<div class="floatleft">(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3op8ql1VS1r7wrq1o1_r2_250.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Lawrence Hawkins<br/><strong>Place within Hierarchy:</strong>Old Timer<br/><strong>Role:</strong>Act<br/><strong>Position:</strong>Fire Handler, Elizabeths Partner<br/><strong>Location:</strong>The Big Tent<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Black slacks, a white button up, and a black vest with vertical pinstripes.<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Mariana. (Looking at Chloe, noticing Elizabeth and Kepler, then Kinky and Lexie)<br/><hr/><br/>As Lawrence sat waiting for Mariana to make her decision, he continued to take in the family around him.  They all seemed incredibly at ease.  In complete peace.  He knew that he was probably the only one who felt like at any moment, a spark could hit a barrel of gun powder and shit could erupt.  But he hadn’t been here long enough for his feelings to completely change.  When he left, that was the attitude.  You never knew when something was going to go wrong, and since he had been the victim of one of those instances he knew it’d take a while for his wariness to completely wear off.<br/><br/>The one thing that he did notice that seemed a bit out of place was Chloe seem to venture off from the table.  Times like these where when he wished he had made himself a bit more available for others to talk to.  He had no idea whether or not she was simply looking for a bit of fresh air, which would make since as she was standing in the door way only a dozen or so feet away from him, or if there was something bothering her.  He figured that if either thought were true then interrupting her may not be the best idea.  If she was bothered by something, than in all likelihood she had found a place by herself for that very reason.  To be alone.  He understood that process very well.  However, if she remained for too long he doubted highly he wouldn’t ask her to join him.  Whether he was new to the family or not the spirit that ran through him, and her, still left him inclined to ensure that everyone was included.<br/><br/>Lawrence managed to catch Mariana standing from the table out of the corner of his eye.  His attention turned towards her, and as she approached him he offered her a friendly smile.  He had been almost sure that she would come and join him, yet there was still that seed of doubt.  Even Lawrence would feel a bit put off if he had been denied, so it went without saying that he was pleased to see that she had accepted his offer.  Lawrence just chuckled when she asked if there was something that he wanted to discuss, and he too plucked up one of the biscuits and took a few bites.  But the biscuit was set upon the table when he noticed her seeming displeasure of the cigar smoke, and after one last hit he stubbed it out in the ash tray and lay the cigar upon the table.  It was no longer worth relighting, as he was a bit refined when it came to his choice in cigars.<br/><br/>His eyebrow raised ever so slightly when she asked if she was allowed to have any of the scotch.  In his personal opinion, it was an absolutely silly thing for her to ask, but he had to remember that she was still new to the circus.  So his expression shifted into a smile.  His eyes shut and he gave a slight bow of his head, before he looked back to her and pushed the bottle forward, until the cool glass was against the palm of her hand. “Dear Mariana, the first thing you should know about the circus is that you are Family now.  What is ours is yours, and even if this bottle came from my personal collection than I would never deny you a drop.” His hand pulled back as he lifted his own glass of scotch.  It was half empty, and he felt only a slight buzz coming over him, but he still wasn’t sure if he would need any more.  “In fact you may consider it your own.  Just be sure to let me fill up if need be.” He gave her another smile, this one having a hint of flirtation to it.<br/><br/>He lifted his glass of scotch and took a sip while his eyes trailed towards where Elizabeth should be.  His eyes fell short of the throne, and he saw her beside the dance floor with the man named Kepler.  He should have thought better of it, but he had no choice but to burst out in laughter.  He set the glass of scotch down a bit too hard, and a few droplets splashed out onto his fingertips.  He shook his head as he forced away the laugh and lifted his fingers to his lips, licking the droplets of liquor away before looking back towards Mariana without a thought of explanation.<br/><br/>“Honestly I had nothing particular in mind to talk about.  I could go ahead and make something up for you, if you’d prefer?  Tell you how you could better perfect your craft that I know very little about?” He gave her a teasing smirk, letting his words rest as rhetorical unless she planned on making them otherwise.  She seemed to need a bit of breaking in, as he still saw her as scared to participate in the families affairs.  He’d have none of it, if he had his say. “Honestly, you just kind of looked nervous and out of place.  Kinky and Lexie are wonderful as clowns, but I have no doubt that they can be intimidating if you’re not quite as lively as they are.” Lawrence looked over Marianas shoulder, only to witness Kinky nipping at Lexies skin(From this distance he couldn’t make out that he only bit the latex) before drawing ice down her spine.  There was no doubt that it was suggestive, even to someone like him.<br/><br/>He looked back to Mariana with a smile, trying not to give away the scene behind her with his expression. “Elizabeth has made it clear that you are damned good at your job, and we wish nothing more than to keep you.” Perhaps since she was new, she would not realize his slip.  Stating “We” meant that he considered himself as Elizabeths equal, whether or not it was true didn’t matter, it just wasn’t something that you said. “And I personally want you to feel comfortable here.  It’ll take some time, but while you get used to it, I figured I could give you a bit of company that isn’t quite so…well, incredibly awkward as that table was.”