[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Jost] [size15 [Jost There was a bit of excitement rising in his chest hearing she’ll be attending the performance. While their meeting was brief, Invy did hope to meet her again before they departed the kingdom. Preferably for a little flirtation. She was awfully poise but full of life. She certainly worked in the castle- that he knew.
The invisible man took a few steps as Victoria mounted the beast. [#cc000b “Twas lovely meeting you too, milady. Till then!”] He watched her fly till she was finally out of view.
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It took him a few hours to have everything prepped and ready for a flawless show. Props and sets usually took the longest and, unfortunately, there were few performers that have been around for as long as he had. Invy knew how things functioned inside and out, which is why Crow depended on him so heavily. He didn’t mind the work. He really appreciated the feeling of being needed but it did little to distract his active mind.
After briefing the newest addition to their evening lineup, Invy finally had the opportunity to get ready. Closing himself in his small quarters, his mind dwelled on the dragon encounter from this morning. Even as he dressed into his stage attire, he wondered about the mysterious rider, Victoria. She was one of the few who didn’t find him disturbing and spoke to him as if they weren’t from different worlds. [i Gracious], he needed to stay focused. This performance was a matter of grave importance. Impress the royals, impress the brother, stay alive.
It was twilight once Invy made his way over to the main theater, extravagant as it was. Commoners had begun crowding around the castle walls and staring profondingly as he and his family worked to prepare. He was just repairing a cage for Act 7 when Jasmine glided over to him. He pursed his lips.
[#970781 “You look distracted. I dare say, unnerved.”]
[#cc000b “I’m just fine,”] he muttered.
[#970781 “Oh?”] she smiled coyly, [#970781 “You know you can’t keep secrets from me.”]
Invy turned to face her. [#cc000b “How are you the only one who seems to read me like a book?”]
[#970781 “I don’t need to see you to read the tone in your voice. Everything will be fine.”]
[#cc000b “You’re not at all concerned?”]
[#970781 “Why should I be? Crow does all the worrying for us.”]
[#cc000b “You are incredibly positive.”]
[#970781 “That’s why I’m here darling. You can’t stay afraid of the circus business forever.”]
[#cc000b “But you can be weary of those who hate it. Some of us don’t really have the choice to be fearless.”]
Jasmine didn’t get the opportunity to debate further. [b “Show time,”] the Crow exclaimed from his high perch. [b “Places now! We start in three.”]
Invy leaned around to peek through the heavy plum curtains. He searched for the dragon rider but within the shadowed faces, he couldn’t identify the blonde haired woman among the crowd. He pulled away and met gazes with Jasmine as the lights dimmed.
The curtains pulled away to show a black backdrop. Once the room was quiet, the blackness began to move and shift then out stepped a foot. The figure emerged, separating from the background like sickly ink. The black wings spread out in a welcoming gesture, the man smiling in a knowing way. His striking red vest made his lean bird-like qualities stand out. [b “Welcome ladies and gents!”] he bellowed, [b “The Scarga Circus would like to thank you for inviting us to a land of great magic and royals! We humble ourselves at your feet and repay with lively entertainment. So without further ado, the oddities and misfits offer you our show.”] The lights dimmed once again to bathe the stage in darkness.
The lights illuminated in a pattern like way, showing shades of yellow across the first performer who now stood where the ringmaster once had. [b “We present to you Slippery Fingers!”] Invy always felt he was the least interesting of their performing family. Granted, Slippery was one of their main prop creators and building mechanism technicians but he seemed a little... plain. He did manage to ‘wow’ the audience with his clever ways of building something out of nothing talent which is what kept him on the stage for so many years.
Once he was finished, Act 2 followed, starting the real line up of freaks. [b “Presenting the Jewel Sisters!”] The conjoined twins entered on a more eerie note, walking onto the stage so that the audience only had a side view, until finally turning to reveal their deformities. Invy often hated the looks from some of the male viewers at times like these. Caked in over exaggerated make-up, the girls performed tricks and gags until their spotlight had ended.
Act 3 was his little favorite nosey boy [b “Alexander Ribs!”] Unnaturally thin, the dirty haired child jumped across the stage showing off every single bone in his tiny body. He clanged his ribs with tiny sticks and let the audience sit back in awe as they heard the musical notes that drifted from his gaping mouth.
Fourth was the queen himself... [b “The Fright Knight!”] Cursed in the prime of his life, the former knight was merged with his armor giving him a terrible case of vanity that the Crow found quite hilarious. Like any metal suit, the Knight was able to disconnect his body parts and shine up wherever he so pleased. They even impaled him on stage as his departing farewell.
Act 5 was something a bit more ugly in nature... but a guilty pleasure for royals. One of the minor crew men began to drag out a cage, undoubtedly filled with a ravenous creature known to most as a werewolf. Invy noticed the obvious excitement of their viewers and hated the rich for it. [b “Were Vain!”] The act consisted of roaring and snarling till one of the crew released the metal hitch and the creature was set free. There were screams and gasps as the werewolf charged for the edge of the stage and sniffed the air before howling one impressive call. The performance ended with the wolf standing, turning back into a man. Those shallow reactions...
Six was [b “Haphazard!”] the danger craving, adrenaline addicted clown. Every circus had one, Scarga was no different. The painted man was actually known for immortality, or at least that’s what the freak family wanted to believe. He swallowed knives, he had arrows shot through his chest, he could fall and not have a single bone broken. They had betted he made a deal with a devil but no one really knew his true story.
Next was his ever stunning best friend. [b “The enchanting, hair raising Jasmine Locks!”] Her act was a little more on the sensual side with a tall throne and mischievous clothing. She danced, using her beard to compliment her body in the most imaginative of ways, interacting with the audience as well.
Then it was his turn. Once he saw Jasmine walk off the stage, the curtains closed and he jogged out to take position at the center, letting some of their minor crew aid him. Then the veil was lifted.
[b “Presenting the devil, our own Invisible Man!”] The stage was revealed as a set of toys where the main figure was crumpled near the ground, strings attached. Gently they began to lift the heavily clothed man in the full venetian mask much like a puppet. He slouched in his posture until the music started to play. The band commenced a tune of an eerie but playful song.
The man began to sway in rhythm, his back straightening until he was lifted on his toes. He stepped into a dance, twirling about in his colorful garments, he acted as if he was dutifully being controlled by a bigger master until the tune came to a climax where he reached up and pulled down his strings. The man held out his arms for a moment then proceeded to shrug off his colorful overcoat. He blurred his sight to only focus on being in the moment. It was like living in one of his many morbid dreams. [i “For only the devil was truly invisible.”]
Invy stepped around the stage to show everyone his lean figure before kicking off his pointed toe shoes, revealing his lack of feet. He looked down to follow where the viewers eyes would have been and faked surprise. ‘Where had his feet gone?’ He stepped around as if looking for them until he finally shrugged and unbuttoned his vibrant blue vest.
He paused in the center of the stage and looked down at his chest. He gasped in another faked surprise and ripped the cotton shirt underneath apart to gander at his sudden disappearance. He threw the garment to the side and began ever so hurriedly to take off his pants and rings. Items went flying in every direction but he paused before he took off the hat. Choosing his targets from afar. Slowly he threw away the hat and reached up to detach the white and gold designed mask.
Then to the audience he was gone. With the music a good cover for his light footsteps, the performer jumped down into the viewers seats and began ‘misplacing’ items. He took the cross hung around the bishop’s neck and waved it in front of his face. He took the pin from a woman’s hair and dropped it in her lap. He ruffled the locks of a curly haired handmaid. Eventually he made it around the royal family, being careful on the objects he chose. Then, as he approached the couple to be, he recognised her face. Victoria was not a poor, devious daughter of a dragon rider but at the right hand of the Prince. His sister.
[i Composure! This was nothing to freak about- you did nothing wrong!] Except rudeley loop her into being as destitute as the rest of them. [i Play your part, forget the rest.] He picked a rose from a strategically placed bouquet and dropped it on the ‘bride to be’s’ lap. Before his departure, he tapped the nose of the stranger he met by the pond. [i I know who you are.]
The man popped back onto the stage and pulled on his overcoat and striped hat. He knocked his heels together and with his arms spread out, bowed deeply for the King and Queen. Then it was over and the Invisible Man was dragged back into reality.
The last act was [b “Arachne!”] The best was always saved for the end. She was a beautiful creature with the lower appendages of a spider but face of beauty. It was a wonderful way to end the Circus with a cherry on top.
Invy sighed in relief once the curtains had closed after the Crow’s closing words. He changed back into normal attire, immediately getting to work breaking down the sets and cleaning. [b “Good job everyone!”] Crow exclaimed from one of the many high posts. [b “Surely we saved our necks today! We’ll be safe and sound- no worries!”]
Invy was very glad Crow felt so comfortable. Maybe it would take his mind off of other things. There was a shout that caught his attention and Invy watched as a messenger spoke quickly to Crow in discreet manners. There was a tinge of worry as the Ringmaster jumped off his post and followed around to a place Invy could not see.
[#970781 “It’ll be okay,”] Jasmine whispered behind him and he hoped it would.]]