[center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/837776228794368011/882613750178402324/Circus_poster_Daphne.jpg?width=353&height=513[/img][/center]
[color=Lightgreen][b]Location:[/b][/color] Haly's circus fair, on the stage
[color=Lightgreen][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] The audience
[hr]
As soon as her last trick was done The Contortionist left the stage in a rush, not bothering to stick around for applause. She was stopped by one of the other performers, [url=https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/830552642781577256/895039086618877982/d7348c02082cc41a881856179eb0485b.jpg?width=374&height=513]the pyrotechnics guy.[/url] They were talking in hushed voices. He seemed to tell her something which upset her. His reaction to her displeasure was very strange, nearly falling to his knees to show how sorry he was. He attempted to cling at her legs which was swiftly dismissed by a rough kick to his side. The man tumbled to the floor, landing on his back. For a girl her size the strength in her kick was uncanny. She stepped over the moaning pyrotechnic and continued on her way. 

Meanwhile Daphne was pacing back and forth behind the thick velvet curtains separating the stage from the back. She fidgeted with her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ef/44/a5/ef44a579e012509de603242ad7532651.jpg]costume[/url] and fixed her mask, making sure it was secure. There were so many lines in the script of her performance, she worried she wouldn't remember them. Not only that her performance partner was nowhere to be seen. Five more minutes to go before they had to go on stage. Hopefully he'd show. She looked at her phone, trying to memorize her lines. Her performance was a re-enactment of the Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne. She heard the ringmaster start of the myth.  
[color=red]"Long long ago in ancient Greece the god of Love was insulted by Apollo who said he was the better archer between them"[/color]
After a minute, Apollo was nowhere to be seen. The ringmaster cleared his throat loudly. 

Backstage the performer who would play Apollo rushed up to Daphne. He was laughing and carried with him half of a cotton candy which he stole from the food stall. The vendor was yelling behind him. "Apollo" offered the cotton candy to Daphne. 
[color=yellow]"Got you this, I ate half of it though"[/color] Daphne took the cotton candy. She shook her head and smiled. 
[color=Lightgreen]"Come on, come on, we're late"[/color] Daphne giggled and pulled him with her onto the stage. The stage was set up like small obstacle course. In their version of the story Apollo was supposed to chase after Daphne for a kiss. The nymph would employ the help of children in the audience to help her win the race and fight off the Sun god. 

Apollo fixed his quiver of arrows and immediately got into character. He ran up to the center of the ring and flexed his muscles dramatically. He posed, smiling at the front row of children. 
[color=Yellow]"I am the best archer in all of Greece! Way better than that dumb Eros, diaper wearing baby!"[/color]

Daphne entered the stage waving excitedly at the audience. She took a seat near the first obstacle, idly playing with her hair. She really had no idea how nymphs were supposed to act. 

Apollo's insult angered Eros and he stomped forward into the ring, climbing up one of the obstacles. His movements were overexaggerated to make the children laugh. Eros took two arrows from his quiver, taking aim at the pair. He laughed evilly and released the toy arrows.
[color=Pink]"I will teach you not to make fun of ME!"[/color]

The ringmaster explained to the audience what Eros had done. 
[color=red]"The god of Love was not happy so he shot Apollo and the beautiful nymph Daphne"
"One arrow made Apollo fall in love with Daphne, but the other arrow made Daphne hate Apollo, and they started to chase each other, through fields and mountains"[/color]

Apollo walked up to Daphne who put down her imaginary comb, looking up at him. He took her hand and stared straight into her brown eyes. 
[color=yellow]"Daphne I think I'm in love with you, you are so beautiful, I just want to kiss you!"[/color]
Apollo's blue eyed stare and declaration of fake love made butterflies flutter in her stomach. [color=Lightgreen][i]Wait a second, she was not supposed to like this![/i][/color] Apollo squeezed her hand and laughed sheepishly, bringing her back to earth. 
She pulled back her hand and held it to her chest. Daphne stepped away from him a disgusted look on her face. 
[color=Lightgreen]"No I don't like kisses, stay away from me!"[/color]

The two performers started to chase each other across the obstacle course. Daphne took the easy way around each time while Apollo had to navigate every obstacle fairly. Despite that he was starting to catch up to her. The children were cheering on their hero of choice. After a couple of obstacles Apollo took a breather, pretending to be tired. This was Daphne's cue to involve a couple of volunteers in the act. On a plastic tree stump next to her a bunch of toy weapons were set up. She turned to the audience.
[color=Lightgreen]"Oh please are there any brave heroes willing to help me? I only want to stay in the forest, far away from Apollo..."[/color] She waited expectantly. Most of the children were hesitant and whispered to each other in excited voices. Daphne spotted a girl standing next to her brother.
[color=Lightgreen]"You daughter of Athena, will you help me fight off Apollo? I will bestow upon you a great battle sword"[/color]

After some encouragement from her parents the girl nodded and armed herself with the toy weapons. 
[color=Yellow]"Wait a minute that's not fair!"[/color]
Apollo also turned to the audience, flashing a bright smile. 
[color=yellow]"Who wants to help the best archer in Greece?, the winner gets a kiss from the beautiful Nymph"[/color]

The boys in the audience were not convinced, some of them making a face. Yuck!
Apollo cleared his throat and tried again. 
[color=yellow]"I mean the winner gets to try out shooting with my bow!"[/color]
That got him a whole ton of volunteers and he selected a valiant warrior in his quest for Daphne's heart. Eventually the chase led to the center of the ring. There was no place left to go for Daphne and her warrior friend. The last obstacle was a small pond. 

The ringmaster continued narrating the events. 
[color=red]"With nowhere left to run Daphne and her loyal follower asked the river god Peneus for help to escape the god of the Sun"[/color]

Daphne gestured for the girl to follow her to the makeshift pond at the center of the ring. She kneeled down in front of it.
[color=Lightgreen]"Oh father help me. Change my form which has brought me to this danger. Set me free!"[/color]

A booming voice sounded through the circus tent. The river god spoke through the sound system, coming from every angle. 
[color=lightblue]"My daughter I shall answer your plea, step into the pond"[/color]

Apollo and his helper were closing in during the final act of the performance. Right on time to witness Daphne's incredible transformation. The show stopping ending of the entire act. She stood in the shallow pond and her skin turned to bark, hair into leaves. Daphne made sure to be completely still, mimicking the stiffness of a real tree. Apollo fell to his knees, defeated. 
[color=red]"With the help of the daughter of Athena and her father the River God, Daphne escaped Apollo and lived happily in the forest evergreen"[/color]

The audience got up for a standing ovation, clapping at Daphne and her entourage. She bent down to high five the girl.
[color=Lightgreen]"We won!"[/color]
The girl looked at her in awe. Like a myth come to life.