few Dees away and kept running after Athelas. He reached to touch her forearm, but she stopped dead and turned around, glaring at Stranger.
"What is it you want now?"
Stranger however, kept quiet and but his tongue to not say anything. Athelas looked so hurt…
"I'm sorry… Please forgive me! I… I mistook her for you, I- I don't know how. Alison nearly killed me when I brought her close—"
"Allison…?" Athelas' brow furrowed as she took a step back to turn around and leave.
"Rose! I meant Rose."
"Rose is Alison! You know— you knew!"
It was then when Rose's voice interrupted their conversation, "Athelas."
Athelas' head snapped in Rose's direction. The magician and ringleader had her trademark coat off, showing a white, long-sleeved shirt under a low-cut scarlet vest. She held her folded coat on her arm and a white glove fiddled with her hair.
"Forgive him, he deserves it… and when you finish, I need to share some words with him," Rose said with a sad smile. Athelas gave a nod and dragged Stranger away, their shadows stretching across the floor as the headlights over them effulged them and took them away from view.
Rose was left there standing with her coat in her hands while Charge made his way towards her.
"Mon cher, shall I introduce zee next performer?"
"No… announce the performers are talking a break, call an intermission…"
"As you wish…"
Broody chapter is broody. Review with your thoughts! And please pass by my deviantart profile to check out some cool pics of the cast of Circo!
crispyxpinky(dot)deviantart(dot)com