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Left Ring As still as the dead, in poses of classical Greek sculpture, six of the members of the Bazhooli Sem'ya stood in the darkened area around the edge of the left ring. As the chorus began, one could hear the talented voices of the troupe join in, though they remained as unmoving as ever. The gravelly, throaty projection of Vladimir could be picked out of the group as he harmonized with his people, "Oh-oh-oh-oh."
The slightest amount of rising back lighting served to make the feel ominous, mysterious, thrillingly deadly, even as ambient light gave the hint that each of these people, three men and three women, were armed to the teeth with various sharp items of their trade. They were Bazhooli, and if others were not introduced to the concept, they were about to have that honor. "Oh-oh-oh-oh."
Stepping from the six were three men of differing generations, Vladimir, his father Dmitri, and his son Konstantin. The Great Bazhooli, The Baron, and the Heir Apparent. They strode slowly and in unison, stopping at the center of the left ring. Simultaneously, the three Alexandrovs threw off their coats and hats, revealing costuming that was as much finery as it was performing wear. Their voices melded together in powerful, intertwined notes. "Oh-oh-oh-oh."
Each of the three knelt, shoulder to shoulder and each holding a Russian saber out in front of them, except for The Baron, who brandished two. Still kneeling, still in unison, they inserted their blades into the sand before them with a practiced motion. Vladimir extended his hands to either side of him, clasping the shoulders of both his father and his son with bowed head, projecting an air of family above all else, support, and trust. They were Circus. They were Bazhooli. Them against the world if nothing else. "Oh-oh-oh-oh."
Three generations of noble Alexandrovs, three generations of common Gypsies. This was the Circus. Respected, powerful outcasts from society, preferred by Royalty for the protection of their people, the commoners for their skill, and rebuked by all for their mixed bearing and personal associations. But they were free. "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh." The voices of all representing the Sem'ya raised as the show was about to start in earnest, eyes looking heavenward and expressions of awe coloring their faces.
The roar of the great white tiger, Myshka, served as a gunshot signaling the commencement of the Grand Mamushka, a dance which built and built; beautiful, impressive, and deadly. The three women remaining behind began to clap rhythmically and continue their song, stepping to the sides and taking their places for the next piece of the great dance. The trio in the center of the ring sprung up, their hands clasping the wrist of the person next to them to form a three-person knot over their swords. They began to dance in a circle, simply at first, to the rhythm of the song being sung and the sharp sounds of hands clapping against hands, the trio of women of the Sem'ya circling them in the opposite direction.
"Aye." Each produced a large and gleaming blade from seemingly out of nowhere, though it obviously was one of the many upon their persons. Their faces turned into glares that promised violence as they made one more rotation, allowing their guests to see each one of them equally. Then they split apart, still dancing in a circle but slowly retreating from the swords in the center.
"Ho." Another blade joined the first, steel now filling each of their hands. They continued the dance, but it took on a lower, more aggressive stance. One more rotation. Then faces softened, the Alexandrovs stood taller, and they began to toss their knives into the air, a third each joining as it turned into a true session of juggling, performing the steps to the Mamushka all the while.
"Ho." The knives began to take on a path, twirling and spinning from one Bazhooli to another, until the three of them shared a single purpose, a single heartbeat, a flurry of shared steel caught and thrown with fluttering, ordered complexity.
"Aye. Aye." The three masters of all things sharp and pointy leapt into a backflip, simultaneously with the cannon firing. Not a single knife hit the ground, their last throws beforehand altering trajectory so that they could continue as soon as their feet touched earth. Once was impressive. But twice? Impossible - yet it occurred anyway. The dance continued, but now from greater distance apart
"Ho-oh-ho." The women, resplendent in their shimmering red and black silks, dove between the Alexandrovs and their shower of bladed death. They hit the ground in a shoulder roll and used the momentum to handspring into the center, where they snatched up a sword each. One remained, giving them all bearing as to the center of the ring, but the three sabers and three femme Bazhooli joined the dance, the larger blades added to the flurry of steel and the women pairing off with the men, hurling the blades to one another.
"Ve are varriors." The feel of the air had changed as the sound of a thousand wings began to fill the tent. That was the signal that they were about to change rings, The Great Bazhooli taking center. Time to wrap this act up and move on to something a little more dangerous. As the sabers came to each of the mens' hands, they adopted a lower fencer's stance and parried each of the flung knives to the ground in front of them with sharp, metallic pings. The swords raised in salute as every performing member of the Bazhooli Sem'ya turned to face the Graveolase, voices calling in unison:
"Yeah that's vhat ve've become. Von't let them break me down to dust, I knov that there's a place for us for ve are glorious!"
As the birds began to obscure their view, knives were gathered from the ring. Vladimir and the rest of the Sem'ya moved to take their place in the center ring, to engage in one of the most dangerous applications of the Mamushka ever utilized. Supporting members of the Circus wheeled in a great wheel of painted wood, suspended from the ground and left to spin freely, while others carried in a rack brimming with sharp weapons. | Center Ring "Oh-oh-oh-oh." With that the house lights quickly grew as the music did. Each member of the circus that was performing for the presentation filed into the tent from the back entrance. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Splitting into three groups as they went, one to each ring. Fanning out on foot or on steed as they walked the edges of the rings. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Each one of the Russian proudly fanned and flared as they posed. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Myska came bounding up from the back of the center ring and Elizaveta grabbed onto his fur as she mounted her tiger. "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh." He roared before turning and taking off into the back of the tent and vanishing with Elizaveta into the darkness.
As Myska went into the shadows a man who couldn't have stood more than four feet tall came galloping out of the shadows on the back of a white steed. Pulling back on the reins and jumping off onto the shoulders of the resident Strong Man. He spun around as if it was nothing for it wasn't. He was tougher, more Russian.
From the other side of the center ring three guns were fired and the bullets tore through the air. They hit the strong man in the chest. "Another round of bullets hits my skin." They cut into his skin but he kept singing. "Aye." Standing proudly with the little man stepping onto his head as he turned and motioned for the other side to fire, goading them as if it was nothing. "Well, fire avay!"
"Ho." Three more guns were fired as the Strong Man flexed his biceps. "'Cause today." The bullets hit his biceps as the small man leapt up and flipped over into the air. "Ho." The Strong Man caught him with the palm of his hand to heel as he landed. "I von't let the shame sink in." Moving his hands over the Strong Man the wounds seemed to heal as if nothing had happened. He just winked at the council. "Aye. Aye." Darting off to the side of the center ring the two men went as the sound of a cannon firing echoed through the area from the staging area a girl came soaring through the air and up towards the top of the tent.
"Ve are bursting through the barricades." A Man swung on the trapeze and caught her arms, ensuring she could be released and flung to the incoming free swing. "Ho oh ho." Elizaveta held one hand behind her with Shashka in the other as she dueled her counter. Each pair spun and twirled in unison, a dance, a waltz of swords slowly and ever increasing in speed. Half a dozen other pairs were circling the center ring as sashes of silk dropped from the darkness at the top of the tent, encircling each ring. With a flick of the wrist the man fighting Vet flung his sword across the center stage. "And reaching for the sun."
It impaled itself in pole and cut through a rope. Nearly a quarter of the performers had all grabbed a silk sash and as the rope was cut they were lifted rapidly into the air as they sang in chorus. Their voices crescendo'ing as their bodies rose into the air. "Ve are varriors." Veta stood center center and pounded her chest as she sung as the ones she had been performing with quickly moved to the next ring, one taking her sword from her as he did. "Yeah, that's vhat ve've become."
A flock of birds came into the tent from no where, far more than Veta had summoned at Almacks, many different kinds swirling about the center ring as Elizaveta stepped forward. That was the signal for the next main act to fall into the center ring. A wall of feathers and blurred movements, it providing cover for the set up. "Yeah that's vhat ve've become. Von't let them break me down to dust, I knov that there's a place for us for ve are glorious!" The birds tore off through the top of the tent, through the front entrance, and through the back as Elizaveta turned and ran back into the center ring to take her place. | Right Ring The moment the chorus started singing with Tatushka, Constantin and his family joined in right away. “ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” It was more or less a chorus of everyone on the 3 rings. They had to look as impressive as they can in their trained poses for this very moment. There was quite the importance placed on presentation and he had trained well. “ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” They had reached their predetermined position on the right ring. He's thoughts were racing, his heart jumping, running all the knowledge they had practiced so hard to get right.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” They fanned, posed and flared as glorious members of the Circus.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” Keeping in the chorus his family was preparing for an act as Myshka arrived to get Veta away.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh.”
As the show was quickly progressing and building speed, Constanting and his family had naturally started an act for the right ring. No part was to be quiet and lazy! Him and his parents were also acrobats. As such a quick follow of acrobatic feats was presented. Flips and jumps were done and his father eventually locked himself in place as Constantin a and his mother faced him. He actually had a sturdier looking body than Constantin himself, a testimony to his more years as a man of the circus and his life of physical work before joining the Circus all those years back.
“ Aye.” As he sang with the chorus of voices, his mother jumped towards his father who quickly pushed her up and above him, where she stood on her husband's shoulders with her arms. As that unfolded, Constantin quickly moved behind them, where his mother eventually pushed with her hands and away from his father and he caught her to let her down safely
“ Ho!” As the next chanting began, the acrobatic act began anew. This time it was Constantin's turn to climb up his father's shoulders which he did in slightly theatrical manner as the older man crouched slightly. “ Ho.” The next chant echoed as the older man stood up proud and tall, carrying the weight of a man on his shoulders. It wasn't quite ready though.
As his father crouched again, Constanting reached a hand for his mother who took it, so he can pull her up.“ Aye. Aye.” The singing continued as mother and son held a hand, each on a shoulder as his father stood crouched for a moment, before started to pull up, until he was standing once more.
As the sound of cannon echoed, they quickly jumped off the shoulders of the older man and prepared for the next part of the act. It was more or less the same ass just moments before, but this time there was a little twist for it. Constantin pulled a metal cylinder and placed it in front of his father, laying on it's size, followed by a sturdy platform made out of steel, hard enough to withstand what was to stand on it. This time he was not getting on his father's shoulders. His was another task.“ Ho ho ho..”, as his father stood stable on the balancing platform, his mother quickly hopped her husband's shoulders staying just enough for stability before hopping down.“ Ve are vorriors.” Constantin quickly gave a plank into his father's hands to hold above him. The older man crouched carefully still balancing on the cylinder. Then the younger firewalker placed another cylinder there and held a plank on top of it as his mother stepped on his shoulders to reach the balance on top of her husband's head.
As she stepped firmly, Constantin carefully pulled his hands away, leaving the balancing act to display it's art. They leaned left and right, always returning to their stable position as he gave his mother a few items to balance on her head.
As the act on the center arena was coming to a close, he helped his mother descend down on the ground, pulled the tools away and they stood proud and showy just in time.“Yeah that's vhat ve've become. Von't let them break me down to dust, I knov that there's a place for us for ve are glorious! ” |
Left Ring Several large gray wolves jumped into the ring, barring their teeth as they growled. Several performers stood in the center of the ring and gave hand singles. The wolves ran towards them and then leapt into the air as they knelt down, landing on the other side. "Vhen the sharpest vords vanna cut me dovn." Another hand signal and the act repeated itself but this time the wolves landed on their trainers backs before jumping off and back to the outskirts of the ring. "Aye Aye Aye Aye."
Dozens of mice, ferrets, hamsters, and foxes came in from under the seats all around the rings and rushed over to the ring. "Gonna send a flood, gonna drovn them out." Mice coming to sets of whistles. Foxes rushing after them as new trainers spouted off commands that couldn't be heard over the singing. The ferrets were carrying things that had been lifted off the persons of the Council. Everyone witnessing the act was now missing a small trinket, be it a ring, an earring, a watch, or just a coin. "Aye Aye Aye Aye."
A couple of men were suddenly thrust out of the darkness and seemed to fly like rag dolls through the air. They looked bloodied and beaten, but then didn't hit the ground hard. They tucked and rolled, coming to their feet and facing out. "I am brave, I am bruised." Two enormous brown bears came into the ring, sending all the smaller animals running out of the way as they roared out. Turning quickly the men faced down the bears. Whatever they said beneath the chorus of song couldn't be heard but the bears bowed towards their trainers and calmed down. "I am vho I'm meant to be, this is me." They patted their furry companions as if it was nothing and looked at the council. It was obvious they loved what they did even when things went wrong and they were strong enough to take it.
Climbing up the bears they rode them out of the ring just in time as around each ring horses with riders were galloping through at full speed. "Look out 'cause here I come." All of them headed for the ring. Reigns being pulled back as they jumped over those clearing out of the ring. Wolves, smaller creatures, even the bears. Riders were upside down. Jumping form one horse to another."Aye Aye Aye Aye." It didn't matter how quickly they were going or how difficult the moves became, the horses kept running and the riding kept doing their tricks. It was an aerial off horseback. The hooves of the stallions and mares hitting in rhythm of the song. "And I'm marching on to the beat I drum." Just as it seemed that was all there was for the animals, the kings came out. "Aye Aye Aye."
Tigers, snow leopards, and lynx all came bounding out and drove the horses away. The tigers were being ridden by their trainers. Snow leopards were along side theirs. The lynx came being carried on the backs of their. "I'm not scared to be seen." White and black furred big cats, dangerous creatures that could have easily torn the throats out of anyone there were performing as any other animal, the bond between them and their trainers was more than evident. Every cat let their voices be heard on command. "I make no apologies, this is me." | Center Ring Konstantin and The Baron deftly took hold of each of the Grand Duchess's arms. The sly smile that rivaled her adopted mothers came to Elizavetas lips as she continued to sing the very song that Izolde sang with Vlad long ago. "Vhen the sharpest vords vanna cut me dovn." Their hands were firm but supportive, carrying her over to the large target wheel, painted in multicolored pie wedges. In short seconds, she was strapped to the wheel, suspended a foot from the ground. The black lace of her skirt wafting in the breeze of the tent. Grandfather and grandson looked to their future sovereign with surety and confidence. The Baron even gave Veta a quick smile as they tightened down the supports. "Aye Aye Aye Aye."
Vladimir took his place near the center of the ring, standing tall and dancing in a kicking, twirling motion, as were the remaining members of the Bazhooli Sem'ya along the edge. "Gonna send a flood, gonna drovn them out." They loaded themselves down with various sharp implements from the rack of ouch provided them, distributed them evenly among the group, and took fighting stances. Knives were raised to hurl, aimed at their own Great Bazhooli in the center. The man himself still danced the Mamushka, twirling as a great, dexterous ballerino. Elizaveta looked confidently towards Vlad, she knew she was safe despite the danger that impending, her song only made him better. "Aye Aye Aye Aye."
And it did. Veta was Vladimir's paired Tatushka partner, and now that her song was directed only at him, he could feel a surge of power and clarity course through him. The hair on his arms raised and his eyes dilated, widening to take in every detail of everything around him. In that moment, The Great Bazhooli was Greater. He was more Bazhooli than ever; enhanced and powerful, at a constant peak of his ability - the best combination of his experience with vigor reserved only for the prime of youth. "I am brave, I am bruised." Vetas fingers motioned, her eyes flickered, as if daring him to bring everything he had. The power of this technique flooded him with ambition and confidence such that he barely even registered the first knife leaving his hand, speeding toward his lovely Veta. Before it could cross the distance, he flung another. As they both thudded into the painted wood on either side of Veta's head, he already had two more in his hands, and Veta just smiled towards her adopted father. "I am vho I'm meant to be, this is me."
The smile that crossed Vladimir's face was unsettling to any who did not know him personally. Veta was challenging him, even as she was bolstering his abilities. He spun around four more times, kicking himself from a high stance, down to a low stance, and back up again. Each pass saw the release of another blade, twirling and spinning in the ambient firelight. Each blade found its mark, dangerously close to the Grand Duchess - but parting no skin and drawing no blood. "Look out 'cause here I come." Veta had to be brave then, any flinch could distract him, any warble in her voice. Even the best could miss.
But the best could not miss if they had nothing to throw. Vladimir's remaining six knives were exhausted, embedded in the target around Elizaveta. Luckily, one of the Sem'ya took aim and threw a knife directly at Vladimir's head. In fact, it was his father. "Aye Aye Aye Aye." His aim was unerring, or would have been had The Great Bazhooli not brought his hand up at the last instant, catching the blade thrown to end him. His tossed it over his head, caught it in his other hand, and immediately flung it at the target. Again he found its mark, hitting as close to Veta as he could without cutting her. But from there, it got truly dangerous. "And I'm marching on to the beat I drum." Yet she feared nothing right then.
Elizaveta's song fueled Vladimir, made him strong, made him fast, made him accurate. He was already one of, if not the best man in the world with a short blade, but what came next was something only a madman would attempt. He was The Great Bazhooli. That is all he needed to know. "Aye Aye Aye."
The target began to spin. Slowly at first, but picking up speed. Simultaneously, another knife from the edge of the ring flew at him. Not a toss, not a juggle. It was thrown to kill. Vladimir caught it and redirected it toward the spinning target, only the hollow sound of metal hitting wood to tell him that his little Veta was still safe. It did not stop there. Another knife flew at him from a different direction, propelled by another member of the Sem'ya. "I'm not scared to be seen." Then another, and another, and another. Veta held still, lettingthe wheel move her only as she sung. They took turns hurling sharp, bladed death at Vladimir from all sides as he danced and twirled, impossibly catching and releasing a stream of knives in one direction: The Grand Duchess. Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk; a rapid sound of near-death threatened to overtake the refrain of the chorus, and when he was done, the target was punctured innumerably. But as the wheel slowed to a stop, it was apparent that Elizaveta was completely undamaged. Vladimir was truly a Great Bazhooli. And Veta was as much Circus as anyone else present. "I make no apologies, this is me."
The Baron and Konstantin came forward to release Veta from the wheel. As soon as she was free, the remaining Bazhoolis ran forward to recover their blades and make a dash for the Right Ring, Veta had to remain in the center. | Right Ring As the next part was to begin, Constantin and his parents took their positions once more. For the second part, the performance act was different from the first. In that brief moment they had prepared the tools they needed for this. His mother was going to do fire eating. She had already changed into a top that didn't have sleeves.“ Vhen the sharpest vords vant to cut me dovn.” He sang along as he quickly pulled a flint and steel. His mother already held two thin torches with tips soaked in flammable liquid. He struck the flint with the steel, sending sparks at the torches. The first torch was lit aflame.“ Aye Aye Aye Aye.” They sang as the torch was brought to her mouth and she took the flame in, pulling the torch, then breathed the flame into the second torch.
“ Gonna send a flood, gonna drovn them out.” He then pulled a long thin sword and quickly handed it to his father. It was his father other act, sword swallowing. As the older man took the elegant looking weapon he pulled the tip of the blade to his lips and turned his head up, to allow the blade to slide down with slow calculated move. He couldn't just drop it after all, but the blade never the less quickly entirely disappeared, with only the hilt staying visible as the young firewalker stood by him, clappign with the rhythm of the music, his father now pulling the blade out.“ Aye Aye Aye Aye.”
While Constantin took the first sword to give back a bigger one, his mother was doing a fire show of her own. With the two torches swinging around as she danced, she left a pair of fire trails, before she ran each torch across her arms, leaving a flaming trail there too without burning her.“ I am brave. I am bruised.” He they all sang as she put a torch in her mouth once more, pulling it out moments later, devoid of fire, but the fire was still in her mouth. She then closed her mouth extinguishing it completely.” I am vho I'm meant to be, this is me.” She then repeated it for the other torch, this time taking both torches in one hand, placing two fingers at her lips, transferring the fire to her fingers before closing her mouth.
” Look out 'cause here I come.” He sang as his mother took a breath through her nose brought the flaming fingers to her mouth and then spit out the flaming substance she kept in it since the start of act 2. A ball of raging flames burst out as if from a dragon, as she hoped the two torches trough it, inflaming them once more and then bringing them to her shoulders, gliding them down, leaving trails of fire once more.“ Aye Aye Aye Aye.”
Meanwhile Constantin quickly gave his father a wider sword compared to the thin rapier from earlier, a proper broadsword which eh quickly started swallowing.“ And I'm marching to the beat I drum.” The fire walker continued to sing while the dangerous act of fire and sword swallowing was going on around him. He then quickly handed a second sword to his father, whom he started to swallow along the first one.“ Aye Aye Aye.”
As the end of the part was rapidly coming to a close, his mother swung the torches in flaring theatrical manner.“ I'm not scared to be seen.” They sang as she brought the pair of flaming torches to her mouth, eating the fire of the the two of them in quick succession, leaving them charred and smoldering, before she spat out a fire as big as than the first one. His father too brought it to his end as he quickly pulled the pair of swords, taking them in both hands.“ I make no apologies, this is me!” |
Left Ring As the next part came and they were changing arenas, Constantin and family barely had time to put the tool away from the way as they moved over. In once more overly theatrical manner. After all they had to make a show and keep even moving around interesting!“ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” He sang as a horse came running in his direction. There was already a brivaldi performance, but theirs was slightly different, tying in with the acrobatics one from act one.“ Aye.Aye.” He added as he took position on the horse, which started doing a circle in the arena. Constantin quickly stood up on the back of the horse for a moment, before crouching and then using his arms, slowly pulling his legs up for a little while.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” He sang as he sat back down and another horse quickly caught up with him. Following that he quickly stood up on the horse's back once more, holding both rains in each hand before moving his leg over to the second horse. Thus he was riding two horses right now, standing up with a leg on each of their backs.“ Aye. Aye.”
At the very same time his father was doing the exact same thing on the opposite side of the arena as they circled round and round.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh.” Then his mother quickly moved in with another horse closing in to Constantin, before hopping onto one of his horses, standing there, holding slightly onto his shoulder as the proud animals raced.“ Aye .Aye.” They sang as she also stepped on both horses before holding a better hold of his shoulders and then pulled herself up, he now holding both reigns with one hands to offer one to her so she can climb onto his shoulders. Trully the wonder of those great mounts, trained to perfection that they kept a steady pace parallel to each other without moving further or closer.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” They sang as she was finally standing on his shoulders, he released her hand to take both the reigns to show the balance once more. Finally she moved back from his shoulders, he helped her of course.“ Aye. Aye.”
Now his father approached with his pair of horses side by side with him, four magnificent animals raced underneath them.“ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh. ” They sang just racing side by side as his mother moved and stood with one leg on each animal like they were, just without holding the reigns. Then the pairs slowly started to move away from each other.“ This is me. ” They sang as the horses were eventually far enough that his mother was doing a side split, keeping balance without holding to anything.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” The song continued as they slowly started to pull back closer, and she started to stand up.“ Aye. Aye. ”
Now it was time for the final trick. As they pulled close enough, Constantin and his father took each their reigns in a single hand, giving the other one to his mother, holding both her hands.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” They then pulled up as she also jumped, holding her hands firm and steady as they crouched just slightly, but enough for her to step on their shoulders.“ Aye. Aye. ” They continued to add to the chorus, as they resumed their tall an proud posture, his father the first to let go of the woman's hand.“ Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” He was smiling as he also slowly let go, letting the balance play out. The rigorous training, for hours, days, weeks and years of practice.“ Aye. Aye. ” They made a circle like that.“ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh . ” | Center Ring Rushing to the back of the ring the next act came to the center ring. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Dancers were moving together in time. "Aye. Aye." Traditional Russian Dancers, moving in unison. Kicking their legs and joining their arms. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Yet this was so much more, the speed, the precision. Flips went higher. Kicks were stronger. "Aye. Aye."
Yet above them was where the real show was. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Their hands raising up to the air as they danced and motioning for all eyes to focus there. "Aye. Aye." Through the air couples passed each other on the trapeze before flipping through the air only to catch on the next swing. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Young girls swung in the sky on ribbons of silk around the perimeter of each ring. "Aye. Aye." Boys no more than twelve were hanging upside from rings suspended from ropes and sword fighting each other.
Below the Dancers were moving off to the edge of the ring and acts were crossing over and into each other. "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh." No one was left out tonight. "This is me." Every family was represented. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." From the bearded lady and her husband the wolf-man of the Carpathian Mountains. "Aye. Aye." To the Albino twins of Siberia.
"And I know that they deserve your love." Conjoined twins were helped out from the back of the tent from their resident giant. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." A blade from the strong man cut along Veta's cheek sending a line of blood trickling down her pale skin. "Aye. Aye." The twins were carried over to Veta and rested their hand on her cheek as she sung out. "There's nothing they're not vorthy of." As their hand came away there was nothing remaining of the wound save a small smudge of the blood. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." Future Queen or cripple. "Aye. Aye." Family or orphan. It didn't matter. The Circus welcomed everyone, everyone was family, everyone mattered, they all were important and needed each other. "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh."
Then suddenly everything within the three rings seemed to slow down to a crawl. Everything except Elizaveta as she turned around. At the back of the center ring she faced down the Council. Every dancer and performer was caught mid movement. Hanging in the air, mid leap. Daggers slowed and nearly stopped mid flight. Clothing and hair that had fanned out in mid spin hung their weightless. "When the sharpest words wanna cut them down."
The Grand Duchess walked through the mist that was swirling around her feet and through the floor of the tent. It cascading over the rings and swirling around each member of the Circus within the tent. Acting nearly as waves crashing on the shores. Was it the mist that was slowing everything down but Elizaveta? Whatever it was, it didn't seem to hinder her movement or the movement of those simply watching the show. Her finger coming out and resting on the shoulder of one of the performs as she stepped passed him. "I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drovn 'em out."
Yet her eyes ever remained on the Council as she sung. The place was as silent as when she had first started singing. Yet there with the house lights up, the wicks flickering from the gaslights, the sudden stop in the middle of a grand show made it that much more jarring. People were still moving, items were still flying, just so slowly. If one didn't know better they would have assumed they were watching her move faster than the rest and it was everyone else moving at a normal pace, yet it wasn't. Motioning to her left and right, it was obvious she was speaking straight from the heart right then. This was a future queen speaking for her people. "This is brave, this is bruised."
More steps forward, her eyes growing more intense as she sung. She was not just the Grand Duchess, she was Circus, this was her blood, this was her people. This was everything her country was and could be an there was nothing for them to be sorry for. God help anyone that stood in their way. They were done taking the back seat. It was either a seat at the table or they would create their own table. "This is vho Ve're meant to be, this is Ve." And as sudden as their movements had been slowed, they were back to normal and picking up as if nothing had happened. As if they were not even aware it had occurred. (That or they knew it was coming.) | Right Ring As they changed rings, Vladimir gave a deep bow to the Grand Duchess. He made a big showing of blowing her a kiss, emphasizing his action by bringing both hands to his lips and throwing them out wide. Supporting members of the Circus cleared the center as the six from the Sem'ya vaulted and tumbled from the center ring, using each other as support and springboards. As they entered the right ring, the chorus could still be heard from them, solid and strong. "Oh-oh-oh-oh." They took position similar to their original in the left ring, the three men in the center and the women circling around them, except now they brandished torches.
"Aye. Aye." Knives made their way into the air yet again, expertly moved from one person to another. The dance was started anew, seamlessly from its grandiose intermission in the center ring. The torches were pressed into the ground, as the women of the Sem'ya continued dancing their circuit around the Alexandrovs in the center, they lifted their hands into the air, bringing attention to the wonders unfolding above.
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." The knives began to fly from center to rim of the right ring and back again, each switching off juggling partners as their dance took them around and around in concentric circles, moving in opposite directions. "Aye. Aye."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." The hurled blades ceased for a moment as Valdimir, father, and son tumbled toward the outer rim even as their partners flipped toward the center, meeting in the space between. "Aye. Aye."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." They paired off and began dancing what could only be described as a Rusyn Tango, bowing and spinning one another, but also alternating using their partners as balance points for attacks; kicks, lunges, sweeps. It was as a beautiful exhibition of a Russian ballroom turned to the deadly serious, in such as a way as they did not lose a step nor miss a beat. The Mamushka was not merely the throwing of knives. It was a fluid martial art which contained those elements, but was not bound by them. "Aye. Aye."
"Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh." Pulling away from the Alexandrov men, the Ladies of Bazhooli appropriated the swords from the center. They pointed the longer blades at their dancing partners, dropped low, and saluted. The women of the Circus were just as capable fighters as the men, a thing that had always led more "civilized" persons to underestimate them, leading to their eventual embarrassment (if they were very lucky). "This is me."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." The Great Bazhooli, The Baron, and the Heir Apparent responded by rhythmically slapping their torsos and stomping in time to the music, coming away with two large knives each with which to "defend" themselves from the onslaught of their people. They bowed in response to the salute, and readied for a charge. "Aye. Aye."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." A quick step to build proper speed launched the dancing partners toward each other, equidistant around the ring. A cartwheel quickly turned into a front flip, each pair of dancing partners bringing metal to bear upon metal as they passed within tiny inches of one another. "Aye. Aye."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh." Their danced immediately turned into a series of carefully choreographed but nonetheless martially impressive lunges, feints, attacks, and parries. Metal rang against metal as they circled one another, ever in motion, ever keeping the rhythm and flow of the Mamushka. "Aye. Aye."
At one point, the six of them brought their individual dances back toward the center of the ring. They tossed their weapons high into the air, the torchight catching the twirling, spinning blades as they tumbled through the air. Each pair of dancers joined hands and flipped to the side, shifting to position themselves underneath a different set of weaponry and catching them upon descent. The ringing of metal punctuated the syllables of their chorus as they sang, "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh." |
Left Ring The goal was not to overpower the show going on in the center ring, nor was it to draw attention away from the other acts performing. To that end, the return to the left ring was comparatively subdued. The other five members of the Sem'ya, including The Baron, took to the back of the ring as Vladimir stepped forward. "Look out 'cause here I come." The voices of the five raised, clapping a simple beat for their frontman, Vladimir.
His own voice was solemn. "And I'm marching on to the beat I drum." He held two of his larger knives aloft, twirling them with proficiency. The presentation was about showing the skills of the Circus, but this part was more about getting their message across; the message of the song that was sung by his dear Izolde. Vladimir was a talented singer, and a better dancer, but he was not Izolde. No one else could be. He only hoped that he gave her song, and her memory, the honor he felt it deserved. "To the beat I drum."
"I'm not scared to be seen." He flipped the knives in his hands over to grip them by the blade, them immediately tossed them into a high arc. Another joined them in the air and the display turned into a simple juggling routine, as not to strain the clarity of the expert vocalization of the chorus. "I make no apologies, this is me. "
"Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh." The voices of the Sem'ya raised, each standing behind Vladimir pulling a knife from their belt. They stepped forward once, twice, and stopped, seemingly poised to hurl their sharpened steel at the back of The Great Bazhooli. "Vhenever the vords are going to cut me down."
"Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh." One by one, the knives flew at Vlad, each one timed to find their mark as the individual syllables of the song raised and lowered. "I'm gonna send a flood." At the last possible moment, Vladimir raised his hands just over his shoulders. The knives were thrown to strike hilt-first, and the instant he felt them make connection he added them to the rising arcs of the others he juggled, now in increasing complexity. "Gonna drown them out."
"Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh." The Great Bazhooli hurled his knives high into the air, all of them on his person in rapid succession. He leapt into a front flip, rolling deftly onto his knees. His head bowed, facing the assembled Graveolase even as his eyes stared into them, smouldering with the fire of generations of his people. He represented the line of Alexandrov and those selected for the honor of The Great Bazhooli going back to the beginning as he rose to a single knee, showing respect due to his audience. The Great Bazhooli held his arms out wide, palms facing upward as if to accept the judgement of falling steel. Unflinching, his knives rained down around him and he raised defiant voice to those who might dare exclude his people yet again; part demonstration, part warning. His voice took on a personal note, belting out the last line of the song with decided emphasis:
"This Is ME!" | Center Ring With the come to the final act, it was time for Kolev family to do their specialty. In a way it was a rather flashy thing. As the arenas were once more changing their performers, they were finally for the center arena. As the floor started to open and raise, to reveal the one underneath. The glowing field of embers, radiating heat all around, raising the temperature.“ Look out 'cause here I come. ” They sang as his mother was the first one onto the ring of embers. It was a tradition after all, thus she went, moving forward dancing with an Holy Icon in her hands, as if to bless the very embers they were to dance on. This was a tradition for the act of fire walking from where they hailed from.
And as she danced she made a brief circle across the searching embers, before finally walking out. “ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum. ” He sang as he started walking forward to the embers and finally stepped on them with a huge smile on his face. His father did so on the opposite side at the same time, as they started dancing in towards each other, kicking up embers and ash as they did, moving across the field. When they finally reached on the middle of the field, still dancing, they started swirling around each other, moving their bodies with even more energy, sparks and tiny embers flying around them.“ To the beat I drum. ”
It was in the middle of this energetic display in the center of the field that a projection of his mother, wearing a long loose white dress. It was moving slowly, walking calmly towards the two men.“ I'm not scared to be seen. ” They sang as the two men on the ember field acted dramatically as they saw her, both starting to dance towards her, each as if trying to appear as appealing as possible. First it was his father who danced up to her, kicking up embers as he bowled and offered a hand for a dance.“ I make no apologies this is me. ” The woman looked at him and just turned her head looking unimpressed.
“ Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” He sang as he kicked up embers and danced up to her instead, spinning around her in dramatic theatrical manner as he offered her a flower he pulled from the inside of his shirt.“ Vhenever the vords are going to cut me down. ” He sang, but the woman turned around once more and walked away as if to signalize rejection. “ Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. ” He sang, as he and his father started circling once more, dancing and competing once more.
“ I'm gonna send a flood. ” He sang as both men suddenly stopped drom their competing, turning to the side, displaying theatrical shock as his mother jumped onto the field with her real body this time. They resumed their competing dancing as she neared, walking normally across the field as if it was her second nature.“ Gonna drown them out. ” Then the woman too kicked up embers, dancing too as if to compete with the two of them.
Thus taking her challenge the three of them started dancing, circling around, moving closer and further of the center, dancing jumping and kicking embers.“ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh. ” They danced around until they finally came back to the center, where his mother kicked strong, and jumped strong at Constantin and his father who immediately locked hands to provide a foot hold which they used to throw her even higher into the air, doing a flip in the air and landing sitting in their hands, her feet just touching the embers again.“ This Is ME! ” | Right Ring "Look out 'cause here I come" Elizaveta dashed over to the right ring, a smirk playing on her features that was rather uncommon. It was as if she knew something the rest had not been privy to. "Look out 'cause here I come." And she did. The mist rolling by her feet had not been part of the act yet they were performers and she knew that no matter what she threw at them that they would be able to catch it and keep moving. "And I'm marching on to the beat I drum." They kept singing, they kept performing and Elizaveta had ever confidence that the little stunt she had just pulled was not going to interrupt the show."Marching on, marching, marching on." In her mind what just happened, what was happening right then, and what was about to happen could only help them. Help her people and their future. "To the beat I drum."
In the center of the ring that Elizaveta stood on the edge of a couple was swinging back and forth on a platform. "I'm not scared to be seen." The mist still swirling around Elizaveta and into the ring. The tattooed man who had been threatening Elizaveta at the beginning of the act was back, taking the Grand Duchesses hand and dancing with her. Couples paired up all along the edge of the ring where dancing the waltz in a way only the circus could. "I make no apologies, this is me." The sounds of their feet beat in time with the music, with the voices that were climbing higher and stronger with each swing of the couple. "Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh." The mist swirling even more and faster as they went. "Whenever the words are going to cut me down." The bearded man winking at Elizaveta causing her to smile as the spun with the others around the ring. "Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh. Oh-oh-oh-oh." She might have been the next in line for the throne but right then she was Circus and she had never felt more free or alive. Perhaps she should relinquish her place as next in line and pass it on to her little brother. "Oh-oh-oh."
Those thoughts could wait, at least until the future of her people was secured. This came first. A place at the council. "I'm gonna send a flood." Or not, it didn't matter. They would have a table to sit at. The mist started to grow in density as the wife of the couple lifted off the swinging platform and soared through the air. She flipped and turned head over heels multiple times before splashing down in the pool of water. "I'm gonna send a flood."
"Oh-oh-oh." This was it. It was swirling around her and the bearded man. The man letting her go as she mist seemed to take her hand. Was that a hand in the mist? "Gonna drown them out." It seemed to get smaller and denser as the Grand Duchess walked passed the pool of water as the woman bobbed her head out and pulled out of the water by her husband. "Gonna drown them out." Elizaveta kept walking as the dancers twirled and stomped their feet. The song was getting stronger than ever now. The circus had born a life all its own in this act. Pulling everyone together and working off each other. The feeling in the room was growing more intense by the second. "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh."
Elizaveta looked over towards the Mist as she stepped up onto the front edge of the ring where she was, the rest that were in the act with her at this point spinning and twirling, stomping their feet and pounding their chest. "This Is Me!" All save two of them. Elizaveta. "This Is Me!" And "This Is Me." a very special guest.
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