FreckersFrog

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Geralt's smile widened effortlessly at Lucien's response. He was overjoyed to see the change in mood that the Ringleader's flight had offered. Was that a bit of flirtation he sensed in the Frenchman's tone...? This was welcomed more than anything.

He raised a hand, palm forward and shook his head, "Guilty as charged. I see even you can't deny the pleasure in a little role-reversal, hm?" he said coyly, raising an eyebrow. "I could never deny you the limelight, it's yours by right." he said, allowing himself to step a little closer to the Frenchman.

This motion caused him to catch sight of the water again, and a bit of curiosity distracted him from his current course. Cora had not surfaced. He heard Lucien's words and had a feeling that they were directed at this. "I have no doubt of that..." he said absently as he searched the water's placid surface. Not even the slight breeze was breaking the plasticine appearance of the water.

As he gazed over Lucien's shoulder, he caught sight of the beautiful white feathers of the wings on his back. He stared down at them and a surge of hunger rocked him. He fought the urge to lick his lips, his fingers twitching with anticipation. He wanted so badly to touch them, to feel his fingers sink deep into them and squeeze...

The remainder of the trucks, including Lucien and Illyana's arrived just as this conversation was coming to a close. Alex and his passenger exited the car, and headed in different directions. The diviner saw Geralt and Lucien speaking, noted their proximity, and headed for them. Before she reached them, she called ahead, forcing herself to smile to not seem so conspicuous, "Cora looked so happy, Lucien!"

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan finished stirring and seasoning the rest of the food, then served it on plates for the three of them. He kept the boy's portion small, maybe a third of what he gave Lucien, who was also a lighter eater than himself. He didn't want to overwhelm the child, despite his instinct to help him fill his belly. It would be healthier to ease him into it, he reminded himself.

At Lucien's comment, he paused before taking his first bite and flashed his crooked smile. "Mmm...yeah. No thanks to you," he said, giving Lucien a little nudge with his shoulder. This made him feel a little better about being alone with the child in the coming days, though he still half-hoped to find work for himself so Lucien could do it instead...his outlook about it was a little less grim the more he and the child interacted with one another.

He looked over at him as he began to eat, pleased to see that he was at least trying, and quite enjoying the sausage. He noticed a strand of the boy's long golden hair fall across his plate, then swallowed before calling over, "You better be careful with that," he gestured toward the plate to show the child what was happening, "Or Lucien will try to make you cut it." Having long hair himself, Lucien had made comments in the past about what he might look like with a shorter style. Faolan had always liked having long hair, it made it easier to obscure his face. Besides, maintaining a short haircut was irritating, and a waste of time in his opinion. This boy's hair, however, put him to shame. It didn't look like it had been cut in the child's lifetime, though the Irishman wasn't sure if this was by choice or not. Either way, Faolan wanted to lighten the mood by mentioning this, preferring to move the attention away from himself and back onto their guest.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Cora took in the sights and sounds around her as Lucien flew over the field and towards the clear fresh water of the lake. Being a sea-dweller for the majority of her life, she had only gazed up at the sky with wonder and amazement. Some of her sisters back home had wings, but they were not strong enough to carry them over vast distances like Lucien's could, and served as better gliders than anything else. She had seen creatures she later learned were called "birds" sailing over the sea, and Lucien reminded her of them with his huge soft white wings.

Cold wind bathed her face and shoulders as she gripped the robe tightly about herself, breathing deeply of the fresh air. She could smell the sky and the trees and grass below, but mostly the water. As it drifted closer and closer, her smile grew larger and she felt her heart skipping beats in anticipation of swimming in the open again. Though she was more than happy to be with the troupe on land, she always found true happiness when she was she was held aloft in the embrace of open water. Though it was not like the sea, it was a good enough substitute for her, and served as a pleasant getaway from the cramped quarters of her tank and trailer.

She nodded to Lucien sagely when he reached the point where he would drop her, and felt herself go weightless as he let go. She twirled through the air, removing the robe she wore and letting it drift behind her. She wouldn't need clothing once she was underwater, where she truly belonged. There were a few seconds of deep cold, nothing she couldn't handle, and cracking dryness, before she broke the surface of the lake and was plunged into its depths.

She floated for a moment, her eyes closed, and listened to the sound of the water as it pushed into her ears, rushed into her gills, lapped against the shore. She felt its current flow through her, and she became one with it. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw the floor beneath her, the light shining down from above. She saw rocks and weeds, underwater plants, flowers, and even fish drifting by in the distance. After she had fully absorbed the environment around her, she dashed into the depths of the lake, twirling and spinning, rising and sinking, splashing...she felt so at peace and so elated at the same time. It was bliss.

Meanwhile, Geralt had gunned the accelerator on the trailer, trying to keep Lucien in sight as he rumbled over the grass field towards the edge of the water. He knew where he had been indicated to park earlier, and headed in that general direction, but had to veer off a bit to keep up with Lucien. Seeing him fly like that...it filled him with so many emotions that he did not have time to sort through them. The creature that shared his body was thrilled, buzzing with dark energy, and it threatened to overtake him.

Once he arrived, as close as he could get to his designated spot without loosing the Frenchman and his charge, he slammed on the breaks. The heavy vehicle slid a bit through the wet earth before coming to a stop. He threw it into park, killed the ignition and leaped from the seat to land in the mud. Normally, he would have been furious at the state of his wingtips, but he was too in awe of what he was seeing. He'd gotten out just in time to see the splash as Cora entered the lake. He stood there like a fool for a moment, pushing the hair away from his eyes as it swayed in the breeze, looking between the Ringleader and the surface of the lake. Lucien swooped down to grab the robe that the woman had discarded in her fall, then made his way toward the shore. Cora did not resurface.

The Magician heard the other vehicles approaching behind him, which snapped him out of his dumbfounded stare. He closed his mouth and straightened up, trying to flatten his hair and sharpen his clothes. He thought once about cleaning off his shoes, but knew it was futile. He'd have to do it once they were off.

He looked back up at Lucien and spared himself one final moment before the rest of the circus arrived. He really did look so much like her...so elegant and beautiful, untouchable. His hair, his lips, the shape of his eyes, his hands, his pale and perfect skin...

He shook his head as he saw the man land, then boldly strode toward him, noting once more that Cora had not surfaced. He approached him as he was straightening from setting the robe down on the shore. "Lucien!" he called, quickening his pace to a light run as he reached the final few steps, "That was..." He struggled to find the right word, "Spectacular." He paused for a moment as he looked into the Frenchman's face, a little of the awe still slipping off of him. He shook his head again, got a hold of himself, and his expression returned to the one Lucien would recognize. "A little warning would have been...welcomed." he said, chuckled to keep his tone lighthearted. He was sure Lucien was expecting him to be at least a little shaken by what he had seen. Even knowing that the circus was full of supernatural creatures...to see a man with the wings of an angel was still an awesome thing to behold.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan paused before turning away as he felt the child's hand on the hem of his shirt. Slowly, he turned and looked down at him once more. As the full gravity of the words struck him, the Irishman felt as though his heart were being squeezed. This child was incredible...so selfless and kind. Though he was suffering, he was reaching out to make sure that Faolan was not angry. Though he could barely speak the man's native tongue, though he was so small in comparison, so weak...he wanted to hold him up.

Through the weight of the moment, Faolan forced himself to smile down at the kid and nod gently. "Glad to hear it...that ability of Lucien's, it's really something isn't it?" He glanced to the Frenchman then, his anger full retreated and replaced with calm as they smiled at each other. He didn't know anyone else could have this effect on him...but even after all these years, someone could ease the storm inside of his chest.

He returned to his seat once the moment passed, stirred the eggs and rolled the sausage over. He glanced over at the child who was holding the warm bread close to his chest. He chuckled quietly and shook his head, "Make sure you fill up this morning, lad. You need energy for swimming later."

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Illyana couldn't help but return Lucien's smile as he comforted her. Despite everything that was going on with Geralt, she knew that the pain in him had not faded even a bit since that morning four years ago...She needed to remind herself that he was burying it, even now, and that he needed to smile more than anyone.

Her smile remained as she left the book closed in her lap, then turned her face out of the open window to gaze at the surroundings. While she did prefer the pursuits of the mind over all else, she did appreciate nature as well. Aurel and Faolan had taught her about its power and its beauty, and she was always reminded of the old days when they went camping like this.

Once they had found their stopping point, Illyana waited until Alex had taken the wheel, then turned out the window again as the train paused. She breathed in the fresh air, excited to see the light sparkling on the water.

Geralt had succumbed to vice on the road, taking sips from his flask as they drove to steady the shake in his hands. He felt better, now that the hair of the dog was in him, and was pleased to roll the window down and let the wind tousle his hair. As long as Lucien wasn't around to see him disheveled, he didn't mind.

They only stopped twice during the drive, both scheduled. Lucien had informed him that they would scout around the lake to be sure they were alone before setting up camp, as places like that could be popular with tourists during busier seasons. He assumed they were in the clear when the train started moving again. They stopped again to allow Cora's trailer to pull off of the side of the road, and this was when Geralt began to get somewhat antsy.

He was sitting behind the wheel, tapping his fingers against it and looking ahead to see what was going on. Lucien hadn't offered an explanation for this, and Geralt hadn't asked at the time. He wasn't too concerned with why Cora's trailer needed to be pulled off of the road before they arrived. With all of the supernaturals in this troupe, he was sure that all of them had their own unique needs anyway.

He was just starting to get annoyed when something caught his eye. The flash of white against the blue sky, a man with black hair...Lucien? Was he...flying?

The Magician's eyes went wide and he leaned forward over the wheel as Lucien left his eyeline. His hands began to shake once more as his heart rate increased, but this time not from withdrawal. No, there was no mistaking that beautiful, graceful form as it was carried through the air by two large, powerful, alabaster wings that sprouted from his back. His mouth dropped open in disbelief and a low grumbling growl of laughter permeated his brain.

A Nephilim...oh yes, the son of an Angel. This creature will tremble before our power. It's white wings will burn and shrivel until they are blackened with ash. Our master will rejoice with us, his envoys of shadow, and we will rewarded handsomely.

Geralt tried his best to ignore the voice, but its elation made it difficult. Still, both man and beast were enraptured by the sight they beheld. So much so, that Geralt opened the door and stepped out of the truck to get a better look. He watched Lucien land on the roof of Cora's trailer, kneel and reach inside what had to be a hatch of some kind.

Illyana, at the front of the line, caught movement in the side mirror and glanced up to see that Geralt had exited the truck, his eyes locked on the sky. She frowned and shook her head, watching him closely to see if he would give anything away. He didn't that she could see from here, and his lack of aura made it impossible for her to tell exactly what he was feeling, though she could see his mouth was at least slightly ajar. Part of her was pleased at his wonder, knowing how arrogant he was. It was nice to see him off balance for once.

Cora had been waiting the whole drive for this, and was patiently leaning on the edge of the tank, looking up at the sky through the open skylight in the roof of her mobile home. When Lucien arrived, her smile practically split her face as her heart exploded with glee. She flashed it to Akane before reaching up for the Ringleader's hand ans giggling with delight, "I thought you'd never ask, good sir."

Geralt watched everything unfold in complete awe as the voice cackled within him. He had finally tuned it out as it began to quiet, and he swallowed the lump in his throat as he watching Lucien pull Cora, soaking wet and dressed in only a robe, from the trailer. He cradled her in his arms and took flight once more, heading for the shimmer of water that was the lake.

After a beat, he jumped back into the driver's seat and turned the key as quickly as he could. He shoved the vehicle into gear and laid on the gas, breaking from the train and making a beeline for the lake. He had to see the rest of this unfold, he was unsure that he would get an opportunity to again.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan watched the food cook in silence. He had cracked a few eggs into a skillet they used to cook with on the grate, and thrown some sausages next to the bread as well. They were large and thick, German, the woman had told him and called them "brats". Sausage was sausage to him, but he thought the child may enjoy the taste of home. He was glad that he liked meat, it was an excellent source of protein, along with the eggs, and would help to build his strength more quickly.

Once the bread was warm, he threw a cloth over it and offered the half to the child covered so he wouldn't burn his fingers. He said nothing, and though he tried to smile, the thought of the boy shivering and sweating only moments ago returned when he looked down at his pale face. Everything that had happened to him reminded Faolan that some monsters wore human skin...

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Illy could sense Lucien's aura becoming distressed as he explained, and slowly her face began to fall. She knew that he wasn't scolding her, but part of her felt like he needed to impress his reasoning for the both of them. She felt bad for asking, but she needed to be sure that he knew what he was doing before he did it. She trusted Lucien with her life, but he often sacrificed his own best interests for others. Part of her was glad to hear he would be doing this for himself, though. Herself, Aurel, and Lucien had all spent too many days being sad these past four years...

"I'm sorry..." she said, casting her eyes to the floor. "I think it's a good idea...this day is supposed to be bright for all of us." She forced a smile over at him, but felt that it was at least partially genuine. Though she was worried, she knew they all needed a little break from the negative that had been weighing them all down lately.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan left the trailer and went about his business, then began to set up for breakfast. Lucien's healing never took very long, and he had to busy himself to distract from the rage that gripped his heart.

He stoked a fire on the twigs and placed the grate they used for cooking on over it. It was quite a chilly morning, so he wanted to make sure that their food had extra time to heat up. Once that was done, he waited for Lucien and the boy to come out, and traded places with them to retrieve a jacket for himself and the food stores he had buried under the trailer to keep cold so they wouldn't spoil. He returned with that and some bread, cut it in half and placed either side face down on the grate to warm it. He knew the boy would be cold, he was so thin, so he wanted to make sure that he got some warm food in him as quickly as possible.

Once everything was set up, he took a seat next to Lucien and nodded at his explanation. He stoked the fire with a long stick to warm the bread quicker and said, "Only thing left to do is get him a warm meal then." His voice was strained, and he avoided looking at the boy to make sure his expression did not cause him alarm. He had scared adult men before with his scowl, on many occasions, and did not want this to be the case here.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Geralt lingered while Lucien remained near the mess area, making sure his assistance wasn't required before moving off to his trailer. He'd have to make sure everything was secure as well if he would be in the separated truck/cockpit of the vehicle.

Lucien's directions were easy enough for everyone to follow, and once all were ready, they moved along. The train of vehicles left a huge cloud of dust in their wake, but not much else. Just like that, Cirque D'étoiles had vanished.

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Illyana busied herself by reading beside Lucien as they drove. At first, the tension in the car was distracting to her, but she ignored it for long enough that it faded from her mind. She knew that the Ringleader was aware of her activities and that her apparent concern over Geralt's presence seemed unnecessary, but she wasn't willing to speak with him about it until she had something solid to present. It was clear to her that he was not seeing him in the same way, and would need more than words and suspicions to convince him. She knew this was Lucien's way, he never wanted to think badly about anyone until they had proven their malicious intent to him firsthand. The situation with Ivory's mother was enough to show her that this aspect of his personality ran very deep. Either way, Illyana was sure that eventually Geralt would show his true colors. She just had to make sure someone was there to see it.

She almost didn't notice when they arrived, she had been so absorbed in her book. She was halfway through a tome about the occult when the truck came to a halt. She watched Lucien give direction to the carnies. She continued to read while they did so, but snapped out of it again when she heard Lucien's words outside.

When he climbed back in to the truck, she closed her book in her lap and looked over as the truck roared to life once more. She knew what Lucien was planning to do, as he had done it a couple times in the past when they'd decided to take Cora to rivers and lakes. This time would be more risky, with their new member to watch all of the Ringleader's movements, and Illyana thought it prudent to remind him of this. "Are you sure about...you know." She said, nodding towards his shoulders. She knew he would pick up her meaning.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan watched the boy as Lucien spoke with him in German, gauging his expressions. There was no doubt in his mind now about why the child was ailing. Lucien's words only confirmed this for him, once and for all. His fists and jaw clenched in anger as he heard the report, and although he tried his best to stay calm, the anger was clear on his face.

At Lucien's question, Faolan nodded. "This is quite severe." Of course, he had seen worse, but for a child to have to experience something so intense at this age. "Let's see how it goes," his voice was tight as he stood to walk away, afraid that his mood may scare the boy, "We'll see if its necessary tomorrow." Although Lucien's ability was akin to a miracle, even the Nephilim wasn't sure of the extent of his abilities. Neither of them knew whether one application of his healing would cure the boy completely or if it would need multiple days of treatment. Only time would tell.