(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.

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[3nanashi]

Trowa opts for the older of the males. He's the most easygoing, and the most open to meeting new people -- he was the first Trowa greeted, years ago, when he was still in his prime -- and besides that, he's in a drowsy friendly mood.

He reaches through the bars, offering his hand. The lion studies them both, and then pushes to his feet with a rumbling sigh. He pads over the couple of steps the cage allows, and shoves his great heavy-maned head into Trowa's palm to have his ears scratched.

He's still keeping an eye on X, but he lets his eyes half-close in pleasure anyway.

(His name is Reggie, for the record. But it's not a name that means anything to the lion, so Trowa only uses it when other humans want a label.)

[cutting_edgex23]

X slips closer by inches, though she does not reach out to touch.

Her breath remains perfectly even, and her scent entirely fails to change.

She is also careful, however, not to make too much eye contact. Or stare.

It is only polite.

[3nanashi]

Trowa's assessment of X as sensible keeps being confirmed.

Reggie blinks slowly at X, and butts his head a little more firmly into Trowa's hand. (A lion can headbutt pretty firmly, even being friendly, but Trowa's used to this.)

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not laugh, but something in her face brightens -- just a little.

And a few moments later she flicks a quick sideways look at Trowa.

It's a questioning sort of look.

Is this particular lion inclined to bite her hand off?

(Not that this really matters to X, but it would likely be unpleasant for some people, and explaining why she's missing a limb would be -- problematic. For Trowa. As regeneration on that scale is not a fast-paced process. Comparatively.)

[3nanashi]

Trowa regards her back for a moment, considering. (Considering Reggie, more than X. His mood matters a lot more.)

And then nods slightly in invitation.

X, as stated, is sensible.

He leaves his hand on Reggie's head, of course.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's approach is deliberate, as is the movement of her hand as she reaches out to brush against Reggie --

Near to Trowa's hand, of course.

It seems safest.

And once that is done she steps back, smooth and neat.

And, perhaps, smiling a very little.

Not that Reggie or Trowa are likely to tell anyone.

[3nanashi]

Reggie snorts a little at the touch, but puts up with it placidly enough.

X seems like a pretty tolerable human, even if she does smell kind of weird. And his ears are still getting scratched.

Trowa glances at X sidelong, and for a brief moment he might be smiling very faintly too.




It's another minute or so before he says, "I'll need to get ready soon."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," she says in return.

Quietly.

"I should wait near the tent?"

The main tent, that is. X figures Trowa will pick that up from context.

[3nanashi]

Trowa nods.

"Or the trailer, if you want. But the tent's more central."

She'll fit in better.

"There are some booths and side shows by the front."

If she wants cotton candy and funnel cake or something. Or to win at a sandbag-and-target game.

There's not a lot, but having a few before the main tent is good for attracting audience members. And for keeping bored kids occupied before the show opens. (Also: extra revenue.)

"The ticket booth's over there too. I'll show you on the way."

[cutting_edgex23]

X just nods.

The 'thank you' is implicit.

And she makes sure to get funnel cake before heading to the tent to take her seat.

It is important.

(And it helps her blend in better. That is important, too.)

[maxwellsdemon02]

Not so long after (and not so long before the curtain rises) Duo shows up!

"You're full of surprises too," he says, pointing the Finger of Accusation at her. "Popcorn?" He offers her the box he's holding as he takes his seat.

He's wearing a mishmash of civilian clothes and Preventers gear, but he took a shower before arriving. His braid is still damp.

[cutting_edgex23]

X looks up at him, shifting so that her funnel cake is a little bit closer to him.

In case he wants some.

"I do not think so," she says. Carefully.

And then --

"No, thank you. Maybe later. If you do not eat it all."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Hey, I'm a growing boy. I make no guarantees." It's not really a lie, but if he's going to do anymore growing, he had better do it soon.

"So, I've gotta know. Does he talk to you any more than he does to me?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X considers that, breaking off a piece of funnel cake and chewing slowly.

Then --

"I do not know how much he talks to you."

For one.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo sighs, thumping his head gently against the sound booth behind them. "I see how it is. You're ganging up on me. I never should have introduced the two of you. Next thing I know, Havelock will join in, and then I'll really be doomed."

He moodily eats some popcorn. His life is hard.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's expression remains composed.

"Maybe you will learn to think it is funny."

If anyone can do it, Duo can.

Right?

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo points the popcorn box at her, this time. "I've gotta teach you some bad knock-knock jokes or something. You're throwing me off my game with all this deadpan snarking."

That's his job, X! Well, that and being ridiculous.

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head for a moment, assessing Duo's offer, as it were.

Then --

"I like it that way."

Even in the midst of snark X is honest. It is a skill.

[3nanashi]

Back on Earth, centuries ago, the tradition of three-ring circuses developed so that different kinds of acts could be run simultaneously to hold the audience's interest. Comedy in one ring, skill in another, death-defying acrobatics in a third, for instance. That's considered old-fashioned nowadays, but some of the circuses on Earth still do it -- mostly the ones with a permanent, fixed location.

The Armstrong Circus is one that travels among the colonies as well as around Earth. Space is at a premium.

Accordingly, they only have one ring, and the audience in a wide circle around it. The way they manage simultaneous acts is vertically.

So when the lights lower, the first act -- two elephants, and several spangled people perched atop them -- bursts onstage to jaunty music and applause, and it's only a couple of minutes before a long expanse of silk ribbon descends from the catwalk with an acrobat artfully tangled in it.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Sparkly," Duo says with some amusement and approval. He likes the circus!

"You should have seen the outfit Trowa used to wear."

[cutting_edgex23]

X appears, to most casual observers, to be engaging in rapt contemplation of the scene.

More than the spectacle, however, she is making careful note of the cues and adjustments that keep everything moving -- and that keep the audience's attention focused on the biggest spectacles at the appropriate times.

She has enough focus to spare a little for Duo, however.

"It did not have sparkles?"

Beat.

"And there are no photographs?"

[maxwellsdemon02]

"No sparkles. Ask Cathy though," Duo says with a grin. "There might be a publicity shot somewhere, from after the war. I doubt he would've let anyone near him with a camera, before that."

[3nanashi]

There are a couple of publicity shots, in fact. Trowa's face is obscured by hair and a clown mask in them, but the giant polka-dotted pants and sleeveless ruffle-necked shirt are clear to see.

He would defend the strategic logic of performance fashion, in any case. (And it must be said that when he comes onstage, X will see that his circus outfits are still pretty ridiculous. The sanest one is shirtless spandex.)

Meanwhile, the ringmaster, dapper in his red frock coat, is welcoming them to the circus. One elephant and most of the sparkling folk make a strutting exit, while the other and his handler settle down to perform tricks.

In a few minutes, the aerial act will give way to the highwire.

[maxwellsdemon02]

If X was anyone else, Duo would be elbowing her to get her attention. He wisely sticks to just talking.

"Trowa's up soon. Well, he and Cathy. I think he's mostly spotting her up there, this time."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's attention sharpens, though she does spare a moment for a sideways glance at Duo.

"He showed me how to do that. The flips. Earlier."

Beat.

"You have tried, too?"