Angst and fluff order for @4everinlimbo and friends!
Prepare for angst. I can promise you right now that MC is a female because I irl relate a lot to Columbina (so far from what we've seen and know lol) so it's gonna contain some exposing. Aka you get to read some hints of my very (as I'm told) naive and kind self....
Ticket taker could still remember when he met her. His fragile flower, his bright star, his sunlight, his beating heart.
Even her name still doesn't dare leave his lips without great sorrow. How could he ever forget his first love. The one who made him smile. The one who held him close and assured him that everything will be ok. The one he held onto as he gently tried easing her cries, her begging to not die. He could never forget those painful eyes that faced him and slowly withered to death. He could never forget how cold she felt despite her snowwhite fur and coal hair. He could never forget how the once bright and blooming eyes turned dull and void of the warmth they once held.
He wished he could've not eaten but it was far too late to stop his hunger. She gave him strength physically
He remembers her gentle hands. Such hands that held him and made for him.
Her smile. Such a smile that made him wish to do nothing else but see it again and again.
Her eyes. Such beautiful endless pools that threatened to eat him and yet fill him with warmth and love.
Her fur. Such a smooth and lovely coat she had, looking like a piece of the moon blessed the ground.
Her hair. Such a messy yet lovely hair, as dark as the night and yet so full of life.
Her heart. The very organ giving her life and the sound of the sweetest melodies he loved hearing every night.
Her face. Such an angelic face, he felt so blessed just waking up every day beside such a precious flower.
He still had visions, nightmares of that night. How he tore into her flesh, his tears falling and getting stained with her blood.
Pink. Such a lovely color. She loved it so much. Calling it her lucky color.
He wondered if she wore it even now in her afterlife. He wondered when he'll get those dreams of her waiting for him. Her arms open and calling to him. Her 'belle' she called him. He wondered.... Then woke up.
It was another day, the circus had come to a new town and he had to choose carefully some new fools. He awoke early, passing by his mantle with small trinkets from the others that gave him during his last birthday, and a small worn ribbon he had tied to a handheld mirror. He gently held the mirror, kissing it's glass as he murmured "good morning Amor" he said against the glass. His breath leaving a fog spot before he gently wiped it clean then laid the mirror gently back on the mantle.
He got dressed and quickly went on his way to wake the others before he went to explore the town. It seemed like any other town but still it had some interesting shops. An antique shop here, some restaurants there, then he stopped by a coffee shop to grab a cup to energize himself as the one he already drank wasnt enough.
He sat by a table and looked over the menu with a cold detachment. "Hello sir! What can I get you?" A voice eagerly asked beside him. He hummed as his eyes remained on the menu before he closed it "id like a cup of coffee. No cream or sugar just-" he looked up to hand over the menu when he paused. His eyes widening as he met the eyes of a human who smiled brightly at him. She took the menu from him while he remained speechless. "So a black coffee?" She smiled at him as ticket taker blinked before he nodded, clearing his throat "o-oh yes. Just black" he looked away and pretended to fiddle with an invisible watch he had on him as she nodded then walked away.
He looked back to her as he watched her circle the counter to make his order. His eyes carefully observed her, trying to understand what it is about her that made him just shut down like that. All with a simple look.
She seemed simple. Wearing an old fashioned long dress with long sleeves. White gloves and black boots. She wore the cafe shops apron. Her hair was tied in a ponytail with a hair tie and a ribbon decorating it on top. What he noticed, and realized, is that she wore pink. Her dress was pink, her ribbon was pink, even her cafe shop apron had some pink handcrafted onto it. He looked up to her face, catching glimpses of her features. Her short black curly hair, her brown eyes, the roundness of her face from the front yet it looks like a diamond from the side and she seemed to wear no makeup. He focused on her lips, seeing them move, clearly talking to herself about something. He tried to focus on what she was saying when snapped out of it by her catching him.
He quickly looked away to avoid looking intimidating. The last thing he needed was drawing the wrong kind of attention. "Is everything ok sir? Do you need some water while I finish?" She called out. Making him jump a little bit before he smiled "oh, no thank you, I can wait just fine" he calmly spoke whole fixing his tie. He looked back at her, noticing she was eyeing him as well. He watched her brown eyes searching him before she called out "are you new to town?"
The question caught him offguard but he smiled professionally "how could you tell?" He asked curiously as he saw her smile with glee as if she guessed right. "Well I've never seen you before so I was curious! Did you come with the circus or is that a coincidence?" She asked excitedly. Bouncing in her spot as ticket taker looked at her with shock. His silent look made her chuckle then walk to him, handing him a cup of cold water "is that face a yes?" She teased playfully as she stood by his table.
He snapped out of his shock, clearing his throat as he took the cup and drank a small sip before he hummed calmly "why would you think I came with the circus?" He asked. The human hummed before shrugging "well, I doubt you guys wear your costumes all day, especially in a hot weather so I'm sure you guys got some normy clothes on you". Her wording made him chuckle a bit "normy?" He asked curiously as she nodded "yeah normy clothes! Ya know, human clothes? Ties and shirts and shorts and pants and stuff? You look professional so are you like the boss or maybe an accountant or maybe a lawyer?" She shrugged while looking at him then looking away, unable to maintain eye contact.
He hummed "well... I suppose you'll have to find out yourself. No?" He smiled as he watched her pout "aww come on, won't you tell me? Or at least a hint?" She looked at him with a pleading look that almost made him laugh but he held it back then silently motioned for the coffee machine "it would ruin your expectations".
She hummed then quietly went to grab and serve him the coffee as she smiled "ok, ill play" she giggled then looked to the door as someone else came in. He sipped the dark beverage and eyed her for a while. He paid in cash later then went about to find a few 'candidates' yet as he left he looked into the cafe one last time before walking away.
For the next week he followed her in the shadows in his human disguise. He watched her as she went about her day. Even when he was supposed to be in his tent, he watched her through a small mirror in his tent while writing and checking some documents. He watched her from every reflection possible.
So far he noticed a few things. One, she was either early to wake or very tired and sleeps in before going to work. Two, side tracks a lot, stopping by alleyways to pet some cats and leave them some dry food she keeps in her bag at all times. Three, defenseless yet will grab whatever is close by to throw then flee. (Watched her confused a mugger with a fake purse she kept inside her bag) and four, observant, very curious.
He noted her down as a potential fool. She seemed to like organization and keeping things in order so should something happens she had a back up.
He hummed as he was writing down some notes he should check out again when he heard her hum coming from the mirror. He didn't look but could hear her walking down the street. It was late in the evening, just before the circus should open again, her time to get some last minute groceries again after work.
He was listening to her simple nonsensical song, writing down when suddenly he heard her shout and he scratched at the paper from flinching. He made a mistake on the paper, on a very important paper. He glared then turned to the mirror to see what caused her to yell.
She was yelling at some teenagers who were surrounding a kitten, about 3 months old possibly, and were clearly hurting it. "STOP IT! Please! It's just a baby let it go! Stop it!" She yelled and pleaded but it was clear the teens didn't care "why do you care karen? It's a wild cat and it attacked me" one of the teens waved her off and showed his 'injury' which was just a piss stain. It pissed her off "you asshole! You're hurting this baby just because you were standing at the wrong place for it to pee?" "These are new lady! So fuck off!" The teen yelled at her. She was stunned before she swung her purse then grabbed a stray bottle and threw it at them. The teens laughing then fleeing as she yelled again and again. "Keep running assholes! I'm telling on you! You hear me!" She then knelt down and picked up the kitten. Tearing up and cooing as the kitten held onto her while meowing "hey... Hey shhh.. Shhh it's ok. The mean kids are gone. I'm here... Are you ok? Nothing broken?" She murmured while checking the kitten the best she could. Trying to feel for any broken limbs. She was close to crying when she began walking off to a different direction. Possibly the vet.
Ticket taker watched in silence, his mind checking through a different mirror those teens whereabouts. He saw her reach a very after a while and the get seemed to know her. He watched her cry and explain the best she could what she saw while the doctor checked the kitten before giving it food as it ate eagerly. Thankfully the kitten had some bruises but no broken bones and it would heal just fine. Ticket taker didn't know why but he let out a sigh of relief when he heard it was ok.
He looked down at the paper again then got up. He had to start his work. He glanced at the mirror again, watching her before he turned and grabbed a fool to help him at the ticket stand.
It would be two days later before he went into the cafe again in his human disguise. He saw her serving some customers as it was after rush hour. She was cleaning some tables when she saw him "oh hello again! Black coffee?" She asked curiously as she took some flyers that were scattered all over the place. Ticket taker smiled a bit as he sat down "you remember?" He asked as this was his second time coming to the cafe. She nodded and giggled "yeah,i remember what interests me. Ill get to it" she placed the flyers down then walked to the counter. Humming happily as she made his order.
After some time she walked over to him and handed him his drink. "Thank you, say... Do you like the circus?" He picked up his cup as he asked her. She hummed then shrugged "well I havent gone yet. I still am curious to what you do there" she glared at him but he could see it wasnt malicious. He chuckled as her angry face was... Adorable. How could he take such a face seriously? He stopped himself, clearing his throat as he hummed "well, I'm sure you'd enjoy it" he held out a pink ticket towards her. She seemed shocked then smiled "awww you have pink tickets? Thats so cool, it's my favorite color!" Her smile brightened then she frowned as she seemed to remember something "aww but, I can't take it" she murmured.
That peaked his interest. He looked at her confused then smiled curiously "oh? Why not?" She seemed nervous then blushed "well... Two things... One is because it's rude to just take from a stranger something and two uh...someone already gave me a ticket" she pulled out of her apron... A green ticket. That ticket glared at him as his eyes widened in shock. When? How? Why? Such questions filled his head as he looked at the cursed ticket then at her. He thought quickly then smiled "I am sorry my dear but that ticket is faulty" he told her. Forgetting for a moment that he was in his human disguise. She looked at him curiously "really? It is?" She looked down at the ticket then frowned "huh, I thought it was genuine because one of the performers gave it to me. He said I could enjoy his company too!" She smiled brightly.
Ticket taker didn't know whether to tell her the truth or just leave her clueless. For now he tucked away the pink ticket then took the green one from her "well I believe he must have gotten excited and wanted to sell his own ticket. I do apologize for the misunderstanding" he explained through a somewhat lie as he watched her pout again before sighing and smiling "oh well. Does this mean this one is faulty too?" She reached for another ticket. A red one.
He felt like having a heart attack. When did this happen? He didn't know whether to take it from her or not. Harlequins ticket was one thing, but pierrots? He looked up at her and calmly asked "may I ask when were you given these tickets?" She seemed to think for a second before mumbling "if I remember right, it was five days ago. It was raining and some guy was bullying your red performer. I splashed them with sone roadside mud then helped the red fellow. He met me later and gave me the ticket as a thank you" she smiled and shrugged.
The rainy day, he remembered. It suddenly rained that day out of nowhere for 4 hours before it stopped. 4 hours was enough time for her to be out of his sight from the reflections and that he was with jester during a meeting for the unexpected rain.
He sighed internally then smiled and kept up the lie "yes, I fear that is faulty as well..." He reached to take the red ticket but a knife quickly went past them both. Missing ticket takers hand by a centimeter. Ticket taker looked to the side while the human looked to the wall where the knife stuck. He could see Pierrot glaring at him while holding flyers still. Ticket taker glared before he turned to the human who smiled nervously "uh... I'm guessing I should keep it then" she tucked the ticket back into her pocket while he sighed "it seems so...."
He hummed in thought as Pierrot went back to working. Thinking for a moment then looking up "you mentioned he gave you the ticket five days ago... And yet I havent seen you visit the circus. Why?" He asked curiously while grabbing his half empty cup. She blushed then smiled nervously "oh uh... Well... I wanted to save it for when I can fully enjoy the circus. Almost every day I just go home tired and unable to do anything else so..." She tried to explain. Ticket taker hummed then nodded "I understand. Why dont you leave early tomorrow and come visit the circus? I'm certain you will have fun" he encouraged her as she smiled "ill ask my boss! Thats a good idea. I didn't think of that before" she hummed then went back to work. Ticket taker watched her for a moment then silently gripped the pink ticket in his pocket.
Ticket taker stood by his stand. The circus was about to open in 30 minutes. He made sure he looked as pristine as ever when he looked ahead and saw her. He felt his very heart suddenly stop. There came the human, wearing a summer dress with short heel boots. She had a ribbon around her waist and one in her hair. Her entire clothes full of pink and white except her boots that were black. She even carried a pink purse with cats on it. She smiled at ticket taker, bowing her head "hello sir! This is the circus entrance right?" She looked up at him.
He was stunned, she looked like an angel, she looked like... He shook his thoughts away then tipped his hat "yes miss, this is the entrance to the circus. We open in thirty minutes" he calmly spoke, watching her expression shift to excitement "its you! Hello sir!" She eagerly waved and bounced a bit. Her excitement making him chuckle a bit and smile under his mask "ah, you recognized my voice?" He asked as she nodded "yes I did! You look very dapper sir!" She laughed a bit. Bowing to him like a princess greeting another noble as ticket taker followed her bow with his own. "I see you're early, most guests come after we open" he curiously stated as she nodded "I know! I wanted to come early to explore before guests fill the spaces" she shrugged which made him chuckle.
When the circus opened, he punched her red ticket then let her inside "enjoy your visit, please note to stay away from the black and pink tents, they are not included in the tickets specialty" he informed her as she pouted "aww that sucks, I bet the pink tent has some cute things" she smiled then walked off as ticket taker chuckled to himself "if only you knew" he murmured.
She explored the areas she could go to. Visiting doctors tent and leaving with a bandaid and a chocolate bar, curtisy from ticket taker who gave it to doctor earlier. She went to jesters tent and he seemed to eye her a lot but she didn't think much of it. She saw pierrots acrobatics then visited Harlequins before she went to the blue tent.
She awed and sat down. Marveling at the reflections that seemed to showcase different things. Some showed cats walking, others were a field or a forest view. She smiled and felt relaxed as she sat among the comforting reflections.
Ticket taker watched her from one of the mirrors. Pleased to see her comfortable. He rested a hand to the glass. Watching those innocent and caring human pretend to play with a mirrors reflection of cats.
His pupils changing shapes for a moment as he whispered to himself "welcome home.... My moon".
It doesn't make sense I know. I'm literally falling asleep here and it's just turned afternoon.
