|Two Days Later, The Circus Tent|
"Ye really don't 'ave any talent, do ye?" Joker asked, scratching the back of his head doubtingly. Star glared at him. That one second in which she diverted her attention from the three balls she was supposed to keep in the air, juggling them, was enough to make one of them leave it's trajectory. She reached out after it, forgetting about the other balls.
While Joker caught the stray ball in his prosthetic hand, the other two bumped down on her bottom as she lay face – down in the dust. The ringleader started laughing out loud when she got up and started dusting herself off.
"You're the one that insisted that I joined." She reminded him, sending him another poisonous glare. Running a hand through her hair, Star decided that she would master the juggling act just to get on Joker's nerves.
Joker chuckled when he saw her serious expression. He handed her the blue ball back that he had plucked out of the air. "Now don't ye go givin' me that look." He said, sounding suave like usual. "I was only tryin' to get ye out of yer concentration."
When she looked at him questioningly, he waved his non – prosthetic hand around to the tent that was set up. "When yer performing, ye can't get distracted by someone yellin' yer name or somethin' like that. Ye need to stay focused, or else ye'll end up in trouble."
He pointed back at her, looking confident in his statements. "If I don't get ye immune for that sorta thing, ye'll be a horrible performer!"
Somebody hugged her from behind. "Joker, even if ye say that, we didn't bother to ask Star what she's good at." Dagger said. Star struggled to get herself free, but Dagger didn't let up.
"Dagger, I already told you I don't like being touched! Let go of me!"
"Ah, but since Freckles accepted you as a sister, that means yer my lil' sis too now. So, I get to hug ye!"
"What's that for logic!" she yelled out, giving him a jab with her elbow.
Dagger let go of her, rubbing his side. He gave her a pat on the head. "If ye're goin' to keep that attitude, ye'll never be a cute lil' sis." He warned her.
"I'm not aiming to be one either." She answered him, sticking her tongue out.
Dagger laughed at that, sticking his out too. Joker hit both of them on the head with his cane. "Cut it out, will ye?"
The two troublemakers rubbed their heads, both of them glaring at the ringleader. Joker ignored the looks, pointing his cane at Star.
"What exactly are ye good at?" he asked her.
Star blinked. "Eh, well…" she thought about it for a moment. "I am good at running away?" she said, although it sounded more like a question.
Joker facepalmed, looking at her through his fingers. "That's yer talent?" he asked non – believing.
"I think so. I'm really good at it, and it's useful if you're a thief."
Joker shook his head. "That's not a talent at all!" he replied to her. "I was thinking somethin' in the lines of : I have great balance, or I can juggle fifteen balls at a time."
Star sweatdropped. "I think we already established that I am no good at the latter."
Dagger chuckled, leaning on her shoulder. "What about knives? Ye used a knife the night that we first saw ye." He suggested, excited at the idea that he would have a partner to discuss tactics with.
"My knife? You mean this?" she asked, hitting the inside of her wrist, making a blade pop out of a hidden mechanical device.
Dagger jumped away when the knife popped out. "Hey, watch it with that thing!"
Star pulled up her sleeve, showing the men the device bound to her wrist. "It's not meant for throwing or anything. I use it in the way you saw that night, to create a quick getaway."
Joker tapped a finger against the blade. "Ye actually carry that thing with ye all the time?" he asked.
Star nodded, letting her sleeve fall over the blade again. "I've got this thing for more than three years now. It's pretty reliable, and saved me more times than I can count. There's no way I go out without it."
Joker let out a deep sigh. "We still don't know what kind of job we can give ye now."
Dagger made an eureka sign. "Of course! Limuri, my old partner, quit because she couldn't 'andle gettin' knives thrown at her. We could let Star take her place."
It was Star's turn to sigh. "Well, I can understand Limuri's reaction. What makes you think I can even fit in her costume?"
"Well, ye are both pretty flat chested, so I don't see where there's a problem…" Dagger said, scratching the back of his head.
Star huffed. "I am not flat chested. It only looks that way because I wear these baggy clothes." She let the man know. She was pretty proud of her breasts, and she wouldn't allow any degrading remarks in that department.
"Why do ye wear them clothes then, eh?" Joker asked, looking at her chest area as if he was hoping to see something special.
Star covered herself up from too curious eyes. "Because, I'm supposed to remain inconspicuous when I'm out stealing. Deep cleavage does not equal inconspicuous, just so you know."
Joker grabbed her by the collar, and started dragging her away. "Well, let's get ye somethin' to wear then. Dagger, get Doll and Beast, they're girls, so they'll be able to help out."
"Hey wait, I didn't even agree to take the job! Let go of me!" Star protested in vain. She couldn't help but feel exasperated. Why did Joker not listen to her for once!
|Getting Dressed|
"Well, 'ow is it?" Joker called towards the girls behind the curtain. Star was being helped in her corset by Beast and an ever silent Doll.
Beast gave it a hard tug, making Star gasp for air. It had been ages since she had last worn a corset. "Beast… I think it's tight enough, thanks!"
Beast gave it an extra tug, just to be sure. The woman was jealous of the newcomer, even though she wouldn't say it out loud. Joker… every time there was a newcomer, he ended up spending so much time with them. When it was a male, she wasn't that worried… but when it was a woman, she couldn't help but worry that maybe it would be that one that Joker would fall for. How long had she been waiting for the seemingly carefree ringleader? How long did she already know him?
Now again, a girl – no, a woman – with big eyes was constant near him. Why didn't Joker see how much she wanted to be with him? No, he saw it. Why didn't he act on it?
Star managed to button up her dress halfway up before she couldn't reach anymore. Doll assisted her further, getting the small buttons on the back in place. Star sighed, feeling how short the dress was, reaching above her knees. The only small comfort where the long fishnet stockings, giving her at least the illusion of being dressed.
She tried pulling the skirt down a bit, but Doll slapped her hands. Star frowned, trying to look at her own back so she could see if everything was covered up. Doll grabbed the slightly taller girl's face in her hands. "Stop fidgeting, and get out there." Doll pushed her from behind the curtains.
Star sighed, looking up at Dagger and Joker who had been standing there waiting. The two men started to smile, and had a slight blush on their faces. Star put her hands in her hips. "Sheesh, stop it with the lecherous looks already."
She looked down at the dress. "Besides, this kind of thing doesn't really suit me at all."
Joker waved a hand around when he heard that comment. "Nonsense, it looks great. You just need some more accessories."
He started rummaging through some closets, looking for some of the things he thought would match her outfit. Dagger grabbed her in a hug again. "Awww, don't ye look like a cute lil' sis now!" he said, ruffling her hair.
"Kyaaah, let go of me!" she said, trying to shrug the taller man off.
Dagger ignored her, forcing her to look at the other two girls. "Beast, don't ye think too that she's adorable like this?"
Beast looked away. She didn't want to compliment a potential rival. Dagger didn't notice her reluctance, but kept talking. "Say, big sis, why don't we go and grab somethin' to eat together this evenin'? We could go watch the stars an' everythin'."
Beast said nothing, walking out of the tent. As she left, she gave Joker's back a longing look. In her mind she screamed at the ringleader. 'Tell me I'm the cutest! Tell me I'm the one you're watching!' she knew she wouldn't be able to ever say that to him.
Star scratched the back of her head, seeing Beast walk of like that. "Beast really doesn't like me, huh?" she mumbled.
Dagger looked at her. "What'cha say, Star?"
Star flinched. "Nothing! Can you please let go of me now?"
"Dagger, let go of 'er. How are we s'posed to get her dressed otherwise?" Joker asked, pulling Dagger off with his good arm. In his prosthetic hand he was holding a hat and a staff. Joker placed the hat a little lopsided on her head, and made her hold the staff. Then he walked around her, inspecting her.
Star tried to follow him with her head, trying to ignore the approving sounds he made. When he stood back in front of her, he finally said. "Good… but there's one thing missing."
"What then?" she asked him, getting annoyed with the whole getting dressed thing. Joker grabbed her face, making her instinctively move back. He didn't let off, peering into her eyes intently. "Wh – what?" she asked, nervously.
"Ye need to smile." He told her, trying to pull the corners of her mouth up in a smile.
She slapped his hands away with her new cane. "I don't want to." She told him.
Dagger nodded with Joker's statement. "He's right, ye haven't smiled once ever since ye got here. So, show us yer smile."
Star pouted, looking away from the men. "I hardly see why that would be necessary." She hadn't smiled much, these past four years. There hadn't been much reason to do so. Only when George was being healthy and happy did she show a rare grin. Doll, ever silent Doll, was standing behind her, also waiting to see a smile.
Star bit her tongue. These people wouldn't let her get out of the tent if she didn't smile, she already saw that coming. "Ugh, fine, I'll smile. This once. In return, I want to go to town tomorrow. It's my brother's birthday, and I want to get him a nice present."
Joker nodded. "Deal. Now smile."
Star forced a smile on her face. Joker shook his head. That smile wasn't even close to what he wanted to see. 'Okay, think funny thoughts… think funny thoughts…' she thought about Dagger's antics at the breakfast table, but it didn't quite work. Joker's constant suave remarks didn't do much either. Then she thought about her kid brother's smiling face when she had told him they'd be staying with the circus.
The thought brought a natural smile to her face. Joker blushed when he saw her smile like that. An odd tickle went down his spine, took a twist in his stomach before routing for his toes. 'That smile… amazing.' He thought to himself.
Star wiped the smile of her face, and looked at the ringleader expectantly. "Well, that any better?"
Joker cleared his throat. "Much better. As promised, we'll go to town tomorrow. It'll be good advertisin', so wear yer new outfit."
She shook her head. "Wait, I have to wear this in town? But it's embarrassing! This is waaaaay too short to show myself in public in! Not to mention I can't conceal my knife in this kind of outfit."
Joker chuckled. "I didn't know ye were plannin' on gettin' in trouble. If it's necessary, I'll come save ye."
Star blushed when she heard that. "Don't say such embarrassing things."
Dagger laughed. "Awww, but Star's really startin' to become a cute lil' sis after all."
Star got an anger vain on her head. "Don't call me lil' sis, you!"
|That Evening|
Star had been managing to keep the three different balls in the air for over five minutes now. She smiled, keeping them all in a continuous loop. Tomorrow, she'd show off to Joker before they left, and start practicing with four balls.
"Star!" a voice rang out from her left. When she looked to see who it was, she let the balls slip from her hands. Unhappy she looked to the ground. "Got sidetracked again. Dammit!"
It was Freckles, accompanied by Snake. Freckles grabbed her by the arm, turning round and round. "Star, ye still 'aven't told me why ye speak so neat like." Freckles reminded her.
Star looked at the younger guy, and patted him on the head. "That's because you fell asleep before we got back to the tent two days in a row." She reminded him in turn.
Freckles let go of her, and kicked a pebble. "Well, ye could've woke me up, ye know? Tell me now, kay?" he pleaded, looking up at his new big sister with big eyes.
Star sighed, bending over to pick up her juggling balls. "Fine, I'll tell you. Snake, how are you doing? You haven't said much." She asked the man, who seemed to be startled being spoken to.
"We're fine… Says Goethe." Snake answered, having a snake on his shoulder.
"Right… still speaking to me through the snakes." She said, feeling rather dejected when he answered like that. "You're going to have to trust me sooner or later, you know?"
Snake nodded. Star facepalmed. "Is that supposed to be an improvement?" The man shrugged, not being sure how to handle women in general. This one was even more demanding that Beast, Doll or Wendy.
Freckles tugged at her arm. "Tell me!" he demanded, getting impatient.
Star nodded, looking up at the stars in the sky. "Let's see… well, the reason me and George speak like this, is because we were born as nobles."
Freckles mouth dropped open. "Ye're a noble?" he gasped. "How come ye don't live in a big fancy place then?"
Star grimaced when she thought back. Images ran past her mind. "Something unfortunate had happened. Me and George were forced to flee from our home."
Her father was yelling at her that she should stop trying to escape with George. The manor was burning, the heat choking her as she held George in her arms, running with a small suitcase in her hands. The rustling of her long skirts was being drowned out by the fire crackling.
George was crying as their father was gaining on them. "Valentine, stop running away and give me that brat!" he yelled, having no regard for the flames around them.
"Valentine, get back here!"
"Star. Hey Star, ye're spacin' out." Freckles waved a hand in front of her face. She blinked, before looking at Freckles.
She swallowed before continuing talking. "Anyway, George and myself aren't nobles anymore. Now we're just part of the circus."
"Part of the family, ye mean." Freckles corrected her.
"Part of the family." She agreed, although she still hadn't gotten used to the idea. Freckles gave her a slap on her shoulder. "I'm 'eading back to the tent. Ye should smile more, Star. It looks good on ye."
"Uh, thanks." Star replied. When had Freckles seen her smile? "Freckles, when did you –" she stopped talking when she saw that Freckles was already running off.
She looked at Snake, who was starting to walk away too. "Good night, Snake." She called out after him. Snake showed a shy smile. "Good night… Says Goethe" he replied.
A little while off Snake ran into Joker. The ringleader tipped his hat to the snake man. "Snake, how are ye doin' tonight?" he asked him, showing a broad grin. Snake answered him in the same way as he had replied to Star. Joker didn't mind, he understood that was simply the way Snake was.
"Star is practicing hard… Says Goethe." He added, wanting to let Joker know that the girl wasn't slacking off in any way. Joker smiled when he heard that.
"Really now? Where is she?" he asked, getting that same tingle in his stomach he had had when seeing her in her new outfit.
Snake pointed in her direction. "Good night… says Goethe."
"Good night, Snake."
|Small part in Joker's Pov|
Joker walked up to where Star was supposed to be. He soon saw her silhouette in the darkening night, throwing up three balls in the air, and keeping them up. He was pleased to see that she was a fast learner, and that she didn't let of. Seems that he had been right after all, spotting her talent.
One of the balls went out of the circle. Star took a step back to catch it, but her heel got caught behind a small stone. As she fell back, she braced herself from the impact.
Joker only caught her just in time. He worried a bit about having hurt her with his prosthetic – it wasn't nearly as soft as a real arm – but at least he had saved her from greater harm.
"Who's that?" she asked, slightly panicking. Joker realized she couldn't see him, because his face pointed downwards, away from the light shining from the moon. He on the other hand could see her face just fine.
"Guess?" he asked, watching her reaction.
At once her face turned into relief. "Good heavens Joker, for a second I thought there was a perv lurking around here. Care to help me up a bit?"
He lifted the girl up. Her juggling balls lay forgotten on the ground. His heart had made a small jump when she had recognized his voice. She patted her circus outfit, smoothing out the wrinkles a little bit. She turned to face him, not smiling but not scowling either.
"Did you come to look at the stars?" she asked him, waving a hand up to the sky. It was as if there were millions of them, staining the sky in endless pins of light.
Joker looked up. "I guess ye could say that."
She continued talking. "I like the stars. I used to believe that they could grant any wish, as long as I wanted it hard enough." Joker listened. Star wasn't usually this talkative. "Pretty silly, no? Still… I'm glad that you named me Star."
"Ah…" Joker said, not knowing how he should react. "I like the stars to, ye know? I always looked out for a fallin' one, hopin' to make a wish on it."
"Which one is your favorite star?" she asked him, looking up with those big eyes of her.
Did she notice he was actually watching her? Why was he watching her? "I… don't really have one…" he said.
Star looked at him in surprise. "You don't? Well, let me know when you have one. I'll tell you my favorite one then."
Joker nodded, looking back up. "As soon as I figure this out… I will."