<div class="floatleft">(http://www.oasiz.net/forum/uploads/profile/photo-87995.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">It should go without saying who I am.  I am the Ring Mistress, I am the one who guides our spirit and our circus.  You are the ones who makes the magic possible, my beloved family.  I was nothing more than a side show at sporadic bars across the United States until I found our circus, and I helped guide it into the glory we now live within.  I am loving and affectionate with my fans during my show, but after I tend to leave.  With all of you, I am friendly and caring.  I take care of my family, and ensure hardships end immediately.  I can be quite stern in my ruling, but so long as the family is happy then so am I.<br/><br/>When I am with my family, I am at peace.  It is very well known that I have absolutely no regard for personal space, nor a particular understanding of what should and shouldn’t be done.  For those who are free of will, it is not uncommon for you to receive a kiss or for me to find a seat in your lap.  For those who prefer a bit of space, I will happily push your boundaries just far enough to make you feel uncomfortable.  So long as the ambiance of the family is not threatened, then I am absolutely harmless.  However, if you threaten the peace I wish to maintain then you will be dealt with appropriately. </span></span><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">So lets get down to it.  How do you feel about me, and more important, how do I feel about you?</span></span></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Elizabeths Relationships</span></span></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Chloe</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Chloe<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> Elizabeth's talent<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Trapeze Act<br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> My first true recruit.  My friend.  One of my best critics.<br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> There is no doubt in my mind that you are one of my most loyal family members.  I truly believe that you believe in this circus as much as I do.  But there are times when I just want to shake you, and remind you that you no longer need to worry about what people think of you.  But that frustration is one of the I like you so much.  You have adapted to our ways, and stuck to your own beliefs.  Unfortunately those beliefs are part of the reason I cannot confide in you, I worry that you will not like what I have to say and I'd cause that to form a rift between us.  All and all, you're good for the circus and a benefit to the circus.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> Just a guess, but one I'm rather confident in.  You find me to be sometimes obnoxious, over bearing, with a complete lack of regard for others personal standards, and probably careless.  I hope that you realize my ways may be unconventional, but effective.  You've been here long enough to see how I've helped to change this circus and family for the better.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong>My first test for you was probably the biggest detriment to our friendship, and my greatest accomplishment in finding recruits.  You still resent me for it.  I came onto you once, more for curiosity than intent, but that made me realize I had to respect your morals or feel your wrath.  That was also the first time you went off about "Your blatant disregard for safety precautions during tryouts does not reflect well on the circus as a whole.  It will not fair well if someone decides to press charges or go to reporters." </div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Mariana</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Mariana<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> Stage Hand<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Circus Engineer/Carpenter. <br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Friendly Acquaintance.  <br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> With the exception of a few brief meetings, I haven't really gotten to know Mariana very well.  She strikes me as an incredibly inspired and ambitious person.  She seems to take pride in her work, and from what I have seen she does not go out of her way to receive praise.  She has only been here for a short period of time, and has already made quite a few important improvements on equipment I have been using for years.  I have a feeling she is going to be a very valuable asset. <br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> I could not tell you what she thought about me if I tried my best.  She seems quiet around me, and is nearly always straight to business.  She always shows a great deal of respect, but something tells me she may be nervous about my position of "power".  Hopefully in time, she will see I am no different then anyone else.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong>The only notable thing, beyond her being hired, was the first time that I paid her.  It almost caught her off guard, as though she had expected to be working for free.  It was the first time that I saw a personal side of her.  It made me respect her quite a bit, I cannot wait to watch her loosen up around all of us. </div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Lawrence</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Lawrence<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> Old Timer<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Act, Elizabeths partner. <br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Former lover.  Really, that says it all. <br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> Lawrence and I had an incredibly complicated relationship before all of the events with Gerald.  If I have ever loved anyone, then it would surely be him.  I had assumed that he was either dead, or had simply disappeared from the face of the earth.  Now that he is back, I am absolutely torn.  There is no doubt I still have a deep connection with him, but it seems like there is more tension and distance between us then any type of salvageable relationship.  I'm still not in the least bit sure of his intentions, if he even has any.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> The man that I once knew seems to have been lost to me.  He acts the same around others, be it old timers he was here with before or even the new people he had never met before.  But he hardly speaks to me, when he does it seems to be business and almost always with others.  Socially, he is not rude to me, but I doubt anyone has trouble seeing that he has some sort of contention with me.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong>Too much to put into words.  Very few know the true story.  Some of the acts that came shortly after have heard rumors, and I never say what is true and what isn't.  The only thing everyone knows, is he showed up without warning and knocked me off my pedestal enough force his way back into the same position he was in before he left. </div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Lexie</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Lexie<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> New Talent<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Clown<br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Friend, Trainee<br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> Had Lexie chose any role within the circus other than Clown, then I do believe I'd find myself hooked to her.  She is outgoing, she is fun, she is friendly and she shares my non existent idea of personal space.  The girl can make me laugh on command and almost instantly puts me at ease.  This is why I think she makes the perfect clown, she embodies what I wanted when I started looking for them.  But that also means I have to be strict with her, whether I like her or not I still have to ensure that she always perform her duties.  I've yet to really have issues with her, but I also am reluctant to let myself get too close so that I never have to worry about feeling guilty about punishment.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> Lexie seems to like everybody, so the same can be said about me.  She embraces the role I've given her, and always seems to take advice and training with a smile.  I've yet to find something that she wasn't comfortable doing, so naturally, I'm driven to find that point.  I hope that she admires me, but I couldn't say if she does.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong> So far, nothing truly note worthy has happened between us.  Though I've an idea on how to push her limits, and come this weeks after party...We'll see if this changes. </div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Kepler</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Kepler<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> Elizabeths Talent<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Families Security/Part time sex symbol.<br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Friend, rare confidant. <br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> The mans wonderful.  He keeps his mouth shut, and when we are alone I pretend that he listens.  Hell maybe he does, most of the time I speak rhetorically.  I trust him about as much as anyone in the family, because I know that his heart is as embedded in the Family as my own.  People know to keep their cool when he is around, I think that his presence is more of a deterrent then the actual thought of violence.  It also amuses me to no end to watch the girls swoon over him, be it family or the crowd.  If this whole circus thing flops, I'm buying his contract and putting him on the runway.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> Hard to tell with a man like Kepler.  He rarely opens up, at least with me.  My best guess is that he respects me.  Perhaps more for what I've done for the circus than my charming personality, but respect is respect.  He is always sure to keep me up to date, which is a quality that is one of a mans best.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong> I took advantage of him one night.  Then I woke up, and realized it was a dream.  He doesn't tell people about his affairs, so who the hell am I to tell anyone?  I'm his boss.  I watch over his duties and ensure they're done properly.  Not much work needed on my end.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Kinky the Klown</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Kinky<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> Elizabeths Talent<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Clown Mentor/Full time trouble maker<br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Do any of us <em>really</em> know with Kinky?<br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> What the fuck is wrong with this man?  If he was the person he was when he performed, then I would love him.  But when it comes to any setting outside of the shows, it is almost impossible to deal with him.  If he isn't hostile or drunk, then it is almost impossible to get a moment of seriousness from him.  More then anything I just want to wrap my god damned hands around his throat until he is forced into submission.  If he ever actually bought in to my ideals on the Circus, then I would not think twice about giving him a piece of the spirit.  But he is so god damned hard up on doing things his way that I could never trust him with that much power.  None the less, he is a mentor to my clowns.  I refuse to give him the title, but in my head I know that he is the second leader of the clown troupe.  Despite the difficulties, I love having him around.  He ensures that nothing is ever boring.  But I deeply fear that he is going to step over the line at some point, and I will have to get rid of him.  I've already found his weakness, but there comes a point where I cannot keep threatening him and am actually going to have to teach him a lesson.  He needs to find someone to keep him in line other than myself.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> Love, Hate, Dependency, Rebellion, Lust, Loathing.  He knows what I do for him, and what I do for the family, but it seems that in the same moment where he gives me thanks he finds a way to bitch.  I think that his torn feelings towards me have more to do with his torn feelings with himself.  But as long as he directs those feelings at me, and no one else in the family, then things can remain peaceful.  For now.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong> Shortly after he joined us, he got a bit too drunk after a show and assaulted a fan.  Whether or not the fan deserved it did not matter, we were lucky not to have the police on our asses.  That night I discovered his fear of fire, something I use to help control him.  A few months later, I woke up drunk and infuriated by a bad dream and assaulted him on the train.  My emotions and adrenaline took control of me, and I kissed him.  Instead of taking advantage of the situation, he put me to bed and ensured that I didn't act a fool again.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Charlotte</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Charlotte<br/><strong>Position in the circus:</strong> New Talent, but experienced.<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Burlesque Performer<br/><br/><strong>Relationship:</strong> Friend<br/><strong>How I feel about you?</strong> Charlotte and I have a relationship that is certainly unique on my end.  She is a romantic, through and through, and she is about the only person who I talk to about such things.  Though I never delve into my own emotions, we often discuss things like the Romantic period, and talk about the philosophy and ideologies of romance and things of the like.  She is a wonderful girl, but unlike her sister I fear that she is a bit too fragile.  I've never told either one of them, but I am very happy that she has Catherine.  Catherine keeps Charlotte from falling for the wrong person, though I often think she also keeps her from falling for someone at all.  I feel protective over Charlotte, but I find solace in her sisters ability to take care of her.<br/><strong>How you feel about me?</strong> I hope that she feels the same way about me that I do about her.  She seems incredibly comfortable around me, and we never have difficulties talking.  Sometimes I worry she picks up on my fear for her own well being, and maybe that keeps her from sharing deeper parts of her personality?  I really do not know, the bond that her and Catherine have is something that I envy.<br/><strong>What has happened in the past between us?</strong> Very little extraordinary has happened between either me and Charlotte, or me and Catherine.  Though on our next train ride I plan on talking to them about their show...I hate to use the fact that they are conjoined as a method for profit, but when you are given a pot of gold you may as well take advantage.</div></div>