House of Freaks

van **Eloise Prentice** di apr 10, 2018 4:01 pm

.CATCH ME IF I FALL.

Her grip around the bar tightened, her eyelids shut and her breath softly rolled over her lips. Complete concentration. Her feet shuffled off the platform, just moments before Eloise swung through the sky. She had yet to open her eyes to start her performance, but for now, she let the wind get acquainted with her hair and her skin, and her hands with the wooden bar. Several butterflies had spread across her stomach, the way they always did when she had just made the jump. The feeling took her back to the backyard of her family home, where she would spend days on end on the swing strapped to the mango tree. For some reason, the supplely swinging from one side to another, gave her the opportunity to clear her mind. That circumstances would have led her to have this repetitive, almost childlike action as an occupation, somehow bent her lips into an ironic grin.

A grin with which she decided that the swinging back and forth had lasted long enough. Once Eloise had picked up enough speed, she lifted her legs and pushed herself up on the bar with just her toes. Once she found her balance, she quickly wrapped her arms around her knees and spun around the bar a few times. When she was back in the position she started from, she theatrically spread her arms and fingers, which seemed tricky, this high above the ground. She swung one of her arms backwards to grab the nearest rope above her and pulled herself up till she was standing. From this angle, the ground was even further away. It didn't necessarily scare her, but the butterflies seemed to have multiplied in her stomach, wildly fluttering around. Her hands gracefully slid back down the ropes and clung to the bar with the insides of her knees. Then she released her arms and spread them again. As for her grand finale, she'd have to turn back upside down and end in an aerial split just beneath the bar. Check.

When her swinging had slowed down, Eloise had climbed back up to lower her ropes and feel the earth under her feat again. She enjoyed the trapeze tremendously, but she couldn't help but let out a sigh of slight relief. Eloise turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. For the past few days, she had been getting up earlier to start her own training schedule. And her training had paid off, every day, slowly but steadily, she managed to master the art of acrobatics a little bit better. 'Morning sunshine,' Eloise greeted in singsong. She hadn't seen who she had the pleasure of starting a conversation with, but it didn't really matter to her. Even though she might have kept her distance the first few days, she had soon realized that her colleagues were the closest thing to a family she might ever have again. 'Have you eaten yet?' she informed about her unidentified co-worker's breakfast, with a bit of a rumbling stomach herself. When she had finished rolling up the ropes, she spun around to see who'd give her an answer.

van **Shizuki Sei** di apr 10, 2018 6:39 pm

Battle is just a dance

Why would anything ever go as planned? She had finished two big exams the day before and today was her first day off in quite a while. As promised she would train at the circus today but of course, she overslept. Just great. In a rush, she left the house, no time for breakfast. Especially since it took her a while to find her clothing which was burrowed under a pile of books and papers. Not just because her room had become a great mess over the past few weeks but also because she couldn't have her mother discovering she had been working. After rushing through the streets of the capital city, she quickly approached the circus. After coming to a stop near the entrance, she panted for a few seconds before standing up straight to check if anyone saw her enter. No one could know, except for the other members of course. Still a little out of breath the girl entered the arena only to see that she was actually a little early thanks to all the rushing. 'Morning sunshine,' a cheerful greeting sounded. A little too cheerful if you asked Shizuki, a morning routine like this one didn't exactly make you a 'sunshine'. Eloise was the only one present and judging form the surroundings, she had been here a while. 'Have you eaten yet?' Shizuki doubted the blonde had actually seen who had entered. Yet her mood was currently bad enough to respond a little agitated. "Does this face seem like it has even SEEN food today?", she asked as she dropped her back of clothing on the ground. The girl let out a sigh before taking a seat on one of the knee-high circus balls which were laying on the side of the arena. This was definitely not her day.

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van **Victoria Qingzhao** vr apr 13, 2018 2:38 pm

First place will get a taste

Four hours of sleep and a terrifying headache. That sure is a way to start off your day, but hey, she couldn't complain. At least she was blessed waking up to sun rays peeking through the soft, white curtains. After some yawning, stretching, washing and more yawning, the young woman was finally able to leave her house in good spirits. Well, 'house' maybe wasn't the best way to describe the place she now called home. She currently lived in one of the bigger wagons. It was easier for her than to wake up in Fire Fountain City everyday and travel all the way to the capital.
It didn't take her long to get to the circus. Confidently, as if she weren't completely hungover, she stepped into the arena. The sound of her high heels clattering against the wooden floor. Or at least, the few pieces of wood that served as a floor. Apparently she was the last one to arrive, even though she probably lived the closest. Typical Victoria. "Good morning, ladies." Her voice echoed through the arena. "Did you have a nice evening?" She wasn't speaking to one of them in particular, she'd see who'd respond.

Masterfully conditioned to obedience
Flattery birthed by unchallenged arrogance

BY MITZI

van **Eloise Prentice** za apr 21, 2018 8:30 pm

.CATCH ME IF I FALL.

Eloise turned at the first few agitated words that were thrown at her to find Shizuki behind her. Her younger colleague wasn't to blame for her morning moodiness in Eloise's opinion, though. That kid worked two jobs and college and still managed to be here before her boss had. Kudos. If their boss hadn't been Victoria, that was. She felt a great deal of sympathy for Shizuki; she knew what it was like to deal with the high expectations fire nation families could set. Eli shrugged and spoke before her shoulders had a chance to come down again. 'Well, I didn't think you had anyway. I know I haven't at least.' Good job on dodging the elephant in the room -Shizuki's mood- that the girl had drawn attention to herself. Eloise knew she wouldn't want to find out what would happen if she confirmed her fellow acrobat looked terribly tired out loud. She frowned as she absently rubbed her empty stomach. 'Want to grab a bite together?' she suggested whilst dropping the bundle of ropes she had neatly folded up.

Before she could get a chance of a proper answer, her ears were filled with the all the while familiar sound of Victoria's heels tapping against the floorboards. Eloise didn't need the verification of her voice to know the current owner of the circus had arrived. It was always a little bit difficult for her to not see Victoria with a deck of cards in her hands and a sinister look in her eyes, the way she had appeared in some of Eloise's nightmares when she had lost all her money to her. Even though that was in a previous life, and Victoria had now won her trust and respect, Eloise had to tuck that image of her boss in a far away area in her brain before she could report back and a cheerful ''morning,' smoothly rolled over her lips. Another job well done, right? Miss Qingzhao asked the girls in front of her how their evening had been. Eloise couldn't help it: she flinched. Even though she had gone to bed early, she had awoken at four. Like Victoria, she didn't have many other places to go, and she slept in one of the wagons. Let's just say the walls weren't exactly soundproof. She could've heard if Victoria had done so much as turn in her bed, let alone drunkenly stumble towards it. She thought it best not to mention that right now, though. 'Evening? I went to bed at like noon,' she joked about her new lifestyle. 'We were just discussing breakfast.' With her signature, million-dollar smile, she inconspicuously chatted them away from elephant in the room number two. Now all the needed was a few clowns and a way to make those elephants a little less metaphorical and a little more acrobatical, and their circus would be a complete showstopper.

van **Shizuki Sei** wo apr 25, 2018 6:05 pm

Battle is just a dance

'Well, I didn't think you had anyway. I know I haven't at least.', the woman said whilst shrugging. Turns out she wasn't the only one that hadn't eaten yet. A frown appeared on Eloise' face before she came with a suggestion that sounded like music in Shizuki's ears. 'Want to grab a bite together?' She didn't need a second to think about it. Food, now, please. The black haired girl sat up straight but before she could answer, a familiar sound entered the arena. The tapping of Victoria's heels on the wooden floor. The girl rolled in a way that her back was now touching the ball and her body, except for her lower legs, was in a horizontal line. She bended her neck so her head would come closer to her shoulders and she could watch what happened behind her. Upside down of course. "Good morning, ladies." Quite cheerful, just like the response Eloise gave. 'Morning,' Shizuki managed to murmur something that sounded somewhat like a greeting. She had known Victoria for a long time, the woman used to live nearby before she got her hands on this circus. That was the way she ended up with this quite peculiar job. "Did you have a nice evening?" The question was obviously not directed to any of the two in particular. 'Evening? I went to bed at like noon,' said Eloise jokingly. Would make sense since the blonde seemed to have been here for a while. 'We were just discussing breakfast.' A tiny sparkle appeared in Shizuki's eyes. She nodded determinedly, followed by a somewhat begging gaze at Victoria. Her eyes were asking 'could we please eat something first?' A look that Victoria had probably seen a couple of times before.

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van **Victoria Qingzhao** di mei 29, 2018 1:12 pm

First place will get a taste

The dark haired woman chuckled when she heard Eloise's answer. There was definitely a whole lot she could learn from her blonde colleague. Maybe a less 'extravagant' lifestyle would leave her with more energy to spend while working with the circus. Going to bed a little earlier sure was one of her goals. One of the goals she'd eventually try to achieve, of course.
With her next suggestion, Eloise now had her complete attention. An elaborate breakfast seemed to be a great cure for het little hangover. After grabbing a bite together the three of them would be able to give it their best shot during the training. "That sounds like a great idea." She answered with a smile, giving their youngest member a little wink. Of course she noticed the hungry and slightly desperate look on her face. "And where would my ladies like to go today? Any suggestions?" She didn't really had a preference today, and beside that, her colleagues had a great taste in food.

Masterfully conditioned to obedience
Flattery birthed by unchallenged arrogance

BY MITZI

van **Eloise Prentice** di mei 29, 2018 8:00 pm

.CATCH ME IF I FALL.

Breakfast appeared to be the right subject to resolve all the tiny issues that could potentially throw a spanner in the works. It would probably lift Shizuki’s mood, lead the attention away from Victoria’s nocturnal adventures and -most importantly- put an end to the growling of her stomach. Although it wasn’t very surprising that food turned out to be the solution to everything, it was a fortunate coincidence that was the conclusion. After she’d filled Victoria in on Shi and her had been discussing, Eloise shot a glance at the girl that had positioned herself on the balance ball. A chuckle escaped her lips as she spotted the twinkle in her imploring eyes. Shizuki reminded her of a puppy, although she couldn’t recall she’d ever seen a puppy in a slightly grumpy state. Eloise nervously awaited Victoria’s opinion, because if their boss blew it off, they could wave goodbye to Operation Breakfast. Fortunately Qingzhao approved of their mission, resulting in the reappearance of a big smile on El’s face. ‘And where would my ladies like to go today? Any suggestions?’

Eloise turned on her heels to face Shizuki. ’You’re more of a local than I am,’ she grinned in encouragement. ’Your call.’ Hopefully she’d make her day by passing this on to her. Besides, it was true what she’d said; Shizuki probably knew the Capital better than she did, given Eloise hadn’t even explored the city once since she had arrived a few months ago. In preparation of Shi’s decision she grabbed her coat from a seat she had draped it over to cover up her slightly revealing training wear. As she untucked her hair from the back of her jacket, her stomach filled up with something else than appetite. Excitement. A trip! Because the women she was surrounded with might have been her colleagues, but the were family to her too.

van **Shizuki Sei** di mei 29, 2018 8:32 pm

Battle is just a dance

"That sounds like a great idea." Shizuki stuck her arms up in the air as a nearly instinctive response. Yay, food! "And where would my ladies like to go today? Any suggestions?" Just at the moment the black haired girl wanted to shrug, Eloise turned towards her. ’You’re more of a local than I am,’ the woman began. Well, that was true but where was this going? Shizuki moved in a way that made the ball roll in the manner in which she could lock eyes with Eloise. ’Your call.’ Heh? The girl rolled her back over the ball again, this time in a way she ended up sitting on it. Quickly her eyes darted towards Victoria before the turned back to Eloise. "I honestly cannot remember eating out, don't think I ever did, so I can show you places but I can't guarantee that the food is actually good." A weird smile, showing that if they let her pick they might as well end up with bad food, appeared on her face. And honestly, she just wanted some good food. Having Victoria pick where they were going to eat would probably be a better choice. As she saw Eloise getting ready, Shizuki grabbed her bag again and threw it towards the edge of the arena. She was still wearing her casual clothes after all and in the bag was only her costume and some props.

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