bakerstreet | Cirque de la Lune

Cirque de la Lune

Cirque de la Lune 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 Lune 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 brief want/do not want for other commenters. Please note that this meme is open to both sexual and non-sexual content, and may contain potential triggers.
♦ 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 Tightrope Walkers 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) Menials
Someone has to do the work of running the circus, after all. This group is unique in that not all of them were brought here involuntarily: some became lost and elected to remain, some sought employment, and some came seeking their missing friends and loved ones and chose to linger nearby in the vain hope that their memories might return. Most, however, are simply those too ordinary or unskilled to fit anywhere else, and they can be found just about anywhere in the circus, doing chores or maintenance, tending the animals, or selling concessions to the guests. They go everywhere, they see everything, but they do little of consequence, even if they aren't kept under as much control as the rest of the circus folk.

10) 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 laborers in whatever manner The Ringmaster or the members of the First Circle might desire. (Rumors say the former prima Tightrope Walker 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?

11) 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...

(originally by

enthymeme)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

John is still more man than beast, and the bucket of raw meat was unappealing. It was still all he had ever been given and, when he'd gotten hungry enough, he'd eaten a strip or two of it.

All that had happened was that he'd gotten really, really sick.

The Ringmaster didn't care, though, had seemed amused by it, and just reassured John that he'd get used to it. John tried not to eat after that.

He glares blearily at Bane, eyes catching on the hated bucket before he averts his gaze. "No," he lies, sullen.

"No?" He asked, both brows lifting, "Starving yourself won't do any good." He'd seen the Ringmaster resurrect people from the brink of death, and he suspected that the man could actually bring people back from the dead as well, should he so desire.

A rumbling from his stomach makes John flush, his body betraying itself. "It'll just make me sick," he admits reluctantly. "He," there's no need to specify who it is John's talking about, "says I'll get used to it. Fuck that!"

Especially because by "used to it" John suspects the Ringmaster means, "turn more fully into a Beast."

That was about what it meant, actually. Though Ban just made that thoughtful sound again, nodding once, "So you are still on solids."

He set the bucket down so that he could pick up the covered plate off of the top of it, "This one, then." There was an amused twitch of expression behind the mask, "I can't say of the quality's better, but at least it's cooked."

His eyes widen. No one's offered him food for people since his arrival here and now, Bane is? John has to swallow down the instinctive urge to grab it.

"What's the catch?"

"None." He replied with a little shake of his head, offering the plate over again, "You're under my care now. One of mine. That means it's down to me to keep you healthy."

That and he knew it likely wasn't going to be long before the Ringmaster altered Blake further, so there was no harm in giving him actual food until then. Rather like giving the family dog food from the table.

He's not subtle about the suspicious look he gives Bane but he slowly reaches out, snatching the plate into his cage as soon as he has a steady grip on it--afraid that it might get taken.

John has to force himself to eat slowly, to not make himself sick after so long of being half-starved. And he keeps his eyes on Bane, too wary to look away.

That was rather the reaction Bane was used to getting, even from beasts who'd been under his care for some time, almost all of them expected their food to be taken away again no matter how often it wasn't.

"Better?" He asked, once Blake had had a chance to actually get some of it down.

"Yes," he admits, though he can only manage to eat half the plate. He doesn't want to give up the rest, though, uncertain as to when he'll be allowed real food again.

A long pause.

"Thanks."

Edited 2016-11-08 02:23 (UTC)

He nodded once, "I'm not your enemy. I'm your keeper." There was a world of difference there as far as he was concerned. Some of the beasts understood and some didn't, he was trusting that Blake, tail, claws and all, would still have enough reasoning ability left to understand.

It's the same thing, he wants to say, wants to rage, but even as he is, with his grasp on humanity slowly slipping... He sees the difference. Gets it.

He eyes Bane again, but nods, short and sharp.

There was that smile again, invisible behind the mask, but making the corners of his eyes pinch a little, "Good. We're beginning to understand each other."

His head tilted, studying Blake intently once more, a weight behind his gaze that was almost physical, "Do you understand enough to cooperate if I were to open that door?"

"I'm not going to hurt you." It's the least he can promise to the man who'd given him food and spoken to him like a person.

He gave a quiet little huff, something that was almost a laugh but didn't quite make it, shaking his head, "Is that all?"

Blake would have been lucky to actually land a hit on him in the first place, Bane was more concerned about him trying to run.

He scowls, the fur on his tail and ears bristling (and how stupid was it, that only his new ear and tail grew hair? Like, he's got arm hair and leg hair and all that normal stuff for a human, but he definitely hasn't grown a pelt or anything like that).

"What else do you want?"

"If I open the cage, where are you going to go?" Being direct had worked so far, he saw no reason to try anything different, at least not yet.

Granted, he was direct with most of them, even the ones who didn't fully comprehend what it was he was saying but still understood commands well enough.

What is that, a trick question?

But on the other hand... John gives Bane a quick look-over, scowling at what he finds. Bane's tall, broad, strong. Well-fed and no doubt fast if he's used to working with the other Beasts.

John, on the other hand. He's short, scrawny, half-starved... Even desperate, there's no way he's going to get anywhere without getting caught.

"Nowhere," he finally answers sullenly. "Goddammit."

"Good, now we understand each other." That said he crossed the tent to a box of supplies, sorting through it for a moment before returning, a wide leather collar in one hand.

He offered it over the same as he'd done with the plate, "Put it on." A rolling shrug, "Or I can do it for you, but you aren't leaving that cage without it."

"Oh, hell no. I'm not-- No."

I'm not an animal, he wants to say, but the way his ears have flattened and how his tail lashes behind him is a clearly visible indication of how he's no longer entirely human either.

That same curious little sound, as if it didn't matter to him one way or the other, "You can stay here, then."

There were rules, and as he'd already given them once, and knew that Blake had enough sense to retain them, he didn't see the need to reiterate.

John hasn't been allowed to leave the cage since he'd been thrown into it, and the temptation to stand up properly, to feel the grass beneath his feet and to taste fresh air is strong.

It wars with his pride, and the struggle is probably plain to see before he finally spits it out: "Fine. Give me the damn thing."

Because it'd be even more humiliating to be collared, like he's actually the animal his body is trying to make him look like.

He handed it over, fully expecting it to be snatched from his fingers, especially as his only comment was: "So you can be reasonable. I was starting to doubt."

Bane knew that Blake was going to like the leash even less than the collar, but it had to be done as well, that, however, he was going to do himself, even if it meant he got swiped at.

He doesn't grab at the collar the way he did the food, but he does take it more roughly than would have been considered polite. Despite his best attempts, though, his claws prevent him from buckling the collar in place, his fingers slipping and sliding until he throws it to the ground of the cage in frustration.

Edited 2016-11-08 03:12 (UTC)

He tutted at that, shaking his head and offering a hand, "Give it here." His movements were careful and deliberate at the moment, the same way one would handle an injured animal, making sure Blake knew right where he was and what he was doing.

John's furious, angry and humiliated and he knows it'll just get worse. But he picks up the collar and shoves it at Bane's open hand anyway.

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject