Freak of Nature (Semi-Lit)

[amithethird]

Ghost

Ghost glowered at the Ringmaster. He wanted so badly to make another retort about him being a human, not some animal who could be toyed with and ordered around but he decided against it. His words were hypocritical anyway, because obviously he could be ordered around. He hated it. This place was a safe haven for someone like him, but it was also a prison because he couldn't leave. He wasn't kept here by forces inside the show, which was the worst part. He couldn't leave because he was too much of a freak to be safe in the outside world.

He snorted when the Ringmaster told him not to stick his arm through any roofs anymore.
Like hell I won't, he thought bitterly. He would do what he pleased and no pompous jerk in a top hat was going to tell him other wise. He would just be careful not to do it around him, lest he incur the man's well known wrath. He decided to go take a walk and see if anyone else was around. He needed someone pleasent to talk to or at least a little time to cool off after his little spat with the Ringmaster.

Harmony

"Of course," she said, "It's not like I do much of anything anyway. I just make the rest of you look good. You do all the work."
Harmony was content with her role in the freak show for the most part. Sure she was kind of jealous that she couldn't do anything but make other people more powerful, but at least her job wasn't hard. The worst part was how tired she got after she finished juicing everyone else up. One time, back when the show was a bit more full, she actually fainted after she finished powering up the last person. She hadn't done that in a while, but it was always a fear of hers. She was afraid that one day she'd give up too much energy and that it would kill her. She gave out her energy sparingly Just enough to make everyone that much more impressive. Then she used what remained to slink off to her wagon and sleep off the fatigue. It was a bit like having a hangover.

[Falls]

Ringmaster tore his eyes from his meek counterpart, forcing his mind back to business and Sideshow. He'd have to be a little quicker about setup today since he'd spent so much time procrastinating. At least part of his makeup was done already. Without William in his head, Ringmaster was able to put on his eyeliner without feeling the guilt from his other half. But William had still made Ringmaster nix the tailcoat and top hat from his outfit when Ringmaster had insisted on wearing his costume. Black pants, black dress shirt and his vest? Ugh, it wasn't enough.

Whatever. As long as William was happy.

Ringmaster's deep red eyes turned and locked on the door when a thud resounded softly through the wagon walls. Oh dear. He hoped that wasn't the sound of another raccoon raid. His fingers hooked under the latch and he pulled, sliding open the heavy door and shedding light over the contents of the wagon. The goods were intact, but his focus was drawn to the moving figures on the back wall. He recognized the back of his arch nemesis at once and bristled, but it took him a moment to figure out who Lucien was hovering over. And then it hit him. Who Lucien was with, what they were doing, it all hit him at once.

...RAAAAAGGGGGGEE.

Ringmaster did not stop to think or even speak. William's influence was gone and he was now only a man of action. He took a few striding steps inside and grabbed at the first liftable object he could find without halting in his progress. It was a small crate, about the size of two shoeboxes sitting side by side. If memory served, he was pretty sure it was fll of some sort of underripe, exotic fruit from who-knows-where. He didn't even bother with Lucien at the moment, his full attention focused on Daniel as his foot dug into Lucien's side to push him away and his sinewy arms lifted the crate.

And without any remorse or hesitation, Ringmaster brought the crate down towards Daniel's face.

...Frankly, he'd completely forgotten about Daniel's regenerative abilities in his anger.

[Falls]

Jem shrugged, ignoring the fact that a shrug as rather pointless in a conversation with Harmony. "You 'ave an easy job," he replied, "but it is important nonetheless. I cannot make zeh leaps over zeh new gaps zat Ringmaster has created in my aerial routine vithout you. So, even zough you are not zeh one in zeh air, you are still flying up zere vith me." [Lemme know if you need a translation of the accent. I actually left some THs in there simply for the sake of trying to keep it readable for you.]

[Veins Of Opal]

Daniel felt the jolt of reality punch him in the face as the door opened and light rushed into the room, Ringmaster standing in the doorway. This was just a dream... He was drunk, he'd wake up face-down in the dirt somewhere, he was sure of it. His bi-coloured gaze darted from his infuriated lover to the assassin in front of him, and his drunken mind registered the look on Lucien's face. It was smug and maniacal, as if the man knew what was going to happen. The assassin let go as Ringmaster pushed him away, and he knew Lucien was watching as the crate was lifted and then slammed down upon Daniel's face mercilessly. And good god, did Daniel feel pain from that hit. He never really got any injuries to his face, and this actually hurt much more than any other injuries he had gotten. Maybe it was because it was mixed with guilt and deep self-hatred.

Now, that heavy crate to the face would have been enough to kill someone, with as much force as the furious Ringmaster put behind it. But, as Daniel's regenerative properties kicked in, the alcohol was booted from his system and he was fully sober and fully aware of what was happening. More so, the very thrilled laughter coming from the corner of the supply wagon, and the blood pouring down from his face as splintered pieces of wood were expelled from his skin and the lacerations miraculously stitched themselves closed. "I'm SORRY!" Daniel cried out, still reeking of whisky and more importantly, still reeking of Lucien. His widened eyes stared up at Ringmaster before glancing to Lucien for a split second, seeing a gleeful expression and sadistic grin upon his face, insanity sparkling very brightly in his syrup-brown eyes.
Daniel's bi-coloured gaze flicked back to Ringmaster, nausea hitting him in a violent wave as Lucien began to speak;
"He was drunk, I had to help myself. He helped himself, too," Lucien purred, quite obviously trying to anger Ringmaster even more. If that was even possible. Which, it probably was.

[dmlp]

For a moment everything was still, quiet. The two stood glowering at each other, pin pointing possible weaknesses in their opponent and calculating where to strike first. Who would make the first move? Throw the first punch? Fall first? In the midst of the silence, the air was tense with energy as either boy gathered what they needed from the air. Blake visibly steamed in the cold air as flames flickered from various places. Around Frostbite was a freezing mist, a cocky smirk played on his lips as if he believed he already won the fight. Then suddenly in a flurry of movement the two collided, an explosion of heat and cold burst from the two, causing dust and smoke and snowy ice shards to fly around. The dust settled to reveal the two locked together in a fight of well placed punches, kicks, shoves, and use of powers. Two powerful elements battled, one to protect a friend the other just because he could. Frostbite laughed as he grabbed one of Blake's arms and threw him to the ground, positioning the pyro so that he could easily break Blake's arm, where his hand grabbed Blake's skin turned blue and frosted white that spread outward to cover his arm. Blake gave a short cry of pain, then his gaze found Locota, in the grasp of the furry Ralf, and his eyes blazed. Literally. Their colors brightened till it seemed actual flames may pour from their iris's, Blake's whole body lit on fire, causing Frostbite to cry out and stumble back while holding out highly burned arms. Blake stood up, a strange animal like growl ripping out of the boy as he charged Frostbite before the ice elemental could prepare himself for the collision. Blake drove the other into the wall, successfully imprinting the brick structure. Frostbite let out a gasp of pain, a large crack suddenly appeared in the glacier wall as the boy fell to his knees. Blake picked the injured boy up by the collar with one hand, lifting him up to meet his face. I'll make sure you never touch another girl again.Blake growled, his eyes now a bright flaming golden white. Frostbite noticed the eyes and his own crystal eyes widened, "Wait...I know what you are." He gasped out when suddenly a fiery fist dove into his gut and he was dropped in a heap at the flaming BLake's feet, vomiting from the punch. BLake suddenly felt a pain in his chest and looked down at himself to see he was growing red, "No..not...now...."Blake groaned as he doubled over, feeling him losing control as he rapidly began to transform with the approaching Sheila.
Frostbite's two goons just stared at Blake with fear and awe, Ralf loosened his grip on Locota so much she could easily shrug the large man's beefy furred hands off.

Sheila was just about to attack one of the annoying birds when she felt BLake's distress, his anger, his sudden increase of powers. Before she realized it she was soaring in his direction, her eyes glowing a bright golden white and her body an ember red as well, as she flew closer to BLake her size increased rapidly; The size of a Labrador, a great Dane, a pony, a draft horse, one of the caravan wagon's, the size of one of the eagles from LotR, until she was double the size of even those.

Roslynn watched Hunter walk away before her gaze returned to William, she nodded to the wagon Lila stood on handing out food, the reason they were there in front of that wagon in the first place. "Go on, that one is very kind." She spoke in Latin to William, sitting down to wait for the man to get his breakfast. The hellhound flicked her ears about as she listened around her, her nose twitching at all the scents.((sorry about the short post...muse is slowly ebbing away sadly))

Lyra glanced up from where she sat watching the white haired dancer, hearing Sheila's falcon shriek as the bird carried a number of bags carrying boxes of food enough to feed the caravan, if no one pigged on a bunch. Fogetting she was trying to hide, the blonde haired twin of Hunter leaped from the tree and raced back to the train of cars to try to get to the food first, not noticing she had startled poor Lila abnd caused the girl to let loose a bright flash of white for split second. Lyra leaped up onto the wagons and bolted down their length to where the labrador retriever sized falcon awaited with the food. The girl skidded to a stop, almost falling onto the hot metal roof of a wagon when she saw that she had not gotten to the meal first. Instead a little boy no older than 6 or 7, barefoot, with a strange dragon shaped marking on his arm crouched next to the bird feasting on the delectible food. Lyra stormed over, tail lashing angrily at the air around her. "Hey kid," She growled, however, her voice had lost it's fire, her anger was nothing but a light simmer. Normally, she would have lifted the child and threatened him while holding him out over the edge of the wagon, but she had changed since that day the Hellhounds attacked. Her confidence had decreased a lot, her attitude changed from quick tempered and one of the most violent in the caravan to docile and shy. No longer did she bully and push around her brother, rather she coward behind him. No more did her outbursts fill the caravan with noise, nor her eagerness to pick fights bring Hunter embarrassment. The girl didn't even tease anyone with their opposites anymore. So, Lyra wasn't much of a threat to the young boy and he chose to ignore her. Lyra sighed and simply stooped, searched through the boxes until she found those containing her and Hunter's favorite meals. As she turned to walk away, her tail flicked and, with strength enough to hold her own weight plus a few pounds, shoved the boy. He was caught off guard and couldn't catch himself, he fell off the wagon with a waffle in one hand, toast in the other.

Gwen hit the ground with a loud 'wh-thump', as he pushed himself up and indent where his body hit the ground was left. A deep growl rumbled through him, his eyes turning a bright green as the marking on his arm glowed like embers. Dark, burning smoke curled from his lips and nostrils. His skin turned to shiny black scales, also lightly smoking, or steaming rather. Fingers and toes turned to black taloned claws, horns began growing from just above his brows, a tail slithered from a hole being ripped in his pants. The food in his hands burned and crumbled to the ground as black crumbs. The young dragon boy lost his temper and was quickly losing control. "Yo, b***h!" He snarled through sharpened teeth. Lyra paused and glanced behind her to see the boy rapidly changing into a dragon. Before she would have taken the challenge head on, now, fear filled her widening blue-green eyes and she stumbled back, dropped the cartons of food, turned and bolted as fast as she could. Gwen, still only partly transformed, leaped up onto the wagon with ease, the metal roof denting beneath his feet while the whole thing groaned with his sudden weight. He marched after the frantic girl, sensing her fear and laughing aloud at her. His laughter was of his own young voice mixed with the deep growling voice of his dragon form.

Lyra saw the end of the caravan and fear clutched her in it's coils, seeing a tree near the end of the line of wagons, she prepared to jump. Her feet hit the edge of the last wagon and she pushed herself towards the outstretched branch, missed, however hit the next one down, her tail instinctively tightened around the branch and saved her fall. The appendage was yanked by the girls weight, causing pain to ripple up her spine, forcing a small cry to escape her lips and tears to fall. Gwen, forgetting he was rather short and wouldn't make the jump, as well as the fact he couldn't fly [yet], ended up falling to the ground. The child left another undent on the ground where he hit the earth, gave an animal like snarl at the girl dangling above him. More black smoke girled from his mouth and nose, his scaly black skin began to grow the fur that adroned his dragon form. "I'll kill ya." He growled. He'd long forgotten the reason for the chasing and threatening, all he knew was that this girl had angered him and he wouldn't rest to he got revenge. Quite unlike the easy going ice dragon that seemed to come and go from the caravan as he pleased, this little dragon boy had a temper that made both Roslynnn and Ringmaster seem as docile as a draft horse, both from age, where he spent his life before RM found him, and because of his breed being of fire-dragon race

[Falls]

Ringmaster was not surprised when the crate shattered in half and rained fruit down onto the bloody Daniel beneath him. He was neither relieved or angered to see the wounds healing themselves up so quickly. To him, it was an invitation to try again. Even as Daniel's pleading voice cried out, he grabbed the man by the shirt and struck again, this time with just his fist.

"You're sorry," he repeated, milking the last word for all it was worth so that Daniel could hear how pathetically inadequate it truly sounded. "You picked now to let yourself stray and you're just sorry." Lucien's voice reached out to him like tendrils of poison, seeping into his skin and spurring him on as he brought his fist down once more. His hand then clutched around Daniel's throat and lifted, pinning him to the wall so that their faces were level. Man, was he MAD. Veins stood out from his neck as he bellowed into Daniel's face. "Do you realize what could have happened if it had been William to walk in?! Do you realize how much that could have hurt him?? You have at least two hotels within walking distant where you could have easily had your moment in secret, but no, you chose now. There is NOTHING I can do to protect William from his own pain right now! He could have seen you and I would have been able to do NOTHING!"

[bugiscool]

Locota watched the fight with wide silver eyes. 'So powerful...' she thought to herself. Then it was over, ut then again not so much. Blake was on the ground glowing in a way. The man holding her practically released his grip on her and she ran from his grip, but she didn't run away to hide she ran straight to Blake. "Blake!" She said her voice somewhat loud, but full of concern. She approached him slowly at first to see if he allowed her to come closer. "Blake." Locota said more softly as she now dared to come closer to the point where she lightly touched his shoulders with her finger tips. She didn't know what to do. Her friend was in pain and she didn't know what to do. He had helped her, now she didn't know how to help him. Without her knowing tears fell to the ground. She looked up to see the massive Shelia. "Shelia! Help it's Blake he's... I don't know, but he's in pain." She said as the tears just rolled down her face as she looked at the bird. She couldn't remember the last time she cried. It had been a while she knew that.

(Sorry it's not fancy it was a quick type before I get back to my homework )

[Falls]

William glanced to Roslynn as she addressed him in Latin, reassured by her words. He approached Lyra and accepted the food with a polite "thank you" and a nervous smile, though his mind suddenly became distracted by the sound of a commotion off in the distance. Was that Ringmaster's voice? He turned to Roslynn. "Do you hear that?"

[Veins Of Opal]

Daniel coughed as he scrambled back, pinning himself stupidly against the wall once more. Guilt stabbed him in his stomach as Ringmaster began speak. Before Daniel could even move, a hand grasped his throat very tightly, lifting him off of the ground and slamming him against the wall. The words screamed in his face as he choked from the pressure against his windpipe brought tears into his eyes, guilt growing and growing in his chest alongside the self-disgust and loathing. Daniel feebly reached a hand up and grasped the wrist of the hand at his throat, moving his right and gripping at Ringmaster's shoulder for support. "I-I d*cough* drank! I'm s-sorry, I-- *cough cough* so, so sorry!" Daniel screamed out as loud as he could against the hand upon his throat. And, out of the corner of his eye, he could see Lucien slowly, silently, walking out of the cabin.
"You're not sorry. You loved it," Lucien spoke once more, loud enough to be heard as he neared the open door, grinning, still.

{{Brb, gotta shower real quick!
OH GOD WILLIAM DON'T COME THIS ISN'T FOR YOUR EYES}}

[Falls]

Ringmaster watched Daniel struggle with a feeling of deep satisfaction. He deserved to grovel. He deserved to feel the pain that he might've carelessly inflicted on William. If William had seen, he kept repeating over in his mind. He still wasn't sure how far William's frailty stretched. Could William take such pain? Could he have died? The thought of such things momentarily tightened Ringmaster's grip on Daniel's throat. "This," he growled through clenched teeth, "is Ringmaster, the object of your lust, enacting upon you the revenge that you deserve." His fingers held tight for a moment as he took a breath.

And then suddenly, they began to loosen. "And this," he said with a slightly softer tone of anger, "is William, the object of your love, your fiancee... letting you go." The fingers opened the completely and Ringmaster's hands pulled away from Daniel. As he turned away, he growled his final words to Daniel in a quiet voice. "He would never forgive me if I caused you to die."

With William in mind, he forced himself to look away from Daniel. His deep red eyes focused on Lucien instead, honing in on that hated face. "Don't leave so soon. I haven't killed you yet," he purred, his malice leaking through his cordial tone and intensifying it as he cracked his knuckles and grinned maniacly.

...

William's curiosity took over and set him on a path towards the noise. He thought he could hear Daniel as well. Was everything alright? Goodness, what would he do if it wasn't? He supposed he could try diplomacy?