Old Cambridge Circu; Cambridge, Illinois

Risque finally got out of the lake after her few moments of swimming and just relaxing. Throwing back on her outfit from earlier, she wrung out the water from her hair, letting it drip around her in a soggy mess. Reminding herself of her small tricks she needed to practice she heads to the big top, curious as if it were empty.

Izzy followed behind her, with a pair of shoes in his mouth. Seeing how Risque had forgotten her shoes when chasing him down earlier. Entering the big top, she looked up at the acrobats rope and grinned. She could practice her balance right?

((sorry its so short... but I have nooooooooooo idea on what to do for Risque. XD)))

"I have a flirty voice?" "Haha very funny." "Well, Ghost, I obviously don't see you as an enemy. So, I believe you should assume that I meant the latter." I had been correct. The thought brought a smile to his face as he listened to him say why he did it. "Much to my dismay, I am unable to express my emotions in a...normal fashion, for lack of a better word. So, my flirting is my outlet." "Outlet..." Repeating the word he didn't know what to make of of.

Catching the wink made him smirk, "All you do is flirt, how come you never take anyone as your own to find love?" Asking the question he looked into the honey drops that were gazing into him glancing between his eyes and what he believed to be his lips causing him to become smug. When licking his lips Ghost found it unbearably attractive, "Besides, I personally find you very attractive, though, I think my earlier comment made that quite clear." "I could tell by the way someone kept peering at me," he chuckled over it, "but I think your mesmeric yourself." Sitting up he let Lyfe roll into his lap and made sure to keep him close to him. With a cotton sigh he let his left hand race through Lyfe's brown waves. Knowing Lyfe wasn't observing him he couldn't help but gawk. He didn't just find him physically attractive, but mentally as well. The way Ghost felt for him he couldn't describe, mainly because he didn't fully understand it himself yet.

Letting his own hand roam he could feel the scars and deep cuts he had obtained from passing times I attractive Scuffing at the thought he knew better. This scars were just one reminder of how unappealing he was, they might have been imbedded in an eight abs, but still far from being what most consider attractive. Like Lyfe he had too been lusted for, the people never truly had any interest in him and he none for them. That was one way he'd grown from being part of the circus. He would never just sleep around again. It's not like didn't find if right, just not entertaining anymore. "Sex without love is a bore, vexatious, and a waste of time," pulling the topic out of the blue he wanted to expand on it for whatever reason, "hypothesizing you know what I mean I shouldn't have to explain. Even being in a relationship without love is meaningless." Pretty much he was rambling without a point, he just wanted to speak his mind. "I don't really know where that came from, but I do know one thing. You flirting with everyone that steps into the circus is another meaningless thing." using a light tone the only word that had edges was meaningless. Not only did seeing him do it cause Ghost to feel uncomfortably jealous, but there was really no true point behind it. Ghost knew a lot of the girls took interest in his friend and with Lyfe's flirting he could possibly be giving false hope to them, hope of dating perhaps.

"If you want to find love then maybe you should focus on one person over many...then you won't need an outlet anymore, all you'll need is them." Moving his right right arm he used it to pull Lyfe forth up his lap, then he let it rest on the small curve of Lyfe's side. "I hope saying so wasn't a faux, I just want what's best for you." Being honest he leaned over and kissed Lyfe's forehead in a friendly, hinting flirtation, before sitting back up with a casual hunch from leaning over to pet and peer.

His eyes began to feel heavy causing him to shut them. "Excuse me," saying so as he faintly yawned. He was growing tired, maybe from his trouble of sleeping. His sleeping habits weren't the best, he only slept when feeling his safest, rare, but with his friend he did have that feeling. Not being ready to retire after he let out another yawn, "Excuse me, again," he wanted something to help he stay cheery. "Do something to keep me awake, please." Nudging his resting friend he waited for some form of entertainment he may or may not been about to receive.

Lyfe chuckled lightly, almost airly. "If I can't touch then I'll settle for looking," he shrugged nonchalantly. "But I think your mesmeric yourself." To that he gave Ghost a cheeky grin, "Why thank you." The ringmaster allowed the strong man pull him onto his lap, for he was finding comfort in resting his head against the other man's chest and inhaling the natural scent that he carried with him. He watched his companion ramble, eyes moving to Ghost's orbs all the while.

"I'm sensing a theme here," he said, biting back the snarkiness he so wanted to display. He didn't see his flirting as meaningless, but he could see Ghost's point. He didn't want to have a relationship , not because he wasn't interested in anyone...in fact, one of the people he was most interested in was currently running his fingers through his hair. "Since when is my love life one of our topics?" He smiled in amusement, finding this moment both wonderful, abnormal, and uncomfortable all at the same time.

"If you want to find love then maybe you should focus on one person over many...then you won't need an outlet anymore, all you'll need is them."

"I'll think about it," he mused. "Maybe I'll find a person that can make me commit...maybe," he smiled charmingly, "I already have. I really appreciate the concern, Ghost. It truly means alot to me." He placed a hand on Ghost's shoulder, squeezing it slightly as a sign of thanks before grinning fondly at the other man. "Okay, I'll attempt to entertain you as best I can." He shimmied off of Ghost's lap and sat crossed legged beside him. "Do you want to know more about me? My name for instance...if you haven't noticed, it's not actually Lyfe. I'll answer any question you have, but there are some things that I merely do not wish to share. I'll try my best to tell you as much as I can bare."

"I'll think about it," "Good." "Maybe I'll find a person that can make me commit...maybe," like always his voice was charismatic that it was annoying to know he used the same tone with everyone, "I already have. I really appreciate the concern, Ghost. It truly means alot to me." "Already have?" It didn't take long for his questioning to be over looked, he was curious of this already though.

"Okay, I'll attempt to entertain you as best I can." Gliding from his lap he sat beside him with crossed legs. Pulling his glasses off his nose he ran his hand over his face then placed his glasses beside him. For the most part he didn't need them to see, they were mainly to read he just chose to wear them for looks. "Do you want to know more about me? My name for instance...if you haven't noticed, it's not actually Lyfe. I'll answer any question you have, but there are some things that I merely do not wish to share. I'll try my best to tell you as much as I can bare." This game struck great interest into Ghost for he had wanted to know more about his friend. He was going to try his best not to ask anything unbearable for him so he was going to try not to ask any questions about his past. "Well, well, well then... I've been very curious about you for a while. You appear open to all, but you never mention anything from your past or anything," Good job stating the obvious. There were so many things he could ask, things he had thought of, but he felt brain dead like he couldn't think of really anything to ask. "What's your real name and age?" Pulling his knees up to his chest he rested his head on them. Good lord I'm drained. Asking his two first questions were very generic, but he still didn't know them. Looking Lyfe over he didn't think he looked very old, maybe in his twenties at tops unlike Ghost being thirty.

"Where were you born and raised? How was your family?" He was a little more hesitant about this question, not sure if he was pressing to hard or not. "I think its only fair if I share too," taking in a deep breath it wasn't going to be anything exciting, but whatever. "My real name is Moses Hannibal Grant, I'm thirty, I was born in France and lived there until I was four then we moved to the states for my mothers job, she was a nurse. I had to move around a lot because my dad was a historian... sorry, I don't mean to always start rambling," popping his head off his legs he rubbed his chin dramatically for laughs, "my next question isssss, what school did you graduate from and what did you do before the circus?" Before Ghost had come here he wasn't in a good place, but before the kidnapping it wasn't to much better, something he didn't like talking about, but had told Lyfe before he was allowed to join the circus and stressed to share some again today. "Mine wasn't the best you already know." Gesturing to his torso, but he grinned regardless the pain it brought.

"Moving to a happier not what's you happiest memory?" Happy memories made Ghost beam, there was no doubt in his mind that he knew what his own was. "Coming here is my fondest, I couldn't pénétrer(fathom) a better thought than this place"pause"and it's all thanks to you." Tapping his fingers on the bed he stretched his legs back out as the began to tingle. "But, when I was much younger my father use to take me with him to his presentations and meetings. Going with him made my interest in history grow, made me grow up curious and my curiosity lead me in the wrong directions."

Lyfe grinned when he heard Ghost's voice laden with excitement. He didn't think that he was that interesting, but he could see the appeal in cracking the mystery that was the ringmaster. Lyfe was aware that he wasn't much of an open book and in his defence, not many of his carnies were either, but being the ringmaster, it was to be expected that he share a tidbit...at the most, of his life's story.

Lyfe allowed Ghost to ramble off with a plethora of questions and information about his story. He tried to imagine the other man's mother and what she might have looked like. She might have the same green eyes as the other man, or the same nose or pink lips. He doubted that he'd ever find out. When Ghost was done with his idle talking, Lyfe rested his elbow on his knee then propped his chin on his knuckles, surveying the other man with amusement.

"Moses..." He tasted the name on his tongue, savoring it. "I like it, I think I'll call you that from here on out. It suits you nicely." He took a deep breath as his fingers idly fiddled with the buttons of his vest. "My name is Eden," he looked up at Moses, searching his face for a reaction. "And believe it or not, I'm thirty-five. I look like a teenager, I'm fully aware. If I ever grow my beard out, I'm sure I'll look my age." He chuckled a bit before continuing, "I was born in Manchester, England." There was a short pause as he gulped. When was the last time he discussed his childhood...if ever? "I don't necessarily have a family. My father killed my mother and himself right in front of me when I was merely one year old. I was in and out of the orphanage until I turned sixteen. I didn't graduate high school, nor did I attend college. I taught myself by stealing novels and reading during my spare time and challenging myself by learning words out of the dictionary." He smiled, but there was a sadness about it, for he did yearn for a normal education, but just wasn't dealt the right hand. He learned to cope with the fact that he wasn't as lucky, but it didn't stop him from thinking about what could have been.

"I had to find work at an early age because I ran away from my foster family. I was homeless," he released a sigh. "Didn't have much, but a few pounds and a bag of clothes to my name. Finding work wasn't easy and I hope that what I tell you next doesn't change your perspective of me." He went back to idly picking at his vest, eyes moving to the sheets of his bed. "I was wrapped up in the escort business before I built this place." He laughed humorlessly, eyes glazing over as he heard the delicate moans of the women he pleased ringing in his ears and saw the plethora of clients requesting his company. "Prostitution was the only way I could make ends meet and then some. My first time was with a stranger...she didn't even remember my name, but she remembered my price." His eyes were on Moses now, his face a bit hard. "I ran away from that life...like I run away from everything..." He snapped out of his reverie, pulling a coy smile onto his face, though it didn't reach his eyes. "As for my happiest memory, I'd say it was back when I was adopted by the Petersons. It was my first Christmas with them and I just figured that it was going to be like every other one I've endured." He bit his bottom lip as the memories flooded his mind. "I usually didn't get presents, let alone celebrate Christmas, but the Petersons went all out. We had a tree that sparkled with beautiful lights, a mistletoe over the entranceway, and actual presents. We spent the day singing carols and opening gifts. It was the first time that I felt like I was a member of an actual family. I was fifteen at the time." He allowed his golden eyes to rest on Moses's face. "Like I said, Moses," his lips quirked at the sound of his real name. "I'm a mess."

Liu watched the commotion evolve quietly, pulling out his lighter again and flicking it on and off every now and then. His attention moved to Ricket when he seemed to teleport to his side. His eyes widened and he gasped lightly, dropping his lighter onto the ground. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down as images of his step-mother's lover flashed across his mind. Once he was calmed down, he leaned down and picked up his lighter, flicking it on and off again. "Sorry about that, and yes Pheonix, or Liu. Either works," he said.

"Is it always like this? With some kind of commotion going on? Or is that just because of us newbies?" he asked, looking over towards the commotion once more. He watched the flame of his lighter quietly as he waited for a response to his questions, forcing himself to stay calm and not get worked up again.

Thoughts were dangerous, deadly, helpful, and colorful, almost like being pregnant; they could be aborted, birthed, unconscious with an aroma of bliss or painfully pushed through with small sharp breaks. Ghost, no, Moses' past had been a maze made from dying, decaying, withering rose bushes and he had been clumsy enough to hit thorns with every wrong turn he made. It was mutilated for him, and it seemed like his life was a work of possibly a work of Edgar Allen Poe: dark, full of drugs, and always ended in death. Twisting and swerving he laid down letting his head fall into his closet companions lap without asking. "A delightful place; a paradise; a state of innocence, bliss, or ultimate happiness," rolling to his back his head looked up at his shimmering holder, "a pulchritudinous man named after a beautiful place." Switching a light sources externally he knew he had finished the maze finding the heavenly red roses that lacked the afflictive needles, bringing him to his own Eden in terms. It was now his turn to divvy more briskly shadowed past experiences. Inhaling and exhaling he took his time to ponder pained memories.

"I'm a silent man for the most part, I listen, sympathize, observe, but not always, something I've made crystal." Stone like with slow vibrating ripples strolling and rumbling from his core. Weary lilies pads for eyes that flowed into a stormy night. "If I were to be technical every lash I got I deserved, the beatings, scolding, all deserved for my disgracefully life style at the time. I've mentioned my deeds, but some I keep locked like the men I killed or the things I stole, the people I hurt. Uneducated people people do uneducated things, a excuse that could never be held to me even though it was used often." A breeze of Siberia dances in misplacing Moses hair, bumping his skin, and a shutter from hair ends to tiptoes. The breeze blew to a new conversation, their whole talk had seemed to be a boat named Titanic blindly floating on waters of secret depression that had drifted uncharted and kissed a femme fatal that killed it, this speaking could not just crash before Moses took his slumber, but before he could fully ride the wind he had to force his opinion in, "You may be a mess, but I love you anyways." His own words tranquilized him; saying he loved someone was both terrifying and a pleasing. Moses was like an egg; thick she'll on the out side that protected him the white, black, and grey while the inside was the yoke that was runny and soft, vulnerable no matter what, and flowed in uncontrollable directions until the yellow ooze stuck to something. Yoke he was now forth his shell break and bursted out the broken yet caring soul of a Moses who knew so much to know so little.

Twitching of two muscles on his face created a black canvas with the bright but dulled taste of colors behind thin flaps of skin. Had he completely changed the topic with the word love? He didn't know, he was no Nike that would win all and conquer with the firm belief that could not sway him from knowing so, no champion that had competed to win. He was Moses, the broken egg that had shared past and present feelings that was tired and wanted to fall into a deep unconscious mind set where dreams of black sheets would form while he laid in the bed of his ultimate happiness. "Sleep come and I shall lie down to thy feet and rest amor to sun rays awaken the slumber to their fullest point. Quoting himself brought back a pleasant time, what was it again? Before the drugs at least, the ninth grade if correct. Sweet time when he was still ignorant to some high school. When people were no longer young but nor were they old enough to know much of anything. "We had been studying Shakespeare, Romeo and the lovely Juliet to be exact, we had to write something that could fit into one of his stories," on display atop the sleepy giant swooned the out stretching if skin to showcase marvelous pearl toned white rounded square shapes, "my sentence alone rewarded me a C- just for attempting, I was fond of it though." Taking a breather for his chortling a room temperature tear of amusement curved down his left cheek. "The topic had been fascinatingly written, but the teacher was mundane, I had already read the story and her voice just made me want to stab myself through the chest so I didn't have to endure such great discomfort of her monotoneness." His chortle escalated into a louder enjoyment from the ninth grade experience he was recalling. "Ninth grade was... the last good year of my... life until the circus." Word groups were cut up by his jolly makings, he was an odd egg, luckily he wasn't rotten like he once thought, just cracked with a big bandaid on top to hold him together while he healed.

Smiles nodded as Lyfe sent him for the first aid kit. Sure hope the guy knows what to do with it 'cuz I sure as hell don't, he thought as he jogged back into the Big Top in search for said kit. He was no nurse, and with his expirience he never wished to be one. Heck, hospitals were a no-go point for Smiles. Broke a leg or arm? Better make do with a makeshift cast. Had a cold? Go to the nearest pharmacy and get over the counter meds for that shit. He dying? Well, guess its goodbye. 'Cuz there was no way in hell they'd get Smiles to willingly step a foot inside those damn sterile buildings. It was the cause of much frustration to many of his carnie friends when he'd gotten injured on accident or sick but Smiles had yet to got to the hospital or a clinic and he'd make sure he was dead before ever doing so.

Grim thoughts but it was what it was. Smiles always had a ready yes at the tip of his lips but if he ever did utter a no that was that. No if's, and, or but's about it. Spotting the first aid kit he grabbed for it and jogged back toward Felix. Handing him the kit he smiled a bit sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. [color=#79530]"Um, I'm no doctor so I sure hope you know what to do with it... Anything else you need, just ask me. Names Smiles, if you haven't guessed. Not the best of ways to meet a person but hey, Welcome to the circus."[/color] He smiled widely, living to his nicknames sake yet again. [color=#79530]"By the way, that looks like it hurts. Think you might need ice to stop it from swelling too bad?"[/color]

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The edges of Tomo's lips twitched downward as she watched from afar the commotion that was taking place only a few feet away from the big tent. She was use to watching fights as some of her guy friends were prone to acting up when they were a bit too into their bottles but that still didn't mean it sat well in her stomach. Sure, she'd let a fist or two fly easily if she was pushed too far. She was sure anyone with a sense of self preservation would do it in dire situations... Still, she was more of a lover than a fighter. Not that anyone would have guessed by their preconceived notions. Tomo was used to it though so that softened the blow of their judgement a bit. She turned away from the scene as Lyfe put down the law. Situation taken care of? Maybe. She tilted her head as Shiloh smiled at them. Just as quickly Tomo smiled in return, albiet with a little more enthusiasm than was needed but she coudn't help that. Attractive people did that to her.

She siddled next to the quiet clown as she guided Chalice and herself off to what Tomo guessed would be their new living quarters. As they passed a few smaller tents and trailers she chuckled over the things some signs said. In her mind she was already trying to guess at each signs real meaning and each trailers use. It was quirky and kinda cute. It made it almost seem like a whole new world and Tomo guessed for them it truly was. With any luck, you'll soon be a part of it, her mind reminded her and her smile widened at the thought.

"So, is that sort of stuff a norm around here? Should I have pepper spray at hand? Or does it only occur every full moon? When the sane go insane and the crazies are suddenly sound of mind." she asked Shiloh, hoping to hear the quiet females voice again and curious as to the answer. She grinned after a bit. "Not that I'm spooked by it or anything but I'd like a fair warning if one of you guys decides you have a personal vendetta against me and just lays a big one on me. I'll behave." Something about those last words rang in her ears and her smile dropped a fraction before turning into a smirk. "For the most part."

Remembering Phoenix's words on his panic attack issue gave Tomo a paused. She looked off toward the trees before speaking up again. Her voice was a smooth nonchalance that had been perfected to be believable but even then there was still a slight steely undertone to it. "By the way, I don't take well to being locked in anything... Rooms, closets, tent, trailers... Cars, though I can probably tolerate it if theres a good reason to lock the doors... Bars on windows... Anything. If I'm in an enclosed space and I know for sure that I'm not locked in there's no problem but if I'm not... Well, let's just say those are my full moons..." she trailed off with a humorless chuckle and shrugged. Swirling her index finger around her ear she laughed and cooed [i]koo koo[i] softly. [color#990000]"Forgot to mention that to the dude back there. That's about the only oddity I know that I have so... Fair warning has been given."[/color]