On the outskirts of Phantasma's Midway, was a simple yet nice tenement building. It was home during the season for many of Phantasma's workers as Mr. Y wanted to make sure they were close to work yet had somewhere agreeable to live. He thought back to his own traveling sideshow days and did not want his employees living like that during the months they were with him.
Rasputin found himself walking the hall of the third floor of the building back to the apartment he shared with two other men. He had just finished bathing at this floors' communal showers before taking his dirty laundry a day early to his wash lady. He wanted to wash this day away, he wanted it cleansed from his mind. Upon opening and closing the door with more force than usual, the two men he lived with, both contortionists, looked up from their card game at the table in the combination kitchen and parlor.
"Hey animal boy, you don't smell like shit today!" One of them exclaimed.
"I know," Rasputin sighed. He looked at the tattered red rug on the floor, "I took shower before coming back here."
"Did your favorite elephant knock you down with its trunk?" The other man tilted his chair back. "You're awful moody for such a stoic man."
"Something like that," Rasputin mumbled under his breath.
"We have Russian water!" The first contortionist held up a bottle of Vodka. "Maybe you're just a little homesick."
The Russian wrapped one of his six fingered hands around the bottle and took a swig.
"Thank you, I retire early," He handed the bottle back before walking the few steps to his room's door. He removed his keys from his pocket but when he stuck it into the keyhole, he could tell it wasn't locked. I locked it earlier.
Once in the room he closed the door, something was off. Light from Phantasma poured through the window but he knew he had drawn the curtains.
"You don't want me?"
The voice was soft but he knew who it was. He turned his head to the far wall and with the Phantasma Lights could see Charlotte go from laying to sitting on his bed. Her white blonde hair down and disheveled. His usually neatly made bed now rumpled.
"How you get in?"
"I am the boss' daughter as you said. I know many things and ways about this park."
"You can't do that, Charlotte! You can't invade and steal, it mean, it…"
"I can and I will! People have been mean and cruel to me just because of how I look!"
"Have they, Charlotte?" He walked over to her. "I never hear one person say anything to you. They say you beautiful, you graceful on your zebra."
Rasputin struck a match and lit the oil lamp on the nightstand. Up close he could now see her blue eyes puffy and red from crying and her cheeks damp.
"And what about you, Rasputin? You said I was lovely once. Do you not think I'm beautiful? Why don't you want me?"
"I sorry I hurt your feelings," He ran his fingers through his hair. "I do like you, you very nice. It just that you also very selfish. Your dad give you everything. You no understand what it like to work. You still act like spoiled little girl…"
"I am not a little girl!" Charlotte jumped up and used her gymnastic skills to wrap herself around the man. Locking her legs around his waist, her arms gripped his neck tight, "A girl does not feel the way I do!" She leaned her forehead into his, "How can you say you like me but also don't want me? Why is it my fault my father gave me everything? Would you not give your child everything if you could?"
Rasputin held his arms out away from his body as not to touch her, "Lotte, let me go."
"Do I not work hard in training the animals? In the gymnastics used in the shows?" Charlotte ran her fingers up and through his hair.
"Let me go!"
"No! What made you change your feelings for me, Rasputin? Why don't you want me? Why don't you want me to have you?" Her dress rustled as she pushed her groin into his.
The bedroom door violently swung open, "Charlotte! Charlotte, let this man be! He does not deserve this!"
The girl jerked her head and saw her father, mask and wigless, barely dressed in trousers, a shirt and shoes. "And what about me? What do I deserve?"
"Better than I taught you, Charlotte and I hope you can understand that soon." In a show of brute force, he did not he still had, Erik yanked his daughter off the strong Russian. However, she crumbled to the floor in protest.
"How can you do this to me?" She cried. "You Dada, you who were able to convince Mama to come back to you? I have no park to give to Rasputin!"
Rasputin looked at his boss wide eyed, "She no know, sir?"
Erik looked down and shook his head.
Charlotte wiped her cheeks and looked up, "Know what?"
The Russian glared at his boss, "You take her home, you tell her." He then turned his attention to Charlotte and helped her to her feet.
"Rasputin…I…I…" She held his hands tight.
"I understand now," He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Understand what?"
"You are father's daughter. It make sense when he tell you."