-still your pov-
The next day the servant and his friend arrived around noon like he promised. You were out buying food for everyone, since you are one of the three caretakers of the circus you always do things like cooking and buying groceries for the people. Joker is the other one that I will mention. He oversees everything. He makes sure that everyone's needs are met and that practice is done correctly.
The moment you got back you noticed there was a carriage in front of the tent. You ran inside, set down the bags of food so you could see who the visitor was. "Phoenix! You're just in time. The attendees have arrived." He said. 'I can't believe it! It's Him. The the cute boy from yesterday. For once I am glad I wore my stage outfit to the store.' You thought to yourself. Suddenly you felt heat rise to your cheeks at what joker said next. "What a lovely, tacker. A boy, I reckon." He said. "Yes. I work as a pageboy. My name is F-Finnian." He said.
"Very nice to meet you Finnian."You said as you shook his hand. You both were blushing when you shook hands. "That's a very imposing name. If you pass I'll give 'ee a stage name." He said. "Are 'ee a boy, though." Asked joker as he leaned really close to him. "Yes." Said 'finnian'. "But being adorable won't get 'ee into the circus, though." Said joker.
"Joker are you trying to make him blush. Or are you simply trying to say what I told you last night. I told you if it was him that you wouldn't embarrass me like this…you said you wouldn't do it." You whispered to him. "I know it's just so fun to see you blush though." He said. "You must do tricks too. What's your specialty?" He continued like nothing happened. "Darts, I suppose." He said after thinking for a minute. "Suppose, That would fall under the knife throwing category then." You said. "Big brother, could you please give Finny some throwing knives." "Here."said dagger as he handed the knives to the boy.
"Now aim for the target." Said joker. Then you stood in between your two brothers as he stood in a throwing stance and started to aim for the target. "You're sure a mean one,Joker. His noodle arms couldn't even throw it that far." Said Dagger. "I am not, bro. It's not a show if the target's up close." Said joker. You glared at dagger, then jabbed him in the ribs with your elbow. "C'mon show some support for him. At least he's trying." You said.
Suddenly the boy threw it, but it almost didn't hit the target when something happened and the knife hit the target. "Oh my gosh!" Shouted joker and Dagger. "You shouldn't be surprised. I knew he had that I'm him." You said as you smiled at finny. Then he turned and looked at you, smirked, and then he threw the rest of the knives and almost all of them hit the center of the target.
You smiled and clapped for him, while almost everyone else stood amazed at what happened. "See. I knew he had it in him." You said as you walked over to him and stood next to him. "Why can't you just let him in already?" You asked Joker. " Because his test isn't over yet." Said joker. "What?!" The two of you said at the same time. "His next test is… tightrope walking!" He enthusiastically.
When he was up on the platform you were practicing your silk routine. The boy seemed to notice because you would occasionally see him glance over at you in awe. "Hey, Finnian if you make it into the circus I'll teach you how to do this if you want!" You said as you continued your routine. "No thank you. I'd much rather watch." He said. "Suit yourself." You said as you finished the routine.
Suddenly Doll gave a giant tug at the bungee cord keeping him from fall. He let out a yelp which made you smile and slightly blush. "Ow, that's tight." He said. "Live with it. Do you wanna die?" doll asked. "Hey doll, make sure to do this life line tight!" Requested joker. "If he falls it'll hurt."
"Can you please test me on something else?!" Finnian asked. "What?! Are you quitting already?" Asked joker. "N-no! I'd just r-rather do something a little different." Said the boy. "Then do it! We haven't got all day!" Said joker. "Joker, quit trying to rush him! Do you remember the last time you rushed a trainee?" You said as you were swinging on one of the trapeze swings.
"So, are you gonna quit?" asked doll. "No, I'm going to do this." He said. After doll was finished with the lifeline he stepped onto the tightrope and started to make his way across the rope. When he was almost halfway done he began to wobble and he almost fell, until he somehow regained his balance. "Bravo! You got this, Finny!" You said. Suddenly something made him keep going and he eventually made to the end, although you didn't know what.
When he got down he was unhappy and he seemed to be in pain, too. "Amazing! I thought you wouldn't make it." Said Joker. "I knew he would make, Joker. You shouldn't have underestimated him. Plus now you're going to have to pay me $10!" you said with a laugh. "How are you gonna get down from there?" Asked Dagger. "Fall. There's a net under me, genius." You said jokingly. You let go and fell. You laughed upon impact. "Now that was fun. Hey Finny! You should try this sometime with me! I think you'd be great at the trapeze" You said him.
When Finnian heard your laugh it caused him to blush the tiniest bit,although he didn't realize it. 'Why is this happening? My fiancée just died, but what's this feeling? Why is she so pretty? She's so sweet, and confident.' he thought to himself. When you walked over you were still giggling a little bit, but soon regained your composure.
"So is this cutie allowed to join, right joker?" Asked Dagger. "Not yet!" He shouted. "Joker, please don't make him go through another test. Don't you think he's been through enough for one day." You said as you placed a hand on Finny's shoulder which caused him to stiffen and blush. "There's something important missing." Said joker as he pointed to the boy. "A great big smile!" "What?!" Said the boy. "C'mon smile. Don't look so gloomy! smile." He said.
"Do you really think that's necessary to make him smile,joker?" You asked. "Yes. Now c'mon smiiiile!" He said. Then the boy gave a wide smile. It was so kawaii. It made you blush, gasp, then you started to smile, yourself. "Well, I guess that settles it. Welcome to the Noah's arc circus. I can't wait to be working with you." You said as you held out your hand and he happily took it in his and shook it.
Later when he was introducing them to everyone he gave them their names. "Welcome everyone. We have some new recruits!" said Joker. "Yes, they are very mysterious, yet kind." You said with a small smile. "This is black" said Joker gesturing to the butler. "Pleased to make your acquaintances." "And this is smile!" he said as he gestured to the one you had come to like. "Smile?!" you and Smile said in unison. "Give them a warm welcome folks!" said joker. Black was laughing at Smile's name, which made you smile. "Smile, why don't you say a few words." suggested black. Smile didn't like being put on the spot like that one bit. You smiled at him warmly awaiting his welcome. "P-P-Pleased to meet you." he stuttered
-time skip brought to you by the Funtom toy company-
When you spotted Joker you immediately ran to him. You always loved helping Joker giving the tours, but this time you were very eager to help. "Excuse me big brother. I was wondering is it okay if I help give the tour?" you asked as you timidly tugged on his cape. "Of course, Phoenix." he said as you walked in between him and Smile quietly. He was wearing his circus costume and it looked rather dashing on him. You suddenly realized that you had a chance to talk to him, but you were very nervous you would slip up so you said nothing.
"To get things started here we have the tents for the ye'll be sleeping in." said joker. "These tent may seems small, but on the inside they are quite big. They can sleep up to three people." you said. "This is where second-stringers, newcomers, stage hands, and such sleep." said Joker. "Yes. They are very important to the show too though. Don't think you aren't." you said with a smile.
After you took them through the maze of tents you showed them to the cooking area. "This is the cooking area and the eating area. Cooking is a pretty big job, but it's mostly taken care of by one of the first stringers who happens to be known as one of the three caretakers of the circus. They oversee almost everything that happens in the circus and knows every single person." you explained. "Does anyone know who this 'caretaker' is?" asked Smile. "No, unless you go into the kitchen and find out." you said. "Oh. Has anyone tried to see who the person was?" asked Smile. "Mmmm I think once or twice. No one quite knows what happened to those people though." you said with a shrug.
After you showed them to the infirmary and the private tents for the main cast Joker asked a question to smile that made him a little uncomfortable. "Hey, what happened to your eye?" he asked. "Oh, there was an accident of sorts." said Smile. "You poor thing. At such a young age too." said Joker. "Were all misfits and damaged people here, so let's be friends." you said as you gave Smile a warm smile which made him blush in return.
After the short chat that Joker had with Smile, Smile asked him a question that you wanted to answer. "So did all of your actors join in your travels like us?" he asked. "Yes and no Smile." you said. "Most of the people joined on tour, but we first stringers all come from the same place." you said as began explaining. "We're all like childhood friends. Phoenix being the third youngest being 13." said Joker. "Childhood friends? I thought you, Phoenix, and Dagger were related." he said. "We are it's just the others aren't." you said.
When you were walking with Smile and black to the final destination Jumbo was playing his harmonica and was playing tom,tom the piper's son from mother goose. "Is that tom,tom the piper's son from mother goose?" asked Smile. "Yes. Indeed it is. I'm surprised you got it." you said "What surprises me is that all the first stringers are all lifelong friends." said Black. "The only one who isn't is snake." said joker. "Really?" asked smile. "Yes. We needed a snake man and his work was top notch so we hired him." you said.
"The first stringers get to eat first so they don't have to fight to get their food, and they get their own tent." said Joker randomly. You had finally reached the end of the tour when you arrived at the training area. "Everyone tries to become a first stringer, but it causes many rivalries." you said. "See. Look at them. They are working so hard to make it to the top. It kinda makes me wish I wasn't a first stringer." you said. "Why? I thought you enjoy being a first stringer." asked Smile. "I do, but the thing is I don't have goals to work towards. If I wasn't a first stringer I would be able to work for being on top and once I got there I would be able to feel the sense of success that is always so good to feel." you said.
'I never thought of my life like that. She must have seen some things that made her think like that. Or perhaps she wasn't always on top.' Smile thought to himself. "Right now is practice for the newcomers and any of the first stingers who want to practice so if I were you I would get started with some warm ups." Said Joker when Beast called for help and soon left. "If you guys need me I'll be practicing, so if you need help, just call my stage name." you said.
Later when you were practicing your silk act Dagger asked you to him with training the newbies. "Of course! I'd love to help." you said as you unwrapped yourself from the silk and then jumped down and landed next to dagger. "Okay. Ready." you said. When you walked over to them they were stretching and Black was bending down with his arms linked with Smile and smile was on his back looking at the ceiling.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt your training session, but I am here to help you with your training." you said. You were inches from Smile's face and it made the both of you blush. "Y-Yes senp- I mean Phoenix." he said as he got off of Black's back. "D-Dagger will also be helping you." you said. "Okay." he said. Silence braced the two of you, until Smile broke the silence. "So, why did you chose aerial acrobatics as your act?" he asked.
Your eyes widened as you looked away and rubbed your arm. "To put it in simple terms I just love the feeling of the air benagh my wi- I-i mean I love the adrenaline rush. Plus it makes me feel free once again." You said. "So, what do you want to do for an act?" You asked him. "Preferably anything but tightrope walking." He said. "Given by what you've shown me you seem like you'd be really good at throwing daggers." You said. "But you also look perfect for aerial acrobatics." "Okay. Can you please help me with that then?"he asked. "Yes, I'd gladly help you guys." You said. Soon you started to help him with everything he needed to know about knife throwing until you started to teach him about aerial acrobatics which he was great at, until it was time for the next show.