<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Character Sheets: Part One</strong></span></span></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Ring Mistress: Elizabeth Sawyer</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2wuioszjX1r7wrq1o1_500.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Elizabeth Sawyer<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 28<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> Province, Thank you.  Quebec.<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Ring Mistress<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> Yours truly.<br/><br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Black<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Green<br/><strong>Height:</strong> 5'4<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 108<br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong>  Her body had once been scarred in more places then she bothered to count, and tattooed about everywhere else.  With the Spirit, both the scars and tattoos disappeared.  Her skin is flawless, and quite pale.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> She is two people put into one body, and all have the ability to see both sides.  However, the side that they wish to see is the side that she most often conveys.  She is social, friendly, and physical.  Her idea of social and physical boundaries are non existent, thus she says what she wishes and touches whom she wishes within her family.  She is charismatic, and a natural leader.  However the other side is one you only see when you have done something wrong.  That side is incredibly vindictive, and very passive aggressive.  She will look you in the eye with a sweet smile while subtly telling you to change your ways or find yourself dead.  She is also incredibly selfish, and while she wishes the best for the circus she believes that the circus is hopeless without her.  So the best needs of the circus are often the needs of herself.<br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> Prior to the circus, she had grown up within the french parts of Quebec.  Absolutely nothing is known of her time there to any other than Lawrence, and the only real reminder of her youth lay within her accent, which was still French Canadian.<br/> <br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> (See Circus History)<br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> Herself.  Her circus.  Her family.  The roar of the crowd, and the power of the spirit.  To be doted upon.  Obedience.  A persons ambitions to achieve more then most would believe them capable of.  The scent of marijuana.  The happiness of her family.<br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> The modern world.  The taste of marijuana.  Hecklers.  Betrayal.  Greed.  Fear of ones own shortcomings.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Lawrence Hawkins</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2wz8cUtgJ1r7wrq1o1_500.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Lawrence Hawkins<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 30<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> Alabama<br/><strong>Role:</strong> Act, Partner to Elizabeth<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> Would be Ring Master, Currently Elizabeths Talent<br/><br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Black<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Brown<br/><strong>Height:</strong>6'1<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 186<br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong>  Thin, but still with a touch of muscle.  Burn scars along his arms, and portions of his body.  No tattoos or piercings.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> Loyal.  Protective.  Believes in his causes, no matter the opposition.  Quite, but approachable and social.  Blunt.  Fearless.  Stubbornly selfless.<br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> All but those who had known Lawrence know nothing about him.  Those who knew him that remain in the circus know that he was dedicated hopelessly to making it succeed.  They know very little of his past, beyond that he was from Alabama and has "Little family to speak of", never giving anything more.  He always preferred the betterment of the group over the success of Gerald.  While with the circus, he spoke cryptically about Gerald starving the mass of the circus for his own ends.  Lawrence always seemed to dislike Gerald, but he respected the man for the simple fact that he was his boss.<br/> <br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> Lawrence had never anticipated going back.  The day that he had been thrown out of the circus, he had decided that he would never bother with attempting to join it again.  In fact he had contemplated joining The Wringling Brothers out of spite…But his spite could never outlay his loyalty.  He had given far to much to Geralds circus to ever join the enemy, even if the enemy seemed a bit friendlier.  All he knew was that he wasn’t given a reason for being removed, even when he asked the men who escorted him out.  It wasn’t hard to put two and two together, Gerald had found out that he had slept with Elizabeth and wanted him gone.  He actually felt a bit of debt to the man, typically he would have been killed.  At least he had some loyalty to the man who had been the key factor in reviving the circus.<br/><br/>He was in a southern town one evening, tending to a glass of scotch.  He had became a travelling teacher of sorts.  He went from town to town, and for a minimal fee he trained people in the art of fire spinning.  He received everything from housewives to adventurous young adults(He refused anyone under 18, it was too dangerous.)  He made just enough to get by, and was okay with it.  While he sat at the bar, a family walked in talking about a circus.  He had only arrived this afternoon, by which time the posters had been taken down.  They spoke of an incredible act, and went on and on about the brilliant woman who made fire seem harmless.<br/><br/>He paid his bill and left.  He felt a pull within him.  He had felt an odd tingling when that family had entered but wasn’t sure what it was.  Nor was he sure what let him know exactly what direction he should walk in.  It was a rather warm evening, and the scent of the air was nearly intoxicating.  He knew he was riding some sort of high, he blamed it on the scotch.  Then he found himself at the outskirts of the circus.  It was just a single tent, and he arrived in time to witness a large banner fall to the ground as a number of stage hands carried it to a train and disappeared.  He had seen the face of the Ring Mistress.  He felt the high grow more and more as he stood this close. “You found it.” <br/><br/>Lawrence walked through the canvas doors of the big tent.  Everything was still in tact.  He knew within twelve hours it would be broken down and readied for packing.  In the center of the ring sat Elizabeth upon a three foot high three foot wide circular stage, she was facing the opposite way, but he knew it was her.  His skin was tingling and the hairs on the back of his neck rose.  He began to walk towards her, and he heard her sigh. “Lawrence.  I never thought you would come back.” He had no idea how she knew who it was, he had no idea that the spirit was speaking to her.  After all, he had been the one to begin the process of finding it.  He had failed.  Even though he hated Elizabeth, he was still happy she did.<br/><br/>He stopped twenty feet from where she sat.  The dim lights around them made it hard for him to see her.  But she slid from the stage and walked towards him.  He knew every inch of her body.  But what he had known was not what he now witnessed.  She was wearing a blood red dress, with slits where they needed to be to make every man want her.  He may hate her, but the dress still had the same effect on him.  What was odd was that not a scar showed, nor did a single tattoo.  She was perfect, and she seemed to glow.  She stood still, knowing what this new vision of her would do to him.  He was in awe.  Finally after half a minute he spoke. “Ten years ago we set out to recapture the spirit of the circus we both mourned.  Venue after venue, no matter how small or large, we offered ourselves to the spirit in order to bring it back.  Three years ago you betrayed me.  How close were we?”  Hostile words were spoken in a curious voice.  It didn’t matter what had happened.  The spirit was alive and apparently thriving.  He needed to know how before he cared why.<br/><br/>Elizabeth smiled and paused, at this point they were two Ring Masters squaring off.  But he was teaching soccer moms and she was astounding thousands.  Finally she stepped towards him, and stopped five feet in front of him. “Gerald is dead.” She said. “I know.” Lawrence. “I killed him.” “I figured.  How much longer after?” Elizabeth smiled.  She hadn’t anticipated Lawrence to keep up on current events.  Elizabeth shook her head, he had a faint idea of why but he didn’t bother with saying anything.<br/><br/>“He left, and I changed things.  I made them as they should be.  I forced people to abandon the world outside and live within this world.  Two months and we began.  When I was leading the show, the spirit began immediately.  From that moment on talent came to me.  Whether it was the spirit that guided me to them, or the spirit that guided them to me.  About a year ago I captured it entirely.  It belongs to me now.  And it is why you were guided to my circus.” Her words were precisely stated to let him know she couldn’t have done it without him, while at the same time telling him from this point forward he couldn’t do it without her.  He had promised never to join this circus again.  But she possessed the spirit.  He hated the fact that she alone controlled it, but too much of his life had been given to finding it to walk away now. “Yes, Elizabeth, you control the spirit and that spirit guided me here.  If you would like to take dicks out and decide who’s is bigger then I am sure you know I’ll win.  But the important question is what comes from this?”<br/><br/>Elizabeth laughed softly at his words, while she would passively tear you apart Lawrence always had a way of putting it bluntly.  Elizabeth knew she now owned him, and reveled in that. “You accept your position as stage hand” Lawrence cut her off “Fuck you, I’ve always been better then you and you have always known it.” Elizabeth was at a loss for words.  Anyone else who spoke that way to her would be killed.  But she knew that he was right.  Elizabeth waited until the mix of anger and humility faded, and she spoke in a stern voice. “Then you accept that this circus is mine, and that as long as I own the spirit you will never be my equal.  You will be my partner at best.”  Elizabeth stepped towards him now, and stopped a few feet in front of him.  She bowed her head, tapped into the spirit that she had gained from this evening, and used to much.  At once a cape that didn’t exist swooped over her form, and a cloud of blinding and choking smoke emerged.<br/><br/>It took him a little while to recover.  With a soft cough he looked towards where Elizabeth should be, she was gone.  In her place lay a small bottle with a cork lid.  Lawrence stepped forward and picked it up.  The seconds his hand touched it, he felt that same high he now knew was the spirit.  This was her peace offering.  In has hand was a bottle of the spirit, and the knowledge that he either took it and became one of hers or never got to taste what it was.  The cork was removed, and the bottle lifted.  Nothing was tasted, it was only felt.  Fire ran through his veins.  When he opened his eyes, he saw flames bursting through his flesh.  He never felt pain, he didn’t burn.  All that he knew was that he had signed his life over to Elizabeth…And he refused to believe that he could not take her place.<br/><br/>The spirit belonged to the person who best embodied it’s meaning.  He had taught her, he had told her of the spirit of a circus, and by the end he would take it from her.<br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> Loyalty.  Truth.  Bluntness.  Dedication.  Social graces.  Friendship.  Humility.<br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> Betrayal.  Tyranny.  A person who pushes someones boundaries.  Prejudice.  Disbelief in ones self.  Selfishness.  Failure.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Chloe Mallory</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2syx8VXsI1rn3hh8o2_250.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Chloe Monroe Mallory<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 24<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> Kansas<br/><strong>Desired Role:</strong> Acts<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> Elizabeth's Talent<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Appearance</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div align="center">(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ppurrJZZ1qif9qto1_250.png)(http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2ppurrJZZ1qif9qto2_250.png)(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2syx8VXsI1rn3hh8o1_250.png)</div></div></div><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Black<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Bluish-green<br/><strong>Height:</strong> 5'8<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 125<br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong> She walks with grace at all times of the day. Even though it appears natural, she is often aware of every single step since she know the consequence of one wrong move. A broken arm or leg can be the end of her career. It also means the difference between glory or pity. Her hair comes to about the middle of her back when completely straightened though most times it hangs in loose curls. She has no piercings. There is only one small tattoo of the figure of a raven on her left shoulder. She is not one for jewelry since she doesn't have the patience to take care of it. She only wears a locket stolen from her mother before she left for a life in the circus. <br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> She grew up in a place where manners and etiquette was essential to everyday living so she can't bring herself to be overly rude to people. She does not swear or behave in ways not befitting a lady. Instead, she gives people a taste of her mind and opinion of them tactfully through cleverly phrased words. Often times, it takes people a second or two to notice she has just insulted their entire family. It takes a lot to rile her up because of these reasons. She enjoys having fun with people since it helps take her mind off hurtful memories. She understands that there is nothing more important than perfecting her craft, but some days she just likes relaxing in the grass while thinking of things that could have or should have been. She know it's foolish, but sometimes she can't help herself at times. <br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> She grew up in a pretty large family in a small town. Everybody knew everybody, but that was fine with her. She went to school with her cousins and siblings every day. They would walk since it wasn't very far from their farm. Her mother always made sure they looked nice and tidy since she didn't want folks thinking they weren't being taken care of. Also, she didn't want the gossips down the street talking about them. She did pretty good in school though she shone outside on the monkey bars. She could hang from them longer than anyone else in her school year. Her daddy took her to the circus around when she was about six one year, and she feel in love with it from the moment they were there. The lights, people, and the noise. All of it seemed so surreal that she nearly peed myself in excitement. <br/><br/>When they got home, she annoyed him every day until he fixed up his own little replica of something she could swing around on. Just like the lady and man from the circus. As she got older, things became a bit more difficult between her folks when her pa lost his job. Money became tight, and her brothers were forced to find work outside of the farm to help support the family. Round then, her pa starting hitting her mother though she wouldn't dare say it to anyone outside of the house. He scared Chloe sometimes when he would drink until his head fell in a pool of his own vomit. Despite all this, she managed to practice out in her little swing even though her brothers had to change it over time to make sure she didn't end up hurting myself. That ended up happen just once, and her daddy got all crazy and decided to take all her equipment down. Her mama couldn't do nothing either so they just watched all her dreams disappeared. Or so he thought. <br/> <br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> It was in the middle of the night that Chloe Mallory left her house to go join the circus. She'd already had a big argument about it with her family, who did not approve of the idea. Yet still, it was her dream. A dream that had been watered for a long time since her first adventure across the school's monkey bars. Surprisingly, that dream did not turn out to be a glamorous as she imagined. Upon arriving, she was given a job as a circus hand. She was unable to go back home so she worked around with other people just like her. It was fun at times but still hard work since it took a lot of coordination for the circus to run properly. There was a lot of crying in the middle of the night too since it was her first time ever being away from home for an extended period of time. She was in between happy and almost mournful. It took everything she had not to go home and beg for forgiveness. <br/><br/>A couple of weeks past before one night after helping clean up the big tent, she went outside to see no one other than one of the stars of the circus. Elizabeth. It took a second or two for Chloe to feel comfortable until the woman took her back into the big tent. For some reason, she thought that Elizabeth wanted her to clean up something another circus hand left behind. Not tonight. The trapeze was still set up in its full glory. Well, from there, she was given an ultimatum of going up the ladder and soaring across blindfolded without a safety net or leaving the circus completely. There was no other choice since she was not welcomed back home. There were thoughts of ending up a broken pile of bones on the floor as she climbed up the ladder along with thinking this Elizabeth woman was some form of crazy for asking her to do such a thing. Before long, her vision was blocked by the blindfold, and there was the familiar weight of the bar in her hand. She could hear the sound of Elizabeth telling her to start along with the sound of the other bar being thrown through the air for her to catch. Chloe managed to propel herself through the air, grasping the bar by the tips of one of her hands. She nearly fell down, but pure strength allowed her to hold on before her other hand joined the first. This was her first performance in the circus. <br/><br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> Practicing, elephants, horses, music, routines, ladybugs, birds<br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> rudeness, arrogance, bossiness</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Alexis 'Lexie' Moore</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae219/LimitlessNIkkie/girls%20for%20rp/1qmsms.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Alexis 'Lexie' Moore<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 21<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> California<br/><strong>Desired Role:</strong> Clown<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> New talent<br/><br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Red<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Blue<br/><strong>Height:</strong> 5' 7<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 113lbs <br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong> With bright blue eyes and even brighter red hair against a creamy skin tone Lexi excels in catching the eye. On the taller side she is slender with long legs that look stunning in her normal heels. She had nice understated curve and smaller bust. Her most striking feature is probably her eyes a shifting shade of blue that reflect her every emotion without censorship. <br/><br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> Lexi is a fun loving person who thrives on her interactions with people. She is they type of person who makes an impression with those around her. She's someone who loves to laugh and does so often. She someone who lives for the joy of life, never taking things seriously unless she must. She is rarely quiet, often mischievous and always looking to have a bit of fun.<br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> Lexi was born in a town of five thousand people, in an area that thought preforming arts were something for depressed girls and gay guys. Lexi never felt like she fit in. With her vibrant nature and desire for attention she loved preforming from a young age and felt repressed by the constricting views of her home town. <br/><br/>As she grew up her feeling of being outside the norm increased. When she hit her teens cell phones were all the rage. She hated them. She hated phones in general for how impersonal they were. You couldn't see the persons face. How could you have a conversation with someone and no see their face? The internet was even worse, anyone could say anything and you had to take it as truth because you couldn't tell if they were lying.<br/><br/>High school was awful and wonderful in the same breath. While she was considered weird for not having a cell phone, preferring walking and bikes to cars and generally not being a fan of technology she was bright and fun to be around and had a vast network of friends she spend time with once she could get them away from the addicting LED screen that was their cell phone. <br/><br/>Even with all her friends and her place in life Lexi never got over the feel of not quiet fitting, of being a round peg stuffed ill-fittingly into a square hole. She though maybe it was just the 'teen syndrome' but then again maybe not.<br/> <br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> It was Lexie's birthday when the Carnival came into town. While the rest of her friends wanted to take her to a bar and get her so drunk she couldn't walk she resisted. She'd been looking at the posters put up around town all week, no way was she missing the chance to see the show just because she happened to be turning 21.<br/><br/>The show she saw was more then dazzling or astounding, it changed her. Not once before in her life had she experienced something that reached down into the core of her being and squeezed, changing something inside of her. She went to the show twice more brings friends the second time and the third going on her own. At first the acts had dazzled her stealing her attention but the more she went the more her attention shifted to the clowns and she envied them.<br/><br/>Why can't I do that? She thought as she watched them dance and flirt and act so carefree and happy. Why can't I be like them? <br/><br/>The last night of the carnival Lexie went for the last time feeling a profound sadness. She would miss them, the familiar faces, the atmosphere that made her feel at home, the magic of the performer and the performance. <br/><br/>It was a fluke as she was leaving to see Elizabeth off by herself in the shadows of the big tent. Lexie would never know what came over her. She wasn't known for being shy in the least but she wasn't overly pushy either. But that night she was driven she walked right up to Elizabeth and told her she wanted to be a Clown.<br/><br/>For whatever reason Elizabeth let her try out. She dressed in the burlesque outfits the clowns wore and painted her face and did a dance that had her swirling and moving to the music in a way that would have made her mother turn pink with embarrassing but made Lexie feel wholly alive. She knew she wasn't the best dancer, it was something she did out of love and joy and though she had fun she really wanted to be a part of the circus more then she'd ever desired anything else.<br/><br/>"I'm meant to be here" She said with such certainty it was hard to dispute her. Made up in make up of black in white dressed in a costume cast off from someone else she should have looked silly and out of place, instead she looked like she belonged like she was a piece of there world that till this moment had been lost but was now found.<br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> Strawberries, thunder storms in the summer, sunbathing, running, dancing, preforming, flirting, men, music, swimming, and getting into a little bit of trouble.<br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> Lemons, boredom, having to sit still, and people that don't listen when she says no.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Kepler</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt357/Niferbelle/male_model_77.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Isaiah Kepler (just goes by Kepler)<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 26<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> Illinois<br/><strong>Desired Role:</strong> Circus hand (security/general muscle)<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> Elizabeth's Talent<br/><br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Black <br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Light brown<br/><strong>Height:</strong> 6'<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 170#<br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong> Kepler is a handsome guy, his features as sculpted as his body, with shaggy black hair that manages to look good whether he's combed it or not, golden brown eyes, and a certain detachment about him that gives you the feeling he's always thinking about something else. He's muscled and hard as a rock but not especially imposing in terms of bulk, leading some steroid cases to think they can take him on but it invariable turns out to be a bad idea when they do. He pays little attention to what he wears, always jeans and whatever shirt he can find that's clean though with the work he does it's not unusual for him to be a little grimy during the course of the day. He has anywhere from heavy stubble to a light beard and moustache, where on the spectrum he falls on any given day not a matter of design so much as when he felt like shaving last.<br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> he seems to be a kind of walking stereotype of the handsome brooder, with that air of danger about him that inspires the naive (and sometimes not so naive) to fantasies of winning him over and civilizing the beast. It's inevitable that in every town he attracts young women who find him as compelling as the acts but he pays them little mind beyond a polite tolerance. In his experience they think they want to lay down with the wolf but they always complain when he bites. In truth he's more thoughtful then most would give him credit for, lacking in book knowledge, but philosophical in nature, the result of a guilty conscience and a young lifetime of making mistakes. He's taciturn but generally helpful unless he thinks you're shirking your work and trying to get him to do it, and he's very protective of everyone in the circus. <br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> Kepler grew up in a working class neighborhood of Chicago, his father a mechanic when he wasn't too drunk to show up for work and his mother a waitress who spent her tips on crank. He had two younger siblings he tried to look out for but by the time he was a teenager he was getting into trouble, in and out of juvie and dropping out of school eventually though he got his GED. When he turned eighteen he figured he couldn't afford to get arrested anymore and he wanted to get the hell out so he joined the Marines. This seemed to be working out well for a couple of years, and he excelled physically in the training and was able to put the mechanical skills he'd picked up from the old man to use as well as further his education in that regard but it wasn't to be. He served a little time for assault and was dishonorably discharged after punching a superior officer who didn't have a sense of humor about getting his nose broken. <br/>     He returned to Chicago, despairing at how things had turned out. He slept with too many women, got in too many fights, worked a series of crappy jobs before settling on becoming a bouncer at a strip club. But one night a particularly obnoxious guy who thought money could buy him anything came in with his buddies and started getting grabby and mouthy when asked to back off. Kepler did his job and grabbed the guy by the collar to show him outside but the jerk was drunk and feeling like he had to front for his pals, and after talking some smack he gave the bouncer a shove and Kepler lost it. Kepler put the guy down before he could draw another breath but didn't stop there, lost in a rage that seemed to come out of nowhere. Three days later the guy died from the beating he took and Kepler was arrested, and while you'd think he was relieved when he was let go on a technicality, that wasn't the case. Kepler left Chicago once he was freed and headed downstate, his conscience finally having taken all it could, and it was there he found the Circus.<br/>     He's been with the Circus for about a year now, acting as security when needed and generally filling in wherever needed. His mechanical skills come in handy keeping the equipment running and well maintained. He's found a refuge here that seems to give him some sense of purpose and has no desire to rejoin the rest of the world again. Been there, done that, and fucked it up royally.<br/><br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> <em>It's not your goddamned job, not here, not now. These people should have their own bastard to take care of this shit. Watch the damned show.</em><br/><br/>It was the second night Kepler had been to the circus. It was a fluke he'd found it the first time. He'd just been passing through and he was just sick enough of the road and his thoughts to take any sort of distraction he could get that didn't involve a bottle of booze or a local floozy and what he'd seen here had blown him away. He was nothing but a pretty face, a hard fist, a bad temper, and a whole lot of nothing but these people...they were putting something out there in the world. They were creating beauty. So he'd returned the second night rather than moving on, a quiet but appreciative watcher in the stands, but tonight serenity was not to be thanks to the three hundred pound asshole sitting across the aisle. <br/><br/>Some of the clowns had come up to engage the crowd and one in particular...a lovely, willowy young woman...seemed to have gotten the bald, portly biker's attention and he was trying to 'convince' her not to move on, mainly by grabbing at her. Kepler tried to mind his own business, knowing it couldn't be the first time this had happened and that they had to have somebody assigned to handle it. But nobody was showing up and the girl and the other clowns were getting nervous and long about the time the fat guy put his hand on the girl's ass, Kepler'd had enough. He was across the aisle in a flash, grabbing a handful of shirt and cocking his fist back, putting the asshole down in one punch despite his size.<br/><br/>"If you don't think I'd kill you for less you're wrong," Kepler growled, bending over him, fist at the ready again. "Get the hell out of here."<br/><br/>He was relieved when the biker did just that, scrambling to his feet in ungainly fashion and waddling to the nearest exit. Kepler looked around, realizing he'd become part of the show as everybody from the clowns to the crowds to the ringmaster...what was her name again? Elizabeth?...seemed to be staring at him. He sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. <br/><br/>"Sorry about that miss," he mumbled to the clown and after hesitating just another moment, decided to leave before he got kicked out or the cops came. It's not like he belonged in a place like this anyway. He stepped outside and got a few strides away before he heard someone calling and turned to look. <br/><br/>“Hey, asshole.” She called out to the man who had just fixed a situation he had absolutely no right fixing.  The man that she had formally used to deal with the crowd had had a late night drinking.  No, fix that, a late morning drinking.  He had managed to show up to the big tent, but when she tried to get him off his stool to go and interrupt the problem he fell back to the floor.  Later that week he would find himself thrown off the train into a lively river.  None the less, the man who had dealt with the problem turned around.  She anticipated that, in all likelihood he expected a pissed off biker bitch.<br/><br/>Elizabeth walked up to him.  She stopped a few feet in front of him and looked him up and down.  She smiled, and without any fear spoke. “You are beautiful, that is certain.” She took a step forward, and moved her hand to the fist that had been used as a weapon.  Her fingers ran over his knuckles, with intentions to hurt. “But do me a favor?  The next time you see one of my clowns, or anyone in this circus, get violated or hurt you react quicker?”  Elizabeth smiled and took a step forward.  She leaned up to kiss him, before she turned around and began to walk away.<br/><br/>She stopped just before the canvas doors, and turned around to look at the man.  Now she more or less looked irritated.  “Are you coming or not?  The last bastard who was my muscle got drunk last night and passed out when I told him to fix the situation.  You fixed it.  You’ll be paid well and get to beat anyones ass who violates my circuses talent.” Elizabeth didn’t wait for him to respond.  She walked into the big tent, and began her show.<br/><br/>It was a hell of a pitch...a kiss from a classy woman, a promise of money, a way out of the mess he'd made of his life, and even more, the feeling, however brief, that he'd made something better...it went without saying, he followed her in.<br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> Living in the moment, friends with benefits, time to think, Mexican food, fixing things <br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> The past, unruly crowds, teases, lazy people, drunks<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Mariana I. Nicholas (inactive)</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatright">(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv301/mh0916/girlinsuspenders.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong> Mariana I. Nicholas<br/><strong>Age:</strong> 26<br/><strong>Home State:</strong> Nebraska<br/><strong>Desired Role:</strong> Circus Hand<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> New Talent<br/><br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Brown<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Hazel<br/><strong>Height:</strong> 5’9”<br/><strong>Weight:</strong> 129lbs<br/><strong>Physical Description:</strong>  Long, lean, freckled, and lanky. Quite thin but there is muscle that hides underneath it all. A few scars here and there from life and her hands and feet are callused and speak to her history of being a hard hands-on worker.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong> A little quiet but when she speaks it’s quite to the point. She is tough and honest seeing no point in beating around the bush or lying. It just complicates things and often leaves her friendless. Always had a hard time finding people she fit in with besides her family who understood her and her oddness. Very tough, emotionally and physically, knows how to hold her own in a fight and it takes a lot to make her emotionally upset. Often stares off into space thinking, day dreaming, and always seems to be creating something in her head.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> <br/>Mariana was born and raised in Nebraska. Her family wasn’t rich but they were not poor either, they made what they could and worked hard for every penny. Her father owned a garage and fixed any machine you brought in that needed fixin’. Her three older brothers also worked in the shop and her mother had done most of the paper work and tax stuff that everyone seemed to forget about. She did anyways until she was in a car accident and passed away when Mariana was five. From then on it was just her and the four men in her life. <br/><br/>Her mom, before she passed, had enrolled her in a youngsters gymnastics program thinking it would be a fun after school activity – only to find out her daughter was talented and in love with it. She came from a family of athletes but Mariana was not going to be joining the local baseball or football teams anytime soon like her father or brothers had – she was a local gymnastics star instead. At first it was just fun and something she was good at, then as she got older and better it grew into something she could do at a national level, and winning became a huge goal. She worked for her father before school and anytime she wasn’t training to help pay for gym costs, training, and she did everything she could to pay for it herself. She even dropped out of school when she was 15 got her GED that year so she could work to help pay. She was extremely smart and knew if gymnastics didn’t work, college was an option – and her family supported her, two of her brothers getting football scholarships she had heard of some for gymnastics and thought the stars were the limit. Until a qualifying meet to get to regionals went all wrong. <br/><br/>At the time she was 17 and was all but guaranteed a medal and to move on and after that it was Nationals. Until the vault. She was tall, unlike many gymnasts who were small and muscular she was a taffy pulled version of them. The vault was to be adjusted slightly to compensate for her height, it was all regulation. It wasn’t and when she hit the spring board and her hands went to launch her into the air her hands and fingers slipped off causing her to fly to the ground breaking her left wrist, a few fingers, right ankle, nose and tweaking her neck. Nothing so severe where she’d be in hospitals forever, but enough to end her career as a gymnast. <br/><br/>From then on she spent time at physical therapy and working for her dad, fixing things, something she had quite the knack for. Flips, tricks, and fixing internal combustion engines – among other things. Eventually she grew tired of doing the same things and decided if gymnastics was not going to let her travel, she’d just do it on her own, maybe go to college if she found one she liked and when she was done exploring. So on her 18th birthday she gathered her essentials, all the money she had and bought a train ticket out of there. Her dad didn’t want her to leave but like her mother she was a rather independent woman she always had a home to come back to and at that point had 2 brothers in parts of the country she could stay with. She never went back and eight years later she was still on her own, making her way through the U.S. sometimes barely scraping by. She found new interests – like being a contortionist and new ways to make money. Always the thinker and innovator she lived on the road the thought of settling down anywhere made her nauseated. But she didn’t know how long “fixing things for cash” or performing at night clubs by twisting herself into a pretzel would keep working. Her joints and old injuries were hurting and people didn’t always trust a random girl to get their machines working again. How long this would last started to worry her greatly.<br/><br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong><br/>Mariana’s day had started like any other day in a new place. Lots of walking around, checking out the lay of the land and then searching out the cheapest motel, which was usually at the edge of the city in a less than reputable area. On her walk through she had seen multiple posters for a circus, but the posters were magnificent. Not the usual hokey picture of a man with a whip, a lion, and some random dancing horses. This was different, and had piqued her interest by more than a little. <br/><br/>She had found her motel for later and a bus schedule and decided to make her way towards this circus. There were enough posters and flyers to suggest a large number of people would in attendance and if so maybe one of those fine patrons would like to provide her with some work, or cash. At minimum a ride back into town – it was a bit of a risk but that’s what she lived for these days – the fact that anything could happen while she traveled the road. It took a few buses and a considerable amount of walking but she made it there and was pleased with what she saw. <br/><br/>It was huge and loads of people were driving up and making their way in. She straightened up her jeans and button up shirt, fixed her hair a bit and pulled her cardboard sign out. She made her way towards the side, not too close to the entrance but not too far away from the crowd. She stood there with a bit of a smile, her duffle bag on the ground next to her, backpack on her back and a sign that read, “Will fix stuff for food”. On the other side it said “Will work for food” she switched it back and forth from time to time, also this way if she held it right people in both directions would see it. The dirty brunette in suspenders stood there, hoping to strike gold.<br/><br/>~<br/><br/>Of all the horrors that could occur in a circus, this was likely the worst that hers could endure.  Her acts were always absolutely flawless, and even if they made a mistake the spirit that flowed through them got them through it.  But there were certain elements of the circus that could not be controlled, no matter how hard you tried.  One issue with travelling by train was that there were curves, and different parts of the circus shifted inside of the train.  Thus far it hadn’t effected much beyond a bit of motion sickness.<br/><br/>This time it had put a severe kink in her show.  One of her spirit gifted acts, Chloe, depended upon her equipment to work properly for her show to work.  Everything had been working well, the landing stage had been assembled forty feet above the floor.  The take off stage was being built, and the last part of the wooden scalding had a fault.  The idiotic builder hadn’t thought anything of it and had began building the top part of the stage.  Where Chloe would stand.  And one of the wooden bars broke, the man(Her carpenter) fell ten feet to the stage below and broke his arm.  She was nearly in a state of panic, she had an hour and no one to assemble the stage.  She had to go outside, for the simple fact she was going to break the carpenters other arm if she stayed any longer.<br/><br/>She walked through the crowd until she came across a woman who appeared as though she as homeless.  She went to look away when out of the corner of her eye she caught the sigh. “Will fix stuff for food.”  The Ring Mistress turned towards the girl and stood in front of her.  She lowered her hand, and beckoned the girl to her feet. “Up, up.  My trapeze stage needs fixed or I am screwed for one of my acts, you had better know carpentry or I am going to break your other arm.” In her state she didn’t differentiate between one possible carpenter to hers.  She was just furious.  She turned around and began towards the tent, looking over her shoulder to yell out. “Do it and you’ll have a job.”  She never looked back.  People tended to follow Elizabeth when she asked them.<br/><br/>~<br/><br/>The night had been uneventful; no one really looked at her and if they did it was either with some contempt or pity. One person gave her a dollar and she just hoped that maybe there would be better luck after the show. Her luck seemed to change quickly as a rather flustered woman came to her, had her stand and offered her work. No names were exchanged just asked to fix a stage and a small threat. The rather beautiful woman was in charge or in a higher up of some kind and Mariana quickly gathered her bags and followed her inside the tent. <br/><br/>She was pointed at the problem and it was quite evident and immediately her mind went to work and she couldn’t deny that she could have built it better. She was pulled from her cocky ponderings a moment when she was offered a job if she fixed it. She wasn’t 100% sure what that meant but if anything she’d probably get some money and food out of it all. She pulled her tool belt out of her backpack, clipping it around her hips and climbing the ladder up to the platform. She got to the platform and tried to anchor herself underneath it to fix the supports. She went to work and as quickly as she could not only fixed the platform but made improvements. Not by much but enough where she was proud of it. With more time she’d re-do it entirely but this was sufficient, and more importantly – safe. <br/><br/>Climbing down she wiped the sweat from her brow and checked the time on her pocket watch. She jogged over to the other platform and made similar adjustments making it safer, and far more stable. Shimmying back down she found the woman that had recruited her. <br/>“So, I finished and made a few adjustments to both platforms… it’s much safer now. With some time they could be better… But for now I’m sure you will be pleased with my work.”<br/>She didn’t want to sit there and demand a job now but her curiosity and desire for a real work was getting to her.<br/>“Um, about that job you spoke of…”<br/> <br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> engineering, hard work, cars, contorting, challenges, traveling, honesty, gymnastics, and integrity.<br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> liars, closed-mindedness, incompetence, whining, being ungrateful.<br/><br/><br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Katie Stewart</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Name:</strong> Kate  Stewart  <br/><strong>Age:</strong> 22<br/><strong>Desired Role:</strong> Burlesque Dances<br/><strong>Place of Hierarchy:</strong> New Talent<br/><strong>Hair Color:</strong> Red haired<br/><strong>Eye Color:</strong> Green<br/><br/><br/>(http://openmuz.ru/uploads/notice_photos/tori_amos.jpg)<br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Physical Description:</strong> <br/><br/>The most notable physical trait about Kate is that she is a conjoined twin. She is bound together with her identical sister by the hip. Despite this, she is still considered very attractive. Out of the two, she is more outgoing an fashionable in he attire. She tends to wear makeup even when not on the stage. There is always a friendly smile on her face even though off stage it is slightly more alluring. When working her clothing is appropriate for the sensual setting, and she is often in an identical costumes to her sister. They do not mind pushing the limits with their clothing so often times it is viewed as risqué. Like her sister, Lottie's body is slim due to her lifestyle as a dance. She is also flexible in many different and interesting ways<br/><br/><strong>Personality:</strong><br/>Kate certainly enjoys a drink or two and a party, and she is somewhat more veracious than her sister. She is the more dominant and outgoing twin. She is extremely protective of Lottie and woe betides any that upset her. Indeed, Kate seems a little less sensitive than Lottie, and she can bear the brunt of unkindness easier. She also seems to have a better sense of humour and take life less seriously. However, as much as she prefers a more lively life, she also feels the need to spend quiet nights reading. However, her sewing is not quite up to scratch thus she leaves that alone.<br/><br/>One thing both agree on they can be a little suspicious of men especially the ones that are interested in the two for one deal. For indeed, they have had many offers.<br/><br/><strong>Brief History:</strong> <br/>The twins come from a very long like of carnies. It is said, though is likely just a story, their family has been in the business since before Rome. If one is to believe these stories, some of them even entertained some of the Caesars. Whatever the truth or lack of in the matter, it does make for interesting stories. Indeed, if there is truth in the matter, they do have some marginally famous ancestors in the family line. Indeed, their grandmother was a bearded lady of some repute. Their great grandfather had been a ringmaster himself and owned a small circus of his own. <br/><br/>However, due to his rather addictive nature. Love for both gambling and the sauce lead to the slow demise of the circus and carnivals in general for their family, and soon he was forced to sell it.  This meant that the family became more fragmented, and over the years this has continued to happen to a greater degree. <br/><br/>The twins' mother died in childbirth, and their father for a time went off the rails so they were brought up by grandmother. She personally considered them a gift from Carna so she refused what would have been a simple operation to separate their bodies. The twins did not mind being joined as they had never known anything different.<br/><br/>The two fitted into carnival life easily, even though the idea of ‘freaks’ was becoming distasteful to many of the more politically correct. From a young age, they worked many roles in a number of different circuses. The two were usually ticket touts and worked on some of the side attractions. All the time, their grandmother was working in various ways so the two would find an act of interest over and above the fact that they were conjoined twins.  <br/><br/>So they were trained hard and became quite the gymnasts performing in a most interesting fashion. Their moves always needed to be perfectly timed, whether it was this, or their obvious symbiotic nature, the two seemed to move fluidly together. Also, they appeared to be able to communicate in many ways without need for words. They were also taught by their grandmother in the art of the burlesque entertainment<br/><br/>With the death of grandmother and  father, that was little interested anymore. Finally, they found a far more normal lifestyle and family. Soon Kate and Lottie decided it was time to look for something a little larger than they were used to. The twins put out feelers into finding somewhere and indeed found that which they might be looking for.<br/><br/>Cirque De Sang Et De Flammes: Circus Of Blood And Fire <br/><br/><strong>Introduction Post:</strong> <br/>Still dressed in their black clothing, Catherine and Charlotte stood with many of their friends and colleagues along with some of their family members. Yes, it is time to watch the final embers of the trailer burn. The occasional flickering flame mirrored the two girls' red hair even more so as the sun began to melt into the ever darkening skies. Slowly, the other mourners turned and walked away after saying their final goodbyes so that they might talk into the night and reminisce about the fine and grand old lady. The woman had been the true back bone of the family, and certainly she remain strong to the spirit of the carnival right up until the very end of her life.<br/><br/>The twins looked one last time of the old poster of the woman when she had been a performer. Even then with her beard, there had many a young men that tried to court and woo her, both other carnies and even a few that were not. They said goodbye silently kissed the poster and then laid it to rest in the glowing embers. The paper caught alight with a bright flare and then was gone. Just as grandmother had finally joined her husband.<br/><br/>Yes, Lottie and Kate would spend the night there and in the first light of morning. When the birds sang their chorus, the two knelt down and wiped the ashes upon their faces before joining the other mourners. Or perhaps they might be revelers. For though a sad occasion, all wished to celebrate the great life that they had known. So the tales and songs as well as the drinking continued. Finally, this came to an end so decisions had to be made as now they were no longer tied to this particular small circus because of duty and love the twins. After some discussion, they decided then to move on and find another circus or carnival better suited for their talents. <br/><br/>The girls had many contacts. They started to slowly put out the word that they were looking for work. At first, they took the usual totting jobs that one started with until they were able to get more information on one place that offered so much for their true potential. After further travel and speaking to certain interesting contacts and friends, eventually the two found their way to the destination that they hoped for, yes that Circus …<br/><br/>Cirque De Sang Et De Flammes   -<br/><br/>All it took now was them to impress the ring mistress.<br/><br/><strong>Likes:</strong> singing, dancing, a shot or two of good whiskey the occasional smoke on a pipe, her twin, a good party, ice cream, daisies<br/><br/><strong>Dislikes:</strong> prejudice, lies, apples, snobbery, those that don’t pull their own weight</div></div></div><br/><hr/><br/>