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Post by Atticus Batman on Nov 22, 2017 12:46:42 GMT
In my EGO, Kakusi (my Grid Symbiote's persona) was filling in for my EGO, Dinara, as she was off helping my lovely wife, Lady, and Lady's EGO (Dinara's girlfriend) Amber, in Amber's EGO. One wouldn't be able to tell from the Grid Revenant's impassive features, but he was worried for he couldn't reach Amber or Dinara via the EGO link. SO desperate times called for desperate measures, which is why there was now a heavy knock on Dinara's door. When Kakusi opened it, my alter-EGO, the former assassin known as Kabule was standing there. Once the door opened Kabule snapped, "What the fuck do you need Wormy?"
Kakusi responded with, "Dinara went to help Amber. I have been trying to contact them with a theory that Amber's firewall is preventing our Grid energies from helping the Wifeling. However I can not reach them or any of our other EGO friends that went to help them. So I need you to go tell them my theory and make sure they are doing alright."
Kabule snapped, "Fine, I can use a short break from you and Assicus anyways!"
Kabule then stepped out the door and disappeared from Atticus ' EGO to go visit Lady's. However when he appeared in Lady's EGO instead of being where he thought he would be, he was standing in the rain in his biker leathers. He appeared to be in a circus or something. As he looked around, he muttered, "Just where the hell am I and where the fucking hell is Dinara?!"
Looking around, he saw what appeared to be a Big top. So he figured that was as good a place as any to start his search for Dinara and give her the message from Kakusi. However by the time he entered the almost empty Big top, he no longer remembered any of that, and instead now saw himself differently and was there for a different reason. He wasn't quite sure what that was yet, however once he walked into the Big Top it was as if the cloud was lifted from his head, for he now was certain of who he was and why he had come to this specific Circus with his talents, and not some other.
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Post by Atika Constantine on Nov 22, 2017 12:53:49 GMT
In the Mystic's wagon, Dinara was finally asleep, but it was not to last for she was reawakened. However as it was the love of her life, Amber that woke her, and Amber had awoken her with a gentle kiss on the lips. Dinara kissed back. Then after Amber broke the kiss, Dinara opened her eyes and smiled lovingly at Amber, for Dinara always loved when Amber awoke her that way; Amber's sleeping beauty being awakened by her true love's kiss.
However after a few seconds Dinara stretched as she said, "Aw Amber-baby, why'd you wake me? Unless..."
Amber seeing the twinkle in Dinara's eyes as Dinara was hoping it was for some more wonderful intimacy, Amber reluctantly filled her in. So Dinara responded with, "Alright. I'm up, but my body still aches a little from the new acro-dance routine that I am working on! Oh I also finished making my new outfit too! Let me try it on for you! If you like it then I know it will be perfect to wear for my routine!"
Then Dinara proceeded to try on and model her newly made outfit for Amber. When Amber eventually insisted it was time to go see the others, Dinara still wearing her newly made dance outfit, grabbed and put on the robe she always walks into the Big Top wearing right before all of her acts. When they entered the Big Top the Mongolians were already in there near the doorway. Ganbataar was polishing the swords that he and Kellina use for the stage combat acts, as well as the swords that he uses for his own sword technique that he would demonstrate briefly. Of course there were also the swords for the newest act that he had just come up with; The climbing of the Sword Ladder. While he was busy with the swords, Kellina knelt nearby lovingly petting her loyal Snow leopard companion, Tavan, while looking across the Big Top to the other side. Dinara gave them each a friendly hug and patted the leopard on the head as she said, "Why are you two waiting near the door, and just what are you and Tavan watching so closely over there Kellina?"
while still watching the other side of the Big Top Kellina said, "We have a new guy. He just stands there twirling and flipping a throwing knife behind his fingers."
Dinara muttered, "Oh...and what's that round cage over there?! It doesn't look like one of yours!"
Ganbaatar chuckled as he polished his sword and remarked, "What Dinara, you never seen a Globe of Death before?"
Dinara shook her head no. So Ganbaatar continued with, "See that very customized motorbike parked near it? That wicked looking daredevil biker over there will ride it around in that cage doing death-defying stunts. Apparently he also practices the art of knife-throwing. So who knows, maybe the crazy fellow has found a way to combine the two."
As Dinara and the others looked toward the cage, the bike, and their apparent owner, the dark and brooding stranger looked their direction. Seeing them staring he walked towards them still flipping his knife in his hand. Seeing him move towards them, Dinara stepped back behind Amber and Ganbaatar. However as he got closer, the stranger apparently recognized the slightly scared dancer and said, "What's the matter Dinara? Not happy to see me?!"
Hearing him say her name, Dinara looked closer at him. Then whispered to Amber, "My scary but surprisingly protective big-brother, that is when he was around. I told you about him; joined the military, did some scary-butt spook stuff for the military, was discharged when his 'talents' were no longer needed around the end of the BIG war, then left to make his mark on the world, and probably continuing to do spooky stuff."
Then Dinara cautiously stepped in front of Amber, and while Tavan snarled at the scary guy, she said, "Kabully, is that really you?! What the crackerjacks are you doing here?!"
Kabule chuckled at the name Dinara had called him as a toddler first learning to talk. It of course stuck with him, although Dinara was the only one he EVER let get away with calling him that. Anyway Kabule responded with, "Yes it's me. As for what I am doing here, that's simple. Somebody saw my death-defying stunts and thought it would be perfect for a Circus. I was offered money for doing what I already did for fun. So I signed on. It However I ended up I owing the guy a lot more money, than he was paying me...
Not to mention that he didn't like that I fucked his wife, virgin sister and virgin daughter. So he decided to sell me, my cage, and my bike to another Circus. When he told me, I was very tempted to just slice him from ear to ear, and enjoy EVERY second of it.
However before I did, he tossed a flier of this Circus' main attractions on the table. Imagine my surprise when I glanced down and saw a picture of my clumsy and gangly little sister now doing Acro-dance for a Circus. The circus I was just SOLD to, at that! So I agreed and here I am! I guess you aren't so gangly and clumsy anymore are you? Although you are still quite little. What are you now, 4 foot?"
Dinara stepped forward and punched him in his chest and said, "I am Four foot and Eight inches tall, thank you very much!" Then she stomped on his foot and said, "And that's for leaving us, and not coming back after...after... I was left alone! Doesn't matter! I got a new family and MY Amber-baby now. So I don't need your protection anymore anyway!" Then before anybody could react to her outburst she wrapped her arms around Kabule and hugged him as she muttered, "But I really did miss you and glad that you are alive and back in my life again, you crazy Kabully, you!"
Kabule just stood there not sure what to do as his little sister hugged him, and he looked at her friends that were currently there. The Mongolians, one of which was polishing a sword. The other with her sword sheathed by her side while she continued to kneel by her snarling Snow-Leopard, and then the beautiful dark Mystic woman who was apparently 'with' his little sister, and who just seemed to glare very judgingly into his very dark soul.
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Post by Belle Starr on Nov 22, 2017 14:20:11 GMT
On the bridge of the Viglant, Atticus Batman said out loud, "Dak! Whatever those daking drones are, it seems like something they are doing is draining Lady's bio-electric energies! So now there is yet another life-threatening mystery that we need to figure out and stop! That said, I agree with Sandy to a point. We need to send a team to Pluto to figure it out. As for what to do with any tech that we acquire, that is simple. If it is safe to bring back to the ship, then the team will do so. Sandy's opinion on that tech is admirable, even though I personally think Earth has already suffered more than enough from artificial terraforming. More importantly we are all that stands between Atlas and whatever sinister plans he has for our galaxy. So any acquired tech will be examined so we can determine how best to put it to use in protecting us from these things and driving them back out of our entire universe. That means time is definitely of the essence. So Sandy, put your team together and get ready, although perhaps we can also find a way to implement Volodja's misinformation idea to buy us more time." Just then, Atticus could feel a sudden draw from his body as bio-electric energy was being drained from his body into his wife as he felt it should be to keep her safe, but before he could think more about it Sandy replied to his order. "I'm thinking a tech heavy team," Answered Sandy Bell narrowing her blue eyes as she ticked off the proposed team members on her tan fingers, "Atilla and Lena for their technical expertise, if Lena will go with us. Poe to pilot us to our destination. Atika to keep us in contact with you and a four person security team. With of course, Marcel as our wild card - and because I can't see Lena going without him, nor him letting her go without him. That makes ten of us on the away team counting myself in command. Now, how to get there?" Lena Marr gave a side-glance to her lover Marcel Lestrange with unblinking sky blue eyes asking silently the question in her mind, "Should we go?" "Y'all are crazy! Plumb crazy if y'all think you can go into the Lion's den and come back out alive!" Said Belle Starr previously unnoticed and stepping in front of Dr. Von Eschen, the blue diamond iris surrounded by the whites of her eyes as she wrung her pale hands like a wet dishrag. "How long you been standing there Belle?" Asked Sandy worry obvious in voice. "Long enough," Replied Belle with a frown on her lush lips, "I heard Volo - and Atticus - and you too Sandy, and y'all are truly crazy it you think you can reason, or trick, or steal from Atlas! You can't do any of them things with an omnipotent being! I know for I tried - and failed miserably! It's just hubris to think different!" "Then what do you think we should do?" Queried Sandy with one blond eyebrow raised. "Run! Fight! Make peace with your maker! The result will all be the same," Asserted Belle as her hand wringing became more frantic, "Atlas has already started remaking our galaxy and probably our universe! Kiss everything you know goodbye! In less than a week our solar system will be run by one of three races, the Gek, the Vy'keen, or the Korvax, and humans and Votans both will be extinct in this galaxy and be gone from the universe in two I reckon!" Sandy pursed her lips and glared at her niece hating to hear such defeatist talk from anybody but especially her niece who had been an extreme positivist all her life until whatever happened to her in the multiverse as Belle called it, but still asked, "So what do you plan on doing in the interim?" Belle laughed bitterly, a normally pleasant sound turned foul in Sandy's ears, as she answered, "Me?!?! I plan on going to the mess and getting fucking drunk out of my mind! Then I plan on picking up a man or two and let them fuck me silly so that at least I'll get some sort of pleasure before the world ends!"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Nov 22, 2017 18:34:48 GMT
"...And then he said that I could feed my animals with clowns. No income, no meat. But plenty of clowns to waste. Cheap and cynical bastard! I packed my things, including cages, and joined this circus here," said one approaching figure to another.
Both of them wore huge rubber mackintoshes, dark and shiny from pouring rain, and were about the same height. And they both were females. But those were only few things that they had in common. When one them turned her head, everyone could see that she had long ginger hair which protruded from the open part of the hood. Her long slim legs were covered with silk stockings and time to time her moving hem revealed tight one piece glittered suit. Her name was Sophie and she was a circus equilibrist who also could juggle with different objects and managed to do it even when she was walking the rope.
The other mackintosh belonged to her friend Moira who splashed through the puddles with her shiny leather boots and pair of very tight white riding breeches. Her hems were open and everyone could see her tailcoat. Her dark hair was cut into the short bob and as soon as the rain faded, she brought her top hat which she hid under the coat and put it where the hat belonged. After that she also pulled out a long mouthpiece and stuck a cigarette into it. Moira was an animal tamer and quite proud about her profession. She was sure that she did that work just as good as men and maybe even better because she dared to tame even the most dangerous animals, including grumpy lion, called Marcel.
"Hello dears," said Sophie with her charming French accent while Moira waved them playfully with her short leather whip. "What's the reason of this meeting?"
_________
Marcel Lestrange's brow almost rose by a micromillimeter when Sandy mentioned him as the wild card. His voice was very calm when he stated: "I might be a wild card but I am an extremely skilled one. I can fight and I can pilot. Best and most pilots were all French, you know. Roland Garros was French. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was French. Louis Blériot was French. I am French and I am a pilot. And that means that I am the best pilot."
He could continue with his ode to French pilots and his position as a leading star in that myriad like it was a never ending story. but then Belle Starr begun to predict doom and destruction, so the centre of attention shifted away from Marcel and beams found Belle. One pair of eyes, pointed at her, belonged to Lichtensteinian psychiatrist Wolfram von Eschen who listened carefully and then added with his crackling voice:
"I think that I will join Fräulein Belle for a drink. I also believe that there is a dear friend of mine, Count Casannuendo, who is playing solitaire at moment, who should also join us, because he could use a decent drink and a decent company in his grief. And I couldn't call myself a decent Doctor if I abandon my patient. That is why I hope that he is also invited. I can't and I won't guarantee the fucking part, but I can keep the company to Fräulein Belle and the Count if you are not mind."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Nov 22, 2017 23:28:49 GMT
"...And then he said that I could feed my animals with clowns. No income, no meat. But plenty of clowns to waste. Cheap and cynical bastard! I packed my things, including cages, and joined this circus here," said Moira to Sophie as they entered the Big Top followed closely by Sarge the Strongman and Hope the Midget Clown. "Sarge, I hope they really, really didn't feed clowns to the animals," Nervously whispered the diminutive clown to Sarge seeming to him to grow even paler under the white grease paint. "Naw," The big muscle man answered in his thick Alabamian accent, "I'm sure as... rain... she was just joshing." Meanwhile Amber dressed in her black mystic robes decorated with silver inlaid stars and silver lam'e turban sidled up to Kabule and hidden under the flowing fabric pressed a sharp stiletto beset with fake jewels to his groin as she threatened in a low tone through clenched white teeth, "Dinara told me how you left her alone and without a word and how she cried for weeks afterwards. You hurt her this time by your leaving like you did the last and the mighty stallion will become a sad gelding I promise you." Amber sheathed her stiletto in her right leg's garter so quickly Kabule would not have been sure it had ever been drawn except for the lingering feeling of dread in his neither regions as the exotic beauty smiled pleasantly at the newcomers while greeting them batting her long eye lashes, "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." "Hello dears," said Sophie with her charming French accent while Moira waved them playfully with her short leather whip. "What's the reason of this meeting?" Amber turned her intense jade eyes to the short clown and Hope seemed to shrink even smaller under her gaze as Amber requested in a kind tone, "Hope, please tell them what you saw and heard." With wide eyes, Hope gulped before beginning, "I was just eating pogey-bait under the Ringmaster's wagon just to keep out of the rain when I heard voices arguing within, one being the Ringmaster and the other a man's I didn't recognize but which scared me just the same. Anyhow, the mean voice threatened the Ringmaster that he would tell the world the Ringmaster's secret if he didn't sell the circus to him. The Ringmaster asked the mean man what he would do with the circus and the mean man laughed - a really evil sounding laugh - and said he would dismantle it piece by piece, first by selling the animals to local glue factories. Then the mean man said he would next fire all the Carnies without notice to which the Ringmaster objected saying they were like family to him. The mean man then threatened 'You will sell or else!' That put me in a flap, so since the window was open I decided to take a dekko and climbed up the wagon wheel to take a peek. I saw the Ringmaster sitting at his desk holding his head in both hands looking positively despondent. I tried to see the mean man but - I slipped causing a bit of a clamor! At that point I remembered what Sarge always says that discretion is the better part of valor but didn't know what that meant until that very moment and so I ran for the hills - at least until I ran into Sarge - quite literally!"* "That's when I took Hope to tell Madame Amber and she called this meeting," Added Sarge then slowly shaking his bald pate, "But what do we do now?" *Thanks and a tip of the hat to "Mental Floss" website for the WW I slang! mentalfloss.com/article/58233/21-slang-terms-world-war-i  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Nov 23, 2017 10:57:08 GMT
Marcel Lestrange's brow almost rose by a micromillimeter when Sandy mentioned him as the wild card. His voice was very calm when he stated: "I might be a wild card but I am an extremely skilled one. I can fight and I can pilot. Best and most pilots were all French, you know. Roland Garros was French. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was French. Louis Blériot was French. I am French and I am a pilot. And that means that I am the best pilot."
He could continue with his ode to French pilots and his position as a leading star in that myriad like it was a never ending story. but then Belle Starr begun to predict doom and destruction, so the centre of attention shifted away from Marcel and beams found Belle.
Belle laughed bitterly, a normally pleasant sound turned foul in Sandy's ears, as she answered, "Me?!?! I plan on going to the mess and getting fucking drunk out of my mind! Then I plan on picking up a man or two and let them fuck me silly so that at least I'll get some sort of pleasure before the world ends!"
I replied to Belle matter-of-factly, "Starr Eyes you have known from the start that most already say I am daking crazy. Who am I to argue with that assessment? But think about this while you are drowning away your sorrows and expecting us to fail: “Crazy people don't know they're crazy. I know I'm crazy, therefore I'm not crazy, isn't that crazy?”
(Captain Jack Sparrow )
One pair of eyes, pointed at Belle, belonged to Lichtensteinian psychiatrist Wolfram von Eschen who listened carefully and then added with his crackling voice:
"I think that I will join Fräulein Belle for a drink. I also believe that there is a dear friend of mine, Count Casannuendo, who is playing solitaire at moment, who should also join us, because he could use a decent drink and a decent company in his grief. And I couldn't call myself a decent Doctor if I abandon my patient. That is why I hope that he is also invited. I can't and I won't guarantee the fucking part, but I can keep the company to Fräulein Belle and the Count if you are not mind."
Still feeling a headache from when my energy suddenly started getting syphoned to Lady, I glared at Wolfram and replied harshly, "Casannuendo is NOT the ONLY one grieving, Doctor! Some of us just don't have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity and abandonment, while others risk their lives to allow them to keep that daking luxury!"
Then I cleared my throat and tried to at least calm mellow my tone, as I continued with, "Besides that is how I spent my childhood and I can NOT do that again! It would be a great disrespect to my Sister's memory and all she, Belle, and Lady, have helped me achieve. Starr Eyes none of us can begin to imagine what you have gone through, but we still have some fight left in us and are not about to give up. However as you already put in more than your fair share of fighting Atlas, I will not object to you sitting this one out.
However I agree with the old goat that you and Casannuendo could both use some company, and despite how I feel about Psycho-babblers as a whole, Wolfram has proven that he is more than willing to just lend an ear and let us work out our own problems if that is what we need. Hell he is even there for you when you tell him to go dak himself and worse.... and believe me I have said and done a lot worse to him. However the stubborn old goat continues to remain here and offer his friendship and advice when I need it, much as Volodja does. Only Wolfram is willing to strike me back in my darkest moments, while Volodja won't, and yet Wolfram still holds none of that against me. So I think he is definitely the type of friend that both you and Casannuendo need right now. Besides with Wolfram around, one is NEVER without good booze, and that medicinal alcohol he made me is definitely some of the best that I have ever had. However if you aren't used to the hard stuff, then you may not want to drink that rotgut he carries in his jacket pocket. It of course doesn't affect me, however I have seen it get the better of plenty of people that thought there was nothing on Earth too strong for them, human and Votan alike. Oh and Wolfram, tell The Count that he can have our Quartermaster Mahoney help him replace any of his broken gear, when the Count is up to it."
Then I turned to Sandy and said, "Prepare your team. Do not interfere with the drones or take any tech until you are certain of what you are up against. Marcel you will be needed with Sandy's team as their protection, however I am sure Poe Dameron would love to have a co-pilot on board that is every bit as talented and ARROGANT as he is, or perhaps more so! Sandy you are the team leader so you can take whatever shuttle you prefer. However I think you better go over that with your two pilots, as they will be able to better access the different shuttles than a ground team would. Wouldn't you agree Marcel?"
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Post by Atika Constantine on Nov 23, 2017 12:18:10 GMT
"...And then he said that I could feed my animals with clowns. No income, no meat. But plenty of clowns to waste. Cheap and cynical bastard! I packed my things, including cages, and joined this circus here," said Moira to Sophie as they entered the Big Top followed closely by Sarge the Strongman and Hope the Midget Clown.
"Sarge, I hope they really, really didn't feed clowns to the animals," Nervously whispered the diminutive clown to Sarge seeming to him to grow even paler under the white grease paint.
"Naw," The big muscle man answered in his thick Alabamian accent, "I'm sure as... rain... she was just joshing."
Kellina, still paying attention to her Snow leopard, Tavan, remarked loudly in her strong Mongol accent, but in a humorous tone, "We cannot feed clowns to the animals! They taste funny!"
Then she smiled at Hope and said, "Besides Tavan likes our little Hope too much to ever do that! She's such a sweet young'un. Although obviously Tav doesn't care much for this Kabule, and I am not sure I can blame her for that. However I still say you don't need the whip, Moira! All our animal friends need is a little love and compassion, as well as somebody to talk to. Isn't that right, Tavan? Mommy would never whip you, would she my little darling? And she won't let the scary biker hurt you either. So quit snarling, and don't let him ruin your good mood."
Still polishing a sword, Ganbaatar said, "Beejgy; mkulkkb helugy; ohtl!"
Kellina chuckled and replied, "So true! Oh allow me to translate. Gan merely said an old Mongolian proverb. 'What is a joke for a cat will be death for a mouse.'
Meanwhile Amber dressed in her black mystic robes decorated with silver inlaid stars and silver lam'e turban sidled up to Kabule and hidden under the flowing fabric pressed a sharp stiletto beset with fake jewels to his groin as she threatened in a low tone through clenched white teeth, "Dinara told me how you left her alone and without a word and how she cried for weeks afterwards. You hurt her this time by your leaving like you did the last and the mighty stallion will become a sad gelding I promise you."
Kabule smiled wickedly, and said, "Promises, promises! But you do have quite the nasty mouth on you, don't you my pet? Looks like our little Dainty-Dina has found quite the woman, hasn't she? However if you really want to see the old boy all you have to do is ask, instead of talking so perty to me. So Dinara, is her bite as strong as her bark?"
Dinara turned bright red and smacked Kabule's chest as she whispered, "Hush, her bite is none-a-yer-business! So lay-off with your foul-mouth puhlease! All that matters is I love her and she loves me, and unlike a certain big brother, my Amber-baby would NEVER just leave me alone when I need her!"
Amber sheathed her stiletto in her right leg's garter so quickly Kabule would not have been sure it had ever been drawn except for the lingering feeling of dread in his neither regions as the exotic beauty smiled pleasantly at the newcomers while greeting them batting her long eye lashes, "Thank you all for coming on such short notice."
Dinara released her contumacious and unrestrained big brother, and moved to Amber's side, where she was most happy.
"Hello dears," said Sophie with her charming French accent while Moira waved them playfully with her short leather whip. "What's the reason of this meeting?"
Amber turned her intense jade eyes to the short clown and Hope seemed to shrink even smaller under her gaze as Amber requested in a kind tone, "Hope, please tell them what you saw and heard."
With wide eyes, Hope gulped before beginning, "I was just eating pogey-bait under the Ringmaster's wagon just to keep out of the rain when I heard voices arguing within, one being the Ringmaster and the other a man's I didn't recognize but which scared me just the same. Anyhow, the mean voice threatened the Ringmaster that he would tell the world the Ringmaster's secret if he didn't sell the circus to him. The Ringmaster asked the mean man what he would do with the circus and the mean man laughed - a really evil sounding laugh - and said he would dismantle it piece by piece, first by selling the animals to local glue factories. Then the mean man said he would next fire all the Carnies without notice to which the Ringmaster objected saying they were like family to him. The mean man then threatened 'You will sell or else!' That put me in a flap, so since the window was open I decided to take a dekko and climbed up the wagon wheel to take a peek. I saw the Ringmaster sitting at his desk holding his head in both hands looking positively despondent. I tried to see the mean man but - I slipped causing a bit of a clamor! At that point I remembered what Sarge always says that discretion is the better part of valor but didn't know what that meant until that very moment and so I ran for the hills - at least until I ran into Sarge - quite literally!"
"That's when I took Hope to tell Madame Amber and she called this meeting," Added Sarge then slowly shaking his bald pate, "But what do we do now?"
Kabule went back to tossing up and catching his knife. Then once again showing his sadistic and warlike personality, stated in a vicious but-straightforward tone, as if it were a harsh fact, "Sounds like the obvious answer is that this 'Scary' man just needs to be gone. So how about I just pay him a visit, slit 'im ear to ear and make 'im disappear!"
Dinara frowned and stomped her foot saying, "NO KABULE! This is not a war, you are not behind enemy lines, and you will NOT do your military 'SPOOKY' stuff! No more killing just to make your life easier! NO MORE!"
Kabule caught his knife. Then he pulled out a cig popped it in his mouth and lit it, as he grumbled, "That is 'SPOOK' stuff, but fine, do it the hard way! How about you just let me or that big-man 'talk some sense' into him then?"
Dinara stood her ground and replied with, "NO."
Kabule took a puff of his cig, then shrugged as he said nonchalantly, "In that case, I got nothin. So anybody got a strong drink for a wary traveler, since you don't want my advise?"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Nov 23, 2017 14:58:06 GMT
"The whip," said Moira. "In Western culture it is a necessity. Audience expects man with a whip. I offer them something more modern - the girl with a whip. Maybe after hundred years from now people don't ant to see whips on the stage but this is Twentieth century and I am a modern girl. Besides - you don'even know how many men offer me huge sums to me after the show, trying to convince me to use my whip on them. Awfully lot! Even rich and influential are fascinated."
Then she grinned, knelt by tiny clown and comforted Hope:
"Don't worry, little sis. This whip becomes quite useful if someone mistreats clowns. I'll make their butts zebra's lookalikes. Not the clown butts but..."
"Shall we concentrate to our problem now or should we wait until the lecture about but whipping is over?" giggled Sophie. Then her pretty pale face became serious and she throw her first idea to the table:
"We can't act until we find out what is really going on. Especially when the buyer seems to have a strong grip on Ringmaster. We need to know what we are dealing with and why that man wants to destroy our silk tented circus world so I suggest a exploration trip first."
"Cautious as a true equilibrist," marked Moira. "Always wants to see where to put her leg next. But animal taming has taught me exactly the same lesson. One can never be too careful when facing the unknown. If you have better ideas then go ahead so we can discuss them, but fast. Remember that we have the entrée soon. We can't miss the show."
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Post by Belle Starr on Nov 23, 2017 15:14:36 GMT
On the Vigilant's bridge, Atticus Batman turned to Sandy Bell and said, "Prepare your team. Do not interfere with the drones or take any tech until you are certain of what you are up against. Marcel you will be needed with Sandy's team as their protection, however I am sure Poe Dameron would love to have a co-pilot on board that is every bit as talented and ARROGANT as he is, or perhaps more so! Sandy you are the team leader so you can take whatever shuttle you prefer. However I think you better go over that with your two pilots, as they will be able to better access the different shuttles than a ground team would. Wouldn't you agree Marcel?" "I think the Ghost Bat's cloaking feature would be the best for a stealth mission," Suggested Sandy, "Although I think the Vigilant will have to get us closer for I don't think the shuttles have either the speed or the fuel capacity to get us all the way to Pluto in time to do anything." Belle Starr clenched her dainty pale hands into fists to hide their shaking, although whether it was from fear or anger even she couldn't say, as she glared at Atticus with narrowed blue diamond eyes before saying, "Have it your way then! Don't y'all say I didn't try to warn ya!" The Belle crossed her arms tightly across her armored breast as she commented bitterly to Dr. Wolfram Von Eschen, "Whatever! Let's get that drink Doctor! As they walked down the Vigilant's corridors the short distance from the bridge to the ship's mess, Belle's long gait began to outdistance the elder doctor walking with his cane, so Belle winced forcing herself to walk slower dropping back to his side before saying with a sad look, "Ya know... I really wouldn't pick up two guys just to have sex... not even one! My Papa Boudreau would have tanned my hide for saying such things if he was still alive!" A kind smile crossed the old Doctor's craggy face as he asked, "Then why did you say it?" Belle threw both her beautiful eyes and her hands heavenward as she remarked in exasperation, "I don't know - shock and awe I guess! The Protectors would never expect me to talk like that, so I thought dirtying up what I said might make them listen, but I guess I forgot what my Papa Boudreau used to say, if you can't say it using the King's English then you've already lost the argument!" Belle noticed her shaking hands were exposed and quickly crossed her arms again to hide them as she kept speaking her thoughts to the good doctor as they walked side by side, "I miss my Papa Boudreau! I miss my Vo even more! Both those men could talk me down off the ledge when I felt I was losing it! And both have been dead to me - or so I thought - for over two hundred years my time! I thought all the Protectors would be dead by now too and normally I'd be glad I was wrong! Normally... but nothing is normal now!" "Do you feel you are on a ledge now Belle?" Asked Wolfram wanting to keep her talking. Belle laughed more melodically this time but still a pale semblance of her old self that Wolfram remembered before she joked, "Wolfram, I'm so far out on that ledge and been there so long that they might as well charge me rent for it!" As they entered the mess hall, it was near empty as it was in the middle of a work shift and crew persons were either at there posts or in their quarters. There were three notable exceptions for sitting at a table in a remote corner was the diminutive Liberata Count flanked on each side by a lovely Synth Sister. On his right was the boisterous blonde Yvette telling bad joke after bad joke trying to make the Count laugh. On the other side was the quiet raven haired feline synth girl Brooke who sat quietly at his side with one clawed hand gently touching his in camaraderie. Belle sashayed up and asked with wide blue eyes, "May we join y'all?" Yvette laughed and gestured at two empty chairs at their table exclaiming, "The more the merrier!" Belle sat down and began with a genuine grin, "Thank ya kindly! Sooooo... have you heard this one? There were three guys on a ledge. They had no way to get down. All of a sudden a genie pops up. He says, you each can turn yourself into one thing. Just jump off the ledge and say what you want me to turn you into. The first guy jumps off and yells, Eagle. He turns into an eagle and flies away. The second guy jumps and screams, Hawk. He also flies down to safety. The third guy starts running and goes to jump. He trips and falls on a rock and yells, Shit!"  |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Nov 24, 2017 7:02:32 GMT
"The anecdote must be short and transparent as a negligee," marked Count Casannuendo. "This one met the conditions, I assume." Then he added. "I do wish to be more optimistic like a guy who fell off from a skyscraper and yelled in every few meters: "So far, so good!"" "Takes time," said Wolfram von Eschen. "More or less. But we seem to have less than we want." "What do you mean with that, Wolfram?" asked Casannuendo. "Our solar system is going to be to be restructured, reconstructed and rebuilt soon. And I don't like that idea at all. Others don't like it either and I believe that our people are going to give up without a fight. I support fighting back because I lost one home world already when Pale Wars and Terraforming turned everything upside down. I do admit that new one has it's advantages, like meeting some new nice people, including you. I also admit that the threat of losing this post apocalyptic world irritates me because it means another loss of our home. But this is irrelevant at moment because the best thing we can do is not to disturb their preparations. While our friends preparing for a fight, we are gathered here to develop some human-Votan-Synth relations. And get ourselves a drink or two as a part of this particular process. They say that alcohol doesn't solve problems, but neither does milk, so...Drink anyone? And perhaps another anecdote?"  |
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Post by Lady Christianna on Nov 24, 2017 17:41:16 GMT
Sophie said in the confines of the Big Top, "We can't act until we find out what is really going on. Especially when the buyer seems to have a strong grip on Ringmaster. We need to know what we are dealing with and why that man wants to destroy our silk tented circus world so I suggest a exploration trip first." "Cautious as a true equilibrist," marked Moira. "Always wants to see where to put her leg next. But animal taming has taught me exactly the same lesson. One can never be too careful when facing the unknown. If you have better ideas then go ahead so we can discuss them, but fast. Remember that we have the entrée soon. We can't miss the show." "The Roustabouts will be in here soon to set up for the morning show," Informed Sarge the Strongman twisting the end of his huge handlebar mustache as the big man took out a hip flask from inside his tiger skin tunic and handed it to Kabule, "I don't expect much of a crowd with all this rain, but I know there was a special train coming in here from Kansas City with some high rollers for the show, so the Ringmaster wanted us at our best. Maybe we should just go back to our wagons and prepare for the show." Amber the Mystic narrowed her jade eyes as a scowl crossed her beautiful dark face, "We should just confront the Ringmaster in his wagon and find out who this mysterious buyer is. We should just march as a group right there right now and do so!" "A frontal attack," Muttered Sarge taking his flask back from Kabule and taking a long sip from it before handing it back to him and continuing in a sad tone, "That never worked when I was in the trenches during the Great War..." "I think that would just make him mad," Interjected the Midget Clown Hope, "I'd hope it wouldn't - but I know it would." Sarge stroked the morning stubble on his square jaw as he thought out loud, "We could send just a small group to just - you know - talk to him; scout him out so to speak, "Then he turned to Hope, "Would you please gather eight clean straws of hay from the Big Top's floor all about the same width and length?" "Sure," Answered Hope scampering around the Big Top as fast as her short legs would take her to do as she was asked as there was plenty of straw on the Big Top's dirt floor but finding clean straws was a task for it was spread around to keep the floor dry for the animals performing there. "I'll make three of the straws shorter than the others," Explained Sarge as Hope went about her task outside, "Then each of us will take one. The ones with the short straws will go and talk to the Ringmaster. It's how we decided in the trenches who would go over the top first in an attack. Germans would point their machine guns at those men first, giving the rest of us a better chance of surviving - at least until command decided it was time for another frontal attack." Hope came back with the gathered straws, and Sarge broke three of them as promised then holding them in a tightly closed fist so no one could see the true length of any of them allowing each of the circus performers to pick one except Hope, whereupon she exclaimed with her exaggerated painted smile now a frown, "I hope one of those last two is for me... unless... you consider me just another rube." "I've had a second thought. Things might get touchy with the Ringmaster. You're too young to be part of this Hope," Explained Sarge in a kind voice. "Y-y-you wouldn't even know about 'this' if I hadn't told you," Sputtered Hope a tear trailing through one of her cheek's white grease paint from one blue eye. Amber smiled enigmatically as she ordered, "Give her one Sarge. Hope is one of us. She's family - and deserves to be part of whatever happens to us." Sarge nodded curtly and with a grim look allowed Hope to pick one of the remaining two straws and as each of them revealed whether their chosen straw was long or one of the three short ones remarking as he held up one of the short ones, "Now it just remains to be decided if we meet with the Ringmaster before or after the morning show, or if we all go guns roaring or all friendly-like just to scout the territory."  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Nov 25, 2017 0:57:47 GMT
Sitting in the Vigilant's mess hall, Dr. Wolfram Von Eschen said, "Our solar system is going to be to be restructured, reconstructed and rebuilt soon. And I don't like that idea at all. Others don't like it either and I believe that our people are going to give up without a fight. I support fighting back because I lost one home world already when Pale Wars and Terraforming turned everything upside down. I do admit that new one has it's advantages, like meeting some new nice people, including you. I also admit that the threat of losing this post apocalyptic world irritates me because it means another loss of our home. But this is irrelevant at moment because the best thing we can do is not to disturb their preparations. While our friends preparing for a fight, we are gathered here to develop some human-Votan-Synth relations. And get ourselves a drink or two as a part of this particular process. They say that alcohol doesn't solve problems, but neither does milk, so...Drink anyone? And perhaps another anecdote?" "All we need to do is fight the good fight and everything will turn out fine," Belle Starr remarked sarcastically, "I wonder if that's how the native Zulus felt when they tried to beat back the British invaders during the 19th century with their short spears versus the greatest army of that century with its firearms and cannons? And that worked out so well for them!" Then she grabbed a passing crew man's arm and asked sweetly, "Honey will y'all please get me some Champagne, and bring the bottle?"  The crewman smiled recognizing Belle's celebrity and hurried to comply with her request as the Synth Sister Yvette's purple eyes grew wide and her strong hands clenched into fists as she exclaimed, "Hell yeah we fight! I haven't been in this world long enough for it to be 'restructured, reconstructed and rebuilt.' So far, I'm just thrilled the way it is and would like to see more of it as it is!" The Synth Sister Brooke looked at Count Casannuendo with worried amber cat-like eyes as her grasp on his hand tightened and she growled in a low voice she thought only he could hear, "I don't want this world to end. There's... so much I don't know yet!" Unfortunately, Belle had acute hearing and a crooked grin crossed her beautiful freckled face as she remarked snidely, "Well, get used to it Honey! A smart human named Orson Welles once said, 'We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone!' What he didn't emphasize and should have was that we inevitably always die alone!" The corner's of Belle's lush lips turned down as her thoughts turned to her missing Prince Charming and her deep down sure feelings that she would never see him again. As she plunged even deeper into despair, the Vigilant's crewman bought her a bottle of Champagne and a crystal flute and placed it before her waiting for a response. Belle ignored the glass instead grabbing the bottle by the neck taking a long swig from it, before turning to him with wide diamond blue eyes and her winning albeit in this case fake smile asking, "So what are you doing for the next hour Honey?"  |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Nov 25, 2017 10:32:48 GMT
"Sometimes it doesn't take courage to fight," said Wolfram von Eschen thoughtfully and had a huge mouthful of his own distillation product. "Fear can be a good motivator too. I am not only irritated but also scared, I admit. But I am scared of losing everything I have. That is why I am willing to support the fight. Out of sheer fear courage may rise. Even a liquid one." And he rose his glass again.
"I don't drink in a style of Führerbunker, though," re remarked. "This is not Berlin in 1945 after all, where defeat and the fall of the Drittes Reich was sure, so people let themselves go and made quite a pogrom among bunker's alcohol supply, sat around the table and former military ranks didn't meant a thing. Unlike them, we still have a chance. And that prevents me from doing something I might regret later but others are mature people so I can't tell them how to act in the time of crisis."
"You do," muttered Casannuendo. "We do," he corrected himself, feeling slight sharpness of Brooke's nails because she didn't let his arm go and that touch reminded him that he was not alone and even if the rest of the world lived without getting a clue about the approaching disaster, it was still possible to prevent that disaster from happening and let the world to maintain it's present state of...not exactly innocence but blissful ignorance.
"When there is a chance then we must use it," he said. "The bigger they are, the better chance that their balls get kicked because they overlook some tiny but important details."
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Post by Atika Constantine on Nov 25, 2017 12:16:34 GMT
Hope came back with the gathered straws, and Sarge broke three of them as promised then holding them in a tightly closed fist so no one could see the true length of any of them allowing each of the circus performers to pick one except Hope, whereupon she exclaimed with her exaggerated painted smile now a frown, "I hope one of those last two is for me... unless... you consider me just another rube."
"I've had a second thought. Things might get touchy with the Ringmaster. You're too young to be part of this Hope," Explained Sarge in a kind voice.
"Y-y-you wouldn't even know about 'this' if I hadn't told you," Sputtered Hope a tear trailing through one of her cheek's white grease paint from one blue eye.
Amber smiled enigmatically as she ordered, "Give her one Sarge. Hope is one of us. She's family - and deserves to be part of whatever happens to us."
Sarge nodded curtly and with a grim look allowed Hope to pick one of the remaining two straws and as each of them revealed whether their chosen straw was long or one of the three short ones remarking as he held up one of the short ones, "Now it just remains to be decided if we meet with the Ringmaster before or after the morning show, or if we all go guns roaring or all friendly-like just to scout the territory."
Kabule just stood there drinking from Sarge' flask, as Sarge and the others had been talking, but grinned wickedly and remarked, "Well if she's adult enough for this, then perhaps she is adult enough to show me just how much fun clowns can be in private as well."
As Tavan started snarling at Kabule again, Kellina stood up and stepped between Kabule and Hope, although she didn't have to because Sarge had done the same thing. Then Kellina snapped, "Leave her alone, or you'll be the one sliced ear from ear!"
Kabule turned his wicked smile to Kellina and said, "Well then my pet, perhaps you would like to show me a good time?"
As Ganbaatar pointed a sword at Kabule and spitted out some angry threat in Mongolian, Kellina kneed Kabule in the balls and said, "How's that for a good time? A shot to your goolies (an offensive term for testicles) is all you deserve so far and NONE of us are your pets and never will be you bastard! Damn, how can YOU be Dinara's brother? You are so different!"
Kabule grumbled, "Damn you Mongolians are just as boring as the damn Americans! Although you don't know fun until you've done it in my Cage of Death!"
When Dinara glared at him, he said, "What, we can't all have trailers. Besides I prefer to sleep near my iron (motorcycle). So a bedroll in my cage is fine. A lot more comfortable than some of those damn places I bedded down in the war! Now bring on those dumb straws!"
Kellina snapped, "You can just wait! You are the new guy and seem to be a complete palooka! (slang for: a social outsider)!"
Kabule shrugged and said, whatever you want, Doll."
Dinara muttered, "Kabule puhlease behave! This is my family!"
Then she drew her straw and seeing it was long muttered, "Thank god."
Eventually everyone except Kabule, Sarge and Hope had drawn their straws and when Kabule drew one of the two remaining short straws, Kellina eyed Kabule and said, "Do we really want HIM to go in there?"
Kabule replied with, "Hey Dollface don't blame me, wasn't my fault, but I agree, I hate just talking. Give me action any day! But don't worry. The Doughboy (US soldiers of the First World War) is right that we should keep to a sneak-attack. Although I still say we find this buyer and let me slice 'im from ear-ta-ear!"
Dinara said, "Kabule that is NOT what Sarge said!"
Kabule replied with, "Close enough." Then finished of Sarge's flask and handed the empty container back to him. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Nov 25, 2017 13:25:39 GMT
Moira slashed her whip in decisive manner and said: "Such a shame that the guy is one of us. I just lost a good opportunity to prove my point of using whip to point out disadvantages of abusive behaviour towards clowns. I also feel that I have been lurking in side areas too much and that is why I would like to volunteer for the meeting. Any objections? No?"
She broke her straw in two and showed that her straw halves were shorter than short ones which were used a moment ago.
"Technically it's not cheating. Short straws go and I have short one and even shorter one in my hand. And that means that no matter how long any previously drawn straw is. I have shorter than others and I will go. I do know that our little Hope is willing to risk with her neck, but I can't let someone else than myself to go there in the company of two cavemen. They might learn some uncivilised manners."
"I wouldn't call them cavemen," said Sophie. "Cavemen have mere strength but no charm at all. Sarge, for example, has a lot of charm...(blush blush). Maybe the other one has too. But I do believe that we need more refined approach instead of just demonstration of strength indeed, because Ringleader is not exactly an enemy of ours. At least it seems so. He is forced to sell this place to a stranger who is able to pressurize him. Too aggressive behaviour might ruin everything. Instead of threats and strangulation, I suggest reasoning and that's why I would like to send in a lion tamer to keep those two strong men from hurting Ringleader if it's not necessary."
"Point taken," said Moira and giggled: "Ringleader is the lead which leads us to the new circus leader."
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