User:Nextoy/Farside Pub/The Roadside Circus

Tonight was another quiet night at Farside. An anthropomorphic cat was playing darts as his wolfman friend watched, skeletons played pool together with a boney cackle, and a woman in an elegant dress played the piano upon the pub's small stage. The smooth, slow tune she played was the only part of her that didn't clash with the rough, rural nature of the pub.

The girl who sat at the counter didn't fully blend in either. Jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers fit, but her eyes being glued to her phone did not. Only some nachos and her cola snuck its way into her attention span. At least, besides the Barkeeper's occasional question on whether she wanted refills for either.

But one person was trying to fish out those eyes from deep within her phone's screen. An older man, clearly in his thirties, who was dressed in similar casual wear. He spoke to her, but she paid him no mind. Instead she simply texted away at her friends.

"Shit…" was the first word from her that hadn't been aimed at the barkeep. A silent alarm went off on her phone. She quickly turned to the man that had been bugging her. "Hey, you wanna go somewhere?" Were her first words addressed to him, personally.

"Sure." The man smiled as he spoke, straightening his jacket. The t-shirt beneath was of some local country band that played at the bar exactly once.

"Cool. Ever been to the circus?" She asked, staring at him as she got up. The man was confused, but followed her outside. "I need a lift. Just don't try anything until we get there, alright?" Her words were sharp and clear. The man was taken aback, but they shared a smile.

She got out of her seat, zipped up her hoodie, and walked out. The man only needed to grab and slip on his jacket. “What’s your name?” He asked as the car was unlocked remotely.

“Elly.” She looked back as she spoke, motioning for him to follow with her head. They hurried off to the car, he the driver and her the passenger.

“I’m David.” The only words he’d speak for the entire car ride with any real response.

“Pleasure to meet you.” She buckled up, as did he. The ride was awkward, with David trying to fill the air but getting nothing from her in return. Instead she merely started singing along to whatever came up on the radio.

Elly hadn’t even given him directions or an address. She just entered the place into her phone and propped it up against the dash. A faire ground that had recently been leased. The ride wasn’t long, mostly due to them being able to stick to the highway the whole time, but that didn’t save David from the awkward stonewalling that he had received.

“You’ve got a beautiful singing voice.” David complimented as they got out of the car. The dirt road they drove onto had, indeed, lead to a circus, just as Elly said.

Large tents were strewn around the faire grounds. While the big top was in plainview, there were several around it. They lined up around each other like an atom and its electrons, lights decorating the whole event with an orange glow. David couldn’t help but look around while Elly just marched forward. The only thing bringing David back to her from the sense of wonderment was her ponytail bouncing back and forth as she walked.

“Thanks. You should hear Sarah.” Elly turned around, beckoning him with her hand. “She’s a siren, you know. They specialize in having amazing vocals.” She emphasized her praise, if not her jealousy, of the singer.

The two walked the rest of the way. A sign at the entrance of the big top read out the name of the circus. “A bit strange, isn’t it? House of Monsters?” David asked as Elly walked up to the empty ticket booth.

“Why’s that?” She asked, unlocking the door.

“Wouldn’t that scare away customers?” David watched as she slid into the ticket booth, leaning himself against the counter.

“Nah.” Elly waved it off. “I imagine it’s got a novelty to it. Like the freak shows from, like, a century ago. Besides, people say it’s kinda fitting.” She explained, leaning up against her side of the ticket counter. “I don’t think so, but I see the appeal.”

David stopped to think on this. His eyes again searched the circus for answers to a question he didn’t have. He was stunned in a way he hadn’t felt before. Wonder and bewilderment. Those were the only words he could come up with. That was, until he heard a squeak from behind him.

“Viv, would you just-” Deep breaths came from Elly as she balled up her hands. Another girl had appeared beside her. She was dressed with a warm robe and a wide brimmed hat, yet David couldn’t help but get the sensation that he was seeing through her uncovered face.

“Sorry.” Her voice had this strange, airy tone to it. Not like she was breathing and talking at once, but more as if her voice was far weaker than body language would convey. Like she had some phantom illness that hid behind her constant, light bouncing.

“You forgot these, by the way.” Viv handed over a bedazzled cigarette case. It was happily received, with Elly immediately taking one out. Viv snapped her fingers and the end glowed violet as Elly took a drag.

“Aren’t you supposed to be telling fortunes or something?” Elly asked, blowing smoke off into the back of the booth. It didn't smell like tobacco. It definitely had a burning scent to it, but it was more bitter. Like some strange, exotic incense. Despite this, Viv didn’t even flinch. As if she had either long since grown accustomed to it.

“I could start with him if you want.” Viv motioned towards David with her head. It was obvious he had been staring at her while they spoke, trying to figure out what it was he was actually seeing. Elly shrugged and took another hit, prompting Viv to turn around and walk through the ticket booth. “Come on, then. We’ve got some time before the show starts.”

They both walked into a different tent, one filled with different crystals hanging from the ceiling. It lacked furniture, save for a single chair. The crystals glowed when Viv walked into the center, her body losing its transparency.

“Isn’t there supposed to be a crystal ball or something?” David asked, looking around.

“No, silly. I don’t use those gypsy tricks.” She turned, putting a finger on his chin. “My magic is quite real. To the point where I’m not allowed to perform anymore.” Viv giggled, her fingers positioned in a wave with the only index straight and the rest curled more than the one before it. “I don’t see futures, either. I see the now. Let people in on what they hide from themselves.” Her words also lacked the weakness from before. Her eyes pierced into him like a needle into skin, their gaze unflinching from the moment they met. It felt like this girl, this magician, could stare directly into his soul.

“And this isn’t the date you were expecting, huh? Did Elly trick someone again?” A small laugh escaped her as she continued to stare into the man’s eyes. “No need to be uneasy. You won’t get hurt here. After all, this is one of the few places where monsters can relax and become human. Much like that bar you met her at. Farside, was it? Maybe after the show tonight I’ll buy you a drink to make up for her shenanigans.”

“Vivian!” A trill of elegance came into the tent, breaking their deep focus. David turned around and Vivian looked up, seeing a woman of pale skin and deep, red eyes staring at them from beneath a wide brim hat. She wore a black dress fitting of her voice that hit the floor. “The show’s about to start. Mind helping set up?” She asked, motioning towards the big top with a long, gothic cigarette holder between her fingers.

“We’ll have to finish this later, if you so wish.” Vivian said as she walked out. The moment she left the tent her skin returned to its transparent state from before and David noticed one thing that solidified his worries.

Vivian’s feet had never touched the ground. * * *

"As thanks for giving me a ride here I'll cover your ticket." Elly told David. He sat in the bleachers inside the circus, staring down at the stage. There stood the elegantly dressed woman from before. Except the cigarette holder had been replaced with a large hammer on her shoulder. It had the dimensions of a balloon carnival hammer, but the dull, metallic sheen had the audience second guessing their own vision.

"Welcome to show tonight, one and all. And quite the opening audience you are!" She opened, looking at the full house around her. "Circuses are quite rare these days, but even then Madam Dynamite's House of Monsters is truly unique." She slowly paced the stage, motioning at her audience with one, long nailed finger.

"But let's open up with something familiar, shall we?" With that she gently swung the hammer at the ground. When it hit the lights went down.

A spotlight appeared, following a small car around. It was only a couple feet tall, built as if it was meant to carry around a small dog. When the door opened showing its true passenger, surprise came out from around the circus tent.

As if it were inflating a balloon, a clown appeared from the small car. Then another. And another. The three walked around, the spotlight splitting to follow them. Each honking at another like it was some form of communication.

Then at the audience.

The three tripped over each other and the car as they jutted about the stage. The smaller children in the room were laughing at their antics, but the rest of the audience seemed bored.

"Unpleased?" As if summoned by the audience reaction the ringmaster's voice boomed from above. "Should we take them away?"

The audience cheered, and a fourth spotlight shined on a barred gate. It opened and out walked a minotaur. Tall, muscular, with fur covering its legs and a band of fabric hiding its chest.

It stomped forward, looking around at the clowns. They immediately notice it and look among each other. One took up a sly grin and tossed a bottle at it. As the bottle flew through the air it became a barrel, breaking harmlessly against the minotaur's arm.

Then the clowns scrambled. For a few minutes the bull played cat and chased its three mice. The crowd enjoyed this new game more than the repetitive antics from before. It wouldn't be long before they piled back into their car and sped away, with minotaur still giving chase.

The spotlight followed as they left the stage. Three converged onto one as the clowns deflated into the car, then got swallowed into the dark hallway the minotaur had came from. The second followed suit as the creature returned home.

"What a disappointing turnout." Spoke the ringmaster as she appeared on center stage within a new spotlight. "Let's take a breather, then, with a classic. People diving into small things from high places." She took a drag from a cigarette through its longer holder, blowing out a violet mist. A spotlight illuminated upon it to show a ladder climbing up a beam. Atop was a high dive, not unlike that one could find at any given pool.

"It seems something is missing." The ringmaster looked around, waving her cigarette like a baton. "Erika, can you bring our target?"

Back in walked the minotaur, the spotlight returning to her, carrying a large tank of water. One that seemed to be the same size as her, if not larger. Within, a mermaid poked her head out and watched the crowd.

But she arose to a mixed reaction. Though she had smiled at first, this quickly faded into a frown.

"Perhaps you should give them a song as they await their performer?" The ringmaster suggested. The mermaid nodded, her smile returning for just a moment, before letting out a melody.

No words were spoken. No microphone to be seen. And yet the room filled with a soft melody. A song of joyful anxiety. Feelings of waiting for something beautiful. Waiting forever, even though the moment would soon arrive. Only a select few even noticed the girl in swimwear walk up.

But as the song ended the spotlight moved to the top of the dive tower. Phantom drums rolled, preparing for the jump. A simple, no frills, swan dive.

And the mermaid ate her whole. Like a mouse jumping into the gaping jaws of a viper.

"Ah! That's not quite right either!" The ringmaster's voice was calmer than her words. The minotaur came back in and took away the water tank. The cackling laughter of the siren slowly faded as she was carried away.

The ringmaster appeared again in center stage. “I suppose this means we should bring in our final act, doesn’t it?” Just then the ticket girl came running in. Behind her, a youthful zombie boy was walking confidently with a cigar dangling from its lips. No shambling, no raised arms, a cool stride from a boy who clearly had been broken apart and put back together several times. Even his clothing would have looked fancy, were it not for the countless stitches all over it.

“Oh, zombies. A favored past time of today’s youth, I hear.” She handed her hammer to the ticket girl. Elly turned around and heaved the hammer upwards, knocking the zombie into the sky. “Some people like smashing them, others enjoy plowing through them. With that the minotaur came back out, volleying the zombie back upwards with the large water tank. The siren leaped out and spiked it down with her tail.

“Others still enjoy shooting them. But I wonder, have you ever seen them shot out of a cannon?” The ringmaster asked while the rest dealt with the walking dead. The clowns came in carrying an old fashion cannon. No doubt something that had been kept and maintained since the 1800’s. It was tilted up, and the zombie was caught within. Soon after the cigar landed in the ringmaster’s hands. Elly came back, dragging the hammer, and the two traded. The cigar gently popped into the mouth of the ticket girl, and the hammer effortlessly lifted back up by the ringmaster. “Well, then it’s best I show you!”

The ringmaster relit the cigar with her own cigarette, then brought it down to the fuse. The cigarette holder was long enough so the tall woman barely needed to lean down. After a few seconds a loud boom erupted from the cannon and a hole was punched in the tent and the place went dark, illuminated only by the stars above. The zombie, himself, would seem to even become one of them, as a new star twinkled in the sky.

Anyone watching the hole would see fireworks going off, blues and greens decorating the night sky where the zombie had ported off to. For just a moment before the fireworks went off, David swore he could see Viv casting some kind of spell. She gave a wink to anyone who noticed her before vanishing into thin air.

The crowd murmured. It lasted long enough to be uncomfortable, but not so long as to portray that the show had ended. Just as people began to get up the entire tent slowly lit back up, like a cinema after the credits of a movie finish rolling. There stood much of the cast. The ringmaster stood center. To her left were the three clowns, and to her right were the minotaur, mermaid, and ticket girl. The mermaid spat out the acrobat, who remained completely unharmed, and down fell the zombie's head onto the top of the hammer.

“Thank you for visiting our show tonight!” Everyone but the clowns spoke, gathering applause. And with that they vanished in a puff of smoke.