Yulio paused to check his watch regularly, gazing at the human guests who left through the front gates. The attendants, mindless men and women of wax and clockwork who never spoke and always stood silent, began to lock the gates and seal the tents behind the mortal revelers. The Circus was closed for the evening and would not return again- not for the foreseeable future. One by one the paper birds returned to perch on his shoulder, and one by one Yulio unfolded them to reveal a name- it seemed many of the performers would be unable to join them tonight. Either their shows had gone poorly or they were not up for the hunt.
One way or another, the show would go on.
The antique watch in his hand ticked away, and as the moon above rose higher into the sky, the lights around Yulio seemed to dim. His vision focused on the city, its glittering electrical points of light extending across the horizon, until he caught wind of that otherness which defined the hunt- where the Circus seemed to revel in excitement and awe of showmanship, the Harlequin found his roots in the trickery and devilry of a young con man from America. Like the Loki and Coyote of old lore, the creature delighted in promising Paradise, only to tear the rug beneath one's feet to reveal the Pit.
The birds he'd sent across the city this night bore fruit as one reported back to Yulio, seeing through its eyes, the vision of a woman- plain clothed for a night out this summer. Dark-haired, wide eyed, and sweating profusely. Like a club goer who'd imbibed a bad batch of drugs. The difference here being the dark strings that rose from her wrists and ankles and the circle she was drawing at the foot of the Vienna State Opera House with a tube of lipstick.
She plans to open a gate, then, Yulio thought with a frown.
And she'll do it e'en before we leave.Snapping out of his reverie, he closed the watch, clapped twice and summoned one of the wax attendants.
"Bring the carriage and fix four horses."
The attendant wordlessly bowed and walked off to the animal tent. Meanwhile, Yulio turned toward the first to arrive.
@shaitarn "Cassandra," he muttered, removing his hat whilst in the lady's presence, "I will need you to ride alongside the carriage. The Harlequin will have many minions on the field afore we even leave the circus. Keep pace- we go to the old City Opera house. You must ride round the field to keep the minions close and prevent them from causing mischief throughout the city. I do not want a repeat of London if possible."
@Amaterasu "Thomas." Yulio placed his cap back on. "We hunt a woman who is enthralled to the Harlequin. After you cut the Bonds which hold her, I hope you will refrain from your... usual activities until our job is done. And Charlotte, divine what you can of this woman on our way there. If we cannot cut the bonds, we will have to force her out of the Harlequin's sway."
@Fumari "Barlow, Faris, you will keep the minions of the Trickster from Thomas while he breaks the bonds. I will assist you in that endeavor."
The instructions given, the animal tent opened while a black carriage trimmed with gold barreled out, four white horses fixed and ready while the wax automaton held the reins. Yulio opened his jacket, plucked a pair of paper birds from a silk pocket and let them flutter into the air- one for the driver and one for Cassandra. Both would home in on the bird at the Opera House, leading them to their quarry.
"Before we leave, are there any questions from any of you?"
