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the-letter-horror-lover · 2 years ago

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Outlander: Noah's Ark

Vellamo1

Work Text:

Boring.......

I was sitting in the Phantomhive townhouse on an evening at the end of January, trying to teach Soma how to play Black Maia.

The Earl and Sebastian had gotten tickets from the Queen to a traveling circus called Noah's Ark, and instead of getting to enjoy the show with them, I spent my time trying to explain to the teenager that he couldn't deal me more cards than I had in my hand.

I felt unfairly treated, even though I realized I was being childish.

I loved the circus.

The highlight of the year had always been the moment in the summer when Circus Finlandia set up its tent on the sand of the local sports field, and the smell of popcorn and sawdust wafted into the surroundings.

For years, due to the law, animals were no longer allowed to be taken on tours, but watching acrobats, clowns, magicians and other performers sounded like an escapist experience, the power of which continued with the monthly trade in the grayness of everyday life.

No matter, even though I was an adult.

When the band started, and the lights dimmed, I was once again that kid who saw a tightrope walker for the first time.

The magic didn't fade, despite the years.

Soma, once again, swiped his cards across the table.

"I can't stand this, there's no excitement here," he would say.

"The game could be more exciting if you played by the rules and didn't cheat to win," I reminded and gathered the card into the deck.

The prince left in the direction of his room, his faithful Agni following behind him.

I sighed.

Despite the age difference, the Earl was considerably more mature than the spoiled prince.

I didn't have to think for a second about who I'd rather spend my time with.

I went to get a glass of wine from the kitchen, and started playing solitaire while blinking at the window.

The others should be here any minute.

I hope nothing happened.

I did not know the reason why the tickets had been given, but the Queen hardly did anything without a purpose.

The watchdog had been called back to work.

….......................

Later in the evening we sat at the table and talked.

I heard about the children's abductions, and how Sebastian had gotten himself and the Earl to join the circus.

And me, as it turned out.

"As a woman, you can talk to women better than we do, and you can also get to places that we can't," explained Sebastian.

"Furthermore, an extra pair of eyes might be decisive in solving the matter," Jaarli continued.

So I got to the circus after all.

Just to one side of the edge of the manes.

…......................

The next morning dawned cold and pale.

Me and Jaarli had taken off worn pairs of clothes, unlike Sebastian who was in his tailcoat, as usual.

But where he presented what he was, that is, the butler, the Earl, or Finnian, as he introduced himself, was a servant boy and I was a nestling.

We had gathered behind the tents by the goal board, and I watched, holding back a smile, as the Earl hit the board, with Sebastian's help, every time. Luckily everyone was staring at the board and the boy, because I had a poker face to keep.

When the daggers ran out, the Earl's trial was over. A knife thrower named Dagger immediately took her into his care, and my ordeal began.

The red-haired guide wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me and the rest of the crowd inside the tent.

“Now it's your turn, miss. Just up there,” he said, pointing to the roof of the tent.

I looked up.

I had to bend my head back in order to distinguish the rope looming at a height of twenty meters.

"Oh my god, I'd rather get into bed with you than climb up there!" i started

I slapped my palm over my mouth as a deep silence settled around me.

Oh hell, when did I learn to think first and speak later....

I can walk in a dark forest, I'm not afraid of animals or murderers and I can stand anything, but not high places! Or, well, ships, but now there was no fear of seasickness...

Just looking up made a cold sweat run down my back and my hands shake.

I can't, I can't.....

Suddenly, the teacher, Jokeri, slapped my shoulder with his bony artificial hand and burst into a roar of laughter.

"I don't know if that was a compliment or an insult, but if high places cause such great emotions in you, we can probably find you a place on the border."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, what are you good at?", the man continued.

I think.

"I'm a pretty good darts thrower, but I can hardly beat C... uh, Finnian."

"I guess there's something else?"

"I'm pretty good with animals," I said after thinking for a moment.

"Okay then, Beast, Come here," Jokeri whined.

The busty dark-blooded stepped closer.

"The newcomer will be your assistant."

"It won't work!", the animal tamer shouted.

I looked at him searchingly.

The woman's eyes showed anger and fear.

What was he really afraid of?

For his tiger?

I had heard about Betty and Sebastian's encounter the night before, so it seemed likely, but when I saw the way Beast looked at Joker, I realized it was something more personal.

My rash statement, and the order to take me as his assistant made Beast fear for his position.

Not as an animal tamer, but in Joker's eyes.

Ouch, one-sided love is boring, even if you are just a bystander.

I felt warm sympathy for the sad-eyed woman.

But knowledge is power, and how it is used can solve the problem of missing children.

All the weapons that can be found are used.

After watching the duel between the animal tamer and the tiger trainer, it was clear that my new pet wouldn't be near the tiger.

It didn't bother me, because even though I like cats, I was much more aware of my vulnerability than Sebastian, who had ended up bitten. Twice.

It was easy for him to be a demon, but I would be in pieces if a 300-kilogram kitty decided that I wasn't a nice guy.

“Snake, come here,” I heard Joker call.

From the side of the tent, from the shadows, a man stepped out with two snakes on his shoulders.

As the slender figure walked closer, I felt my eyes widen.

Some of the skin on the man's face had scales, like snakes on his shoulders!

I looked up into his eyes, and saw two golden-hued, narrow-pupiled eyes, whose sad expression pierced my heart.

Man, he must have had a terrible time.

People can be so cruel to someone different.

"Snake, here's your new assistant," Joker introduced.

“I hope you get along, all of you.”

I looked the man straight in the eyes and held out my hand.

"Hey."

The man looked at my hand, and then at me, confused.

Apparently, he wasn't used to someone wanting to touch him voluntarily.

I smiled, and raised my eyebrows questioningly.

Carefully, he raised his right hand towards me.

I took her hand in mine, and pressed both my palms on either side of her hand, warming it.

“Nice to meet you, Snake. Would you introduce your friend to me?”

The man gently pulled his hand out of my grasp.

"I'm Emily - says Emily," the man said in a soft voice.

A beautiful, red-black-white-striped snake raised its head and looked towards me.

“Hey, Emily. Nice to meet you. You are very beautiful,” I said, holding out my hand, palm side up, as I always do when facing animals.

The sneaky creature reached out for my hand and flicked its tongue in the air.

"You smell good - says Emily."

"You mean I smell like a rodent?", I replied with a grin.

"No, not for the food, just for the good," says Emily.

A black-brown, larger snake raised its front body and leaned towards me.

"You really smell good, and warm," says Wilde, the man said.

"Good to hear I don't smell like food," I smiled weakly.

If I didn't know snakes wrong, the larger, male snake was a mamba.

Okay, I'm not afraid of snakes in general, but I'm not so stupid that I'm not afraid of one of the most venomous creatures in the world.

Unnoticed, I leaned back as Wilde reached for me.

"Don't be afraid, we don't bite unless we're told to - says Wilde", the man reassured me as the snake hissed near his ear.

I wanted to believe that the little animal was laughing at my reaction.

"Good, that's clear then," said the director.

"Do you know anything else useful?"

I thought about it while Emily wrapped her arms around me.

"He's a good dancer," I heard from behind me.

Sebastian.

I turned to look.

"Party dances are hardly suitable for the circus," I said, wondering about his motivations.

"I didn't mean couple dances. You can dance more than that."

I watched in confusion as he began humming;

"You are silky, in my arms..."

I bent my head towards the ceiling and burst out laughing.

"So it was you, you bloody bastard. Damn voyeur!

The Joker looked at us confused for a moment, but then nodded.

"Okay, let's see. Dance for us.”

I stepped onto the carpeted part of the manes, dropped my coat in a pile on the ground and kicked off my shoes.

“Music, maestro,” I grinned at Sebastian, who began humming the swinging melody of a reggae song.

"If the success of the job depends on this, you will get all the money for it", I thought and let it burn.

…...............

When I finished, panting slightly and my abs tender, I saw my audience looking at me wide-eyed.

"Damn, how he moves!"

"Not bad, not bad at all!"

"When I'm good, I'm good, but when I'm bad, I'm even better," I grinned and blew a kiss to the knife thrower named Dagger.

If the men really only had enough blood for one place at a time, the guy should sit down as soon as possible.

There was no more blood in his head.

I chuckled to myself as I bent down to pick up my jacket.

I may not be able to talk to real snakes, but I can charm men's snakes.

A place in the circus was a sure thing, besides, men easily talk out of their mouths when trying to impress a woman.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Also, I had an almost inappropriate amount of fun.

As I walked over to Jarl and Sebastian, I felt Joker's gaze following me.

I glanced at the animal tamer, and felt cold shivers down my spine.

If looks could kill...

As we walked outside the tent with the group, I searched Sebastian's gaze with mine.

"The animal tamer is in love with the Joker, but there's no reciprocation," I thought as loudly as possible.

"Maybe there's a hole in it that you can drive a wedge into."

I saw Sebastian nod lightly.

He would make his move when the moment was right.

I would do the same.

…...........................

Outside the tent, Jokeri called the whole party together.

"Listen everyone! We have new friends joining us today!”

"Here's newcomer Black...."

“I'm Black. Nice to meet you."

"...beautiful Serpent...."

I did.

A fitting name.

And I wasn't afraid to be toxic when necessary.

"......and the little one is Smile!"

I laughed at the Earl's expression and realized I wasn't the only one.

"Ha-fun to meet..."

"Hey, smile now, Smile!"

….....................

We followed the Joker through the area.

"I will introduce you to a few places. Follow behind.”

"First of all, you sleep in these tents," the man said, pointing to a row of simple canvas tents.

"Assistants, backup performers and newcomers live here. Usually two people live in one tent."

We continued along the path between the tents.

"There is a dining tent and a food storage tent."

"You newcomers also cook the sapuskas, so do your best."

"There is a first aid tent at the far end, which Black already knows."

We stopped next to the area separated by the rope.

"And this is where the main performers' private tents begin."

"Privates?", the earl asked.

"Well, when you're successful, you get your own tent," Jokeri said.

"Oh yes", the man pointed to the big tent looming in front.

“That's Snake's tent. You men stay away from it, for your own good. And Serpent, you shouldn't go there without Snake either. There are a large number of venomous snakes on the loose. You will end up in the afterlife in one bite.”

"Snake and his sneaky friends are really shy. So let them be alone," the director continued.

"By the way, Smile, what happened to your right eye?"

"What?"

"Oh this... it was an accident..."

"It's sad that such a young person has suffered such a great loss," Jokeri said, caressing the young man's cheek with his skeletal hand.

"Well, everyone here has their own problems, so you fit in just fine."

"Up..."

"Does everyone join the troupe when the circus goes around, like we do?", I asked.

"Most, but all the main performers are from the same place. You could say that we are childhood friends", Jokeri explained while we walked back towards the screening tent.

"Childhood friends?", Sebastian repeated.

"Yes. But Snake is still a newcomer. He knows how to handle snakes brilliantly, and we didn't have a snake charmer, so he was made a member right away."

"If you get among the headliners, you don't have to prepare for the shows or fight over food. You also get your own tent. That's why everyone is doing their best to get to the top", Jokeri finished his explanation as we entered the tent through the doorway.

…......................

"Well, this is what you've been waiting for!", the Joker announced loudly.

"I will report to the newcomers' room. As a result of an unbiased draw, Smile is in tent 8. Here is your roommate,” Jokeri said, pointing to a young, freckled boy.

"And Black is in tent 9."

The announcement triggered a flurry of objections.

I understood the Jarl's sentiment very well. Separated from Sebastian, both were unable to move, as their roommates would see everything.

But crying in the market didn't help.

Sebastian ended up in the same tent with a sparkly-looking tightrope dancer called Suit. The man looked like he was born with a clothes hanger inside. The guy took the adjective "stiff" to completely new dimensions.

Good luck...

Then I.

"And Serpent.... Do you want to sleep in Snake's tent, or do you prefer to sleep elsewhere?"

"Preferably elsewhere. While I don't have anything against snakes, I don't want them in my bed, especially if I smell as good as Emily and Wilde said,” I announced.

Joker grinned at me and looked at the paper he was holding.

"There are no other living tents available, but there is a utility tent next to tent number nine that can accommodate a bed. You can use it yourself, even if you are a newcomer," the man announced.

Good. At least I had more freedom.

Men wouldn't be able to do it.

…............

The night was already dark when I finally got the bunk bed assembled and the bedding in place. I grabbed a couple of extra blankets from the supply store, because the air was cold in winter, and the tent was heated by nothing but my own body heat.

I sat outside the tent on top of a wooden box and smoked, while listening to the sound of the noise coming from tent number 9.

If I understood correctly, floor space was shared there.

I chuckled to myself.

The pleasure of injury is ugly, but delicious.

I think Sebastian deserved a bit of discomfort after revealing his spying and putting me in an embarrassing situation.

Although it ended in my favor in the end.

I turned my back to the newcomers' tents, and looked over the rope in the direction of the private tents.

People were returning to their tents and going to sleep.

A curvy dark figure turned towards me and I felt cold shivers down my spine.

Beast.

A familiar figure closer to me walked towards his tent with two thin figures on his shoulders.

I raised my hand in greeting, and saw Snake respond to my gesture with a nod.

Then he too disappeared into the furrows of his tent.

I sighed and looked up at the sky.

The winter sky was pitch black and the clouds covered almost all the stars from view.

The moon had not yet risen from behind the horizon, and outside the lanterns the air was dark as ink.

I heard the sand crunch as someone walked up to me.

I glanced over my shoulder and recognized the spiky-haired figure of the Joker.

Without saying a word, I offered my cigarette case and felt him take one.

The lantern clattered as he took the fire from the candle.

"Aren't you freezing out here?", I heard him ask.

"No worse than inside," I answered.

I didn't talk shit. The air was only a few degrees above zero, and there was no fireplace in the tent. Fortunately, it was tight after all, and the door flap was able to close properly.

Otherwise, I would definitely freeze before morning.

"Go get glowing coals from the hearth in the kitchen tent in a metal box. You can warm the bedding with it, and you can leave it on your feet overnight," Jokeri advised.

I smiled at him gratefully.

A warm man would have been a much nicer bedmate than a can of coal, but I wasn't picky.

Warm feet were higher on my list of requirements.

Sighing, I stubbed out my cigarette and headed for the kitchen tent.

I only got a couple of steps before I felt a grip on my arm.

The Joker turned my face towards him.

"Thanks for the cigarette," he said hoarsely, flicked my cheek with his prosthesis and turned to walk in the direction of the private tents.

I continued my journey in the opposite direction, smiling.

…..............

"Wake-up!!!"

I jumped to my seat and almost fell from my narrow butt.

After blinking for a while, I recognized a freckled face standing in the doorway.

“Get up and hurry to the kitchen tent. The newcomers do the cooking, remember. Give it a shot and you'll have time to get something in your stomach too!"

I muttered a few choice words and began to fan my suit.

I had slept in my woolen petticoat because of the cold, and thanks to the jar of kibble that Joker had recommended, my night had been quite pleasant. If strange sounds and narrow, loud punk didn't count.

But you can't have everything.

I jogged towards the kitchen tent while straightening my hair. People were on the move, I saw yawning faces and smelled the smoke as the fireplaces were lit.

In the kitchen, I immediately got an apron in front of me, and I was told to take care of the tea. Probably thirty litres. The container reminded me of a samovar and I decided on a crossbreeding, but luckily a young woman making bread dough next to me was shouting instructions as I rushed between the water barrel and the cupboards. This drink could not be called gourmet even with the best of intentions, but it was hot and with the sugar it sank into its half-asleep drinkers like carbon monoxide.

About forty people accompanied the circus, at least what could be deduced from the number of dishes. A constant stream of hungry people passed from the serving counter to the tables, and I was busy enough to keep the tea canister full and collect the dirty dishes. However, the good thing about working near the stove was that I could eat food in my mouth at the same time, and I didn't have to wait to finish my chores.

"Hey, did you hear what that new boy did?" I heard the baker ask.

"Who, Smile?" I answered.

"Yes, he managed to peel the potatoes to shreds, but the other new guy, the one in black, fried the shreds and the fish left over from yesterday. This is really good, taste it" said the woman, offering her plate.

Hmm, it also became clear how old the dish fish&chips is...

I gulped down a mouthful of greasy deliciousness, and smiled with my eyes closed.

This was really good.

"Good morning, ladies," came Joker's greeting.

I swallowed hard and wiped my mouth.

"Morning, I hope you slept well," I replied with a smile.

"Thank you, great. What about yourself, did the night go well?"

"Obviously. Thanks for the advice, I would have been in trouble otherwise,” I grinned.

"I am always ready to help a damsel in distress. Beautiful women should not be allowed to suffer from a cold bed", the man grinned back, and accepted the plate filled by my companion.

The baker looked at me askance, and I hastened to explain:

"She advised me to get bread rolls from the hearth in a metal jar, and warm the bed with it. I sleep in a utility tent, and it would have been terribly cold otherwise."

"The Joker has an eye for pretty girls. Take care that he doesn't get you into trouble," the woman warned.

Thanks for the advice.

If anyone was going to get someone in trouble, it would be me.

And it seemed like the Joker would be easy prey.

He may have been a ladies' man, but I knew how to be a man-eater.

…..................

“Bow down, I'll tie your laces,” a trapeze artist named Wendy instructed me.

"Why do I have to wear these clothes, I'm not even performing today," I moaned as the child-sized woman laced the back of my top.

The dark green lamé fabric barely covered my chest, and the skirt made of strips only reached the mouth of my fishnet stockings. I felt naked, which was not at all pleasant in the January weather.

Embarrassment is one thing.

Frostbite is another.

“You have to get used to these clothes as if they were your second skin. That's it, little by little," Wendy comforted.

Maybe I could find a clue somewhere.

Or even a scarf...

.............

I sat by the wall of the tent with Snake, Emily and Wilde and watched the others practice.

The earl and the freckled face tried to get the earl to balance on the ball taller than me, but the attempts invariably ended in sawdust.

On the other hand, Sebastian did well. His balancing act had gathered a small audience around him, who shared their appreciation freely.

Emily was wrapped around my arm and I was stroking along the brightly colored snake, smooth strokes as I watched the exercises.

"You danced beautifully yesterday - says Emily" I heard Snake whisper next to me.

"Thank you. Did you like the show?", I asked the man and the other snake together.

"You dance like us - says Wilde".

"Do you mind that?" I asked worriedly.

"I'm not as smooth in my movements as you are, I have too many protrusions to control."

"I would like to dance with you - says Wilde."

"And I would like to dance with you," I replied.

"Shall I try?"

I dropped the blanket from my shoulders and reached out for Mamba to squirm up my arm onto my shoulders.

"I need music, or at least rhythm. Would you clap?”, I asked Snake.

I clapped three slow and two fast claps as a model.

As Snake and the boy who passed by and watched settled the rhythm, I closed my eyes and stretched my arms out to my sides.

Wilde, who was almost three meters tall, stretched himself the length of my arms, from wrist to wrist.

With my eyes closed, I listened to the rhythm, let myself sink into it, and began to rotate my hips in a wide figure eight.

When I felt the rhythm pulsing in my veins, I raised my other arm up, and added sharp hip lifts to the figure of eight with quick strokes.

My arms made a wide, undulating motion as Wilde swayed along, and I began chest thrusts.

Now you had to focus on what you were doing.

Both my hips, chest and arms moved, all in a different way.

I felt Wilde descend lower, wrapped around my hips and waist, and felt the snake's head sway with mine.

I opened my eyes and looked straight at the snake.

I tensed my abs and bent my upper body back.

Like a shadow, Wilde bent with me.

I went back and bent forward.

The snake bent away in front of me, and as I bent down I felt a forked tongue brush my lips.

I smiled, and bent my upper body to the side, hips and hands continuing their non-stop movement.

Wilde and I swayed from side to side, eyes locked on each other, alternately sending, alternately receding from each other, in an unbroken stream.

It had become quiet around us, only the rhythm of Snake and the boy clapping echoed in the air.

Forward, backward.

Left, right, left again.

I brought my face closer to the snake, and got a touch of the tongue.

I bent back at the waist, and felt the smooth body bend with me.

I dance as if in a trance, not as a snake charmer, but enchanted by a snake.

Finally I realized that the clapping had stopped.

I blinked, and realized that the group that had been training earlier had gathered around us, a respectful distance away.

I felt Wilde wrap around my shoulders as I looked at the crowd.

I saw admiring, frightened, lustful looks.

Behind the crowd, Sebastian leaned against a post with his arms crossed over his chest, and gave me an appreciative grin.

I smiled back.

"Well, the show is over. Back to training, everyone!” I heard a voice shout from my side.

I turned to meet the Joker's approving gaze as he eyed my body and the suit that was designed to cover as little as possible.

And Wilde, much more cautiously.

I smiled back and licked my lips.

The booty was starting to heat up.

…............

"Ugh, I can't get this, it went wrong again!", the petite trapeze artist complained.

“Wait, let me help,” I said to Wendy, and picked up the makeup brush.

I wiped the failed line with a rag and turned the girl's face better into the light.

The frenzy before the show was at its most intense, and there was an eerie buzz in the back of the tent.

People were going back and forth, putting on make-up, mending costumes, looking for some things and carrying others, talking and bustling about.

On the other side of the tent fabric, you could hear how the first people began to gather in the stands, and the musicians tuned their instruments.

The little aerial acrobat got his eyeliner, and I immediately got the next customer, when the knife thrower's assistant sat in front of me on the edge of the table.

Eventually the area went quiet and I heard the show start.

I sighed, and closed the make-up box.

If it went well, I would have time to smoke a cigarette before I was needed.

The earl and Sebastian had disappeared on their way, and I suspected that they were exploring the tents now that all the headliners were in the marquee.

I straightened my back, turned around and got my mouth full of knot.

The Joker had been standing behind me unnoticed, and now burst into laughter.

I wiped my mouth irritated.

I don't like being approached unnoticed.

I like to keep the reins firmly in my own hands, and being caught off guard is annoying.

The man raised his hand to my cheek, still smiling, and stepped closer.

I stepped back, and felt the edge of the table bite into my thigh.

I looked up at Joker's face and sat on the edge of the table, my thighs open so he could step between them, close to me.

The air between us crackled with emotion.

I raised my hand to his knot, wrapped the band around my fingers and pulled his face closer to mine.

I felt his other, prosthetic hand slide down my thigh, nipping at the mouth of my long sock.

I raised my face, and reached towards his mouth.....

Just as our lips were about to touch, the curtain flew open.

"Joker, Wendy sprained her ankle!" shouted another trapeze artist, a little man named Peter.

We sped away from each other, and the Joker rushed to the other side of the curtain with Peter after him.

I stood up with a sigh.

It had been so close.

Being interrupted was frustrating.

But it was good to move on from this.

However, I couldn't have asked anything when the possibility of being surprised was so great.

There was still time here.

And the target was ripe for the picking.

Peter and the Joker, with Wendy on their backs, rushed into the back room.

“Serpent, find Black. She has to perform for Wendy. Peter, you get Suit. You can't support Black, they have to perform together."

I ran out the back door and called Sebastian at the top of my lungs.

“Sebastian, you are needed!”

After a while, I heard running footsteps, and I directed both men into the back room, where the Joker was examining Wendy's leg.

"Serpent, take Wendy to the Doctor," Joker asked.

I nodded in response, and lifted the little woman into my arms.

The men stayed to talk while I left the tent behind me and headed to the first aid tent with my burden.

….........

I was sitting in the first aid tent watching as the Doctor treated Wendy's ankle, when Sebastian rushed in with the Earl in his arms.

The pale, sweating boy was breathing hard, and smelled of pain sweat and vomit.

I jumped out of the chair and grabbed the bandage box from the bed so Sebastian could lay the shaking boy down.

I stood silently to the side, worried, while the Doctor examined the panting youth.

"It's asthma," the Doctor announced after finishing his examination.

"Or asthma..... I haven't seen him like this in the three years I've been with him," Sebastian said.

"It must have been healing if he hasn't had a seizure in three years..." The doctor replied.

"He's had the flu two or three times, but he's never been in that condition. This was definitely due to the combined effect of many different things," Sebastian continued.

I had never seen her so worried.

“I heard he bathed with our silly bundles of muscles outside. Of course you'll catch a cold," the Doctor said just as the Earl opened his eyes.

"Great, you worked out."

"Water..." came a small voice.

"Please," Sebastian offered the shot bottle.

“Smile, you probably had severe asthma when you were younger, didn't you? You can die from it, so you have to be careful even if you think you're cured. Stay in bed until the fever and cough get better, is it clear," the doctor instructed.

"The rest of you go to your own tents," the doctor continued and hurried us on our way.

…............

I sat on a stack of packing boxes with a blanket on my shoulders, and smoked one cigarette after another.

I was worried about the young Earl.

Asthma could kill you if you didn't get medicine for it, and there were no effective medicines available at that time.

Cortisone wouldn't be invented until the late 1940s, and even though medicinal plants that dilate the bronchi were already known in ancient China, I don't think they would be available here

So I could only hope that rest and peace would see the Earl recover.

…..........

I noticed people starting to leave the main tent. The show had ended, and the performers started moving towards their own sleeping tents.

I saw how the Joker and Beast came alone, talking heatedly.

I saw Beast wrap his arms around the man, agitated, crying.

“Don't go!” I heard him plead.

The Joker untied himself, and took off his scarf, wrapping it around the woman's neck.

Beast remained standing, looking after the man as he started walking towards me.

I watched until he turned his back and began to walk stiffly toward Betty's cage, and I focused my attention on the man who walked up to me.

"Aren't you asleep yet?"

"A lonely bed is not attractive," I replied and pulled the man closer.

"Would you like me to help with that?", he whispered as our lips touched.

"Whose tent is closer?"

"Yours, but I have a bigger bed..."

…....................

The echo of the lone candle rippled across our bodies as I placed my lips on his chest.

I could see nipples on my lips, until I felt the skin tightening and the nipple coming out hard.

I listened to intermittent panting, and followed the border of the pectoral muscle down with my tongue.

"Where do you have to go?"

"To the father..."

"Take me with you," I asked as I let my hand descend lower, to touch.

"I can't, the journey is too long..."

I wrapped my hands around the silky skin.

"How long have you been gone?", I whispered, moving my hand lightly.

"Three days...." came a faint moan.

I got on top of the man and started moving.

I felt him convulse beneath me and leaned down to brush my lips against his sweaty neck.

"Which way are you going? I could come and escort....” I breathed into his ear.

"E-ete-west..."

I felt strong hands on my hips, and felt myself being rolled onto my back.

The time for talking was over.

…......................

Someone patted my cheek.

I blinked and tried to figure out where I was.

The canvas ceiling above me reminded me of last night's events, and I turned to face my alarm clock.

In the dimness of the nearly burned out candle, I made out Sebastian's face.

"I found out the name," the man whispered to me.

"Good. He lives in the south, a day and a half riding away. This information is probably enough to find him", I whispered back.

My speech startled the Joker, who turned onto his side, wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair, mumbling sleepily.

I smiled at his calm expression, and turned my gaze to Sebastian.

"Are you going to leave with the Earl?" I asked aloud.

"Yes. It is no longer necessary for us to stay here.”

"All right. I'm a little... stuck now, but I'll come back to the townhouse if possible. The opportunity will probably open up when the others are at breakfast."

"Take care of yourself."

"Don't worry, I always land on my feet. Or at least on someone else's feet" I thought, and I turned into the sleeping man's arms to continue my sleep.

…...............

I woke up to restless hands.

Which were not mine.

I smiled sleepily as I felt lips nipping at my neck and hands caressing my hips.

I reached out for Joker and wrapped my legs around his hips.

There were much worse ways to wake up...

…......................

“Will you come to breakfast with me?” I heard Joker ask as he helped lace up the back of my suit.

"I have to go to my tent first," I replied.

"See you at the kitchen tent, I won't stay long".

I planted a kiss on my lover's lips and went out.

There weren't many people outside.

Everyone was either eating or starting the day's exercises.

Good.

I crawled into my tent, and quickly pulled on my original clothes over the performance suit.

Fortunately, my tent was the last before the private tents, which meant I didn't have to pass the entire line of tents to get outside the area.

It was enough for me to go around the back of the tent and head straight away, whereupon I ended up on busy streets where it was easy to get a driver.

The circus was set up in southwest London, on an oval-shaped field, and the drive to the townhouse in the West End took half an hour in morning traffic.

When I entered the main door, I was immediately attacked by a panicked Soma.

"You were all gone for two days and didn't tell me anything, and I was so worried, and Ciel is in so much pain, and why are you wearing those clothes?!?"

"Rewind to the beginning and at normal speed, please. I didn't take anything from that spill", I reassured the young man who was making rounds while I took off my shabby jacket.

"Agni, is there breakfast," I called over my shoulder as I led the prince by the hand into the breakfast room.

When Soma got a cup of tea in his shaking hands, and I had a full plate in front of me, I finally understood what he was talking about.

Apparently Jaarli and Sebastian had arrived at night, and planned to leave again immediately after changing clothes.

Soma and Agni had stopped them, as the Earl was clearly very ill, which did not surprise me.

Now the Earl was bedridden, and Sebastian took care of this as best he could.

However, neither of them had agreed to tell Soma anything, and the young man, indignant at being an outsider, now tried to ask me the reason for our absence.

"Soma, these are work matters related to the Earl's position and title. They are only discussed with those who are directly affected by the matter," I announced.

Then I reached across the table to grab the young man's hand.

"I know you're worried. Ciel is happier than he knows when he has a friend like you.”

Soma sighed and looked down.

“Just take care of Ciel. He needs it, and you,” I continued, standing up.

"I'm going to take a bath and take a nap now. Will you come and wake me up when the Earl feels better?”

….................

A couple of days later I received a letter at the town hall.

The owner of the circus, Baron Kelvin, and all the founding members of the troupe had died.

So were the children we were assigned to save.

I sighed deeply, and crumpled the letter into my fist.

I felt sorry for the children.

But there is a limit beyond which there is no going back.

The earl had been able to, with Sebastian's help.

These kids didn't have that chance.

Which one do you prefer?

A quick death, or a life that would be nothing but pain and anxiety inside your head, but not necessarily outside?

I knew which one I would choose.

On the inside of my closed eyes, I could see Joker's Orange hair, and his crooked smile.

I couldn't feel sorry for him.

Both lie down and cheat.

After all, I was left with memories.

I sighed and went downstairs.

It was time for me to prepare my return to the mansion.

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chilangopost · 7 years ago

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Películas de este 2017 que probablemente las perdiste de vista

1. Call me by your name (2017)

País: Italia, Francia, Brasil, USA

Productora: Frenesy Film Company, La Cinéfacture, RT Features, Waters End Productions, M.Y.R.A. Entertainment

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Guión: Luca Guadagnino, James Ivory, Walter Fasano

Reparto: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, Victoire Du Bois, Vanda Capriolo, Antonio Rimoldi, Elena Bucci, Marco Sgrosso, Andre Aciman, Peter Spears

Elio es un vato de 17 años que pasa su verano en la casa de campo de sus papás en Italia de 1983, mientras disfruta de no hacer nada conoce al ayudante de su papá, conforme el verano avanza, la atracción se vuelve cada vez más fuerte a pesar de su diferencia de edad.

2. The Beguiled

País: USA

Productora: American Zoetrope, FR Productions

Director: Sofia Coppola

Guión: Sofia Coppola

Reparto: Colin Farrell, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, Nicole Kidman, Angourie Rice, Oona Laurence, Addison Riecke, Wayne Pére, Emma Howard, Matt Story, Rod J. Pierce

Coppola regresó con sus mujeres, su melancolía y tabúes sociales con "The Beguiled", su sexto largometraje. Este filme es una adaptación de la novela "A Painted Devil" de Thomas Cullinan que ya fue adaptada al cine por Don Siegel y protagonizada por Clint Eastwood en 1971.

"The Beguiled" cuenta la historia de un soldado de la Guerra Civil que cae herido en un bosque cercano a un internado de mujeres, el hombre es salvado y cuidado por las residentes del lugar, lo que no sabían estas mujeres es que este personaje iba a provocar un auténtico caos romántico-erótico dentro de la casa.

3. Okja

País: USA, Corea del Sur

Productora: Netflix, Plan B

Director: Bong Joon-Ho

Guión: Bong Joon-ho

Reparto: Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Kelly Macdonald, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, Devon Bostick, Steven Yeun, Shirley Henderson, Daniel Henshall, Woo-Sik Choi, Seo-Hyeon Ahn, Milo Shandel, J.C. Williams, Hie-Bong Byeon

Una corporación se encarga de repartir cerdas gigantescas genéticamente modificadas a granjas con el oscuro motivo de que están siendo criadas orgánicamente. Después de 10 años de su crianza para su consumo, escogerán a la cerda más saludable para ser parte del certamen de "Super Cerdo". Sin spoiler, es evidente que la ganadora es Okja, la cerdita que nació y se crió en una increíble naturaleza en el sur de Corea junto con un anciano y su nieta; quien ya creció con la idea de que Okja es su mejor amiga, aquí, es cuando se anuncia esta tragedia. Una vez que Okja sea coronada, habrá una separación irremediable y ya se imaginarán el destino que quiere la corporación para este animal.

4. Melanie: Apocalipsis Zombie

País: Reino Unido, USA

Productora: Poison Chef, BFI Film Fund, Altitude Film Sales

Director: Colm Mccarthy

Guión: Mike Carey

Reparto: Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Paddy Considine, Anamaria Marinca, Dominique Tipper, Anthony Welsh, Sennia Nanua, Fisayo Akinade, Yusuf Bassir, Daniel Eghan, Elise Reed, Richard Price, Amy Newey, Matthew Smallwood, Lobna Futers

La historia va de un evidente virus zombie que está atacando al mundo entero y la única manera de erradicar esta total extinción del ser humano es a través de un grupo de niños que son inmunes a esta enfermedad. Melanie forma parte de este grupo que destaca entre todos y el futuro de nuestra raza dependerá de ella.

5. Your Name

País: Japón

Productora: CoMix Wave Films

Director: Makoto Shinkai

Guión: Makoto Shinkai

Reparto: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryô Narita, Aoi Yuki, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kaito Ishikawa, Kanon Tani, Masaki Terasoma, Sayaka Ohara, Kazuhiko Inoue, Chafûrin, Kana Hanazawa, Ray Chase, Kevin T. Collins, Marc Diraison

Taki y Mitsuha descubren un día que durante el sueño, sus cuerpos se intercambian y comienzan a comunicarse por medio de notas. A medida que consiguen superar torpemente un reto tras otro, se va creando entre los dos un vínculo que poco a poco se convierte en algo más romántico.

6. 120 latidos por minuto

País: Francia

Productora: Les Films de Pierre, France 3 Cinéma, Page 114, Memento Films Production, FD Production, Indéfilms 5, Cofinova 13

Director: Robin Campillo

Guión: Robin Campillo

Reparto: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Antoine Reinartz, Félix Maritaud, Médhi Touré, Aloïse Sauvage, Simon Bourgade, Catherine Vinatier, Saadia Bentaieb, Ariel Borenstein, Théophile Ray, Simon Guélat, Jean-François Auguste, Coralie Russier

A principios de los años 90. Un grupo de jóvenes activistas parisinos, intentan generar conciencia sobre el SIDA. Un nuevo miembro del grupo, Nathan, se quedará sorprendido ante la radicalidad y energía de Sean, que gasta su último aliento en la lucha.

7. I Don't Feel Like Home In This World Anymore

País: USA

Productora: Film Science, XYZ Films

Director: Macon Blair

Guión: Macon Blair

Reparto: Melanie Lynskey, Elijah Wood, David Yow, Jane Levy y Devon Graye.

Una mujer completamente deprimida sufre un robo en su casa, a partir de ahí encuentra un nuevo sentido a su vida persiguiendo a los ladrones junto a su peculiar vecino.

8. Mother!

País: USA

Productora: Protozoa Pictures

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Guión: Darren Aronofsky

Reparto: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Domhnall Gleeson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Harris, Brian Gleeson, Cristina Rosato, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Ambrosio De Luca, Hamza Haq, Anana Rydvald, Arthur Holden, Xiao Sun, Bineyam Girma, Jaa Smith-Johnson, Kristen Wiig

Inspirada en criticar a la religión, específicamente a la católica, nace Mother!, contando la historia de una mujer que se la vive reconstruyendo su nuevo hogar. Un día su esposo deja entrar en casa a unas personas a las que ella no había invitado. Poco a poco el comportamiento de su marido va siendo más extraño, y ella empieza a estresarse y a intentar echar a todo el mundo

9. A Ghost Story

País: USA

Productora: Ideaman Studios, Sailor Bear, Zero Trans Fat Productions

Director: David Lowery

Guión: David Lowery

Reparto: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, McColm Cephas Jr., Kenneisha Thompson, Grover Coulson, Liz Franke, Barlow Jacobs, Richard Krause, Dagger Salazar, Sonia Acevedo, Carlos Bermudez, Yasmina Gutierrez, Kimberly Fiddes, Daniel Escudero, Kesha

Un músico muere en un accidente de coche y vuelve como un fantasma a la casa en la que vivía con su mujer.

10. Loving Vincent

País: Reino Unido, Polonia

Productora: BreakThru Productions, Trademark Films, Silver Reel

Director: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman

Guión: Jacek Dehnel, Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman

Reparto: Jerome Flynn, Saoirse Ronan, Aidan Turner, Holly Earl, Helen McCrory, Eleanor Tomlinson, Chris O'Dowd, Douglas Booth, Robert Gulaczyk, John Sessions, James Greene, Richard Banks, Bill Thomas, Josh Burdett, Martin Herdman

Este filme que recopila todos los cuadros Vincent Van Gogh transformados en un filme animado, trata acerca de la vida y misteriosa muerte del pintora a través de las cartas que le envió el artista a su hermano. Un vato se encarga de llevar la última carta que este escribió y empieza a sospechar si realmente se suicidó o no.

11. Song to Song

País: USA Productora: FilmNation Entertainment Director: Terrence Malick Guión: Terrence Malick Reparto: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Val Kilmer, Benicio Del Toro, Clifton Collins Jr., Boyd Holbrook, Haley Bennett, Tom Sturridge, Berenice Marlohe, Holly Hunter

Song to Song' está ambientada justo en el festival Austin City Limits del 2012 y retratará un drama romántico de dos rockeros que se enamoran en Texas y empiezan a tener problemas cuando un magnate productor de música empieza a crear un triángulo amoroso entre estos dos al darse cuenta que no lo llena la relación amorosa que tiene con una camarera. Malick hace un contraste entre la calma y la tormenta con una historia compleja de traición y búsqueda de la fama. Pero sobre todo, dimensiona (como siempre) las relaciones humanas y la infalible sensibilidad que existe entre estas. Alguno de los cantantes que fueron parte de esta cinta fueron Patti Smith, Alan de Neon Indian, Iggy Pop, Likke Li, entre otros.

12. Manifesto

País: Australia

Productora: Bayerischer Rundfunk, Ruhr Triennale, Schiwago Film

Director: Julian Rosefeldt

Guión: Julian Rosefeldt

Reparto: Cate Blanchett, Erika Bauer, Carl Dietrich, Marie Borkowski Foedrowitz, Ea-Ja Kim, Marina Michael, Hannelore Ohlendorf, Ottokar Sachse, Ralf Tempel, Jimmy Trash

A pesar de que se estrenó en el 2015, llegó a salas mexicanas este 2017. Esta fábula experimental es interpretada por la brillante de Cate Blanchett, deconstruida en 13 personajes a través de un monólogos episódicos revolucionarios, personales, creativos e intuitivos a través de distintos ambientes contemporáneos en donde no se pretende exponer un mensaje profundo, sino más bien la propia visión artística del director alemán hacia distintas concepciones del arte que se ha dado a lo largo de nuestros tiempos.

13. The Disaster Artist

País: USA

Productora: Rabbit Bandini Productions, Point Grey Pictures

Director: James Franco

Guión: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Reparto: James Franco, Dave Franco, Josh Hutcherson, Kate Upton, Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Jacki Weaver, Hannibal Burress, Andrew Santino, Alison Brie, Zac Efron, Sugar Lyn Beard, Zoey Deutch, Dylan Minnette, Bryan Cranston, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith, June Diane Raphael, Eliza Coupe, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

¿Una película sobre cómo se hizo una película? Así es... esta es la propuesta cinematográfica de James Franco con "The Disaster Artist", en donde se narrará el detrás de cámaras de "The Room" de Greg Sestero estrenada en el 2003, que fue considerada como la peor película jamás hecha en el mundo del cine y que más adelante se convirtió en un clásico de cine de culto por su bizarra historia, su ridículo diálogo y su incongruencia. Franco interpreta a Tommy Wiseu, un cineasta tan aspiracional por llegar a la fama, pasional y sincero, que fue cuestionado siempre por sus métodos de ejecución. Sestero conoce a Wiseau en una clase de actuación y surge una fuerte admiración por lo que llevaron a formar una gran amistad y crear su propia película.

14. Lady Bird

País: USA

Productora: Scott Rudin Productions, Entertainment 360, IAC Films

Director: Greta Gerwig

Guión: Greta Gerwig

Reparto: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Lucas Hedges, John Karna, Beanie Feldstein, Tracy Letts, Timothée Chalamet, Danielle Macdonald, Bayne Gibby, Monique Edwards, Roman Arabia, Shaelan O'Connor, Marielle Scott, Ithamar Enriquez, Christina Offley, Stephen McKinley Henderson

Una joven estudiante que se hace llamar Lady Bird, se muda al norte de California para pasar allí su último año escolar. La joven pseudoartista que sueña con vivir en la costa Este, tratará de encontrar su propio camino y definirse fuera de la sombra protectora de su madre

15. Molly's Game

País: USA

Productora: The Mark Gordon Company, Pascal Pictures

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Guión: Aaron Sorkin

Reparto: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Cera, Kevin Costner, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, J.C. MacKenzie, Brian D'Arcy James, Bill Camp, Graham Greene, Justin Kirk, Angela Gots, Natalie Krill, Stephanie Herfield, Madison McKinley

Molly, una esquiadora profesional que fracasa con su sueño olímpico, se va a Los Ángeles a trabajar como mesera y con el tiempo se empieza a relacionar con gente adinerada. Este camino la lleva a convertirse en organizadora de juegos clandestinos de pokar para la elite hollywoodense, su capacidad de relacionarse con los demás la convirtió en una millonaria en el mundo del juego a tal grado que la FBI decide poner cartas en el asunto.

16. Shin Godzilla

País: Japón

Productora: Toho Pictures

Director: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi

Guión: Hideaki Anno

Reparto: Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, Ren Ohsugi, Akira Emoto, Kengo Kôra, Mikako Ichikawa, Jun Kunimura, Pierre Taki, Kyûsaku Shimada, Ken Mitsuishi, Shingo Tsurumi, Kimiko Yo, Takumi Saitô, Takashi Fujiki

Del creador de Evangelion, surge este filme que se estrenó en México este 2017, retratando la fuerza destructiva del hombre hace que resucite en el Tokio de hoy el monstruo que está destinado a acosar de nuevo a la civilización. Un país aún atormentado por las secuelas de un desastre natural, experimenta de repente el horror catastrófico de Godzilla. Apremiado por la muerte y la desesperación, Japón deberá encontrar el poder para superar este desafío.

17. Aquarius (2016)

País: Brasil, Francia

Productora: CinemaScópio Produções, Globo Filmes, SBS Productions

Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Guión: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Reparto: Sonia Braga, Jeff Rosick, Irandhir Santos, Maeve Jinkings, Julia Bernat, Carla Ribas, Fernando Teixeira, Rubens Santos, Humberto Carrão

Estrenándose en México en 2017, se cuenta la historia de Clara, una ex-crítica musical de Recife de 65 años, vive retirada en un edificio particular, el Aquarius, construido en la década de 1940 sobre la chic Avenida Boa Viagem, que bordea el océano. Un importante promotor ha comprado todos los apartamentos, pero ella se niega a vender el suyo y emprende una guerra fría contra la empresa que la acosa. La estresante situación le perturba y le lleva a pensar en su vida, en su pasado, en sus seres queridos.

#Cine #Películas #Trailers #2017

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