Illyana couldn't help but smile as Ivory took the book from her. She'd expected some sort of scolding, but was glad it wasn't directed at the "state" of her room, or the amount of books she had slid over. Illyana's thirst for knowledge had driven her since she was a little girl. Aurel, and even Lucien, had commented on how quickly and thoroughly she absorbed books. Although she knew they were meant as compliments, it often made her feel self-conscious. As a child, she had never been very physically active, and had always defaulted to feats of the mind. Her parents, of course, and her peers had found this strange. They claimed that she was "hiding" in books when she should be experiencing the "real world". But in her mind, these books could teach her more about the real world than her circumstances could ever offer her. Now, she had more opportunities for travel and leisure, but she had carried her love of reading into adulthood, and knew this would not change any time in the near, or distant future.

At Ivory's insistence that she sleep, she merely smiled and nodded, opening the book to near the end where she had left off. This one was a history book about the settlements of Vikings. Some might say that it was completely irrelevant, but Illyana knew better. Germany was raided and eventually settled by Vikings, and they believed in the existence of Shamans that acted as avatars and channels for the Gods on Earth. They had a variety of abilities that she thought were very similar to the ones of modern magicians. On top of this, the previous night she knew she had read a passage about "instant travel through space and time" and thought that Geralt's "displacing" may be something similar.

"Hm?" she said as she half-heard Ivory's question. Without taking her eyes off the book, she turned the page and said, "Oh, yes. Although, I don't find Fiction nearly as stimulating as history." After her eyes had scanned the page, which took a matter of seconds, she looked over to another pile of books on the bed and pulled one out from near the bottom.

"Here," she said, handing it down to Ivory. "I've already read through this one, since it's German, but it's a little too...immature for what I'm looking for."

Ivory wasn't surprised at Illyana's answer. She didn't really seem like the fiction type, considering the kind of books she usually saw her reading. It seemed the woman liked to stay on the realistic side of things, which she couldn't blame her for, but it was nice to.. step outside of that reality sometimes.

At her comment she raised an eyebrow, blue eyes scanning the book she was given before she glanced back at Illyana, who was already clearly absorbed in her current book. She had heard of this particular titlebefore, but hadn't actually picked it up.

"Immature?" She questioned, opening to the index. "Aren't some of these stories kind of.. dark?" They didn't really seem like the kind of books a parent would want their child to read. Illyana only waved her hand in her direction.

"Immature isn't the right word."

It was easy to tell that Illyana was only now half paying attention to her words. The dhampir simply chuckled in response, knowing what she meant, and set the book aside. She'd be sure to take it with her when she left. With that, she opened the book she had previously grabbed, and began to quickly read through the first page, to get the gist. She knew that she couldn't half-ass this, because it would only end with Illyana reading through them again, which is what she wanted to avoid.

Illyana was completely absorbed in the book within a matter of minutes. The outside world faded away as she read through the words on the page, committing them to memory. Before long, she was yawning every few minutes and had nestled into her usual spot against the pillows and huddled under a blanket. It only took her an hour or so to fall asleep, which was a record. Ivory glanced over her shoulder a couple of times, but when she noticed the girls' eyelids drooping and the yawns increasing in frequency, intensity, and duration, she did not speak up for fear of rousing her reading partner.

Eventually, both women drifted off to sleep and did not wake until the morning.

-------------------------------------------------

Illyana awakened first, naturally. She found that she had fallen asleep with the book of history lying open against her chest. She saw that Ivory had fallen asleep too, and noted the pile of books beside her was much smaller now. It appeared she had read through four of five of them before drifting off. Illyana was impressed, and smiled as she tiptoed out of bed and around the trailer. Her small size made her light, which made her very quiet. She got dressed, placed a blanket over Ivory's shoulders, wrote a small note for her and left it on the table, amongst some other treats, all without waking her research assistant. Before slipping out, she smiled over at her, shutting the door quietly as she made her way out into the early morning sun to begin the day's chores.

Lucien woke up bright and early that morning, but hadn't immediately left his trailer. Instead he had made his way over to his desk, and took out a pen and paper before he began to write a letter. He needed this to be delivered today so his plans later in the night would hopefully go smoothly. Even if they had been to this town before, he knew there were still those that needed help that he hadn't been able to get to the last time. At least.. he might be able to make up for that this time around.

He placed it in an envelope and sealed it, before finally leaving his trailer for the day. Golden eyes scanned the grounds before he found the man he was looking for.

"Sanford, would you do me a favor and deliver this to town? To the address I've provided?" He asked, to which the carnie nodded.

"Course' sir. I'll get right on that." He said before hurrying off. Lucien then went to look for the carnies he had in charge of 'advertising,' giving them their instructions for the day. They had a large build up to Geralt's closing show today, and he wanted to capitalize on that. Once all of his Ringleader duties were over with, Lucien had gone to Cora, as his goal was to get their practice in today.

Now, he, Akane, and Cora sat at the breakfast table. He was curious that Geralt wasn't here yet, considering he had seemingly been the first up the day before, but he didn't really question it. The man wasn't necessarily predictable.

"Once we've finished breakfast, I was hoping we could go practice our song at the Big Top, is that alright with you?" He asked.

Akane glanced at Lucien as he spoke. Honestly she wished she could watch them practice, but she had also wanted to get a bit of practicing of her own in before the big show, since her performance was different for this one. She didn't really want to disturb them either, so she'd be taking that to her own performance tent, since it was the most accommodating. She was really hoping for this show's big success, but she was also excited to see how it would all go with Geralt's act at the end, not to mention she was excited to see it for the first time.

Cora had awakened a little earlier than usual, and gotten herself ready before Akane had come to collect her. She was always excited on the last day of the shows, because that meant she could take a break from swishing her tail and "stretch her legs", and vocal chords, so to speak. She'd dressed herself in something comfortable but moderate, and waited for someone to retrieve her. Once Akane showed up, she rolled out of her trailer and into the day, all smiles.

She was happy to see that Lucien was already at the breakfast table. She joined him, glancing around for Geralt before she did so. Even she had to admit that she was a bit disappointed that he was not out and about yet, she had been looking forward to seeing him. She hand't shared this sentiment with anyone, and in fact, found it a little embarrassing.

Instead of dwelling on it, she focused on the task at hand. She greeted Lucien brightly, as usual, and took her place at the table. She ate her fill of breakfast, making sure to eat enough so she would have enough energy for the performance later.

At Lucien's statement, she nodded vigorously, remembering to wipe her mouth with a corner of the tablecloth before she answered. "Oh, yes, I'd love that," she said though a smile.

As she exited her trailer, Illyana caught sight of Lucien, Akane, and Cora all sitting at the breakfast table. She smiled a bit, then began to head over. It wasn't until she reached the table that she remembered to look for Geralt, but was pleased to see he was not darkening their morning this time.

She had wrapped a forest green shawl around her shoulders to keep warm, and pulled it tightly around herself as she made her way to the food troughs. "Morning," she said, smiling over at Lucien, "Little chilly today," she commented as she rubbed her shoulders with her hands before reaching for the clipboard she had left out yesterday. Before grabbing it though, she remembered the scolding the Ringleader had given her, and reached for a plate instead.

Lucien's smile widened at her response. "Wonderful." He responded, before shifting his gaze toward Illy as she approached. He was glad to see that she looked well-rested today. For a moment he raised an eyebrow as he saw her reach for the clipboard, but his expression eased when she reached for a plate of food instead. He was glad he wasn't going to have to fight her on that this morning. His eyes trailed over to the shawl she wore. A familiar green that perfectly matched her eyes. He remembered it well. Faolan had given it to her during one of their holiday celebrations.. about a year before..

He shook his head, trying to shake off the nostalgia. He didn't want it to get in the way of his practice today. The ringleader was aware of how his emotions could sometimes affect his music.

"It is isn't it? I hope Aurel dresses warmly." He said. It was probably why the man had slept in today. He had always been pretty sensitive to the cold.

"If you need to stay warm, come sit next to me! I can help with that." Akane said brightly, giving Illy a smile.

At this, Lucien let out a small chuckle, before glancing at Cora, seeing that she had finished.

"Shall we go begin our practice?" He asked before rising to his feet. The mermaid eagerly agreed, and said her goodbyes to the other two before she excitedly began heading toward the tent. Lucien looked on amusingly before he quickly caught up with her.

"In a bit of a hurry I see." He commented as they made their way through the grounds.

Illyana nodded at Lucien's comment as she served herself. "I'll see that he does." She'd had this on her mind already, but knew that Aurel would likely be sleeping in. His trailer was usually the warmest place for him due to the makeshift "sun-roof" that let in tons of natural light.

She chuckled lightly as she heard Akane's statement, then made her way to the table and sat next to the Kitsune with a half-full plate of breakfast. "Thank you," she said, smiling, then waved to Cora and Lucien as they made their way off.

Cora immediately started pushing herself toward the big top after saying her farewells to Illy and Akane. She beamed over to Lucien at his observation, "I am!" she agreed, "I'm just excited. I love performing with you, and the song is lovely." It had been only about three months since she had begun engaging in this facet of performances with Lucien. Once she had come out of her shell a bit more, and gotten comfortable in front of crowds, she found singing for others to be exhilarating. Now, she found herself looking forward to it much more than her "regular show", and was always more than happy to practice with Lucien as well.

As the two drew closer to the tent, Cora tilted her head as music drifted toward her. Someone was already playing the piano...it was a soft tune, and somehow sounded familiar to her, although she couldn't place it. She looked at Lucien quizzically, then began moving a little faster towards the Big Top as curiosity struck her.

She reached the entrance and waited for the Ringleader to hold it open, as she entered, the music came to a stop.

There, in the center of the room, sitting at the piano, was Geralt. He had turned toward the pair as they'd entered, and his face cracked into that familiar wicked smile.

"Ah, there you are." he said, then stood and lingered next to the instrument. "I hope you don't mind, I was breaking her in." he said, as he laid a hand on the lid.

Akane smiled, waving to Lucien and Cora as they took their leave. She leaned against Illy a little, and provided her with warmth. Over the years she had found out that her ability to produce fire also allowed her to radiate heat when she wanted, it was a bit more controlled, but it was certainly useful in situations like these. She was just glad to help.

"I wonder were Geralt is this morning? I don't think I've seen him around today." Akane commented once the other two were gone. She had been up pretty early, and even then had not seen the man.

-

Lucien was always glad for the mermaid's excitement when it came to this. Honestly he hadn't considered performing much himself after the others had become more established. He had laid off it for a while, and much preferred to let the others shine in the spotlight while he simply did the introducing, but he found he also rather enjoyed performing with the mermaid. He hadn't realized he actually missed playing music for people. He couldn't really go around performing in random taverns or bars like he used to.. now that he had the circus. Aside from the practice he made for fun.. this was his chance to play for others to hear.. and he was happy that he could do his part in brightening their audience's mood.

"I love performing with you as well. I had never really had anyone accompany my music like you do, it certainly adds another level of charm. You are quite talented." He complimented. What he was most happy to see was how much the mermaid actually enjoyed it.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of music, and looked up at the Big Top curiously. As far as he knew, he didn't think anyone else really knew how to play, so it was certainly.. curious. He held the tent open for Cora, before he followed her inside, raising his eyebrows upon seeing Geralt at the piano.

"No, not at all." He said, pausing for a moment. "It certainly seems like you know more than just the keys. Is that Beethoven I was hearing?" He asked. Part of him wondered how long the man had been here. Had he already had breakfast? He had certainly gotten up early if that was the case, to have had everyone miss him completely.

Illyana scooted a little closer to Akane as she began to eat, thankful for the warmth her friend was sharing with her. She took a couple of small bites, then twisted her mouth slightly at the Kitsune's remark. "He doesn't exactly strike me as the consistent type," she said, then took another bite. As she swallowed, she added, "I'm sure he's around here somewhere." but she did not smile. In truth, she was glad for his absence and hoped he wouldn't be lingering every morning while he was with them.

-----------------------------------------

Cora's eyes widened along with her smile as she saw Geralt, and she eagerly made her way toward him and the piano. "Good morning, Geralt," she said, glad to see he had stuck around this morning after all.

He smiled over at her, and approached, bowing slightly in greeting, "Good morning to you, Cora. As usual, you are positively fetching."

Cora giggled sheepishly and nodded toward the piano, "That was a lovely song you were playing." She wanted to change the subject, a little embarrassed by all of the man's compliments, especially in front of Lucien.

The Magician tilted his head slightly, "Why thank you, doll. Although, I must admit I am out of practice." He looked to Lucien, and his expression changed microscopically. Though it was still one of pleasure, this was an different variety. "Oh, just a simplified version. My father absolutely loved Beethoven." He tapped his forehead and added, "I suppose it got stuck up here."

There was a slight pause, and he stepped away from the instrument. "I was hoping to hear the two of you practice this morning, if you don't mind an onlooker. I am but a student of music, it is always a treat to see professionals play." he said, glancing between them hopefully.

Cora looked to Lucien for guidance, a slight bit of pink rising in her pale cheeks. Although she had performed in front of many strangers, and her other troupe members, something about singing in front of Geralt was making her nervous. Perhaps because he knew things about music that she hadn't yet grasped. Although Lucien was also an expert in comparison to her, he had a calming presence about him that never seemed to rile her up. She likened it to the effect her singing had on walkers, but it just seemed to radiate from him. Having him around always made her feel more at ease...maybe she was just thinking too hard about it.

Lucien stepped towards the piano as Geralt moved away, his hand's lightly running across the keys.

"I cannot deny his good taste." He said. If he had ended up learning how to play just from how often his father played or listened to it it, he could not deny that the feat itself was still impressive.

"Of course not, feel free to take a seat." He said, motioning to one of the nearby chairs before he took a seat. He glanced over at Cora, taking note of a bit of her nerves. Was she embarrassed of singing in front of Geralt? It certainly seemed like the magician loved to flatter her. Considering Cora seemed to enjoy it, he didn't see the need to reprimand Geralt for it.

"Ready? Just do it like you always do." He said with a reassuring smile. It was his way of telling her not to focus too much on the fact Geralt was here. In all honesty he was curious of what the man's opinion would be of this song, but he didn't say that out loud. Once Cora was ready, Lucien shifted his attention on the keys, placing his slender fingers in their respective place. With that, the soft sound of the piano began to fill the tent, loud and clear. Lucien's smile grew more gentle as Cora's singing began to accompany him. Hearing it like this now in perfect synergy was satisfying, because it sounded better than he had originally imagined. He truly hoped people would feel the true purpose of this song.

Geralt's face fell for only a moment as Lucien commented on his father, but he saw no need to reply, and his smile returned quickly. He rubbed his hands together, looking as if he was about to eat a hearty and delicious meal, and took a seat. He smiled over at Cora briefly, but kept his attention on Lucien. This was the real study, he needed to see if he would let himself go with the music or not. He jumped at the idea to see the Ringleader...uncomposed, even if only for a moment.

Cora nodded vigorously at Lucien's question, smiling through her nervousness. She placed her hands in her lap, and waited for Lucien to begin playing. Once her part came, she began to sing just as they'd practiced. It was quiet at first, but she knew that the sound would build as the song continued. The more and more she sang, and listened to Lucien play, they more relaxed she felt. Geralt's presence melted away from her mind, and a small smile returned to her features as they reached the second stanza. Music was where she could feel herself come alive. It was almost like being back home before...before she came abovewater.

Lucien continued to play, the soft, soothing music of their song continuing to resound throughout the tent. His gentle smile remained as he played, matching Cora's pitch perfectly, and increasing his tempo when they reached the next stanza. He closed his eyes, fingers dexterously moving through the keys without mistake as he was allowed to immerse himself into the song and the meaning behind it. Hope.. hope that people could begin to feel again in these troubled times.. that even if things seemed to not be looking the best... that as long as they had each other they'd be alright, as long as they clung to that hope, and did not give up. That was something he more than anyone could relate to.. even if he was trying to throw those thoughts in to back of his mind.

It was then that Lucien's eyes opened, smile shifting ever so slightly as his eyes tried to retain their focus as he let Cora's voice continue to guide him. This was not for him, this was for the people who would come to listen, he had to make sure not to let himself get swept away by his own music. This was something he had practiced to not do over the years, but when playing with Cora it was hard not to feel so relaxed that he could stop himself from immersing himself a little too much. It was hard to keep a balance between not letting her voice affect him while playing his music, he didn't want the message of the song to be lost.. so it was just something he had to allow to happen. When the song came to an end, his smile fully returned to his face as he turned to Cora.

"That was delightful, Cora, better than I originally imagined." He told her.

Cora felt herself transported by Lucien's music, and knew that she had to match his level of perfection and elegance. She strove to be a good partner for him now so that she was sure there would be no doubt of the feeling behind his song. It filled her full of hope, and she wanted to be a conduit for that so that the audience could feel it too. Having Geralt here may have been better than she thought after all, he may be able to give her the feedback she was looking for.

Geralt made sure to focus all of his attention on Lucien so as not to be swept away by the soothing power of Cora's voice. He wanted to be sure not to miss any telltale signs of Lucien's emotional state as he played, and knew he could not do so if he allowed himself to be rocked by the sound. Although he was prepared for it this time, it was still extremely hard to resist. Even a man of his particular talents and skill was not able to fully combat the power of the Siren's Song. Now he understood where her act got its name and why hers seemed to be the most popular attraction in the troupe. It held the same allure as alcohol or narcotics, and would absolutely keep the patrons coming back for more. Still, he had to push through and focus on Lucien.

He watched the Ringleader's face the whole time, and felt his smile widening in its semi-stupor as he noticed Lucien allowing himself to be taken away, only for a moment. A smile, small but genuine, flitted across his lips. Even from the Magician's vantage point at Lucien's side, he could see it. The Ringleader must have noticed this momentary lapse in awareness, for he straightened again and for the rest of the song seemed a little...tighter. His expression, his body, his hands, all seemed a little more focused. The music did not suffer for it, at least to the untrained ear, but Geralt could tell that he was trying to keep himself wound up. They had that in common around Cora.

As the song came to a close, Geralt let himself slip for just a moment into the state of euphoria brought on by the young woman's voice. If he had been a lesser man, he may have slipped from his chair and onto the floor. For a moment, his eyes closed and his face relaxed, along with his mind. As he drifted away, memories began to flash before his eyes. The second he realized what he was doing, he straightened again just as Cora sang the last, sharp note.

She looked to Lucien, her smile brighter than before, and said, "Thank you, Lucien, but I couldn't do it without your playing. You're just...amazing..." she was at a loss for words. Nothing could describe the way that singing made her feel, and she only hoped the positive experience transferred. She looked over at Geralt as he was standing.

The Magician stood and began to clap, though he could tell the drowsiness was clear on his face, he blinked to clear it as quickly as he could. Cora could prove...dangerous to him.

"That was absolutely magnificent. Lucien, Cora, you are a gift to music."

Lucien's smile widened slightly as he gave the mermaid a small bow. "You flatter me, Cora, your voice would be just as amazing with or without my accompaniment. I am honored to have you play at my side." He said, before taking a glance over at Geralt. He had just managed to catch the end of him recomposing himself. It seemed even the mysterious magician was not immune to the effects of Cora's voice. That was interesting.

"Thank you for your kind words, Geralt. I hope you don't mind if we try it one more time. It's perfect the way it is, but it doesn't hurt to try again." He said. The man sat back down at this, and he turned his attention back to Cora.

"Once more, from the top?" He asked, and began the song again once Cora had given him the go. This time he was more composed. He allowed himself to immerse himself into the music, but he tried to keep the thoughts behind them under control. Lucien was very good at resisting the effects of mind altering abilities like Cora's, but considering the feeling behind Cora's singing was anything but negative, it didn't hurt to allow a bit of it to get through, for the sake of providing them with a much better synergy for the song. When they were finished with it, Lucien smiled in satisfaction. It was certainly ready.

---

Blue eyes fluttered open, staring up into an unfamiliar ceiling. Ivory sat right up, and took a glance around the now empty trailer. She could see the sun shining brightly behind the curtains of the partially opened window. What time was it? How long had she overslept? There was a small soreness in her neck from the position she slept in, but she knew it would soon fade. The dhampir stretched and set aside the book she had fallen asleep reading before rising to her feet, taking note of the blanket that had been placed upon her shoulders. She smiled slightly and removed it, before folding it and placing it on Illy's bed.

To think Illyana managed to leave without her noticing, she must have really been completely out to not have been awakened by her movements. She walked past the table and saw the note Illyana had left her, expressing her gratitude for her assistance. Her smile widened a little upon seeing the little smiley face she had drawn, and her eyes ventured to the cookies she had left on the table for her.

"Don't mind if I do~" She said, before she began to eat them. She could always count on Illyana to have snacks like these lying around. Mood brightened by sweets, Ivory grabbed the black scarf Illy had left hanging on the chair, before wrapping it loosely around her head, a small attempt to block out the sun, but it would suffice for now. Not like she expected to spend a lot of time outside anyway. With that, she quickly headed out, and made her way across the grounds to the breakfast area, finding only Akane and Illy there.

"Good morning." She greeted them. It seemed a fair amount of food had already been eaten, meaning that the others had probably already taken their leave. Great for her, considering it meant Geralt wasn't here. A fine morning it was.

"Good morning, Ivory! Where did you come from?" Akane questioned curiously as the dhampir made her way to the food, deciding she might as well have some food. It was the day of the big show anyway.

"Hmm? Spent the night at Illy's." She responded, causing Akane to smile.

"Ooh, you guys have sleepovers too? You should join me and Cora sometime! I'm sure it'll be fun." The kitsune said brightly.

Geralt happily obliged Lucien, finding it quite pleasurable not only to listen to the song, but also to watch him play. He took his seat again, and this time did not allow Cora's lulling song to get the better of him. It was best if he remained...alert around her.

Cora's blush deepened at both Lucien and Geralt's compliments, knowing that they were genuine. To have someone as talented and intelligent as Lucien say this to her...well, she had no way of responding except to bite her lip and look away sheepishly. She was eager, however, to practice once more. Her vocal chords never tired, so really, she could sing all day if it was requested of her. She knew that wouldn't be necessary, so she decided to make the most of the time that she had.

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Illyana smiled as she saw Ivory joining them at the mess area, donning the scarf she had left over the top of her head. She nodded toward her friend as she took one last small bite of food, before wiping her mouth and pushing her plate away. She had served too much, as usual, and found she was unable to finish it.

At Akane's comment, she chuckled quietly, "I wouldn't call it a 'sleepover' per se. Ivory was helping me with some research." Since the Mermaid had joined Cirque D'étoiles, she and Akane had spent a majority of their time together. They had similar "bubbly" personalities, and enjoyed each other's company. Illyana was grateful, for Akane had a little too much energy for her. It was draining to be around someone who was too much of anything for the clairvoyant. She preferred the company of more reserved individuals, like Lucien, Aurel, Ivory and...well, others who were less outgoing. That was not to say that she did not like the two of them, in fact, she was often jealous of their positive outlooks and boundless happiness. After a while, it just became a little too tiring for Illyana, who identified herself as a hardcore introvert.

"Well, while I'd love to practice more, I think the song came out exactly how we wanted it to." Lucien said as he rose to his feet. He was glad that Cora had enjoyed herself, he knew that she loved practicing music like this, and honestly he quite enjoyed it to. Her presense made it a little easier for him to focus at the task at hand, instead of getting pulled in by his own feelings.. at least.. when he didn't completely lose himself in the effects of her voice. It had been a good mental practice, that was for sure.

"Now, I believe you said that you and Ivory were almost finished with your practice? I hope you don't mind if I stay to see what you two came up with?" He asked, figuring that Ivory might have woken up by now. He trusted whatever she had ended up agreeing with, but he still wanted to see it at least once before the actual show.

--

Ivory glanced over to Illyana as she pushed her plate away. "You know if Lucien were here, he'd want you to finish that." She commented, knowing that it was something the ringleader would fuss over. She wasn't going to force her to eat it, but she figured she'd mention it, just in case it convinced her otherwise. Unlike her, Illy was completely human. She didn't feel like she was nearly as nourished as she should be, so she understood why Lucien always tried to make sure she ate all of her food when he wasn't too busy doing something else.

"Research? Well I suppose that's good, you definitely look at lot more well rested today." Akane commented with a smile. She was glad for it, considering how exhausted the fortune teller had seemed these past few days.

It was around that time that Akane took notice of Aurel heading their way. The man was had a blanket wrapped securely around himself, and looked a bit bundled up. He was clearly cold, but was greeted by both Akane and Ivory as he reached the table.

"Good morning.." He responded, grabbing his plate of food and taking a seat next to Akane.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did.. but this morning was a much colder than yesterday.. it seems like winter is almost here, the snakes are all curled up in my blankets." He said before he began to eat his food.

Cora agreed wholeheartedly with Lucien about the song. It was ready, so practicing more would just take up time. Besides, Cora liked to hear things when they were new to her. She feared that the more the practiced, the less feeling she may be able to put into the song.

"I agree," Geralt said for her, "It's perfect." He had decided not to clap this time, but his expression showed his admiration, he was sure of that. He stood, and his eyes moved to the siren. She met his gaze, and he held it for a moment. He could see the way she looked at him, he knew he had done his work with her, and rather more quickly than he had intended. He flashed a smile, and was about to speak, when Lucien spoke first.

He moved his gaze to the true object of his desires and raised his eyebrows, "Oh, of course! I would be glad to see if you have anything to add or change before tonight." He knew this would not be the case, the transition was perfect, but Lucien maintaining the illusion of power was important to their future...endeavors together. "Just as soon as my...partner gets here, I'm all ready to go," he said this with a wide smile, standing with his fingertips pressed together. He wasn't sure how long they'd have to wait for Ivory to get here, but as long as he was on time, that's all that mattered to him.

------------------------------------

Illyana's mouth twisted a little at Ivory's comment. She knew this, Lucien and Faolan had always been very adamant that she finish her meals to the point where she was too stuffed to walk. It seemed that in the latter's absence, Lucien had redoubled his efforts to ensure that she ate by enlisting the help of the others. This denial of her food was not an act of defiance by any means, she had just never been a big eater. She had always been a small child, her sister had been taller and broader than her, though still slender. Her mother had always told her that her sister had absorbed all of the physical prowess in the womb, while she had been left with the mental. She was not wrong, but there was a lot more to her twin than her mother ever knew.

"It's a good thing he went to practice early, I suppose," was all Illyana said in response, though her tone was slightly playful. If Faolan had been here, he would have simply shoved her plate back toward her, or place his finger on the edge of the dish to stop her from moving it in the first place. If he were here, she would have no choice but to oblige him.

Aurel's arrival saved her a bit from scrutiny, especially if it was cold. He had never been a big eater, and his metabolism slowed much more when it was chilly out. She doubted he would be able to eat any more than her. At least she was not alone in this.

She greeted her serpentine companion with a smile, "Tonight will be cold too, make sure you remember to turn the heater on tonight for them...and you." she said, wrapping her shawl a little more tightly around her shoulders.

Ivory was amused by Illyana's response, but wasn't able to speak up in response as Aurel had joined them. He certainly did look cold, but it seemed like at least the blanket was doing a good job of keeping him warm.

"I'll be sure too.." Aurel said as he began to eat his food. There was probably less food on his plate than there probably had been on Illy's but.. this was usually how his meals ended up being during the winter. He remembered a time when he had gotten used to eating much more than this, but over time his appetite had slowly began to decrease, and he had also stopped exercising. Part of him knew he probably shouldn't have began to slack off in that way but.. it was hard to continue without Faolan here.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by Ivory rising from her chair. "Well.. I'm heading off to the Big Top, I think I'm running a little late." She said with a sigh. Honestly she wasn't even sure if Geralt was at there already or not, but she knew that Lucien and Cora at least were, so it didn't hurt to head over.

-

Lucien was satisfied with the assessment of the song, and honestly looked forward to playing it tonight. He took note of the small exchange of eye contact between Geralt and Cora, but said nothing. It was clear that the mermaid had grown at least a bit fond of him, he'd have to be sure to keep that in mind for the future. He was glad that he wasn't making the woman uncomfortable but.. he couldn't help but worry a little. He didn't think she'd be won over that quickly.

"I don't expect to have many notes, but I do look forward to seeing it." He said with a smile.

A little after that, he heard someone at the entrance. "It seems that your wait won't be too long." Lucien said, just as Ivory stepped into the tent.

"Good morning." The dhampir greeted them. "Were you two able to finish your practice?" She asked Lucien, knowing that they had probably been at it.

"We just finished, so your timing was impeccable. I was just telling Geralt that I wanted to see what you two had come up with, if you don't mind." He told her.

"No.. not at all." It was probably good that they got someone else to see it, considering it would be good to get an outside perspective on it.

Geralt had taken a seat back on the chair, and was just pulling the pocket-watch out to take a look, but only caught a quick glance before Ivory arrived. Hm, a missed opportunity for him, but there were worse things. He replaced the watch, then stood and turned to greet the vampiress. "Good morning, Miss Ivory. You look well-rested, or at least, I hope you are given all that practice yesterday." He said as she walked passed him, noticing her fleeting glance. At least her expression was less sour now that Lucien was here to watch her. He quite preferred this expression to the frown she wore when the two of them were alone. He would share this with her, but he knew she would take offense, so he kept it to himself.

Cora also greeted Ivory with a smile. She was glad to be here with Lucien among the other troupe members too, it felt nice to be included in some of the other goings-on around here. Because she spent so much time alone in her trailer, she wasn't used to seeing how things worked behind the scenes. She was also glad that Lucien had suggested he watch the two's performance, she was excited to see it! The view from side-stage was never as good as in the audience. She had learned this while watching Akane's performances. Although, she supposed she should ask if she was allowed to stay as well. Lucien, at least, had good reason to stay. Cora was a bit of a hanger-on, at this point.

Realizing this, she thought maybe it was best if she just left. Her face fell a little bit, and she almost gave in to the despair of the moment. But, she thought, what would Akane do? She would ask, rather than just leave with a frown. So, Cora rose her chin once more and looked to Geralt and Ivory, "Would it be alright if I stayed too? I so love watching you perform, Ivory." she said, her eyes large and hopeful. Though she had spent six months in the company of the troupe, her interactions with some of the members was still very limited, Ivory among them. It was still hard for her to gauge her reactions to specific things, she wasn't as expressive as Akane was, or as timid as Illyana or Aurel. In fact, Cora decided then and there that she found the woman a bit intimidating, but she was determined to shake this feeling. Ivory had never been anything but kind to her, she knew she had no reason to fear.

Geralt, upon hearing Cora's request, turned his attention toward her. "Oh, Cora, don't tell me you were thinking of leaving? No, no, you simply must stay. I'm sure to work all the harder with a set of big sea-blue eyes watching me," he said, winking.

Cora's smile widened a bit, the blush refusing to fade from her cheeks, but did not respond to Geralt. Instead, she turned her eyes to Ivory. She knew they were equal partners in this, she did not want to presume that Geralt spoke for her as well.

Ivory gave Geralt a small glance as he spoke.

”I got plenty.” She said simply, before turning her attention to Lucien and Cora. She had taken notice of the mermaid’s expression as she seemingly contemplated to speak, until she had finally asked if she could say. Despite her typical desire to not like observers for imperfect performances, she couldn't bring herself to turn Cora down, considering how much courage it had seemingly taken to ask. Not to mention.. it was hard to even consider saying no when she was looking at her like that. Cora had come a long way from when she had first come here. This would never have been something she would have asked back then, so she could say that she was actually quite proud of the fact she had come this far.

"Of course, another set of eyes wouldn't hurt to have around." She said with a small smile, before she jumped up onto the stage.

Lucien smiled at Cora as she had asked her question. "Well since we've both been welcomed as the audience, let's leave the stage to them shall we?" He asked Cora, before he pushed her chair down the ramp at the back of the stage and came around to the other seats. He took a seat next to her, and turned his golden eyes on the two performers.

Ivory glanced down at Lucien as the two took their places. "From where do you want to see? I changed the ending a little bit.. as per.. Geralt's request. So I guess from there would be best?" She asked him.

The ringleader was a bit surprised to hear Ivory had accommodated Geralt in that manner, but he assumed that if she had agreed, it was because it was better suited to whatever they were going to do.

"From there is fine, I'm a bit curious of what change you made." Lucien responded.

With that, Ivory nodded, and began to climb the silks.