Name: Barlow “Barry” Foster “the Strongest Man Alive” Sex: Male Description: [hider=My Hider] [img]https://shechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/bearded-guys-15.jpg?w=500&h=500[/img] [/hider] Date Inducted: Became a part of the circus at the age of 23, sometime during the early 1800s. Role: Strong Man Offensive Power: - Gravitational control: Barlow is able to affect the weight or the gravity acting on any object that he touches. He can make cars as light as leaves and pebbles as heavy as trucks. He has to be able to touch the object in order to change its weight, and again in order to change it back. The time it takes to properly change an objects weight can vary between 5 to 10 seconds, depending on how large it is, and requires physical contact for as long as it takes. His heaviest limit is about 10 tons, or anything that won’t harm the circus’ stadium. His lightest limit is helium, which yes, can allow objects to float (slowly though). - Minor self-defense: Barlow has never been a heavy set man, and only knows the bare basics of how to defend himself. His talents lie in his speed and ability to work with whatever he has at hand. He’s clever, and good under pressure, making up for his lack of actual physical strength. Biography: Barlow was a con artist and a petty thief before he joined the circus, working the streets of London since the age of 10. He’d never remembered much before then; he thinks he had a pair of half decent parents, but because of how short they were on cash, they must have simply abandoned him some time or another. The streets around that time were rough, and the only real reason he managed to survive for so long was because he was lucky and clever. The day that the circus came rushing into town was a quiet one, so it’s no surprise that Barlow was one to catch the small wisps of rumors that were being spread about the keeper; rumors that he could grant you anything and everything you’d ever want, all in return for a little bit of servitude. It sounded like an easy scheme, even in Barlow’s careful ears. He’d never been one to follow rumors, but after hearing enough about the circus and its Keeper, he decided to go and check it out for himself. In all truth, Barlow fully intended to swindle the Keeper out of as much as he could, but the moment he met that man, he knew that even he wasn’t clever enough to pull wool over that man’s eyes. What he offered was a real as Barlow had hoped though, but the price was just as the rumors said: servitude. Loyalty. At least, the last part is what it sounded like in Barlow’s head, and for a man who spent his life tricking others, loyalty was all he had. It was a steep price, but something in Barlow seemed to agree that it was a fair trade. It was only a joke when he demanded to be the circus’ strong man, and he thinks it’s even funnier now that he actually got the position. The irony is probably what he loves most about performing. Other: a few facts- - His favorite things are money, black coffee, fools, and polka music. - Rumors around the circus say he’ll do almost anything for cash. - He’s as straight as a hool-la-hoop and twice as fun. C; - Has a pet cockatiel named Beans. Smart little fella. - He’s taken Faris under his wing. Considers him his “apprentice”. Audition: [hider=My Hider] “And next up, we have quite the treat for you, folks. Welcome to the stage, Barry, the Strongest Man Alive, and his lovely assistants for the night, Bo and Jun.” the announcer spouted to the crowds excitedly, and quickly, people began to cheer. As if finally egged forward, a thin bearded man began to step into the spotlight. He wore a bright red tunic that clung tightly to his frame, hung off of one shoulder and decorated at his waist by a thick leather belt. He wasn’t scrawny, no, but he lacked the obnoxious pounds of muscle that so many in the crowd had expected from a strong man. He’d have looked like your average Joe, if not for the large stand of weights that he carried at his side like some mundane tout bag. Metal sounds clanked with each of his steps, loudly, now that the crowd’s cheering had died down. On his other arm sat his assistants for tonight’s show: a pair of sister acrobats, each balanced lightly on his outstretched arm. It took him maybe two seconds to stride to the middle of the spotlight, where he hastily dropped his weight stand, and then- a bit more kindly- dropped his two assistants. Each of the girls fell onto their tiny feet and scuttled around to flank the taller man. All three bowed with smiles on their faces, and promptly began their performance. Barlow moved first, turning towards his weight stand and plucked one of the longer barbells from its place on the iron frame. The iron weight should easily have weighed over 600 lbs, but he spun it in his wrist like a lightweight baton while he walked back over to his assistance. He eventually stopped his twisting wrists and let the barbell rest in his palms, now parallel to the stage floor. Bo and Jun both smiled up at the crowds while they stepped closer to the ends of the barbell and quickly spun themselves into sitting positions on the metal bar. As if the additional weight meant little in his hands, Barlow waited for the girls’ expected nods before quickly swinging the bar above his head, one handed. Either twin quickly fell back, their knees looped around the bar, and swung. The crowds quickly broke into an amazed applause, and at the same time, the girls began to adjust their positioning on the now raised bar. Bo moved first, swinging herself to the ground just as Barlow let her end of the bar fall into his palm. Jun let herself swing along with the movement before grabbing the end of the barbell just as it reached its peak, promptly stopping herself in a steady handstand at the top of the barbell that Barlow now balanced vertically. Once again, the crowds roared, simply dazed with the steady strength and balance involved in the display. Finally, Barlow opened a hand to the remaining twin, allowing her to step into his hand and for him to thrust her into the air, where her sister was now right-side up and waiting for her to join. She landed just at the edge of the weight, hands clasping to her sisters for balance, before both settled like statues at the top of the weight. Barlow smirked, and then promptly turned himself around, handing the barbell off behind his back to his other palm, where it then rested steadily. The crowds gave one final cheer, clapping hands and voices filling the tent and sounding for the end of their short performance. Both of the twins quickly let go of the other and flipped to the ground, landing beside Barlow just before he turned to set the weight back down. Upon turning back to the crowds, all three bowed with smiles; the girls fell much deeper than Barlow, emphasizing who the main performer was. [/hider] ~ ~ ~ Name: Faris “Bird Feet” Jenkins Sex: Male Description: [hider=My Hider] [img]http://img00.deviantart.net/cdd6/i/2015/139/e/7/tumblr_nigdt1kdz51qgj9ilo1_1280_by_dandy_bird-d8tyroe.jpg[/img] [/hider] Date Inducted: Early 1920s. He was about 15. Role: Clown/animal act. Offensive Power: - Faris has some pretty sharp senses and reflexes and has a heightened sense of balance. He’s fast, quiet, and follows directions well. Pretty darn ruthless to boot, and won’t hesitate to take an opening when he finds one. He’s best when used as support. - He’s got some damn sharp bird feet, which yes, can grab and hold small objects. - He’s never had any sort of formal combat training, and isn’t very familiar with weapons, but he’ll work with what he has. Give him a stick, and he’ll beat a man with it. Give him a gun, and he’ll probably beat the man all the same with it. He only really knows how to hit things. - His birds: when Faris was inducted into the circus, he had a pair of kiwi birds in his possession, who low and behold, received a small share of power as well. Aside from being a bit more intelligent, his little birds can grow to about the size of ostriches. In their larger forms, they sport some pretty gnarly teeth and talons, and can haul quite a bit of weight. They take their commands directly from Faris, and only Faris. [hider=My Hider] [img]http://orig05.deviantart.net/373c/f/2015/139/0/f/3e600ac11e30cf3d192e6e37f109638a_by_dandy_bird-d8tyrqf.jpg [/img] [img]http://orig13.deviantart.net/5fe0/f/2015/139/e/a/white_kiwi_by_dandy_bird-d8tyrq6.jpg[/img] [/hider] Biography: When Faris found the circus, he was only about 15 years old, scrawny as a twig and locked up in a metal cage. At the time, he belonged to a small freak show outside of New York, and was considered one of their top attractions: Bird boy; the boy hatched from an egg. None of it was really true, but no one seemed to question it because of his feet. It was only a slight mutation that resulted in very long, scaly, avian like toes, which he was told were the reason his parents sold him to the freak show in the first place. The ringmaster always thought that the fact upset the boy, but in truth, it didn’t bother him in the slightest; he couldn’t remember what a parent was, let alone what his were like. Because of that circus blowing through town, people weren’t visiting the freak show as often. Apparently, people had been losing interest in the show for a while now, and with the option of an actual circus on the board, stopped coming all together. The ringleader was livid, and partially blamed his freaks for not being exciting enough. That night, he yanked all the freaks out of their cages and attempted to rally together some sort of mob in an attempt to chase off the rival circus. Maybe five minutes into his “moral building” speech and every freak in the building turned on him. They gored, gutted, and chopped him up as much as they pleased before finally stringing him up an old flag pole. Finally free, a lot of the freaks meandered off in their own direction, mostly to hide, some off to look for distant family. Faris didn’t run off though, and instead sought out The Keeper. In return for his servitude and the end of his newly found freedom, all that Faris asked in return was a chance to travel with the circus and see the world. He decided to become a clown because he was tired of being a spectacle of horror, and instead wanted to make others laugh and smile. Other: a few facts: - Faris’ little kiwi birds were a part of the animal exhibit at the freak show. He brought them along on a whim. Their names are Dodger (the white one) and Roger (the brown one). - Will often pester the other members of the circus whenever he’s bored or needs help. - Likes polka music and dancing. He’s taught his birds a few dances as well. - Don’t make comments about his feet. It bothers him. - He’s a sneaky little bastard, and enjoys eavesdropping on others outside their tents. - Really likes Barlow’s pet bird. Audition: [hider=My Hider] “Now, while we quickly switch acts, I present for your enjoyment and pleasure, our very own parade of clowns!!” the announcer spouted happily, and soon after, clowns began to storm the stage. They pooled under the spotlight like a multi-colored storm of oversized shoes and frills, all waddling along to their own pace, some tripping over others, and some tripping over themselves. People smiled from the stands, and children laughed and pointed as the colorfully dressed clowns paraded around the circular stage. At the very rear was Faris, dressed in a checkered, red and white jumper and a pair of oversized red boots. He waddled ahead of a pair of giant kiwi birds, smiling and waving at the crowds like the rest of the clowns did. Every few steps he took came with an odd little hop, until eventually, he tripped over one of his own shoes. The little blonde clown took a quick dip towards the floor before he tucked inward and rolled back to his feet, promptly taking another step and tripping again. This time, he landed flat on the floor. Behind him, his kiwis quickly hopped over him and continued forward without him. The crowds chuckled at the display, and watched with entertained eyes as the little clown quickly popped back up and now began to chase after his run-away kiwis. “A whole rainbow of trouble they are. Another round of applause for our Parade of Clowns.” He announcers voice broke through the laughter, calling the crowd into one final roar before allowing the clowns to exit and the next performance to begin. [/hider]