forum Circus or Prison? {Closed}

Started April 24, 2019 by @PrettyLittlePyro

tune

The Ringmaster sneered at Asher. "Your performance was lacking, boy," he hissed.

Asher sighed under breath. “I know sir…” he had to keep what he had in the suitcase and what he wanted to say to himself. He planned two other acts ahead of time but was still unsure of whether he should perform them or not as he wasn’t confident with them just yet. He locked his suitcase and looked out at the next performance.

Finn watched the ringmaster carefully. Mentally he went over Poppy's performance with her. (gtg but ill be back in a little bit)

Zoey shivered forward, knowing she was up soon. Her wings fluttered gently behind her and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Asher noticed how nervous Zoey was. He wanted to comfort her but knew that by doing so the Ringmaster might shock him again. He got out a sketch book and a pen from his suitcase and wrote something on it. He showed it to Zoey with a smile behind his mask. Don’t worry, you’re amazing already was written on it.

Sky walked boldly, her wings hidden before she came onto the stage, her eyes locked straight ahead. You've done this before, you prepared for this. But she doubted herself behind her calm mask.
Now in the center of the stage, she took a breath, smiling as her wings revealed themselves, extending to their full length. She took to the air, doing flips and tricks as easily as one would do in water as the crowd oohed and ahhed, clapping at some points.
For her grand finale, Sky got to the highest point she could and dove, her speed increasing as the ground drew near. It was only at the last second that her wings extended, allowing Sky to float down and have her feet gingerly touch the stage floor. Before leaving, she curtsied to the audience with a fake-but realistic, broadened smile.

A grin flashed across her face, and she nudged him with her wing tip thankfully. Then, she bit her lip and started to let her scales shift colors, vibrant shades of orange and blue sweeping across her wings and arms.

That was it. Zoey was up next. She skittered into the room, looking up and around with her eyes wide. The colors shimmered around her as she played the part of exotic animal. She twirled, letting her wings rush out and fan around her.

Asher noticed that Sky came back in. He turned a page of the sketch book he had and wrote something on it. He turned it to Skyler.
That was Awesome was written on it, beside it was a smiling face. Asher also smiled behind his mask as he showed her that.

Aza twitched slightly, apprehensive.

Tempest glanced at her brothers. Aquarius was flirting with some woman, Ford was asleep, and Bay was watching intently. She nudged Bay. Do you notice the eyes? She signed to her mute brother.

Zoey's act was over quickly, with a brief flight up to a hoop that hung. She balanced on it, swinging around while she flipped around it several times. At a drop in the audience's noise, she let go and fell, a free fall to the ground, She kept her wings in tight and landed hard, letting herself roll on the ground. The audience went dead silent, thinking she'd fallen. One, two… now. She jumped back to her feet, flashing her wings out once before standing and letting her scales shift colors once more. She turned, letting her hair stream behind her and her wings follow as she ran back to the curtain.

"Huh? O-oh! Thanks." Sky managed to whisper. "You did great as well." Skylar wasn't often nice in the presence of others, but she couldn't help but be gentle in the face of the other prison-or, rather, performers. She stood behind the rest of the performers, biting the inside of her cheek.
I hope He didn't notice my slip-up. Even then, it was only minor… Sky felt the bruise forming right under her wings. (gtg)

Bay nodded. It's as though they're being forced to stay here, or worse. Why do you think they stay?

They exchanged looks. I think this is the place we've been looking for, Tempest signed.

Zoey was breathing hard when she resumed her place in line, trying to get rid of the character she'd tried to portray. Each time she went out there, she was forced to pretend she was like a wild animal. She didn't tell anyone, but it was getting harder to come out of her performances and remember she was more than an animal.

When Zoey came back in, Asher turned the page he had for Sky to her.
That was Awesome was written on the page with a smiling face drawn next to it. He also smiled behind his mask as he gave her a thumbs up with his left hand. He tilted his head and closed his eyes, comforting Zoey mentally.

Tempest glanced at Ford and Aquarius. Both were busy. Let's go see the kids, she signed. Bay nodded, and they stood and headed down.

Zoey shot him another thankful look, her scales falling back to a clear color to show her skin. She leaned back against a wall, brushing her hair back with her fingers.

When the Ringmaster turned the other way, Asher called Zoey to him with his left hand while still holding the note with his right hand. He had something in his left hand that he tried to hide from the Ringmaster.

Zoey slid over, one eye watching the Ringmaster. She didn't dare ask out loud, terrified the Ringmaster would turn around.

Tempest and her brother moved over to the Ringmaster, who was standing in the sidelines.
"Um, excuse me, sir?" Tempest asked, her voice sweet. "Can we please see the children? I've heard so much about them, and I would just love to write an interview about them! And of course, I would write about you too!"
"Who are you?" The Ringmaster asked.
Tempest smiled at him. "Tia Mason, a writer for the local newspaper."

Asher handed what he had in his left hand to Zoey. It was just a simple note but was an important one…
Please don’t try to force your performance, you’re already graceful as you are. You looked sad when you performed and I saw that, so please try to keep the forced act to a minimum was written on the small note.

Zoey bit a strand of her hair while she looked at the note. "Thank you." It was barely a whisper, almost impossible to hear. She pulled away, watching the Ringmaster and trying to avoid drawing attention from the strange people he was talking with.

Asher nodded. He saw the other two people who were talking with the Ringmaster and was suspicious of them. He kept an eye on them as he arranged the items he had in his suitcase.

"Fine!" The Ringmaster growled. "And don't try that charm on me, Missy," he said, quieter. "I know charm magic when I feel it. Try it again, and you will regret it."
Tempest walked up to him and pulled off her sunglasses. Her eyes glowed a silvery-blue, and they were filled with sharp anger. It made the Ringmaster flinch away.
"You try anything," she whispered. "And I will personally make sure everyone you love will die, and everything will crumble around you." With that, she gestured to Bay and sauntered towards the kids.

Asher smirked under his mask when he saw what the interviewers did to the Ringmaster. I might actually like them… he thought to himself.

Zoey swallowed hard at the approach of the strangers, turning away slightly and letting her hair fall over her face. It would be better to ignore them than confront them. Hopefully they were just rich people who wanted to eye the curiosities up close.

Tempest smiled at the Chemist. "Hi," she said, putting her sunglasses back on. "I'm Tia."