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....

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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....

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[It's midday, hours before the first show of the evening is to start. The sound of cicadas drums monotonously against the side of one of the big tents and heat rises in a haze low in the air.

Under some half-raised tarpaulins lies Remus, one of the resident circus animals. At the moment he's in his human form, and he's dozing more like a cat than the big wolf he is to become tonight. He's got one arm flung over his face to shield his eyes from the sun that glares in under the tarpaulin. Sweat trails are visible coming from under his hairline.

He's trying very hard, but it's too hot to sleep for long. He flops over one more time before giving up and sits up, blinking at the other beast nearby. His lilting accent is distinctive, but his voice is gravelly from sleep.]

'S almost time, is it?

[ Eliot too was seated outside his cage, back resting against the support structure for the half tent they currently shared. He too had to shield his eyes with one hand when looking up at the other werewolf, Remus was sitting with his back to the sun. ]

Got maybe half an hour more if you wanna try dozin' again.

[ Eliot looked to the distance where the workers were setting up for the first show of the day. There will be fire involved, and a lot of tricky maneuvering. It wasn't a show he looked forward to, and he felt hot just looking at the fire rings being tested. ]

[Half an hour until he has to drink the horrible poison, made in a great batch every month on a full moon night with a drop of his own blood, that will transform him into his lupine form. He sighs and wipes a hand over his face again. The transformation itself is painful and exhausting; his antics as a wolf deplete his energy as a human. Tonight is going to be a long and tiring night indeed.]

It's too hot to sleep. Is there going to be a full house tonight?

[ The pain was something Eliot would agree they had in common, and something that got the larger man to sympathize with the younger wolf. Even though their method of change were different, something about different species of werewolves, the pain seemed to be one constant. ]

Hell if I know. [ He released his words in a low rumbling growl and crossed his arms over his chest. ] Doesn't even matter, they'd make us perform anyway regardless if there's one or a hundred.

[He has half a mind to roll up his sleeves in this heat, but as much as he sometimes wants to, he can never quite get up the nerve. The scar from his own werewolf bite stretches from his shoulder blade almost down to his elbow, a mark of how small he must have been when he was bitten. His rational mind knows he won't be judged poorly for it, not by all the other freaks and certainly not by Elliot, but he doesn't all the same. He gives a small smirk and shifts to find a bit more shade.]

Maybe no one will come tonight. I'd like to see the Ringmaster's reaction.

[He's fairly sure the mysterious man has some kind of insecurity issue; why else would he go to these lengths to find performers?]

[ Despite how he too wanted to see such a thing, he had to scoff at that idea. ] When have you ever known the tents to be empty? They'll get people, who knows where they'll dig'em up, but the rows will be full like they always are.

[ Eliot sighed and tilted his head back, temporarily baring the vulnerable spot of his throat in a stretch before he quickly had it hidden again. It was as much of a sign of trust as any that he was letting the young werewolf see his throat. ]

If no one showed up, he'd probably take it out on us anyway.

[Remus tries not to show his throat around Eliot, nor anyone else. It's not that he doesn't feel safe around them; it's more that he knows only too well the animal urges that he can't control. Wolves have a different type of body language than humans, and if a werewolf in wolf form can remember seeing his throat, there could be trouble for a smaller, inferior wolf like him.]

Probably.

[He sighs and flops back down again, though he doesn't close his eyes.]

It would be lovely to have a day off though, you know? A short holiday, just for one evening.

[ Eliot's eyes narrowed in annoyance at the suggestion. He knew it was just Remus whining like how youngsters sometimes did, that no harm was meant, but the words irritated him nonetheless. ]

Remember, we're not their performers, we're not even here on hire. We're only their beasts, held prisoner under their whip, and they think we're nothin' but animals.

[ He growled, a sign of his growing irritation that was always boiling under the surface. He was a fighter before he was brought here, and even though they may have taken his memories and controlled his form, they couldn't change his personality. ]

So stop thinkin' they'll give us anythin' we don't fight for ourselves.

[At the growling tone of the older man, Remus instantly curls into a ball, head tucked down and knees over his stomach. He does not fear for his life here, not really. But he does fear for his well being, particularly from the other beasts. He is quick to defend and slow to trust. He keeps his eyes on Eliot's face. For some time he is silent. When he does speak, it is quietly.]

Will someone ever fight for us?

[ Seeing he was scaring the younger pup, Eliot instantly stopped his grumbling and tried to relax his stance. He uncrossed his arms too so he simply had them hanging down by his sides. ]

Not bleedin' likely.

[ His blue eyes were sad when he looked over to meet Remus' gaze. ]

No one fights for the animals... Regardless if that's what they really are.

[He watches Eliot move into a less threatening position and slowly uncurls his own body. He speaks in a low monotone.]

Someone should, you know.

Don't expect it.

[ Eliot will, or will do what he could at least. He killed the last tamer who abused the beasts, but there were only so much a cursed creature like himself could do. ]

You're gonna need to learn to stand up for yourself.

[Remus has heard that local legend, that Eliot mauled a former beast master to death, bloodily and at great personal expense. It's a terrifying thought, that the man in front of him is capable of such harm, but it's very believable. His own wolf form would do the same thing if it wasn't cowed by the current tamer.

It does leave Remus a little in awe of Eliot, too. He shrugs, more of a twitch than an outright gesture, and looks away.]

Yes, I know.

[ There was a reason why Eliot was known as the most troublesome beast in the circus and amongst trainers. He couldn't recall much of himself from before his circus days, but he knew he was a fighter and could recall the twenty different ways to choke a man, or how to kill someone and make it look like a suicide.

Eliot was more dangerous in his human form than his beast. ]

Good. Don't let'em step all over ya.

[He gazes silently at him for a few moments, lost in thought. He speaks quietly.]

How do I do that, Eliot? I can't kill people like you can. I mean, I wouldn't want to kill anyone, unless I have to. I think the trainers are just as trapped as we are in this place.

[ Eliot almost looked sad when Remus said that to him. Although he knew it wasn't meant to be, he could hear the accusations of 'murderer' beneath the words. ]

They may be trapped, but they don't hafta do some of the things they choose t'do. They've got no one to blame but 'emselves for bad choices.

[Seeing the morose look Eliot has on his face Remus quickly backtracks.]

Yeah, you're right, yes. They probably deserve whatever's coming to them...

[Though he's not convinced, internally. He believes in the good of all people, or at least most of them.]

[ Hearing Remus' hasty agreement, the older man chuckled and shook his head. ] Ya don't have to patronize me. But they do. Some of'em are downright bastards.

If they're forcin' me to be a beast, then they better be able to live with the consequences. [ As he growled out the words, his eyes flashed gold for a second. ]

[He frowns.]

They patronize me, too. And neither of us have to be animals, not all the time. And you - you can think like a human when you're in wolf form, can't you?

[ Eliot didn't have the heart to tell the kid that he meant they deserved to die. Rather he gave him a raised brow. ]

That ain't gonna change how they treat us.

[He takes a deep breath.]

The beast tamers take their lives into their hands every night when they work with us. I... I don't know what would happen if I actually managed to, you know...

[He pauses for a second, as if he is fighting to get the words out.]

Bite them. But I wouldn't turn even the worst of them into something like me. And I wouldn't kill them, either.

The only life they take into their hands is their behavior with us.

[ Eliot shook his head, not understanding. ] You can pass your curse on through biting?

[He raises his eyebrows.]

Yes, of course. I thought that bites were the only way to pass it on...

[He gives Eliot a concerned look.]

How were you cursed, then?

Bitten. [ He sighed and rubbed his thigh where beneath his pants was a huge red bite scar. ]

But I've bitten the tamers before. None of'em are werewolves.

[His eyes are wide and round.]

Weren't they afraid of turning into werewolves? Didn't they at least, I dunno, lock themselves up on the next full moon?

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golden_retriever - 2012-07-30 23:25 (UTC) - Expand

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furryproblem - 2012-08-01 06:05 (UTC) - Expand

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welcome to the greatest show unearthed

Option 1, nonsexual?

All good~

<3

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