#but myeah grian wasn't doing great

[angeart]

Boatem Circus question cuz I am curious.

How did Grian end up at Scar's circus? I know it was said Scar was at the Watcher circus as a visitor... did he just see a traumatized birb and yoink him like 'mine now'?

-🎀

yay fun boatem circus question!! 🥰

it all happens when scar finds himself in an area that an infamous watcher circus is passing by. the circus is known for daring acts, it specialises in illusions and thrills! so scar wants to check it out. maybe get inspiration, you know? see what it's all about.

he isn't necessarily looking for hybrids in distress, but he is always on the lookout regardless. so when the fire act comes along and something seems off, he's instantly paying attention.

crowds cheer, deafening, and— the avian seems to be struggling. in a really subtle way. never stopping or pausing the act.

honestly, the performance is wonderful, and it looks gracious and impressive, but scar isn't convinced. he saw the avian hit his wing on one of the molten, fiery rings. (honestly, they look too small for what this avian is trying to do here—) he saw, for the rest of the performance, the faintly black spot of singed feathers. and amidst it all, he noted that grian wasn't grinning, unlike the other performers.

it all rings alarm bells in his head. so he goes backstage afterwards, to double check. just to be safe! just, following some gut instinct. he walks in with the confidence of a person who is exactly where he's meant to be.

and this is how he comes to witness grian being shoved into an awfully tiny cage. feathers still signed, injury untreated. he's being scolded. threatened with a lit torch through the iron bars, told to do better. if he doesn't want fire to touch him, then he needs to just do it right next time.

scar steps in, donning a salesman persona. a collector of wondrous things and creatures! he says he wants to buy this red-winged avian off of them. names a ludicrous sum, too.

the watchers refuse, laughing at him. they enjoy grian's suffering too much to let him go. they don't care for scar's (made-up) riches.

and, well. scar doesn't take a no for an answer <3

he sneaks back in later, breaks grian out, and gives him the same offer he gives to everyone else: a place to heal, to stay at, but at will. free to decide for himself.

free of cages and rings of fire.

he puts personhood back into grian's trembling, weak hands. and promises that one day, grian is going to thrive.

and if he needs to, scar will be there with him every step of the way until grian can see that for himself.