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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 14:26:22 GMT -5
Liam had come out to this Circus he had heard about that had just gotten set up outside of New York City. He never went to one of them before due to the life he had lead as a child and really was still living. He was very curious to see what it was like. He had seen some pretty strange, wonderful, gruesome, and even remarkable things before in his life and yet he had never been to one of these.
Liam wasn't sure if they were ready to start some showings or not, but he wasn't the only person who had come out to see it. He still stuck out like a soar thumb thanks to his height and build making him look like a tower amongst poles. He normally didn't like how much he stuck out around normal people, but his interest in everything was too great for him to this time. He just walked around looking at all the sights before he came up to the big tent. No one seemed to be taking tickets so he had to guess that they weren't doing a show yet. He started walking aimlessly and ended up in the back without realizing it.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 2, 2012 15:02:00 GMT -5
A lot of work went into a Circus, more then you would think. But, the amazing part, was if you watched the construction process, you'd notice how effective the circus workers were. No one had to stop and ask for directions. No one sat around wondering what to do. It was like a machine. And, they were so quick in construction, that none of the locals had even pulled up during the process. Yup, they were just that quick.
Now, they were preparing for their first performance that night. The giant tent was closed off from the public until they started taking tickets, so some of the more dangerous acts could practice with the safety net inside.
A few of the family members were out front, entertaining guests, with small acts, magic tricks, food and sweets, basically keeping them there until the first show of the day. And out back, the rest of the troupe prepped. A few were practicing their own acts. Others were working on costuming. A pair of adults tried to keep their eyes on the children, who were running around like maniacs. Several other groups were around, their tasks varying. Basically, it was amazing that none of these tasks interfered with the others.
One troupe member, a tall young woman, was apparently part of the heavy lifting group. Carrying props and such inside the tent, setting them up, then going back out and getting more. During one such trip, she stopped, her blue gray gaze focused intently on a person she did not recognize. Instantly she knew he was a guest, because, obviously, in a Circus you knew EVERYONE, very well.
Lainey was scowling, obviously annoyed by this man's presence. Guests weren't supposed to come back here. Not only for their own safety, but this was where the troupe basically lived! How would you like someone walking into your 'house' with out warning or invitation?
Setting her load down, she planted her hands on her hips, watching him for a few seconds. Finally, she stomped over, still scowling. "Yer no' supposed ta be back 'ere." Her accent was a bit strange, a kind of mix between Irish and British, obviously a touch more Irish though...
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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 15:12:59 GMT -5
Liam had started to get the feeling he had walked to a part of the circus he wasn't suppose to be in. He had seen many trailers and tents with people weaving in and out of them doing things that you would see in daily life. He didn't have much time to decide if he was going to head back to the front though before a young girl walked over to him. She was tall for her age, but had more of a slim build to her rather then the curvier, heavier builds you tended to see on people of that height. She had an annoyed look to her and it only got confirmed when she mentioned that he was in a place he didn't need to be. He looked down at her and gave her a friendly smile.
" I'm sorry miss. I was thinking I had wandered off too far right before you came to tell me I had." Liam said to her in a friendly tone of voice. " Since you're here, mind telling me about your circus? I've never been to one before in my life."
Liam just kept smiling at her and hoped she would agree to tell him. He figured he might as well make the best of his mistake and satisfy some of his curiosity.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 2, 2012 15:46:52 GMT -5
This guy was tall, but Lainey personally knew at least a dozen men that could dwarf him. After all, in this business, you tended to know a lot of people who stood out. Lainey's family alone had more then their share of oddballs.
Lainey couldn't help but raise both eyebrows as he spoke. Well , at least he wasn't an idiot. But the fact he hadn't turned and left when he thought he shouldn't be there didn't help his case all that much. Just made him sound like he was slow. After that, her surprise was more focused on him never going to a Circus before. "Ye've never.... Been ta a circus...?" She sounded just as surprised as she looked! The idea of never going to a circus before was absolutely crazy. In fact she sounded like that was completely impossible. "What kind o' person never goes ta the circus?!"
Lainey had been raised at a circus. It was her entire life! So how was it possible for someone to not go to one even once in their life?! "Were yer parents anti-circus er somethin'?"
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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 16:20:19 GMT -5
Liam noticed how this girl seemed surprised by him. She wasn't showing it too much though until he mentioned he had never been to a circus before. She seemed almost dumbfounded when he told her and he couldn't help but chuckle at the way she reacted.
" It isn't that surprising that I haven't been to one when your raised pretty much from battlefield to battlefield." Liam said to her in a friendly way. " Not many circuses are willing to go to a place with either the sick and dying from some illness or where bullets and bombs are taking countless lives all the time."
Liam started to remember parts of his childhood with his father. His father was a stern man who was obviously a soldier, but he was also a very kind man who was forced to do things he didn't like at times. He didn't remember much of his mother, but no one would if their mother died when they were 3 years old. He always remembered how much his mother's death had affected his father, even to his grave. His old man wasn't perfect and had used his only son to help him with jobs, but he had always made sure to do the best he could and always watched out for him.
Liam had a bitter-sweet look to him as he remembered his past for a moment before turning his attention back to the girl. He wondered what she would have to say to him about him not seeing a circus now.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 2, 2012 16:52:55 GMT -5
The circus was her life. Someone never going to a show, even once as a child? "......" She actually seemed to be at a loss for words! What kind of parent never took their child to the circus?! "What sort o' childhood donnaei include circuses?" She spoke bluntly. Very bluntly. "Everyone should 'ave time fer the circus!"
She didn't seem to realize that, sometimes, circuses weren't really accessible. Actually, she seemed convinced that a circus could go anywhere and everywhere. And for some reason she didn't seem to realize that he was actually serious about growing up on battlefields. Seeing how a soldier went to the battlefield, and his family stayed at home, it really shouldn't be possible for a kid to be exposed to a battlefield. Basically? She thought he was just being a bit dramatic. "Well, yer parents kinda missed somethin' when raisin' ye. Every kid has gotta see the circus at least once when growin' up. Otherwise somethin' is wrong with ye." Again, she spoke a little to bluntly then she probably should.
"Ye cannae describe a circus! Ih's to magical ta use words on. I guess yer just gunna have ta wait and see fer yerself."
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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 17:06:27 GMT -5
Liam listened to what she had to say and wasn't surprised to notice that she didn't seem to get the fact that he literally was raised on battlefields. He got that response all the time when he mentioned that to anyone that didn't know him as a kid, which pretty much left out everyone but other mercenaries. He didn't pay much heed to what she had to say to him until she made that comment about his father. He frowned when she did. He was a very passive man most of the time, but he wasn't about to let someone insult his family.
" Mind what you say about other people's families LITTLE girl." Liam said to her in a slightly angry tone of voice at first that quickly turned back to being somewhat friendly. " My father raised me the best way he knew how to on his own after my mother died when I was young. He was a remarkable man and I won't hear anything that says otherwise. You don't seem to get what I said, which is normal, but I didn't stay at home during my childhood. I was literally raised ON battlefields. I doubt any circus would risk life and limb by performing anywhere near where I was with my father. Any comment to that?"
Liam was feeling a little angry now, but he knew that it was pointless to get too mad at this girl. She didn't have a clue what kind of life he had lead, which was why she had said what she sad. He calmed himself down as he waited to hear what she had to say back to him.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 2, 2012 17:34:03 GMT -5
Lainey did have a habit of insulting people. Unintentionally, of course, but if she did insult a person, she didn't care. If you couldn't take it, that was your problem, not hers. So, she wasn't too surprised he got a little angry at what she said. All she did, was shrug a little more dramatically then necessary in a 'Do you expect me to be nice?' sort of way.
"Well ye didn't explain ih in a way that'd call fer a compliment. Ye basically ask fer an insult when ye put it that way." At least, that's what she thought. Sadly, her social skills were lacking a little when it came to keeping her mouth shut.
"Ye know, Ah'm sure givin' yer life story ta every girl ye meet probably gets ye a lot o' sympathy... But ih's too much information fer me. Ah donnae find meself caring all that much." Her express actually gave away her disinterest in his 'sob' story. But she did find it interesting just how angry he was getting about it. And being able to read minds... Well, lets just s ay she could read him like a book, almost literally. "And as fer me comment, ah donnae think ye wanna hear ih, ah donnae usually 'ave somethin' nice ta say. Would ye like ta ask a different question?" She put on a, very fake, and obviously mean spirited, smile.
And, rather curious what he was thinking, she mentally reached out, poking at his mind (he wouldn't feel it, of course.), trying to find a surface thought. Instead, it was... A bit odd. Instead of words, all she heard was.... Well, she wasn't quite sure. Thankfully her expression didn't give away her sudden puzzlement.
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Post by chantel on Mar 2, 2012 17:44:06 GMT -5
*Chantel was just finishing getting the animals situated, she just had one more. It was a Gypsy Vanner horse without a reign. One of her favorites, she rode him often. But something caught her eye. A stranger. He was tall, but so was the girl next to him. With a sigh Chantel led the horse over to where her best friend, cousin, and some what sister was.* Izzy, must you torture ever guest that looses his way? *She had a thick french accent and stood much shorter than the two that she was near. Realizing the difference made her feel proudly short.*
*Turning to the tall man who looked like he could go throught Hell and back in one peace she looked up at.* And you, you look pathetic. Obviously relieving personal things to a girl you don't know, and will most likely use it to her advantage against you in the near future. A grown man should be more careful with who he talks to.
*Turning back to Lainey she looked at the girl then at the horse.* What is he doing back here any way? *Giving a second sigh she moved the horse to her other side as a a large man, about as tall as the stranger, and double wide, passed with a lode so big that he probably had no idea where he was going, or if he would hit anyone.*
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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 22:38:03 GMT -5
Liam watched as the girl just kept being a brat and acting like she knew everything in the world. He just sighed after she finished talking. He had meet people like her before and knew that they wouldn't listen to people no matter what. He was just glad that she wasn't on a battlefield right now because people with that type of attitude never seemed to make it without at least being injured. He just figured it was best to ignore her snide comments for now. He was going to say something to her when another girl around her age showed up and started talking. This girl seemed to have a more friendly personality and judging by what she said, it seemed the first one talked like this to everyone.
" Hello there miss. You were both mistaken about me telling her about some of my childhood." Liam said to her in a friendly tone of voice with a smile on his face. " I wasn't telling her about it to get any kind of sympathy and it wasn't like I revealed something that wasn't already a well known fact. Perhaps it isn't to your bunch, but it isn't something that needs to be hidden or kept secret. Life is too short for most people for them to be keeping trivial things a secret. I asked this other miss here about your cir-"
As Liam was speaking to the girl, the man carrying his heavy load suddenly tripped due to a hole and what he was carrying went flying toward the horse and short girl. Almost with inhuman quickness, Liam moved into the way and caught what the man was carrying. As supported it with one arm as he helped the other man to his feet with his free arm and then handed it back to him to finish carrying. Liam turned back to the short girl and smiled.
" Now as I was saying, I was asking her to tell me about your circus. I've never been to one before." Liam said in a friendly tone of voice.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 2, 2012 23:18:54 GMT -5
Chantel was more then family to Lainey. They were best friends, sisters (in bound), an unbreakable pair. They had shared everything with each other since the day they were born. Hell, they even shared a birthday! Basically, you could rarely find a closer pair.
So, hearing Chantel's voice behind her, she didn't need to look to know who it was. A broad grin spread across her lips. Still just as mischievous as before. "Why do ye ask questions ye already know the answers to, Lizzy?" Was all she said. Of course Lainey had to torment strangers. It was one of her favorite hobbies! Sadly, most strangers didn't realize that if they didn't give her a reaction, she'd get bored with them.
Shrugging a little to dramatically, she finally glanced at her partner in crime. "Why donnae ye ask him yerself? He havenae told me yet."
Even though these two were basically twins in every way but physical, the two didn't share too many physical similarities. Chantel small and petite with dark hair and bright green eyes. Lainey tall and lanky with light(er) hair and blue-gray eyes. Honestly, most wouldn't think the two were related unless they told you. IT was a little sad how Lainey dwarfed her counterpart.
Suddenly, one of their family members tripped, one of their serious heavy lifters. And this stranger, so easily jumped at the chance to 'protect Chantel and her horse. Which, sadly, irritated Lainey. Because she'd moved at the exact same moment to crate of parts. She wasn't strong enough to carry something like that, but she was stronger then most, and she was smart enough to copy weight lifting technique skills. You'd be surprised how much you could lift with the right technique. "Show off."
She didn't offer any thanks for 'saving' her cousin and the horse from injury, just shrugged as she glanced back at Chantel. What he said next though.... Peaked her interest. An absolutely wicked smile crossed her lips. One Chantel would recognize far to well. "Ah'll tell ye what. How about a bet? Ye win, we'll give ye a personal, private tour o' the tent. Before the show." Chantel, once again, would recognize this. She said something similar to every guest when 'conning' them. "I win, ye do what we ask until they start takin' tickets. Nothin' to embarrassin' o' course." She paused for a moment, holding out her hand to shake his own. "Deal?" She'd specifically left out what this 'bet' was on...
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Post by chantel on Mar 2, 2012 23:38:21 GMT -5
*Chantel listened to the man, seeming friendly, but wanting to let Lainey take the lead. As the things flew towards her and her horse Chantel barely flinched, but saw the movements of the man, saying that he would protect her. She still acted like a defenseless little girl, she giggled a little bit as Izzy called him a show off.*
*She was about to ask why he was back here when Lainey pulled her signature move. The "let's make a bet" line. Chantel smiled, looking at the man to see if he would take the bet or not. Curious of the bet she looked up at the beautiful black and white Gypsy Vanner. Rubbing his nose, the horse making a whinny of happiness. She knew this horse well, and he loved her. She didn't have any string on the horse, because she knew that he wouldn't leave. That was because she had named, and raised him. She chose the name Thunder, because it was a dark and stormy night when he was born, and he barely made it. She was involved with the birth even thought she is one of the youngest members of the animal trainers in the troupe.*
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Post by Liam Lancaster on Mar 2, 2012 23:55:59 GMT -5
Liam noticed that the short girl didn't seem too fazed by what had just happened, which was probably a good thing. She seemed like she was about to say something to him when the taller girl suddenly asked him if he was willing to make a bet. He had been around many gamblers and made many gambles, often involving his life being what was on the line if he lost, and he just gave the taller girl a smirk. She was an interesting one for her age. He had a feeling she might get along with many of the other mercs he knew. He saw through her little ploy fairly easily since he had seen it so many times before.
" You're a feisty one aren't you girly?" Liam said to her in a somewhat cheerful tone. " Your bet does sound interesting, but I have no reason to take it on because you're too obvious. You didn't tell me what we will be doing to give yourself the upper hand and what I would gain isn't nearly as much as I would lose if I did bet. You seem to be use to this trick working, but your dealing with someone who has seen this kind of trick several times before. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but try refining it some more and you will get even better results."
Liam just looked at her for a moment after he finished talking before he said, " But seeing as neither of our lives on are the line with this gamble, I see no reason to not agree to take on your bet."
Liam was curious to see what this girl would do. He didn't mind doing some labor after all if he lost and it would be an interesting experience to see what a young circus girl would suggest as a bet.
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Post by Lainey Fury on Mar 3, 2012 0:10:43 GMT -5
Lainey could only shrug at what the giant had to say. "That's what ah've been called. And some other thin's that ainnae to appropriate fer yer innocent ears." She was smirking. Oh, she was called a lot of things, even by her own family, and ninety percent of said things weren't good. Since most Fury's spoke Gaelic, they all took advantages of the many insults in the language, that, in English weren't that bad. In Gaelic, you couldn't get much worse. Actually, once she thought about it, English didn't have any terrible swear words....
"Oh, come on. Ih's just a harmless bet. Ah cannae actually make ye do anythin' ye donnae want. And we donnae give private tours before shows, give away all our secrets. Ye'd pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity. Cause ah know fer a fact, ye'll never find another Carnie willin' ta show you around like this." It was true. Carnies were a very private, secretive bunch. Outsiders were welcome for shows. That's all. You'd be lucky to find one even willing to talk to you if they didn't have to!
When he finally agreed though, a broad grin crossed her lips. "Ye gotta shake on it." She had her hand offered out, waiting for him to shake on it. And only when he shook on it would she continue.
"Ih's pretty simply. Ye gotta do somethin' that ye think I cannae do. Anythin' ye like. Within reason, o' course. So nothing that's physically impossible fer me. Obviously, ye gotta be able to do ih though, otherwise ah won't know what ta do! If ah can do ih, I win. If ah cannae, you win."
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Post by chantel on Mar 3, 2012 0:30:15 GMT -5
*Chantel was disappointed when the nameless giant said he knew what she was up to. Well it was back to work. She turned to give all her attention to Thunder, until he agreed. A mischievous smile crossed her face as she kissed the horses nose. Turning to Lainey and smiled, but finally feeling short wasn't fun any more. Chantel moved to one side of Tunder and, with her hands on his bare back, she trusted herself on top of the horse. Now just a little bit taller than the tall man. She sat tall on the horse, as if she was an important performer in the circus. She was getting ready to observe the man from this point of view. She would base as some form of judge, like she sometimes did. She would make sure that both accomplished the task and, if needed, help Izzy cheat a little. Even thought they rarely cheated by using Chantel's power.*
This should be interesting, huh Izzy. *She now looked down to her cousin, Thunder moving to a good spot to see both contestants, and the same distance from each person. This was one of her favorite things to watch. Thunder adjested himself so that he was looking away from them. Chantel fixed her self so she was sitting on her horse like he was a bench, seeing both people right in front of her.
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