(no subject)

[3nanashi]

It's late afternoon. The first show is at 6:00 -- 1800, Trowa still thinks of it really, but the translation is easy -- and most of the circus is making early dinners or otherwise enjoying the downtime before they have to get ready.

Trowa opens the door from Milliways into the trailer he shares with Cathy, and lets X follow him through.

It's a narrow room, combining kitchen and common room in a compact and tidy package, with doors to Trowa's room, Cathy's, and the bathroom. (And, behind them, to the outside.) It's all lived-in, in an impeccably tidy way.

Comments

[3nanashi]

A few more tricks, and then five tidy steps backward take him to the far platform. He doesn't need to look back to step onto it with assurance; he got a look before he landed the last one, and in any case he could cross this wire blindfolded by now. (And has.) He's still breathing easily. This is much easier than a full routine, and between shows and practice sessions he does those multiple times a day.

X gets a glance. Does she want to try some more?

[cutting_edgex23]

X meets Trowa's look, then steps back out onto the wire.

Nodding would be superfluous.

A few steps takes her away from the platform -- and she mimics the initial distance Trowa maintained before starting his series of maneuvers.

It seems like a sensible precaution.

She holds herself very still for one breath, two, and then launches the flip.

Her landing is wobbly, and she holds her arms out sharply (and awkwardly) for balance, brow furrowing.

It stays that way through the next flip, and the next --

But not the one after that.

Huh.

[3nanashi]

Trowa gives her time to work through it.

It takes some trial and error to get the feel for it. And she doesn't need any help.

(Plus, he's a sucky teacher. Although X is the kind of student he does best with: already good at the subject.)

[cutting_edgex23]

X works through a few more, until she has the feeling down.

There's something significantly more relaxed about her shoulders afterward -- and the set of the rest of her body, as well.

Even if she is not smiling.

It is comfortable to do the things you are good at.

Especially when it does not involve killing anyone.

[3nanashi]

Yeah.

It is.

(Maybe some other time she can try the high wire, if she wants. And if the ringmaster okays it.

Or if the ringmaster isn't looking. Whatever.)

With most people he wouldn't do this, but X has the right kind of experimental mindset, and has the basics down. He sets a foot lightly on the wire, gives her a moment to adjust to the feel, and then steps onto it.

[cutting_edgex23]

There's a flicker of startlement in her expression, but it doesn't last.

She gets focused, instead. And she does not bother to hide it.

The slight tilt of her head, once her balance has been regained, asks 'what next?'

It's a genuine question.

[3nanashi]

Trowa doesn't shrug, mostly because he doesn't need to.

It's a different challenge to maintain your balance with another variable added. That's all.

If she wants to try a flip again, or to stay on the wire while he does, they can do that. (This is communicated by infinitesimal shifts of the head and eyes. Friendship with Cass and X has not helped Trowa's tendency to neglect to use his words.) Otherwise, it's pretty much more of the same until she wants to move on.

He figures that there's no real reason to branch out into double tricks. Especially since that's harder to teach solo, and there's no performance goal for it.

[cutting_edgex23]

There's a momentary flicker in the set of X's body as she thinks over the offer.

Then she tilts her chin at Trowa. Fractionally.

He can go first. So she will know what to compensate for.

Better than she does now, anyway.

[3nanashi]

He can do that.

He keeps it simple -- just one flip, not too high, and the landing as light as he can make it -- and sets himself more deliberately than usual before he jumps, to telegraph it clearly.

It's still going to shake the tightrope some, of course.

[cutting_edgex23]

X wobbles left, wobbles right --

And fails to fall off the line.

The slight frown line between her brows shows up again, lingers, and then vanishes.

She meets Trowa's eye and nods. Once.

And then -- careful, methodical, and frighteningly efficient -- X executes a matching flip of her own.

[3nanashi]

Trowa bends his knees, sinking into the wobbling wire. He's got enough practice to make this look effortless, or as effortless as anything involving such a narrow balance point can be, but he exaggerates his technique just the slightest bit for X. If she's got attention to spare for watching him, it might be of use.

Not that she isn't well on her way already.

When she lands and looks up, Trowa returns the nod.

Well done, X. (She doesn't need his assessment. But it's there.)

[cutting_edgex23]

X was paying as much attention as someone who does aerial acrobatics for a living (in combat) can. Which means she can spare more attention once she lands.

And when Trowa nods --

She doesn't smile.

But then, with him, she probably doesn't need to.

[3nanashi]

Not really. No.

Case in point: he isn't smiling either. (But it's already worth it to have invited her over.)

He tilts his head at her in question, letting the direction of his glance carry the details. More of this, or move on?

[cutting_edgex23]

She gives it a moment of consideration, then flicks her own gaze outward -- away from the wire. A second later she starts making her way back to the platform.

Moving on it is, then.

[3nanashi]

Works for him.

Assuming the mats and the knife-targets don't interest her, they'll move on in a wide circle through the collection of trailers. Off to their right, between the circus's 'backstage' grounds and the parking lot, looms the big top with its stripes and awnings, and its collection of currently-empty vending stands.

They'll get there eventually. In the meantime, Trowa's heading slightly circuitously towards the animal cages, and idly keeping an eye out for a couple of people. But mostly, he's letting X look over the entire area, scenic and less so.

[cutting_edgex23]

Mats and knife-targets -- more brightly painted than the ones she knows, but still -- are old hat.

The animal cages are much less so.

And X has recently come to believe in the value of curiosity.

[3nanashi]

Trowa does not think overmuch on curiosity. (That doesn't mean it's not a frequent factor in his life. Trowa's curiosity is patient, unhurried, and pretty comprehensive.)

The tent containing the cages is in sight, but still several yards away, when a grey-haired woman emerges from her trailer. She has a slight stoop to her shoulders (the only thing marring the upright carriage of an ex-acrobat), and the sort of face that tends to look stern no matter how the person is feeling.

Trowa pauses, waiting for her to spot him in turn.

He doesn't glance at X, because he doesn't need to.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's attention is focused unerringly on the woman -- not that anyone could tell just by checking the direction of her gaze. Not at first, anyway.

But after a few moments she flicks a look between Trowa and the woman. And back again.

There are questions someone else might ask here.

X does not need to. The slight tilt to her head makes them very clear.

[3nanashi]

"Lawan Shinawatra," says Trowa -- conversationally, but pitched for X rather than for the lady in question. She's focused on them now, and is giving Trowa a look of habitually dubious inquiry. Mrs. Shinawatra does not truck with nonsense, and finds it best to make sure everyone remembers this by acting as if she always suspects some time-wasting afoot.

"She handles a lot of the routine administration. The box office is part of that."

Other people also take their turns there, but she rules it with an iron fist.

"Mrs. Shinawatra," he greets her when she's nearer, and takes a few steps closer.

Trowa is capable of politeness, when he wants to bother.

"I've got a friend in town for the day. Can I get two seats?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X stays silent.

She is very good at it.

(And, stories about bodyguards aside, she is not 100% certain who Lawan Shinawatra expects to see. And until she does -- )

[3nanashi]

Mrs. Shinawatra rakes X with a glance -- it's no more dubious than anyone else gets -- and returns the same look to Trowa.

What she sees is someone who's clearly vouched for by Trowa. Private speculation or not, the circus is a tight-knit and insular community, and that's all any of its members will really ask.

"The usual ones, I suppose?" she asks, and Trowa nods. She sniffs. "All right. Names?"

"Duo Maxwell," Trowa says, and Mrs. Shinawatra nods in recognition. "And X."

X gets a slightly more dubious glance, when nothing more is forthcoming.

[cutting_edgex23]

X meets that dubious look with one of her own.

Though her own dubiousness quickly fades back to blank.

But after a second --

"Thank you."

It is only polite.

[3nanashi]

Well, okay says Mrs. Shinawatra's face.

The circus is full of eccentrics. Trowa Barton is one of them. (So, in different ways, is Lawan Shinawatra.) If his friends are too, it's no skin off her nose.

"X it is. Sure."

She jerks a slight nod to Trowa -- it might be acknowledgment, goodbye, or just a reminder that pre-show time is wasting -- and heads off towards the big top.

She has grandchildren to supervise, thank you.

[cutting_edgex23]

X shoots Trowa a quick sideways glance, as if to check that no missteps were made.

It does not feel like there were, but --

He would know best.

[3nanashi]

Nope, that went fine.

Trowa communicates this by making no expression whatsoever. (Okay, Trowa communicates this by returning the glance with placid impassivity, and no more tension than he had a minute ago.)

"I'll show you where to pick them up."

Meanwhile: shall they continue?