bakerstreet | People see what they wish to see

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People see what they wish to see

The Night Circus

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night." - Erin Morgenstern

As you wander the grounds of Le Cirque des Rêves, black and white striped tents on all sides try to catch your attention. Which tent will you choose? Who will you meet in the tent? Or maybe you're a performer, ready to dazzle your audience as they walk in.

How does this meme work?
1 - Post a comment with your character's name and canon in subject.
2a - If you want to be a performer, add a tent number.
or
2b - If not, leave it blank.
3 - Tag others. Do NOT roll if they already have a number in their subject line. Roll (or choose) if they do not.

The Choices

1 - Isobel - The fortune teller. The tent is dark and silent. As you walk in, the noise and laughter of the rest of the circus falls away. As you feel blindly along the velvet tent walls, you encounter a beaded curtain. On the other side is either a fortune teller to tell you your future. Or maybe the fortune teller has left for a few moments, leaving behind nothing on the table but a set of black and white Tarot cards.

2 - Tsukiko - The contortionist. The contortionist does not have a tent. Round a corner, follow the path that circles the tents and you are likely to find the contortionist performing, feats of extraordinary dexterity and flexibility, slowly stuffing herself (or himself!) into a small glass box on the ground.

3 - Widget and Poppet - The animal trainers. The trainers perform outside of the tents, coaxing a multitude of black and white kittens to dance, to leap through hoops and run up and down curious and delighted audience members. Or maybe slip into the tent behind them, where two other animal trainers do similar tricks with leopards and panthers.

4 - The Illusionist - The illusionist performs in a small, black and white striped tent that holds no more than twenty. With theatrical gestures, the illusionist transforms a gentleman's scarf into a half-dozen white doves, produces flames that dance but do not burn, and even causes a tree to grow from an empty seat, pure white and silver blossoms blooming before the audience's eyes. Is it magic?

5 - Celia and Marco - The lovers. The fantastic circus and all its wonders are nothing but a backdrop for the forbidden love that has blossomed between the two of you. How will you keep your love a secret? Kisses stolen between striped tents? Bittersweet goodbyes as the sun rises and the wrought iron gates of the Night Circus closes for another day?

6 - Cloud Maze - This tent is one of the tallest in the circus, and once you slip between the black and white striped flaps, you see a tower of fluffy white mist. As you touch the mist, it is soft and warm against your hand. The more you explore, the more you see hanging platforms, ropes, and ribbons hidden among the white clouds. Through them you can climb to the top of the tower of white cloud. Do not be afraid of falling or jumping off the tower or the platforms, for the white misty clouds will support your weight, catch and envelop you in white.

7 - Bedtime Stories - This tent is small, almost hidden among the rest of the circus. Within is a room filled with shelves and tables, and bottles and jars litter every flat surface. Open a bottle, and a scent escapes. Breathe deep, and a story unfurls for you, so real that you can feel every touch. Will you share the stories with your companion? Or dare each other to try ever stranger experiences?

8 - The Wishing Tree - There is nothing in this tent except a sprawling tree that bears candles instead of leaves. Many of the candles are lit, their flames flickering in the slight breeze that permeates the tent. A card on the tree instructs you to take a candle from the tree and make a wish on it, lighting it with the flame from another wish. What will you wish for? It's said that wishes lit on the Wishing Tree come true...

9 - The Ice Garden - Everything inside this tent is white, and it takes only a moment to notice that the sprawling garden within the tent is created entirely of ice. Every posy petal, every delicate branch of a tree. The 'grass' beneath your feet is pure white snow, and brushing by a tree will send another sprinkle of white onto your head. How will you and your companion explore this place?

10 - The Labyrinth - This tent is just like any other from the outside, but as you walk in, it changes. Perhaps you'll find yourself in a library that smells of leather and is lit by flickering candles. Or a valley full of fine white sand flanked by rolling hills. Or maybe you find yourself in a giant silver birdcage. The possibilities within the Labyrinth are endless, but there are always two constants:
1 - the way into each new part of the labyrinth is not the way out.
2 - there is always a way out.

11 - Wild Card - There are more wonders at the Night Circus than the list above. Watching the acrobats or trapeze artists? Run through a Hall of Mirrors that shows uncannny insights? Eat delicious circus treats until dawn? All are possible!

How much of Le Cirque des Rêves can you explore before dawn?Source: Funvee

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Despite his name, Juggler isn't a performer. That said, he might be doing a good job of posing as one, having slid into the chair of the currently missing fortune teller. So when the stranger walks in, she'll find a surprisingly well-dressed man (do circus people usually wear suits?) casually riffling through the cards that had been left on the table. They don't hold the same significance to him as the ones he's used to working with, but there's a certain interest in them nonetheless.

And when he's presented with an audience, he can't help greeting her with a fanciful gesture of his hand, indicating for her to take a seat across from him. It won't be the first time he's made up a fortune out of thin air.

Edited 2017-09-14 07:56 (UTC)

[It had to be noted that Satsuki had a remarkably keen mind, and as such, she could easily see through people's tricks and predict their next moves. However, she had the optimism and sense of wonder to perhaps soften this skill that could pierce most illusions. So when she entered the fortune teller's room to have her future told, she simply gave the man a bright smile.]

Oh, hello!

[She sat at the offered table, looking around curiously.]

[Normally he wouldn't bother with a ruse like this, when there's really nothing to gain from it aside from somewhat pointless entertainment. But, well, he was bored, so entertainment was its own reward. And a bit funnier when one noticed the less prominantly marked but still present signs labeling the fortune teller "Isobel"... though he supposed a man named Isobel would be far from the strangest thing at this circus.]

What sort of fortune are you seeking?

Oh, nothing special.

[Satsuki gave an easy shrug. She didn't really come to hear anything specific. The idea that the fortune teller could make up all sorts of things was far more amusing.]

Just tell me what your cards tell you, I guess.

[He gave a slight nod, and laid out the cards on the table, one in the center and six more in a circle around it. He started by flipping over the card closest to him. It depicted a set of chimes. How odd to interpret when he was used to looking at monsters.]

Music, a window to the soul, and a true source of beauty... or pain.

[At the latter, he may or may not specifically be thinking of a certain annoying guy he knows with a harmonica.]

Do you play any instruments, miss?

[Satsuki watched curiously as he maneuvered the cards, but when he ~mystically~ read out the first one, she couldn't help her giggle.]

No, not at all.

[That's one flop for you, mister.]

[Totally unfazed by that flop, he simply smiled back at her.]

It was in the position of something to avoid so I'd suggest keeping it that way.

Sure.

[She hid her laugh behind her hand. She wasn't sure what to expect, but that certainly wasn't it.]

Maybe you want to tell me something about my love life? Or is it too late to ask those questions?

The cards are set, but we won't know what they say until we look. If that's what you'd like to know, then maybe that's what it will be.

[He flips the next card. On it, there's a picture of a table stacked with all sorts of desserts. He raises an eyebrow at that, thinking it might be a better fit for Gai, given that question, since he seems to like food above almost anything else. A moment later he glances back to her, almost teasing as he says the next line.]

Could it be that the path to your heart is through sweet treats?

[He seems perfectly confident. But really, he wonders how long it'll take her to notice that he's not actually the person who's supposed to be in here with this weird set of cards.]

[She recalled how Tetsu-kun had won her over, and she couldn't help her grin.]

That's true, but that's something you could say to every girl, right?

[It wasn't that Satsuki was a skeptic. It's just that until she got definitive proof, she wasn't going to believe such general statements.]

[Voice testing! No smut please.]

(OoC: Were there any you were keen on? I was thinking of either 5, 6 or 10)

((would you be interested in a combo of 5 & 10 maybe?))

(OoC: Oh, I like that! Should I start or did you have a starter in mind?)

((if you wouldn't mind starting that'd be great!))

It was something of a shock for Usagi and Mami to be stuck in this strange and sprawling maze. One path lead to another, a new room or location after every door passed. It was one unique place after another. Of course, with each new location, it meant something a lot more different.

A place for the two of them to be alone and to seek comfort in each other. Magical girls, no matter what kind they were, was a tough task, and as much as Usagi enjoyed being with her friends, she found Mami's presence a lot more comforting.

"I'm glad you're here, Mami." Usagi admitted. "It's a little more... whole?... here?" She seemed awkward, trying to figure out how to put feelings into words.

It had been harder to find secret meeting places lately. The two had been keeping quiet about...whatever "this" was. On this night however, they were lost. Mami wasn't scared though. For one thing, she was used to labyrinths in her magical girl work. For another, she was with Usagi, and she always felt safe with her.

"Same to you of course," Mami said. She has a warm smile on her face. "I'm glad I don't have to do this alone, but I'm more glad it's you who's with me."

"Mmn." Usagi nodded and took Mami's hand, giving it a soft squeeze. Despite their separate work, it was so interesting to see both of their hands still soft and gentle.

"We should be careful, though." she said. "It might be a circus, but we don't know if there's any traps here."

Mami smiled at her with a nod. Her hand in Usagi's felt right; it made her feel safe. "Right," She agreed. "Who knows what could be in here."

The girl took a step forward but stopped almost as soon as she does. Her expression hardened. "Something feels wrong. I can't quite put my finger on it..."

Usagi scrunched her forehead a bit. She wasn't as attuned to things, but Mami was right. Something was seriously off.

"You're right. Something's not right."

Mami's hand slipped away from Usagi's, and she searched the room. Her soul gem was reacting. "I think it's a witch," She hissed. "A witch at our circus...I won't stand for it!"

The girl flashed into a bright light, changing into her magical form. She turned back to the other with a smile. "Well it's not exactly the most romantic date night, but unfortunately duty calls. Will you come with me, Usagi?"

Usagi nodded at Mami's request, her hand reaching for her brooch and slipping it off. "Of course. Moon Crises, Make Up!" She replied, transforming into Sailor Moon.

"Let's make it quick so no one else gets caught in it." She said. The last thing they needed was for someone to wander in unknowingly.

"Right," Mami said with a nod. "Hopefully no one is in here anyway."

She started to wander down the hall on alert. She didn't want to see anyone harmed especially Usagi. As they went further in, the more the area began to fall apart. It was definitely a witch.

"It's strange to have a witch so close to home like this. I hope it wasn't one of the crew members...."

"You think that one of them might have been...?" Usagi began to say before stopping herself. No need to continue that train of thought. She let out a soft breath before bringing about her weapon, just in case.

"...there's no way we can help them, right?" she hated that part, but there was always that hope inside of her.

"I hope not," She said softly. It's a hard subject for her. "For all we know it could be one of the circus guests. Either way...it's not good."

Mami has her eye out for familiars that might attack them. "I don't think it's possible Usagi. I've tried in the past and...it seems once they're gone they're gone for good. But.."

She turned back with a small smile at her. "I've never met a magical girl like you before until I joined the troop. Maybe it can be different now."

Usagi smiled at Mami. Maybe it could. Maybe the Silver Crystal can make things a whole lot better. "We have to give it a shot. Somehow."

With that, she started to step forward. "Let's get going. We need to make sure no one else is here but us."

"I believe it's worth trying," Mami cooed. "I have hope."

With a nod, she heads off ahead slightly. She already had a musket ready for the familiars, and her eyes are open for a possible attack. As she walked, Mami thought about Usagi. She was glad the other didn't have to worry about a soul gem or a grief seeds. It'd break Mami's heart if something happened to Usagi...

The further they wander, the more the labyrinth distorts and become messed up. This was typical, and almost on cue, familiars shaped like clowns appear. She raises her musket and fires at one.

"Be careful!"

Usagi gasped as they found themselves swarmed by the familiars. "I got them!" she cried out, thrusting her wand at one and letting out a magical attack, obliterating it.

"We need to get going...!" she wasn't as durable as Mami was, that's for sure, thus the sooner they were out of danger the better.

"Right!" Mami shouted back. She hurried to her side and took Usagi by the hand. She started running with her to get out of the way of the familiars. She couldn't let anything happen to her!

"Are you doing okay?" She asked between breaths.

"Y-yes...!" Usagi said, panting a bit. "Just a bit spooked!"

She didn't expect what happened to do so so suddenly. But, at least that Danger had passed. Of course, now it was Usagi's turn to help Mami, coming to a stop and pulling the girl close to her so they didn't fall down a gap.

"Ah-!!"

Mami gasped loudly as Usagi pulled her close. She glances back to see the abyss before her and audibly gasps. "Thank you, Usagi," She whispers between breaths. Her smile returns as she puts her arms around her.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I don't want to think of that..."

She was afraid of that bit. What would have happened if she wasn't around? It was probably the reason why her next move was to plant a kiss on her forehead. She'd.feel horrible if she couldn't act on any sort of feelings if one of them were to be taken away.

Mami's face blushed over from the kiss, smiling up at her. "You're very sweet," She said. "But there will be plenty of time for that after you know."

Still, that doesn't stop her from getting up on her toes to give her a kiss. She doesn't linger on it long and pulls away for a smile. "One for the road though."

Usagi can't help but blush at that. "I know, but I felt like I should." she said.

"C'mon, let's finish this job..."

Mami giggled and nodded. "Yes, let's," She agreed and turned back around. "The witch can't be too far. Let's move!"

She ran on ahead again, this time being more careful.

Usagi followed suit, keeping an eye out on anything that might be suspicious. So far, beyond the odd walls, not much.

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People see what they wish to see

Momoi Satsuki ○ Kuroko no Basuke

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/goes and pokes a random image generator for card ideas

haha beautiful

Re: haha beautiful

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Jugglus Juggler | Ultraman Orb | OTA

Raphael Santiago | Shadowhunters

Paul Lahote | Twilight

Mami Tomoe | Madoka Magica | F/F

Re: Mami Tomoe | Madoka Magica | F/F

!!!

^_^

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Do we want this to be a witch labyrinth?

We can, yes!

Let's do it!

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