Merida

"Bravery is not the absence of fear, Merida, rather it is the ability to take action in the face of fear"

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

His face went in her hair, again. He liked to hide there it seemd. Merida always found that amusing as they started to walk towards the carnival gates slowly. “somewhere where you can dance it is then.” peeking at him though the corner of her eye her hips bumped into his playfully. “and you can dance the night away.” She knew of just the place, in her wonderings of this town she had seen a closed club. It should be open now, and fitted what Reu wanted. Just had to get there again with a all ready tipsy Reuben.

The red head laughed, “Aye but people do get dulled out of all my talk of archery and horses. I’m not that intrestin, they might as well fall asleep.” she mused as they got though the front gates and turned left. Only a few blocks. “why arn’t you celabratin with your brothers anyway laddie?” Turning her head so their noses nearly brushed so she could glance at him as she asked the question

[littlebunnymiss-deactivated2018]

He scowled over in her direction. “Jigglypuff’s a little bitch.” Everything else could wait. Leaning against her he knew they’d end up somewhere. All he had to do was keep his legs moving and the rest of him was free to argue his point. Which was important. “You’re not. You’d be like a flareon or something. You got the hair and the agility.” His eyebrows scrunched together as he searched for more proof. “Moreover,” oh he was drunk. “Jigglypuff is round and angry. You are not round or angry. Actually please don’t be angry at me.” 

The idea of her angry would be a fun one, just so long as he wasn’t on the receiving end. If he was safe behind some of that glass they put the Pope into when he drives around then okay maybe he’d be okay with it. But probably not. His face swung over to hers, trying to pout at her with the big eyes like Stitch did. Only, he moved too fast or they were too close, and instead of finding hair in his mouth he felt her lips on his. Everything around him came to a full stop. Why were her lips in her hair? Was it actually an alien? No, no it was her face, her nose was there and so were her eyes. Whoops. 

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Another right, two blocks, a left and bam they would be there. All she had to do was keep Reu walking, she would worry about getting him safely back to the carnival when the time came. She was sure she had enough money for a taxi or uber or something. Tuning back into his strange pokemon rant, where she wasn’t even sure where it came from, the red head laughed. “All right all right i’m a flareon. What are you? A snorlax? You do take naps everywhere.” Merida had never been allowed to watch pokemon as a kid. Her little brothers were though, so when they got TV time she’d tried to sneak in and watch too. From what she picked up and the few pokemon she knew, Snorlax liked to sleep like Reu, just not as cute as him.

Bumping him with her hips slightly again she was able to turn him around the corner, cross the street safety. They were on the home stretch until he could dance the night away and have fun on his birthday. She had noted that he had dodged the brother question but wouldn’t press him on it. It was his birthday, it wasn’t a time to be sad.  He was still rambling about pokemon and the little puffy one. “Reu I couldn’t be mad at you-”

She was going to keep talking but he had turned, they were too close and... Merida felt herself freeze and stop walking. Her eyes going wide as for a moment she stood still, her mind not really catching up with what was happening. Archer reflexes had crashed and were taking too long to reboot. After a moment though she quickly stood a harsh step back, letting go of Reu and blinking- the world spinning back into focus and the noice of the city hitting her. Reu had just accidentally kissed her, Merida wasn’t to mad about that...its not like she didn’t want Reu to kiss her. Just not by accident when he was struggling to walk he was so drunk. That was all just silly thoughts in her head, god she could be such a girl sometimes.

Stepping back and wrapping an arm around his waist to hold him up again, she kept her face turned away from him so he wouldn’t see how bright red her face was. “sorry.” she muttered. “My face was too close, my bad.” Her cheeks were on fire. This could end up to be a very awkward night, she decided right then not to join in on the drinking. Drinking would make her lips loose and confessions run and Merida... Merida didn’t want to loose Reu as her friend because he drunk kissed her and she had the major jones for him...So it was best to keep her head down until he could be let loose at a club.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida sat on the roof of the train. It was a few hours before the gates opened and people would fill the carnival. For the moment, as the sun slowly started to go down, Merida was happy swinging her legs back and forth from the top of the train and watching it all.

From between the tents and the rides she spotted Sif, well she presumed it was Sif. The new lady and her hadn’t really met yet. But she fought with a sword and that was a big check in Merida’s books. She looked big and strong too, very cool. The red head would have to ask Robin if he had met her yet too.

Then the dog, wolf dog. Merida felt her breath stop shot. Ohh she was beautiful. Looked just like her aunts half wolf dog, Valkyrie, the wolf dog had died years ago from old age. But Merida always adored the she-wolf above all the other wolf hounds in the kennel. This wolf dog was no different, the way she moved by Sif’s side, the grace and intelligence. Before Merida really knew herself, she had jumped down from the train and rolled, her feet moving her without her mind really knowing what was happening. All she knew was that she had to get closer, it had been so long since she had been near a cross and she missed it. Missed running around the highlands on Angus with Valkyrie nipping at his heels. Good times.

Sif’s question floated by her ears and Merida blinked, at last tearing her eyes away from the beautiful dog and back to Sif, who was in turn, like a wolf herself. “You’re dog, wolf type or Tamaskan?” The wolf dog might not be wolf at all, it at last occurred to Merida. Either way she was beautiful. 

Manners Merida. Quickly the Scottish girl shook her head. “I’m Merida by the way, and you’re Sif right?”

[warriorlady]

The younger woman seemed to be very taken with Visenya, something that wasn’t exactly hard to notice as Sif watched the woman nearly look at her dog like she was seeing an old friend. Visenya, still at Sif’s side, was watching Merida with sharp eyes, and after a quiet moment of Sif watching Merida and waiting for the dog’s response to her, Visenya slunk forward towards Merida, circling the girl while she sniffed at her inquisitively.

When Merida questioned her about Visenya’s lineage, Sif froze, hesitant. She wasn’t sure about divulging what she knew, afraid if she told anyone the truth it’d spread, and she’d risk losing Visenya. The dog sensed Sif’s hesitation and paused in her circling to cast Sif a glance. Merida, of course, did not seem to bare any ill will towards Sif, or to Visenya, seemed genuinely interested in her bloodlines.

So Sif relented, albeit nervously. “I’m not entirely certain. She’s said to be a pure Tamaskan, but I think there may be some wolf blood in her. Low to upper low content, possibly. But as there’s no real way to test her, I’m unsure.” She admitted, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword out of habit. “It’s nice to meet you, Merida.” Sif inclined her head in greeting.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida held out her hand slowly, palm up as a sign of friendship to the dog. Watching closely as the creature studied her, what beautiful creatures dogs were. When Sif, Merida noticed a little weary, told Merida what her companion’s blood could be, the Scottish girl grinned. “A handful no matter what her blood turns out to be.” Standing up a little straighter she turned her full attention to Sif, but her eyes kept darting back to the dog happily. “She’s really beautiful, my auntie used to have a mid content wolf dog that looked just like her.” Merida thought she ought to explain, normally her years of manor training kicked in and she was a bit more polite on first greetings; clearly that went out the window when an animal was involved. 

The Scottish girl took in Sif properly for the first time, good stance, strong. “Nice to meet you too lassie, I saw your show the other night. Fantastic. Whats your balance on your sword like? The maker?” Merida could feel herself slipping from chilled out archer mode to thank gods there is at last someone to talk about swords with mode. Kylo was not very chatty at the best of times, maybe Sif would be. Maybe Merida could even get back into training again. All was for far of futre questions, for the moment, Merida was just happy to get to know the new warrior lady.

[warriorlady]

Sif wandered the carnival grounds idly, taking in the games and rides. It wasn’t quite yet time for things to start up for the night, but people were finishing setting up their stands. Visenya trotted beside Sif, no leash attached to her collar, and the woman didn’t miss the odd looks thrown her way. Someone approached in Sif’s peripheral and she turned to face them. 

“Yes?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

nMerida sat on the roof of the train. It was a few hours before the gates opened and people would fill the carnival. For the moment, as the sun slowly started to go down, Merida was happy swinging her legs back and forth from the top of the train and watching it all.

From between the tents and the rides she spotted Sif, well she presumed it was Sif. The new lady and her hadn’t really met yet. But she fought with a sword and that was a big check in Merida’s books. She looked big and strong too, very cool. The red head would have to ask Robin if he had met her yet too.

Then the dog, wolf dog. Merida felt her breath stop shot. Ohh she was beautiful. Looked just like her aunts half wolf dog, Valkyrie, the wolf dog had died years ago from old age. But Merida always adored the she-wolf above all the other wolf hounds in the kennel. This wolf dog was no different, the way she moved by Sif’s side, the grace and intelligence. Before Merida really knew herself, she had jumped down from the train and rolled, her feet moving her without her mind really knowing what was happening. All she knew was that she had to get closer, it had been so long since she had been near a cross and she missed it. Missed running around the highlands on Angus with Valkyrie nipping at his heels. Good times.

Sif’s question floated by her ears and Merida blinked, at last tearing her eyes away from the beautiful dog and back to Sif, who was in turn, like a wolf herself. “You’re dog, wolf type or Tamakan?” The wolf dog might not be wolf at all, it at last occurred to Merida. Either way she was beautiful. 

Manners Merida. Quickly the Scottish girl shook her head. “I’m Merida by the way, and you’re Sif right?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“for the home of the free and land of the brave everyone seems to get very scared if a firework goes off unexpectedly.”

[theskeletonkxd-blog]

“Ok. I’ve got fountains, the big ones that like explode in the sky, some of the ones that spin around really fast and then fly off, some bottle rockets, firecrackers, sparklers, the ones you throw at the ground and they pop, smoke bombs, snakes, but those aren’t as cool, and roman candles” Barrel dropped the handful of fireworks on the ground gave a wide smile as he twirled a lighter in his hand. “Which one first?” 

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“Ok before we even begin to figure out what ones to set off first” Merida looked at the pile at her feet. “You’re like 12, how did you get your hands on all of this?” leaning down she picked one up and inspected it, it was real of course and she slowly put it back down. The excitement of causing some mayhem and fireworks was building up over her curiosity on where her friend at gotten all of them from.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Why did she always find him like this? Well not always but once in a while, much to her amusement. Knowing her task of finding another book to read and some beeswax for her bow could wait, she looped an arm around his waist so his arm fell over her shoulders. “ok birthday boy, lets go get you blind ass drunk so I can draw all over you when you pass out.” the red head grinned as she glanced over to him. “Happy birthday by the way.”

[littlebunnymiss-deactivated2018]

His face pressed into her curls the instant his eyes focused on her. “Take me somewhere we can dance. My hips got the wiggles and yours should too.” One deep breath and he was upright ready to face the world. Or at least not live in Merida’s hair. Although, her hair smelled better than the train did so maybe he’d just move in. “Hey hey hey. Hey. You’re not Jigglypuff. You’re red; she’s pink. Listenin to you does not put people ta sleep.” 

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

His face went in her hair, again. He liked to hide there it seemd. Merida always found that amusing as they started to walk towards the carnival gates slowly. “somewhere where you can dance it is then.” peeking at him though the corner of her eye her hips bumped into his playfully. “and you can dance the night away.” She knew of just the place, in her wonderings of this town she had seen a closed club. It should be open now, and fitted what Reu wanted. Just had to get there again with a all ready tipsy Reuben.

The red head laughed, “Aye but people do get dulled out of all my talk of archery and horses. I’m not that intrestin, they might as well fall asleep.” she mused as they got though the front gates and turned left. Only a few blocks. “why arn’t you celabratin with your brothers anyway laddie?” Turning her head so their noses nearly brushed so she could glance at him as she asked the question

[my-minds-war-deactivated2016111]

I love kicking a little ass in the morning.. Always puts a smile on my face.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“Still think you’re the best fighter here? Awwh Kylo you’re too damn adorable.” 

[my-minds-war-deactivated2016111]

“Think? My darling, I /know/ I am..” He smirked, looking down at the young redhead.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida laughed as she raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms in front of her chest. He was taller perhaps stronger, but she prided herself on a good battle. “you know you said we’d duel ages ago, and we haven’t? I’m starting to think you don’t want to loose a sword fight to me.”

[my-minds-war-deactivated2016111]

I love kicking a little ass in the morning.. Always puts a smile on my face.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“Still think you’re the best fighter here? Awwh Kylo you’re too damn adorable.” 

[littlebunnymiss-deactivated2018]

“Ey ey! We’re in California. There’s beaches. There’s gotta be like fifty bars in a twenty mile radius. It’s my birthday, where’s my free wine?” Reuben walked out of the bar car already more wobbly than normal. Scar shouldn’t be getting his money on his birthday he’d decided on his fourth glass. So out he walked looking for a free ride to someplace else. Hopefully less expensive and with a better wine selection. 

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Why did she always find him like this? Well not always but once in a while, much to her amusement. Knowing her task of finding another book to read and some beeswax for her bow could wait, she looped an arm around his waist so his arm fell over her shoulders. “ok birthday boy, lets go get you blind ass drunk so I can draw all over you when you pass out.” the red head grinned as she glanced over to him. “Happy birthday by the way.”

[rockin-robber]

Light ‘Em Up

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

As the fire went out in a puff of foam and what ever else was in the red bottle, Merida let her shoulders relax and her mind go back into thinking mode. She couldn’t cause that fire, that was Robin, Robin had done that. not her, not her anger. She had seen it for herself, just calm the hell down.

When her mentor, best friend, family, so many words, started to talk she grinned and glanced over to him, watching him plop down on the ground and joining him after throwing the finished fire finisher away. “I think you were an idiot for not preparing properly.” she joked, “I’m meant to be the headstrong silly one, and you are the one that’s meant to at least remember to have a fire proof ground.” she teased, nudging him with her foot as she did so.

Suddenly it wasn’t that Robin had nearly set the whole tent on fire, or her fear of her own new powers; it was them again. Excitment and wonder of all the things they could bring to the show. Leaning forward a little and poiting to the hoops. “The thing is if you put the hoops on fire it lessens the effect, if you want to use fire you have to use it to make it seem scary. If you just use fire everywhere when you hit the target with a flaming arrow it becomes less dramatic. Thats the way I see it.” Her eyes were wide as she got up, walking to one of the hoops. “but! if you have every second hoop spinning instead of swinging.” She started to turn the hoop around, twisting it until she could let go and it spun the other way by itself. LIke a swing. “Now that, would make it dramatic.” Her grin was as wicked as the devils as she turned back to Robin, curious of his opinion.

[rockin-robber]

“Yeah, yeah. Sand would have been a better choice,” he agreed, rolling his eyes but still smiling. Robin watched as Merida first pointed and then jumped up to play with the actual hoops. He could almost see the gears turning in her head, and she made good points. “You’re right, there is such a thing as too much fire, believe it or not. Spinning and swinging at the same time would be a cool effect if I can still land the shot.”

Robin was glad Merida liked his ideas so far, and he was relieved she seemed to be less anxious now that they weren’t actively fighting a fire. Maybe Robin was imagining things in the craziness of the whole thing, but he was surprised to see how nervous she’d been around the fire. In truth, Robin was lucky she had jumped in to help him. If she hadn’t been there - but why had she been there?

“Hey! Were you spying on my solo practice?” he said accusingly, crossing his arms where he still sat on the ground.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida nodded, looking around the arena, they’d really have to think about rigging it out a little more if they wanted to continue this fire idea. Safety precautions... her own ease at mind. New gear, the whole lot. It would be a new challenge and Merida was always up to that with Robin. “Its all about timing, you gotta have them line up so it looks crazy but you get that half second window every now and again, like the show we did a year and a bit ago around Canada.” the red head mused, staring up to the huge high roof of the tent.

Her head whipped around as Robin’s voice became hard and a cheeky grin couldn’t help but appear on her features. “what?” she proclaimed innocently while putting a hand over her head. “me? Spy on you? Pfft why would I ever do that?” she poked her tongue out. “you should be the one spying on me to see what a real archer looks like”

[rockin-robber]

Light ‘Em Up

After an otherwise uneventful afternoon in the practice tent, Robin had fire on the brain. It was Merida’s constant request when they brainstormed new ideas for the act. Why can’t the arrows be on fire? Couldn’t the rings also be on fire? What if Angus leapt over a pit of fire? So, naturally, Robin obliged, and pulled out his flammable arrows during his solo practice time. Really, could he refuse her?

“I have too many weak spots,” he mused, mind focused on lining up his shot. There were a series of hoops before him, none of them burning yet, and a single candle set atop a table on the other end of the arena. The idea was to shoot a single flaming arrow through all the hoops - which would eventually be swinging back and forth on an irregular pattern of course - and light the candle without hitting a hoop, knocking the candle over, letting the flame go out before it passed over the candle, or missing altogether. 

“Easy enough,” Robin chuckled, dipping the tip of his arrow into the torch beside him to light it. He drew back his bow, careful to keep the flaming tip far enough away from his bow hand that he wasn’t in danger of burning himself. He stood stone still, held his breath, and released the arrow. Robin watched with satisfaction as the arrow whizzed through the hoops, passed over the candle, and buried itself deep enough into the waiting target to put out the flame.

What he wasn’t prepared for was watching the candle, now lit, wobble back and forth before falling off the table and rolling into the straw below. The dry, incredibly flammable straw - that was now a small bonfire before him.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck -” became his mantra as he sprung forward, glad for the extra bounce his legs provided these days. He was prepared, of course, but two buckets of water on standby was not enough to put out the quickly spreading flames. “Fuck!”

He called over his shoulder toward the tent’s entrance. “Anybody outside? Need some help in here!” he bellowed, trying in vain to stamp out the flames with his foot.

It was all Merida’s fault, really. After all, she was the one who was always pushing Robin to do more in the archery act. More stunts, more excitement, more costumes, more fire. Always more fire.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida had watched him of course. She liked to spy on Robin’s alone pratice. Know what she was up against, call it what ever. Nosy, competitive streak, she just did it on occasion. So when she saw him bring in a torch to the area that day, excitement had built.

From the safety of the back row of seats she peered over the red seats down below where Robin had set up. Oh now that was a fun idea, the hoops should move, but that was most likely an end result. They always had to start small with a new trick. If you wanted to flip first you had to learn how to roll, all that sort of things. It took years sometimes for a new good trick, but always worth it.

Idiot didn’t move the candle away from the straw. Eh should be fine.

The ideas were coming everywhere for Merida, she could see it all ready. The ring alight with fire, the crowds cheering. Music blasting arrows flying. Oh it was going to be beautiful when it was pulled all together. And here she was, watching Robin give in at last. How many years had she pestered for fire? 

But the thought was a funny one as she sat back and scowled to herself, Robin lining up his shot. Suddenly fire seemed like the one thing she was never without. Looking down at her gloved hands she thought about that day by herself in the forest, her foolishness, her anger, and the spark. blue flame… The twigs on fire, the whinny of Angus as he retreated into the woods. She still hadn’t told Robin. Because it scared her. And Merida hated being scared. 

A yell made her head whip up and for one soul wrenching moment she thought it was her that started the fire. She didn’t know what caused the flames from her hands yet, not fully, and seeing the small bondfire erupt made the blood drain from her face. Until she saw the candle and it all came rushing back.

Sorta her fault. She did pester him a bit.

Right away she was up and moving, sprinting down the isles of the grandstands and leaping over the small wall into the ring, on the way grabbing the fire extinguisher that was by the exit. Thank god for health and safety laws. Without a moment to loose she was beside Robin and pulling the release button.

“Maybe next time put the candle on the sandy part of the arena huh laddie?”

[rockin-robber]

Out of nowhere, Merida burst from her hiding spot in the tent seats and flew down the aisle. She made for the fire extinguisher that Robin had forgotten in his panic, and he stepped back to let her attack the flames. He breathed a sigh of relief when it was all over, immediately coughing through the smoke and cloud of extinguisher. He almost spent a good while wondering what exactly fire extinguishers were made of, but shook the thought from his head.

“Nice save, Red,” he said. Robin plopped down onto the ground, shoulders shaking as he laughed. “Sand would have been a smart idea, yeah. But what did you think?”

His eyes lit up as he asked her, knowing she’d have a lot of opinions. He quickly interjected his thoughts before she could respond, sure that she would notice the same things he had. “Obviously the rings will be swinging back and forth, and they might even be on fire too, I haven’t decided.”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

As the fire went out in a puff of foam and what ever else was in the red bottle, Merida let her shoulders relax and her mind go back into thinking mode. She couldn’t cause that fire, that was Robin, Robin had done that. not her, not her anger. She had seen it for herself, just calm the hell down.

When her mentor, best friend, family, so many words, started to talk she grinned and glanced over to him, watching him plop down on the ground and joining him after throwing the finished fire finisher away. “I think you were an idiot for not preparing properly.” she joked, “I’m meant to be the headstrong silly one, and you are the one that’s meant to at least remember to have a fire proof ground.” she teased, nudging him with her foot as she did so.

Suddenly it wasn’t that Robin had nearly set the whole tent on fire, or her fear of her own new powers; it was them again. Excitment and wonder of all the things they could bring to the show. Leaning forward a little and poiting to the hoops. “The thing is if you put the hoops on fire it lessens the effect, if you want to use fire you have to use it to make it seem scary. If you just use fire everywhere when you hit the target with a flaming arrow it becomes less dramatic. Thats the way I see it.” Her eyes were wide as she got up, walking to one of the hoops. “but! if you have every second hoop spinning instead of swinging.” She started to turn the hoop around, twisting it until she could let go and it spun the other way by itself. LIke a swing. “Now that, would make it dramatic.” Her grin was as wicked as the devils as she turned back to Robin, curious of his opinion.

[sillyxlittlexgirl-blog]

merida-darkarrows:

Blue eyes glanced over at the younger girl in the lounge car. Sweet little Welsh lass. “Yes, in fact the first circus ever was in Paris in 1782, a 100 years before the trains started being used.” Merida had always found it amazing, circus’. So when she had started to work for one so many years ago of course she decided knowing the history of them was needed. 

“In fact over the past 50 years circus have become less and less, back then everyone had a cirrus, now there are only a handful left.” her eyes turned back to the world outside, they should stop soon; few more hours maybe.

She nodded thoughtfully. It made sense. She knew of carnivals that often came through the counties back home, as well as went to other countries. But thinking about it, they were really circuses. Just silly carnivals with rides and games and food. Here, they had so much more then that.

“That’s pretty neat. I didn’ know any of that.” she admitted, smiling brightly before her eyes followed Merida’s out the window, “Are we almost  to wherever yet? We been in the train for eons…” she sighed, taking another sip from her coffee.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida nodded slowly, blowing on her tea before taking another sip. “Apart of history.” it was odd, if she had stayed back home, hadn’t run away, she would have been apart of history there. The DunBroch line continued, a woman running the business. But that wasn’t the history she wanted to be apart of, this was a much better history to be apart of in her opinion. The last real circuis that travelled by train.

“we should be close, little lass.” Merida continued, wondering how much younger the Welsh girl was to her, most likely not by much. But little lass suited her. “AS you said we’ve been on the train for hours, our navigators won’t take us too far without a break. How have ye been anyway?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida still had her nose in the book, but had clicked on the kettle in the corner of the car to make some tea. They had just a little kettle, tea bags and sugar here so people didn’t have to trudge back to the dining car. it was nice. 

The sound of tape rolling away caught her ears and she peeked over the book, and bit her lip so hard it nearly bled with trying not to laugh. Knowing the kettle would take quite a bit of time to boil (it was very old, survived the crash even) the red head walked over to the big chair she loved by the widow. Kicking the tape to Kylo on the way without even looking up from her words. Settling down on the big chair with her legs over the arm.

‘Who you sendin that package too?” She asked, flicking a page and listening to the kettle slowly heat up.

[firstorderprince]

She was rummaging around with something– he could hear it, but he couldn’t tell what it was. He kept his ears open, just in case she tried something. He still didn’t trust her.

He scowled as she passed him, nose still in her book, plopping herself in an oversized chair. Lazy, careless. It was all wrong. The people around here threw their lives away chasing trivial things.

He stared, almost in disgust, as she kicked the tape to him, the object rolling to a stop near the foot of the table. Who even asked her for her help? He stiffly bent to snatch up the tape, rubbing it off on his tunic with a frown on his face.

He stretched the tape out, eyes flicking up to bore into her. “You’re awfully nosy, aren’t you? It’s none of your business who I’m sending it to. Don’t you have somewhere else you can read?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida could hear the disgust in his voice. The distaste and foulness, ahh he was charming thats for sure. Despite still being eager for sword sparing, the red head still had it out for him after the Reuben incident, and decided the best course of action for the moment was to not let him rile her up like he normally did. If he was looking for a fight he wouldn’t find it with her, she’d be so nice it would piss him off.

“I like reading here.” she replied lazily and snuggled into the chair more before glancing over at him. “Is it to your girlfriend?” she mused, if he ever got a partner Merida would never speak again. “Or your dead grandfather you told me about?” For a moment, he had been almost nice when he had spoken about his grandfather, before he realized he was not being snide. As Kylo said, he wasn’t here to make friends.

[nevergrowup-its-a-trap-blog]

“Of all the places in California, why did it have to be here? Why not wherever the theme parks are?” Peter asked, huffing a breathe out as she kicked at a rock, watching some of her fellow performers, as well as carnies, unload trunks, boxes, and crates.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

The fences had been set up all ready, this time around the carnival was able to get a huge plot of land. Enough to have a make shift paddock for the horses even. Holding Alderic’s and Silver’s leads she lead them out towards the paddock, Angus and Hodge following without their halters on, as they passed the new carni who was complaining.

“Don’t worry, we will move up to the theme parks soon enough. We will be there in a few weeks flat.” Merida replied as she wondered past with the horses.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“you’re terrible. And I now don’t have to wonder why you have no friends.”

As quick as lightning she had taken two steps forward and snatched the drink out of his hand, quickly taking two steps back before he could even think of moving. A devil like grin on her features as she took a nice long sip of his drink, stlil taking a few slow steps back. “well Soccer mom, guess I’ll see you at the next PTA meeting.” she smirked and finished the drink, putting the glass down on a nearby table with a soft clink. If he was just going to be a right little shit about everything. Might as well be one right back, anyway, it was fun to be a little shit again.

[sugarscreams]

Randall stilled, his hand still up, fingers poised as if to wrap around the glass. His lip curled in disgust, a twitch in his fingers begging to wrap around her throat, or to crush something, possibly to just flail in a boneless expression of distaste. Everything in his body turned in revulsion, almost missing the pith she threw.

He swallowed, curling the fingers of his outstretched hand into a fist and tucking it back down at his side. “That… is fucking… r e v o l t i n g,” he breathed. “Alright, listen Barbara, what- thefuck. That is how this entire association gets communicable diseases. You are the fucking problem. This is ground goddamn zero- do you kiss your children with that mouth?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida bit her lip to stop that smirk spreading to the whole of her face. Oh he was playing along, how cute. He really was a Soccer mom in disguise. Licking her lips slowly, just to annoy him more, getting the last bit of bubble tea tease; she gave a shrug. 

“Susan you can’t talk about me being the problem, you’re the one who gives their kids unhealthy lunches everyday and swears in the drop off zone with first grades around.” The red head retorted evenly, it was such an odd fake fight. “Anyway with all the dick you suck, do you kiss your children with that mouth?”

There had been rumours after all.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“Did you know that in 1872,  the P.T. Barnum Circus declared it would only play at big venues and decided to travel by train? It was the first circus ever to do that, and we still use their loading techniques today; 144 years later.” Merida said this outloud, gazing out the huge window in the lounge car, speaking to no one in particular. Her steaming mug of tea beside her on the window ledge. Knees curled up under her chin as she watched the world go by, “Pretty cool don’t you think? Like we’re apart of history, or something bigger… that we’re the last ones left.”

[sillyxlittlexgirl-blog]

Eilonwy listened quietly as the woman rambled on, occasionally sipping from her coffee as he sat, curled up in a plush chair, “Circuses have been around that long?” she asked curiously, shifting where she sat, “I didn’t know that, I thought it was more of a modern thing…” though being a shut in, she wouldn’t have really known that. 

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Blue eyes glanced over at the younger girl in the lounge car. Sweet little Welsh lass. “Yes, in fact the first circus ever was in Paris in 1782, a 100 years before the trains started being used.” Merida had always found it amazing, circus’. So when she had started to work for one so many years ago of course she decided knowing the history of them was needed. 

“In fact over the past 50 years circus have become less and less, back then everyone had a cirrus, now there are only a handful left.” her eyes turned back to the world outside, they should stop soon; few more hours maybe.

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

“Did you know that in 1872,  the P.T. Barnum Circus declared it would only play at big venues and decided to travel by train? It was the first circus ever to do that, and we still use their loading techniques today; 144 years later.” Merida said this outloud, gazing out the huge window in the lounge car, speaking to no one in particular. Her steaming mug of tea beside her on the window ledge. Knees curled up under her chin as she watched the world go by, “Pretty cool don’t you think? Like we’re apart of history, or something bigger… that we’re the last ones left.”

[fearisafourletterword]

Cal wouldn’t admit that she was here to keep an eye on Merida - but that last incident where Merida had gotten herself caught on top of the roof by her clothes and the train had almost taken off with her like that. Cal knew Merida never intentionally got into these sorts of things, but she still needed an eye kept on her. 

“Is that right?” Cal said, looking up from her DS. “Last I heard, we are the last ones left that travel the way we do. Or at least the longest running one left. Did you just read that or remember it?”

[merida-darkarrows-blog]

Merida gave a little smirk as she heard Cal reply. She could see the woman from the corner of her eye. The captain had walked in before the train started to move, as if looking for someone then sat down and pulled out the DS. Merida had half the mind to leave to piss her off, but knew Cal was only there to make sure she didn’t get up to anything.

Just because of her jacket getting caught. So silly. How long had she been playing the “on the roof” game? Six. She hadn’t died yet! 

The sentiment was valued though. Even more so by her idol captain of the guard.

“Aye, I read it a while back, but only thought of it again now.” the red head replied, looking back outside and taking a sip of tea. “Sorta sad ye know, all those circuis that used to run these rails and we’re the last ones... now they’re just husks on the side of the tracks, acts gone to waste, animals left alone.... Its scary to think we might be that one day, if everyone else ended up like that.” The thought scared her, she had read all about circus on the rails, how one by one they all died out until they were left. What happened to them if they went bust? Would they just fade into history like the rest of them?