#i know circus the sound and top have performance stages

[echo-rambles]

dance practice videos I wish we got;

-charmer -item -hall of fame -circus -TOP -the sound

[black-arcana]

HALESTORM And I PREVAIL Share Performance Video For Collaborative Song 'Can U See Me In The Dark?'

HALESTORM and I PREVAIL have released the official performance video for their collaborative track "Can U See Me In The Dark?" Check it out below.

"Can U See Me In The Dark?" was released in June, prior to the launch of HALESTORM and I PREVAIL's summer 2024 co-headlining tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek kicked off on July 9 in Raleigh and ran through August 17 in Las Vegas. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and FIT FOR A KING served as support.

"Can U See Me In The Dark?" is an epic and explosive pairing, just like the tour itself, thanks to the vocal chemistry between I PREVAIL's Eric Vanlerberghe and HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale, stormy riffs, and unforgettable chorus.

When "Can U See Me In The Dark?" was first made available, Vanlerberghe said in a statement: "We're excited to finally have a song come out. It was a fun challenge to blend the HALESTORM and I PREVAIL sounds together. We really focused on creating a music bed that felt very much I PREVAIL and letting Lzzy just shine and do what she does best. I feel we found a very sick way to blend the two identities of our bands into one massive song."

Hale added: "In celebration of our upcoming tour together, we joined forces with the boys of I PREVAIL and wrote an original song together. 'Can U See Me In The Dark?' is written for our collective fan bases, our community, our family. We want you to know that you are seen and you are not alone shining through life's myriad of joy and pain."

Regarding the inspiration for "Can U See Me In The Dark?", Lzzy told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast": "We were talking a lot about the analogy of we're all in the same circus together, as in this is all of our shows. It's not just we're saddling up our wagon against a band, 'We're playing. Here's your set. Here's my set.' We really wanted to create this this haven, this sanctuary for our collective fan base, be, like, 'Hey, he's my buddy too. We come from different walks of life, but here's how we come together,' [and] really showcase that togetherness, especially considering, we all have this different flavor and these different influences. And so it's a really beautiful, powerful song that we're gonna be able to just kind of, like, 'Hey, here's something special for the tour.' So we're very much looking forward to being out with each other. And those guys inspire me to no end. Every time I hear their songs the radio, I'm, like, 'How did they do that?' I want a drop like that' — you know, that kind of stuff. So I'm looking forward to being inspired every night and hanging out with all those boys."

Having amassed over 2.5 billion streams globally, the Grammy Award-winning band HALESTORM has grown from a childhood dream of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale into one of the most celebrated rock bands of the last two decades. Most recently, the band released "Back From The Dead", their fifth full-length studio album which has tallied over 100 million streams worldwide. Rolling Stone called the title track "a biting but cathartic howler about overcoming all obstacles," and that song as well as "The Steeple" marked their fifth and sixth number ones at rock radio, respectively. Associated Press said the album "will definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year." Their previous album, "Vicious", earned the band their second Grammy nomination, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Uncomfortable", the band's fourth #1 at rock radio, and led Loudwire to name HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019. Fronted by the incomparable Lzzy Hale with drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

I PREVAIL have established themselves as the forerunners of the genre in the 21st century. Their latest release, "True Power", once again produced by Tyler Smyth, features the sort of stadium-sized riffs that will rattle your teeth loose from your gums and unforgettable, supremely catchy melodies that will camp out in your brain for weeks at a time. The band also alternately mixes screamed vocals that sound as though they crawled from the depths of hell with soaring, emotional vocals and heartfelt, intimate lyrics that go so deep, they hit marrow. The end result is an album that resonates with the listener in the most personal way. Rising to an arena level and receiving two Grammy nominations — "Best Rock Album" for "Trauma" and "Best Metal Performance" for crushing lead single "Bow Down" — I PREVAIL proved that they were built to last. To date, they've racked up more than 4.1 billion global streams, are approaching 716 million YouTube views, and saw both "Hurricane" and "Bad Things" singles top Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in 2020 and 2022, respectively. A number of their singles and album "Lifelines" have now been certified gold and platinum, and they have been praised by press far and wide, including Forbes, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and NPR.

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 2004 - Number 1 - MIA. - "Hungriges Herz"

My number one this year are MIA. Those initials stand for a variety of things, although they started out as Me in Affairs before deciding that Musik ist Alles and serveral other names were better. They are group centred around school friends Mieze Katz (Kitty Cat real name Maria Mummert) and Andy Penn aka Andreas Ross. Introduced to their rhythm section by TV host Sarah Kuttner in 1997, the band built an indie/electropunk sound influenced by the New German Wave of the 1980s.

In 2004, they released their second album, had a fair degree of media and record label push and have a solid and growing fan base. They also courted controversy by releasing a song that touched on ideas of German identity and the German flag - tinderbox subjects in Germany and that caused more than debate among their fans.

That brings them to Germany 12 Points! in 2004. This year more than any other, NDR had pushed the boat out. It says something that even with their exceptionally young, Berlin-centric, fashionable fans that they were not favourites or even among the better know names in the competition. They also drew the death-slot in the running order.

Their song is Hungriges Herz (Hungry Heart) and boy is this song thirsty. It's an indie anthem about being desperate for someone who's closed off, calculating, and ice hold. Mieze's longs for something back, but their love interest is set about doing their own thing, holding Mieze in their own, uncomfortable way. Quite what exactly they're doing with their rough angel's tongue is never made exactly clear but they definitely don't want to be hugged back. Just what are they willing to do? How far will they go? In it's own repressed, restrained and confused way, this is extremely steamy.

The guitars idle with their melodic noodles, until Mieze says Du bist eis, which excites them into building up to the chant along chorus. It's designed to get a stadium singing 'wie weit' at the top of their voices. It's compellingly simple, emotionally invested, frustrated horniness in a song. That directness and theme is one rarely explored in Eurovision songs. The fact that it's so reminiscent of 1980s German electronica is only going to make me love it more.

In the televote, MIA. did not make the top four. They didn't get to Eurovision, but this stage definitely boosted their popularity and national awareness. Hungriges Herz became their biggest hit to date. Their career escalated from here. Their 2006 album Circus got to number two in the German charts with several singles also charting highly - up to 2020 they released a total seven albums most of which made the top 10. Most fascinatingly, they represented Berlin in the 2007 edition of Bundesvision - the German version of Eurovision in which German states rather than countries competed.

I love this song and performance - I wish they'd won or at least had another go. It's led me to discover a new band with a whole back catalogue to explore. If only this song didn't finish with a fade out.

Here's the song they took to Bundesvision in 2007 - Zirkus

[the2amrevolution]

I think I've figured out some of the trailer. What it means for the album's content, idk, I'm not speculating on that, so if you're like "ah album spoilers," theres none of that here.

I Am Ground = Korean song-game where you introduce yourself one by one to a specific rhythm

Introduce themselves = Introduce their discography

Felix -  The Sound

• Candy/lollipops = White Day videos

• Conductor = Band/Chans role in trailer

• Ghost print glove = Scars? Re-released on album

I.N - SKZ Replay

• Starts out on a pedestal

• Literally writes his name over "ground"

• In a heavenly setting

• All = Maknae on Top

Changbin - Maxident

• New York set decor = Maxident trailer

• "I'm a romantic" = Case 143

• Water scene = Chill

• No tmi given over the phone?

• Rebellion = Superboard?

• Poker night sticker on phone booth = reference to All In? Or just coincidence? Nothing that jumps out for Circus so 🤷‍♀️

Hyunjin - Circus

• 644 = 06/22/22, release date

• Big cat print = Circus animals

• Mannequin audience = Circus crowd

Han - Oddinary

• Train = train crossing sound in Oddinary trailer bgm

• Train becomes magical (old fashioned steam engine look like HP train) = Oddinary trailer was all pop culture references

• Train is green and red = main promo colors

• "this isn't it? then I won't do it" = "do you want to be oddinary?"

• "This [billboard example/career/success/history/discography] isn't what it is to be [oddinary/normal]? Then I dont want to be [oddinary/normal]." What the antecedents are for Han's sentence is deliberately vague.

Seungmin - Noeasy

• Drive in movie w/popcorn = seeing a summer blockbuster, noeasy trailer insp

• "Looks like I win" = Beat the sound monster

• Sitting in the shovel of a bulldozer with a backhoe = Domino lyrics, though also seen in GoLive trailer/Gods Menu

Chan - GoLive and InLife

• Clocks/metronome, anxious speed, chaotic sound = tortoise and hare, go生 also rapid increase in fame

• Bit of domino intro is heard as piano starts, but also in other members parts

• 5:88 not being a realistic time display, can have meaning of "twin flames" in numerology as well as a turning point and prosperity = God's Menu and Back Door paired plus God's Menu massive impact on their following/success

• Black and white pianos both played and lit on fire = Twin albums

• 0:58 = five star Michelin and 8 members

• Always viewing from either above or behind on stage not audience = Back Door

• Ends wearing mask = unit song Wow, maybe others from InLife also, idk, first shown on tour right before pandemic,

• Performs and bows to empty audience = couldn't tour or promo songs with live audience due to pandemic

Lee Know - SKZ 2020 and SKZ 2021

• Grimy, literally in the toilet = Negative emotions/uncertainty

• Suitcase = moving on

• Looking in mirror = insecurity, reflecting on past, also song Mirror

• Mouth wash = cleaning self of "bad tastes," refreshing ones self

• "I'm cute." = overcoming insecurities, self confidence

• Getting scanned by faceless security = Increased scrutiny from faceless public

• Attitude/eyeroll to security/baring (jeweled) teeth = "you think we can't succeed? That doesn't matter. We are succeeding."

End with all 8 - 5 Star

• Together having warm tones when separate they were cool/grey = best together

• Fireworks, walking down the side of a building covered in caution tape = "let's blow this place up"

• We know the lyrics "five star Michelin" were an error Han made, but most star rating systems are out of five. Its also their 5th year, and celebrating multiples of five is a big deal for our base 10 mathematics selves (math/history trivia: most cultures have always used base 10 systems because we have 10 fingers). An obvious thing, but still.

[navysealt4t]

ok hold on im here with my band thoughts about riptide the musical. full disclosure this may not make sense i tried to be coherent.

i think that in the dunjon the orchestra would get real spooky during this. I ALSO REALLY WOULD LIKE SOMETHING CHOIR GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND. what im thinking is like op 32 - 7 neptune, the mystique by gustav holst. they have an all female choir that sings this really nice chord and adds a lot to the song. this would mainly play while gillion stands before the elders and i think it would be interesting to play with the idea of the key and melody instrument changing between trials. i ALSO think it would add to the whole "this isnt real. but you dont know that" idea if the song stayed the same. no matter the scene.

assigning characters certain instrument melodies like how they do how to train your dragon is SUCH a cool idea to me. i think gillions motif would be played by a french horn. not too sure on the notes but definitely something with those typical heroic tones. chips would be played by a bassoon. hear me out on this. i actually dont have any reasoning. its just vibes alone. jay tripped me up for a bit due to her more complex character, but i think she would be played by bell chimes

going back to arrangements matching certain scenes i can TOTALLY imagine the island of zero scenes with movement three of west highlands sojourn as it is primarily navy based. (this is totally a bias since i play this piece for my competition this year. but i just generally really like west highlands sojourn)

i think it would be SUPER cool to have band involvement on stage. im not sure if this goes across for all productions, but i once saw a high school production of Catch Me if you can in which the jazz band was directly on stage in certain scenes. in certain scenes like the casino arc, anytime they enter a tavern, or just a place where there's street performers. having just soloist or a small ensemble on stage would be SO incredible. i think it would be so cool if the whole band was up there during the noctis like fancy party all dressed up. god id go insane.

i think anytime theres a navy related topic/scene there'd be this BRASS HEAVY melody (id say led by low trombones) if you've ever listened to arabesque. its a little something like the saucy lick they have going in that. i also think that whenever marshall john shows up the brass thing still plays but it sounds like a circus march.

SPEAKING OF CIRCUS MARCHES. i think that the entire time they are in Kas' Karnival (or however you spell it) a different strain of a circus march plays. specifically here im thinking Grand Galop by Johnnie Vinson because it has such wiggle room for tempo that you can play around with the mood of the carnival. in the pixieland and other peaceful areas the trio (a clarinet and euphonium led part. very soft and silly. most of the band rests during this.) plays. in the big top extravaganza the final strain plays (thats basically a rebalanced version of the trio to include the full band) i think the break strain would play anytime things got stressful. the other two strains could be anywhere really as they are pretty general.

those are the thoughts ive had so far abt it but if i have anymore ill let u know ^_^

HOLY SHIT ROSEMARY I AM SHAKING U I LOVE THIS SOOOOO MUCH….. I KNOW LIKE. VERY LITTLE ABOUT ORCHESTRA AND INSTRUMENTS BUT HOLY SHIT KM IN LOVE WITH THIS ALL OF IT!!!!!

i so so agree with u for the dunjon scene . i imagine during either the trials or gillion’s speech to the elders the choir would be BEAUTIFULL like singing rlly high notes and there’d be a lot a dissonance. like man <333

i listened to all the songs u mentioned and !!!! they are so cool i love all ur thoughts :3

AND I AGREE assigning characters a specific instrument is sooo cool <333 each character would have a little theme/motif (? idk which one is the right word) that would play in the background if a scene or song is specifically focused on them… ough man <333

i was thinking like for jay it could be something like a violin or viola. like it’s usually a fancy and elegant instrument but it can go CRAZYY when you want it to <3 and in scenes like the block i imagine jayson would have a strong cello playing for him and jay’s violin would be echoing his notes… ough. wind chimes are a really good idea though it plays a lot into some of her wind imagery (THIS IS THERE I KNOW IT IS OK<3)

and !!!! brass instruments for the navy are so really actually they are very loud and strong and generally inspiring :3 also something like a french horn for gill’s theme???? mwah mwah in love

HAVJNG THE BAND ON STAGE SOUNDS SO COOL?????? in taverns and big islands it makes so much sense. i feel like it would tie the roots back to dnd a little and it would make the town feel more real!! i love it <3

i am soosooo in love with all of this <33 gillion’s theme would be very strong and powerful like you can feel it in your bones, but through out the musical it dies down. it’s not as loud and intimidating or out there.

jays theme would be very subtle. it would be as loud but it is definitely there. the song wouldn’t sound the same without it. OH MY GOD. her theme plays in the block when she walks to her fathers side but it doesn’t have her specific instrument and it just isn’t the same. then a few measures in it gets replaced with a big cello and her instrument echoes the cello <333

chips theme would be very sudden and sharp. like it’s always on the verge of growing into something HUGE but it never really does. like ouugh. <333 sorry i’m having so many thoughts. his theme would have a harmonica ive just decided <3333

tyty rosemary for these amazing thoughts i’m going feral actually ily <33333

[revisitingstoneybrook]

#86 Mary Anne and Camp BSC: Chapter 13

Karen and her snotty group of friends nearly ruin the camp’s circus performance and the BSC finally gets off their asses and does some babysitting.

We're greeted with this opening, courtesy of Mary Anne: “If the dress rehearsal is a disaster, that means that the show is going to be a success...Because the Camp BSC circus rehearsal wasn't just a disaster, it was a mega-disaster.” Which means one of three scenarios took place:

1. Claire's plan to do a cover of Suzi Barrett's Baloney Dance is blown when she uses real baloney and Dawn flips a shit and spends hours lecturing everyone about the horrors of meat and where baloney really comes from, leaving no time to actually rehearse.

2. Jackie Rodowsky, while spinning for his dance routine, knocks into Jamie Newton, sending him falling to the ground with a bump on his head, punches Charlotte Johanssen in the face, giving her a black eye, then bumps into the barn, causing the whole structure to collapse.

3. Karen and her little group, the kids who went to real circus camp and think they're better than everyone else, aren't prepared for anything and ruin almost every single act with their snotty attitudes and pretentiousness.

Yeah, fairly obvious what happens.

Vanessa's the ringmaster, wearing white jeans tucked into high black rain boots, a red jacket that belongs to her mom and a white t-shirt that says “Ringmaster” on it. Claudia helped her make it, so you just know it's spelled Ringgmastur. She also has a top hat made out of black cardboard and Karen and the real circus camp kids are probably disgusted by it.

Vanessa delivers her monologue, thankfully lays off the poetry but manages to throw in at the end “No matter how things go, I know that you will like our show!” Old habits indeed die hard. First act is the wild animals, and no, it isn't a reality show-esque peek into a Day in the Life of the Pikes.

The trainers are Nicky and Marilyn and both are wearing blue sweatpants and for some reason, sassy t-shirts. Nicky's says Because I'm the Boss, that's why and Marilyn's says I Brake for Chocolate. Maybe they borrowed them from Kristy and Claudia, respectively. The wild animals are Andrew (a tiger), Claire (a lion) and Alicia (a camel). They do animal tricks, including jumping through a hoop with red, orange and yellow crepe paper “fire” and Alicia jumps over some hurdles. Then Jamie steps in and does a tiger dance. I guess Mary Anne forgot to introduce him. The trainers give out treats and the rehearsal is, so far, disaster-free.

Whoops, spoke too soon! The dancing animals are next. Jessi choreographed their dance because that's her one personality trait. Since she's such a good dancer, she made sure to incorporate stuff the kids can do really well into the dance. Stuff we never hear about again, like Margo being able to turn “terrific” cartwheels and Becca's ability to walk on her hands. If you remember our snark on Little Miss Stoneybrook...and Dawn, Jessi said Becca has awful stage fright but I guess that doesn’t count anymore.

Anyway, Becca's dressed as a goat and Margo a bird. The other two kids in it, Hannie and Ricky, obviously have no idea what they're doing, having spent all their time and energy folding their arms and turning their noses up at Camp BSC, bragging that they went to a real circus camp instead of rehearsing. 

And the whole circus begins to unravel. Ricky screws up for the umpteenth time, proclaims that real animals wouldn't be dancing in a real circus anyway, and throws in the towel, Hannie following his lead. Becca asks them what’s the big deal and Ricky says, “No real animal in a real circus would ever do that.” Yeah, well in real life, two 7-year-olds don't get married on the playground to the strains of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star either. So shut the fuck up.

Margo tells them it's their circus and they can do whatever they want. Ricky calls their circus dumb and Margo responds with an “OH YEAH?!?” which makes it sound like she's ready to cut a bitch. Go Margo! 

But before Margo can lay the smack down on Ricky, Vanessa runs in and calls for a curtain, shooing the animal dancers out of the ring before it turns into a bloodbath. Dammit!

As they're ushered away, Becca asks the two snobs, in a “wobbly voice” if they know any of the steps and says in a very roundabout way that they ruined the act. Do the BSC do anything and tell Hannie and Ricky they need an attitude adjustment? No, they just sit there.

The clowns are next - David Michael, Matt, Carolyn, and Natalie. They do clown stuff in clown makeup and wave water guns around. Oh wait. Natalie's the only one not in a costume. Ok, did they all plan this out beforehand like a protest? We'll ruin the circus camp since it isn't a real circus like the one we were in. Kristy stops the music with a slam of her hand...she turns the tape player off, she didn't smash it, though that would have been hilarious. She shouts at Natalie why the hell she doesn't have a costume or makeup on. Yes, be assertive! For once in this godforsaken book.

Natalie responds, “It didn't look like a real clown costume. So I just never finished it.” What the hell? Might I add, Natalie Springer in the Little Sister books is this shy, wimpy girl with droopy socks who gets picked on a lot. She’s been ridiculously out of character this whole book. David Michael defends their costumes, saying they're real but Natalie ignores him. She probably tells herself she doesn't have to deal with this public school scum. Kristy, whose patience is starting to finally wearing thin, orders Natalie to go sit with Mary Anne.

But it doesn't stop there! Natalie keeps bitching on the sidelines, like an angry parent at a Little League game. As the clowns squirt each other with water guns and their makeup runs off, Natalie complains, “The water's making the clowns' makeup run! That's because it's not real clown makeup!” Real makeup still runs, Little Miss Droopy Socks. David Michael, in an amazing move, runs into the audience and dumps oatmeal all over Natalie and angrily tells her that's a real clown trick. 

Go David Michael! Now go dump it on your sister!

Kristy tells them to stay in character and the clowns finish their act, shooting Looks at Natalie the whole time. Can it get worse? It sure can, because guess whose act is next...

Vanessa announces Karen's surprise act - she's going to saw Nancy in half. Oh shit...she wants things to be real? Karen’s going to dismember Nancy!

Getting things off to a very obnoxious start, Karen says in her loudest Outdoor Voice, “THIS WOULD BE BETTER IF WE WERE A REAL CIRCUS CAMP WITH REAL PROPS! But we had to make our own. We hope the audience will understand.” So after the whole clown fiasco, you get this little brat trashing Camp BSC and the BSC themselves for hosting a crappy program. Do the BSC do anything to defend their honor? Of course not, Karen’s their Golden Child! They still sit there and do nothing.

Vanessa isn't standing for it though. She's all WTF because she's supposed to be the one doing the announcements. Uh, Vanessa, Karen tends to do whatever she wants when she's performing. Just look at her class Thanksgiving play. Karen fires back by insulting Vanessa's outfit, saying she looks like a bandleader in a parade, not a ringmaster, because she's holding a baton. WEAK. Vanessa, much like her sister, looks like she's about ready to attack Karen but instead explodes with “Cut it out, you two! Or you will soon be through!”

Karen then rolls her eyes at Vanessa. Whoa, that takes guts. I would never roll my eyes at a kid older than me when I was 7! She sticks Nancy in a cardboard box and soon there's thumping inside after Nancy climbs in. Oh no, she filled it with rabid badgers, who are now attacking Nancy!

Oh wait. No badgers. Two strange, lumpy legs appear out of one end and Nancy pokes her head out of the other one. Logan cracks up and Mary Anne tells us that they're stockings stuffed with toilet paper. Geez, Karen. I thought you were going for accuracy and real-ness. The legs wiggle to show that it's really Nancy and Karen pulls out a small saw, which she holds high in the air. 

Oh, NOW the babysitters react! They all jump up when they see Karen holding a saw but they wouldn't say anything when she was being rude to everyone? Kristy demands to know where she found it. Surprised and sheepish, Karen says she found it lying around in the barn. Nice, BSC! You're hosting a camp for little kids and didn't think to look around the barn for anything dangerous like a SAW?!

Also just need to echo a commenter from when I posted this on LJ. I don’t want to hear the BSC gush over how intelligent and gifted and smart Karen is again when the dumbass brought a REAL SAW to her circus performance, thinking it would be ok.

Kristy asks Karen what possessed her to use a real saw in a circus act and Karen responds with, I kid you not, “Pretend to saw people in half. Kristy! This is a REAL saw because you need REAL things if you are going to have a REAL circus!” No contractions, as always. And who the hell does she think she is, giving that attitude to her older sister, while in a subtle way insulting the BSC? I’m surprised Kristy didn’t do this:

Actually, I’m not surprised. No matter if it’s a BSC book or a Little Sister book, Karen Brewer is always getting away with murder.

Kristy takes a moment to collect her thoughts, then FINALLY says something to Karen and the circus snobs. It took you this long, Kristy? And even what she says is weak: “Karen, I'm glad you and your friends went to circus camp. But that doesn't mean you know everything about circuses. And let me tell you, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

What the hell? Does the BSC not believe in yelling? Where's the, “Look, you guys have been nothing but rude and mean to everyone here, including me and the other sitters. Just because you went to circus camp doesn't mean you know everything. You owe us all apologies because you’ve ruined the circus performance.” There, I wrote Kristy's dialogue, thank me for my help in preparing the manuscript, Ann Martin!

Karen, ever the “it's my way or the highway” type, frowns at Kristy's words of wisdom. What a little brat! Mary Anne then finds her backbone: “Everyone who was at the circus camp learned things. But true performers always do what they are supposed to do. And you guys haven't done that. Now it looks like the circus might not go on.” Ok, she managed to get some guilt-tripping in there but why are they lobbing softballs? They don't have to pull them all over their knees and spank them but at least let them know what they did was wrong and has put the circus performance in jeopardy!

One of Nancy's "legs" falls out, breaking the awkward silence and the sitters laugh at it. And FINALLY, Karen says she's sorry. Nancy too. Yeah, you guys practically destroyed the circus and put a damper on the whole camp and now you say you're sorry? God, this book just made me hate Karen more than I already did. Kristy assures everyone that they'll try and salvage what they can in time for the performance and tells Karen ominously, “We'll talk later.” Which translates to “I'm going to give you another weak talking-to about how you should behave, then we'll tell Watson the Millionaire, he won't punish you and he’ll find a way to reward you somehow.”

The other real circus acts are failures too. Bobby and Chris do a high-board act, which they obviously didn't practice. Hannie and Linny attempt to have Noodle the Poodle do tricks - that falls apart too because Noodle won't listen to any of their commands. Linny tries explaining it away with “A real circus dog...um, takes a long, long time to train, I guess.” Was he not paying attention to what Kristy and Mary Anne just said? Well, he's made to look like a fool in front of everyone and all the Circus Snobs have been put into their places. Somewhat.

The BSC realize they have their work cut out for them between now and tomorrow, so Kristy calls an ~EMERGENCYMEETINGOFTHEBSC~ and they huddle together after telling the kids to sit down with their partners and be quiet. For the first time in, well, forever, Kristy asks the BSC “What are we going to do?” Since this is a BSC book, they all have ideas for how to save the circus. Mallory has an idea to fix the dog act, Mary Anne has an idea to change around Karen and Nancy's act and Logan says he'll fix up the high-board one. The show will go on! 

[juni-writesx]

partners. jihyun/mc. pg.

written for the @/mysmecircuszine (under a different pen name. this one far less creative than that. hehe. my first time being featured in a zine!... and probably my last lol.)

mc uses they/them pronouns!

it is my hope that you enjoy photographer V and circus mime MC (who are also performance artists in an act together~) ♡

————————————————————

When they’re all dressed up like this — a black and white horizontal-striped shirt, black dress pants and black shoes,their faces painted snow-white while there are thick lines of black in a diamond shape around the eyes, their lips painted black as well —they’re supposed to be in character, strict orders courtesy of Ringmaster Han. Be silent. Look and play the part. Make the audience laugh at their antics of being stuck in an invisible box. Play tug-of-war with an invisible rope and invisible co-star.

“You can do that act alone, MC. The audience will need laughter for this. Besides, V and yourself will have the opportunity to elicit other emotions from the attendees during your partnered acrobalance act.”

“Of course, Ringmaster Han."

And they remain silent as they stand on the stage inside of the Big Top; the hot lights that shine above cause them to sweat a little. It’s not a new sensation, really… it occurs each time they practice their performance.

But right now, there’s no one to test their act for, as the seats are empty. They’d never really taken notice of just how many seats and how many rows there were. It was like a never ending sea.

“MC?”

There is, however, one other person on the stage with them.

 “Sorry…” they say softly, though their voice seems to echo in the emptiness of the tent. Quite unused to speaking while dressed like this. “What did you say, V?”

There is a camera in his hands that he lowers from his line of sight, and he gives MC a smile. “You don’t have to apologize,” and he lets out a soft chuckle. “And it’s alright to talk, you know. There’s no one here but us.”

They return his soft smile and exhale. “I wish I was dressed for our act. I’d feel more comfortable.”

“Ah. In time, we’ll be able to take our promotional pictures together. I’m even thinking of bringing Rui in for them so we’re able to be mid-performance.”

“That sounds like fun~.” MC’s smile grows as they turn just a bit to face him more.

“Wait… hold that.” He says, quickly bringing his camera back up to take a photograph. “Perfect. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” They reply, their facial expression becoming neutral again. “Though that won’t work for the promotional flyer. I know I was smiling, and Ringmaster Han would immediately shred it.”

V hums a little to himself. “I suppose you’re right. We’ll keep going, if you want.”

“I think we have to. Won’t the show be opening to the public soon?”

It takes his all not to blush to the tip of his ears. He should have been more careful with his words; he is the co-creator of the Cirque du Mystique, after all. How could he have forgotten that these photos were due sooner rather than later?

It's been more than a year since the plotting and planning of the Circus opening. Finding the right crew to assist in their big day had taken some time, and yet it was quicker than truly anticipated. With Jumin running the auditions for those who were outside of the RFA, he was strict and ruthless when finding just the right people to be part of the show and crew.

V was in attendance of the auditions and interviews the day MC arrived. His seat was next to Jumin and yet when MC took the stage, it was like they were the only person around. Their personality that had shown through in such a simple yet so complex act of tumbling across the stage, some contortions, contemporary dance, and theatrical antics, had captivated him from the start.

“I like them.” V had whispered to Jumin afterwards. 

“So do I.”

V just hadn’t realized to what extent he would come to like them, not just as a friend. Nor as just a member of the Circus. Or an eventual co-star of their act.

“...V?”

He shakes his head imperceptibly to collect himself. “Now,” he speaks as if he wasn’t just lost in thought, “are you ready?”

With a nod, MC pivots themselves so their body language isn’t so much towards V but more toward the camera itself, doing their best to be sort of like a model, despite not knowing a thing about modeling whatsoever. It's just a guess.

“Relax.” His voice is just as soft as theirs was when they’d first spoken, though less nervous. It was comforting, just as much as he is to them. “It’s just us.”

They try not to smile again and instead pose in a way where they are shrugging slightly and their arms are in the I don’t know position.

“You can talk while wearing that. In fact, I… would like it if you do.” He swallows back I like your voice, and I’m glad to hear it when I have the chance to.

“Are you sure Ringmaster Han won’t come in to check on us?”

“I promise, MC. Please, try not to be so nervous.”

One deep breath in and out, then another. “Alright.”

Although Jumin entering the Big Top while they are talking dressed as a mime isone of the top concerns MC has at the moment, there is another worry they had -- being there alone with V.

A good majority of the time whenever the two of them crossed paths, there were others around, and they were able to admire and watch him as he fluttered about and mingled with the fellow members of the RFA, as well as the rest of the cast and crew members of the circus.

And when they practiced their act, there would always be someone sitting in the seats — whether it was Rika and Zen, who’d be recovering from their own practices. Even Jumin, on occasion, to make sure everything was perfect for opening day.

Yet their act was so close and so intimate that even Yoosung had asked if V and MC had become smitten with one another at some point. To which the others replied with a laugh and needed to explain that it is their show, and half of the point of their performance.

“Are you sure you want to do something so personal, V?” Jumin inquired when the idea was proposed to him.

“Not everything has to be so serious. I think the audience will be interested in the tale of two people — one develops feelings from afar, while the other remains unaware. An unrequited yearning to be with one another.”

MC wasn’t sure if their co-star could read minds or if they were just that obvious when they moved with him during their performance  — when their hand began to linger within movements for just a little bit longer as time grew on, or the way he held them so close it made their heart race and eyes flutter shut even though they were supposed to lock eyes with him.

A few clicks of the camera’s shutter is heard as MC tries out various poses in regard to their act. “Do you think they’re coming out good?”

“Oh, yes.” Even if they weren’t, he truly didn’t mind. He’d purchased a special memory card for this. “I’m certain a lot of them are phenomenal. You’re a great model, MC.”

They’re grateful their face is painted with professional makeup or else he’d be able to see the blush that colors their cheeks. “You’re such a charmer.” They say with a laugh; knowing just how well with words he was. He has an air and way about him that could draw people in. 

They’ve seen the way everyone seems to follow his every word, including Jumin. And even their own.

When they hear the camera go off mid-laugh, they turn to glance at V. “Hey! Now that one definitely won’t work!” They take a step forward. “Why do you keep taking such casual photos of me?” A slight tilt of their head after they finish their inquiry to show their confusion.

“I’m making a photo album of behind the scenes of everyone’s photos,” he lies — quick thinking —  and swallows a little. “Just for the crew and RFA. They’ll be shown at the celebration of our opening day.”

“That sounds so cool~! I can’t wait to see all the photos!” Their voice is louder now, and very enthusiastic. The idea of seeing all the behind-the-scenes photographs interests MC, and they couldn’t wait to hear all the stories behind the photos he would put together.

They are certain there would be some clowning around by Seven and Saeran, where surely Saeran would be chasing after his brother after being sprayed by a flower that was attached to his outfit. Some photos of Yoosung juggling; where his tongue is sticking out because he is so focused on not dropping the bowling pins he had chosen to open his act with. They’d hoped that Jaehee would be smiling as she takes a break from taming and working with Elizabeth the 3rd. Rika could possibly be sitting in her hoop, taking breaths between the aerobatics she would be showing off, perhaps even chatting with Zen, who’d be standing around the same area that MC is at currently, draping a towel across his shoulders — having finished his shoot from the aerial silks that had been set up in the Big Top.

Perhaps even behind the scenes selfies of the Ringmaster and the photographer himself.

V feels guilty for lying to MC about why he is taking as many photos of them as possible, but he still isn’t entirely sure if he has the courage to come out and let them know the truth.

“We’ll take a few more photos.” He watches as MC does their best to wipe their brow of a bead of sweat without messing up their face paint. “And get you some water.”

“Water sounds fantastic right about now!”

Another click of the camera as V — no, Jihyun — catches the merriment in MC's expression and body language; the mirth in their eyes. He feels honored, blessed even, to have the opportunity to catch MC like this, especially dressed as they were.

MC, on the other hand, is highly confused as to why he keeps snapping pictures of them. "You'll be looking through photos of me forever, finding one to use, if you keep taking random pictures of me~!"

Oh, he truly doesn't mind, since he knows that it would possibly be a rare occasion for them to be present in each other’s company like this, he thoroughly enjoys having the chance to watch MC as they smile and laugh. It is simple, pleasant, and nice.

It makes his heart flutter, his cheeks flush as though they are practicing their act, he would blame the spotlight shining down on them if he would be asked why his cheeks were so red.

"You have wonderful artistic vision; I have seen some of your work before," — plastered around the fairgrounds are photographs that he had taken of various landscapes, of Elizabeth the Third. "Maybe you should help me pose for a good photo to use for the flyer!"

Jihyun smiles softly; the idea sounding like the best way he can be close to MC before they part ways for the day. Slowly, he lowers his camera so it dangles by the strap around his neck. "Of course. I'm sure we'll be able to come up with something…."

His steps echo throughout the Big Top as he approaches them; a smile curving his lips. “Hmm.” His voice is low  as he stops right behind them.

And he presses as close behind them as he could manage without the camera pressing into their back.

He dips his head down to their ear. “How about this…?” 

The softness and tenderness of his voice causes them to shiver as they feel his hands glide down their arms; fingers curling around their wrists as he maneuvers them gently. He truly has no idea how he wants them to look for a photograph, as he is sure all the ones he'd taken are truly ideal for him.

It's long past the point of him needing to get a photograph for a flyer, but his own selfish need of seeing MC smile, and being near them for more than just their performance and in passing moments of Circus meetings to prepare for opening day.

MC hopes that he couldn’t hear their heart race as they stand there, silent, for moments. “...This is fine.” they whisper as they turn their head to the side in order to see him. “As long as you’re alright with helping me pose.”

And he chuckles softly, so close to their ear and it thrills them. The familiar sensation of butterflies in their stomach

Just as he feels within his.

"....MC." their name is spoken before he has a chance to leave it on the tip of his tongue.

"Yes, V?"

One of his hands reaches for theirs and he gently curls his fingers in-between theirs, and their fingers fall together, intertwined, with ease. It's a silent request from him that they know all too well from their performance. He would like them to turn around —

and they oblige. Spinning around as though they are practicing their act, and his free hand swiftly, yet oh so gently, lands on their hip without any hesitation on his part.

Their eyes lock, chests rising and falling with their breaths, almost in sync, as if they'd finished a rehearsal. "I…." he begins to say,but he's cut off by MC's lips pressing against his.

He cannot help but sigh into the kiss before his lips curve into a slight smile. The fluttering sensation increases as he feels MC return his smile.

They both hate to part from this, but they know that they must. And when they do, he breathes out softly, "...I want you to call me Jihyun..." 

“Hey…!” Yoosung’s voice rings out before MC has a chance to respond, and it causes the two on the Big Top stage to jump — startled... yet they still stand so close to one another. “...Does this mean you two are finally aware of each other's feelings?”

Jihyun glances down at them inquisitively, to which the smile he felt against his lips reemerges on their face. “...Well, MC?” he asks softly. 

“Hmm~” they hum teasingly. “I dunno~ kissing isn’t part of our act. And it's certainly not part of my act!” They stand on tip-toes and use the sleeve of their shirt to clean off the trace of black lipstick from Jihyun's lips.

It only takes him a moment to reach for that hand, take it gently in his, and to kiss their sleeve. “Yes, Yoosung. I believe we are aware now."

“It’s about time.” Jumin chimes in. “...I hope you have some workable photos, V. I didn’t request these promotional flyers for you to go to MC with a love confession.”

A squeak comes from MC and they can feel the tips of their ears and the apples of their cheeks burn as they try so desperately to hide behind Jihyun. “I thought you said he wouldn’t come in!!!”

And Jihyun laughs before saying, “We’re fine, MC. C’mon. Let’s go get that water… and grab something to eat while we’re at it; I’m sure you could use it. Besides…. I’d like to spend some more time with you, if that’s alright.”

“Of course,” they reply as they give his hand a squeeze. “Let me freshen up first. I’ll see you in the food tent.” Once again, they go on their tip-toes but this time it's to place a gentle kiss upon his cheek.

Now Jihyun blushes — happily. Relieved. And outwardly just as smitten as their act portrays. In much the same way as MC is right now.

“I’ll see you there.”

[tastesoftamriel]

How do you think things like theater and entertainment differs between the provinces/races of Tamriel? I imagine bawdy comedies are popular in Cyrodiil while Summerset prefer historical epics

I’ll be totally honest: I don’t have loads of time for entertainment, and when I’m catering for a banquet I’m too busy behind the scenes to be able to stop and enjoy shows! However, from what I have been able to gather, these are some of the weird and wonderful performances I’ve been lucky enough to watch across Tamriel.

Altmer

The very best entertainers from Summerset are from the House of Reveries, a time-honoured guild of mysterious masked performers who can do anything from acting to dance, music, and magic tricks. Every year, the House puts on a revue featuring the best of their talent, drawing crowds from near and far. I attended one of the revues as a guest a couple of years ago, and had an excellent time! From a historical opera about the Oblivion Crisis to fire-twirlers and a whole orchestra, the House of Reveries is without doubt the most prolific and capable of Tamriel’s entertainers. If you’re able to make it to their home in Summerset, catching any performance is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Argonians

Argonians love music and dance, whether it’s at a tavern or a bonding ceremony! Most famous of their instruments is the vossa-satl, a keyboard instrument that’s powered by the croaks of frogs (really)! While it sounds absurd if you’ve never encountered one, there’s something beautiful about the tuned croaking that really evokes the ambiance of the deep swamps of Murkmire. Vossa-satls can be played on their own, accompanied with singing and drums, or even are even played on special occasions as quartets. An awful lot of fun to dance to as well!

Bosmer

The Bosmer are known for their entrancing shadow-puppet plays, which people come from far and wide to see. Narrated by a Tale-Spinner, these plays feature puppets made from stiff hide, whose shadows are projected against an opaque leather screen. It’s accompanied by music played on bone flutes and pipes, drums, and throat-singing that has an almost meditative quality. These puppet shows tell traditional stories Valenwood such as of Falinesti, Y’ffre, the Green Lady and Silvenar, and much more. I don’t really know what they’re on about most of the time due to the peculiar use of language and riddles used by Bosmer tale-spinners, but it’s an absolutely riveting way to spend your evening if you’re in Valenwood.

Bretons

Breton theatre is an interactive experience, so put on your dancing shoes and ready those rotten apples! Over-the-top musical comedies and dramas are a favourite of the Province, typically featuring anywhere from a handful to a couple dozen actors and a small band. The audience is encouraged to play along and it’s not uncommon to find yourself hoisted on stage to throw a pumpkin at the villain of the show! Comedic puppet shows like Punch-and-Julian are popular with young and old alike, and use cloth puppets or marionettes which are more detailed than Bosmeri shadow puppets. And of course, nobody loves The Lusty Argonian Maid’s adventures quite as much as the Bretons, so be sure to catch a performance (sometimes a themed costume party, for the saucier citizens) while you’re in High Rock!

Dunmer

Traditional Morrowind entertainment has a strong focus on magic, particularly illusion magic to scintillate the crowd (especially in areas where the Telvanni hold influence). The Dunmer are keen lovers of puppet shows, somewhat like Bosmer shadow puppets, but instead prefer the use of large, doll-like marionettes that are carved to look wonderfully realistic to show the characters and creatures of a bygone age. My favourite was an epic about St. Jiub and his quest to rid Morrowind of cliff racers, and it was accompanied by some frankly terrifying and realistic illusions of cliff racers which soared above the crowd and caused quite a panic! The Brave Little Scrib may thus be the safest bet for beginners to Dunmeri theatre, or those with a weak constitution.

Imperials

When it comes to entertainment, nobody in Tamriel puts on a show quite like the Imperials. The Arena is known for its bloody fights and betting, but has also been used for everything from huge circus performances and opera to the famous mock naval battles. The latter are a spectacular annual event where the arena floor is flooded and real ships are brought in to fight, complete with “pirates”, cannons, sword-fighting, and much more! Definitely not suitable entertainment for children, but if you love the ostentatious and over-the-top, be sure to visit the Imperial Arena (or any of the other smaller arenas that dot the Province) for some truly stunning shows.

Khajiit

In addition to their amazing skill at stringed instruments, the Khajiit are known for their dance and acrobatic skills. Traditional dancers in Elsweyr train for years at academies and temples alike, with a training regime that rivals their peers in the martial arts. This training also includes some jaw-dropping acrobatics and contortion, making Khajiiti circuses extremely popular as they travel around, usually as part of a Baandari troupe. Unlike the circuses staged in Cyrodiil, these troupes are usually made of a handful to a dozen performers, each with their own unique talents and abilities. A typical performance usually starts with dancers to warm up the crowd, followed by heart-stopping acts like trapeze, tightrope, and walking over hot coals! If you want to be wowed, be sure to grab a ticket the next time a Khajiiti circus troupe is in town; you won’t be disappointed!

Nords

You’re probably very aware of the famous Bard’s College of Solitude, one of the most prestigious institutions to study music in all of Tamriel. However, bards do far more than play the lute and sing songs. They are well-versed in recounting tales, especially historical ones (albeit with some embellishment). You’ll be on the edge of your seat listening to amazing original and time-honoured kennings and songs, preferably around the fire with a tankard of mead. While far less ostentatious than most other entertainment you’ll find in Tamriel, there’s nothing quite as cosy as a bardic evening at the tavern.

Orcs

The Orcs aren’t generally fans of theatre, but they sure do enjoy entertainment in the form of sports like Vosh ball and wrestling! Sporting events draw huge crowds of all races, meaning that you’ll find everything from hot snacks to live music in the arena. Vosh ball is a traditional Orcish sport which has been played for centuries, and is prone to getting violent, so grab a helmet (preferably one with a visor) before you sit down, and enjoy the show! Not feeling like watching? In certain cases, you can even give these sports a go in amateur rounds, but you will be asked to sign a disclaimer form…missing teeth, other injuries, and the occasional death aren’t uncommon. You’ve been warned!

Redguards

The Redguards are renowned for their poetry, song, and epic storytelling, often performed by wandering poet-explorers who live off the generosity of strangers. Unlike the traveling bards of Skyrim, you’ll usually need to visit these reclusive storytellers yourself, or host one when they’re in town! It’s well worth the trouble, as these wandering souls usually love performing with anyone else who’s game. One of my most memorable nights out was in Sentinel, where bored locals who came to listen to a visiting poet happened to bring all their talents with them. When the story about the Akaviri invasion ramped up, a few musicians struck up a tune, and for some reason a sword-swallower joined in! Entertainment in Hammerfell is a joyous community affair, and no two performances are ever alike.

[eurotastic]

Eurovision Reviews: Semi final 2 2022

1: Finland: The Rasmus - Jezebel

Sending The Rasmus is the most finnish thing Finland could possibly do - after getting fantastic results last year with an imitation of 2002 rock music, now they're sending the real thing. I love how dedicated Finland is to rock music, this song slaps, and I really hope they get good results.

8/10

2: Israel: Michael Ben David - I.M

He's the gayest man in Tel Aviv and I love him for it. The lyrics are just a mishmash of Rupaul's drag race catchphrases, except for that one line about middle east sex appeal, that one's new. I know this isn't strong enough for the competition but I think it's so much fun.

6/10

3: Serbia: Konstrakta - In Corpore Sano

I have to be honest, at first, I really disliked the Meghan Markle namedrop at the very beginning of the song. Sure, it grabs your attention, but the reference feels instantly dated, in a way that works against the rest of the song, which feels timeless yet undeniably modern. Despite this one problem, I have come to really love this song, it's truly unique, both in sound and lyrical content. Konstrakta comes across as less of a singer and more as a genius performance artist.

8/10

4: Azerbaijan: Nadir Rustamli - Fade To Black

It's Azerbaijan going back to their usual schtick - A competent song sung by a competent singer, with competent staging, there's probably a couple of competent Swedish songwriters in there somewhere. It's fine, I don't hate it but it's so hard to get excited about it. It goes into one ear and out of the other. Cute staging though.

5/10

5: Georgia: Circus Mircus - Lock Me In

I love it when Georgia gets weird. I heard a rumor that they are going to have an actual puppet show on stage, and if that's true, I'm going to lose my mind, this entire band is a weird acid trip. Also, I'm really glad to see Nika Kocharov in Eurovision again, he represented Georgia in 2016 with, Midnight Gold, which is probably the most underrated Eurovision song in recent memory as well as one of my personal favorites.

8/10

6: Malta: Emma Muscat - I Am What I Am

Who is this for? No, really, who is going to feel inspired by this? It sounds like pop music for really religious kids who aren't allowed to listen to real pop music.

2/10

7: San Marino: Achille Lauro - Stripper

There's a gay Italian cowboy stripper riding a mechanical bull surrounded by nuclear grade pyrotechnic explosions, who cares about the song? Jokes aside, this song was in my top 10 even before I saw the staging - It's a fun rock song that doesn't take itself too seriously, and sometimes that's all you need.

10/10

8: Australia: Sheldon Riley - Not the Same

I'm not a big fan of self-empowerment songs that sound sad and tragic, and I can't find a single positive emotion in this song, it's all misery and desperation. His voice is incredible, his stage costume is absolutely beautiful, but I don't know how I'm supposed to feel listening to the song. I should probably be moved to tears, but I have no idea if it's supposed to be happy or sad tears, so it ends up being neither.

5/10

9: Cyprus: Andromache - Ela

The Greek language is so beautiful to me - I have really missed hearing it in Eurovision over the past few years. The song sounds the way being on a Mediterranean island vacation feels.

7/10

10: Ireland: Brooke Scullion - That's Rich

It's like if Michelle from Derry Girls tried to be a popstar, so that's fun. It's pretty ironic that a song called "That's rich" sounds so cheap.

6/10

11: North Macedonia: Andrea - Circles

This song is just nothing. It goes on and on and on for what feels like three hours, and absolutely nothing happens.

2/10

12: Estonia: Stefan - Hope

It's Avicii's cowboy era with some added Morricone inspiration - the production sounds flawless. I can't understand a word he's saying though, I think he's slurring his words to sound more like a cowboy.

Also, I'm sad that we won't get to see the intended staging for this - the desert landscape would have been exactly what this song needed, but I guess we're getting a black hole instead.

7/10

13: Romania: WRS - Llámame

It feels like something from Eurovision 2009, even though the song is pretty modern. I really like it, it's pure eurovision camp, but it's a little bit mediocre.

6/10

14: Poland: Ochman - River

He has the best vocals of the year, hands down. They have definitely taken some inspiration from Gjon's Tears - I get it, he won last year's jury vote so it's probably a smart move. It's really modern and beautifully produced, but the songwriting is just good, not great. His vocals are making the song sound a lot bigger than it actually is.

8/10

15: Montenegro: Vladana - Breathe

I wish it wasn't in English, because I wish I could unhear these lyrics. It tries so hard to be important and dramatic, but it just falls flat.

2/10

16: Belgium: Jérémie Makiese - Miss You

I like how we're getting this one song that feels like American rnb - there is room for that in Eurovision! With that said, it's pretty forgettable, and I'm worried about his live vocals.

5/10

17: Sweden: Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer

I think this is Sweden's best song since Euphoria, and it's the most genuinely emotional song Sweden has sent in my lifetime. There's zero artifice, but it's still an expertly written pop song. I love the perfectly imperfect vocals, they're not for everyone, but it feels great to get something potentially polarizing from Sweden, just this one time. It's the authentic Swedish indie pop that fans have been asking for for years, and it deserves all the hype it gets. It's the right song at the right time, pun intended.

10/10

18: Czech Republic: We Are Domi - Lights Off

This song is doing everything right - the production is great, the staging is exciting, the song is catchy - but I keep forgetting that it exists. I can remember how it goes, but I can't remember that it's in the competition. I like it, don't get me wrong, but I can't call it a favorite.

6/10

[whump-a-la-mode]

Magician’s Assistant

No one asked for this, but I decided to continue this cause I love some good villain whump, and I love some good pet whump, so why not mix them together?

Summary: Villain puts on a show for Hero’s friends, and takes a risk that they regret.

I’m open to continuing this if anyone wants ^^ I know it’s a little weird though.

CW//Pet whump, forced to perform, power suppressors, collars, cones of shame, muzzles, bit gags, mitt cuffs, threatened punishment, failed escape, scopophobia, stage fright, dehumanization

“Now, I wouldn’t have to do this if you would behave. I hate doing this, you know. You’re going to make my friends think you’re some kind of wild animal.”

A low growl rumbled in Villain’s throat as their head was jerked around by Hero’s forceful hands. A trio of plastic buttons sounded with a rhythmic pop pop pop as they were undone, allowing the plastic cone attached to their collar to be slipped free and tossed to the ground.

The removal of the opaque blinders sent Villain for a loop, suddenly regaining access to their peripheral vision. Yet, they were given no chance to stumble, or even to ease their dizziness. The fingers gripping their chin like a vice would not allow such a thing. 

Hero must have known that the muzzle was too small. The sheer amount of force it took to force the damned piece of metal over Villain’s jaw should have at least told them that. Even as the device was placed on their face, they could not help but whimper in discomfort, unyielding leather and metal already digging into their tender flesh. As their jaw was forced closed, they could feel the bit already within their mouth dig painfully into their gums. Their whimpers soon turned to muffled cries.

“Now, I’m only doing this because you forced my hand.” Their tormentor sighed. “You wear your mitts because you can’t stop picking. You wear your cone because you kept chewing on the mitts. But you can’t wear your cone on stage, and I can’t trust you not to chew. I swear, it’s like Whack-a-Mole, trying to keep up with your habits.”

The muzzle was pulled taut against their face as its straps were pulled back and fastened. Villain whined, the motion of the metal bars on their face forcing their teeth closed over their tongue, washing their taste buds with the bitter taste of blood.

“Now, if you’ll behave.” There was an exasperated overtone to Hero’s voice, as though they were the one leashed and collared like a dog. “The muzzle can come off after the show.”

Villain wanted to maul that expression straight off Hero’s face. Or, maybe just take the whole face off. Their limbs trembled with barely-contained rage, but they had no time to act on it.

“Be good. I’ll be back in a little bit.” They finished, handing off the leash they carried to a guard standing a few feet away. And, with that, they pushed away the heavy curtain and disappeared onto the stage.

A thousand screaming, primal things within Villain screeched at them, howled for them to do something, to fight back. The guard was terribly distracted, leash looped lazily around a wrist while their hands were occupied with a smartphone. It would be so, so easy, so simple to knock them over, knock them out, tear them to pieces and be free and be normal and-

And Villain lowered themself to the floor, laying down on their side.

No. Their wounds still stung from last time. They had learned better than to attempt to flee with so many eyes on them. They just had to sit. Sit and wait. Wait until they were finally left alone again.

The stage lights turned on, filtering through the backstage curtain with their sheer strength. They could hear Hero’s words clearly, but they knew the speech so well, it simply filtered from their ears.

How many times had they done this show, now? They couldn’t bring themself to care. It was better, not to think about what they had become.

A circus animal. A magician’s assistant.

They wanted to escape. Of course they did. They hated this, hated every second of it. They just wanted to go home. For so long they had desired revenge, but that desire had been extinguished alongside their willpower. Now, they just wanted to go home. To be able to use their hands. To be able to drink out of a cup rather than a bowl. To be able to eat something that couldn’t be described as brown slop.

But they couldn’t. All because of a stupid pair of mittens. Dejectedly, they looked down, where there hands were supposed to be. Where now sat only padded paws of black leather, secured around the wrist with taut straps. That was all it took to disable them.

They wanted to scream.

Villain couldn’t count how many times they’d tried to escape. How many guards they’d jumped, how many wounds inflicted.

And, every time, they were thwarted by something so simple. A doorknob. A window latch. A buckle. All because of a stupid pair of mittens.

That, and the power suppressor. They could feel the cold metal against the back of their neck, firmly secured by their collar.

Theoretically, it would be so easy to get out. If they could reach the buckles on their mitts with their mouth, they could get them off, easy. Then, it was just a matter of finding a window and making a run for it.

Simple in theory. Impossible in reality. That didn’t mean they couldn’t try, though. That they couldn’t act in at least a shadow of defiance.

Villain wasn’t broken yet. They would never break, never. No matter what. It may have been too dangerous to attempt to flee with so many heroes around, but once they were back to their cell? Their next attempt would begin. And this time, they’d be faster. Smarter. Better. And one day, they would get out.

The thought sent a long-lost burst of warmth through their chest. Just to make a point, they snarled as best as they could around the muzzle.

Maybe they would knock the guard over. Just for fun. To show Hero that they weren’t going to sit back here like a good little puppy, just because one of their escape attempts had been thwarted.

They didn’t get the chance.

“And now, for my final act, I have a very special guest.” The words boomed out through the speakers as the stage lights dimmed.

It was time for their act.

Still hardly paying attention, the guard leaned down, unclipping the leash from Villain’s collar. Freeing them.

They could run. The door to the rest of the facility was right there. They couldn’t help from turning their head towards it, red-hot adrenaline filling their veins and overriding the taste of iron in their mouth.

The guard’s boot struck their side with practiced swiftness.

“Go.” They grunted.

They had to be patient. Had to do the smart thing. Had to be a good dog, until the moment was right. Once they were back to their cell, then they could stop pretending to be ‘trained.’

But, for now...

They would just have to “behave.”

Villain raised themself to their hands and knees, then, slowly, to their feet. Their taut muscles made their gait terribly tense as they pushed through the curtain and moved onto the stage.

They wanted to go back they wanted to go back they wanted to go back.

Every time they came on stage, they forgot just how horrible it was. Or, perhaps, it simply got worse every time. The stage lights were hot enough to make them feel as though they were laying on asphalt in the dead middle of summer. And, even with the lights obscuring their forms, they swore they could still see every member of the audience. See their eyes, staring, transfixed.

As soon as Villain emerged from the wings, the laughter was overwhelming. It seemed to echo off every wall, resound from every speaker. They swore that their heart and stomach switched places.

Still, they kept moving, even as they shook worse than a nervous chihuahua. It was just an act. An act they knew how to perform, even as they wished more than anything to bleach the memory from their mind.

In the center of the stage, a sort of pyramid had been constructed of wooden chairs, built in such a way that, at the pyramid’s peak, a single chair was balanced. A platform.

Climbing the pyramid, they were unsure if the chairs shook because of their own unsteady placement or because of Villain’s trembling. An eternity of stage lights and staring eyes and chortling audience members later, they were at the top, balanced precariously atop the peak.

They hated the view that the position gave them. There must have been a hundred people out there, a hundred pairs of eyes, a hundred mouths pealing in laughter.

Villain swallowed down a mouthful of bile.

“I’m sure I don’t need to remind you all of who my assistant used to be.” Hero smiled.

More laughter.

“But now, they’re here to show you just what they can do, when they’re not trying to destroy our city!”

This time, the audience’s chortling nearly drowned out the subtle, mechanical click that sounded from the leather loop about Villain’s throat.

Their power flooded their chest, warmer than the strongest alcohol.

Was it even their power, anymore, when they were only allowed access to it when it pleased their captors? They tried not to think on that for too long.

With measured steps, Hero approached the pyramid of chairs on which their prisoner was precariously perched.

A moment of silence, and Villain was falling.

Hero’s boot struck a leg on one of the chairs forming the structure’s foundation, snapping it effortlessly. At once, the pyramid collapsed.

No matter how many times they performed the act, the way their heart leapt to their throat was always painfully, horribly real.

But it was all an act, and they were the tiger jumping through the hoop.

Villain’s powers tore from their body, swirling about their limbs, their back, their feet, until they were floating, bobbing up and down in the air.

From the audience, applause and amusement resounded in equal number.

“Go!” Hero’s shout cut through the air, a whip striking a performing lion.

Just an act. They could do this, they had done it so many times.

Still allotting plenty of strength to keep themself afloat, Villain sent their power out in every which direction-- a swarm of flies, searching and grabbing whatever they could find.

Gasps echoed from the audience members below as, from the tables before them, their very plates and forks were whisked away. Spiraling dishware formed a series of rings about the floating villain’s body, as though they were a nucleus, circled by energy in pure form.

The chairs were next, legs ripped from seats and seats torn from backs, until sticks of wood formed yet more rings. There were a dozen, now, and hundreds of objects making them up. Villain felt sweat dribble down their forehead, trying to keep track of it all.

But Hero was not yet satisfied. They could see it on their face.

The next batch of dishware came from the kitchens, accompanied by a flood of flying office supplies. New rings formed, staplers and cutlery and serving plates, all spiraling, twisting, until Villain could no longer be seen beneath the sphere they had formed around them.

“Give it up for this former villain!” Hero cried out, and the audience did not protest. Their clapping was interspersed by only a few spots of giggling.

When the applause had reached its crescendo, it was time for the finale. Sweat poured from their forehead in liters, now, dribbling down their sides, a thousand swirling things around them, concealing them from the-

The world beyond.

No one could see them. And with so many things under their control, what was one more?

Undoing the buckle on their muzzle was like spinning plates, while balancing on a ball, which was atop an elephant. While underwater. Every neuron in their mind was pulled in a separate direction, yet, a tiny ounce of residual willpower gave them the strength they needed.

The buckle was undone, the strap pulled free.

This was it. But not yet. No, not yet. They used their powers, holding the muzzle to their face, ensuring that it looked to not have been disturbed at all.

The applause was deafening.

Around them, the rings of dishware and wood scraps and staplers and staples began to grow-- a ball of plasma, writhing as a living thing, breathing, until it took up nearly the whole stage.

All at once, it broke. Each and every of the thousand pieces, the million atoms, stopped spinning. Plates swirled through the air, returning to their original tables without a single chip in their porcelain, cutlery neatly stacked beside them. Office supplies were returned with the same perfection, chairs twisted back into their proper forms, and once again stacked in their pyramidal form.

Villain gasped for breath as they lowered themself to the floor. The resounding applause did not help, not in the slightest. Instead, it made them feel as though garotte wires had been pulled taught about their lungs, their throat. Why did everything have to be so loud?

They hoped that their tears mixed convincingly with their sweat.

When the clapping quieted to nothing, Hero again took center stage.

“Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight!”

More applause. Didn’t their hands hurt?

“That’s all I have for you this time around. Dinner will be out in a moment, and I’ll be joining you all in a moment!”

The noise from the audience continued as Hero turned, moving off the stage. Like an obedient puppy dog, Villain kept on their heels. When, at last, they pushed through the backstage curtain, they felt about to collapse. After a few moments, the horrid cacophony finally, finally stopped.

They were done. They’d done it. They’d pleased Hero, they’d performed, and now, they would be alone, all the way up until the next show.

Hero stopped once the two were firmly backstage, away from the blaring stage lights and the chattering people outside, signalling for Villain to do the same.

“You did good.” A hand in their hair. They wanted to throw up. Or, better, bite Hero’s hand off. “See, if you just behaved like that all the time, you wouldn’t have to wear any of this crap.”

Hero drew their hand from their head.

“Damn are you sweaty. Takes a lot out of you, huh? You can have a rest, then.”

From the guard, they took the leather leash, reattaching it to the collar’s D-ring. And-

A click. The power suppressor.

Then, a clatter. Their muzzle striking the floor. They’d forgotten that they’d removed it.

Oh god oh god oh god.

Any cheer that Hero had been emanating was gone in an instant. This time, the hand in their hair was a restraint, yanking and forcing  their head to the floor.

“I swear.” The fury in their tone was barely contained. “I’m done with this! I’m done. I can see that I can’t trust you.”

Villain could hear their heartbeat, banging against the concrete floor below.

“Clearly, you need that lock on the collar. The mitts, too. But that’s going to take some time.”

Some time. Some time to rest.

“If you can’t be trusted on your own, then you’re going to have to go back to your trainer.”

If Villain had any water still left within their body, in that instant, every drop turned to ice.

“They’ll supervise you until your new collar is ready. Come on, now. I can’t wait to explain this to them.”

[barry-j-blupjeans]

The circus is loud. Growing up, Taako had been in his fair share of noisy group homes. And when he moved in with Merle and Magnus, there were sometimes days were the house didn’t have a quiet moment. He knows loud, he’s lived in it, been it, trusted it.

The circus is nothing like the loud he knew.

Everything had a part. It’s a symphony of noises all coming together in one loud call. There were no real animals around- instead, lively, magical silhouettes of elephants and tigers prowled the edges of the ring, as some sort of pre-show act. He saw a few clowns in the midst of the crowd, blowing up balloon animals and terrorizing young children. There are people in the rafters above the seats, doing some sort of work. The whole place has an energy to it, a vibe, that draws you in, makes you want more, makes you excited.

Taako tugs Kravitz along to their seats and Kravitz laughs, already grinning.

It had been Taako’s idea to go to the circus, but as always, Kravitz was the one who brought the idea to fruition. He’d gotten them all the way out here to see the country’s prized performers at the moment. They were sitting as close to the front as possible, with their last-minute snagged tickets. The air was warm around them, the yelling muffled and fading into background noise.

And then the lights were dimming. The magic silhouettes dissipated.

It seemed like the whole tent was collectively holding their breaths. There was a creak from up in rafters and suddenly a spotlight was being shone down onto the ring.

A man appeared out of thin air, just like that. He wasn’t exactly what Taako had expected to see- circus performers were usually young, fit people. This man was at least a middle-aged human if the graying at his temples was anything to go by. He was round in the middle and wearing a ringmaster uniform. After a moment, removed his hat and bowed deeply to the audience. There was a roar of appulse from people who obviously knew who he was. Taako, who had not bothered to look into the show more than a week prior, applaud as a courtesy.

“Welcome!” the man called, voice amplified to reach the whole tent. “To the Twin Rings Circus!”

A dazzling display of firework-like sparks exploded behind him. From the smoke they left, the magic, silhouetted animals came forth. The crowd gasped in oohs and ahhs. Even Taako had leaned forward in his seat to see the performance. Magic wasn’t rare in the world, per se, but it was hardly used to display something this put together. He had to wonder how many casters they had, how many hidden wizards were sitting amongst the audience.

“I’m Barry,” the human man said. “I’m the husband in this husband-wife duo.”

“And I’m Lup!” a voice from the rafters said. “I’d be the wife in this husband-wife duo.”

Another second spotlight zoomed up to the top of the tent, where an elven woman in another dazzling ringmaster suit dived from a plank. The audience gasped and Taako’s stomach dropped. He pressed himself back into Kravitz, focusing in on the woman as she fell through the air. The darker color of her skin, covered in some sort of glitter, the dyed hair she had tied back in a ponytail, with its brown roots. The curve of her nose, the shape of her jaw, her eyes-

She slowed her descent at the last second, landed next to her husband without much of a sound. She, too, took a bow. She was scanning the audience as they screaming their awe and her eyes landed on Taako for a second.

And stayed on Taako.

And Taako knew that she knew.

Lup was here. Lup was alive. After all these years apart, she had just been here- And she was slipping back into her stage persona after a second of shock, dazzling the audience with a smile, and keeping her eyes on him as a promise of,

I will see you after the show. I promise, I promise, I promise.

[ohctranscripts]

Season 1, Episode 5 (R): Fifthly!

Announcer: This public service announcement was paid for by the joint governments of the world.  If children are present, turn your radio off at the sound of the tone.

[Beep]

Child: Mommy!  Daddy!  Does the Great Recitating Platypus really exist?

Announcer: Confirming the existence of the Great Recitating Platypus of the North will keep them healthy.  New international studies show that children who believe in the Great Recitating Platypus of the North have a greater recovery rate from all childhood illnesses than children who don’t.

Furthermore, the belief that, if brave, the platypus will visit while you sleep, recite his many poems, and cause you to wake up healthy, has shown clinically to reduce occurrences of illness later in life.

Parents, the day of discovery will come.  They, like we, will learn the Great Recitating Platypus of the North does not exist.  But, do not hasten the moment.  Allow them to believe.  Give your children the chance to grow healthy and strong.

[Music]

[Christy Gressman into message]

John: Broadcasting from the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Orbiting Human Circus of the Air!

[Bell tolling]

[Creatures in background]

Narrator: Behind the red velvet curtains on the wooden stage, beyond two performing donkeys being fed carrots by their trainer, to the left of several elderly women readying themselves on stilts, directly across from ten chefs preparing omelettes on Bunsen burners, clutching his mop and looking innocent out in the open, where anybody could tackle and remove him is…

Julian, janitor at the Eiffel Tower!

Shouldn’t you be hiding?

Julian: No, I’m allowed.  There’s gonna be a hypnotist on the show tonight!  My great grandfather was a stage hypnotist.

Narrator: Really?  I… never heard you say that before.  Not three times every day.

Jacques: [Quietly, coming closer] …you know how much I lifted last weekend?

Pierre: A six-pack?

Narrator: Hide, it’s Jacques and Pierre!  They’ll kick you out!

Jacques: Hey, kid, how’s it goin’?

Julian: ‘Ey, wassup?  When’s the hypnotist go on?

Jacques: Twenty minutes!  Catch ya then!

[Footsteps]

Narrator: He didn’t yell at you!

Julian: I better go get cleaned up!  Mister Cameron said I could use his dressing room!

Narrator: He what?!  He couldn’t have!

Julian: Yeah, he’s been so nice to me since I found that cricket.  I gotta go get my good clothing!  It’s like a holiday!

[Opening music]

John: Broadcasting from the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Orbiting Human Circus of the Air!

We start things off, ladies and gentlemen, tonight, with something special.  Yes, at this exact moment each night from the Eiffel Tower, one can hear church bells ring out from all Paris.

It begins slowly, and spreads and spreads, a sound our show normally drowns out.  But not tonight, ladies and gentlemen!  We have placed a microphone on the very top of the tower in order to give you this evening’s musical act.

[Church bells ringing melodically]

Narrator: Meanwhile, in our host John Cameron’s dressing room, defying all reasonable explanation, we find our janitor, changing into what once must have been his Sunday clothes.  A rumpled suit, no less, of surprising quality!

[Quiet music in background]

Julian: Hey, look what I have in my bag!

[Ruffling]

It’s the feature presentation!

Narrator: The janitor pulls out an old reel of tape.  But, why do you have the tape with the feature presentation on it?

Julian: Who cares?  Look, the giant tape machine’s out in the hall, like, right outside the door.  If I pull it in here, I can put the tape on it and we can listen to it.

Narrator: I-I don’t think you should do that…

Oh no, he’s opening the door…

He’s pulling the tape machine inside…

[Man yelling Julian’s name in the background, very faintly]

But you’re supposed to be mopping the outer lattice work!

Julian: [Scoffs] You’re so afraid to do anything.

Narrator: And the janitor presses play on the large tape machine.  And a remarkable story begins to play!  Really, it’s quite incredible…

But we’re not going to let you hear it!  Though I’m sure you will hear it eventually, but not now, because at this very moment, there are some sounds out in the hall!

Laeticia: Jacques!  Pierre!

Pierre: Yeah?

Laeticia: Where is zis tape machine, huh?

Pierre: We left it right here!

Laeticia: You left it right here but it is not here now!

Jacques: We’re lookin’ right now, we’re goin’!

Laeticia: Did you look stage left?

Jacques: I-I’m going, I’m goin’ behind stage left right now.

Narrator: It’s chief stagehand Laeticia with stagehands Jacques and Pierre!  Inside the dressing room, the door is thrown open!

Laeticia: What are you doing with the tape machine?

Julian: I—

Laeticia: Why have you pulled ze giant tape machine inside zis room?

Julian: I didn’t—

Laeticia: Oh, mon Deu, you have played ze feature presentation?

Julian: But—

Laeticia: You have played ze secret reel?!

Jacques: Laeticia, why are you takin’ your belt off?  Whoa!

Laeticia: I’m going to beat him!

Jacques: Laeticia, you can’t do that, that’s against the law!

Laeticia: Okay, but zis time I’m going to make him remember!

Julian: I thought it wouldn’t—

Laeticia: No!  You do not think, you do not care!

Julian: Laeticia, please—

Laeticia: Okay, quiet!  Jacques, take my belt from me so I’m not tempted to use it.

Jacques: Okay.

Laeticia: Julian, zis is ze end for you.  After the show, I tell John Cameron what you have done.  No longer will you clean out ze cage of ze animal!  No longer will you keep our souls in your janitor closet!

Julian: That’s where they came from!

Laeticia: And I don’t care how long you have been living here, you cannot use ze stagehand shower!

Julian: That’s my only place I can shower!

Laeticia: No!  No.  I cannot wait for John Cameron.  I will throw you out myself!

Jacques: Uh, Laeticia, the hypnotist is on in fifteen seconds.

Julian: Mister Cameron said I could watch the hypnotist!

Pierre: He did say, remember?

Jacques: It’s ten seconds, Laeticia.

Laeticia: Yeah, okay, because we have ten seconds.  But you just wait till after ze show.

Alright, everybody, places!

Narrator: And so, narrowly escaping for now, the janitor gingerly approaches the side of the stage to watch.

John: And now, as part of our continuing demonstration series, scientific advancement…

Ladies and gentlemen, Professor Heimlich Ippiphil and our first brave volunteer!

Prof: Thank you.

John: Professor, this individual standing here on stage before us is in a hypnotic trance.

Prof: Zat is correct.

John: And they have no idea they’re on stage?

Prof: No idea whatsoever!  Zey believe zey are someplace else, in ze home, in ze car, listening to a radio program!

John: So they’re listening?

Prof: Yes, but zey have no idea zat zey are ze subject!

John: And you can prove this?

Prof: Ya!  To test ze trance, we present zis French nobleman!

[Footsteps]

Nobleman: Ah, cher monsieur, do e do?

[Claps]

Prof: Without a reaction!

[Applause]

John: With their honor at stake and everything, extraordinary!

Prof: Hm, try this, putting in ze subject’s ear!

John: [louder, in left headphone] Testing, one, two, three!

[In right headphone] Testing, hello?

[Applause]

Prof: Without a reaction!

John: That’s amazing!

Prof: Ya, that’s nothing!  We have brought ze subject’s actual third grade teacher down.  De-frock ze teacher, place ze naked teacher on ze unicycle, und arrange to have zis teacher ride circles around the subject, whistling ze Saber Dance and ride up zis ramp into gigantic vat of chocolate custard!!

[Applause, wheel spinning and whistling]

[Getting faster]

[Whistles, falling into chocolate]

Prof: WITH!  OUT!  A!  REACTION!!

[Applause]

John: Another modern radio miracle, ladies and gentlemen!

Prof: Und now, I vill deepen ze trance of zis subject waiting over here.  One hundred!  Ninety-nine!  Ninety-eight…

[Continuing counting in background]

John: We will return to this extraordinary demonstration in a moment.  But first, I would like to bring back to the stage someone who is a very special part of our world here.

To prove there’s a time and place for everything, I give you Julian, janitor at the Eiffel Tower!

[Applause]

Julian, come on out.

[Laughter from audience]

Julian: I come out?

John: That’s right, come on, you can do it.

Julian: Sorry, I didn’t know—

Thank you!

John: Ladies and gentlemen, you know, each night, when the show ends and the audience files out the door, we often hear the distant sound of the janitor singing as he mops the halls.

Julian: You do?

John: Oh, it’s something we’ve all found strangely comforting at one time or another.  And we thought it would be a nice surprise to share this comfort with all of you!

Julian: Really, you want me to sing?

John: That’s right!

Julian: Now?

John: I do!

[Muttering]

John: Go right ahead, Julian.  What would you like to sing?

Julian: Do-do you know “Where Evening’s Dream Goes”?

John: Ladies and gentlemen, “Where Evening’s Dream Goes”, sung by Julian, janitor at the Eiffel Tower.

[Applause]

Julian: [singing, music swelling] Darkness, darkness, always comes / Around, surrounding everyone…

Narrator: At first nervous, the janitor begins to find his voice.

Julian: Darkness, darkness, always comes…

Narrator: He sings on, he grows more and more confident, and before he knows it…

[Applause]

The audience rises to its feet as one, showering the janitor with bouquets until he stands buried up to his waist in white flowers!

[Cheering, whistling]

Julian: Thank you!!

Narrator: Milky white flowers!

Julian: Thank—thank you!  Thanks!  Thank you so much!

Prof: I vill now bring you out of your trance!

Julian: Thank you!  Thank you!

Prof: Ten, nine…

Julian: Thank you!

Prof: Eight, seven…

Julian: Thank you!

Prof: Six, five…

Julian: Thank you!

Prof: Four, three…

[Applause in background stops abruptly]

Julian: Thank you!

Prof: Two, ONE!

Julian: [gasps]

Narrator: The janitor awakes from a hypnotic trance to find himself dressed only in lederhosen and wading in a kiddie pool filled with Bavarian cream!

Julian: I’m all wet!  It’s horrible!

John: A big hand for our subject, Julian the janitor!

[Applause]

Prof: Tell us, vat vere you imagining?  You seemed to be yelping like a seal and making strange gyrations!

Julian: I thought I was… singing!

[Grunts, pop]

Prof: Subject has pierced ze children’s pool and run off!

[Laughter]

He has gotten Bavarian cream all over my shoes!  Vell, no matter.  Vill continue vith zis subject here!

Narrator: The janitor runs off the stage…

Prof: You vill picture for me your greatest fantasy, what you truly desire…

Narrator: Off through the wings, backstage, and into the stagehand’s shower, slamming the door behind him.

[Shower starts, banging]

Julian: I hate Mister Cameron, I hate him!

Narrator: He’s banging his bare fists against the tile!

He’s going to break his hand, stop it!

[Whimpering]

Please, please stop!  Please stop.  You were singing, weren’t you?

Julian: Yeah, in my head.

Narrator: I like hearing you sing.

Julian: My singing was stupid!

Narrator: What song were you singing?

Julian: Doesn’t matter!

Narrator: Come on, tell me.

Julian: It was a song my great grandfather used to sing to me to put me to sleep when I was a little boy.

Narrator: Can I hear it?

Julian: Come on!  I don’t want to right now.

Narrator: Please?

Julian: It goes…

Darkness, darkness, always comes…

Narrator: That was nice.  Sing more!

Julian: Around, surrounding, everyone / Darkness, darkness, always comes…

Wait, my grandfather used to wave his hand around like this when he would, when he would sing it, like a… drunk orchestra conductor.

Around, surrounding, everyone…

[Music starts]

Darkness, darkness, always comes…

Narrator: The memory seems to comfort the janitor, and doing an impression of his great grandfather, he takes up conducting, closes his eyes, and throws himself into the song completely.

Meanwhile, outside…

[Music stops]

Prof: Und deeper, und deeper…

[Buzzing]

That’s right, and so much deeper!

VAT IS ZAT HORRIBLE SOUND??

Narrator: A loud knocking sound echoes through the theater.

Prof: Ve vill have to start again from ze beginning!  Deeper, und deeper, and deeper…

Narrator: It’s… the shower?

Laeticia: Who is using ze stagehand shower?  It causes ze pipe to knock, it can be heard on ze air!

Oh, mon Deu, what are you doing?  We are on ze air!  Turn off zat shower now!

Narrator: Host John Cameron comes running up!

John: My god, what’s happening over here?

Laeticia: Ze janitor, he will be ze death of ze show!  He is in zere singing, I’ve knocked but he can’t hear!

John: Well, go in and stop him!

Laeticia: No, but I can’t go in there, he is naked!  It would be sexual harassment!  You have to!

John: Me?  But I have a suit on!

Laeticia: Oh, always with your suits!  Zere is space to keep dry, go, go!

Julian: Darkness, darkness…

Narrator: But the janitor, eyes closed and fully entranced by his song, fails to notice John rush in!  John presses his back against the door to stay dry, and trying desperately to keep the show G-rated looking anyplace but down, settles his gaze on the janitor’s oddly waving arm.

And following the sweeping conducting motion back and forth, strangely, forgets what it is he’s doing.  There is something in the strange irregular sweeping of the arm that seems to lead him to the comfortable conclusion that there’s no occupation in the world more engrossing and important than carefully watching the odd, irregular motions of the janitor’s sweeping arm, an activity so pleasing, he soon forgets that anything exists except the janitor’s arm.

And settling into a pleasant stupor, all the stress of the past several months slips away, until he feels he never… wants… to move… again.

Julian: Around, surrounding, everyone…

Narrator: The janitor stops his frenzied conducting, opens his eyes, and finds our host John Cameron standing in the shower closet with him.

Julian: [gasps] Mister Cameron?

Narrator: But Mister Cameron does not respond!  He stands there, perfectly still and frozen like a statue!

Julian: Oh, my god, wake up!

Narrator: What’s wrong with him?

Julian: Oh, my god.  It was my great grandfather’s song!  And I was conducting like he did!  And my great grandfather was a stage hypnotist!

John’s in a trance!

Narrator: What?!

Julian: He’s hypnotized!

And I don’t know how to wake him up!

Narrator: Oh, no!

Julian: John, wake up!  Five, four, three, two, one…

And you’re awake!

[Gasps]

Oh god, Mister Cameron, please wake up!

Narrator: The janitor shakes host John Cameron like a wax statue!  Still nothing!  Panicked, he pushes the door of the shower closet open!

Julian: I’ve gotta find the hypnotist!

Laeticia: Julian!

Julian: Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, what am I gonna do?

Laeticia: John…?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, JULIAN?

Prof: And deeper, and deeper, und deeper, und…

Julian: Hypnotist!

Prof: What is zis interruption?!  Now we must start all over again!  Deeper, und deeper…

Julian: Mister hypnotist, I—

Prof: You may call me Professor!

Julian: Mister Professor, I accidentally hypnotized Mister Cameron backstage, and now I can’t wake him up!  He’s frozen!

Prof: You hypnotized him?  Fascinating.

Calm down, young man.  This will make for an interesting demonstration.  Bring him out!

Narrator: And so, a gravely concerned Laeticia Saltier carries our frozen host, stiff as a statue, out to the center of the stage.

Prof: Fascinating!  A state of complete catalepsy!  By what means did you hypnotize him?

Julian: I sang him a song that my great grandfather used to sing to me when he wanted me to go to sleep.

Prof: A song?!  Please sing it for me.

Julian: Now…?

Prof: YES, IMMEDIATELY!!

Julian: Well, it just goes…

Darkness, darkness, always comes…

Prof: Nonsense, zis song could do no such thing!

Julian: I was waving my arm around like this!

[Music swells]

Darkness, darkness, always comes / The lamps that lit, the night bells rung / Simple angels falling from the sky / Simple angels falling from the sky / To show the way back home / Where evening’s dream goes…

[Music fades]

The whole time, I was just waving my arms back and forth!  That was all I did!  Professor, do you—

Professor?

[Gasps] Oh no!

Laeticia!  The Profe—Laeticia…?

[Gasps] Oh, oh my god!  Oh my god!  Does anybody in the audience know how to—

[Gasps]

Narrator: The entire audience, too, is frozen in a hypnotic trance!

Julian: I hypnotized everybody!

[Bird noise]

Orkestral!  You’re not hypnotized!  Okay, please play the goodbye music.  Thank you, thank you.  Okay.

Julian: Broadcasting from the top of the Eiffel Tower, this is the janitor, saying I’m so so sorry!  I—

The Orbiting Human Circus of the Air wishes you a good night!

[Ending music]

Christy Gressman: The Orbiting Human Circus of the Air is a copresentation of WNYC studios and Night Vale Presents.

Welcome to the special commentary for season 1 of the Orbiting Human Circus!  If you are a new listener, we strongly recommend that you listen to the complete narrative season first, and then return to these commentaries.

We begin with a conversation with Drew Callander, who also plays the Narrator, recalling portraying the president of the Perpetual Broadcasting Corporation in a scene from Episode 7.

Drew: I remember, like, you know, doing the—doing this thing in, you know… So I’m doing this, like, [deep voice] old man, talking like this, [normal voice] and John Cameron Mitchell is, like, is, like, looking at me, uh… from [laughs] first of all, we just went from each other, because—

Christy: Where were you?

Drew: Because we were at the, uh, this place in, um…

Julian: In Sunset Park.

Drew: In Sunset Park, yeah.  Um, so, anyway, and he, you know, he’s supposed to be, you know, we’re sort of, like, talking over each other, um…. But I just, I kept, like, you know, breaking from his, like, little smirk that was on his face, you know, because he would, like…. Because I’m saying something so absurd, you know, that we’re gonna get a polar bear.

Yeah, and he’s just like, you know, he’s got this smile on his face, like, you know, ‘I’m talking to some—I’m working for this person, but he’s an idiot’—

[Christy laughs]

…you know, so he can’t really say anything to me but he’s just got this, ‘Oh, mm, mmhm, yeah.’  And I think it really comes across.

Julian: The thing that I love so much about John Cameron is when he’s trying so hard to control himself, and you can just feel him, like—when the president of the Perpetual Broadcasting Corporation is talking to him about the polar bear.

John: Yes.

Julian: I just love—I, through—through your voice, I’m able to see every muscle twitch on John Cameron’s face.

John: I don’t usually act that big in life, and somehow you’ve forced me—

[Julian chuckles]

—to bring out the largest…

Julian: Uh, because, because it’s in you and it wants to come out.

John: I just, I guess it is.  I mean, I did grow up with The Goon Show.

Julian: Mmhm, yeah.

John: Which, for—maybe you want to tell people what that is.

Julian: The Goon Show was a, a BBC show, it’s wonderful.

John: It was like a precursor to Monty Python, you know?  It had—it was surreal.

Julian: Yeah.

John: It was, uh… and Peter Sellers was the most famous person.  It was Harry Secombe, it was Spike…

Julian: Mulligan, I think?

John: Milli—

Julian: Milligan, Mulligan?

John: Yeah, and they did crazy, really crazy characters and things would move very quickly and you would jump from thing to thing in a very surreal way, like Monty Python but crazier.  And there’d be catchphrases, and there’d be—but it moved very quickly, and in some ways the Fireside Theater, which was—

Julian: Yeah, they were definitely influenced, I think, by The Goon Show.  Yeah, The Goon Show did some of my favorite—they’d have things like, you know, a man would walk into a room and a woman would turn and go, ‘Reginald!  You’re back!’ and he’d go, ‘Why, yes, I brought it with me.’  You know, I liked that one.  And then—

John: ‘Where’s Mrs. Gunn?’  ‘Oh, she went off rather suddenly.’

[Laughs]

Julian: ‘You swam for seven miles, the last two were agony.  They were over land.’

[Laughing]

John: Yes.

Julian: I can’t do British accents, pretty bad.

John: There were very short gags like that that would just zoom by and didn’t often wait for the laugh, which is the British way, just to keep moving.

Julian: Yeah, that was—there were other ones, like, ‘Are you Admiral Wellsy?’  ‘No, but I’m often mistaken for Admiral Wellsy.’  ‘No, but I’m often mistaken.’

[Laughing]

Something like that.

John: Yeah, loved it.

Julian: We’ll be here all night, ladies and gentlemen.

John: Well, that’s one thing we share in common, is a delight in the old art of comedy, whether they be Borscht belt or British or—or anything that works.  But usually large.

Julian: Yeah, well, we do end up doing shtick together, I don’t know why, like, when we get together, it ends up—

John: You’re Jewish, I wanna be Jewish, I think that’s part of it.

Julian: It leads to shtick.

John: Being gay is a part of it.  There’s a—there’s interestingly, they talk about different cultures’ kinds of humor.  You know, say, African-American humor, Jewish-American humor, gay-American humor, British humor - they come from the culture and from the economics, too.  You know, Jewish was running from the Holocaust, new life, change your name sometimes, a little bit… it was about passing.  There’s often jokes about, you know, Jewish being a separate culture that could be attacked at any moment, but also there was a little bit of self-loathing because it was, like, an intensity of oppression, just like in gay culture.

But there was also the, the jokes about surfaces, so, you know, like Mel Brooks, you know, of course, is the apotheosis of Borscht belt humor, he took it to the masses, but, you know, a simple joke of—joke of his, he went to—he actually went to the Brooks Club in London, which is a fancy aristocratic club.  It’s sort of funny, Mel Brooks going to meet Lord Brooks, and Mel Brooks was like, ‘Lord Brooks, what was your name before Brooks?’  You know, ‘what was your name before Brooks’ was the joke.

And Lord Brooks didn’t understand, but that’s the Jewish thing.  You know, everybody in the 40’s and 50’s changed their name to be less Jewish so they could get a job.

And then gay humor is also about, a little bit about passing, too.  It’s about hiding, surfaces, overdoing things, underdoing things, passing, um… but also belonging to a secret society, a secret group, you know, that you could—have to hide in plain sight.

African-American, obviously, you couldn’t hide, so the humor was much more about, you know, being under the thumb of an oppressor, you know, of a white person, and the, uh, the Jewish gay one was more about trickster, you know, how do you get—how do you get around it, how do you hide it, how do you work it, you know?  So it’s interesting how humor—I love the origins of different kinds of humor, you know.  Jokes are passed on, certainly, or adapted.

You know, the first joke in Hedwig was Beatrice Lily joke, which was, ‘Oh, thank you for your applause, I do love a warm hand on my entrance,’ you know, which—I got, by someone named Julian Clary, who was kind of a misbegotten child of, you know, Noel Coward and Oscar Wilde.

Julian: And then, of course, we still have, you know, we have jokes, we have these jokes that we tell each other, um, you know, somebody tells you a joke.  And I mean, it’s always such a great moment at a—at a gathering and, you know, or when people are together, when someone tells a joke, it’s like that person becomes a performer.  And then you can take it and tell it to someone else and give somebody else that pleasure, and it’s been done for you so many times, you know, over the course of a lifetime, and it will be done, and you can do it so many times.

And those jokes pass around and, and we all make them our own, you know, we change them every time we touch them.

[Music]

Prof: Und now, I vill deepen ze trance of ze subject waiting over here!

One hundred!  Ninety-nine!  Ninety-eight!  Ninety-seven!  Ninety-six, ninety-five!  Ninety-four!  Ninety-three!  Ninety-two!  Ninety— [Breaks off into laughter]

[bnerdler]

WIP Wednesday! 7/7/2021

Here’s an excerpt from the first chapter of the yullen soulmate au that I’ve been teasing:

The lights flash on and off three times inside the tent.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Thank you for coming to tonight’s show. At this time, we ask that all guests be seated and remain seated for the duration of the show. Please, for the safety of our performers, no flash photography. The entire show you are going to see tonight is completely student run….” The announcer over the speaker system drones on. Kanda tunes it out till he hears, “Now please, enjoy the show!”

It’s quiet for just a second before loud brassy music starts to blast through the speakers. The lights swing wildly around the crowd and the three rings in the middle of the tent. A young man with elaborate makeup that even without being able to see colors, Kanda knows must be a nasty mash of the rainbow, comes running from the side entrance that leads to the backstage. He has a bejeweled microphone in hand that he raises to his lips. Kanda assumes he must be the ringleader.

“Hello everyone!” He says with overflowing enthusiasm. He jogs to the raised stage in the middle of the tent. “How’re we all doing tonight!?”

A raucous cheer erupts from the crowd. 

“Ah, you guys can do better than that! I said, how’re we all doing tonight!?” The ringleader throws his arms up in the air and the crowd shouts again. Lenalee cups her hands around her mouth to add to the cheer. Kanda winces at the sounds. It’s grating as hell, and he’s always had sensitive hearing. The music swells and then the show really starts. Five performers in costumes in varying shades of gray come pouring out of the backstage entrance and run around the stage. A girl does several cartwheels, and one guy claps his hands in big motions over his head to the thumping beat of the music. In the left ring, they do some tumbling. Kanda finds it to be underwhelming (he can totally do all those flips and handstands too), instead he watches the stagehands set out a wire between two poles across the right ring of the tent.

“Alright, give a big applause for our amazing tumblers!” The ringleader shouts into the mic. “Next up, please welcome our spectacular tightrope walker!”

A twiggy guy comes out in a unisuit and a long pole and walks across the wire a few times. Kanda yawns – the whole thing would be a lot cooler if the pole or the wire was on fire. After the tightrope walker, its two muscular guys that swing on a trapeze and toss a small woman between them. That’s a bit more entertaining to Kanda. After the trapeze performers, it’s a guy and three girls doing some crazy stuff on a bike that he rides around and around the left ring. After them is a girl with a really large cat that she gets to jump through hoops. When the cat starts to wander off in the middle of their performance, Kanda snickers a little. The gray thing is so massive and fluffy, he’s sure it weighs twenty pounds.

“Give a round of applause for Amy and the spectacular Sasha the Cat!” The ringleader announces. The crowd roars around them. Kanda claps his hands lightly. Watching that girl chase after the big cat was pretty funny. “Now when you think of the circus, what is the thing that first comes to mind?”

“Stunts!” Someone in the crowd yells.

“Lions!” Another screams.

“Bearded women!” This one gets a chuckle from the crowd.

 “Those are all great answers!” The ringleader says. “When I think of the circus the first thing that comes to mind for me is clowns. And here we have our own clown, who’s going to do some crazy juggling for you guys!”

“Oh! That’s Allen! That’s Allen!” Lenalee slaps Kanda and Lavi’s arms excitedly. The people cheer as the spot lights swing over to the dark gray curtain blocking the backstage from the front.

“Ladies and gentlemen, he seems to be a bit shy, can we get a drumroll please!” The ringleader says before rhythmically slapping his thighs. The crowd mimics him by hitting their legs or stomping their feet on the metal bleachers. Kanda rolls his eyes. This kid is getting more buildup than even the trapeze trio did. He better be a damn good clown.

The curtains part and reveal pitch black behind them. And then a young man in a baggy costume comes running at top speed from the back. He does a cartwheel into three rapid backflips before landing nimbly in front of the middle stage, right in front of Kanda. He throws his arms up in the air with a wide grin on his face. And Kanda finds that he can’t look away. He has barely done anything, but he holds the audience’s attention captive like no other performer tonight has. He has a charisma that palpably ripples from him, like he was meant to perform.

“It’s Allen!” Lenalee screams, voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd. Allen turns to face the crowd on the left and then to the crowd on the right. And then when he spins back to face them, Kanda watches Allen’s performer’s grin turn to a more genuine smile when he spots Lenalee. That smile makes the corners of his eyes crinkle. Then those eyes slide from Lenalee and lock with Kanda’s and he sees that the blue makeup ringing his eyes is cracked where they crease at the corners.

Blue?

There’s blue makeup covering Allen’s eyelids out to his temple and up to his eyebrows. Then Kanda sees the red stripes on his clown costume start to bleed into his vision. Kanda rockets up out of his seat.

No. No. No.

Allen’s smile falters to one of confusion and concern as he holds Kanda’s stare. The colors fade into clarity slowly and then all at once. Like when someone turns on the light after having sat in the dark for a long time, Kanda’s vision swims as he’s bombarded with pinks and yellows and greens and purples. The onslaught of reds and blues and oranges makes him dizzy. He vaguely feels a hand on his forearm, but everything has faded away except for the colors and Allen’s face. He doesn’t hear anything, he doesn’t feel anything. And then the colors swallow up his vision into black and Kanda passes out.

[lovelyyy-luna]

runaway

pairing: (jimmy darling x fem!reader)

fandom: american horror story: freak show

warning: fat-shaming, cussing?

word count: 2266

date: march 7, 2021

masterlist

You hate it here in Jupiter, Florida. You hated the people. You hated your parents. Your mom dragged you all the way from New York to here. So she can be with her sugar daddy. It was honestly disgusting. Your mom slept with him while she was married to your father. You wanted to live with him but he told you that he couldn't be around anyone that looked like or reminded him of your mother. So you were stuck.

It was Friday night which meant that the moms were coming over for their book club or whatever and you had to be out of the house. You still didn't understand why you couldn't just be in your room.

You left and went to the diner where the housewife’s kids hung out. You don't know why you were there with them, you hated them. Their laughs were so obnoxious. One of the guys in the group, you didn't bother to learn their names, came up to you. “So Y/N, you wanna get outta here?”

You didn't look at him, “No.”

His friends at the table start to laugh. “Why not?”

“I just don't want to.” he grabbed your wrist very tight, hurting you.

“Let's get outta here okay babe,” he whispered in your ear, smelling the beer on his breath.

You stand up and knee him in the crotch. And walk out of the diner.

You stand outside trying to catch your cool.

One of the girls, Shirley, and her boyfriend, Will came outside.

“Y/N sorry about John, he can be an asshole.”

You give her an uncomfortable smile.

“Anyways Will and I were wondering if you wanted to come with us to the circus. There’s nothing to do in this town but this circus is amazing.”

You look around contemplating if you should bail and head home but you don’t want to be confronted by your mother. So you said fuck it and hop in the car with the two teens.

You finally arrive in a field and see the circus tent. You haven't been to the circus in so long.

“Come on Y/N!” Shirley calls as she is being pulled by her boyfriend.

You follow them into the field and end up under string lights. It's so mesmerizing you lose the people you came with.

Then Shirley grabs you “God Y/N you are so slow. So the main reason why we brought you here is so you can see the freaks. We like to call them God's Abomination.” she chuckled evilly.

Will followed and turned to you “It's so much fun to throw things at them.”

They sit you down in one tent. Then a very large girl walks on stage. She sits there smiling and you smile back.

Then her smile disappears when something is thrown at her. Will and Shirley are throwing old food at her. She just sits there not moving.

“Come one dance for us pig!” Shirley yelled.

“Yeah, show us your utters you fat cow!” Will followed.

You stand up in front of them and yell “What the hell is the matter with you?!”

“What are you talking about Y/N? We were just having fun.”

“This is a person. A human being. She may look different than us but she does not deserve to have shit thrown at her. You guys are just a bunch of assholes!”

“God y/n why are you such a drag! Come on baby let's go somewhere to have our own fun.” Shirley says dragging Will behind her out of the tent

You turn to the large woman and help her off stage. “I am so sorry about them. I don't even know why I hang out with them.”

“It's alright. I'm used to it,” she said as she looked down taking your hand

“I'm y/n.

“Im Barabra.”

“So Barbara, how did you end up in a place like this?”

“Well my mother sent me to one of those fat camps and I met Elsa, she’s the lady who runs this place, and she told me that I could perform by just being myself.”

You and her walk around the park for a little before ending up at her tent.

“Well, this is me. Thanks again, Y/N for walking me to my tent.”

“No problem. Just didn’t want those assholes to come back and terrorize you.”

“You’re sweet. Listen I have an act at the big top in a little. Would you want to come watch?”

“Sure! That sounds nice.”

“Great! We’ll leave in a little after I wash the tomatoes out of my hair.”

After she is done you both walk to the big tent. You tell her to break a leg and you sit in the front row.

The lights dim and a small voice calls out to you, “Excuse me may I sit next to you?”

You look down and see a very small girl. You give her a nod to her question and she struggles to get up on the bench. You ask her if you could pick her up and she says yes. You place her on the bench and the show begins.

Many acts came and it was all amazing. After the fire act, a lady with a beard and a handsome young man comes on stage.

“For this act, I would need a volunteer!” she said with a thick Baltimore accent.

Murmurs went around the room. The young man seemed distracted by something offstage. He started to walk towards you and the spotlight fell on you. Nervous and confused, you walk, grab his hand and walk back to the stage with him.

You are brought up to a board with wrist straps attached. She signals the young man to strap you.

He takes your hand and puts it in the strap. “You know I usually take a girl to dinner before I tie her up.”

His comment made you blush.

With you tied up the lady announces what she will be doing.

“Ladies and gentleman! Now that we have our brave volunteer let the Knife throwing begin!”

The audience began to clap.

But you were in shock by what you heard, “What?! Knives?! This is something you advertise beforehand!”

“Hon I’ve been doing this for years. Have a little trust in me,” she said getting ready to throw the knives.

You shut your eyes in fear.

“Hey!” a harsh whisper came from the young man, “just pay attention to. Keep your eyes on me.”

His voice was soothing and you just looked at him. The knives were being thrown so close to your face. You didn’t blink or flinch.

The audience erupts in applause and that breaks your focus off of him.

He walks towards you again and unties you.

You walk back to your seat and the rest of the acts continue.

Once the performance was done you met up with Barbara.

“So how was it up on stage?” she asked.

“Terrifying. I have no idea why he chose me to be up there.”

You looked over at her and she was holding in a laugh.

“Barbara! Did you tell him to pick me?”

“Yeah, I thought it was funny.”

“Oh yeah it totally hilarious having knives thrown inches away from my face.”

“You were in good hands. I saw the way you were looking at Jimmy.”

“Who?”

“Jimmy. The guy that was assisting up there.”

“Oh, I didn’t know his name.”

“Yeah, he's Jimmy or lobster boy. You two were totally having a moment up there.”

“There was no moment. He told me to keep eyes on him so I wouldn’t freak out about the knives being thrown at my head.”

You and Barbara head towards her tent. And you ask her if it was okay if you stayed the night. She said of course it was. She pulls out an extra cot and hands you one of her old gowns from her debutante days.

You wake up the next morning to the smell of bacon and pancakes.

You put on your clothes from yesterday and head out to where they are eating. You spot Barbara and sit with her. She tells you to go get some breakfast before they run out.

You walked over and the lady serving the food was the bearded lady.

“Hello dear. You were very good last.”

You give her a small smile and she puts some food on your plate.

“I also wanted to thank you for what you did for Barbara. You are one of the good ones dear.”

She gives you a smile and your head back to the table. You and barbara continue in a conversation when a car pulls up to the camp.

A lady jumped out of the passenger side and you immediately recognized who it was. Your mother.

“Y/N L/N! Where the hell have you been? Why the fuck are you here with all these freaks!”

“Mom, what is your problem?”

“My problem is that Shirley told her mother what you said to her last night. I did not raise you to be such a bitch.” she grabs you by your arm and throws you into the car.

Everything happened so quickly that you didn’t have any time to say goodbye.

When you got to your house you went straight to your room which was in the basement. It was in the basement due to the fact that your mom’s sugar daddy did not know your existence so you came as a surprise.

So to please your mother he set up a room just for you. It was nice because you had privacy, your own door to the backyard but since the room was still a work in progress the backdoor was covered in vines.

You stayed in your room for most of the day, you kept thinking about the circus. You wanted to go back there, you felt like that’s where you belonged.

A week goes by and the moms are having another book club meeting at your house.

You were forced again to hang with those people.

You all went back to the diner and you got over it very quickly.

You decided to just walk home and hopefully sneak past the mom's into your room.

You got home and can hear the moms laughing and talking about something.

You open the basement door and head downstairs. You hear something coming from your room. Sounds like your mom. Moaning.

You bust open the door and there your mom is getting finger fucked by a man and not just any man. Jimmy from the circus.

Your mom sits up in shock and Jimmy backs away not knowing what to do.

“Are you fucking kidding me ma? You drag me all the way down here to this shithole of a town so you can be with a man you barely knew and you screw around with the next guy you see?!” you yell hitting her with your pillow.

You make your way to the closet and get out your suitcase and throw all your clothes in it.

“You know what? I'm leaving. You can live here in your big ass house and live your dumbass life. I'm outta here.” You make your way up the stairs and see the moms surrounding the basement door.

“What the hell is going down there.” one of the moms says.

You push your way through the crowd and leave the house finally on your own.

You walk for about 30 minutes and a car slows down next to you. He rolls down the window. “Hey, do you need a ride?” You look over and it's Jimmy. You scoff at him “why would I get in the car with you. Weren't you just doing my mom?”

He laughs, “Doll I was doing a service. I'm sorry if that ruined anything. But it really wasn't my fault. Those moms always call me for parties.”

You were close to your destination so you just completely ignored him. He drives off and you are finally left completely alone.

You arrived at the circus and It was dark out but you can hear whispers. You follow the string lights to the housing tents.

“Barbra are you there?”

The tent flap opens and out walks Jimmy.

“y/n I just wanna talk.”

You walk away obviously still pissed but he keeps persisting.

“Fine Jimmy! What can you possibly say that would make me feel better?”

“Im sorry y/n. I am truly sorry. I had no clue that was your mom and I..I”

You could tell that he was truly sorry.

“It’s okay jimmy. I'm sorry that I snapped at you. My mother is the one that I am really mad at. She’s just so selfish and she just kept ruining everything.”

He pulls you in for a hug. You bury your face in his chest and look up at him smiling.

“Y/N! Your back!” Barbara says from afar.

She waddles over to you and gives you a hug.

You ask them both, “Would it be okay if I stayed here for a while?”

Barbra answers enthusiastically, “Of course you can. You can stay in my tent until we can get you your own tent.”

“Really? Would Elsa mind?”

“No she won’t mind,” Jimmy chimed in, “She’s always looking for help around here.”

“Great!” you said with a smile.

You and Barbara walk back to her tent. You look back at Jimmy and he gives you a wink causing you to blush.

♡please like and/or reblog♡

wanna be tagged? (X)

[amiramorozova]

Dual Summoner and the Darkling pt. 27

Darkling's pov: 

The day of the winter Fete I'd returned early to make sure Amira was ready. Walking down the hall I saw her looking out the window in her usual Kefta being curious about what was outside. I knew she hadn't gotten out much with my mother keeping her constantly training and the only time she had freedom was during the week I'd taken her to the north to see what the first army was like.

"Does it amuse you?" I asked her, she looked at me for a second, surprised to see me before she looked back out the window. "Can we go out there?" Amira asked

"Out to the circus the Queen has hired? People might recognize you." I said knowing the Dual summoner had gotten around to people but her identity of being such to the people had been kept out of range except her name.

"Please Aleksander. I am tired of being locked up in the little palace and I loved being outside the little palace feeling free." Amira begged

I walked over to Amira, taking her hand bringing it up to where I could kiss the top of it as my eyes never left hers. Her yearning for the outdoors of this place is evident on her face from being denied out of here. Debating what was the best course of action to take with her before I decided to give in to her wishes. Leading her down a path I had a cloak and put it over her shoulders to conceal her Kefta then placed my arm around her as I led her around. 

Watching her curiosity of what this circus the Queen had come here was enough to make her happy. For a few moments as we walked and I let her enjoy her time to take part in what was going on it felt different. Being with her always felt different than when I had one of the 2nd army around. It felt almost like we were not generals and soldiers or 2nd army Grisha but normal people. I knew better than to let that thought linger she and I would always be Grisha and eternal but the fact she was so sheltered here was noticeable. Noticing people staring at us I kissed her and she responded which helped us blend in even more.

We walked for a bit afterwards as the circus had a performance to represent her defeating Volcra. I couldn't tell at first if she was scared of the idea or she was upset with the representation but like most people were looking at her for the sun. Leading her away I saw she started to cry and wiped her eyes. "Don't cry, it's not worth your tears." I told her

That night at the Fete I greeted the royals as usual before I walked around. Most of the Grisha were doing their performances when I sensed her before I saw her. She was leaning against the wall, her black silk Kefta perfectly framing her and to know she was going to be my wife someday was the best feeling. 

"Ah there you are." I said as she seemed statledosing her concentration. "You are breathtaking, Amira."

"Thank you." She said with a curtsy 

When the music started playing I offered my hand to her "Would you like to dance?" I asked as she put her hand in mine. I was glad that she was very comfortable with me as we danced but I knew that I had plans for tonight. Keeping hold of her hand I was able to slip the ring off of her without her noticing as I was going to ask her officially but I got her over to the stage and we did our performance. As I slapped my hands together to make it dark then turned to her as she did her part of the performance I knew she was only doing half of her power as she looked at me once it was done. Offering my hand to her I knew exactly what to do as I kneeled down in front of her seeing her surprised.

"Amira Silina, Dual Summoner, will you marry me?" I asked her 

I could see she was in surprise being this was in front of everyone at the Fete but she could say no or she could say yes. 

"Yes, General Kirigan." Amira said 

I slipped the ring back where it belonged on her hand as I led her through the crowd but many people wanted to talk with her. I amused the nobles for a bit to talk to our Dual Summoner as they gave her regards for the engagement and then they were talking of high hopes for destroying the fold. If they called her a sun summoner I would mention that she was not just that but a Dual Summoner accepting all of her was vital. Soon though  I noticed she wanted away from the others so I used my powers to conceal us and got both of us to the war room.

"I don't remember this on the schedule." Amira jokes

"I figured you wanted away from everyone." I said

Hearing her laugh a bit seeing her happy to be alone was great but she caught me off guard as she pulled me to her kissing me. I kissed her back, my arms wrapping around her securely. I lifted her up on my war table as we continued to kiss. I'd been with others over 400 years but something about her always felt different than the others. Things had been going slow and it felt like this might be our next step in our relationship so I pulled away from her for a second.

"Are you sure?" Aleksander asked

"Yes, I am." I said

I claimed her lips again in a kiss before we started to make out again, things getting very personal as her arms went around my neck. We had to stop when there was a knock on the door. I could see she wasn't happy about it but also she smiled at me as I kissed her once more before heading over to the door seeing Ivan.

"What?" I asked

"The Tidemaker was attacked in the room. Amira was the target." Ivan said, "We have the suspect in custody and there is word on the stag."

"I'll be right there." I said 

I walked over to her and put a hand on her cheek seeing that she looked worried. I realized if she'd been going into a dressing room how much she could have been hurt. Her father would probably kill me or try to if she'd been hurt or worse killed.

"Is everything alright?" Amira asked

"Wait here guards will be outside the room. Don't leave." I said assuring her, "I need you safe."

She put her hand over mine as she looked at me "I'll be waiting and Aleksander I think you're right. Let's get married after the stag is found." Amira said

The idea of having her walk down that aisle with the intention to marry me was an idea that I liked. I knew already about the soulmates and how I'd seen her initials on my wrist. I removed my hand as I started to walk away before coming back and kissing her as she smiled then I left. I couldn't have been gone more than ten minutes when I came back and she was not there anymore.

mother.  I thought 

I heard the tracker found the stag but refused to come and give its location that he was wounded. I ran out to look around the grounds for her when I heard the commotion and I saw the carriage going. Her standing there on it's edge looking and holding on.

"AMIRA!" I yelled 

I saw her get pulled into the carriage not knowing if she was taken hostage or if she left on her own but that was enough. I put the order out to find her no matter what and that I wanted the tracker to be sent to a healer so he could tell me where the Stag was.

"Shame isn't it?" Baghra said from behind me

"You did this." I said 

"You intend to get the stag and put it on her, making her a slave." Baghra said 

"A regular Sun Summoner would be useful but she is a Dual Summoner, she has become everything. The Future of our people, more than I am." I said

"Yes, but where is she going?" Baghra asked

"Careful, she's more important than you right now." I said 

"Good Luck finding her Aleksander, I would guess you'd need a skilled tracker to track her movements. I may be less important to you but she looks at me as an example." Baghra said 

Days went by as I got reports from people who were looking for her and yet no one had seen her! How could she sneak past so many guards and where was she hiding? I decided to leave the little palace and search for her on my own with a few people to come along. I started to think about what Amira might be doing as she'd never been on her own and of course we'd noted Marie and Nadia were missing too so I knew she had her assigned guards with her. Those three would be a force to deal with on their own but I thought of where she might go.

she wouldn't go seek her parents, would she? I thought

When it came down to the truth we went about looking over every city knowing she hadn't gotten past the fold. I could feel it she was close and when I looked at my wrist pulling the kefta down I saw her initials faintly there so I knew we were on the right track but when they faded again once we went a certain direction I questioned where she was hiding.

I will find her. I thought

Amira's pov: 

I kept watching on my wrist as it was there but then it faded as I gave a sigh of relief knowing that there was another city close to Keramsin. We were to wait out there and it was hard not to want to leave but we stayed down in the basement where it was easy. If grandma Catalina was answering the door it was just someone bringing the usual milk.

"Are you ok?" Marie asked

"He isn't looking at his wrist to know if I'm close." I said

"That's good." Nadia said

We waited there in silence that felt like forever until I heard the sound of the front door again and the person walked into the house. I had my dagger in case I needed it ready to attack but when grandma came down I calmed down. I put my dagger away when I saw my parents and I went over and hugged them.

"Amira, you're safe." Father said

"You are safe Amira." Mother said

"We need to get moving, Morozova's stag is somewhere." I said

I heard the sound of someone else coming down and I saw Nico, he seemed surprised where I was. I questioned if he was still on my side or was he working with my fiance. When he walked over and hugged me I was surprised but I hugged him back.

"We need to get moving. Your name is in every town looking for the girl with the black engagement ring." Nico said as he took my hands and removed my gloves seeing the engagement ring. "So you are going to marry him?"

"It was arranged and he did ask in front of nobles I couldn't say no." I said

"Are you still going to go through with it?" Nico asked

I looked at my wrist as I knew that the letters were not there but I traced his initials on my wrist. My father must have noticed cause he grabbed my free hand and he made me look at him. I knew the truth that his arrangement was not what he thought.

"He's your soulmate?" Father asked

"Yes." I said

We decided over a plan as we discussed it before I saw someone come in a woman with a little boy who had a bracelet like I had once. I knew what he was before I even had to say anything as I just knew. Yet I didn't know who she was as I looked a bit curiously knowing that there were many things I didn't know about this family.

"Who are you?" I asked

"I am Analise, this is my son Adrian." Analise said 

"Hello sister." Father said 

"Hello  Alejandro." Analise said then she looked at me "you're Amira, the one the Darkling is looking for." 

"My daughter, Amira. Dual Summoner." Father said 

"So is my son but he is Inferni and Tidemaker" Analise said 

I was in shock but I knew that there was no time and we all decided to leave as a group. Turns out my grandparents saved every dime to get their own carriage so we were able to use it to travel and the cloth covered the windows so I was concealed. Inside the carriage with me was Father, Mother, Marie, Nadia, Analise, Nico and Adrian. My grandparents were leading the carriage while Nico had given coordinates where to go.

I closed my eyes to try and sleep while we were going and somehow I was able to but once we made it so far we had to go on foot. I told everyone we should split up if I was caught by my fiance they didn't need to get caught with me.

We split into three groups of two groups of five so that way we would be able to keep the power even. Nico was a tracker but he was going with me if I had to get the stag before Aleksander. We split up in the woods as we were moving. Nico focused and it was like he could feel it as we were waiting to get through.

I happen to look at my wrist seeing the initials again seeming brighter than last time. I knew we would come face to face no matter what I did. I was glad things were going well but once we were close I told dad to get Nico out of there but mom did. The Stag made itself known and I was ready or so I thought. While looking at it though, my consciousness that told me I wasn't a killer came back and I fell to the ground in front of it. 

I can't do this. I can't kill such a magnificent creature.  I thought with a few tears

I felt something nudge me with it's nose as I looked up seeing the stag and I wondered if there was another way to do this. I placed a hand on it's snout and the radiant power that went through me was amazing as I carefully stood up. I smiled looking at it feeling it's power merging with my own but then I felt pain on my side and I fell from the stag. 

"Amira!" Father said as he got over to me and he carefully picked me up

"Easy, I wasn't going to hurt her." Aleksander said 

I saw him forming shadows and instinct took over as I put light up knowing that the bulletproof Kefta was a lifesaver for me. I could run out of power if not careful as I looked at him knowing that he figured it out that I was going after the Stag.

"I'm disappointed in you Amira, I thought we were on the same page of things. You were coming after the stag this whole time." Aleksander said 

"You just want to kill it for its power." I said 

"It's for you." Aleksander said 

"Lies, if you kill it you get the amplifier." I said 

"Believe as you want for now but you can't protect it." Aleksander said 

I wanted to deny it but the stag ran in fear and before I knew it he killed it before my eyes. I'd failed at what Baghra wanted and asked me for but I was starting to drain my energy from holding this.

"Now please hand her over." Aleksander asked

"No." Father said 

As my hand fell from holding the light the last thing I saw was a flash of light and the feeling of being carried. I was in and out of consciousness from being tired but I heard father say he was going to hide me for as long as he could. 

[monsterlovinghours]

Okay. You asked for robofizz prompts and I think I have something. Character (reader or OC, totally up to you) works at Loo Loo Land as a maintenance worker for the rides and games. Their day is busy as hell because, let’s be honest, shit breaks down a lot there. But, out of the blue, management makes them robofizz’s new mechanic because he killed the last one. This is the first time they’re meeting the deranged clown and things get pretty, you know, when character tries to fix his sparking wires. 👀👀👀👀👀

oh fuck here we go y’all sluts better buckle up

Ducking behind a row of rigged carnival games, you let your work bag fall to the ground as you took a breather, wiping sweat and what looked like engine oil (but could be anything from burnt sugar to cremation ash) off your forehead. Taking a job as a ride mechanic had seemed like a good idea at the time; get into the park for free, discounts on funnel cake, access to all the shows. All you had to do was tighten a few bolts and make sure nobody got electrocuted too severely. 

But here, like the rest of Hell, imps like you were disposable grunt workers and nobody gave two and a half shits if you were overworked or exhausted. Everything was broken or breaking. You were shocked (metaphorically and literally) your first day when you saw that behind the novelty prizes and shiny veneers, the park was just a rat’s nest of rusted metal, sharp edges, and exposed wiring. Mechanics were routinely crushed or mangled or fried, and within a day another had taken their place. So far, you’d managed to avoid the various death traps and make it a solid month, which made you one of the more senior employees. 

Today was especially busy; there was some important fuck and his daughter at the park today, and orders were to keep the place running as smoothly as possible, though “smooth” was a relative term. It had seen you running like a maniac from one end of the park to the other, your uniform shirt coming untucked from your grease-stained pants as you jogged from one disaster to the next. Predictably, as soon as you had a second to take a breath, your phone went off, the splintering chitter of its message alert drilling into your ears. 

Another mechanic was down, this one working to repair one of the main acts. You groaned, big machines you were fine with, but intricate wiring and robotics? Not your strong suit. And this was the top-billed show, the most loved (or most feared) performer the park had to offer. Fizzarolli himself. You hadn’t seen the show yet, and his ominous circus tent was one of the only places you hadn’t yet been called to to fix something, but since you were currently the most senior mechanic on staff at the moment, and seeing how RoboFizz had just crushed his last mechanic, the job fell unfortuitously to you. 

Fantastic.

You sighed and slung your tool bag over your shoulder, walking briskly through the crowds to hastily erected circus tent, which had been cleared of people for the time being. You took a deep breath before ducking inside, blinking a bit as your eyes adjusted from the bright light of midday to the dim green glow that filled the tent. Some benches were knocked over, a few still had blood spatter on them, but you'd straighten that up later. At the moment, your focus was on the shadowed figure bent in unnatural angles slumped on the stage. His eyes and grinning mouth were lit with the same dull green, and they narrowed to slits when they saw you. 

"Its about ti-time you got here, toots!" He laughed, the sound skipping like a damaged record. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes as you knelt behind Fizz to access his mainframe; at least the rides didn't talk. 

"Yeah yeah, its busy work keeping this shithole operating, sue me." A few twists with a screwdriver, and the panel popped free, exposing the tangled wires and hydraulics, and you groaned inwardly. This kind of detailed work was way beyond your level of experience. 

"Ya waiting for a formal invitation ba-ba-back there, tinker? Get moving, I've got an audience waiting!"

"Hell's sake, keep your bells on. I'm not exactly a robotics expert." Clamping a small flashlight in your teeth, you started to poke around inside the hydraulics, looking for any leaks or broken connections. Not seeing anything right away, you probed deeper, focused on finding the problem in the less than adequate lighting. Had you been more experienced in dealing with robots, you would have perhaps remembered to inspect the outer body for any exposed wiring. As it happens, you did not, and your inexperience led you to brush against an exposed set of wires that threw sparks and burned a dark, circular mark on the back of your hand. The pain made you jerk back on instinct, yelping and cursing. It took you a moment to notice that the posture of the clown had changed, straightening from his slumped position with his head cocked sharply to the side. With the soft ratchet of moving machinery, Fizz turned his head 180 degrees to look at you, and you noticed more quickly now that his stare had changed as well. Before, it felt derisive, a touch irritated behind the ever present smile he'd been programmed with. But now there was more intent inside the green, more interest...almost as if he were leering at you.

"Ohhh," he rasped, "so its gonna be that kind of show?"

You were confused, until you noticed a dot of red within the green, a new light in the mainframe, with tiny lettering indicating what new function your little spasm had switched on. 

18+ Mode On

Your eyes widened as the reality of your little mistake finally began to sink in. It was a well known fact that Fizz had an “adult” mode, mainly for private shows where wads of cash exchanged hands behind closed doors. Sometimes, the crowds at night were bigger than the crowds during the day. Sure, on a lonely night or two, you’d wondered just what a sex-capable robot clown could do and if shelling out a small fortune would be worth it. Now, it seemed, you were about to get an accidental freebie.

“Fuck.”

“That’s the idea, sweetcheeks.” Fizz got to his feet with a whir and a shower of yellowish sparks, his body jerking so that the back panel slammed shut, hiding his exposed mechanics and thwarting any attempt you might have made to switch his mode. From somewhere within the tent, jaunty calliope music began to play, the pitch slow and wavering at first, like playing a record on the wrong speed. “So what’s your ple-pleasure, sweet stuff? Your ol’ pal Fizzarolli can do it all-upstairs, downstairs, butt stuff, you name it.”

“I...uh…” Your entire body felt numb, frozen, unable to do much more than stare as he advanced toward you, looming over you with that malevolent, leering grin still on his fanged mouth. “I’m not...I mean, I don’t…”

Fizz paused, his head once more cocking sharply to the side as he regarded you, then he let out a laugh, the bells on his hat jingling as his head did a complete roll on his shoulders. “Aww, looks like someone’s sh-shy! Don’t worry, tinker,” he growled in a smug, condescending tone, reaching down to pat you on the head. “I’ll take the reins on this one. You just sit back and enjo-jo-joy the show!”

With a sinister chuckle, he lunged for you, wrapping his entire body around you like an electronic boa constrictor, that laugh still buzzing in your ear as he coiled tight, then unwound himself, flinging your body towards the ceiling of the tent. There was barely any time for you to pull breath into your lungs to scream, and then suddenly, you weren’t falling anymore. Something else was wrapped around you, something cold and biting as steel. Around each wrist, each ankle, your waist, and your neck, whiplike appendages were wound, thin and covered in shifting metal plates. You were being held in midair, suspended like a puppet; if the advertisements you’d seen plastered around the park were any clue, you would guess that you were getting a taste of the “real tentacle action” Fizz boasted. Indeed, from within the loose panel on his back was where the appendages seemed to originate. 

As he stalked closer, you gulped, the sickly green glow of his eyes bathing your face and throwing your shadow in harsh relief against the canvas wall. Fizz wasted no time, and with only a deranged giggle as a warning, he shoved his hand beneath the untucked hem of your shirt to slide into your pants, cold hand cupped firmly between your legs. Barely a sound had left you, everything happening so fast you could barely process, let alone react, but a moan left you now, the silk of his glove and the ruffle around his wrist feeling so strange and yet so good as they brushed against your most sensitive parts. Fizz chuckled, or at least, he attempted to, the sound glitching into a series of strange beeps in response to your apparent openness to his touch.

"Boy, hardly touched at all and you're already moaning? You must need it ba-bad, impling." He leaned closer, eyes narrowing, and you shied away from those sharp teeth, so close to your face. Without warning, that hand between your legs began to vibrate, and you yelped, wriggling in your bonds.

"Ohhh...oh fuck…!"

"Like I said," he crooned. "That's the idea-ea-ea." The vibrations cranked up a notch, and you could no longer keep still, your breath coming faster, tail thrashing behind you out of sheer pleasure. Truthfully, it had been a long time; when you were fighting to keep a roof over your head and passing out from near exhaustion the second you returned home at night, there wasn't much time to try and get laid. It was lonely and it sucked, but that's life. Now, touched for the first time in what could have been centuries for all you knew, your toes curled inside your work boots, tears forming in your eyes as your hips bucked against his hand. It was so good, so fucking good, and with every increase in speed, your moans and cries got louder, more desperate, until-

"Ah-ah-ah, tinker, no you don't!" Suddenly that hand was gone, all stimulation withdrawn, and you whimpered. The tentacles around your extremities tightened in response. "You thought I was just gonna let you co-come so soon? Poor, dumb little imp-slut, it ain't gonna be that easy."

You swore, your teeth bared in an impotent snarl, but the clown only laughed, more carnival-striped tentacles unfurling and wrapping around you, the metal cold against your overheated skin. Now fully immobile, you were lifted higher, splayed out, shaking and wanting. The new appendages began to nudge and press around your body, seemingly exploring your form while the clown stepped between your spread legs, hands groping at your trembling thighs. His smirk was near evil, merciless, piercing as a laser as he watched his tentacles divest you of every stitch of clothing, torn and tossed aside without care. The tips of his jester hat brushed along your legs as he leaned closer to your core, mouth opening to graze the tips of his sharp teeth along your inner thighs, chuckling when you writhed, uncertain if you were trying to pull away or get closer. “Please,” you whimpered, not quite knowing what you were begging for, your body reduced to firing synapses and electric pulses of pure need.

Again, that mocking giggle issued from somewhere behind his sharp teeth. “Begging now, slut? You really want it tha-a-at bad, huh?” His open mouth neared your center, and you noticed now that there was heat coming from him, like the brush of warm breath, and saw a faint reddish glow shining from somewhere within his maw. “Want Ol’ Fizz to make you come again and a-again like the greedy little tramp you are?”

“Yes,” you choked out, so far past caring how desperate you sounded. “Yes, please, please, please!”

A soft whir was your only warning before something long, warm, and slippery was sliding between your legs; your body spasmed, jerking against the restraining appendages, your head lifting to see his striped tongue pressing against you, coated in shiny lubricant. He licked experimentally at you, seeing how much pressure you liked and where you were most sensitive, continuing his brutal teasing as the needle-sharp tips of his fingers raked down your thighs, nearly drawing blood. Then that mouth opened impossibly wide, eyes narrowed to knowing slits as that tongue probed at your entrance, nudging against it before shoving inside with no warning. Gasps and choked half-words fell from your lips at the delicious stretch of being suddenly, violently filled, his tongue twisting and pushing, the stripes not just for decoration but denoting a raised, almost ribbed texture. 

When it began to vibrate inside you, you couldn’t help but scream.

He cooed filth up at you, still able to talk despite his mouth being wrapped around you, voice distorted from the vibrations. Yellowish sparks would issue from his limbs as he fought to keep you still, burning against your skin like vicious little kisses. You weren’t coaxed to the edge so much as dragged toward it, your orgasm slamming into you with near physical force. The clench and thrashing of your body didn’t slow him; if anything, the vibrations intensified, more tentacles issuing from him to stroke and tease other erogenous zones, your entire body his to play with, helpless against his ruthless pursuit of your ruin. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he ripped your pleasure from your body with no care to be gentle, teeth and hands leaving marks in their wake. You were his slut, his eager imp-whore, his pretty little toy; at least, you didn’t deny it when he growled these claims up at you. As long as he didn’t stop, you would be anything he wanted.

But while he couldn’t grow tired or drained, you certainly could, and through a veil of tears you begged him to stop, half afraid that he wouldn’t. Fizz paused, then slowly unwound himself from around your violently shaking form, tentacles disappearing back inside the panel they had come from. He regarded you curiously, still grinning as you collapsed in a boneless, shaking heap, unable to do much except pant for breath. Finally, you looked up at him with hazy eyes, your sweaty hair falling limply in your face.

“Didn’t you have a show to do?”

Fizz threw back his head and laughed, the bells on his hat jingling merrily, a stark contrast to the cold, malicious sound of his glee. “Not the sharpest t-t-tool in the shed, huh, tinker? Look around; you a-are the show.”

To your horror, you could see dozens of yellow eyes pinned to your naked form, imps of all shapes and sizes, eyeing you hungrily. The light of day outside the tent was gone, and the depraved crowds that only came around at night had filtered in while you were...preoccupied. Ruby skin turned a mortified burgundy as you scrambled to cover yourself with any scraps of your clothing you could find, but Fizz wrapped his arms around you and hauled you to your feet, his arm secure around your waist as he bowed to his audience-your audience. They began to applaud, some whistling, others throwing out lewd comments. Fizz pulled you into his side, the hand on your waist slipping just a little lower.

“Seems like we make a pretty good duo, dollface,” he rasped, showing off his pointed teeth in a lascivious grin that at your already weak knees nearly buckling. “Whaddya say we gi-gi-give them an encore?”