Thomas Malenko's Travelling Menagerie (Dark circus idea)

[Bekah Boo]

Thomas Malenko's Travelling Menagerie!

      Even in your most quiet, most normal, most boring little town in middle America, where one can count on only the most humdrum of events taking place. There is always room to sneak in a little magic…

    It would happen on a quiet summer day in a quiet suburb, or rural town. After the sun set on another blissfully average day. Strangers would begin to arrive, and then something wonderful would happen. The next morning the streets would be alive with color, as every fence and power pole was smeared with flyers sporting words like ”AMAZING” “FABULOUS” “EXTRAORDINARY” and ”MYSTERIOUS”, words like you'd never find in the midst of such an otherwise ordinary, peaceful, sleepy….boring town.

    For the first time in ages, an average community is buzzing with curios chatter. Boring and tired people alive with wonder. An entire town on the edge of their seat to see what comes next. The next morning, in what was once an empty field just outside of town, there stood  huge colorful tents and trains of wagons. All erected like Jack's giant beanstalk overnight, and standing behind the brilliant banner welcoming all to…


 

Thomas Malenko

Player Name: Blueeyedbard
Name: Tom Malenko (formerly Thomas Watson)
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Leans heterosexual, but lands more in the middle of the spectrum
Circus Position: Ringmaster
MC- With almost a hypnotic suggestion over people, when he calls attention the people come. Maybe it's the way he speaks, or the air of mystery that surrounds the purveyor of the traveling circus. But his talent for getting people's attention, and holding it, is undeniable.

Mysterious- Tom is never short of tricks up his sleeve. Be it lighting up a room without flipping a switch, or just happening to have exactly the thing needed, sitting in his pocket waiting to be used… like that locket that your grandmother lost at sea almost fifty years ago...

Worldly- Having explored every hidden nook and hard to reach cranny the Earth has to offer comes with its benefits. Need someone who speaks Swahili? How about Latin, or ancient Greek or Egyptian? Ever heard of a tribe of lost people hidden in the darkest part of the Amazon? He's eaten dinner with them. Is there an actual pole, at the North Pole? He's hung his hat on it.
Whether it's meditating with mountain dwelling Shaolin monks, or sailing with actual pirates, it may really seem like he has done it all… and that badge that says “City of Atlantis Council Member”, that's just a joke, right?


Personality: Generally happy and positive to a fault, Tom will never give up on his dreams or the people that he has brought together. They are his friends, his family, and there isn't a one of them he wouldn't die for in an instant.
In a troop full of freaks and outsiders, he somehow manages to be the oddest man out. Who else can say that a “snake-man” has called them a weirdo? Or that they've leant a bearded lady their shaving kit?

He's most energetic when he is entertaining. The show is in his blood and his bones, so if Tom has something to do with it you can bet it'll be second to none in the world.
Off stage he can be more quiet and contemplative. With a whimsical smile played across his face while reading a book, or just staring up at the stars.

It may seem like there isn't a worried bone in his body, until his family or his business is threatened. Then the odd duck will turn into the fiercest tiger anyone might hope to see.

Background History: At one point or another every child has a dream of leaving real life behind and running away to join the circus. To ride the elephants, and tame the lions. Swing with the acrobats and enjoy a life of carefree wonder. Every child except Tom Watson, who was born in the circus, and took the first opportunity he had to run away.

The son of a lion tamer and the resident “mermaid”, Tom was raised by performers and grew up on the outside of society. For all intents and purposes he was the happiest boy you could hope to meet, so when his teenage years came around it wasn't a distaste for his home that drove him to leave. It was the belief that out there in the world were stories wonderful to tell, and sights amazing to see, all just waiting for someone like him to find them. He left with a suitcase of clothes and a wad of money in his pocket. No destination and no idea how to get there. Just a dream of what awaited him on his journey.

He sailed the widest seas and climbed the highest peaks, traversed the deserts and explored the darkest caves. He traveled to the eight corners of the world, met people and made friends with people who had never seen another person before, people who would hardly consider themselves people!
He ate dinner with kings and gambled with thieves, and all the while he sought out the most amazing secrets the world tried to hide.

When he returned to civilized society, Thomas Watson had become Tom Malenko. A change that invited as many puzzling questions as the story of why he wears a patch over his left eye. Some of his friends and performers heard he lost his eye while fighting with a native tribe to keep a group of settlers from defiling their sacred land. Others may tell a story about how he traded his eye to a witch so that he may live forever, and if he were to remove the patch you could see how you are going to die, played out where his eye should have been…. Some say his eye is just fine, and he wears the patch to look creepy and mysterious.
But what everyone knows is with the return of Thomas Malenko, came the birth Thomas Malenko's Travelling Menagerie!

Thoughts on the Performers: Tom sees each and every one of the performers in his show to be nothing short of family. He refuses to treat them with any form of disrespect, be it on a personal or professional level. He knows as well as anyone how it is to live on the outside of society, and how important it is to have a family that will be there for you through thick and thin.

Upon meeting each of the performers he would have gotten to know them personally, even to the extent of putting himself on the line for their sake, not to prove how much he wanted them for the show he was building, but rather to prove how important it is that everyone has a family they can rely on.

Personal On|Offs: Tom is a child of the world, infinitely open minded and patient there isn't a lot people do that turns him away. But hatred, hatred towards other people is something that doesn't sit well with him.
Bard's o/o

Additional pictures |Information: Tom wears the flashy and elegant clothes of an MC when the circus is open, and dresses down more casual when the patrons are gone.
Tom's set of eye patches

The Ringerleader

General Guidelines/Rules

All general rules that are upheld on this site will be in effect for this game, we've all been around here long enough to know what is right and wrong as far as interacting with one another. That being said, I will not tolerate drama.The first little snippet of it I will not hesitate to kick people out. In the past I've seen drama completely tear a story apart, so please for the sake of common decency just try to be respectful to others okay? That goes as well for the Discord chat (which will come later depending on enough interest), because come on...we're all adults so please act like it. If there are any issues don't hesitate to message me and I  will clear up the matter quickly.As far as posting length I want to maintain at least 3 to 4 paragraphs if not longer as my normal rules apply to this as well; no one liners and god moding. This will be a sand box sort of game whereas the entire premise is how the characters react to others and their current situations, the need for communication between all is key to have maximum enjoyment. Unsure of something? Ask away. Want to have a random scene with another player? Simply message them. We're all consenting adults here so if you wish to have something play out you simply just have to approach the intended party. If there is an issue however you are more than welcome to bring it up with myself and I will see to it that it is taken care of, so don't be afraid to approach me for anything.

I live in South Carolina so my time zone may vary compared to others, that being said I tend to post in the later afternoon going to the wee hours of the morning as I tend to not sleep all that well. Some posts may need to be paused in order to get into a routine though that doesn't mean we skip over due to an inactive partner. There may be posts that can further explain your own until we can move the story along, but try and be courteous to others given we are all in different time zones. That said as well I at least want one post a week from all players if not more, nothing too extreme but any inactivity longer than an week unless stated will result in a character being taken out in some form.

I will be accepting character sheets at all times so please send them to me in PM and not on the interest check, failure to do such will result in it not being accepted.Once I give you the go ahead you can post it here, but only after you are approved. I will review them as quickly as I can but do note that not everyone will be accepted; do not take this personally. I have been on this site for a while now and have figured out what writing styles work well with others or certain ideas, so if you are not accepted it is not personal merely it may not be the best fit. All genders and orientations are accepted naturally as this is about the everyday lives of those who live on the fringes of society, not what is in your pants.

I am also leaning towards placing this group in the extreme small groups, more so because of possibilities of it being graphic and over all scary; so better safe than sorry in my book really. There is also the chance of having darker themes in the day to day life of circus folks, especially given the stigma they carry for not fitting into normal society as the emotional dealings and potential repercussions of such may result in a few tougher scenes. This is all completely optional though as depending on a player's on and offs we will plan accordingly.  There is of course the possibility of sex in this game as for many sandbox games of this sort, that said consent is key. Each person involved must be aware even if their character is not, as failure to do so will result in the offending player being kicked out.

For this game the idea is a bit vague when it comes to actual magic or supernatural happenings, more so it is subtle magic or low fantasy as you will. It should be something that is on the down low when it comes to the normal paying customers, giving the idea to those who don't believe the thought that the circus people are nothing more than frauds and con artists. Those interested do however have to have some guidelines as far as their characters in that these people are human no matter how you spin it. So there is no halflings or supernatural beings or hybrids of animals that in the real world would not be possible, think more towards what a general circus or freakshow would provide. They play up oddities that come from more birth defects that could be seen as the abomination of beast and human, but the actual myth is much more potent than the reality of it. The characters in a sense are all actors in that they use what talents and abilities they have acquired and make a show of it all, hyping up their own strangeness in order to draw crowds in and of course bring more butts into seats.

The general feel for the time period in the circus itself will feel like the turn of the century, so nothing modern day or electronics and what not, while everything outside is set in the early 50's. Those within the circus are from all walks of life as it is said that the circus grounds itself has a timeless feel to it, whether it is due to Thomas himself or his desire to make his circus family more comfortable, it isn't quite said but stepping in is like stepping back in time.

Here is a rough example of what potential roles that are available for the circus, but as stated prior there is always room for suggestions;

Clowns | Entertainers
Fire eaters
Contortionists
Sword Swallower
Dare Devil
Animal tamers| Snake charmers etc
Acrobats| Ribbon Dancers
Freaks
Magicians|Illusionists
Knife throwers
Fortune Tellers| Physics
Strong Man/Strong Woman


The list really is just a short idea of what possibilities there are, and of course there can be more than one of them. The only real ones that are currently not available would be the fortune tellers; and of course the Ringleader.



This is the code for those interested to fill out and send to me for their character sheets:

Code Select Expand


[float=left][img height=350 padding=5] Insert image here![/img][/float] Please use real life or art face claim (Art images used only for supernatural or monsterous beings)
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Player Name:[/b][/size]
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Name:[/b][/size]
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Age:[/b][/size] Nothing under 18 please
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Gender:[/b][/size]
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Sexuality:[/b][/size] All are accepted
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Circus Position:[/b][/size]What does your character do in the circus? There will be a list to choose from but suggestions are always encouraged (You may have more than one area of expertise though no more than three preferably)
[font=teletype][size=12pt][u]Talent[/u][/size][/font]- Brief description

[font=teletype][size=12pt][u]Talent[/u]-[/size][/font]Brief Description

[font=teletype][size=12pt][u]Talent[/u]-[/size][/font]Brief Description

[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Personality:[/b][/size] How does your character act around the others? How do they act around 'normies'?Are they sweet? Or are they greedy for more of the spotlight?
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Background History:[/b][/size] How did they find themselves in the circus? What was life like for them before hand?
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Thoughts on the Ringleader:[/b][/size] How do they feel in the circus? How they feel living around the others and such?
[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Personal On|Offs:[/b][/font][/size]

[size=12pt][font=teletype][b]Additional pictures |Information:[/b][/font][/size] If needed use this for costume images and such; [url= Link to outfit] Outfit description[/url]


Important links:

Accepted Character thread
Circus grounds & Tents
The Big Top
Outside the circus| Town
OOC Thread

[Bekah Boo]

Player Name: Bekah Boo
Name: Serefina Deblanc
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Circus Position: Part of a Fortune Telling duo with her twin sister | The Sorcière sisters

Tasseography- Serefina's specialty is reading the leaves or dregs of tea to interpret the fortune of the customers's future, shortcomings, and potential. It is often said within the leaves the symbols represented can come as a warning to the unsuspecting soul who wishes to know what fate has in store for them, Serefina choosing this route unlike her sister's palm reading for many reasons. A person's spirit is easier read with the transcendence of the soul which she firmly believes starts within the mind rather than the heart, the brief transfer from mind to mouth allowing Serefina to latch onto this invisible thread that is spelled out within the dregs. The mouth and mind is what writes a person's future unlike the lines of the palm defining past, but Serefina's shyness does tend to not interfere as much when reading the leaves. Actual touching she can leave to her sister.

Channeling the spirit- Both twins possess the ability to channel a spirit using their own forms as a vessel to communicate with the living, actively opening themselves to becoming a living medium for a short time. Both take turns with actually becoming the containment the spirit inhabits as the process does take immense strength and is quite taxing after repeated rounds, with one opening the dialogue while the other tethers it to the human realm. During this process it is not uncommon to find the vessel undergo intense spasms and contortion of the body, the spirit essentially 'flexing' and testing out a living body for what in many cases has been decades. The one channeling may also engage in activities that they are not aware of or have previous knowledge of IE: Speaking a different language, advanced terminology of a subject (The botanist couldn't help but spread her voice of exotic plants during her call) etc.This does take a tremendous amount of energy and often after a show either twin may find themselves sluggish and drained as a result.

Psychic Connection- As close as the twins are to one another their connection does go deeper than that of siblings, a link that many attribute to being twins with their bond to each other. Both the girls are able to physically feel the other's emotions, although the range of such has never truly been explored, Serefina able to sense her sister's current emotions with the touch of her mind brushing her sibling's. Anger can be felt as a hot scorch of sudden heat while sadness is more defined by the cool sensation of flowing water, Serefina's descriptions of such making it seem rather trivial in comparison to how it can actually feel.

Personality: In comparison to her twin, Serefina is much more reserved and can be seen as the meeker of the two. Soft spoken and quiet she much prefers to simply observe others as they go about their business, curious in nature it is when she does open her mouth that her oddness makes itself quite clear. Without a hint of hesitation or filter Serefina often fails to see how her rather blunt words could be misconstrued to upset others around her, as whatever idle thoughts she has will come tumbling out even if it isn't the most proper of subjects. Along with the limited exposure of other social influences she does appear like quite the odd duck, although she means no real ill will from it all, merely she hasn't learned the graceful nuances of interaction apart from her twin. What Serefina is known for is being the warm soul whom anyone can easily talk to, always the leaning force and just the right ear to not judge those around her she can be a comforting presence; so long as she doesn't try to comment on the subject.
Background History: Life before the circus is often described by Serefina as something akin to a distant dream, the remembrance still there and yet it truly feels as though it has been a lifetime ago. The circus itself has a way of bending the reality of time for all those involved as the twin's background has long been a matter that holds little value, that to Serefina she feels it is a chapter within her life that is best left in the past. The depression era had taken a huge toll on many during it's time as even the gulf coast was not spared, there was simply no means of an economy and therefore those who were struck the hardest were those already living on the fringes of society. Born deep within the bayous of famed Louisiana the twins birth back in the day brought many intriguing eyes to the already bustling family, the daughters of a hard working fisherman and maid who already had a handful of children as it was. The isolation of the swamps truly made the community thrive upon the rumor mill to pass the time and with every passing year the twins were often brought up in conversation, their oddness beginning at an early age.

The twins were inseparable from one another since their birth as the seemingly inappropriate doting they had for one another made others wary of their presence, especially when childish talks of 'speaking' to spirits began to arise. As children it wasn't uncommon to find the girls quietly sitting off by themselves and seemingly have talks to something unseen, the longer such went on the more their strangeness became. Using the natural foliage that were in abundance in the bayou the twins were able to use their abilities in ways many had only heard rumors of before, the act of sensing one's future and past a grave curiosity, but one that seemingly made the girls of some use; to both their family as well as the folks within the community.  Growing up impoverished meant great stress to the already large family even with their father's back breaking labor, the too many mouths to feed enlisting the twins to make their own profit as a means to aide their family's finances by doing readings for the amusement of paying customers.

By the time the twins had reached their teens however the clear uncertainty the community felt about them became much more obvious, that while they did provide a service that for some helped comfort and what not, the girls were not as accepted in a social sense. That so long as they had use they would be tolerated and yet to actually fraternize with the strange young women was a step no one would dare take upon themselves, the whispers of witchcraft and hexes long scaring off the potential of proposals to leave them further ostracized in their community. After all many girls their age had long been married off with children of their own clutching their skirts, the twins essentially 'old maids' within the bayou despite the futile attempts Serefina longed to find a connection with another than just her sister.  One particular instance of a young man Serefina had admired further churned the rumor mill with the twin's otherworldly effect, the boy having spurned the young woman's feelings to find himself struck with a sudden sickness, that despite no wrong doing on their part it would be a stain upon them among whispering mouths.

So when the odd man lavish in his knowledge and excitement appeared upon the porch of the DeBlac home it had been all too easy for the twins to agree to be in his employment, that perhaps without their presence their family would no longer be under the pressure of the twin's famed cursory by the community that had began to grow tired of them. The rest is simply history and for Serefina she likes to keep it that way.
Thoughts on the Ringleader: As far as Serefina is concerned she admires those within the circus and feels as though they are all like an odd family of sorts, even if she's hesitant to approach anyone other than her twin.However hesitant and painfully shy that she is Serefina does admire she works with,usually from a distance but will make small talk from time to time. The ringleader is a person she holds much respect for, perhaps only a tier lower than her own twin.
Personal On|Offs: Bekah's Buttons

Additional pictures |Information:

[Bekah Boo]

Player Name: Bekah Boo
Name:Eevette Lanshire
Age: Maybe around 100? It's hard to keep count
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Pansexual
Circus Position: Freak- Undead Girl
Indestructible-Eevette is able to survive circumstances that would otherwise maim or kill a mere mortal, whether it is drinking poison on a dare, or in a fit of excitement hurl herself off of ledge. Swords through the belly or the show stopping decapitation is child's play to her as through her existence she had yet to find a serious injury that hasn't healed itself; if it can kill a person, she's tried it. There is a cool down period in which Eevette's mortal wounds find themselves healed, usually after an hour or two, not that she isn't seen tossing her dismembered head around like a ball in the meantime.The more serious the destruction the longer it takes, as for anything too carnal will take a night.The result of Eevette's feats does however require her to have to take the time to clean up, guts being stuffed back into her stomach and what have you, yet the real thrill is seeing the bloodbath; which comes in the form of a trick she learned some time ago. Before any performance Eeevette can be seen injecting her undead veins with blood she acquires from different means, to further give the ghastly illusion of her name sake.

Immortal- Given her inability to succumb to mortal wounds Eevette has first hand witnessed the hands of time pass her by, with little thought of such changing in her future. Because of this she often researches newer and meatier means of causing harm to herself to test the theory of her current state, that should she finally figure out a way to stay dead for good, well she's enjoyed her life and it would be accepted. That doesn't stop her from finding the most grotesque manners in maiming herself in the mean time however.

Discombobulated-One of Eevette's favorite 'tricks' is the beheading as she often uses the act as her closing number, much to the horror of the crowd. Especially when her eyes open and she effortlessly speaks despite being severed.Severing limbs can act independently even when they are separated from herself, her top half walking on her hands to retrieve her lower half a meter away or even hands crawling on their fingertips to potentially grab spectators. Once she figures out how to make her head literally roll around like a ball, the crowd will be in for quite the treat.


Personality: Eevette is charming as she is a sweet soul, her innocence shining through to often see the best in everyone she meets. Overly optimistic is truly an understatement when it comes to the mangled corpse of a woman, as if she truly believes in someone or something she won't hesitate to literally throw herself in harm's way for them. She does tend to enjoy teasing those around her she firmly calls her family, especially those who get squeamish around her performances, as she has been known to surprise a few with an arm in their bed while she peeks around the corner.
Background History: Eevette's story starts back 60 years earlier, although she does tend to forget how long it really has been.The only child to a simple seamstress and a hard working shipyard hand, Eevette was a bright child and the apple of her parent's eyes. The sparkling gems of her blue eyes against her raven hair often made her the talk of the block, with many suspecting that when she approached age she would no doubt be swept up by a wealthy suitor and given the life she would never achieve in the squalor they were. With little food to spare even amongst themselves however Eevette had long aided her parents in earning much needed coin, back breaking but honest work ranging from sweeping porches or even selling her mother's wears on the streets. There was always the dream in which that one day she could be the one to provide her loving parents with fashionable clothing and a lavish home they dreamed of, the wistful wish of owning a comfy cottage far from the stew of the dirty streets and pollution a pipe dream but one Eevette was determined to work towards.

Fate however would interject itself long before such could have ever existed in the form of her mother falling ill, her sickness reducing her once beautiful and vibrant mother into a shell of her former self, until finally she passed away. Heartbroken the now widow and his daughter did what they could to pick up the broken pieces left behind from her passing, as the series of tragic events that unfolded ultimately led to her now undead existence. Not a month had passed before Eevette began to feel the same symptoms her mother had displayed before her sickness took her, the young woman being found a few feet from her doorstep as a fierce fever made her boiling to the touch.With the depression and anguish of his wife having not shortly passed away herself, Eevette's father simply could not take another heartbreak as his desperation to seek help for his daughter consumed him. What little earnings had been woefully short of the means to procure any real medicine as Eevette's condition worsened with every passing day, the rosy delight of her cheeks now a jarring alabaster in her bedridden state, as even what valuables he had to his name could not come up with the funds to cure his angel. Grief and absolute desperation found the man's ears in the form of a whisper in a dark alley, an unknown voice cooing a seemingly unbelievable tale of a way that his daughter would no longer suffer from real world sickness or hardships; it was a simple act and in his utter anguish the man hurriedly agreed without a second thought.

Upon the trial that shortly followed Eevette's father contested that he had no hesitation in doing what he felt would save his daughter, the courts subsequently finding the man deranged and undoubtedly insane with the retelling of what he had committed that fateful night. With the voice's instructions firmly within his mind the man would return to the one room boarding style home he shared with his deathly sick daughter, the gleam of an axe never once seen from Eevette's view as she writhed and moaned in feverish delirium. What took place next was plastered all over the papers as newscallers recalled the horrific details of a father literally carving out his own daughter's heart in what was described as a 'fit of insane grief', the blood soaked room leaving behind only the undeniably grotesque but beautiful young woman struck down by her own kin like a portrait of true Gothic beauty.What the courts or even those within the surrounding area did not know though was the voice had not deceived the insane man as police had gone through efforts to recover Eevette's heart, yet oddly enough it had long disappeared, the man stating he did as instructed and delivered it to the alley much to the dismay of those on the case. Sadly Eevette's father would hang on the gallows for his crime to never see his daughter's smiling face as he had so desperately hoped to, yet where her father's story had come to an somber end, Eevette's was only beginning.

The voice's instructions carried out, it was upon the table of the local coroner that once closed eyes would come fluttering open,the ultimate surprise as Eevette began to sit up frightening the poor man to the point he fainted as the corpse he had begun to study popped up as though alive. Treading out of the building Eevette's confusion grew all the more as eyes upon her took in the seemingly alive but clearly odd young woman, her alabaster flesh drained of blood giving her the appearance of a perfectly made doll than woman. Not to mention wandering around in a daze in nothing but a white sheet often did give those around something to stare at. The once living woman however would return to her home much to the fright of nosey neighbors who cried witch, Eevette only learning of her father's mad attempt to 'save' her and hanging for it as it was screeched out at her while a crowd began to gather around.All she could think to do was to flee from the literal mob beginning to form around her stunned presence, her legs taking her anywhere but where she was currently, while her mind raced. She wasn't sure just how far she had been able to run until her legs ultimately gave out, but with the chilling breeze of the coast at her pale cheeks, Eevette finally broke down in sorrow. By her lonesome and chased out from her home it was little wonder the raven haired female had considered killing herself, the ultimate confusion of her still 'seemingly' alive state and the knowledge her father's own passing, too much grief for her to take.

An abandoned barn had the resources in which Eevette would find her first attempt to take her own life as she threw a length of rope over the doorframe of the header, the noose snugly tightened around her neck as she stood on a stack of hay a few feet above the ground. Thoughts of reuniting with her beloved parents soothed Eevette's spirits as she dried her tears, taking the fateful step off to suddenly drop as the rope snapped her neck; yet...unbelievably she was still conscience. Not only that...but she could feel the bones in her neck clearly grated in a break...
Learning of her now doomed existence came to an astonishing shock to Eevette after she managed to break herself down from her noose, the utter disbelief as she began to tilt her head to flop violently back and forth while clearly alive something in which she didn't think was possible. Yet...an hour later it was as though it had never been broken. In a fit of panicked rage the woman spied a rusty tool on the wall, soon taking it up to slash her throat with the firm belief that she could not survive; but survive she did. Even after poking at the gaping gash to feel her vocal chords, even after she climbed to the roof to throw herself off, even after crawling on shattered limbs to swallow a whole bottle of arsenic; she was alive...well...kinda.

She would go on to try various other means of trying to dispose herself and with every attempt Eevette would find herself undoubtedly maimed and shattered, but never passing on. The first year of her condition was spent in utter isolation and sorrowing grief she could not perish, no amount of poison nor a hatchet to the skull amounting to an ounce of death to take her. Eventually she would come to accept her fate with the abandoned barn she had used as a temporary home now behind her, the young woman unable to die and yet having no home to call her own, she would wander endlessly in the hopes of perhaps finding someone, anyone whom could explain away what had taken her life to leave it in such a standstill. As fate would have it though she would find a company in which the unexplained was possible, of folks whom could understand her plight, and of course welcome her in their arms;
Thoughts on the Ringleader: How do they feel in the circus? How they feel living around the others and such?
Personal On|Offs:

Ons: Passionate roughhousing|Affection| Sensual Foreplay|Some Voyeurism| Tenderness

Offs:Bathroom play| Vomit

Additional pictures |Information:

[Bekah Boo]

Player Name: Bibliophilia
Name: Sabine DeBlanc | The Sorciere Sisters
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Pansexual
Circus Position: Spiritualist/Fortune-Teller
Channeling - Sabine can communicate with spirits, either calling on them to possess her sister and speak through her, or opening herself to the possession of an other-worldly being so they can speak through her.

Palmistry - More art and intuition than anything one could easily quantify, Sabine knows how to read the lines in a person's palm and use the distinctive pattern to interpret events that have happened in their life.  She can follow their love line and pinpoint the heartbreak that weighs heavy on their heart, or travel the path of their career etched into their skin and see where they should have followed it.  Many might view her ability to know and analyze the past in a person's palm as pure guesswork, but those who come to her with regrets, guilt and indecision more often than not leave better for it.

Psychic Connection - Sabine and her beloved sister share a connection that goes beyond the natural.  They can know one another's feelings without being told, share common sensations at a distance and it's impossible to tell sometimes where one sister ends and the other begins.

Personality: The more outspoken and brash of the two sisters, Sabine is also the more cynical and misanthropic of the pair.  Her views on marks range are that they are pathetic at best and vicious, petty and cruel at worst.  Anyone outside of the circus over the age of fourteen, and some under, are to be either pitied or reviled.  However, she is fiercely protective of her sister and quite warm and caring for those she considers her friends.  She loves to spend time with her fellow circus entertainers and is quite charming, despite the often jaded way she views the world beyond the tents and lights.

Background History: Sabine was born mere seconds ahead of her sister in their parent's bedroom in the small shack where their brothers and sisters had been born before them.  The twins were not so much unwanted as simply unfortunate, not unloved so much as simply lost in the crowd.  They had one another, which meant that they did not chirp for attention the way their siblings did, so they were most often left to their own devices.

As they grew older, they became closer and closer, needing no one but one another and knowing that their parents were already burdened enough by their siblings.  However, the strange bond they shared, the sheer dint of their twinning, and the fact that they often had chats with 'ghosts' - not to mention the things they learned from those spirits - ensured they would be viewed by the superstitious swamp folk as otherworldly and potentially dangerous.

Still, their abilities to see into the future and the past gave them a unique gift that Sabine eventually decided to capitalize on.  She convinced - some might say dragged along - her sister to join her in telling fortune and selling 'potions' to their neighbors as a means of supplementing the familial coffers.  The community already viewed the girls as witches - or worse - and rumors of them dancing naked in the swamp beneath the full moon, cavorting with demons and riding alligators already circulated, so why not turn the rumors to their advantage?

Mostly they told fortunes, though they also sold bogus potions for cursing one's enemoies or casting a love spell on someone.  Another of Sabine's genius ideas, which Serafina wasn't exactly in love with.  And she was, of course, right.  Because when a boy Serafina'd had her eye on, one who rejected her advances, suddenly took ill and perished mysteriously, it was the potions that really made the community look askance on the twins.

They were in their late teens when the dashing circus ringmaster appeared on the doorstep of the crowded, ramshackle shack in search of the mysterious and potentially mystical DeBlanc twins.  It took hardly any convincing whatsoever for the girls to leave their old life behind to run off to the circus with him.  After all, here was someone who wasn't just saddled with them, but wanted them.  Someone who didn't fear their gifts, but enthused over them.

Thoughts on the Circus: Sabine has come to trust Thomas Malenko nearly as much as she trusts her sister.  He saved them from their dreary lives and gave them something amazing.  He never makes them feel like they are evil or strange, at least not in a bad way, and he is kind to Serafina.  Sabine doesn't entirely understand him, as his past is a riddle to her in ways she has never experienced before, but that's part of the thrill and the allure, isn't it?

(More to come later...)
Personal On|Offs:
Biblio's O&Os (There's a ton not listed here, but I'm pretty open to most things, so feel free to PM me!)

Additional Pictures

[BlueEyedBard]

Always love seeing this game come back 

[Bekah Boo]

Player Name: Bibliophilia
Name: Solas
Age: 327
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Pansexual
Circus Position: Magician
Shadow Teleportation- Solas can travel between areas of darkness within eyesight, flickering from sight within one shadow and reappearing within the next.  In this manner he can travel great distances in a very short amount of time, depending on the presence of visible shadows and how well-rested he is.

Shade Manipulation- Any shade cast within a twenty foot radius of Solas can be brought under his impressive will.  Using this, he can increase the darkness in a room, draw the shadows closer to him or even form tangible tendrils of inky lightlessness that, while they lack significant strength, can move small objects and physically interact with other living beings.

Invisibility- In the same manner that shadows disappear when the light strikes them, Solas is invisible in areas of strong light.  When he steps into the shadows, he once more takes on visible form, but when moving through well-lit areas he loses all perceivable definition.  The intensity of the light dictates how tangible he appears, so in bright daylight he is almost impossible to perceive, but in more dimly lit rooms or as the sun rises or wanes, he takes on more of a ghostly translucence.  This is why he generally wears his plague doctor attire when moving through the carnival...no one gets a free show.

Personality:  Solas is a surprisingly gregarious, good-natured, witty young man who enjoys playing harmless pranks and often teases his fellow Carnies.  He loves to interact with the general public, and will often spend the time when he's not performing roaming the circus grounds and entertaining the attendees.  His pranks, however, can turn dark and terrifying when he witnesses injustice, cruelty or some other character flaw in one of the marks.  He has been known to arrange for them to 'get their just desserts' in ways which could never be linked back to himself or the circus.
Background History: Solas was once a normal, young, Romani boy who was raised in Hungary amid a close-knit, necessarily-nomadic tribe.  He had loving parents, many siblings and a large, devoted extended family who moved about from village to village, making their living by any means necessary.  Mostly this meant setting up camp in nearby fields and attracting custom from locals who were always eager to visit for their fortunes, magics or sex.  These visits always happened after the sun set, and when it rose again those same villagers would be quick to run the Romani out of town with threat of violence.

Their lives weren't easy, and they had little to no official recourse to turn to when the threats of violence turned to action.  Usually this just meant that a few of the men from the camp experienced beatings from the gadjo men, but sometimes things got well out of hand.  One such an incident led to the brutalizing and murder of Solas' youngest sister when he was in his early twenties.  By that time he was married, and his young wife was expecting their first child (a boy, his grandmother had assured).  A wealthy landowner who had agreed to let the Romani temporarily camp in one of his fields had taken a shine to the girl after seeing her briefly during her father's meetings with him.

Upon finding her battered body dumped like so much garbage outside their camp, Solas and several of his brothers took up arms and headed for the man's home to enact justice for their sister.  As his brothers took on the building from the front, drawing the attention of the man's staff and keeping their focus there, Solas slipped in through the back and moved through the house silently in search of its master.  Unsurprisingly, the man was hiding in his bedchamber while he allowed his servants to defend him outside.  The two fought, with Solas' youth and determination almost equally matched by the older man's training with weapons.  Trading almost blow for blow with their blades, Solas' a short dagger while the other man wielded a rapier, by the end of things they were both exhausted, bloodied and barely able to go on.  But, Solas was able to seize upon a mistake made by his opponent due to flagging energy, and in a burst of bitter rage, captured him and disarmed him.

He forced the man through his home and outside where his staff and, more importantly, Solas' brothers could watch as Solas forced the man to confess his crimes against their sister, then slit his throat from ear to ear.  His vengeance enacted, Solas collapsed atop the body and was carried back to the camp by his brothers, who had all managed to muddle through with only minor injuries.  The man hadn't been any less barbaric to his servants, and the brothers hadn't wanted to cause any real harm to them, given their innocence in things.

That night the Romani moved on, knowing that the authorities would not accept their actions as the justice they deserved.  As they traveled, Solas sank into an ever-deepening coma, hanging onto life by the thinnest thread and drawing nearer to death with each moment.  His grandmother, however, was a woman well-versed in the dark arts and with a deep connection to the afterlife, and she refused to allow her favorite grandson to pass on without a fight.  Several weeks later, Solas finally woke from dreams that he couldn't recall, but which he knew were terrifying and bleak.  Upon waking, he found himself in a dark carriage, laid out upon a mat of blankets and without so much as a scar left over from the fight.

He climbed out of the heavily-covered carriage into blinding daylight, which brought a cry from his lips and forced him to shut his eyes against the brightness.  Cries went up around him from the other Romani, and soon he was surrounded by family, some expressing relief that he had finally returned to them and others seemingly uneasy.  He soon discovered why there were those whose eyes turned to him with suspicion and fear, as he raised one hand to try and shade his eyes as they opened...only to find his hand nearly as transparent as glass.  Terror settled like a cold shroud on his heart, but his grandmother soon arrived and prodded him back into the darkened carriage so that she could explain things to him.

Solas had come as near to true death as anyone she had ever healed, and the only way to save him was to transform him from a living, breathing man into a Shade.  Everything he was before was still there, except he straddled the line between life and death, with a form that no longer adhered to the laws of man.  She had no idea what this transformation entailed, beyond the fact that he lost substance in the light and would likely never truly die.  In an effort to save him, his grandmother had denied him the comforts of heaven and the horrors of hell, forcing him to walk the earth forever as those he loved died all around him.

Burdened with the knowledge that he would never sire any more children, and would one day watch as every member of his family passed away, he fell into a deep depression.  It was only the birth of his son that drew him from the dark pit that his new unlife had cast him into.  Gazing down at the face of his newborn in the dim room where his wife had just given birth, he realized that it was worth an eternity as a shadow to watch his boy grow up.  From then on, he pretty much returned to his life as it had been, except now he spent quite a bit of time training himself to use the powers he had acquired.  They came in handy dazzling the gadjo, and also served him well when that sense of righteous anger came over him for the injustices his people endured at their hands.

Eventually, of course, his family passed, and while he lived among his people, watching generation after generation being born and his family surviving, he began to hate the pain of watching his loved ones die.  And, the feeling of being different, no matter how accepting they all were of him.  So, when a mysterious man visited the Romani one evening and offered him a chance to live among those who were just as strange and fantastical as himself - if not moreso -, and to make a new family that could live with him for centuries, he agreed.
Thoughts on the Circus: He's grateful to Thomas for giving him a place to belong again, and a family where he isn't the freak.  They're all oddities living, or not, together and making their way in the world.
Personal On|Offs:
Ons: Solas is fairly adventurous, and he likes exploring how his powers and the powers of his partner can be employed during sex.  Generally, most things are good, as long as they're not in his offs.
Offs: Vore, Gore (Like, real gore, not circus gore), Scat, Infantilism, Hardcore S&M, Non-Con

Additional pictures |Information:

[Bekah Boo]

Just a quick a clarification!

The time period for this game is set in the early 50's for everyone outside the circus, while the circus itself has a more timeless, turn of the century feel to it. So please be aware when creating characters and their histories to coincide with this ;3

[TheBlackThrone]

I will give this a shot at submitting a CS. My time period is GMT+1. Most Americans are in bed when I am online, and then I am in bed when they are online, therefore, I usually do not join discord groups (at least for the time I am stationed in Europe).

This concept greatly reminds me of the movie "Big Fish."

[Bekah Boo]

I will give this a shot at submitting a CS. My time period is GMT+1. Most Americans are in bed when I am online, and then I am in bed when they are online, therefore, I usually do not join discord groups (at least for the time I am stationed in Europe).

This concept greatly reminds me of the movie "Big Fish."

Heh I can see that, Big Fish is an wonderful movie.

No worries this game is more so sandboxy with struggles happening every so often coming up, whether because of the locals and what not.

[Bibliophilia]

-settles in and waves to everyone.-

[Elven Sex Goddess]

Player Name: Elven Sex Goddess
Name: Halloweena
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Bi-sexual
Circus Position: Clown
Talent-Slapstick comedy-knock about foolery with props and myriad of monkeyshine shenanigans.  Examples of such is Charlie Chaplin,  Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and of course the Three Stooges.

Talent-Artistic gymnastics-was a collegian gymnast.  She now incorporates her artistic gymnastics into her slapstick routines. This sport has several disciplines, the vault,  balance beam, uneven bars and floor routines.  All of which she uses and twists into slapstick humor.   Everyone loves a fail.     

Talent-7" tongue-not so much a talent, but a physical trait of having a seven-inch tongue in which she can take and touch the bridge of her nose with the tip of her tongue.

Personality: Halloweena is a vibrant and playful around others, both peers and civilians.  If haven't noticed by now, with either her name or choice colors.  She is a big fan of Halloween.  Her artistic gymnastics background gives her a sexual allure even with all the slapstick comedy and her makeup and costume. 
Background History: Madeline Angelique Dolton is Halloweena's real name.   Ever since she was a young girl she loved Halloween.  The ability to dress up and do make believe.   Even at a young age she was into being jester like performances.  Who knew not her real mother who had died giving birth to her as a premature baby.  That was on the small side.   She survived the premature birth.  However with no father.   baby Madeline is raised in a orphanage. 

Aloof in the orphanage, a girl that future generations would call a goth.  Now merely a strange young girl.  However, she also was a jock, into artistic gymnastics.  Madeline would gain a full scholarship to Tulane college for gymnastics.   Where she would attend until her junior year.   You see she has always been sort of a freak with her extraordinary long tongue that is now 7" long.   Being young and getting caught in the allure of the French Quarter of New Orleans.    For Madeline took a job at the Mardi Gras Lounge on Bourbon Street, as a cigarette girl.   Not even one of the dancers of the burlesque show that the lounge offered with the burlesque dancers. A prominent club of the French Quarter during the 1950s.  So between her strange demeanor, her freakish tongue.   Madeline is kicked from the college for decadent exhibition, for being part of the lounge.    Even through she was not a dancer.   

When the circus comes to town.  Most notable Thomas Malenko's Travelling Menagerie!  Madeline would get the inspiration to join and would seek out the ringmaster Thomas.    She would take a stage name.   Just as she has learned the dancers of the burlesque club did.   As they would have stage names. So her clown persona, she assumes the name of Halloweena.  With her artistic ymnastics background she would incorporate a slapstick humor.   Add in her natural freakish long tongue, she  is accepted into the circus.

Her clown costume is or was one of the burlesque dancers costumes.   That which she would borrow.  Well in truth she took it,  or if you want to get technical she stole it. Which the costume taken is a vintage burlesque costume from the turn of the century. 

Thoughts on the Ringleader: Thomas genial caring nature he exhibits towards everyone with the circus.   Has won Halloweena over, there is nothing she would not do for Thomas.    The circus is her family,  a family she never truly had while growing up in numerous foster homes.   
Personal On|Offs:

Additional pictures |Information:

Madeline is for all practical purposes Halloweena twenty-four/seven.  Her brown eyes seem orange, a trait that helps fit her Halloween clown persona of Halloweena.  Her skin is extremely pale.  As if she had never seen the sun.  Whether this is a mutation or another cause is not known.  She has not changed her name legally, but she goes by only Halloweena since joining the circus.  She is a curvy petite woman,  however her costume has 8" platform boots,  so she stands 5'9".    With practice, she has developed to be able to perform in those boots with her slapstick artistic gymnastics.   

[BlueEyedBard]

Player Name: Blueeyedbard
Name: François Arouet...or just “Franc”
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Pansexual
Circus Position: Daredevil
Calculator- You don't survive this long trying to survive death without having some things figured out. In spite of the way he comes off as nothing short of stupid, Franc was always a great student and especially found mathematics came very easy to him. He has a skill for making quick calculations in his head; from the velocity of the fall from the top of that tree, or the angle he needs to be fired out of that cannon. He is known for making quick calculations and adjustments on the spot.

Stunt Man- Having all the numbers figured out is helpful, but knowing what you are doing is important too. Franc spent a lot of time training himself on how to move, how to fall, how to breathe. Every little thing matters, every single second, and while that may scare some stiff, Franc finds knowing exactly when to tuck and roll, exactly how to separate himself from the moment of death, to be incredibly exhilarating.

Luck- Smart, agile, competent, precise are all good qualities when attempting to do very stupid things. But when it comes down to it, no amount of planning or preparation can quite hold up to dumb luck. A quality that Franc seems to have in spades. Somehow every jump, and every fall, he walks away unhurt. After every explosion, he walked away unburned. Planned, unplanned, even blindfolded. Some even said that he had offended the Reaper, and that Death wanted nothing to do with him now.

Personality: Franc can come off as a bit of a dork, or a goof, with a rather carefree attitude and a silly smile on his face. He doesn't take many things too seriously and about the only time he doesn't appear to be in a good mood, is when he appears to be figuring out what gasp inspiring stunt he was going to pull off next.

Not used to being close to anyone, especially a family, Franc can sometimes seem hesitant to participate in group practices geared toward a more nurturing or caring idea. An inner conflict that he has always dealt with where he views himself as being more weird, or more crazy than anyone, including the others in the circus. As such, he really doesn't see anyone in the circus as much different than anyone else in the world, aside from the fact that they are strangely accepting of him.

Background History: Born François Arouet, in a dingy little, ground floor apartment, in the southern part of Paris. The unplanned child of Maurice and Anastasia Arouet, a professional gambler, and a high class prostitute. Franc spent most of his time fending for himself when it came to keeping himself fed, and bathed, and even going to school most days. Though he did always have trouble with his attention span when it came to his classes. He was a good student and picked up lessons rather quickly. But he always found more interest figuring out how to shimmy up the side of the building to retrieve a ball from the roof of the school.

A professional might have said that the boy's habit for climbing to potentially dangerous heights, was a cry for attention. But he never saw a professional… he did however get plenty of attention, every time he would climb a lamp post to jump onto a moving bus, or jump off the same bus to dive off a bridge into the Seine.
It wasn't until he was a teenager that he finally got some of the attention he had likely craved as a child. It had been a particularly fortuitous day at the track when Maurice came home already drunk and wanting to celebrate. With his wife out working, it ended up that sixteen year old Franc was the only one around to go out on the town with.

Drinking, laughing, dancing, the father and son probably spent more quality time together that night than they had in the last sixteen years combined. But the evening really hit its climax when the two got in some silly forgotten argument and Franc took a bet from his father that he couldn't climb across one of the arches of the Eiffel Tower. A bet that Franc was more than ready to gamble twenty francs, and his life on.
Scaling one of the legs had been the easy part. The tough part was shimmying across the arch to the other leg. He happened to look down when he was halfway across, where he noticed his father on the ground taking more bets on whether he would make it or not. It was in that moment that Franc realized he could make his own living without his parents, doing exactly what he had enjoyed doing his whole life, and there was no way for his father to talk him out of it when the police that arrested the two of them let Franc go free after just an hour, for being a juvenile.

That next morning Franc raided his father's gambling tin and headed out on his own. First he traveled to London where he continued to climb tall structures for people's amusement, and money. When that started getting stale he began figuring out how to then jump off those places, to the delight of onlookers and irritation of local law enforcement. Who really made it clear that he was wearing out his welcome, when he scaled the side of Big Ben and hung a flower that a girl below had given him, on the minute hand.
Fortunately there was someone out there that appreciated his need to stare death in the face for people's entertainment, and those people were Hollywood. As soon as he got out of jail again he got the next ship to America, and made his way to his new career as a movie stuntman.

One thing he quickly learned about America was that they were much more appreciative of his near suicidal tendencies. The studio taught him to drive, and trained him how to take every fall, dive, and crash in a way that would keep him falling and crashing without the expense of his life. But while Hollywood life was entertaining, Franc quickly got bored of doing the same movie stunts over and over again and soon he was back on the road to find more insanity for his insatiable survivor lust.
He leapt from the Golden Gate Bridge, he jumped the Grand Canyon on a motorbike, he even climbed the side of the Empire State Building.

There was one time he met a man that he thought was more strange than him, who introduced himself as Thomas Malenko.
He was on a plane that he intended to jump out of, sitting next to the strange man who said he had been looking for Franc for some time now; having just missed him when he got to the 99th floor of the ESB and passed by the window he was at, and again when he drove a motorcycle along the roof of a train car he was in. This man told him of a show where he could perform his death defying stunts to his heart's content, and with all the resources he needed to keep pushing the bar.
Franc was unsure about the offer by the time he had to jump, and before he could sign the contract he was out the plane door and free falling through the open sky.
What changed his mind was when he looked up to find himself face to face with the falling ringleader, still wearing that big grin, and clutching a contract and pen in front of him. Without even another thought, Franc signed the paper, and at the same time Tom opened his parachute, Franc opened his arms for the wind to catch his homemade squirrel suit.

Thoughts on the Ringleader: Franc sees Thomas as by far, the oddest man he has ever met. From the way he acts, to the stories he tells, to the friends he keeps, himself included. But he still trusts the man more than anyone he has ever met, even if he doesn't really know why. But one thing he does know is that, since meeting Thomas Malenko, he has not been bored a single day in his life.

Personal On|Offs: Same as player

Additional pictures |Information:

[Bekah Boo]

Awesome characters so far ;3

I am aiming to start the IC at latest by Monday, so there is still plenty of room for people to join :3

[xPeachyPuff]

Ahhhhhhh, I really shouldn't but I have inspiration for a character. I'm working on it slowly: A Contortionist/Aerial Hoop performer who is know as 'The Dove' and performs within an oversized birdcage. Look here for scene inspiration & here for character inspiration.

[Bekah Boo]

Ahhhhhhh, I really shouldn't but I have inspiration for a character. I'm working on it slowly: A Contortionist/Aerial Hoop performer who is know as 'The Dove' and performs within an oversized birdcage. Look here for scene inspiration & here for character inspiration.

Yay Peachy!
I love that idea so we'd love to see her aboard ;3
No rush at all dear, please take all the time you need.

[TheBlackThrone]

Player Name: TheBlackThrone
Name: Jingles, formerly Waylon McCormick.
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Pansexual
Circus Position: Clown
Clown Magic- There have been many who have been shocked and amazed by the magic of clowns. The old pulling an endless rope of handkerchiefs out of the pocket trick. Creating almost anything out of balloons. The gags have been seen multiple times, but not many could discern a trick from magic and vice versa. A clown never shares their secrets.

Clown Physiology- Jingles can do some crazy things and make it all look like one big joke. A person shaking his hand until his hand comes off, and then he surprises them by having a new one. Someone pulling on his arm until it stretches and snaps the puller back to where they started. He only seems to demonstrate these tricks when he believes them to be amusing. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Hilarity-Jingles receives a great deal of satisfaction from making others smile and laugh. He could even be feeding off of it. However, laughing can be infectious. If he wanted to, he could make those already tickled with humor laugh until they cry, suffocate, other bodily mishaps, and die. He has yet to cause someone to die laughing because it would be a waste. He would rather keep people alive to continue to laugh at his gags.

Personality: Jingles is soft-spoken, which some may find to be unusual for clowns are usually loud and energetic. His quiet-clown behavior is what makes his acts amusing. He doesn’t need to say anything. People watch and figure out the amusing story all on their own. The clown juggles, rides a unicycle, and even drives a tiny car. No one has ever seen Jingles’ actual face. If they were to remove his mask, there would probably be another beneath it. To the rest of the circus, he is Jingles and nothing more. He doesn’t believe he is mysterious, but others may think so. When he is conversing with others, don’t be surprised if there are some puns thrown in, sarcasm, or a joke. Jingles can hardly be taken seriously.

The clown is of course silly, but he is also fearless. He isn’t afraid of frightening brutes, and rather sees them as an opportunity to make an amusing skit. Anyone could become a part of his performances. Jingles should be accepted for who he is. Those who try to pry into his life will find their prying ignored. What matters is the here and now. He is funny, approachable, and when someone is down, they can always have their spirits picked up by him. Some secrets were never meant to be uncovered.

Background History: Waylon McCormick was a simple boy born on a farm south of Jackson, Mississippi. He was a typical southern boy who wore overalls, played outside with no shoes on, and smoked a corn pipe when his parents weren’t looking. He was born into a generation of farmers, and his life was already pre-destined. Waylon, Jessup, David, Maryanne, and Bella were all going to be farmers for life. Waylon had already assimilated to that mindset until he went to his first circus.

It was a small group with lions, elephants, and all types of performers. The McCormick children weren’t allowed to go to the circus because it cost money and money was tight. Waylon was a mischievous boy who felt the tempting arousal of his curiosity. Every night after dinner, Waylon would sneak out of the house and race through the cotton fields over to the large circus tent. Every night, he would lift the tent’s skirts and peek inside; and every night, he was amazed at the trapeze artists flipping through the air, the brave lion tamer, and the silly clowns that bumbled about. It wasn’t until one night, he heard the voice of an adult over his shoulder. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and when he ducked out from under the tent’s skirts, he came face-to-face with a white face with painted dark circles about his eyes. The man was crouched with his hands resting on his knees, and slowly he rose to his feet towering over the terrified boy. Waylon would swear to this day that was the fastest he had ever run home in his life. He dove into his bed and hid beneath the covers, and every night he went to bed, he imagined that creepy clown standing outside his bedroom window. Waylon didn’t go back to the circus, and the circus left town, leaving behind its scar.

His family had noticed he was on edge all the time. He didn’t like to be surprised or snuck up on, which his siblings did out of amusement. The following year, the circus returned. Waylon had become tired of being scared and harassed by his siblings because of it. He was determined to face his fear. He rolled up his nonexistent sleeves and spat in the dirt like he had seen tough guys do in town before they threw fists. Waylon marched back to the circus, and this time, he wasn’t afraid of being caught. He returned to his same hiding spot and ducked under the tent’s skirts. He got away with it for a few nights until one night, he heard the same voice he had heard last year. Waylon came out of his hiding spot with his fists raised. He was determined to fight!

The tall clown recognized him and the red paint that covered his lips stretched into an amused smile. He raised his own fists, revolving them in a comical manner, and the two went at it. Waylon never laid a hand on the clown that danced around his swings, and the clown purposefully missed the boy. It was when Waylon was worn out, bent over with his hands on his knees that the clown asked him his name and why he wanted to fight him. Waylon explained that he had scared him to death last year, and again, the clown laughed to Waylon’s irritation. The clown apologized and caught Waylon off-guard with an offered handshake. He said his name was Frederick Tillman, and his stage name was Jingles. Waylon hadn’t expected to make a friend that night, and the following nights after, he would meet with Jingles, and Jingles would show him some clown tricks. He started teaching Waylon how to juggle and Waylon practiced while Jingles was away touring the rest of the United States.

The McCormicks noticed Waylon spending more time juggling things than doing his farm chores and became cross. They scolded him and gave him a whooping when he talked back. It was then Waylon realized that the homestead life was something he was being forced into, and he had no say to live differently. He was depressed for the remainder of that year. When the circus came around again, he went to visit Jingles and explained to the clown how he wasn’t allowed to learn clown tricks anymore, and how he was to spend the rest of his life on the farm. Jingles asked Waylon if he wanted to join the circus. He regaled the boy with stories of seeing the world and making people laugh and smile. Waylon was intrigued but he regretfully had to refuse the clown’s offer knowing that his family would never approve it. Jingles then asked if his family didn’t exist, how much would he give to join the circus? Waylon enthusiastically replied anything. Jingles held out his hand to the boy, and Waylon reactively took it. In an instant, the circus was gone.

The boy stood in an open dark field with nothing but brush around him. Waylon returned home, and the next day, he drove his parents insane. He didn’t do his chores. He juggled, cartwheeled, and played around the house as Mr. Waylon chased him around with a belt. He was insubordinate, but he was happy. His father in a fit told the boy that he disowned him, while his mother fell to her knees in tears. Waylon laughed and went to play around the laborers in the fields. He asked them what they thought of the plantation, and one servant blatantly said that he wished it would all burn down due to them being overworked with little pay. Waylon thought about what the laborer had said, and then one night, the house was on fire. It spread to the cotton fields and barn. The Waylon family and the animals unable to escape perished in the blaze. When the fire department arrived, they found a boy standing in front of the burning house, juggling. They rescued the boy and had to rely on a family friend to identify him. The family friend barely recognized the boy, but identified him to be Waylon McCormick.

The police were unable to figure out what or who had started the fire. Waylon was seen by a child psychiatrist and the psychiatrist believed his mind was suppressing the shock that he had lost his entire family, when the boy didn’t care. They enrolled him at the Jackson Child Psychotic Clinic, and he didn’t stay there long. Waylon had done what the clinic believed to be impossible and had somehow escaped them. He was never seen again because Waylon no longer went by his name. Waylon was now Jingles.

As Jingles, he wore a mask and travelled the United States, appearing at festivals and parades. He made people laugh and smile. He shocked and awed them with his goofy, impossible tricks. His acts drew the attention of a curious man who owned his very own circus. Mr. Malenko offered him the opportunity to leave the United States and travel the world as Jingles desired. Jingles accepted and has since travelled with all the other oddities.

Thoughts on the Ringleader: Thomas Malenko has given him an opportunity to travel the world and make people laugh and smile. Jingles is in his happy place. It cannot be determined if the other performers are truly his family or participants in one big joke. Regardless, the clown is at home, and he will counter any threats that dare ruin it.

Personal On|Offs: O/O

Additional pictures |Information:

[Bekah Boo]

Great characters all of you ;3

I am working on the various threads but I plan on having things up and running by Wednesday, the recruitment thread however will remain open as we will always be accepting new players.

[Bekah Boo]

Welp so Wednesday didn't happen, I've had a few things throw a wrench into my plans. I have most of the threads mostly finished that should be done after I get home from work tomorrow, so I'm shooting for then to have them up. Thank you guys for being so patient and I promise it'll be worth it ;3

[Bekah Boo]

Threads are officially up!
Feel free to hop in and take a look, the first post has all the links needed.
Just because we've started doesn't mean the recruitment is closed however, so feel free to join ;3

The start of the game will be the held in the tents and outside the big top itself, as I will create a post to officially start the show in the main tent tomorrow.