The Circus was a place where only the damned went when they ran out of places to run to. It was a shunned establishment, looked down upon by the many who had visited it, and the people who had fell victim to it. It breathed danger, death, mystery and hate. It was dark. That was all anyone could say about it. All Ringmaster had heard about it. Since he was little he had never heard anything good about the place he loved. All he was told was that criminals joined the circus. Freaks, weirdos, people who didn't fit in to general society - those were the ones who joined the circus, took to the life of living on the road and entertaining others for a small fee.
"We're ready whenever you are," a voice came from the front of his tent, pulling the Ringmaster from his thoughts. He stared at the flaps of the entrance and wondered why no one ever seemed to dare to step in. It wasn't like he would kill them on the spot.
"Excellent," he said as he finished by putting on his hat. His hair was a dark blue black color, seeming to shift in the bright lights around his tent, shimmering like a fishes scales, and falling in soft waves just past his shoulders. His eyes were fabulously done up with blue shades. A dark blue eyeliner helped make his jade eyes pop, their lines thick and attractive. The shadow he used was a lovely light blue, matching the color on his lips, sparkling and shifting in color just as he hair did. There were designs on the corners of his eyes that swirled in a dramatic way, hinting at something alluring and mystical. Underneath his right eye there was a small black tear drop, merely for effect with no purpose - or so many would have assumed, if they knew better.
The man wore a dramatic costume to further emphasis his role within his beautiful world. Dark black trousers that fit way too close to his form were accompanied by thigh high tight white boots with a heel that added at least three inches to his already towering height, and were laced up the back. His shirt was a dark blue with elegant ruffles down the front, adorn with a delightful white bow tie. He grabbed his jacket from it's hook and shrugged it on. It was a black, matching his trousers, with short flaps that just barely came together when he snapped the button shut. The coat tails they had just touched the backs of his boots, long, and if he said so himself, more of less irritating. The costume was an old one, one he wore only for shows, but it got the point across that they were no Barnum and Bailey Circus. Time was ticking, and he could hear it clear across the room as he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. Close now, maybe a few more minute before the last of his... "viewers" found their seats and ready themselves for the spectacle they were about to witness. He pulled on his pair of white gloves, checked to make sure his top hat was in place, and grabbed his cane before turning on his heels. The game was soon to begin.
~~~
Across the way, Adam was readying himself for the show by gently tapping Rei and Arra's sides, making sure both females stayed close to him as they walked towards the Big Top.
"Ladies, this is going to be big show, Ringmaster thinks we have a new one in there tonight. Stay close, and pay attention," he told the two tigers as he opened the flap for the performers to enter. They maneuvered around the gathering actors as they walked to their posts, sitting down on the place where plush pillows had been laid just for their comfort.
"What do you have in store for them tonight, eh?" a woman asked as she smiled to the young man who was clearly their master. Lorraine was a sweet woman, a bit too nosy, but sweet nonetheless.
"Not sure yet, the girls always surprise me," he smiled as Rei nudged her head into the back of his legs. "Apparently Rei has something in store for us, she's been doing this all night," he chuckled and turned to pet her large head. He loved his girls, had been with them for years, had been there when they were born, and took the best care of them. He knew more about the two then he did anyone else in the circus.
"Do you plan to bring out Tyron?" Lorraine asked as a hawk landed on her shoulder. "Poor boy hardly seems to do many shows anymore," she cooed as she reached a hand up and let Martin gently nibble at her finger.
"Yeah I know. I mean, I could, but honestly it's up to the girls. You know how they are. They decide who they want to play with. Maybe it will be Kimon tonight. Arra, what to you think?" he asked the younger girl who growled in agreement. "Okay, so Kimon it is," he said with a smile. His costume was just as dark and gothic as everyone else's. He wore tight black trousers, a dark red suit jacket that was a little too old to be wearing anymore, and a ruffled white shirt that was open enough to expose some skin. His boots weren't exactly like the Ringmaster's, but sturdy enough for his job. He looked down at his girls and smiled, before making a gesture for them to remain there while he walked off, grabbing the ring of keys he kept in his back pocket. He past many, smiled at few, and finally got to the cage that was little less of a cage and more of a small room of luxury. There was a dark red velvet curtain draped over the steel bars and when he walked up the slanted platform to unlock the doors, there was cushions that were pushed off to the side. Honestly, the room was better fit to be a small home than an animal cage. There was a large bowl of meat and water in one corner, some toys in another, and on the cushions themselves was Kimon wrapped protectively around Kirien. The leopard lifted his head to the sound of Adam walking into his room and yawned.
"Come on, you're up tonight," Adam addressed the leopard who untangled himself from his friend. The wolf looked at him with a dull expression before heading back to sleep. "Sorry, Kir, not tonight. We'll go hunting later," he promised to the other, who clearly didn't care, as the leopard followed him out. He locked the cage door behind him and cast his eyes over to Tyron's cage. The lion had a similar set up to the leopard, but less plush, and more toys. While he loved all his companions, they all didn't love the same sort of comfort and luxury. And while Tyron was the oldest, he still loved to chew on things more often than any other cat did.
The two of them walked back to where the tigers were waiting and Adam waited for them to exchange greetings before he snapped his fingers to get Kimon to come to him. The leopard, though normally stubborn, turned and sat in front of his human master. Without much difficulty, he put on a thick studded collar. The girls wore bejeweled ones, much too gaudy for his liking, but fitting for the extravagance of the show. Plus, the ladies didn't seem to mind so much. Once finished, he pushed up his sleeve and checked the time, seeing that it was getting dangerously close to opening and Ringmaster still wasn't around. Really, Bas, let's go, he thought with a sigh, running his hand through his creatively dyed red hair. The man knew that something was being planned by their boss and he wasn't sure what. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know, either.
--
"I told you that you are not allowed to touch Kissa's things!" Riven growled in a voice that was much too deep for his features. He looked boyish for his age, but he didn't care. The dumb fuck had gotten bit while messing with his beloved cobra's things and she had bit him. "You dumbass, you should have known better!" he hissed and kicked at the idiot who was convulsing from the venom in his veins. "I don't milk her often, you knew that. God-- I hate you, I hope you die a far more painful death the next time," he growled as he grabbed the idiots hair and pulled him off to a corner. He would die shortly and despite how much he wished for him to be dead for good, Ringmaster would have something secret in store for him if he actually followed through. Rolling his eyes, he dug his nails into the man's chin and forced it open as he twitched and groan. "Shut the fuck up, I'm doing you a favor. This is gonna fucking take hours to fill back up," he said as he pour the foul smelling antidote down the fuckers throat. He was so pissed. Who the fuck in their right mind messed with a cobra? Especially Kissa! She had a temper and unless she liked you or knew you were safe, she lashed out. He wanted with every single fiber of his body to let the man suffocate to death, but he knew that wouldn't be good for the two of them. They'd be out of a home faster then they could blink. After the man had the cure in his system, Riven practically threw him and walked away. Kissa was wrapped around protectively around his neck, and she wasn't about to bite him any time soon.
"Stupid inbred fouls, don't listen when I say not to touch the venomous snake," he mumbled to himself as he headed back to his tent. He didn't need to put on a show tonight, only afterwards would he entertain the remaining attendants to a show where he and Kissa would do a little dance for a small fee. On his way back, he turned his brown eyes to the ticket stand not far away, where a line was standing, paying their way in before they could see the crazy that was simply named "The Circus". "I hope they know what they're in for," he scoffed before heading into his tent and allowing his snake to sleep in her home.