FreckersFrog

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Calming down, Illyana nodded in response Faolan and Lucien's sentiments. As she looked at them, smiling through tears, she saw the family that she had never gotten to know as a child. It was comforting despite the fact that she was missing the person that she truly cared for, her twin...it made her feel a little less alone to have people on her side.

After she finished cleaning herself off and the others had backed away a bit, giving her room to breath, she spoke up again. Her voice was a little raw from all of the crying, and quiet as usual, "I might be able to....find her." Subconsciously, her hand went up to her forehead but fell before making contact. "I'm not sure though..."

At this, Faolan, who was now standing back by the driver's seat, looked to Lucien and raised an eyebrow to indicate that this was something they should ask about. He had done his part interrupting the Nephilim, it was his turn. Emotional scenes were not something that Faolan was used to, and he found it rather draining.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

The speed at which the Ringleader entered his abode pushed Geralt back a bit and the neutral expression he wore dropped into a slight frown when Lucien shut the door. This was improper decorum, and that irked him, but aside from that this confrontation was incredibly sexy to him. He would have to maintain a semblance of cool-headedness during this conversation if he was committed to not letting it get out of hand. It seemed that Lucien was thinking the same thing, Geralt could tell that he was trying to hold back.

The inside of the man's trailer was akin to a museum of macabre artifacts and relics evoking the occult. He had heavy dark curtains to cover the windows, a single oil lamp in the corner that filled the room with smoke. The furniture smelled of cigarettes and cinnamon and alcohol, not all-together unpleasant in the right circumstances. All if the furniture was crafted from dark or even black wood with similar metal trim. He had many items of memorabilia scattered about: several glass cases full of pinned insects, jars of unborn animals, a black trunk in the corner which lie open to reveal many tools of the magician's trade, including a top hat, cape, and cane, and it looked as though the man even had an ashtray the shape or made from a human skull. The bed was clothed in black sheets as well, and separated from the room by a black curtain which was now ajar.

He followed the Nephilim inside and moved toward the table he had been sitting at when the man arrived. He turned his back to Lucien so as not to show his reaction to his line or questions, but he wasn't sure if this would make the man more or less angry. "I'm not sure what else you are looking to hear, Lucien. I was...caught up in a previous engagement." He reached for the wine bottle, took it in his hand and turned to offer it to Lucien. "Night cap?" he asked, forcing a sly smile.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Illyana was also surprised by her sudden outburst, but Faolan's words and the look in his eyes had been too much for her. She had never experienced anyone, much less an adult, standing up for her and protecting her. It was all too much to bare, especially after she had shared so much about what had happened to her. She expected people to recoil from her, because that was what her parents did. Never in all her imaginings would she have guessed she would feel so safe with a pair of strangers. Maybe the world and the people in it weren't as bad as her mother had made them out to be...Lucien and Faolan and Aurel certainly proved the existence of Goodness.

Faolan was relieved to feel Lucien's return of his gesture. He held the girl until her tears calmed and she was able to breath again, and even after that he did not let go, not until she was ready to. It was strangely energizing to be comforting this girl this way, despite her despair...this action gave him a new outlook on his purpose. He needed to help her, no matter what, to let her achieve the goals she had in her life. The goals that others would never be able to see through to the end.

At some point, the Irishman noticed the absence of Aurel, and he glanced over at the boy to see him crying as well. Instead of returning this sad glance, Faolan smiled at him and held out his arm, waving him over. There was no need for any of them to suffer alone, not any more.

Aurel joined them and Faolan pulled him in so he was between Lucien and himself. The boy was so gentle and soft when he returned the hug, but the Irishman could tell he needed it as well. He hadn't been aware of ever needing a platonic hug like this, not until now.

When Illyana had finished crying she slowly pulled away from Faolan, leaving a large wet spot on his shoulder. She wiped her face, her nose, her eyes, repeatedly with the sleeves of her shirt, sniffling and coughing as she did so. Faolan let go of her, but did not move from the position he had taken in front of her.

"Thank you..." Illyana said, so quietly even at this distance it would be hard for someone with normal hearing to pick up the words. She couldn't look at anyone, knowing they were all crowded around her, she was too embarrassed.

Faolan, who still had his arm around Aurel's shoulders, fished a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to the girl. "Here you go..." She took it without a word and used it to clean herself up. "When you're ready," the Irishman added, "You let us know where you want to go and we'll take you there, okay? And if you don't know where, that's okay too. The three of us are just trying to find our way too..." he looked at Aurel and over his shoulder at Lucien and smiled, for real this time. Though it was short, it was sweet, and the happiness in it touched his eyes.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Geralt heard Lucien's knocks and his voice while the wine bottle was still vertical. He lowered it, slowly, and smiled as he swallowed the mouthful of alcohol. "Speak of the Angel..." he said quietly to himself, then set the bottle on the table and slowly stood before making his way to the door. He took his time, running a hand through his hair which he knew was messy, and straightening his vest, shirt, and tie, which he knew were loose and wrinkled.

Before he opened the door, he cleared his throat and blinked. He'd been preparing for this talk all night, but was taken slightly aback by the speed at which Lucien wanted to discuss things. Normally, Geralt would make himself scarce a this point, not sure he was in the mood to be questioned, but he knew that leaving now would only make things worse. Best to rip the bandage off, he supposed.

When he opened the door, he did not smile, but kept his expression neutral. It was clear that he was drunk, if not by the smell of wine and brandy, then by his disheveled appearance, but he didn't care. He was a grown man, and Lucien had not staked his claim, therefore he had no say in the Magician's activities. Unless they interfered with work, of course....

"Evening, Lucien. Or..." he paused and leaned forward to look at the sky, "Should I say morning?" The sky was still dark, but he knew that it was well-passed midnight and his bedtime. He could tell immediately the Lucien was angry, this was an expression he had never seen on the man before. Despite the fact that he was feeling a little defensive, he couldn't help but be aroused by it. If this is what the Nephilim's brow looked like furrowed...well, he wasn't sure it was such a bad thing.

"Feel free to come in," he said, stepping aside and holding an arm out for Lucien to pass. "Must be cold out there, judging by your...demeanor." He really shouldn't joke, but he couldn't help it, the Ringleader was making it far too easy.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Night fell and the time for performances came and went. Geralt did not appear back on the grounds until well-after midnight, and in fact, several hours before sunrise. He displaced himself directly into his trailer, knowing that a walk through the grounds would not be ideal, given his circumstances.

You have made some mistakes tonight, Geralt... The voice inside his head cooed.

The Magician immediately went for his liquor cabinet, but found his blurred vision too unreliable in the darkness. He snapped his fingers and lit the lamp. "That's better..." he slurred aloud as he rummaged through the cabinet. "And just moments ago you were praising my efforts," he added to himself as he selected a bottle and pulled it out into the light, "Such a fickle mistress you are... He said, uncorking the bottle and taking a big swig of it directly from the neck. "Normally I'm into fickle, but with you its just annoying. He closed the cabinet and let himself fall into his chair, raising his feet and resting them on the table.

The voice chuckled, Fickle or not, you know of what I speak. Your little project will not be pleased with your absence.

Geralt sighed and took another swig, "You think I don't know that? Good Satan you are irritating."

Wallowing in self-pity does not befit a man of your stature, Magician.

At this, the man laughed aloud, throwing his head back, "Now, there is the demon calling the Devil red."

Do not mock me, human. The voice became more gravely, which meant that Geralt's Dark Passenger was becoming angry with him. There is still much suffering before you if you take my Lord's name in vain again.

There was a slight pause as Geralt gazed at the label of the bottle in his hand. It was wine, French of course. "Hm. Do your worst." He said, tossing back another gulp of the sweet pungent liquid.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Illyana felt her heart leap into her chest when the door to the bus opened and Faolan and Lucien returned. Immediately, she dropped her eyes to the ground and gripped the edge of the bench in her anxiety. Her rational brain knew that she had no reason to fear these men, she could tell they would never do anything to hurt her physically or emotionally, at least not on purpose. But years of scoldings had trained her subconscious to expect the worst when adults wanted a word.

At Lucien's question, the girl nodded and found herself awash with a feeling of calm. Slowly, she felt her breathing become more rhythmic and her grip on the bench loosened a little. She was still not used to the effect that radiated from Lucien, and it took her a little bit to absorb it fully. Eventually though, she felt herself relaxing the closer Lucien got. Her anxiety, though it was still there, was much less powerful.

Slowly, she looked up when he sat in front of her, but only managed to focus on the man's chin. She could not yet bring herself to look into his eyes. She listened to his explanation, and though it hurt her to think that she had lied to such kind people, she could not shake the compulsion to explain everything.

Before she spoke, she looked up to Faolan who had also entered the bus. He was standing near the front driver's seat, one hand in his pocket, the other resting on the back of the seat. He was looking directly at her, but his gaze was no cause for concern. She could feel the gentleness, the protective instinct radiating from him as well. How had she never felt these things from her own parents? Just confusion, anger and...fear. She owed them nothing and gave them everything with her silence. It was time to set things right.

"What really happened..." she began, quietly, thinking back on the events that had left her stranded on the side of the road. She started slowly, but eventually her words picked up speed. The more she talked, the more she wanted to just...get everything out, to rid herself of the awful weight that sat on her shoulders.

"I didn't get lost camping...but I know you already know that. My parents they...." she paused, taking a deep breath to steel herself. She fixed her eyes on Lucien's shoes, well-worn but clean and taken care of. That helped, to think of a real object, it let her calm herself a little easier. "They didn't lose me by accident. They....they sent me away."

"I was born like this," she gestured to her forehead and the eye that sat there so unnaturally. "And my parents, they were afraid that because I was deformed that...something bad would happen to them or to Isy. For a while everything seemed fine, but then I kept having these dreams." She paused here, biting her lip as tears threatened her composure. "I didn't know what to do, so I told my parents about them. They didn't know what to do either, for a long time...but then, one day they just decided that they couldn't have me around any more. I was too dangerous to be near them and my sister. So, in the middle of the night they woke me up and they made me grab just a few things." She glanced briefly at the bag that lay next to her on the bench and paused a moment to catch her breath.

After this, she looked up, finally able to meet Lucien's gaze. She glanced between him and Faolan as she spoke, but didn't have time to think about their reactions or expressions. She was too busy holding back tears. "There was a circus, or a traveling carnival in town a little while ago. In the middle of the night, my mother drove me there. She talked to some men and I think..." she paused again as her voice cracked, though she was still able to keep from crying outright, "They gave her some money. She told me I had to stay with them now, to keep my sister safe. All I wanted was for her to be safe...so I stayed and my mom...she drove away."

"But I knew I couldn't stay there!" She rose her voice a little here, as if defending herself, "The men were mean and I knew...I knew something bad would happen to me if I stayed there. So, one night I took as much food and water as I could find and I just left. I started walking up the road, back the way I thought we came."

And here is where dam finally broke and fat tears began rolling down the girl's cheeks. "I was walking and walking and walking for so long that I...I don't know what happened. I must have gotten turned around and I didn't know where I was. I was hungry and tired and my skin hurt and I just wanted to go back home and sleep in my own bed." She made no effort to cover her face now, which was blotchy red from crying. She sniffled loudly and wiped her nose on her sleeve, but otherwise let the tears fall. "But...that's when you found me." She looked from Lucien to Faolan and back again. Both of their faces were strained, surprised, and hurt.

Faolan listened to the entirety of the girl's tale in silence. She didn't move, he hardly breathed as she told of all of the events that had lead her here. Knowing now that her parents could be so cruel, that they were unable to accept her for who she was and just love her because she was their child...that hurt him more than he could say. It reminded him of how he felt as a boy, before everything had happened. How scared he was of who and what he truly was...how angry his father would have been if he had found out before he died, of how sad his mother would have been...His heart beat for this child, a small helpless thing rejected by her family.

Before he could control himself, he crossed the bus in one stride and crouched next to Lucien. Not caring about Illyana's personal space in the moment, he reached out and laid his gigantic mit of a hand on her tiny frail shoulder. Her looked her directly in her eyes, which reminded him of his own...no, not his own, his sister, Fiona's. He leaned in and said quietly, "I'm so sorry for everything that you've been through, Illyana. I can't imagine it..." he paused a moment and shook his head, "But I want you to know...whatever you want to do from here on out, Lucien and Aurel and I, we're here to help you. You don't have to worry about anyone abandoning you again, because we won't let that happen, okay? I promise you, no matter what we--"

It was then that the little girl, so small and frail and so broken inside, flung her arms around Faolan's neck. She pressed her face into his shoulder and wept, her little chest heaving with the force of her tears. Faolan, surprised and slightly taken aback, accepted this contact rigidly at first. He didn't know what to do. But eventually, knowing that he could not let this girl cry this way without some comfort, he laid his hand on the back of her head and held her as she cried. He could hear her speaking to him, though her words were muffled, she was simply said "I'm sorry" over and over and over again.

"Sshhh...it's okay. Nothing to be sorry for. You're safe now." He said, rubbing her hair with his enormous hand. He glanced at Lucien and gripped the man's hand with his free one, not caring any more about the implications. Faolan had never comforted anyone like this before, he had never been asked to. Lucien, of course, was different. This child...this was something he had never done. Though he cared deeply for Aurel, like a father would for his son, the boy had never let his emotions get the better of him like this. Faolan had not even comforted his sister this way before she passed. It was all new to him, and he needed a little support here as well.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan couldn't help but smile this time as he felt Lucien's cool lips touch the back of his hand. It always lit a fire in him when the Nephilim showed affection, but he knew that now was not the time.

He nodded in agreement to Lucien's plan and observation, and a light blush touched his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his head with his free hand and looked away, trying to hide the embarrassment plain on his features. Lucien always said that about him, that he was caring and kind, and that despite his rough exterior people could tell that he was kind. It always made him feel a little off-center. The Irishman had never thought of himself as kind until Lucien had said it to him...and he had just recently begun to believe it.

After a moment of almost strained silence, Faolan glanced back at the bus and nodded once more, "Yeah, I can hear Aurel's voice." The boy had never been one to talk to himself, so Faolan knew the girl must have regained consciousness. The two men began to walk back, and just before Faolan pulled his hand from Lucien's, he turned, took the man by the shoulder and planted a kiss on his forehead. He hadn't even bothered to look around until after it was over, and then he could tell that no one was watching.

With renewed confidence, the man let go of his lover's hand, though he could still feel the lingering coldness of his skin.

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

Illyana was on the verge of tears, but she knew that crying now was not a good idea. It would only lessen her credibility, make the adults take pity on her, and pity was not something that Illyana had ever wanted. All of her young life, she had been told that she was strange, unwelcome, a freak, a mistake...but deep inside she knew this wasn't true. She didn't want anyone to pity her, she only wanted their help and their acceptance.

She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, feeling the moisture receding a little. She was still unable to smile, but she gave Aurel a firm nod instead to show that she heard him and would take his advice. If she couldn't trust others that were...unwelcome, then who could she trust? She would just have to take that leap now, for her sister's sake and for her own.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Cora was more than excited to see the present that Ivory had prepared for Aurel's birthday. She knew that the dhampir had been working on it in secret, and had not asked as Illy had explained that part of the fun was waiting to be surprised. Now that it was time, she could hardly wait for it, so she decided to accompany the pair for the reveal.

Illyana normally would have broken off from the group to go about her chores, but it was Aurel's birthday after all. She made her way over to his trailer with the rest of the troupe, and was very happy to see the young man's eyes light up when Ivory handed over her gift. It was just like her to make something so special with her hands. Illyana had, at one time, wished that she could be as crafty, but she had always been clumsy and a little unsure of herself physically. Better to leave stuff like that to the experts, and for Aurel and the rest of the troupe, having her around was very handy. She was never hesitant to offer her services as a handy-woman, and Illyana was thankful for that. Before she had joined, it had been a little hard for them after...well, for just Lucien, Aurel, and herself. Lucien did his best, but he was more artistic than handy. Of course, he knew more than either her or Aurel combined, but he didn't know how to do half of the things that....they were capable of before. Ivory had been welcome, of course, but after they had found out how good she was with mechanical objects and how creative she was, well, that was certainly not a detractor from her charm.

After the gift-giving was over, the others went about their normal daily activities. Illyana took inventory and sent carnies out for replenishment. Now that their financials were back in order, it had lifted a weight from the clairvoyant to send them on errands like that. It felt much better for her handing them a hefty stack of notes than having to scrounge for food. She supposed that she had Geralt to thank for that, so she did it silently. It would be better for her if he didn't know, she was sure his smugness would only be annoying if she thanked him in person.

Once the chores were complete, Illyana helped Cora tidy her trailer for the evening's shows. The water they had just refilled was so clear that some of the taller patrons could see through it and into her home and Illyana wanted to make sure her things were kept private. Although Cora hadn't thought of this, as the people who visited her were always too entranced by her to care what was going on in the water or behind her, Illyana said it was better to be safe than sorry. She took some pieces of furniture and butted them up against the back of the tank to conceal the interior, and that was good enough for now. She would have to speak with Ivory to see if she could come up with a more permanent solution.

After this, she took a shower as moving the furniture had been a little more tough than she'd expected. By the time she was finished, night was nearly falling. Illyana and the rest returned to their trailers to ready themselves for the evening.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Cora's eyes lit up when she watched Aurel unwrap his gift, and her head bobbed slightly as she watched the motion of his hands. She was gripping the arms of her chair tightly as well, as if she were about to see her own birthday present for the first time. It was a relief and exciting to see his expression when he looked at the fabric and then realization swept over her. The mermaid's heart felt like it was about to explode as she looked over to Akane and saw fire dancing in her friend's eyes. It was true what she'd said about gifts, they make the giver just as happy as the recipient. Cora was overjoyed to be a part of it, so much so that she felt tear welling up in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, and no one seemed to notice.

Illyana, similarly but with more restraint, watched Aurel open his gift and smiled all the way. It really was lovely, the Yukata, and the silk was so soft and warm...she knew he would loved it. Akane had picked the perfect color for his complexion. When they were at the shop, the girls had even found one that would look nice on Illyana herself, but she had forced them to promise not to purchase it for her. Though it was lovely and just a beautiful shade of green, she felt she would be a little silly wearing it. She wasn't as elegant or graceful as Cora, Akane, or Aurel, or even Lucien for that matter. Japanese silk just wasn't in her future, and she didn't need a tarot reading to tell her that.

After the thank-yous were passed around, everyone took their places at the table just in time for Lucien to serve up breakfast. Illyana fixed a cup of tea with honey for herself and Cora, who liked hers with honey and milk. She delivered the tea and went about eating with everyone. She had been excited to see Ivory's gift as well, although the dhampir had managed to keep it a secret from almost everyone, including the clairvoyant. She knew that the knife thrower would not begrudge them if they started eating, she wasn't really one for decorum. In rare form, Illyana served herself a small plate of breakfast, finished a beignet and snagged another from the pile before she decided that would be enough. They didn't get to have treats like this as often as when they were younger, so she wanted to take advantage of the time.

Cirque D'étoiles (1x1, FxM, MxM, FxF)

Faolan didn't hesitate to return the grip that Lucien was giving his hand. Normally, out in the open like this, he wouldn't condone or reciprocate such action, but he needed comfort and he was glad that Lucien was able to give it. He wanted nothing more than to crush the Nephilim to him in a hug, kiss his face, his lips, his neck...but he held back, satisfying himself with the touch of his lover's hand. A small smile even tugged at the corner's of his mouth, but did not unfold completely. This was too heavy for happiness.

"I'm glad you agree..." he said, not pulling his hand away until Lucien was ready to let it go, "I don't want to put this on you but...I'm not sure if my...disposition is good for questioning." The Irishman let his gaze fall to the ground. Although it did seem that Illyana was more comfortable with him than he had anticipated, he wasn't sure how she would react to him delving into her personal life. "But," he added, making eye contact with Lucien, "I'll sit next to you and ask things if I think of them. We need to know everything about what happened, and the truth this time."

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

Once the bus was stopped and the dizziness had faded from behind Illyana's eyes, she managed to force herself into a sitting position on the bench. She slip along it, pushing her back against the wall and let her legs hang down freely. She blinked hard, and eventually the pounding headache subsided into a dull discomfort. She was used to this part.

She noticed Aurel nearby and that Faolan and Lucien had left, but didn't say anything and didn't meet the teenager's gaze. She knew that questions were coming and that the adults knew that she had lied. She felt...ashamed for it. Even though, at the time she'd had a very good reason for not revealing the truth to them, she was not proud of what she had done. She would have to tell them the truth and just hope that they would still want to help her after they learned it...

At Aurel's words, she raised her water-filled eyes to him and her bottom lip began to quiver. It was strange that she wanted to cry now when he was trying to comfort her, but she knew that it was because she was not used to this kindness from adults, and from strangers no less. It made her feel even worse for her fibs, but she knew that Aurel didn't know what she was thinking and that he didn't intend for her to feel bad. In the same way that she felt a protective aura radiating from Faolan, and the choir of angels sang to her every time Lucien was near, she could sense a softness in Aurel, a kindness and a naivete from him that made her trust him. She wondered, not for the first time, what kind of feeling she gave to others and if it was just as pleasant...

After he spoke, she nodded and wiped her cheek with her sleeve, sniffling a little as she felt her sinuses opening up. After a moment of silence she took to compose herself, she looked up and responded, "I know...thank you, Aurel. I do trust them, and you too...it's just..." she tore her eyes away and looked at the window, imagining that she could look out into the clear sky beyond. "It's hard sometimes." Was all she could manage. She knew if she said anything else, she might start crying.