Tread Gently.

“How many of us will be saved the pain of seeing the most important things in our lives disappearing from one moment to the next? I don't just mean people, but our ideas and dreams too: we might survive a day, a week, a few years, but we're all condemned to lose. Our body remains alive, yet sooner or later our soul will receive the mortal blow. The perfect crime - for we don't know who murdered our joy, what their motives were, or where the guilty parties are to be found...they too are the victims of the reality they created.”

[runaway-florence-blog]

Socializing is Tedious || Florence & Sibyl

[runaway-florence-blog]

Sibyl Sinnett.

  Sibyl Sinnett.

Sibyl Sinnett.

Florence did her best to connect the face with a name or the name with a face of a relative, but she found it impossible to pinpoint any Sinnetts who were of remote importance in her memory. Though Florence didn’t know it, that was for the best and it was also for the best that she didn’t dare raise questions about the girl’s family – Florence herself believed that every person had a reason for being in the circus, though she wasn’t one to ask questions of the fragile. Sibyl was very evidently fragile.

“Well, Miss Sinnett, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She curtsied, “And thank you for accompanying me to get some air. I felt as if I was suffocating in that parlor.” A mischievous smile turned the corners of the writer’s lips, but she said not another word about the fact that Sibyl had been so eager to leave. Nothing else would be mentioned on the subject, as the girl had posed her own question and Florence was all-too-happy to oblige with an answer.

“Oh, I know of most everyone here. Whether I know them personally or not – well, that’s another matter entirely.” For a moment Florence thought to tell the girl that she was from England, but the idea filtered out of her mind rather quickly. It was much too risky to advertise what was once her home – it would do no good for Florence to give away such vital information with such ease, even though Sibyl didn’t seem the type to gossip amongst a group of performers or reveurs.

“And you? I take it that you’ve become acquainted with the circus somewhat?” It said a lot that the girl was brave enough to attend the midnight dinner; for some reason, Florence took that as a sign that Sibyl had become familiar with the traveling troupe and – like so many others – had made it her home. But perhaps she was wrong… perhaps another question was in order.

“Ah! If you don’t mind my asking,” Florence gave something of an embarrassed smile, “how old are you?” The girl didn’t look to be too old – perhaps the age that Florence’s youngest sister currently held, which would have been eighteen … or maybe it was seventeen. Whatever the case, the girl was young and Florence was wondering just how such a young woman ended up following around a circus.

As Florence took her own seat somewhat-close to Sibyl, she continued to smile openly and patiently. It really did seem as if she would wait all night for some sort of an answer from the girl – there was no rush with Florence Blackwell. 

[sinnett]

Sybil looked around, scratching her arm absentmindedly. It was one of those things she did whenever she was in a new situation and she didn't quite know how to react. People always expected you to react a certain way as opposed to the way you were used to react. Most people would have laughed at Florence, told her she was wrong for thinking in such a way as to want to leave the party. That was not proper lady etiquette, if anything, they were both probably being talked about by the women still at the party. A shudder ran through Sybil's body at the sole thought of the nasty things people probably said about her and her strange ways every day in the Circus. Most everyone was kind but that didn't mean they were the most open. 

"Everyone does seem..every lovely." She said of the people in the Circus. She'd only met a handful but still she figured that most of them had to be kind. "Have you been travelling long? With the Circus?" She asked her. Sybil hoped that this question wouldn't earn her an equally promising one in return. Everything seemed promising to her but she hoped that to Florence this would be a simple question. She had to have only been here a handful of years or perhaps she'd grown up amongst the Circus. She hadn't met anyone yet who had lived their entire lives in the Circus which only made her wonder more about it's origin. Sybil knew, however, that that was a question which she would never receive an answer to. 

How old she was. That was such a simple question. The simplest she had been asked so far. But still, her mind wandered through everything that could be found out about her with that single question. She'd already given this woman her surname and nothing had come from it, however, so she figured this other piece of information wouldn't hurt. Or perhaps she did know of Sybil's family and was only trying to piece together the half finished puzzle in her mind. None-the-less, it was a late night and she was not going to beat around the bush. At least, not right that minute. "I am sixteen years of age." She said, a bit quietly but more sure of herself than she had sounded about anything. She knew it not proper to ask the other woman's age but knew she couldn't be that old. She seemed very young to her. Like, her free spirit made her seem that way. "Do you love the Circus? I mean, is it your home? The only place you'd like to be?" 

[fjortan]

[sinnett]

Bruising Serenade | Levi & Sybil.

[thecunningacrobat-blog]

Levi was taken aback when not only were the woman’s words caught in her throat, but tears also began to form in her eyes, threatening to flow over no matter how hard she tried to calm herself down. He felt pity for her now more than anything and even if she hadn’t piqued his interest moments before, he felt that it wouldn’t have been able to turn her away even if he wanted to.  “Now, now… there’s no need for these,” he reached down to cup her face once more and wipe her cheek with his thumb but stopped himself upon realizing the possibility that his touch could be part of the problem.

Taking a step back he clasped his hands in front of him and said, “Well Miss Sybil, the necklace you’re describing sounds as though it is beautiful, and it sure is a pity that you have misplaced it. I have around an hour before I must be back for my performance and I will happily give you that time as aid in your search.” Levi flashed her another smile, “Now… where to begin?” The acrobat began to stroke his chin in thought as his eyes finally released hers from his gaze and looked upward at the overcast sky—in all honesty he had as much clue on where to start looking for this lost trinket as the woman before him did; though, admitting that fact would be a sign of weakness that Levi simply could not afford to show. An idea then sparked in the back of his mind and even though it seemed like an obvious and simple answer, it was certainly a place to start; however, when he turned back to face the Reveur she was no longer in front of him, causing Levi to scan the nearby crowds in order to find her once more.

He put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention, “Sybil, I don’t think that blindly looking is going to do us any good, the grounds of the circus are rather large and we would need many more people to assist before that would be of any help.” Before she could be too discouraged by his comment, Levi offered a different solution to the problem at hand, “Perhaps the simple approach of following your footsteps from that last time you remember it around your neck up until you realized you had lost the necklace would be better? Come in here with me for a moment; let’s get out of the pre-event crowds as we talk.”

With that, Levi turned toward an empty tent that she’d stumbled across in her search, holding his hand out behind his back for her to take if she wished as he stepped inside. He wanted nothing more than to make her feel calm around him and hoped that being away from the hustle and bustle of those surrounding them would help ease her nerves in the slightest.

[sinnett]

Sybil turned around with a loud sigh knowing that it was his hand on her shoulder and not any once else's. He was right, of course he was. It was preposterous of her to think that blindly looking around would bring her any help at all. She had to be careful about where she looked. It shouldn't be too hard to spot the necklace since she didn't go many places. Sybil nodded at his question. The only places she'd been since that morning were her tiny room, the story teller's tent, and a tent that had been unfamiliar to her, she couldn't quite put her finger on which one. She supposed it would be simpler that that be the last place they check since it would give her time to recall just which tent it had been. 

"Alright." Was the only thing she said but by the time that had happened he was already walking, Sybil followed. He held out his hand and she knew that it was for her to take. But in the time that it took Sybil to ponder whether she should reject this simple offer or simply please him since he was indeed helping her - they were already inside. The tent was much smaller than the rest but she supposed it would do for the purpose of them talking. "I-I can tell you all the places I've been today, I suppose." She didn't want to tell him that she didn't remember the last tent that she was in because then it would appear she was wasting his time; not even knowing where to head after she'd been to the story teller's tent. 

Sybil looked down at her hands, picking the dirt out from underneath her nails despite herself. "Umh, well first in my room of course. I spent quite a spell there. Then I went to the story teller's tent. I've taken quite a liking to Mister Ashdown..and..I don't - I don't remember what the last tent I visited was for. There was no one inside when I went and the entire tent was covered in fabrics of all shapes and sizes. I'm not sure that's much of a clue as to what it is but...I don't think it should be too far from the story teller's tent." Or at least she hoped it wouldn't be too far because something told her that was exactly where her necklace had come lose. But part of her hoped it hadn't been and that it was safe in her bed room or in Mister Ashdown's hands. 

[runaway-florence-blog]

Socializing is Tedious || Florence & Sibyl

[runaway-florence-blog]

Manners didn’t matter as much to Florence as the fact that the girl beside her was uncomfortable. Truth be told, Florence herself was also growing tired of the crowds involved with the midnight dinner and she wanted a breath of fresh air, however she wouldn’t have acted upon her desire if it hadn’t been for the appearance of the little Sinnet.

The girl looked miserable – pale and small among the crowd of reveurs and performers who paid more mind to their conversations rather than the goings on around them – and Florence felt more than a small wave of pity at the sheer sight of the blonde. It didn’t occur to her that Sibyl was waiting for an opportunity to leave but, after she had given the offer of finding a patio, the writer realized that she was doing as much of a favor to Sibyl as she was herself. Poor girl – how long had she endured the crowd around her?

“Air is invaluable,” Florence agreed, “especially when the air reeks of so many different perfumes.” A side-ways smile was granted to Sibyl before Florence took a few steps forward. She would lead – she preferred it that way – and she even gave a glance to the smaller blonde to make sure that she was going to follow. After only a few moments, Florence slowly began to weave her way through the crowd at a pace that she thought Sibyl would be able to follow.

Finding a patio hadn’t taken as much time as Florence thought it would; soon enough, she found herself greeted by a curtain of stars and the cool night air. Since it was considered terribly rude to leave a party of women, the patio held nary another person, which was quite optimum for the pair who had sought refuge away from the crowds.

“Well then,” Florence breathed, “I suppose introductions are in order?” She tried her best to smile, turning her gaze so she could get a better look at Sibyl while she offered her hand politely. “I’m Florence Blackwell. You are…?”

[sinnett]

Sybil watched the way Florence carried herself. She was so tall and poised compared to herself. It reminded her of what her mother used to be like. She wasn't the best in social situations either but the moment she walked into a room, all heads turned her way. She was beyond beautiful, her mother. Sybil regretted making the comparison, however, because she hoped that if Florence were ever to have children she would not throw them out into the streets when they had children of their own. She caught Florence's smile at a moment too late for her to return one of her own. 

The crowd was bound tightly together and she was thankful that it was the tall woman leading and not her for she didn't think she could penetrate through the mass amount of bodies that surrounded the room. She shoved a few people here and there who muttered in protest but she made it all the way through without tripping over the unnecessarily long dress she had worn. From that point on Sybil assumed that the other woman knew where they were headed but that was a preposterous thing to assume since neither of them had been in the enormous place before. Thankfully, the way to the patio was found much quicker than both had expected. 

Cool air breezed through Sybil and she closed her eyes for a few seconds, tasting it's sweetness. She hated crowds mostly because crowds meant questions or participating. It'd been a long while since she'd renounced participating in any sort of social event unless mandatory. The only reason she bothered showing up to the one's hosted by the Circus was that it would raise far too many questions if she failed to show up. So she went. 

"Sybil..S-sybil Sinnett." The surname which tied her together with her family tasted bitter in her mouth. She had high hopes that Florence had never heard of her family otherwise the questions would never end. Sybil found a small chair much like the one she'd been sitting on when Florence had first arrived to the party. She took a seat there, studying her surroundings. Always looking. "Have you been acquainted with most everyone in the Circus?"

[ellie-linton-acrobat-deactivate]

A Study In Elegance // Ellie and Sybil

[ellie-linton-acrobat-deactivate]

“Yes, it does look quite… good.” Ellie nodded. 

“I’ve heard that the chefs here are some of the best in the world,” she smiled. “But I don’t think anyone apart from Chandresh has met them.” Ellie risked a quick glance up and down the table. The dishes placed in front of other diners looked equally as elegant and delicious as her own food. She took another bite and savoured it. This strange little bird really was one of the best things she’d ever tasted. 

As she studied Sybil more closely, it became obvious that Sybil was studying her as well. It seemed that at least something they had in common was the uncanny knack for noticing things others didn’t. Sybil had obviously grown up in a privileged family - her eating was delicate and she carried herself with an air of grace despite her shyness and willowy frame. 

As her neighbor began to eat, Ellie noticed a subtle shift in her demeanour. Where before there was nervousness and almost incapacitating shyness, there was a slight building of confidence as the food improved Sybil’s fortitude. “I am a reveur,” she answered, slightly louder than before. Good - her shyness was abating. Ellie nodded. She’d guessed as much. “You must have a lot of determination if you follow Les Cirque des Réves wherever it goes,” Ellie laughed. “Most people don’t have any kind of innate wanderlust. I suppose I must, though,  or I’d have tired of the circus life long ago.” 

“B-being an acrobat must be p-pretty swell.” At this, Ellie smiled again - she was doing that rather a lot. “It is fantastic. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. My father,” she paused. Don’t you dare cry, she admonished. Ellie swallowed and blinked away sudden moisture. “My father,” she continued, “persuaded us to travel all around so he could let me perform. When I was five I did my first somersault. He was so proud.” She stared at her plate, lost in thought. Though it had been many years since her father’s death, the grief of it still cut her like a knife wound. Ellie shook herself. She would enjoy tonight if it was the last thing she did. “So,” she asked curiously, “what drove you to become a reveur?”

[sinnett]

Sybil looked around the room, studying the different shades of pale colors that all the girls had appeared to wear that evening. How she longed for her own long silk cloaks which she received as birthday presents every year without fault. But alas, this was new territory completely and she couldn't force herself to return to her parents home simply so that she could be accommodated. The Circus had everything she needed, besides, it was full of stories and people that always seemed to be thinking, doing , dreaming. It was mystical the way the Circus just arrived. The Circus itself was magical, she could tell. 

The other girl's voice wavered and Sybil could feel nothing towards it except knowing. Knowledge of what it was like to be in her situation, when people made you talk about some things that you would have much rather forgotten and left buried away deep in the past. She hadn't pushed her to talk about her father though. At least she did not feel that she had. "Y-your father...he sounds..he sounds like he was a respectable and caring person." Sybil wasn't sure what the right words were to say to Ellie. Then again, there were no right words anyone could ever say to her so what made her think that it was a different situation for the poor girl sitting beside her? Exactly, she shouldn't be so quick to draw to such silly conclusions. 

Then came the question. Sybil chewed slowly on her food, contemplating what she was going to answer and also not wanting to show the sheer panic that had stricken her when the question was posed. After what seemed like only a few seconds to her, she focused straight ahead. On a painting of some man holding an oil lamp. How peculiar, she thought. "I ..I don't belong anywhere or to anyone.." She said, her voice sounding a lot more normal compared to her usual hushed tone. "In the Circus..you don't..y-you don't have to belong. You c-can j-j-just be." That wasn't the entire truth of the matter, of course. If she'd simply been kicked out of her home then she may have become more independent or gone back to plead to her parents but..no. It was seeing that pale baby in her arms, it was not hearing her son's cry that had led her to the Circus. 

[heavenknowsimmiserable-now]

[sinnett]

Bruising Serenade | Levi & Sybil.

[thecunningacrobat-blog]

Levi cocked his head to the side as he listened to the young woman before him speak, subconsciously moving his face closer to hers in attempts to hear her more clearly. She was so quiet, so fragile; like a mouse in the presence of a lion, even the slightest of noises would scare her away. The feeling of intrigue washed over the acrobat once more without warning, and Levi couldn’t help but long for a sort of reliance that would soon bud between them; a catalyst that would make him feel even more authoritative and in control.

Once she’d gotten through the first sentence, Levi then focused more on her features than her words. The way her eyes darted to the side in order to avoid his gaze at all cost, the way her lips trembled with each syllable that fought to escape her lips, the way her shoulders shook in what he assumed to be anxiety. Without thinking of the consequences that may come forth from his actions, Levi cupped her chin into the palm of his hand and gently tilted her head upward to finally meet his gaze, slowly tracing the outline of her jaw with his thumb as he did so. He meant for the action to be calming and encouraging, letting the Reveur know that it was alright to trust him with anything that she could possibly be hiding. As the final word made its way from her lips and floated toward him, he gave her another warm smile, dropping his hand back to his side.

“I can assure you,” he said, keeping his eyes on hers, “that while I may have teeth, I hardly ever bite. There’s no need for you to be nervous, I will help you with whatever it is that you need, all you have to do is ask.” Levi spoke with delicacy, his words coiling around the situation, ready to squeeze whenever the time was right in order to get the reaction he wanted. “Now, what is it that you have misplaced, Miss…?”  

[sinnett]

Sybil was still speaking slowly trying to utter her last few words when his hand moved forward and cupped her chin. She was paralyzed instantly, the shaking of her body stopped and her eyes widened; like a deer in the headlights. It had been a long while since Sybil had been embarrassed of actions that involved others but for some reason his words made her embarrassed that she was acting so afraid towards a man whom had just agreed to aid her in finding her grandfather's necklace. Part of her begged to relax more, to breathe but she couldn't help but be guarded. There was also the fact that the man sitting before her quite reminded her of the young man that had been courting her before her parents announced she should marry some wealthy Lord. 

"I have lost a necklace. It has a gold chain and a young girl carved in porcelain at the center of a golden portrait. It's quite important otherwise I would not...I would not..ask." She realized her lips were beginning to quiver again so she stopped herself from saying all that she wanted to say about the necklace. The sole thought of never seeing the thing again brought tears to her eyes. If Sybil were to lose that necklace it'd much like losing the last tie she had with her family. While many people she had met before finding the Circus had told her that it was best to let go of her family and move on to better things, she was still only a young girl, she didn't know how to let go of her dear family. 

"Sybil." She said, "Miss Sybil." She knew that it was improper for ladies to be spoken to by their first name but she didn't want to use her last name. The more she could hide "Sinnett" from everyone, the better off she'd be. If someone were to know her family, then the questions would quickly spring up. Why was she here? Why wasn't her family here? Had she done something wrong? All those questions were her very nightmares. A parade of torment that Sybil had to dodge each and every day. Her gaze finally broke away from his dark piercing eyes as she gazed around, noting that everyone was almost ready for the Circus to open up to it's viewers. She moved a few feet away, looking around the floor surrounding her, but to no avail. If someone else had grabbed the necklace, it'd be gone forever. 

[runaway-florence-blog]

Socializing is Tedious || Florence & Sibyl

[runaway-florence-blog]

Florence was immediately taken back by the girl’s posture and her mannerisms. Everything about this little woman said that she wanted to be as far away from the crowded room as possible, and though Florence thought that the girl wanted to be away from her, the idea was banished rather quickly. Florence had only recently sat down, after all, and the little blonde did offer something of an answer to her query.

“Crowds are the hardest part,” she offered quietly and with something of a smile, “and I can’t say I enjoy them. So many people in one room can make your head spin, hm?” It took a moment, but she finally looked to the blonde and offered a contemplative stare – just what was wrong with this girl?

Was she upset about something? Had she no friends to socialize with? Many girls her age would have been excited at the prospect of a dinner party, but she looked positively miserable. The way she hunched over and hit her hands under her legs made Florence wonder if she even wanted to be there at all.

Perhaps she was scared – parties were daunting, after all – but perhaps the reasoning was rooted into something far deeper. Perhaps the girl simply wanted to be alone… Florence could understand that. The writer did her best work in solitude and kept to herself more often than not – it was just a simple preference and a mechanism of defense that she had adopted over the years.

“Would you like to be elsewhere?” The question was a bold one, but one that Florence felt the need to ask, “Maybe on the patio or… in a different room?” It was rude to leave the parlor, but manners mattered little to Florence when someone was lamenting or in obvious distress, especially someone so young. The little blonde could easily have been one of Florence’s younger sisters if the situation was different, and Florence desperately hoped that a kind soul would take pity on one of them just as she took pity upon the blonde. 

[sinnett]

Sybil noticed that the girl was staring at her but she kept her look averted. She stared down at her hands which were adorned by laced gloves. She was beginning to get so pale that her hands were almost the same color as the gloves. A while back this thought might have brought a laugh to Sybil's face but not now - now it worried her. She was clearly not getting enough to eat, she didn't really see herself having much of a future. She followed the Circus because it was something to do. She enjoyed watching the acrobats perform because they belonged somewhere. The storyteller belonged somewhere. The animals even had a home. But her? Well, she was miserable whether she was in the Circus or not. To be fair - she did rather enjoy herself whenever people were actually performing but any other time it was quite difficult for Sybil to even find a peace of mind. 

The lady next to her asked a question that confused Sybil. The first question was if she'd rather be somewhere else. It took a moment for Sybil to realize that she meant somewhere else like a patio or a different room. At first she had thought that the lady was able to read minds or something of the sort and wanted to know if she would rather not be following the Circus, if she'd rather be back home. The truth of the matter was she always wished to go back home. That was the difficult part of returning to London. She missed her mother's embrace so much but at the time she couldn't help but see her parents as her enemies for having denied her. Part of her wanted to blame them for her child's death but a larger part of Sybil simply blamed herself. "A patio would be quite lovely. I-I think I need some..a-air." She knew that it was very rude to leave the party at the moment but before waiting to see if the lady would agree with her she stood up. She, however, couldn't bring herself to leave unless the lady before her led the way. 

[ellie-linton-acrobat-deactivate]

A Study In Elegance // Ellie and Sybil

[ellie-linton-acrobat-deactivate]

Ellie looked to her right curiously, eyeing the newcomer with interest. She was a wisp of a thing, so frail that it seemed as if she might blow away with a sudden breeze. Her expression was identical to the one Ellie herself had worn the night of the Valentine’s Day celebrations - hesitancy and nervousness, bordering almost on fear. 

She certainly didn’t recognise this girl - she was most likely a reveur. A small gasp escaped Sybil’s lips, and Ellie smiled. The newcomer was obviously just as amazed with the surroundings as she was. “Good evening,” Sybil said. The words were barely audible and Ellie had to stop and think whether she’d heard correctly. “Good evening,” Ellie replied. “I’m Ellie, an acrobat with the circus. You’re Sybil, correct?” she smiled, trying to calm the girl’s nerves. 

The waiters around her deposited gleaming silver platters in front of the diners - Ellie’s plate contained an entrée sized portion of some delicate fowl, roasted and served with an orange sauce. When she sampled it, the bird melted in her mouth, and the zesty sauce exploded on her tongue. “Mmm….” she murmured. “Delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like this before.” When she looked to Sybil, she couldn’t help but notice that the girl seemed familiar with the fine food. Interesting. She clearly came from a privileged background. “Are you a part of the circus or a reveur?”  

[sinnett]

Sybil was thankful that Ellie had heard her words despite how low her voice had been when she spoke. It was always a nightmare whenever someone asked her to repeat herself. Sometimes Sybil found that it was impossible for her to speak once again and simply wound up running out of the room. Ellie seemed like a very nice girl however and she would have hated to have to flee the room before even getting to know her. Getting to know someone didn't mean the same thing to Sybil than it did to most anyone else. She usually could tell a lot about a person by the simple things that they did, without having to ask too many questions. It was in their manners; the way they moved their hands, if they shoved hair behind their ear a lot, it was the small details that probably people didn't even notice about themselves that picked her interest. 

"Yes, it does look quite...good." Sybil said of the food, her stomach rumbling once more since it had been a long while since she had dined this way. At her old house she would have taken it for granted. She used to take a lot of things for granted before. It was true, she was still young, but when she was younger everything that was provided for Sybil was something she didn't think about twice. Now, it was nice to have a roof over her head as well as some descent clothing. She wondered if her closet back home was still filled with as many dresses as she had possessed. Those dresses were her very pride and joy. Sybil picked up one of the forks once it had been made obvious that they were allowed to being eating now. Once she had swallowed her food she turned to glance at Ellie again. "I am a reveur." She said a bit louder this time. Maybe it had something to do with finally having some descent food in her stomach but a small part of Sybil was finally beginning to pipe up. "B-being an acrobat must be p-pretty swell." She told her honestly and with a quick smile. 

[sinnett]

Bruising Serenade | Levi & Sybil.

[thecunningacrobat-blog]

The costume and make-up tent was abuzz in preparation for the night’s show with performers changing, stretching, and chatting. Levi sat at one of the handful of vanities, applying the final touches to his face while keeping up light conversation with those on either side of him. With graceful movements he drew accenting lines beneath his eyes and around his lips, leaving no room for error as he did so.

A few more minutes passed and once he’d sealed his make-up with powder, Levi was finished. He stood and took a few steps back from the counter, eyeing every aspect of himself in search of any smudges or mistakes. Upon seeing none, he exited the tent with a determined look as he took the time before he had to perform to people watch and persuade potential visitors to come to his tent and watch him.

A flash of red caught the eye of the acrobat as he let the flap of the tent fall to back to the ground behind him. It was not often that Levi took notice of the Reveurs as more often than not they got lost in the crowd or simply mistaken for a performer because of the attire they donned—and even when he did notice them, it was uncommon for Levi to pay them any mind because in reality, the group of them were just as much a part of the circus as the performers were, and he was much more interested in the opinions and companionship of a visitor whom he’d likely never see again than that of a regular who may catch on to his personality.

However, be that as it may, there was something noticeably different about this young woman. She had an air about her that seemed guarded and meek on top of the more noticeable confusion as she looked around as if she didn’t know where she was or what was going on. He couldn’t put his finger as to why, but this intrigued Levi and made him curious as to why it was she looked that way.

Levi would have continued watching her, maybe even approached her, if it hadn’t been for the older couple that were making a beeline toward him. He decided that they were more important to entertain at that moment than the Reveur and he averted his gaze to them, flashing smiles and answering any questions they could throw out at him. However, they soon grew tired and moved on to the next person, Levi sending them off with an invitation to visit him again. He turned to give his attention back to the woman from before, but she was no longer there.

“Umh… excuse me?”

Her voice was almost silent compared to the ever increasing hustle and bustle of visitors talking over one another in excitement, and if it weren’t for the fact that Levi had been watching her out of the corner of his eye even while talking to the patrons, he would not have known that she was even addressing him. He stood over the young woman, adjusting his gaze to meet hers, her eyes full of emotion that resembled fear. Knowing that he came off as aloof, Levi softened his features and offered her a broad smile in attempts of letting her know that he did not, in fact, bite. He took pride in the fact that he was able to read situations and those around him and adapt to them in a way that drew more people toward him. It was something that took time to perfect, but once he did, he never had to worry about the loneliness he’d felt in his childhood ever again.

There was time before his performance and Levi decided that he would give her a bit of his time; what’s the worst that could happen?

With a quirk of his brow and a coy smile he said, “Yes? May I be of assistance?”

[sinnett]

Despite herself, Sybil could feel that her lip was quivering. Every muscle in her small body was beginning to tense at the single sentence that she had spoken. Her already fair skin fell to an even paler shade and the night seemed to continue to grow colder and colder. Finally, the dark brooding figure that was the man sitting before her turned to face her. For some strange reason that Sybil couldn't quite figure out his coy smile brought back a memory. She was another person, fourteen years old at some master ball. The air was chilly as it was in this night but Sybil knew nothing of the world. She was young and naive and the man who was with her without her parents knowledge was quick to take advantage of her delicate self. It wasn't so much that Sybil had not been willing to go with him because she had. But that was the man that had ruined her life. At least, that's how she saw things. The moment that Sybil became pregnant was the moment her life took a toll for the worse. That smile, was the same smile. 

She quietly told herself that this was nothing to worry about, she always had memories such as this one at the strangest of times. Whenever she met someone knew, they'd somehow remind her of her past. It'd never been as intense as in this moment but the memories constantly came crashing back towards her. "I have lost something." She forced herself to blurt out. The stutters were still there and she couldn't help but not return his gaze but she was still proud of the fact that she'd been able to speak in the first place. "I-I was w-wondering if you would...p-please assist me in..in seeking it before..the show starts." The last three words came out in almost a whisper, the air catching them and taking them away from her but not before he could hear them. Her hair blew around in the wind, the faint sent of the strawberries she'd had earlier hit her hard and she had a time bringing herself back to this place, this time. 

[s-sybil-blog]

Hopeless Wanderers | Oscar & Sybil.

[oscar-ashdown]

Oscar found the young woman to be vastly different to every other person he had met traveling the circus. Of course every person in the circus had been so utterly unique but most shared a vibrance, a lust for life. He hadn’t met so many people with such electric positive energy that meeting someone without it really was a curious thing. Unlike most people who wanted to prove their worth to the world and show off their talent Miss Sybil seemed to draw further within herself the more Oscar talked She was a curious  woman, there was a brightness inside her that shone through those dark clouds.He wanted to help draw her out of her shell, Oscar tried to coax happiness out of each and every person he met. He watched her as her eyes darted around the vast library, it truly was a grand sight. He smiled warmly each time she looked in his direction, he wanted her to see he meant no harm.

She looked nervous of his questions, even though Oscar was just trying to be friendly. If the girl was traveling along behind the circus she really ought to befriend the people within in. Oscar had at first cut himself off from most of the others, scared to leave the confines of his mind. But as he started to open himself up more to his new colleagues and companions he enjoyed the world within the circus so much more. Magic is always better when it is shared. Sybil out to have friends, perhaps she did. Perhaps the reveurs she usually traveled with weren’t snowbound in the mansion with the rest of them, or perhaps she was taking a break to spend some quiet time alone. Or perhaps the last person she would choose for a friend was a man who must be twice her age! As always he had to listen closely as she spoke, her words small and timid. “You don’t know?” Oscar repeated, “Never mind that, you are still young. You are lucky to be able to see the world with us, it’s quite an adventure don’t you think? You can decide what to do along the way.” He gave her another warm smile, she had her life ahead of her.

“I am certain that isn’t true.” Oscar protested and shook his head. She was was young! There were so many things she had yet to try! Far too young to have such a jaded outlook on life. “If there is one place where one is almost certain to discover their talent is with the circus, I do believe we do a little bit of everything here.” He hoped his positive outlook would rub off on her. Oscar found it must easier to be positive about other people than himself. He watched as she closed up again, a mouse disappearing back into it’s hole. He stood to his feet and wandered to a bookshelf. Perhaps she would find it easier to talk to him if they weren’t sitting face to face, it was less like and interview or interrogation. “So what things do you enjoy Miss Sybil? Even if you aren’t very good at it?” Oscar inquired as his eyes grazed over the spines. To his pleasant surprise many of the titles were in English. He selected The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the shelf and held it up to Sybil. “Have you read this? It was one of my favourites when I was perhaps a just a little bit older than yourself.” 

[sinnett]

Sybil shrugged her shoulder slightly, fighting back the sudden urge she had to tell him that he was indeed wrong. There had been many things Sybil tried to accomplish when she was on her own; cooking, sewing, writing. But all of those things had turned out to be horrible. Perhaps it was the fact that she had no faith in herself, no one to be there and comfort her at night. It was very hard for her to remember that she was barely sixteen years old. She shouldn't be expected to have an adult outlook on life. But, despite this, she still tried to grow up quickly. She had to grow up quickly first for her child and later for herself. Nevertheless, she didn't know how to love herself. She wasn't sure how to go about trying to make the situation better for herself. 

His words struck her harder than she let on and she was thankful when he got up and examined the bookcases. Sybil let out a sigh and crossed her legs on top of the couch. She knew that it was not proper lady etiquette but what did it matter now. She was aware that she had not made the best impression upon him or anyone else that she had met in the Circus. "I like watching everyone perform because everyone is good at what they do." That was her response to him speaking about the fact that they were in the Circus. She examined her pale hands. There were a few bruises on them here and there from different incidents. Her nails were bitten down and her fingers were almost so thin that you could see her bones. I must be a frightening sight, she thought to herself. 

"My father's library was my favorite place to be. I enjoy reading - books are magical things that can transport you to different places. Much like your stories. I - I want to do something related to children. I'm not sure what but I'd like to be close to ....children." The young girl wasn't sure why she'd opened her mouth at all but she was hoping that he hadn't noticed the way her voice shook whenever she said the word. It was a word that she hadn't said, not since her son died. Sybil's eyes threatened to become filled by tears but they were tears she was well aware, wouldn't come. It'd been a long while since she had last cried, now, she simply couldn't anymore. She was tired of crying. 

[runaway-florence-blog]

Socializing is Tedious || Florence & Sibyl

Florence never expected to return to England. When she ran away with the circus she was nearly certain that it would never stop in the same place twice, but she suppose that she deserved some kind of punishment for assuming something so ridiculous. England was home for many of the performers and reveurs so it made too much sense for the little caravan of traveling wonders to stop where the proprietor was seated. If only she had the sense to think of something so basic before she actually became a reveur. Unfortunately she was too far lost in the magic of the circus to even consider leaving it behind, and so she arrived in London and kept to her room on the train.

Even when trying to maintain a minimal presence, Florence could hardly come up with ane xcuse not to attend a dinner hosted by the owner of the circus. She reminded herself that she hadn’t but one suitable dress, though that was hardly enough of an excuse and no such excuse came though she tried her best to wrack her mind for reasons not to attend. By the eve of the midnight dinner, Florence had resigned herself to giving up her solitude… but only for a few hours. Besides, it wasn’t as if any of her family or former friends would see her at such a late hour – they would all be asleep.

Her color for the evening was red and Florence wore it reasonably well, though the dress was old and just barely still in fashion – it had been a gift from her husband and been hastily packed as a precautionary measure since she didn’t want to endure the embarrassment of being underdressed for any occasion. Truth be told, she almost felt traitorous wearing the garment even though she was nearly certain that it never hurt to wear a gift… even if she had run away from the man who gave it to her.

Such thoughts were banished as soon as she walked in the door and handed her coat to the attendant, exchanging polite words with the man before she made her way into the parlor. It took exactly two minutes before she was joined by a woman who had already been captivated by some kind of drunken stupor.

It didn’t take much conversation from the woman before Florence became fed up, resorting to giving the minimal with her answers while obviously searching about the room for someone to save her from her plight. It wasn’t until the woman pointed out the fact that Florence didn’t enjoy her company that the hopeful writer actually gave a response that was above a short sentence.

“While I’m sure that you’re a lovely person,” she murmured, though she wasn’t entirely convinced of her own words, “I don’t think you’re in possession of your faculties at the moment, and I’m not entirely sure that you know what you’re saying. It might be best if you… sobered up. Though you don’t have to take my word for it… there are plenty in the room who – judging only by the looks they’re giving you – would agree.”

The woman, flushed and embarrassed, could only manage a string of slurred insults before she demanded that Florence take her leave. The writer obliged happily and set her sights for the other side of the room where she found a little blonde girl that she vaguely recognized. After taking up a place next to her, Florence plucked a glass of wine from a tray carried by a waiter and murmured a single sentence in greeting.

“Socializing is tedious, don’t you think?”

[sinnett]

Sybil sat on a chair by herself studying everyone else around the room. She had had enough socializing for the week but knew that more questions would come up if she decided not to continue joining the dinner events. London absolutely terrified her. Not for the reasons that everyone else might think. She didn't mind her parents seeing her, she wanted them to see her - to find her and tell her that she could go back under their wing. For some reason sometimes even she herself forgot that she was barely sixteen years old. Sybil was barely a child and despite the fact that she was trying her hardest to teach her parents a lesson and show them that she was doing fine on her own, it was still difficult. Every single day that she had been with the Circus, she'd been secretly hoping to return home. 

Now that she was here, however, she didn't want to go back. Sybil wanted to remain in this house and never walk outside for fear of being found out. Nothing interesting was occurring in her surroundings and for this she was both content and absolutely bored. She didn't want to sit here and have to stare at people awkwardly socialize but she also didn't want some sort of dramatic situation to occur because she could possibly become involved. That's when she noticed a woman raise her voice. Not screaming. But just loud enough so that Sybil could see her be a tad tense. 

The woman was saying something to another one that by the looks of it, was absolutely drunk. Alcohol had not slipped through Sybil's lips since leaving England. Her parents allowed her some alcohol at family dinners but she'd also snuck more than a few drinks when she was around her beloved sweetheart that had gotten her pregnant. He sent chills running up and down her spine whenever she thought about him. Her thoughts were caught short when the other woman came and sat down in the chair beside her own. "Y-yes..I..I would agree." Sybil shut her lips quickly after answering her and slouched further into her chair. She shoved her hands underneath her legs, the way that she always reacted when she was in a situation that didn't exactly make her the happiest. 

[ellie-linton-acrobat-deactivate]

A Study In Elegance // Ellie and Sybil

This was Ellie’s first Midnight Dinner - she had heard of Chandresh Lefevre’s lavish parties, of course, but she had never attended one, until now. They said the food was exquisite, every dish as unique as its owner. The guest list was ever changing - sometimes the party could be thirty people, sometimes as intimate as five, but never less than that. 

Ellie entered the dining room with more than a little trepidation, searching for a familiar face - but it was difficult to make out anyone she knew. She scanned the place cards written in black ink until she found her own and sat down. She reveled in the allowance of a new and vibrant dress code - her gown was bold, forest green silk with a nipped in waist and short, ruffled sleeves. A simple diamond chain lay about her throat. 

Who would be joining her? Ellie wondered. The card to her immediate right read Sybil Sinnet, but the acrobat searched her mind for some familiarity and came up blank. A reveur? A circus actor? She would have to see. Meanwhile, she could look around the dining room in wonder - so that was what she did. Several delicate crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and shed light upon a long dining table covered in a cream coloured linen tablecloth. 

The chairs and table ornaments were a dark brown in contrast with the cloth, and all around were paintings in gilded frames. It was a study in elegance and finery. The mystery of Ellie’s first dinner companion was solved sooner than she had hoped - someone was approaching the table with their eyes on the seat next to her.

[sinnett]

Sybil was mortified of what was going on. By agreeing to attend this dinner she knew that she was walking right into the wolves trap. Despite how shy her nature was and how much she guarded herself from questions by other people - she was interested in the people of the Circus. She'd met the story teller, Oscar Ashdown, whom despite her trying not to, intrigued her more than she let on. But besides him, she had not spoken more than two sentences to anyone else. The actual performers were those interested her the most however. Acrobats, mainly. 

Her body was hugged by a long pale white gown that she had managed to get her hands on. It has lavender colored stitching at the edge of the sleeves as well as adorning the chest. She had fallen in love with it the moment her clear blue eyes had laid upon it. Now, she entered the master room adorned by portraits on each wall. They were made with colors of gold and red that accented the enormous dining table and soft couches that were located beside a fireplace that was most likely always burning. A small gasp escaped Sybil's impenetrable lips at the beauty of it all. 

The fact that she had to find her seat made her very nervous. She didn't want to have to ask anyone for help so she walked closer, slowly until she caught sight of her name on a tag right in front of where she was standing. A smile formed on her face and left as soon as it had come. Sybil took her seat on one of the large seats and examined her surroundings. Her eyes last flickered on the girl sitting beside her. "Good evening." She said to the older girl. Sybil had managed to let her words out before they got caught in her throat. 

As soon as she'd said the two words, waiters entered the room. They each held silver platters that were so promising they made Sybil's stomach rumble and her cheeks bright with embarrassment. The entire scenery also reminded her of home, however. She couldn't help but admit to herself in that moment that she did indeed miss her family. Her beloved mother and father, always prestigious. Still - they'd abandoned her when she most needed them. The waiters surrounded both her and the girl beside her, setting down familiar meals on both their plates. Sybil felt...normal for once since joining the Circus. 

[sinnett]

Bruising Serenade | Levi & Sybil.

The word slipped her mouth before Sybil was aware that she had even been thinking it. It was a nasty one that any lady was probably shunned from saying. Luckily for her, there was no one around to hear her swear. She sat down on the ground, too panic stricken to be able to figure out what she was supposed to do from this point on. She liked to believe that there were no thieves in the circus but despite how naive she might be, there was still no way to explain what had happened to her necklace. It had to be over seventy years old, with a golden crown in the middle. It was simple and most people would dismiss it as nothing of value but to Sybil it was more than just another gold necklace. It was the last trace of home that she had left. It had been given to her by her grandfather when she was born. She hadn't taken it off since that day. Now, it was gone, just like that. 

Her grandfather. The man who sat her down on his lap every evening after dinner to tell her one of his many tales. It had broken her heart in two when she found out that he had passed away. It was because of the bitter cold, that's what her parents said. But Sybil knew better than that. Her grandfather had a bigger problem, what kind, she didn't know, but she knew that the cold had not killed her favorite person. She leaned her head on both her hands, sighing in frustration. It didn't make sense that something which had clung to her neck for the sixteen years she'd been alive could have just disappeared. It was one hour before the next show was to start and Sybil knew that she would have to find it before that time otherwise it would be lost in the crowd. 

"I-I can do this." She uttered the words but she was not certain that that was true. Finally, she managed to get up and out of the tiny room she'd rented at their current stop. She looked around outside but she didn't even know where to start. Everyone was running about trying to get ready for the show. Each show seemed to be different, every person had some hidden secret, and the nights were all magical. Sybil would normally be excited to go sit amongst the audience and take in their excitement. Those were the few moments that she didn't spend pitying herself. There was, however, one person who didn't seem to be at all that busy. A tall man with dark hair that fell almost down to his shoulders. He wasn't paying her any mind but also looking around at the people getting ready. Sybil didn't want to, but she knew the only way she'd even have a chance of finding her necklace would be to ask for help.

Her hands immediately fell to her side and were bundled up into fists. It was her reaction whenever she had to do something that involved other people. She was a guarded person and anything that was change scared her. Sybil shied away from everything and anyone. The few times that she had contact with other people it was because they came up to her instead of the other way around. "Umh..excuse me?" Sybil's voice was barely audible but she hoped that the man had been able to hear her small voice. Otherwise, she was not certain that she could muster up the courage to talk to him again. 

[s-sybil-blog]

Hopeless Wanderers | Oscar & Sybil.

[oscar-ashdown]

Oscar nodded away her thanks, secretly pleased with himself for being able to bring a smile and words of thanks from the quiet young miss. He couldn’t help but wondering about her family, the thoughts naturally leading from the mention of her grandfather. She was younger by far than the other reveurs, younger than the performers. She was an English girl and so far away from home. Many people in the circus had lives they were walking away from, family they wanted to forget. The circus became an extended family for so many people, even though the girl was far from home she wasn’t alone, she was surrounded people who would go to the end of the world for her, simply because she shared a love for the black and white place that bought so many people together. He wasn’t going to ask, he had seen the nervous reluctance at the sharing of even a tiny tidbit of her family history.

So he was happy to talk, tell her about himself and his stories, make her feel safe and welcome. Oscar got no greater pleasure than making friends, no matter how different they were from himself, he could find something to talk about with even a girl who must be half his age. He thought on her question for a moment and smiled to himself. “Probably for about as long as I’ve known to speak.” Oscar told her with only slight exaggeration. “I’ve always loved telling stories, assembling those wonderful puzzles of words. I never imagined I’d be able to do it for a living though, I must have the best job in the world.” He grinned, content as he thought about how lucky he was to make money and see the world doing his passion.

He continued talking, slowly bringing the conversation around to herself and her interests, wanting to show her she was an interesting person. She didn’t need to sit silently, scared to say a peep. Everyone had their own stories that needed to be heard. “Do you ever think you will be as lucky as me? Being able to spend your days doing what you are best at, doing what you love and being paid for it?” He queried, wondering what aspirations the young girl had. “Or will you be content following the circus for many more years to come?”

[sinnett]

Sybil looked around the room after asking her set of questions. It was something she had always tended to do even as a small child. That was her way of getting people to not focus on her too much. She figured that if she didn't look at someone then there was no need for them to really look at her. When he said that he'd been telling stories for as long as he could speak, her eyes finally settled on him. She believed him. He had a way with words that she figured it must go back to long before she had even been alive. Maybe his father passed down the tradition or something like that. Sybil had read in her father's books many great tales but they usually had nothing to do with anything Sybil remotely cared for so she'd quickly dismiss them. His stories, however, seemed to have a twist to them that made her feel as if they were indeed directed towards her. But those were foolish thoughts, she told herself. 

He was looking at her and though he was beating around it, Sybil knew he was going to ask her a question. She placed her hands underneath her legs and stood still, waiting for him to continue speaking. That was a question she'd rarely been asked. As if someone like her could possibly have a hobby. But, the truth of the matter was that she didn't know if she'd continue to follow the Circus for as long as it reigned. Part of her still hoped that her parents would take her back in their care. She was still young, after all and that was a part of her she couldn't brush away. "I do not..know." Sybil admitted, the words tasting sour in her mouth. Admitting to it was like making sure that it came true - that she was forever destined to follow the Circus around and never do much for herself. 

"I..I am not very good at most things." She shrugged hoping that that would be the end of his questions but knowing that she'd provided too little information for him or anyone to possibly be content. "I am hoping that by traveling alongside the Circus I find something, though...that I am good at." With that, she shut her mouth and started looking around the room they were in. There were so many stories in one single room. She'd always loved libraries, especially after the incident. Books were one way that she could forget about things if only for a couple of chapters. Sybil's mother had been profoundly against her father teaching her how to read but he had done so and for that she knew she'd be eternally grateful. 

[vladimirnabokovs]

Elle Fanning by Norman Jean Roy - Vogue US March 2013