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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 7, 2009 9:06:49 GMT -5
There was a new attraction at the circus, more of a freak-show sort. Fresh posters had been slapped up, The Amazing Bird Man getting his own little place in the ad between the dancing elephants and the sword-swallowers. He was supposed to be spectacularly convincing, but no one had seen him yet- not even his fellow performers.
Which was why there was a good chance of Erin's getting thrown out as he leaned now against a pole and smoked a cigarette. He did not look like a bird man- no wings, no talons, nothing like that- only a thing, slightly worn down young man with messy blonde hair who was apparently ignoring the world at large.
(( Tag Gwynplaine! ))
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 9, 2009 11:54:11 GMT -5
Gwynplaine, like everyone else, had heard the rumors of the new act, but did not connect them with the slim blond fellow gazing at nothing as he smoked. Perhaps a spectator, he thought--but there was something about him that indicated he was not there to witness. Perhaps it was the utter lack of notice of his surroundings.
Not that he was the only one. Gwynplaine stepped wrong and tripped in a hole that was probably originally dug for a post, dropping the parcels of market shopping he'd been carrying. But his first thought was for the scarf that was wound tightly around the lower half of his face; his hand went to it instantly, ensuring that it was secure, before he began to pick up the parcels that lay scattered near the other man's feet.
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 10, 2009 21:22:35 GMT -5
Erin watched rather dispassionately as Gwynplaine tripped in front of him, for several seconds actually debating whether he'd rather continue smoking or help pick up some of the packages. He decided to help, for a rather singular purpose; as he knelt to pick one up, his green eyes lingered on Gwyplaine's scarf. Erin had noticed it was the first thing the stranger had reached for, and it wasn't particularly cold that day.
"What's under the scarf?" he asked, the package he'd picked up held loosely in one hand but not, more importantly, held out to where Gwyplaine could reach it easily.
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 12:20:46 GMT -5
Gwynplaine's eyes flickered from the package to Erin's face. The eyes were oddly sad, as if the expression within had been fixed as an early age and become as much a part of him as his grey irises. It was not a self-pitying sadness, however, but quiet and unassuming. They were the eyes of a man who was hardly noticed except to be laughed at.
"Nothing of importance," he said. He eyed the man again, gambling that he was not a customer. "Or my livelihood. It's a matter of opinion, I suppose."
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 17:00:47 GMT -5
A pause, as Erin drew in on his cigarette as he thought. Then- "Now I'm curious," he said, deliberately blowing the smoke away so that it would not drift in Gwyplaine's direction. "As to what you can do with that mouth." He hefted the package in his hand, thoughtlessly, idly, like he'd forgotten he was even holding it. "Name?"
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 17:06:39 GMT -5
Gwynplaine reached out for the package, but not with quite enough force to actually take it from the man. Just a gesture towards it, like a question hanging between them.
"It's not exactly what it can do, or I shouldn't need to cover it," he said. The man's statement had embarrassed him somehow, and he wasn't sure why. "My name is Gwynplaine, and I am... a juggler. Do you work here?"
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 17:12:55 GMT -5
Erin gave it to him easily. He had no real desire to hang onto the thing now that it'd served its purpose - to make Gwyplaine stop. "Erin Harper," he said as way of introduction. "Yeah, I do now. As of three days ago."
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 17:25:55 GMT -5
Gwynplaine took the package, balancing it on the others.
"Ah," he said, as always saddened by the sort of life they led, many not by choice, but unwilling to pry lest he stir up painful memories for another. Anyway, he'd been right. "Welcome, Erin Harper. I hope you are settling in well enough."
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 17:31:55 GMT -5
The blonde gave a shrug. "Dunno yet about 'settling.' I'll have to see once I've performed." He hesitated, tempted for a moment to ask- but no, that would be a stupid question. Yes, he'd somehow found himself here, in 19th century Paris, when he was decidedly a 21st century New Yorker, but how did one ask about something like that? Erin didn't. He'd adapted just fine, hadn't he? The only time his...ability had ever come in handy. Best not to think about what he would have done if the circus hadn't been in town.
Pale eyebrows raised- "They don't throw things, do they?"
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 17:36:27 GMT -5
Gwynplaine lifted an eyebrow himself, partially amused but partially rueful. "Only when you're bad," he murmured. "Usually you needn't worry, but some of the crowds are rowdier than others." He could see no physical oddity, but that didn't always mean anything. "Are you an acrobat?"
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 17:45:26 GMT -5
Erin gazed back at him, mouth twisted skeptically- then he realized, ah, of course. It always surprised him, although it shouldn't, when people didn't see him. He didn't feel like changing to demonstrate for the man, though- despite the itch he felt at the very thought, the eagerness, the willing to slide into the heightened instincts and adrenaline rush of his other form, Erin was too used to hiding. He'd get over it fast, he'd have to, but his first impulse was to keep it to himself.
Stupid impulse. Erin threw it out airily, in a way that might have appeared thoughtless, although in reality as he told Gwyplaine what he did he was already tensed in preperation for...what, exactly? Flight or fight? Even he didn't know.
"I'm the new bird-man." A pause, as his blue eyes flickered away and then back, a little nervously, false bravado in how he met Gwyplaine's eyes and lifted his chin, unconsciously. "Not at the moment, of course."
He hoped as he waited for Gwyplaine's response, should the crowd get rowdy, that he didn't hurt anyone. Damn would his job be gone fast.
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 17:54:46 GMT -5
Gwynplaine took this news quite passively. He was used to made freaks--he was one, himself, though not by his own doing. He had yet to see someone convincing who shows no natural signs of deformity, but that wasn't really his business. He assumed, of course, that the man had devised some sort of costume or apparatus that was convincing enough for the rubes.
"Of course," he said. There was a distance, of course, between those who could put on and take off their freakishness, and those who wore it, like he did, whether made or not. But he felt no ill-will towards the man, and offered no judgment. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Harper. I look forward to catching your act."
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 17:59:24 GMT -5
The utter lack of- of anything left Erin bewildered for a moment, and he stared at Gwynplaine before blinking and nodding. "Yeah, okay. And I yours, if you take off that scarf to do it."
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Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
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Post by Gwynplaine on Feb 11, 2009 18:02:39 GMT -5
"I do," Gwynplaine said. "But I do not charge everyone." He might as well know; it would be one less anxious gasp followed by gales of laughter in the audience one night. Gwynplaine reached up and tugged the scarf down, revealed the permanent grin etched onto his face, at odds entirely with the calm, grey eyes above it. "I am a clown, Mr. Harper."
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Post by Erin Harper on Feb 11, 2009 18:22:50 GMT -5
Erin stared, his eyes going wide, then narrowing as he took in the whole surreal image.
"W-well....damn." he said at last, face slack in his astonishment. "Holy fuck, does that hurt?" A moment later and, puzzled, “How can anyone laugh at you?” Little shivers running down his spine- if Gwynplaine had shown him his, shouldn't Erin do the same thing? It was only fair, right? And he wanted it. His voice lowered, as he smiled a little, eyes narrowed again and glinting. "Wanna see mine?"
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