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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Taking the plate gratefully, Lindsey allowed himself to led back to the bed and sat down lightly on it. He looked hesitant before he began, like he wasn't sure if this wasn't a trap that would get him in trouble, but at Eliot's urging, he took the first bite. That was all it took before he was quickly gulping down the rest.

"This is good, Eli... Your eggs are always the best," he said without thinking.

Eliot stared at his brother, a faint hint of a smile gracing his lips. "You... remember?!"

He was almost too afraid to hope that something was coming back. They'd cooked for themselves, Maxie, Ryan, and Da ever since Mama left, but Eliot had always been the better chef. Even when all either of them knew how to make was scrambled eggs.

Yet when Lindsey looked up again, there was once more no recognition in his gaze. "What did I say?" he asked, the showing that the words were a slip, a fluke. But it also showed that there was something still in there.

"I... I don't recall." He placed down the plate slowly, looking sad about it as this was the best meal he had eaten in a while.

Eliot held back a sigh as he moved the plate to the nightstand. "You were talking about my cooking," he said, gently maneuvering Lindsey so he was laying down before tucking the blanket back around him. "Get some sleep. I can make more for ya when ya wake up."

"It was good," Lindsey offered softly, feeling sorry that he couldn't recall what he said that had made Eliot light up like that earlier. Trusting that Eliot wouldn't let anything harm him in his sleep... where did that thought come from? Lindsey snuggled against the blankets and looked up at his brother.

"Will you be leaving after I sleep?"

"Yeah." Eliot nodded. "I'm not leaving unless I absolutely have to. And I'll be back if I do."

He turned on the table lamp and turned out the overhead light before beginning to sing quietly.

"Cut through the back woods of the Harrison farm,
Jumped over the rock fence onto Mr. Jenkins' barn,
Better be along down Choctaw Bend and Pawnee Bridge,
Ran into town,
Chased that train to the tracks without slowin' down.

"Went to see the Mason man at Old Man James's store.
Those rockin' chairs won't rock and my aunt says they're gone
And there's a sign that says Closed on the door.
Turned around and ran back to the tracks
To who the kids are gonna call Reverend Railroad Billy Jack and he'll give you
Sermons and songs, all his rights and what's wrongs
On a stringless guitar with a flag across his lap and he'd sing:

"Settle down now, you kids are gonna be okay.
Settle down now, the boys and girls are fightin' for you today.
Settle down now, I'm gonna tell you what you wanna be.
He said ya dedicate your soul
For God, country, and Rock 'n' Roll
And get America high."

Lindsey smiled softly when Eliot began singing. His brother was good and his voice soothing. Despite himself, he relaxed in the man's presence, his bed of all places, and started to drift.

"Mmm," he murmured sleepily by the end of the song, face half buried in the pillow. "T'night's show starts in two hours... y'should get ready if you're performin'."

Eliot frowned. He didn't want to leave his brother. Lindsey in this state was completely defenseless. He didn't even know it he was performing tonight. He sighed and looked through the closet. There were several different tuxes. He pulled out a black and green one. At least this way, he'd be ready if he had to perform tonight.

Yet by the time Eliot changed into the sharp performing outfit, Lindsey was already asleep on his bed. Even in sleep he did not seem at peace, but was curled up defensively as if afraid someone will hurt him in his slumber.

Eliot was just tucking the blanket more securely around his brother when the summons to the ring came. He glanced over his shoulder at Lindsey as he left the apartment.

When he came back a couple hours later, he almost hesitated to look at the bed. Part of him hoped that Lindsey wouldn't be there, that he'd imagined his brother being here in the first place. Part of him feared that someone would have come and taken his brother away. He'd promised Lindsey he wouldn't let anyone hurt him anymore. He didn't want to break that promise because he wasn't there.

And Lindsey wasn't in the bed.

However, as the sound of running water from the direction of the bathroom soon proved, Lindsey had merely woken up and was moving around. He poked his head out from the doorway and smiled hesitantly in greeting when he heard Eliot returned.

"I... drew a bath for you. I thought you might want one after the performance..."

"Thanks." Eliot smiled back at his brother, pulling his bowtie loose and taking off his jacket. "You sleep okay?"

"Yeah," he answered, still hanging around as if not quite sure what to do with himself. Eventually he reached out to help Eliot take his jacket to hang and offer any other assistance the man may need with changing.

"It was... nice." If plagued with nightmares. "How was the performance?"

"Good. You look a little better."

He scowled at the mention of the performance. "It was sick. And it wasn't me."

He sighed and shook his head. "Thanks, Linds, but I can get undressed and washed by myself. Why don't you pick out something to wear and make yourself comfortable?"

Lindsey looked down. The circus did some horrible things to people. He shuddered, relieved that he was made a slave instead of turned into one of those... Beasts. Even with what he was suffering, it was better than what happened to those creatures.

But at the mention of getting something to wear, he panicked and looked back up. "No! Slaves can't get caught breaking the rules... I was told I'm not allowed to wear anything besides this... I... I..." He shivered just imagining what may happen to him.

Eliot stopped when he realized Lindsey had started panicking. "Hey, Linds," he murmured, trying to sooth him. "It's all right. I'm not gonna ask ya to do anythin' that'll get ya hurt. It's okay."

Lindsey met Eliot's gaze and held their comforting gaze until he slowly calmed down. This was his brother, he reminded himself. He could trust him.

"...would you mind if I went into the bathroom with you? I can help you wash your back." He didn't want to be left alone at the moment, and Eliot was a comforting presence.

Edited 2012-07-28 00:09 (UTC)

"Don't need help washin' my back." And, honestly, it would just be too strange for Lindsey to do that. "But you can come in if ya want. Should get you washed up when I'm done."

"I'll stay out of your way," Lindsey answered with a slight smile, hoping to encourage his brother to return one at him. Watching Eliot was like watching a stronger version of himself, he found it lifted his spirits. "And okay... I'd like that."

Remembering that he hadn't gotten towels, he proceeded to retrieve those from the closet. "You go ahead, I will come in with the towels afterwards.... Is that okay? "

"Yeah, that sounds good," Eliot replied with a fond smile. He slipped into the bathroom and quickly stripped the tux off. He slid into the warm water with a soft sigh and wondered if there was any way of getting his brother back or if he'd have to find a way to essentially raise his older brother. If only he knew what they'd done to him but he had a feeling Lindsey was probably too far gone to be able to tell him.

The problem wasn't Lindsey regressing to an earlier age, it was his fear of getting further hurt. What they had done to him, aside from messing with his memories of things, was to put him through his paces to make sure he would be an obedient slave. His intelligence was still there, as was his knowledge, but with such fear instilled in him he didn't dare to use any of it.

Getting the aforementioned towels, Lindsey also picked up a large blue robe. He eyed the closet for a while before picking a beige one and took it in as well.

"I'm coming in," he warned before opening the door. The last thing he wanted was to startle Eliot, for more than one reason.

Eliot smiled as Lindsey walked into the room. "Hey," he said quietly. "So you wanna eat somethin' when we're done here?"

He washed as quickly as he could and drained the water. He wrapped a towel around his waist and turned back to run fresh water for his brother.

Lindsey couldn't help smiling back when he saw Eliot's smile. "I... Yes, I'd like something."

Talking to his brother urged him towards being a little more assertive. Even though he couldn't remember anything, he knew he used to be a very stubborn man. He tried to be that person again, even though he was scared to.

But as soon as he saw Eliot trying to draw his bath for him, he was quick to jump in and tell him, "I can do it. Really. I got you a robe..." He gestured to the two blue and beige ones on hangers.

"I know you can." Eliot couldn't help his smile. That was so much like Lindsey had been growing up, always insisting he could do everything himself. "But I wanna take care of you for a change."

He finished adjusting the water before he took the robe from the hanger. "Thanks."

"You're always trying to take care of me," Lindsey retorted. He didn't know where it came from, but it sounded just right. Perhaps it was the unremembered truth. Either way, he allowed Eliot to finish what he was doing before he took off his meager coverings to slide gratefully into the warm water.

All this comfort after the harshness in the past few months was almost enough to make him cry. His eyes shone slightly at least, and he blinked them rapidly before dunking his head underwater to wash his hair in an effort to hide what he felt.

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Don't matter how smart Lindsey still is right now...

So true... And... yeah, Lindsey's skin probably all scarred up. Only his face is still pretty.

When Lindsey has more scars than Eliot, you know something tragic happened.

I suspect Eliot's scar-free right now. Can't have a prized performer be covered in scars.