bakerstreet | welcome to the greatest show unearthed

welcome to the greatest show unearthed

Cirque de la Nuit

Cirque de la Nuit is famous across the multiverse for its spectacular cast, each exquisite to behold as they perform feats of daring and wonder before enthralled audiences. Any privileged to attend a performance will never forget, for each show is filled with magic and splendor.

Literally.

For the secret of the Cirque de la Nuit is that each performer is kidnapped, modified, and enslaved by the one who runs it, a mysterious figure known only as The Ringmaster. He draws the most promising, the most beautiful, and the most talented from any dimension to which he has access, then with a combination of magic and medicine transforms each into their fullest potential, a shining jewel to play their parts like marionettes on strings of his manufacture.

Will you be a part of the circus? Or are you one of the lucky few who's managed to procure a ticket? Step right up, then, and see what it has to offer....

HOW IT WORKS:
♦ Leave a comment with your character's name and fandom in the subject. You can either select an option and set the scene, or fill out this form for other commenters. Please note that this meme is open to both sexual and non-sexual content. You may wish to list non-sexual RP as one of your prefs.

♦ Tag another character. If they haven't already selected an option, you can RNG it, or just pick your poison.
♦ Play out the results and respect others' preferences.
♦ Have fun!

The kidnappings come without warning or a chance at escape: those summoned by The Ringmaster suddenly find themselves in the circus, so wound about by bindings both physical and magical they can hardly move, much less think of escape. Most are unconscious for the process of alterations, which could be considered a mercy considering how long and painful it is. The Ringmaster works with the careful precision of a master sculptor, and each of his creations bears a symbol of his craftsmanship that also serves to keep them under his unfaltering control.

As the symbol can only be removed by another person at the cost of their life, almost no one has ever even tried to escape the circus, and even if they did there would be the small issue of getting away from where it exists, suspended between dimensions. Most don't even realize they're being controlled, however, for the compulsions holding their imposed personae in place are subtle in their strength.

The best of The Ringmaster's creations, those who perhaps already possessed innate talent or beauty, or who simply adapted to the changes better than most, are fortunate enough to take their places in the First Circle. These are the most privileged and pampered, and each wears a tiny jewel in their ear to mark their rank.

1) Beast Tamer
Merciless and deadly, the Beast Tamer can subdue the most unruly animal with will and whip. They seek to dominate and control, no matter how meek or cowardly they might have once been.

2) Tightrope Walker
The Tightrope Walkers are the most exquisite jewels of the circus, delicate and graceful of form and movement and often breathtakingly lovely of face, able to dance butterfly-light on the finest of wires. They are also, however, often the most passive, the most controlled, like puppets crafted of fragile china.

3) Acrobats
Whether they are skilled as trapeze artists, hoop dancers, or tumblers, the Acrobats are all agile and quick of body-- and mind. Something about the changes made to allow their feats of skill also tends to make them more sly and cunning, more apt to lie or cheat to get ahead of the rest.

4) Strong (Wo)Man
These performers were enhanced for strength-- some were given added bulk and others simple toning, but all are significantly stronger than any unaltered human. Alas, they often lose some of their mental acuity in exchange for the physical enhancements, but none will ask a performer balancing an anvil to perform calculus.

Those without special skills or who did not adapt quite so well are still given places in the circus ranks, however, being placed in the Second Circle. Members of this group bear an unobtrusive bracelet around one wrist as a sign of their rank.

5) Clowns
Many a flaw can be hidden with makeup, and those who did not quite meet The Ringmaster's exacting standards of beauty must hide behind makeup and costume. Many are failed Acrobats, and as they are quite aware that only a small mischance prevented their admission to the First Circle, they spent much of their time plotting the downfall of those more privileged.

6) Sideshow Performers
These can include jugglers, fire-breathers, or knife-throwers, daredevils or magicians, those with clever hands and nimble tongues who can amuse the guests before the main show. Some failed Trapeze Artists are veiled and costumed and put to work in a side tent as exotic dancers, while former Strong Men discourage the guests from getting too close (though rumor says they can be bribed, at times).

7) Beasts
The Beast Tamers must have creatures with which to perform, after all. Those who already wore the forms of beasts are enhanced, whether to look more beautiful or more deadly (or perhaps both), while some others are transformed entirely into lions or tigers or other fierce beasts to share in the main performance. Some of these unfortunates manage to retain their intelligence after the change, but others find themselves slipping away and becoming as mindless as the creatures whose forms they wear.

8) Sideshow Exhibit
The displays in the sideshow tent include those whose alterations fail, those who become trapped halfway between humanoid and beast form, or those who began in such an inhuman shape that they could never fit into the First Circle even with all The Ringmaster can do. Their existence is barely better than those of the animals, for they almost always remain caged, subject to the stares and giggles of the crowd. These again are guarded by former Strong Men, but they cannot be everywhere, and occasionally the mocking and stares of the guests devolve into worse.

The worst off of the circus denizens are those who inhabit the Third Circle. These unfortunates wear a plain leather collar as a sign of their rank, though none are likely to mistake them for a member of one of the other Circles.

9) Slaves
These are the fallen, the failed, the grotesque, those who are too deformed to exhibit, too ugly or ungainly to be allowed to perform, or those who tried to escape and are now in disgrace. They remain hidden from the view of guests, serving as menial laborers in whatever manner The Ringmaster or the members of the First Circle might desire. (Rumors say the former prima Trapeze Artist attempted to run away from the circus, and now bent and disfigured from her punishment, cleans the quarters of the current prima.)

And what would a circus be without an audience?

10) Guests
It is difficult indeed to obtain a ticket to the circus, for most do not even known of its existence. Only the rich, the powerful, those who are well versed in dimensional travel, or somehow privileged to be given a ticket by The Ringmaster himself in return for some service are ever allowed into the circus grounds. Some say that anyone who can provide The Ringmaster with a particularly good candidate will earn a lifetime's pass in return....

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

Character: Remus Lupin
Age: 19
Description: Werewolf and wizard, devoted to his friends and determined to do the right thing, though this determination often fails in the face of disappointing friends.
Want: Beast with a beastmaster perhaps? Open to others
Do Not Want: extreme violence

((hello fellow werewolf... would you rather have a Guest with designs to rescue, or a fellow Beast? :) ))

[ooc: Ooh, designs to rescue could be fun. :)]

This circus is an abomination, as far as Lyall is concerned. But he's good at keeping his feelings to himself, and his expression, as he wanders amongst the side-show stalls and beast cages before the show begins, is cool and distant. But his nose doesn't lie: there are werewolves here. While he finds slavery of all forms abhorrent, that just goes an extra step into something he actually has to do something about.

He moves slowly from area to area, following his nose in a haphazard manner, until he finds one of the cages in particular with a young man in it. The burly fellow between him and it looks warningly at him, but Lyall merely stops at a "safe" distance and removes his spectacles, eyes on the young man-- werewolf, he's sure of it.

Remus has grown to be quite complacent in the circus by this time. He'd be...well, not content exactly, but at least completely resigned, if it weren't for the fact that whatever it was that the Ringmaster did to him, He now finds himself permanently sporting a pair of wolf ears and a smattering of fur all across his skin, even his eyes are wolf-like consistently now.

His senses are as heightened as they were during his transformation as well, and he smells something...off about the man who's come to gawk at him. He might just be gawking back.

As the young man shifts to face him, it's even more obvious. Lyall has never seen a werewolf in a partial shift before, but it does have him gaping just a little at the sight. He shakes himself out of it after a beat, though, and turns to murmur a few words to the guard.

A few pounds change hands, and Lyall approaches the cage. He doesn't come within reach, but he's very close to it, uncertain whether there's any rage left in the boy with only a partial shift.

"Good evening," he begins, his voice soft enough that only Remus can hear him.

Remus frowns down at the man. It's never a good thing when a guest bribes a guard to get closer. It never turns out well. There's always a bit of the wolf struggling to get out anymore, and Remus fights it, but he doesn't always win.

"Hello," he says just as softly, cautious, waiting to see what the man wants.

There's no growl, no snap, and a civil greeting in return. Lyall is pleased. He offers a small, reassuring sort of smile-- if anyone in his position can possibly be trusted enough to be reassuring. "How long have you been here, pup?" he asks gently. The word "pup" isn't said like an insult-- more like an endearment.

Remus still bristles slightly at it. Where he comes from, no one speaks well of his condition. "Six months," he murmurs, casting a fearful glance toward the guard, worried he'll get in trouble for this.

Taking the irritation in stride, and making a note not to call him "pup" again, Lyall continues with another careful question: "And where are you from?" It is quite possibly an innocent question, but it will tell Lyall just how far the pup-- the boy-- has come.

Guessing at the meaning of Remus's nervous glance, he adds, "It's safe, I've paid him well for a conversation." With a slight smile, he adds, "As long as I don't try to touch you, anyway."

Casting another glance at the guard, Remus answers, "England. Do you know it?" Many of the people he's come across here don't.

Nodding somberly, Lyall answers, "I do, indeed. I come from London, myself." And these terrible slavers have been reaping werewolves from his country? Oh, he's even angrier now, and it shows just a little. "My name is Professor Randolph Lyall. How do you do."

Judging from his tone, it's less a question than the words suggest, and more a standard greeting-- especially since Lyall doesn't pause to let him answer. Instead, he asks, "And with whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

"Remus," he says quietly, though his expression softens at the answer. He hasn't met someone from home in a long time, it seems. "Remus Lupin."

The name takes him aback a bit, and he blinks at it, but then offers a small smile in return. "Mister Lupin. It is indeed a pleasure. I believe your little...." His pause is palpable and almost pained. "... show will begin soon, but I hope to see you again quiet soon. Keep my scent in mind."

He taps the side of his nose lightly, and pushes up from his crouch. Right now, there's too many people, too much to watch. That's the only hint he can give, but at least he knows he doesn't smell much different, no matter what form he's in.

Remus is still wary of him, but he nods and inhales deeply, wanting to remember that scent. "I'll try," he offers, glancing once more toward the guard, careful to keep his voice down.

"Which is all anyone can ask of you." Lyall tips his hat to Remus, then turns to disappear back into the rows of tents. For now.

Remus might notice him in the crowd of the audience, during the show. Lyall certainly notices Remus, finding him amidst the other "beasts" every time the younger werewolf is hauled out on stage. There may be nothing he can do for most of these poor souls, but he is not leaving one of his own here, if there's anything he can do to help him.

Remus looks for him in the audience. He's curious how the stranger reacts to the show. Most of the time, though, he's distracted, the wolf in him brought to the forefront by the Beastmaster.

The stranger reacts with very little expression. He smiles now and then, but it isn't a real smile. He's too angry for a real smile, but if he doesn't at least go through the motions, he'll look out of place in the crowd of awed, amazed, and amused. What he is doing the whole time, however, is watching closely every time Remus is in sight, learning what he can of his wolf form strengths and weaknesses, and how he's controlled.

When the show is over, he files out with the rest, but he doesn't leave. There are plenty of dark places to hide in this circus-- it's practically made of dark places-- and he sneaks into one until the tents quiet down and the trainers and show-stoppers all are occupied with sleep, counting their coins, or each other.

Remus is exhausted after the show. He always is. He just about forgets that someone had asked him to keep an eye out, and the part of him that does remember is too tired to care much. He curls up on the bed in his cage and passes out almost immediately.

And Remus gets a few hours' sleep before it is quietly interrupted. Well, fairly quietly, about as quietly as such things occur. Lyall attacks the one guard without a sound, and there's a thump and a strangled gargle of protest as he dies, and then an unfamiliar wolf, a sandy gold in color with bright yellow eyes, with an at least vaguely familiar smell is bounding up to the cage with a muffled whine. He even has a set of keys clasped tightly in his mouth, with a strip of cloth dangling from one end where they were torn from someone's belt loop.

Whatever Remus had thought the other man was up to, this was not it. He doesn't take too much time to worry about it, though. This is not an opportunity he can afford to question. He recognizes the scent, after all, and reaches through the bars for the keys, whispering, "Thank you."

The wolf gives a soft little snort-- best not to thank him until they're actually out. There's still the rest of the circus to get through, and Lyall doesn't count them free just yet. There's still plenty of chances for capture.

He lets the one with the hands handle unlocking the cage, however. Changing back would take too long, potentially be noisy, and be worthless when he plans on changing back immediately anyway. So he stands guard, ears twitching every which way and nose testing every puff of air for a warning scent.

Remus manages the lock quickly and quietly, easing the door to his cage open. He doesn't count them free yet either, but he's a damn sight closer to freedom than he was this morning.

As tempting as it is to take the keys and pass them along to another cage, there's the potential for noise, and Lyall has always had his priorities, and the werewolf is his priority at the moment. Get the one out that has a chance, rather than increase the risk of alerting more guards....

So he makes sure the keys stay behind with a sharp look, and starts creeping towards the nearest edge of the circus's territory. In their path, he knows there's a bonfire occupied by Acrobats and one of the Beastmasters, a tent full of drinking Side-show acts, and probably a walking guard or two. But he has teeth; he can handle the latter.

Remus is tempted to press the issue of rescuing the others, but he tells himself it's too risky and that he can come back for them later if he makes it out himself.

He doesn't know the layout of the grounds terribly well himself. He hasn't seen much outside his cage and the stage where he does his shows. He follows behind the wolf closely, staying as quiet as he can manage, wishing he had his wand.

Remus Lupin (Marauder's Era) | Harry Potter

Randolph Lyall | Parasol Protectorate

Re: Randolph Lyall | Parasol Protectorate

Rescue designs it is!

:)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject