The Circus is in Town! (Open) (1,646 views)

[113shoe]

"Oh, simple tasks really." Miko explained, never slowing himself down as the kacheek had caught up. "Help set up anything that hasn't already mostly. If anything else comes around that needs assisting, then we shall see." He was pretty sure that there was at least one tent that was still down on the ground. They had arrived pretty late during the night and sleep would have come first before anything else.

So enough the crowd would fade away and the tents were soon able to be seen in full glory. There were also signs of the performers actually stirring around, the workers well rested and back to work. Neopets of all species and colors seemed to be part of the cast, from spotted hissi to green zafara coming out of the tents and tying up any loose ends. Miko smiled to himself at he saw these, getting a few back in return before they went back to what they were doing. They were a good crew. He had to admit.

[Maddie]

Dude smiled as well, excited to see other members of the circus crew. No one was in costume yet, of course, but to him each worker still kindled a sense of wonder. "Simply amazing," he whispered to himself, just audible enough for Miko to hear.

Not wanting to be a bother, Dude refrained from directly talking to anyone, and instead let his eyes wander about the area. He soon caught sight of a tent that was barely standing, partially collapsed, and surrounded by a handful of workers who, from what he could tell, were having trouble erecting the mighty big top. Dude jolted to life, energized once again. "Do you need help with that tent?" he asked, leaning towards Miko and pointing to what he noticed. "It looks like a lot of work putting them up. Why don't you ask those kind fellows if they need my assistance? I don't want to seem too forward."

[113shoe]

When Miko spotted the down tent, he tapped his fingers against his cane in very slight disapproval. It was one of the smaller tents where smaller attractions were presented, such as the oddities and even the seti pair that were the mascots. His gaze flicked to Dude as he talked about assistance, the kacheek having taken note of the strain on the crew. They did seem like there was difficulty, mostly from slick ropes and most of the workers setting up elsewhere. Yes, an extra hand would definitely be needed here.

"Very well." Miko agreed, approaching the nearest worker. It was a Halloween zafara as the colors showed, wearing a purple bandana around her head as she worked. "Bonita!" Miko called, making the girl instantly work up from her tugging. "Setting up the tent?"
"Yeah, it was up a minute ago, but it just crashed down before we could get anything in."
"Strange." Miko commented, Magic feathers ruffling up as well. Incidents like that rarely happened. He might have to look into it later. "Either way, I have brought a friend of mine that can assist with this chore." He motioned to Dude, the zafara looking right at him.
"Great. Any extra hands would rock."

[Maddie]

Dude stood ogling at Bonito while she and Miko were talking, fascinated by her apparent skeleton, which Dude was unaccustomed to. There aren't many Halloween pets in Neopia Central. As soon as the zafara directed her attention towards him, however, he tried to hide his astonishment as well as possible. The last thing he wanted was to seem rude.

"I'm glad to help! The name is Dude," he replied, bowing slightly and tipping his hat in acknowledgment. "The circus has always intrigued me. Wow, these tents are just so fantastic, even when they're dilapidated! Well, it won't be that way for long, hopefully, ha ha! Not while I'm here!" the disco kacheek chattered listlessly more or less to himself as he approached a sagging support beam and promptly propped it upright.

He then turned to Miko, who had not moved from his spot. "So will you be helping too?" he asked with an innocent smile, unaware of Miko's higher rank in the circus crew.

[113shoe]

"Bonita, And no need to gawk." The stagehand had noticed the attention she was getting from Dude, now grabbing a rope as she talked. "I only wear the bones when I'm working." Helped to keep from getting roasted in the sun and the bones on her hands a feet gave needed traction and grip.
As the tent was lifted from the ground, the colors started to become more clear and bright. Blue and yellow fabric was used, much like the signature colors of the Lost Desert itself. On the entrance flap held to symbol of the Seti circus, a gold hieroglyphic of a set among the blue. It was on all the tents, showing they were one. Other neopets were working on this tent other than the two now, pulling the ropes and lifting the other support beam.

Mike however did not join the crew, just watching before Dude turned to him.
"I have... other business to attend to." The split Ruki explained, smiling in return. He couldn't say what, but there was probably somewhere the ringmaster needed to be. "I shall she you tonight." Magic squawked as he said that, flying off as Miko bowed and turned to disappear among the other tents.

[Maddie]

"Oh," Dude thought aloud dumbly. "Uh y-yeah! See you tonight!" he called after Miko. But to his disappointment, the ruki had already turned away and left. The disco kacheek paused with a pensive look, wondering what it was Miko could have been so busy with; he thought, and had hoped, that this was something they could have done together. But if Miko was busy, so be it. It would only make catching sight of him at the show all the more exciting. Amid these musings, Dude's attention was promptly redirected by the clamor of workers shouting at one another. He quickly shifted his focus back to the falling tent, following Bonita as she waved him down for help.

~***~

By the time the sun began to shy behind the horizon, the tent was standing tall, sturdy, and proud. Its canvas walls boldly bore the noble emblem of the Seti Circus, which Dude had grown increasingly giddy about. After exchanging good byes with Bonito and the rest of the crew, Dude went to search for his two younger siblings. They were probably wondering where he was all this time, and he was wondering the same about them! But to be frank, he wanted most of all to tell them about his new circus friend before the show started. Wouldn't it be delightful to point to Miko during his performance and say, "that's the guy!"? Dude grinned at the thought. Time was of the essence, though! No time to be silly! The circus was going to open soon!

[113shoe]

The crew was more than relieved when the tent was finally up, many wiping sweat off their brow in pride. It really was a sight to see when these things were properly placed. All the tents made a rather imposing silhouette along the horizon of Roo Island, noble and almost like they had been there for countless ages. Now they were ready for night....

"The sun will soon be down and we'll be up." Miko said to Magic, watching the now orange orb creeping down. He had spent the previous hours running last minute checks on ropes, tents, and making sure the performers were present. Everything thankfully was in its place. Now that is was getting dark, torches would be lit around the circus grounds. It gave a pleasant and yet mysterious feeling, adding to the traditional air. Plus it saved a good amount of money without an electric bill for spotlights. Inside the back tents neopets would be scrambling like tigermice, getting ready for their upcoming acts. Makeup, costumes, going over routines in their heads. Mostly the newer recruits who didn't have the experience. Miko however was calm through all this chaos, watching the crowds just outside the main tent. There was already a group forming! It wouldn't be long now.

[Maddie]

If Miko had been paying close attention, he would have spotted an unusually tall disco kacheeks walking along side a pair of shorter kacheeks, one biscuit and one water colored. Dude appeared passive to the crowd pushing him forward, having grown quite used to it at this point. Star and Cici, on the other hand, appeared slightly agitated.

"So what I'm gathering is," Star was speaking in a loud voice, in order to be heard above the crowd, "is that you walked up to a complete stranger, bought him a drink, and worked on circus tents? Am I getting that right?"

Dude laughed at how absurd it sounded when she put it that way. "Yes, I suppose you do have it right. At least it's more interesting than what you two did all day," he teased.

"Ppht!" Star replied with an eye roll, throwing her wrist forward. "Cici and I totally had a blast! You know the storytelling corner is ol' Chubby's favorite, don't knock him for it!" She nudged Cici's shoulder, and he smiled feebly in return.

As the siblings chattered on, the entrance to the big top soon hung over their heads, as if it were inviting them inside in all its glorious splendor. Dude seemed to be the most interested by the tent's interior, excitedly flinging his head in every direction. Cici shrunk a little, fearful of losing his siblings for the inside was much larger than he expected. Star held onto him tightly to reassure him he was safe, also inspecting the elements of the tent. Bright colors seemed to dance along the walls as the flames from the torches flickered.

Eventually, after several more minutes of pushing through the crowd, the family inched into a pair of seats that offered them a good view of the show. With the stage in view, the circus fever really began to kick in. Cici began to smile despite his anxieties. "This... this might actually end up... exciting!" he mumbled happily. Dude and Star both smiled.

"Just wait until you see Miko," Dude replied with an eager, watchful look.

[113shoe]

The kacheek siblings went unnoticed by Miko as they entered the ring, but he wasn't really looking for them just yet. He had a circus to run. Even from a distance he could hear the constant buzz of conversation, his antennae twitching and swiveling at the sounds. This was going to be a good night. Everything was ready to go and the audience was growing by the minute. The ringmaster looked back up at the sky, seeing that the sun had finally gone down and the moon already up in the air. Miko smiled. "Showtime."

Inside the tent things were really starting to stir. Neopets were grabbing their seats for the show, finding the perfect place to see all. The seats were mostly bleachers as you would see for a circus, creating a half circle around the area. The stage itself... didn't really look that much like a stage in full honesty. The ground was bare and exposed, only a large slab in the center of the ground. It was the same wood as the bleachers, but it was painted a lovely blue with the classic golden seti symbol.The audience was soon getting settled into the tent, waiting patiently for the circus to begin. Luckily any noise would come to a halt as the tent was closed outside, making the area dark where the torches couldn't reach. The whole place got quiet for a while, building up the air. What was going on?

"Greeting colleagues." A rather familiar voice called from a hidden part of the tent. "What you are about to see and experience under this tent is far beyond the imagination. From amazing acts that will leave you on the edge of your seats to feats that you would only see in your wildest dreams." After the statement, covered torches inside the tent suddenly lit, a puff of smoke appearing in the center of the stage. When it cleared, Miko himself was standing there, proud and proper in his common attire. The tone he was using was very inviting, yet also strong like a ringmaster should be. "Tonight, I shall be your guide into an ancient world of the making. The Seti Circus!"

[Maddie]

Upon Miko's immediate reveal, Dude nearly leapt from his seat. He would have squealed as well if it weren't for the bewildered stares of strangers returning him to his senses. Cici and Star were quick to prod Dude for an explanation, but he waited for Miko to finish his statement, which was followed by a roar of cheers from the crowd, to reply to them.

"That's the guy!" he told them excitedly with a sharp turn, stars twinkling in his eyes. Cici and Star shared a look of amazement; they suspected as much judging from his reaction, but even now it was hard to believe.

"You made friends with the ringmaster?" Star gawked with a half smile. She nudged Dude on the shoulder as if to say "good job."

"You're so brave," Cici replied, returning a small smile.

"I didn't know!" Dude laughed, utterly blown away. "He wouldn't tell me-!"

When the cheering died down, the trio respectfully returned their attention to the stage, but with more excitement than before.

[113shoe]

Miko couldn't help but beam as he heard the all familiar sound of applause as it boomed around the tent. It always lifted his spirits sky high to see how excited the crowd got with his simple introduction. He could already tell this was going to be a show to remember.

"Now that the air seems to have died down, it will give me great pleasure to begin this magical show." Those words would be a cue for a certain airax to swoop down from what seemed like nowhere, the bird gliding over the now entranced crowd. Miko watched Magic as she just barely brushed her wings over the audience, soon circling over her owner and landing on his extended arm.

"Now that I'm sure I have your attention, we can really begin. Without further ado, I give you our first act for the long night." With that, the ruki snapped his fingers, disappearing in a sharp puff of smoke as Magic flew back the way she came. One thing could be said about Miko, he certainly knew how to make an entrance. The lights would flicker as the smoke cleared, a few seconds passed before the first performers would start to enter. It was the Halloween Zafara from before, only she wasn't wearing her bone garb anymore. Instead it was replaced with a long indigo cloak, the seti symbol stitched in gold on the back. It gave her a slightly ominous look, but the silent surroundings probably weren't helping as she stepped up to the platform. The place went silent as the zafara just stood there, the atmosphere building as they waited for what might happen.

[Maddie]

Cici initially ducked for cover when Magic swooped by, but relaxed when he realized it was part of the act. He began to laugh quietly in spite of himself, but was interrupted by Dude prodding him. "I know that airax!" the disco kacheek babbled buoyantly. "Her name is Magic. She never once left Miko's side!" Star overheard and playfully rolled her eyes.

The moment Bonita appeared, Dude continued his incessant talk. "Hey, I know her too! Her name is Bonita. We erected one of the tents together!" he boasted excitedly under his breathe, elbowing Star.

Star laughed a little, but with a hint of irritation. "Do you just know everyone?" she half-joked.

"No, that's about it actually," Dude admit with a guilty shrug. Soon after, a heavy atmosphere fell upon the audience, causing the trio to go stark silent in anticipation.

[113shoe]

The zafara in the middle of the stage had her head cast low, the only movement being her tail slowly swinging back and forth on the dirt. The area was now hushed as they stared at her, waiting to see what was going to happen. The torches flickered as she finally started to become active, her face becoming visible through the hood on her head as she met the gaze of the crowds.

"Now, the ringmaster might have said that you are about to enter a strange new world. That world is full of wonder, but also of danger. Full of strange beasts, powerful and deadly. Well, today I'm going to show you what a true beast might appear as." Bonita then turned towards the entrance of the circus, where... something cried out. It sounded like something growling, almost like the snowager waking up for the first time. That when Bonita's example lumbered into the spotlight. It was a mutant Ixi, hard hooves hitting the ground as glowing squinted eyes swiped over the audience. Growls and snorts rang out with each breath, lumbering slowly towards Bonita. No chains, no protection, just her and this primal looking neopet.

[Maddie]

Upon the mutant ixi's entrance, the three kacheek siblings winced and sunk deeper into their seats. This was followed by an exchange of surprised glances. Excitement was quickly replaced with unease.

"You too, huh?" Star whispered to Dude, concerned.

"Yeah," he responded, just as quiet. "This doesn't sit right with me."

"I'm worried," Cici added nervously, unable to remove his eyes from Bonita.

"I know," Dude sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I hope she doesn't hurt the ixi."

As an avid advocate of non-violence, Dude possessed a strong sensitivity to cruelty - even when directed towards mutants. He had influenced his younger siblings to adopt this outlook as well. As such, the three shared an uneasiness about the mutant ixi being used for a circus act. The last thing Dude said before falling back into silence was, "we'll just have to see how this plays out."

[113shoe]

The ixi's ears twitched as the crowd around them reacted to its presence, head whipping around in the direction of three kacheeks. Naturally narrowed eyes were glued on the figures for what was only a few seconds, any thoughts it might of had not present in the slightest. Eventually its concentration would be broken by a whistle, Bonita's to be exact as the mutant turned back to the performer. It huffed out some air before returning to its course, getting closer and closer without delay. Bonita showed absolutely no fear, even if it seemed she had no way to defend herself from this figure. Soon enough the ixi was arms length away from her, breathing heavily like an animal. The suspense was thick in the air, everyone wondering what was going on in front of them. The ixi would break the silence again, straightening up as much as it could and bleating out a roar that could only be called monstrous. Bonita was right in its path, but didn't even flinch in response. Her only reaction would be a slight smirk on her part, tail flicking behind her.

With that simple action, the ixi suddenly... stopped. It's noises ceased and muscles visible loosened, attention thought still on the fearless zafara. That's when things got interesting. Zafara lifted her hand up, keeping her own gaze locked on her visitor. The ixi stayed still for a few more seconds, but slowly it's own burly arm started to lift up, hand soon up as well. Was it... copying her? Bonita moved her hand back down while the other would rise, the mutant soon mirroring the action as before. Its eyes never left the zafara as she took a step back, gaze locked as it did the same. It was as if Bonita had complete control of this creature. Pure looks alone said that the ixi could crush her easily, yet the weaker neopet had complete control. Bonita kept moving slowly and calmly, the mutant ixi doing the exact same. All the while she had a determined yet confident smile on her face, paying just as little attention to the audience as her apparent puppet was.