Esmeralda

God, help the outcasts I'm Esmeralda. I'm an escape artist here at the carnival. I'll be around to help if you need me.

[i-askfornothing]

Thinking of home || Esmeralda and Open

Turning over the new handcuffs in her hands, she snapped them on and off her wrist in a slow, steady rhythm. Her mind wasn't really on accustoming herself to them though. It wasn't on the chilly weather either - October in Oslo required a thick scarf wrapped around her neck twice and warm jumpers. The wind blew cold red on her cheeks.

Esmeralda was sitting on an up-turned box, for lack of other seats outside that she could use. She was lost in remembering odd little things: her time at school and the teachers she'd had shouting matches with and the kids she'd had shouting matches with and the boy she'd had a crush on for a while but had never told him because she'd considered herself better than falling for some boy. Not that she against love. But it was a tricky sort of thing. She huffed to herself, watching the curls of hot air unroll in the crisp morning. Grinning to herself, she huffed again, turning even more red trying to sustain it.

She realised someone was standing there. Just remembering to inhale, she looked up sheepishly.

[i-askfornothing]

New Room || Merida and Esmeralda

[dark-arrows]

Merida laughed at Esmeralda’s hand gestures and nodded, going along with her own as well. “yes he’s a breed of draft horse so he has fluffy feet. He’s an English Shire and of course we can visit him!” she gave a grin. “do you visit Clopin’s horse? They’re neighbors.” lame pun she knew but she couldn’t help it.

The red head gave a laugh at her new roommates slight shock. “Oui j’ai appris l’anglais et français de l’époque j’étais j’étais petite, c’était “la langue d’une femme” ma mère avait coutume de dire.” she sat back and rested her head on the wall behind her. “J’aimerais découvrir la France un jour, j’ai seulement été autour de la région parisienne. Vous êtes très chanceux.”

Merida paused for a moment. “ye know I don’t rightly know that lass.” she laughed. “I know the haunted hosue is a huge hit and Sully works at it. But when he’s on duty so I can see what he’s doing, I have shows or things that I have to get done, one of these days I’ll get there though and report back to you..”

She nodded along to Esmeralda to show her she was listening before sighing. “Other then Scar? Nah.” she ran a hand though her curls. “i’m the head of shapshooting now. We had Robin but he…” she bit her bottom lip. “left.”

[i-askfornothing]

Esmeralda laughed at the joke - admittedly she laughed before she understood, before she really knew why, but it was all in the same spirit. "Oh yes, I have! Not very often though. He gets jealous because I'm more likeable. I probably passed your horse, Angus, then!"

Smugly, ever proud of her own French heritage - although some would claim that she had no real French blood in her, only filth. "Votre mère avait raison! En France, nous sommes tous des vraies femmes. Mais, j'ai appris que l'anglais était "la langue d'une dame". C'est dommage que je ne suis pas une dame." The last part was added with a cheeky smile. She certainly wasn't a lady and never wanted to be. There was a pride to how she held herself though, that had nothing to do nobility. "Paris est belle, mais le reste de la France est tout aussi belle. Je vais vous montrer un jour! Je l'ai dit le même chose à quelqu'un d'autre. Je peux devenir un guide touristique!"

"Maybe I'll get there first," she said. Though she had great sportsmanship, Esmeralda could also get a little competitive at times. Her friends was say that was an understatement. She could make anything into a playful competition.

"Wow," she whistled. "That's very impressive, being the head at such a young age." The mood tilted downhill though. It wasn't hard to catch that look. "He left? What do you mean? Why?"

[thereyougo-poetry]

Amelia blinked as the ball of life came bounding up to her, her eyes raised curiously as one hand swung around to her back.  Her other hand stuck out in front of her, to shake the young womans. “Amelia Smollet.” she nodded with a smile. “Navagator, been hording myself in that tiny room for days now.” as if to proove her point the dark red headed woman stretched and her back cracked in a few places.

"esmeralda, thank you for the offer of helping with tea. What do you do at the carival?"

[i-askfornothing]

"Amelia Smollet," she repeated, firmly shaking her hand, once, twice. It was easier to remember names if she repeated them like that; particularly if they were names she wasn't familiar with. Esmeralda's eyes widened upon learning her job. "Now that is a hard job. It's good to be out in the light. And to get some free time." She laughed a little at the back crack. "Oh, I know just what you mean. I have bones popping all over the place." To demonstrate - as if it was a competition, because she hadn't gotten rid of that childish streak - she leaned back, her hands pressed against her lower back. As she twisted for a few moments, similar audible cracks were heard. "You need to remember to get up and stretch regularly."

Leading her over to the little kitchenette, she switched on the kettle, since it already had water in it. "It's no problem. I'm an escape artist." She shook out her wrists, imitating jangling handcuffs. As much as she loved talking, she was very good at expressing herself physically too.

[barbpls]

"Well…" It took a little fiddling with the flowers to get her to open up. "I came to the circus with my family. Then I was playing hide-and-seek with my brother Jamie, and I fell asleep in my hiding spot." Sophie picked out one of the red rose crowns as she told her story. "Aster found me when I woke up. Then he took me to Scar." She picked out a second flower crown, in pink, just like Esmeralda suggested. "And when you put me up against that…” Sophie shook her head. “Not my greatest moment.” The majority of the little girl’s argument had consisted of hiccup-sobs and tears.

"But instead of drop-kicking me off the train-" Scar was six-foot-plus and wound with muscle and intimidation, he probably could do it. "-He let me stay, and found me a place here in the gift tent." The blonde held up the red crown first. “Here you are. Red roses.” Sophie’s smile was wide.

[i-askfornothing]

Esmeralda understood people didn't always want to talk about themselves and their history, but she always asked, hoping they'd tell her. She never had any agenda with it and she never gossiped about people's stories. That was not her business.

"Your family. Your parents and your brother? Are they here?" Sophie seemed so sweet it wasn't hard to imagine a younger version of her. "I don't know Aster, but I know Scar obviously. Don't tell me he bullied you. I was pretty young at the time, what age were you?" Scar had given his fair share of scare to her when she'd been found on the train with Clopin. But they'd also had their fair share of that in the past and though her legs had been trembling, she didn't let it show. In the end, she'd impressed Scar rather than offending him; looking back on it, she considered herself very lucky.

"Sometimes I wonder if he's a bit soft." A small, paranoid part of her glanced behind her. It felt silly as soon as she did it - she didn't know where the urge came from. Taking the crown and fitting it on her head, she posed, hands splayed. "Hey, how does it look? How much do I have to pay again?"

[thereyougo-poetry]

The navigation room was cluttered yet again, it was a tiny space and with all the bookshelves, maps, compass and other instruments Amelia was glad she was the only one that came into the cramped room. But it smelt of paper and far away places, and sometimes if she closed her eyes she could still hear the ocean, no matter how far away it was.

She missed the see, missed her crew and her rank, but this was a new adventure. And so she was going to take it in any way it came.

Finishing plotting the next route to the new destination as Scar had just asked her that morning, Amelia lent back in her seat to admire her handywork before glancing out the window. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. It was then Amelia realized that all though she had been at the carnival for two months now, she had hardly met or talked to anyone, including her room mate.

Standing and stretching she quickly tided up after herself and headed out towards the lounge car, surly someone to talk to had to be there? She was curious what life was like at the carnival, how others saw it and such. She just hoped there was someone worth talking to there.

Stepping into the lounge car she peered around. “hello?” she called slightly. “Anyone know where I can get some tea?”

[i-askfornothing]

Esmeralda was going to try to read a book. She hadn't read many books in her life, outside of the ones at school. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy reading exactly. She wished she could and she liked doing it when she had to, but mostly she just couldn't sit herself down long enough to focus on the words. There was always too much on her mind.

So she went to the lounge car - which was surprisingly quiet at the moment - and sat down. Esmeralda opened the book ceremoniously and stared at the first page.

It was going pretty good until about five lines down the second page. She looked up - that was her first mistake. Soon, she was flicking through the pages, fiddling the edges and the corners, and just getting generally antsy.

When she heard someone address the general car, she looked up in relief. "Yes. Yes, I know. In fact, I'd quite like some tea myself. Or perhaps coffee. There's something over here in the corner." She bounced up from the chair, swinging around it so she came face to face with Amelia. "I'm Esmeralda. Do I know you?"

[i-askfornothing]

New Room || Merida and Esmeralda

[dark-arrows]

Merida nodded happily, the reaction from her new room mate was good, perhaps she liked animals. “Yup! He bunks with her brothers horse! He’s a huge softy and the biggest horse here, I get to keep him because I use him in my act and I also use him to help train other horses if they need to learn anything.” she grinned. “Give him an apple though and he’ll love ye for life.” As Merida talked she pulled out a few things from her duffle bag, a case that contained her sword and slid it under the bed, books, boots and other things. “I’m from Scotland lass, and vous êtes bien de la France, bel accent. Mais quelle région de France êtes-vous?”

"Aye well Sully is a great guy, you’ll meet him sometime; he runs the haunted house. Lovely lad." she smiled, back to how she was only moments before but quirking an eyebrow at Esmeralda to see if she would object to anything, perhaps she saw her faint blush…

The red head gave a shrug. “Back home I used one or two guns but never got the feel for the, so loud and noisy and there are so many trigger happy people.” she gave a small laugh. “they’re intrestin to use, as I’m sure ye know but. Didn’t feel the connection.”

The Scottish girl waved her hands around. “Who carse about Oogie, all I hear about that guy is his bad temper, I think his talent is the only good thing about him. He’ll be out on the street in no time with you gettin better every day.”

[i-askfornothing]

"Oh, can we go see him some time? Is he those big- I don't know the English name for them. I've seen them on farms before. They have big feet, you know, big furry feet." Demonstrating by spreading her slender fingers, she imitated the loud clopping of a horse walking, punctuated by laughter. "I can remember to bring an apple. Bribery works with almost anyone, I know that." Esmeralda was just peering round the side of her new room mate's hair, amazed at the size of the bag. It seemed impossibly big to hold all those things. Either that, or she was an incredibly efficient packer. She was distracted from that by the sudden realisation Merida was no longer speaking to her in English. She was shocked to hear her own language from a non-French person. "Mon Dieu! Vous parlez français? Ah, merci, merci." Without meaning to, Esmeralda sped up in her mother tongue. "Partout! Mais surtout Paris. Nous voyagé dans toute la France."

"I've never been in the haunted house much. Not fond of scaring myself." Although in reality, she probably wouldn't be easily scared by anything in the haunted house. She had different fears. "What does he do in the haunted house?" she asked curiously. "What makes him so scary?"

"These are more beautiful." If you got beautiful weapons. There was a certain grace and warmth about the bow that the gun could never have. "I didn't exactly fall in love with it either. Too cold. Too harsh."

While she didn't like the thought of pushing someone out on the street, even her scary boss, she was pleased with the encouragement. "Got to keep my eye on the ball. Who knows? I have heard a few things. I don't think I've had it too bad. Yet," she added, though it sounded ominous even though she was smiling. "But others haven't had a good time. Do you have a boss?"

[barbpls]

"My story is kind of a long one. Kind of, eh, boring, I guess." She offered a one-shouldered shrug.

Honesty was, in Sophie’s opinion, an acquired taste. She didn’t necessarily like it - it made everyone too sad or too angry and often drove people apart - but she had come to tolerate it. She liked her world, where happy ending existed and the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny were real. Hopefully it didn’t get on Esmeralda’s nerves. "Thank you." She smiled at the young lady. "Nah, I’m okay. My nose isn’t runny. Just a little itchy on the inside." She rubbed the back of her hand against her nose and continued.

"That sounds really cool." She’d only ever seen the show in it’s full once or twice at most, so her thoughts were a little spotty. She watched as the girl twirled, liking her spirit and happiness. "I think you’d look really pretty in a flower crown. Or, well, prettier than you all ready are."

The little girl hopped down from her stool and walked over to a small display, with pegs holding flower crowns on them. “I think red would look really nice in your hair. Or a pretty golden.”

[i-askfornothing]

"Long but boring? Long stories are usually the interesting ones. Besides, I can be the judge of what's interesting or not. Tell me your story, Sophie." People said it was a long story when they had something didn't like to talk about usually; either that or they didn't like to talk about themselves full stop. Esmeralda wouldn't say she was a gossip, but she did like to hear people tell their stories. Stories were the only thing she'd sit still for when she was a little girl.

"Oh, if you're sure. I hate when I get an itchy nose. You have to twitch it like a rabbit. Look after yourself though. First you have an itchy nose and next thing you know you've got the flu. Or that's what my mother told me when I went out without a coat." Perhaps motherly instinct might not have existed at all if she'd grown up somewhere else, but everyone looked after everyone else in her small family community. She liked looking out for the younger ones.

Her hand went to her heart and she beamed widely. "Oh, that's so kind, thank you! I think you'd look lovely with one too. Even lovelier. Come on, come on, we'll both put one on." She eagerly followed her to the display. "I think I'll go with red. What about you? Maybe a pink?"

[disneytastic]

(x)

[i-askfornothing]

Almost morning || Esmeralda & Felix

[thataintbluntforcetrauma-deacti]

"I think they use something called krone here? If that’s what it’s called. I’m not positive. But you’re on. Five it is. I am American. This is my first time out of the country to be honest." He eyes lost focus a moment as he thought about his hometown. He hadn’t really thought it ‘beautiful’ before, not compared to places he was visiting now, but after another moment he shrugged his shoulders. "It’s got a very homey feel to it though it may just be me. I lived near Atlanta which is one of the bigger cities."

Felix could gather that Esmeralda was very proud of what she brought to the ring and it made him smile a little as she spoke. “Wow. Close calls? What happened?”

[i-askfornothing]

"Krone." It was a harsh word in her mouth, used to the smoother French. "Could be worth like 5 cents. Or it could be worth 50 euro. Oh well, we'll figure it out when I change my money. Or you just might never see me again if I lose." Esmeralda grinned, joking of course. She would never forget about her word. "Wo-o-ow. First time abroad. Is it fun? Everything you expected? I'm afraid I have no idea where Atlanta is, but it's a pretty name."

"Well, I can get so close to being chopped in half, my fringe gets a haircut." She shot him a meaningful glance, pointing to her hair.

[i-askfornothing]

Respect the Dress || Edna and Esmeralda

[pull--yourself-together-blog]

"Tonight ok" Edna let out a huff, not upset with Esmeralda, just trying to think through her best plan of attack. "I can’t make whole dress by tonight" She told the girl while she took her measurements. "Not possible" Edna took a step back, finished with the measurements "So fix this one" The ruined dress was spread out on the table as Edna looked at it. "Then I’ll make new one so you can get rid of this" 

As quickly as she could, Edna got to work on the dress, practically ripping the bottom of the dress off. A new piece of cloth was to be added on, Edna doing her best to make it look like the dress was originally created to look that way. After a moment she paused and looked at Esmerelda. “Red and purple” She said after a moment. “Those are your new colors” 

[i-askfornothing]

"Of course. That'd be ridiculous. You'd have to actually have magic to do that." Her muscles went slack once she was relieved from being measured. "It doesn't need to be perfect. Although your work is always as perfect as perfect gets of course." Esmeralda might have sounded like she was sucking up to her - which she was, just a little bit - but she only gave compliments she felt were true. Her words came from her heart. "Oh, I don't know if I'll get rid of it though. I sometimes you use old things to make new things. It's still good for when I'm doing messy things."

As Edna worked, she'd started looking around, seeing what was new. "Hmm? Red and purple? Great, I love red and purple. I'll feel like a royal." She loved all colours, so it didn't make much difference, but she didn't need to tell the costume maker that.

"So...how's business going?"

[i-askfornothing]

Almost morning || Esmeralda & Felix

[thataintbluntforcetrauma-deacti]

"Bets?" A mischievous spark flashed over his eyes for a split second. Felix was far from a gambling man. But he was a lucky man and he knew that much. “Hm…Sure. You’re on.” What could he possibly lose anyway? “If it does then it’d make sense. I’d consider myself pretty fortunate.” He looked impressed. “Wow. It must be really nice to come from such a beautiful place. Me? I’m from Georgia. In America.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I’d believe that.” Though he hadn’t really had enough conversation with either of them to determine if that was indeed a fact. “Really? You do all that stunt work?”

[i-askfornothing]

"Bet you five...what's the currency in Norway? Is it Euros as well? I only have Euros and a few dollars left from America. Are you American?" He looked very confident - she wondered if he gambled a lot. He didn't seem a lot like a gambling men. She'd met a few of them, and they would be the type that would end up working at a carnival, but he felt too honest. "Georgia? It's a beautiful name. Isn't it a beautiful place?"

"Yes, I do," she said proudly. "There have been a few close calls. But I've never been really badly hurt." Yet. It was supposed to be safe, she was never really meant to be in danger; but accidents do happen. "There a few tricks behind it. Like anything else."

[barbpls]

Another smile, tired but genuine. “Sorry.” Again.

She let the young lady - Esmeralda, wow, what a name - wander around as she reached up high and stretched out her back and arms. She was probably terribly informal, but when mildly sick and fifteen and in the circus, informal wasn’t really a priority. “It’s okay,” she responded. “It’s just a usual question to ask. An ice-breaker kinda thing.” It was one of her go-to questions when manning the tent.

Sophie’s face contorted, and she sneezed, covering her mouth with the crook of her elbow. But when her arm came away, she was still smiling. She liked this lady; she had a nice smile. “The keychains with names on it, I think.” Those were only, like, a dollar. “The flower crowns are my favorite. Those are pretty inexpensive too.” The little girl made those herself, and only sold them for about five dollars.

"Do you work here at the carnival?" Sophie was still relatively new to the entire place, and had yet to meet everyone. "Employees get a discount." Okay, not really, but she hated charging people who worked with her full-price. They did enough, and needed their money for better things than trinkets.

[i-askfornothing]

Esmeralda decided not to point that out again. She was probably aware she was saying it. So long as she knew she didn't need to.

"Oh right, of course. I don't have to do any talking in my job. I wouldn't be any good at it. I've been told I'm a little too honest sometimes. Brutally honest sometimes." If she saw something she didn't like, she'd call people out on it, without hesitating for a second. The rule that the customer was always right never really ran right with her. Some people took it as a weird quirk, attributing it to her 'barbaric' traveller upbringing. Others didn't take it well at all. "You seem quite young to be working at a carnival though, Sophie."

"Bless you," Esmeralda said cheerfully. "You need a tissue?" She spun around to scan the shop for the flower crowns, her skirt spinning round with her (secretly, she never failed in delighting with spinning around in a skirt). "Flower crowns? I love them. I used to make them when I was younger."

"Yes, I'm an escape artist. Oh, really? That's so wonderful. I had no idea." Unaware of the small lie, she looked even more pleased. She liked to save money when possible - who didn't?

[i-askfornothing]

New Room || Merida and Esmeralda

[dark-arrows]

Merida looked a little flustered suddenly. “wen I came to the U.S it was hard to find a place to stay, a place to go…” she mumbled. “I spent most of our money with the plane trip over here and coverin our tracks, we as in Angus me horse and I…” she gave a shrug. “Sometimes we had to just sleep where it was dry and warm, and barns are dry and warm.” she wasn’t ashamed of it, she didn’t mind sleeping in hay with Angus beside her- it was the angry farmers in the morning that had left her a little jumpy.

"Sully." she mused. "everyone calls him Sully." she bit her bottom lip. "He works at the haunted house." a blush started to creep into her cheeks but she glanced away to the outside window for a moment and she had to laugh when she glanced back at Esmeralda and saw her face.

"Aye well, my family loved old tradition. So I was taught all the medieval weapons. When I saw the sword it just reminded me of home." she gave a wink. "but no one will mess with us, I’ll agree with that."

The red head grinned. “are ye kiddin! Such close calls, always something to get out of! Its fantastic to watch, and yer much nicer to look at then Oogie.” she laughed. “you may be learnin but one day you’ll be a master!”

[i-askfornothing]

"You have a horse?" Esmeralda felt faintly ridiculous with her continuous tone of incredulity but it was surprising. She loved horses, but they couldn't exactly afford to cart one about everywhere. She'd always wanted a goat as well, but she'd never got one of those either. "Is he here - Angus is a boy's name, isn't it?" Now Esmeralda wasn't very good at accents. French accents, she could understand; travelling around her country, she'd learnt to distinguish north from south and the different regions. She could pick out Spanish or Italian too, usually. And some Americans were just too plaintively obvious. But she couldn't pick out Merida. "Where did you come from before you went to America?"

She didn't know everyone - far from it, but she'd definitely heard of Sully. "James Sully. Huh. He sounds interesting from what I've heard." Esmeralda grinned mischievously: she saw that blush and she guessed at what was going on. Her mother always told her off for conjecturing about people, but she couldn't help it. Besides, sometimes she was right.

She'd never handled a sword before, but she'd be able to defend herself with a knife, or something more common if she had to. "Do you ever use guns? It's about aiming too. I've used a gun before." She hadn't been sure whether she liked it. It had scared her, the power in it.

"Practice makes perfect. So yes, one day! And thank you, I'm very, very flattered. I'd make sure Oogie never hears that though. He's got a bit of a temper on him. I know I'm meant to be the nice one to look at. It's exactly what Scar said when he hired me." Esmeralda didn't want to be thought of as less skillful than the others though.

[i-askfornothing]

Almost morning || Esmeralda & Lottie

[pucker-upbuttercup]

Lottie saw the light gleam brighter in Esmeralda’s eyes when she talked about this Notre Dame, how she spoke with a  greater fervour and energy. This place was clearly very special to the woman. If it was really as magnificent as to inspire such love as Esmeralda felt, then it was worth a visit. “Sounds real important to you, sugar! There’s so much of the world I ain’t seen…mostly because I wouldn’t have even considered lookin’ at it- there’s a lesson for me hidden in there somewhere.” She tended to avoid churches, churchyards and fancy balls in her life as a carnie- the former two because they brought back bad memories, and the latter because there was a chance someone might recognise her. Surprisingly, since joining the carnival, she’d been invited to three big parties- that was why vodka with a sprinkle of sleeping draught had been invented, for those rich, overeager patrons. 

Lottie laughed with her, a little confused. “Why are you laughin’! Lookin’ good is what prevents me goin’ insane!” It sometimes troubled her that she wasn’t like a proper performer like Esmeralda and Merida, in that she didn’t have a costume she could step out of and be herself again. The person who flirted and drank her way into people’s wallets acted pretty much like she used to do in high society, and she dressed the same as she always had for a night out. It was beginning to become harder to make distinctions between what she considered to be her work self and her real self- or even if there was a difference. She probably could dress down when she was off the clock, but she’d never really suited sweatpants and hoodies. She was a little puzzled that Esme never needed to impress anyone- the girl was clearly gorgeous, of that there was no doubt, but what if she wanted to meet a hot date, or Scar for that matter? You dressed for yourself, Lottie knew that, but there was no harm in dressing to impress/manipulate occasionally. 

"The carnival can certainly get real.. real overwhelmin’ sometimes." Lottie agreed. The circus was a full-on place to be. She nodded emphatically. "If you have patience and the ability to not start yawnin’ while listenin’ to various anecdotes about golf an’ shares an’ their own prowess, an’ have quick fingers, it’s real easy. An’ pays well."

She was bored of speaking in anecdotes, Esmeralda clearly knew what Lottie did, and she relished every opportunity to show off about her job. She shrugged, smiling. “I test myself a lot. Makes the job more about skill an’ less about noddin’ and smilin’ and feedin’ them alcohol. Sometimes, for a challenge, I choose the teetotal ones. Much more excitin’! You mus’ get that feelin’ when you try a new trick out?”

[i-askfornothing]

Afraid she had offended Lottie, Esme quickly put her hands up, waving in her expressive way. "I wasn't laughing at you. Well, a little. It was just funny! In a good way. I was thinking of one of those church Bible sayings - 'man cannot live on bread alone'. And what those religious people might think of your twist on it." She'd heard it often enough, from so called righteous people who thought they were better than her. "I get it. I really do," she insisted. "The fact that I could incorporate it in my job is a bonus."

"Golf?" Esmeralda's distaste was clear. "I have never understood why people are liking that sport." For a second, she questioned whether that sentence made sense. "Why people like that sport," she corrected herself, after a second. "If you can even classify it as a sport. You just trudge about. Oh, but their own prowess isn't exclusive to rich men, so I know that one." Again, she laughed, because even though life wasn't all about money, she appreciated the fact that it was nice to have it. "How does it work then? You must have to give something to the carnival?" The carnival had to gain something from everyone being here, or you wouldn't be here at all.

"The teetotal ones? Why are they more exciting?" It wasn't hard for Esmeralda to imagine what she did, even though she'd never seen her do it. Even as a young teenager, she'd eventually clicked, understanding what different women were doing. At first, she'd thought it was funny, watching these rich men being befuddled by what they'd call a commoner. It felt triumphant. But as she grew up, she found it a little sad also. She knew it was something she could do, but probably wouldn't. "I know what you mean though! It's especially when I try a trick out and I don't know if it'll work and my stomach's all butterflies."

[i-askfornothing]

In for the night || Clopin & Esmeralda

[soyouregoingtohang]

"Are you going to put my face on them? Because if you use any of the pictures of me from New Year’s, I will… I don’t know yet." He grinned slightly, twisting to look at her a moment. "Aren’t I already something like your second cousin? However we disguise me though, I’m not wearing a fake mustache. The only facial hair I look good in is a goatee."

"Sorry that I ruined him for you. He probably would have liked you otherwise. I mean, you’re pretty likable, y’know? Ugh, gross. It is most certainly not the most important language in the world. I don’t even know where it came from. Or why. I hope you learned more from him than I did though."

"Oh, of course. And many hon hon hons.” He raised his eyebrows, keeping a straight face for a minute, before he broke and cracked up. He didn’t get the French stereotypes. The only one he thought he could even fit was the fact that he was a little amorous— and maybe the French pet names, but that was more of a deliberate exploitation of the fact that most people were charmed by them. It was his job to be charismatic and on the public’s good side, after all.

He clenched his jaw, then rolled off the bed, standing up. “Being paranoid sometimes isn’t a bad thing. Especially with someone like that.” He paused, steepling his hands in front of his mouth for a moment before he turned to her again. “What did he look like? What was he wearing?” Clopin personally thought it would be lucky if he was still hanging around. That way, he could maybe show him that following people was creepy and unwelcome.

[i-askfornothing]

"Possibly. You'll just have to wait and see which ones I choose when they're up." Not that she was actually going to do it for her imaginary group, but it'd given her the idea to make posters for his next birthday. She mused on it in the back of her mind, considering going all out and asking the carnival promotion for help. Who wouldn't be up for a little mischief? "You did look especially stunning when your eyes were permanently out of focus. And sure you are. That just means we don't have to lie about it." Esmeralda scrunched her face up. "I agree. Don't get a moustache. I'm a goatee fan myself. Though not for myself." Giggling, she stroked an invisible goatee on her chin.

Waving her hand, she dismissed it. "Nah, I didn't want him to like me much anyway. So self-absorbed, I don't think he liked many of us. Rich or poor - we all know who his one true love was." Generally, Esmeralda didn't like gossiping about people behind their back. But if she felt she knew what they were like and had seen enough of their actions, then she reckoned it was justified. Besides, sometimes she just played along with Clopin, not taking it very seriously.

Esmeralda laughed with him, the sound filling the car. "Don't ever...do that...in a serious situation," she said through it, holding her stomach. Just picturing his poker face made her crack up again. "I won't be able to control myself."

While in some ways, she would appreciate the thought of Clopin scaring him away, she knew it wasn't wise. She didn't know who this man was. Besides, Clopin could get himself in trouble with Scar. Esmeralda was all for being rash and impulsive herself, but she'd had her time out of the moment and she preferred to fight her own battles. So she lied. "I don't really remember. Nondescript creepy. I'd rather forget about it for tonight. Please. I just want to stay in." Standing up too, she cupped her hands over his. "I've always been able to take care of myself. And I know you'll always help if need be. But not tonight. It doesn't matter. I just wanted to tell you, to get it off my mind."

[barbpls]

As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes with her knuckles, Sophie couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry,” she the first thing that came out, an instinctual thing she had been taught since she was able to speak.

She took a look at the young lady, repeating in her head get up Sophie c’mon you’re gonna fall asleep if you keep sitting down get up up up up. Did she run the place? No, but she was the only one manning the tent at the moment. “I guess I do.” She stood up from her station, all five foot nothing of her. And she gave the girl a smile. “My name’s Sophie. Are you looking for something?”

[i-askfornothing]

"Actually, most people say 'you're welcome' after a 'thank you'." Esmeralda wandered over to the counter, looking left and right occasionally. The shelves were stacked full of things, bright and colourful.

Esmeralda was not actually that tall, merely an average sort of height, but she gave the impression she was which was where people made a mistake. She held herself like a lady, even if she wasn't one, always stretched towards the sky. Her long legs and slender figure helped too. She had to look down at the young girl as she came closer. "I'm Esmeralda. And not really. Sorry to disappoint." She fumbled in the pockets of her skirt - she did actually have a little money on her. "I'll still have a look around. Maybe I will, you never know. What's the cheapest things you sell?" she laughed, knowing it sounded a little stingy.

[lock-and-load-the-trickery]

"AND IT'S MOOSE, MOOSE, I SOMETHING MOOSE!"

[lock-and-load-the-trickery]

"No. I don’t do anything but be a dick when I am sober. Oh and prank." Lock snorted at her question about Oogie. "Oh, honey, he would just get someone else. You really think Oogie thinks that highly about me? Please. He fuckin’ hates and the feeling is mutual." He smiled at her poke and shook his head. " I am not going to say it, y’know. I mean I appreciate you trying to help…but nah. I don’t speak lies and saying that would be me speaking one." 

[i-askfornothing]

"You prank?" Though Clopin was often her partner in mischief, he was busier than her in the carnival, learning all his lines, and he didn't often have time these days. "Why didn't you say so?" Esmeralda looked incredibly indignant on his behalf. "Well, he should know that you are very important. And so should you. I know it." It always saddened her when people didn't have enough self-worth. Some people had too much of it - they needed to give it away. "Why do you work as his assistant if you hate him though?"