For AUgust's Trick AU Treat Event, Day 6 Prompt: "Circuses and Carnivals".
The dim lights flicker over a nearly empty ring, where remnants of past grandeur can be seen in the tattered curtains, faded posters, and a few worn-down pieces of equipment.
Despite her exhaustion, a blonde young woman with a kind smile walks across the ring, surveying the damage from last night's failed performance. Her name is Charlotte Magne, the current owner of the Morningstar Circus. She's wearing an old circus jacket, which once belonged to her mother, like the circus itself, though like the circus, it's scuffed and torn.
She sat down on one of the tent's empty seats. She was joined by two other people. Besides her, there was a young brown-skinned woman, missing an eye and wearing a professional suit. Her partner and manager, Agatha, across from the two of them was a tall skinny blond man wearing a pink costume, their trapeze artist Anthony, stage name Angel Dust. Angel was sucking a popsicle while Agatha just glared at him.
"How the hell can you just sit there like nothing's wrong, AFTER THAT STUNT YOU PULLED!" she yelled, prompting Angel to turn around with an amused expression on his face.
"We're a circus, we're supposed to pull stunts Vaggie. Besides, it's not like there was anyone there to get hurt," he retorted smugly.
That only made her madder. "THAT REPORTER WAS THERE!" she shouted, "they call her "Killjoy" for a reason. Our reputation was already poor, now it's in the fucking dirt thanks to you!"
"Aggie, it's all right. The three of us can figure this out," Charlie reassured her partner.
"Two of you actually," Angel said nonchalantly. Charlie and Aggie turned around to stare at him in shock. Angel just shrugged. "Sorry babes, but a circus needs more than a single trapeze artist to draw in crowds, and if I'm not making any money, I'm not sticking around. I got an offer from an old boss of mine, which pays way more than this gig. I just came to say goodbye and pack my stuff," he explained as he got up and walked towards the exit. Before leaving he turned around and spoke, "For what it's worth, it was fun while it lasted. You two should cut your losses and try something else too."
Aggie was fuming with anger. "I'm gonna kill him," she muttered under her breath. She got up to follow him but then turned her attention back to Charlie when she heard her crying.
"Hey, Charlie. It's okay."
"NO! It's not! We have no performers, we have no money. Angel was right, Killjoy was right, my dad was right. This dream was a stupid joke. We should just sell this place and get some real jobs," Charlie cried. Aggie sat beside her again and pulled Charlie into a hug. She wanted to comfort her, but Aggie had no idea how to turn this around either.
"Hey, uh, girls?"
Aggie and Charlie turned around to see Angel at the tent's entrance, his face nervous. "The fuck do you want Tony?" Agatha asked, more annoyed than upset.
Angel started stammering, "Well, ya see. Uh, there's someone here to see Charlie. He, uh, he says he-"
"For goodness sake, get out of my way," a voice cut him off, and he was pushed out of the way by a man. He wore a red suit, and in his hand was a cane, though it had a microphone attached to one end, custom-made.
Charlie knew the man in red well. "Alastor, the Radio Demon," she thought out loud as the media mogul approached her.
"Ha! It's good to know my reputation hasn't waned during my little sabbatical!" Alastor said with glee as he extended a hand, "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Magne!"
Cautiously, Charlie shook his hand. "You know me?" she asked slightly confused.
"Why of course I do sweetheart! Your mother was quite the performer back in her heyday! It's always so nice to see young folk follow their elders' footsteps into the more cultured forms of entertainment in the modern year of brain-rotting television, ha ha!" Alastor laughed.
"Cut the bullcrap. What do you want from us?" Aggie said as she stepped in between him and Charlie.
"Why to help of course!" Alastor said as he pushed Vaggie away to talk face-to-face again.
"What, why?"Charlie asked confused.
"Same reason anyone pays for a circus, entertainment for me! I saw that interview you had with Katie Killjoy. An absolute trainwreck, just delightful. But I also saw a young woman passionate about the performing arts. I want to lend a hand. Ptch some funding, and help seek out talent, all in exchange for a front-row seat for the shows. Does that sound like a deal?" Alastor said as he extended a hand.
Charlie looked back. Aggie was shaking her head, while Angel just shrugged. She took a deep breath before turning back to Alastor. "I'll be watching every move you make like a hawk. But we have a deal," she said as she shook Alastor's hand.
"Wonderful. I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership! Why don't you give me a little tour of this place?"
I'll be honest, this is my least favourite of the fics I made for the challenge. Not only do I think the concept is less interesting, I didn't even use its full potential. I originally wanted to do a full adaptation of the pilot, but ended up doing barely half a scene due to time constraints. Well, they can't all be winners.
