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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Jan 31, 2016 23:47:44 GMT -5
I wonder where Lucille is?
The thought passed through Manolo's mind once more as he looked at the multitude of buildings and tents that lay before him. Despite knowing he needed to grow comfortable with those people who called the Cirque there home, he was still having difficulties. And even though Facilier assured him his being part Calaca and everything that entailed would cause no problems, the young man was still extremely leery. When one's very touch could kill someone..... it wasn't something you just brushed off your shoulder.
For a moment, he let his warm, brown eyes run over the spaces between the tents, hoping to see his red-haired companion from his slight vantage point just outside the circus. He had found a wooden bench sitting a short distance away from the last tent and on a small hill, the perfect place to still be close and yet have some space to himself to practice his guitar. However, he had spent his time since sitting down searching for Lucille, wondering if she was settling in well.
After a few more moments of looking, he finally shook his head and turned his attention back to the instrument resting in his hands. He ran his fingers down the strings and produced a well-tuned chorus of notes. Satisfied that his guitar was tuned, he began to slowly pick his way through a song, something slow and laid-back yet holding within it a seductive undertone. As he continued through the melody, the anxiety left his face and his shoulders relaxed for he first time since joining the Cirque Mystique.
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 1, 2016 0:59:20 GMT -5
Odette massaged her head and tried to retain the bout of bloodlust that was slowly coming over her. The pains of being a Striga, even the tiniest paper cut could awaken the predatory instincts. And chances were seeing the cirque's matriarch turn into a hawklike creature with glowing red eyes could cost some trouble. She stumbled from the tents her manicured fingers pressing onto her temple, blindly stumbling through the tarps.
Once she was away from masses and the music was just a din, she could beathe. The headache's pulses grew less and less prominent until she could sigh. The only music she heard from nearby was the metallic, hollow plucking sounds of strings.
A guitar?
Miguel was going to perform with the clowns. There was no way that could have been him. Unless he decided to cut performing. If Facilier wouldn't talk sense, she would. She hardened her face into a stern one before skirting the corner to tell him to get in there...only to see the guitarist was not Miguel.
"Oh," her strict expression fell. "Forgive me, I had your lovely music confused with someone else."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 1, 2016 23:04:24 GMT -5
Manolo had been so focused on his music that he didn't notice the sound of footsteps coming quickly towards him until they were only a few yards away. He suddenly paused, his fingers still resting over the strings as he looked up to see a woman approaching him. She was tall, slender, and quite beautiful in a pale blonde way. However, the expression on her face could only be described as stern and annoyed.
The guitarist blinked at this cool look but didn't even have a chance to move before the woman's expression changed into one of surprise. She stopped before him and offered an apology, claiming she had mistaken his music for another person's.
He blinked up at her for a few moments before rising, his guitar still resting in his palms.
"I....did not realize there were others who played the guitar here. If I am disturbing you, I can find another place to play."
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 2, 2016 0:52:48 GMT -5
"No no, you're all right." Odette held out her hands definisvely, shaking them every which way. "There are no laws in the cirque, or at least ones that aren't so set in stone." There were rules, yes, but not so much big no-nos. "Yes, there are...other musicians here. I confused you for one of our clowns who strums on his own guitar."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 2, 2016 1:01:32 GMT -5
Manolo had started to step away, his own anxiety starting to slowly return at the approach of this woman. However, she herself seemed to be far more flustered at her mistake, waving her hands in front of her and speaking quickly. He stopped and looked at her, somehow her own anxiety helping to reduce his own.
"Well, I am certainly no clown. I.....to be honest, I do not know yet what role Mr. Facilier will wish for me to fill."
He dropped his gaze down to his guitar at the realization that he was not the only musician at the Cirque. It made sense, but somehow he hadn't really stopped to consider what that might mean in regards to himself and Lucille. Perhaps they would not perform at all as a duo but instead be utilized in other ways. He didn't know and at this point he wasn't even certain it would matter if he did.
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 2, 2016 1:17:06 GMT -5
Odette pursed her lips. So thiss was a newcomer to the Cirque Mystique. Facilier was known for being uncertain on where to place individuals. Some times the wait lasted so long, people literally walked off the grounds before the approval could be given. "Typical of my husband," she shook her head with a dry chuckle. "He goes through file after file and then poor souls are curious whether or not he has forgotten about them,"
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 2, 2016 1:27:21 GMT -5
Manolo was only partly listening to the woman and his fingers gently picked over his guitar in an absentminded sort of way, producing extremely muted tones. However, when the woman mentioned her husband, his hand jerked and a chaotic tangle of noise reverberated from the body of the instrument before being silenced by his palm over the strings.
The woman had his full attention now at the realization of what she had said.
"You're Facilier's wife?"
It seemed like the circus was already living up to some of the rumors surrounding it, throwing complete surprises at him at every opportunity.
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 2, 2016 1:40:13 GMT -5
"...I am. The cirque's matriarch. I have not as much control over the affairs as my husband, but I do what I can to chip in every now and then." A simple statement, almost dull, even. She had to explain the truth eventually other wise things would have been unbelievably...but then she wondered to herself why she had stupidly spilled it out loud. For all she knew, this simple musician could have been a spy for an invisible enemy.
"...Forget I said that."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 7, 2016 0:31:50 GMT -5
Manolo was about to blurt out something stupid like "I didn't realize Facilier was married" but was saved the embarrassment when the woman continued to speak. It was clear from her own words that she didn't want to go into any depth on the topic, so he merely nodded his head before placing his guitar on the strap that held it to his back. He then rose from his seat and gave a quick bow, never one to forget his manners even if he was still quite nervous himself.
"Forgive my lack of knowledge. I am rather new to this establishment and haven't had the chance to learn much in the way of, well.......anything."
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 7, 2016 0:39:10 GMT -5
A gentleman. It was rare to come across one nowadays, especially in the days of online dating and other horendous acts abused by technology. "There are some facts kept with a tight lid," she answered, folding her hands. "My...marriage was sure to come out in time. Better earlier than somewhere else, I suppose."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 7, 2016 0:46:42 GMT -5
Manolo offered no reply, unsure of how this striking woman might react. Outwardly she appeared to be a beautiful woman, the kind that would be soft and docile and polite. However, some deep instinct told him that this was all face and just under the surface was someone you did not want to cross.
Instead, he chose to follow a safer course of conversation with a simple introduction.
"My name is Manolo Sanchez. I was only this past week hired on by Mr. Facilier along with a fellow companion of mine."
It was a simple approached used by people all the time, but perhaps it would allow Manolo to learn something on how this woman wanted to be treated.
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 7, 2016 0:49:20 GMT -5
A simple introduction? Odette arched her eyebrow and a corner of her mouth twitched amusedly. This Manolo was sure to be swarmed by multiple women if time allowed. Anyone who treated the other with respect was sure to win several admirers. Un;ess his companion was a woman who was very attached to the hip, which was something Odette understood well.
"I'm Odette. Mrs. Facilier doesn't quite have the ring it should have."
Her laugh was melodious, like a few birds twittering.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 7, 2016 1:04:02 GMT -5
"Odette? Quite the unusual name. I don't believe I have ever known someone with such a name before."
Manolo wasn't lying and he wasn't trying to be charming. It was the truth. After all, he'd spent almost all of his life in Mexico and a short time in France. Such a name would rarely have been found in his home country and while it was likely to be more common in France, he had kept his distance from people and really only interacted with a spare few.
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Post by zuyuri on Feb 7, 2016 1:12:51 GMT -5
"European. It means 'wealth'."
Or so said the book where Odette had looked up her name. Humans usually knew it by the ballet of a tragic story between a cursed princess and a man forced to marry. Fitting, in a sense. Her age was deceiving to some, given how old she was. She sniffed the air around Manolo. No, he was not human. At least, not entirely. The earthy, musty scent of rotting plantlike echoed throughout his aura. Not a very pleasant meal for a Striga.
"So, you are from Mexico. A bit far from home."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Feb 7, 2016 1:21:42 GMT -5
Manolo blinked in surprise when Odette guessed he was from Mexico, but he quickly realized that is accent must have given him away. He gave a small nod and a smile but suddenly froze as he looked at Odette and she did something. Was she...sniffing him? He wasn't sure but felt the urge to take a step away from her. However, he managed to force the urge down and gave a small cough to cover up his sudden tension.
"Si. Although I've spent the last two years or so living in Paris. It was quite a change for me, rather like coming to work here actually."
He gestured towards the tents and caravans that formed the outline of the Cirque Mystique.
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