Circus of desires

[MBS1969]

OOC. Here's the main thread, please keep any idea's or any new character Bio's in the OOC thread to keep this one running smoothly. Anyone reading along with us is welcome to join, just introduce yourself on the OOC thread first please.

IC

Alfie strolled back to the large open entrance to the circus's showground, nestled under the towering Prague castle. He had seen the brightly coloured posters all around Prague proclaiming Johanna's family circus was coming. "The best circus in the world" they shouted in bright letters. Tonight was the last night of the circus's stay in Czechoslovakia. Tonight was the last show before the circus continued on its endless tour. Next week they would enter East Germany before crossing the iron curtain into West Germany, then Austria, Switzerland and on and on. Alfie had lived this wandering life for twelve years now and never tired of it. He loved the smells and the sights of the circus and regarded it his home now.

He passed the ticket booths which would be manned shortly, ready for the influx of spectators. In less than two short hours the ground would be teeming with excitment and anticipation. The last show in any city was always special. It was an unwritten rule among circus folk that the final performance in any place should be so good that it left people wanting more the next time around. Alfie could almost feel the expectation in the air as he wandered past the now empty food stalls and try your luck game stands. Three hours until the show began, just ninety minutes until the gates opened, he knew he should rest in preparation for his tranformation into the Great Alfonso. He never could though, and always wandered the grounds soaking up the atmosphere,

As he strolled around he greeted many of his fellow performers and spent time to say hello to each and every one. He was well loved by his colleagues, performers, stallholder and roadies alike and he knew every single person played their own part in the success of the show. Alfie has been with the circus for longer than most people, he even knew the original Johanna whose name was that of the circus. Johanna had sold the circus due to ill health only a couple of years before and although the new owners were efficient it just wasn't ths same without her. Still there were plenty of laughs to be had and when the show ended and the night drew in the circus people sure knew how to have a good time.

Alfie saw the latest recruit to the travelling menagerie they called home. In the distance the young lad who had begged to join at their last stop in Ostrava. He waved at the young lad and gave him a cheery grin, he was pretty sure that if he greeted him later when dressed as Alfonso the lad wouldn't have a clue that he was the same person. Alfie wandered over to have a word with the lad and to see if he needed any help with anything. He remembered how the circus folk had been so good to him when he joined at the age of thirteen and always had a kind word for the rookies.

 

[nightray]

Ramon

I sit near my trailer looking out at the rest of the performers. I smile slightly as I see Alfie walk by as he always does just before a show. I idly spin my throwing knife between my nukaills as my eyes move away from Alfie looking for my new assistant Jasmiina wondering if she was nerves about the show to night this will be a first for use both as I was going to throw a few of my knifes with my back turned to her looking threw a mirror.

I smile as I think of the farley new addion to the family she was very boutefal one of the key reasons I took her on so quickly that and the fact that even though she rely had know fear of the knifes I threw she gave a convincing squeal that made the adeons gasp until they see she is fine.

I idly throw my well balanced and very sharp knife at a knot in a tree stump hitting it deed sinter then in a blear of movement two more blades join it quivering slightly on ether side of the first. I smile satisfied as I get up languidly and retrieve the knifes with a sharp tug my eyes moving over the tips critically nodding as I see no damage. I then return to my seat two knifes disappearing like magic up my sleeves and the third twirling between my nukils easily as I relax my feet out stretched in front of me the heal of my left foot balanced on the toes of my right.

I look up at the clear sky thinking that there would be a crowd to day as it was fine weather. I then look back down at my fellow’s agene as I think on my knife throwing then my fire juggling between. Maybe I’ll juggle some of my axes with the torches tonight maybe even try my chainsaw rewteen for the first time in front of others other then my friends. I shrug still undecided not sheer if I’ve worked the timing out well enough to risk it.

 

[papillon24]

Mia

As I sat on the the steps of my trailer reading a wonderful novel,I nodded as Alfie passed by. I really neve have said much to him since I joined. In fact I really have not said much except to my partner of the high wire and trapeze. I enjoyed the solitude of my trailer with a book and writing of the native language of my people. I missed the China I had grown up in. Why in budda's name did we have to leave. Life was so simple there.

Quickly I pulled my waist length hair back into a braid to keep it out of my face as I turned back to the book in front of me

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmiina Hhenke

Jasmiina watched Ramon, mesmerized by the man she worked for. He was like dark magic with a knife, a sleek panther with blades instead of teeth. She had not yet mentioned her predilection to Ramon and she felt a mixture of fear and anticipation about confessing such a thing. An assistant who like to be cut would get her fired in an instant if Ramon didn't have the right disposition. Little did he know that those little shrieks she gave up on stage were only an outward sign of her arousal. She sighed and walked toward her employer, a tray in her hands.

"I brink you something to eat."

Jasmiina's English was far from perfect, but broken strains of the language could be heard throughout the circus as it was twisted by a dozen accents.

Ramon looked up at her and she was again struck by his eyes. They were as sharp as a stiletto's point and she suspected they could turn just as deadly.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Dimka

Knowing that it would be dangerous to get too friendly with any of the circus-folk when he had signed on in Ostrava, it was difficult not to respond to Alfie's friendly wave and grin. Resisting the urge, Dimka drew his hand back and lowered his head, feigning shyness.

Small, and skinny for his purported age (though no one had come right out and asked just what age that would be) the lad might even be considered puny in his loose and ill-fitting clothes. A good thing, Dimka thought, for it would do better to appear younger than his actual age of eighteen. People tended to take less notice of youths than they did of other adults. And Dimka didn't want to attract attention.

"Nazdar, Pan Alfie," the boy said with an asthmatic wheeze as he adjusted his cap over his short-cropped and raggedy-looking hair. "You have a task for me?"

 

[MBS1969]

Alfie

The lad whose name Alfie knew was Dimka, looked shyly down at his knees at Alfie's grin. Alfie had noticed that he never made eye contact with anyone who spoke to him and wondered quite how he'd managed to get up the nerve to ask the owners and the ringmaster for a job. Alfie shook his head and thought of the Poverty in this part of the world but also marvelled at the way in which people strived to improve their lot.

He was a short and skinny little thing and although he would have made a wonderful pickpocket the circus tried to keep it's employees honest and it's patrons happy. Dimka had been put to work helping on the stalls outside the main arena and had quickly learned the ropes. Already he had his choice of the stalls to be an assistant on and the stallholders all seemed to like him. Alfie thought that if he was going to travel in western Europe with the circus he would have to improve his clothes though. He looked as if he had been wearing the same clothes for the last two years, if they hadn't been so big. Alfie was scruffy at best during the day but always was smart and clean for each show. It didn't matter so much on the outside of the big top, but even so the western folk didn't like or trust scruffy circus folk.

"Nazdar, Pan Alfie" the lad said

"Nazdar, Mladík" said Alfie "štasten dnes?"

Alfie watched as the lad peered bashfully at him from under his oversized cap, hair poking up and pushing the cap to a queer angle. He didn't appear to know what to say or maybe was just intimidated by Alfie speaking to him in his native tongue. Alfie felt a little sorry for him, he looked such a lost soul, here all alone in a sea of strangers. Had he been a girl he'd have given him a reassuring hug but Alfie guessed that the boy would not appreciate that.

"You have a task for me?" Dimka wheezed.

Alfie shook his head, "Not right now Dimka, thank you. I just wondered how you were settling in?"

Alfie remembered his first weeks in the circus, thirteen years old and on the run, he remembered feeling lonely and scared. He also remembered he was happier when he was working.

"Tell you what, come to my caravan an hour before the show and you can help me get ready, you may even learn one of this circus's biggest secrets."

With that Alfie gave him a wink and another big grin before whirling round and strolling off whistling.

 

[papillon24]

Mia

I continued to watch from the staris of my trailer. I saw Dimka approach Alphie and exchange conversation. I always enjoyed watching the boy. He was youthful and did everything whole heartedly.

I set the book down and wandered the grounds dressed in a simple skirt and white tank that accentuated the darkness of my skin. The cool air neve bothered me. It actually was quite a comfort.

I passed my the two giving eye contact to the two. I headed towards the main tent admiring the twisted beauty of the structure then truned back to watch the conversations of the people around me.

 

[ariosto]

Sebastiani


"You seen Alfie?"
Lazlo the aerialist was doing some impromptu practicing on a jury rigged trapeeze over the rubble strewn lot.
The Ringmaster shook his head.
That guy's gonna kill himself and then where the fuck will we be!

Holding the bar in one hand Lazlo gestured over to the trailer camp and said something in Hungarian, a language Bastito was finding very hard to pick up.
"Yeah, okay thanks."

He nodded at Mia, whose mind seemed as usual a thousand kliks away and walked past the tents and into the small town of rundown trailers, cars and trucks that housed the hundreds of people that made up Johanna's Circus.
There was only one he wanted to see right now though.
Alfie, the senior member. The man who really knew how to run this show.
Sebastiani had just been to town to make sure the posters had been changed to reflect the reduced admission for the last night and heard a rumor, no more than a rumor, that a pack of bolshevik militants from the University were going to crash the show and make trouble.
Fuckin' Bolshevics!

He still called them the same thing his father an East Prussian refugee from the Big War called them...

Fuckin' Bolshevics...

"HEY ALFIE!...We got trouble!"

 

[MBS1969]

Alfie

Alfie had almost completed his usual walk around the sprawling circus site and was heading back towards his caravan, about half an hour until the gates opened and it was time for Alfie to make himself scarce, eat a little and then later get changed into his alter ego.

He could hear shouting in the distance and knew instantly from the tone of voice that it was Sebastiani the ringmaster. It was always Seba......always! Quickening his pace he covered the ground quickly to meet the rather exitable ringmaster who was marching red faced towards him. Alfie groaned inwardly as he saw that Seba was in a right old state again, bet its bolshevics he thought to himself and grinned at the little man.

He watched as the ringmaster marched right up to him, muttering all the way. Alfie marvelled at how such a small man could project his voice quite so far. That was his job though and the whole circus knew he was damn good at it. Alfie also realised how well Sebastiani ran the show, as smooth as Swiss clockwork and able to adapt to every catastrophe no matter how major. Like when the last trapeze artist Jorge broke his neck in the centre of the show ring. He surely stopped a riot that night, in a calm, unflappable manner. Alfie supposed that like Alfie, Seba had a split personality, calm at work and exitable the rest of the time.

"HEY ALFIE!...We got trouble!"

"In English please Seba" Alfie grinned "and calmly please...."

Seba looked fit to burst but calmed himself slightly before bursting forth with his latest disaster story.

 

[nightray]

Ramon

I look up as I hear Jasmiina’s voice my eye moving up her long supple legs resting on the food briefly before moving up to her face framed by her almost white hear shining in the sun light. My eyes meat her blue eyes. Her eyes wear what first attracted me to her, her moods shown clearly in them. They seem to sparkle like sun on the water when happy. The water seems to freeze over when she is angry though the ice seems to melt when she looks to me for some reason.

I smile softly saying “Thank you my dear but you didn’t have to.” I motion for her to sit next to me as I make the knife that I was practicing with disappear in a blink of an eye up my sleeve with the rest of my blades.

“So are you nerves about the new trick that we’re doing to night?” I smile softly as I take one of the sandwiches taking a bite my eyes not leaving her face looking for any sine of fear or uneasiness. “Very good what is it?” I ask as I lean agenst my trailer.

My eyes flick past her face as I see the ringmaster walking purposely over to Alfie. My smile hardens slightly as I see weary in his walk “Is there trouble.” I say softly not realizing that I’m talking out loud.

I look back at Jasmiina putting the ringmaster out of my mined for now as my eyes move over my new assistant. My eyebrow cocks slightly “Well are you going to eat with me theirs enough hear for use both I think.” I wink at her chuckling as I move to one side on the step to my trailer.

 

[poohlive]

The largest of the meat for the most ferocious of animal. Baer gave a hint of a smile, something almost devilish as he dropped it into the cage. Bars of metal holding back the great lion, who came up to it, sniffed it, and then lamented to drag it to the back of the cage and gord himself.
Baer moved on, a long line of food for the animals, preparing them for the show to come. Tonight would be a good night, he thought. Something in the air perhaps, a certain hint of good luck, that only came on cool summery nights. He admired the beauty of the day, passing handfuls of hay to the Zebra's. They hadn't been tied up.
He just didn't feel right about tying them up. The lions he could understand, but zebra's? The things deserved to at least have the illusion of freedom, at least a few hours before performance.
Ahhh, now that is when they truly came alive. Animals have the circus bug just as much as any human does, Baer has seen it. He hand picks each and every one very carefully, making sure that when a crowd sees them, ooh's and aww's at their wonderous trick, there is a certain twinkle in their eye. They love applause just as much as the acrobats or the jugglers or the knife throwers.
Baer knows.
Be around animals long enough, and things rub off. True intelligence comes from them, pours out of them. Hell, he has a few elephants smarter than half the townspeople he knows. No offence to the willing public who puts food on his plate, but a human can be ignorant... an animal can't.
He scratched one of the elephants behind the ears, who gave an approving sound before munching on a pile of lettuce and other vegetables. Mamu. Such a beautiful creature.
He moved down the line.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmiina Hhenke

Jasmiina hesitated before sitting down. Being this close to Ramon unnerved her to no end.

"Yes, I am always wanting to practice with you more."

She sat down next to him, squashing her childish feelings. Ramon took another bite of the sandwich.

"I am glad you like. The cheese is local. Goat, I should think."

He nodded silently, but did not say anything. She picked up a slice of apple and nibbled. Jasmiina's profession did not allow her to eat a great deal.

"I have complete finally my costume today. You must see it. I think it will please."

Jasmiina had been wearing the ill-fitting costume of her predecessor. She had started work on one of her own shortly after beginning work with Ramon. He was sure to be pleased as long as he did not fine out how she had come by the funds need to purchase the materials, how she earned all her extra money.

 

[ariosto]

Sebastiani


Bastito was not consoled by Alfie's assurences that nothing would probably come of the rumor. That rumors flew around the streets of Prague like starlings in the springtime.

Alfie mentioned a new boy named Dimka and wondered what the circus might do with him...poor lad needed a home.
Fuck!
Half the people with the show were there becuase they needed a home. The talent in a lot of cases was marginal at best.
He passed Ramon and his new assistant, a tall,stunning, tow headed creature, on the way back to his trailer. He hoped she wouldn't meet the same fate his last assistant did.

Baer met him by the animal cages and told him Brutus was sick again. They'd need a new grizzly soon.
An American Grizzly!
Oh absolutely, no problem at all.
Brutus had been with the show from before the war, a left over of someone named Rocky Mountain Pete's Wild Animal Act. The bear was all that was left of Pete and his act.
He spoke to the big man in German, mentioning the possibility of a ruckus tonight and Baer grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"Goot, goot"
Oh yeah, goot!

From the corner of his eye he spied the dreamy, graceful form of Mia Lin walking to her trailer. The one next to his own. He'd often spied on the quiet girl, finding her oriental inscrutability and her lithe muscular body very uhhhh...intriguing.
It was twilight. The gates would open in less than an hour.
He sighed and entered the cramped cluttered tincan he'd called home for two years. It was time to get ready.
Show time!

 

[MBS1969]

Alfie

Alfie settled back in his caravan, he had managed to appease Sebastiani...or at least he thought he had before the ringmaster had turned around with a shrug and headed back to his own caravan.

Seba had told him of the likelihood of trouble that night but in reality there was always this possibility. Some people just didn't like circus folk, they always pointed to the crime rate increasing when the circus came to town. Whilst it was true that the circus did have a few bad apples, the fact that people drinking too much and getting themselves into trouble was always going to send crime rates higher. Then there were the local criminal gangs who saw the circus as an opportunity, not only were people out of there homes to see the circus but also their actions were almost always blamed on the travellers.

Alfie's thoughts turned to Dimka and wondered when the boy would turn up. He dipped a large chunk of bread into his broth and tried to put his finger on what drew him to the lad. He had seen his fair share of waifs and strays come and go over the years but Dimka was different. He seemed a little more vulnerable, a little further out of place. Alfie decided he would have to get the lad to open up a little more and that he would have to watch out for him when he could.

A little over an hour and a half to go to show time, he would have to get changed soon. He hoped Dimka would arrive before he dressed, he wanted to spend a little time with him. The process of getting ready for the show might distract the kid and get him to open up a little more easily.

 

[nightray]

Ramon

I smile as Jasmiina explains that the cheese is local goat. I chuckle softly nodding. I watch her nibble at her slice of apple. My smile broadens as she tells me that her costume was ready.

“That is good I can’t wait to see it but surprise me with it. Don’t let me see it until your standing in front of the target.” I wink playfully. I like surprises espshily when there on beutes like your self.” I chuckle softly as I finish my sandwich and down the glass of milk.

I let my head rest agenst my door jam as I look at every one scurrying around getting ready for the show. “I’m lucky I don’t have to dress up much just the black coat with silver glitter and a clean pare of black pants.” I look over at Jasmiina my eyes locking with hers theirs something about her eyes that intreag me.

I absently flick my wrist casing my knife to cum out agene rolling easily threw my fingers. I raze an eyebrow as her eyes seem to light up with excitement when she sees the blade appear in my hand like magic. Does the knife excite her some how this isn’t the first time I’ve seen that gleam in her eyes as she watched me practice throwing.

 

[papillon24]

Mia

I nodde politely as I watched Bastito pass towards his tent. then quickly turned to mine. I steped into the comforting smells of fresh insence and spices I always kept handy.

Quickly I changed into my gard of white and glitter that clung to my body. I carefully pulled my hair up into a tight bun so it would not interfear with performance. I let my feat slp intot the soft white ballet slippers before throwing a black cloak over myself to keep out the cold on my way to the main tent. I watched from the small window at the people who hurried by and hoped that this time the swings and highwire were tight. the last show the highwire came lose and I fell to the nets.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmiina Hhenke

Jasmiina rolled her tongue over her soft lips. It wasn't just the knife but Ramon's hands. Elegant, strong, and lightening fast, she couldn't help but imagine them on her body. She pressed her legs together as the fantasy called the heat to build.

Ramon's clothes! She had almost let one of her duties go undone. No wonder Ramon was staring at her so intently. She had to press the pants he wore on stage and brush his jacket.

"If you will excuse me, I see to your clothes now."

Jasmiina leaned over and brushed a kiss against Ramon's cheek, letting her lips linger a moment longer than necessary.

 

[ariosto]

Bastito was rushed, but not too rushed to skip a quick vigil at the window of his trailer, the one that faced Mia's. As usual the girl was unaware of the view he had of the long mirror she dressed in front of before each show. He watched her tonight as she finished, pulling the tight costume up over those perfect, rose tipped breasts of hers, before she disappered from view.

His cock was hard, but his cock was often hard.
Bastito had the hardest cock in the circus he was quite sure. Maybe he could go into a freak show when he retired.
"THE IRON PENIS!"
Watch this miracle of creation as he penetrates, oaken timbers, tempered steel, Miss Mia the Aerialist,
Jasmiina the Knifeman's assistant, Greta the...."

"Mister Sebastiani!,"
A piercing voice interrupted his daydream.
" Alfie sent me over he says the crowd is building up fast and he thinks we should open the ticket kiosk early."
The voice was unfamiliar.

Bastiano peeped out the little window in the door of his trailer.
A kid?
Was this the Dimka, he'd been told about?

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Dimka Vacik

Dimka flinched, lowering his head quickly when Sebastiani flung open the door of his trailer. He hadn't meant to raise the ire of the Ring Master and could feel his eyes boring into him as he stood there, shuffling his feet nervously.

"Pan Sebastiani. The ticket kiosk. Pan Alfie says... "

"I heard you... boy. Dimka, is it?"

"Da, Pan Sebastiani." Dimka nodded curtly without looking up. "Anyway... That's what Pan Alfie said to tell you." Had Sebastiani hesitated before saying boy, or was it just Dimka's imagination playing tricks? Please don't stare. Please...

Certain he would pee right then and there from nerves alone, Dimka turned and ran without waiting for the Ring Master to say another word. He was halfway across the grounds when he ducked behind a stall to catch his breath.

What had he been thinking? Running away with the circus like this? It would probably turn out no safer than... No! Dimka wouldn't think about that just now. There was still Pan Alfie to deal with before the show began. What if he didn't go? Dimka didn't think that was an option.

Slipping the cap off his head, Dimka combed his fingers through his coarsely cut hair. Better to get this over with sooner than later, he thought with a sigh and slowly trudged the short distance toward Alfie's trailer.

"Pan Alfie!" Dimka called out quietly, knocking on the flimsy door. "Nazdar, Pan Alfie. It's Dimka."

In a little while he'd be able to lose himself in the crowds that came for the show. It was the only time he ever felt truly safe. Safety in numbers, they say. At least one could hope.

 

[nightray]

Ramon

I smile as Jasmiina excuses her self to go take car of my clothes. I feel her lips linger on my cheek be fore she turns and rushes off to do her duties. My eyes linger on her shapely ass as she walks quickly to her trailer. I ujust my self slightly as I feel my self growing hard. As Jasmiina disappears in to her trailer I clear my thought and turn back to the tree stump that I had been practicing on.

I look at the scared knot focusing on it making my self calm down before throwing fast and hard watching as the blade moves in slow motion as time seems to slow down before the first blade hits its mark the second is fling.

I look at the two blades quivering in the center of the knot breathing deeply calming my self. My mined needs to be clear for the show to night or I may miss. I shake my head blocking the thought not wanting to think of the one time my blade was off because my mind was on other things other then my target. I gremmies as the image of the girl bleeding from a cut and fear in her eyes.

I shake my head agene forcing my mined to clear to empty. I stare blankly thinking the only reason I was still her was because the adeants didn’t see the blood and she agreed not to tell she just wanted out.

I walk over to the stump forcing my face to clear showing only what I wanted people to see. I pull the knifes out of the wood and walk back to my trailer. I look over at the tent hearing the growing rumble of people gathering to get in to the greatest show on earth. I smile as I feel my adrenalin begin to pump threw my veins as the images fade from my mined for a time at least.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmiina Hhenke

Jasmiina left Ramon's clothes hanging on the back of the bathroom door and quickly changed into her own costume. She could only hope that Ramon would be pleased by her handiwork. The costume was daringly brief, two pieces that revealed her long legs and the tops of her pert breasts. As she sat down to strap on her four-inch heels, her eyes roamed over the interior of the tiny trailor. It was amazing to her that nothing had yet happened between them, sharing such close quarters. So far, Ramon had been a perfect gentleman.

Damn him!

It was almost as if something had been holding him back. Jasmiina had tried to get him to talk about his past a number of times, but he had remained guarded about.

She stood and wrapper a cloak. The sparkling material covered her from the neck to the feet. As she left the trailor, she passed Ramon.

"I shall be in the big tent, Ramon. Checking over the equipment."

He nodded and she began to make her way across the crowded compound.

 

[ariosto]

Odd boy...
Bastiano watched the skinny kid disappear into the chaos attendent to opening the show.
He'd have to ask Alphie about him...to frail to work with the ground crew...maybe he could...

There went that Jasmiine woman. He laughed, well she was still walking anyway and with that figure of hers she'd be a real crowd pleaser...a real moneymaker.
His mind began again to go over the numbers. They could delay the payroll until they were in East Germany...there were several members of the troup who'd take their money and run before crossing the border if they could.
What a world...

He turned back to the mirror and began to meticulously dress himself.
Not the black tails tonight...no he'd go with red, the one with the sequined lapels...
Fuck Alphie, he was a real worrywart sometimes...let the crowd build...he'd already said there was nothing to worry about hadn't he?

Henry sat on the bed and pulled on the black wellingtons. With lifts they would add four inches to his height. He picked up his top hat and checked one more time in the mirror.
A last look out the window at mia's wagon, but it was dark...the peformers were all gathering in the main tent for the opening parade.

Okay, open the kiosks, put on a smile...
He threw open his door. the evening air was crisp, stimulating.
He could hear the crowd at the gates...

Showtime!

 

[MBS1969]

Alfie

Alfie had almost finished his broth when he thought he heard a noise.

Yes, there it was a again, very quiet but definately a voice, he stood up and strode to the door. Opening the door wide it was, as expected, the young lad Dimka, standing wringing his cap through his hands.

"Pan Alfie!" he said again announcing his arrival, Alfie could have sworn Dimka had been speaking deliberately quietly so that he could disappear into the circus having made a genuine if not wholehearted attempt to do as he'd been asked. Alfie looked him up and down and decided that tomorrow before they left for Berlin he would take the lad into Prague for some new clothes or maybe Jasmiina could make him some, she seemed to be good with a needle and thread.

"Come in! Come in Dimka" Alfie said with a big grin, trying to put the boy at ease. "Sit down boy, would you like some broth" he said gesticulating to the large pot on his stove.

The boy shook his head and his eyes fell once again to the floor. Alfie sighed inwardly this was going to be harder than he had thought.

"Well, Dimka it's time to reveal all our deepest secrets" Alfie said with a chuckle. He wasn't ready for the boy's reaction though, although he sat completely still he looked absolutely frozen in fear, his eyes darted first to the door as if looking for an escape route and then to Alfie and then back to the floor. He began to shuffle uncomfortably in his seat and Alfie couldn't understand what he'd said, he thought he'd better continue fast.

"You're the only one in the whole circus who doesn't know who I am Dimka, because you see I am not only Alfie I am also someone else in disguise!!" The lad looked even more uncomfortable than before, Alfie could swear he was close to tears. He stared at Dimka who he noticed was now staring at him through watery eyes. Alfie once again got the feeling that something was seriously troubling this boy....boy he was no more than a baby in his nature. He was probably the most.......what was the word he was thinking.......feminine.....was that right.....no....he didn't know what the word was but he was certainly the most interesting recruit they'd had in a long time.

Dimka was looking towards the door again. "Dimka, by day I am Alfie, but on show nights I am the Great Alphonso" Alfie said with a flourish and was relieved as the tension visibly drained from the boy's shoulders. "I'm going to need you to help me dress son." Alfie began to remove his jacket and shirt. "I need you to help me load my show jacket with my tricks and then help me do my make-up. I expect you think it's funny for a man to wear make-up eh? Well when you're trying to hide your appearance you need to use every trick you can....just like the great magician Alphonso is eh." Alfie burst into a loud laugh that seemed to scare Dimka half to death. "Come Dimka", he said putting his bare arm around the lad's shoulders and pulling him up from the couch, "My circus clothes are in that box, help me dress"

 

[papillon24]

Mia

It was time. The time everyday I waited for. I waited to be free of the life I lived now and thats what the trapeeze and high wire gave me. that let me fly and excell in a world that cast me down. Quickly I snuck into the tent and sat in the back to watch the lights being prepared and to make sure all was strung up tight.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Dimka Vacik

"My circus clothes are in that box, help me dress." Help him dress?? You are done for, Dimka Vacik! Done for! There is no safe haven for you here or anywhere. Foolish. Foolish.

Dimka looked wildly around the room, hoping for an earthquake or a flood. Something. Anything! There had to be a way to get around this. Helping a man to dress! Nothing good could come of this. Nothing!

Every childhood prayer he had ever learned came rushing to the surface of his mind, but Dimka couldn't think. He needed to vomit. He couldn't breathe. He needed to get away. He needed...

"Please, Pan Alfie," he pleaded quietly. "I can't... I... " Dimka's legs slowly crumbled beneath him as everything began to spin and the room grew dark.