The Circus, or in its homeland language Il Circo, was made up by mostly game stalls where children of the performs would pick the unknowing players for wallets and purses, then a large black and crimson striped tent in the center. With its multiple peeks it gave the impression that it would come crashing down or at lest not look as big as it did on the inside. The ramshackle wooden fence circled it in a half moon to keep onlookers away from the workers wagons, animal cages and tents. In the day it was fun filled with smiling clowns and bright colors, but at night, for the fair few that received a ticket, from one of the prettiest of show girls, the bright colors melted into darker shades and the smiles were replaced with masks or sinister grins. At night was when the twisted and grotesque would be put on display for a few pieces of coin.
With in the big top tent the ringmaster waited under the raised floor and the trap door for the smoke and explosion to appear before he sprung threw as if by magic. Behind curtains clowns, acrobats, show girls, the cat tamers watched the fall of the lights and held their breaths in anticipation for the opening act, the Grand Masters speech.
In flashes of light and standard smoke a tall, gruffed voice man stood cloaked in deep purple velvet. Hands by his side to drop the small pelts of smoke on his companions doors he began his speech. ”Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls of all ages, we humbly invite you to join us on a journey into a world of dreams and enchantments. Watch as daring artists fly threw the air as if they had wings on their back, as elephants dances with bears, as even the wildest of man eating beasts be tamed into house cats.”
As his speech reached the end his voice raised and he threw down the small bombs. From the door to his left a sleek black panther emerge, head tall chest puffed in a showman’s pride and to the right a woman. She was clad in black leggings that disappeared into her tall black boots on the top a pure white ruffled shirt with a blood red tuxedo jacket trimmed in gold. Though it was a panther on stage, the back of her jacket had a tiger embossed on the back. She smiled broadly and bowed slightly to the Grand Master when introduced her by her stage name. Electra, the beast tamer.
The Grand Master slowly walked away for the opening performance the cloak dragging and whispering around him like water while the light dimmed and focused on the woman and cat.
The act, was light, minor tricks only to the entice the audience attention but as the cat and tamer bowed the lights flashed, brightening and gliding over to the Grand Master. He had his large arms extended and the cloak billowed around in a torrent before it pulled away over him and revealed his ensemble. Black shiny boot to the knee, white doe skin pants lined down the thigh with gold, a vest of dark green and gold, a jacket in the deepest of purple and a black top hat. Unlike some masters he knew where they held a whip he preferred a simple straight black walking stick. He clapped his hands once and slowly brought them open to make it appear. Twirling it in one hand then the other he slammed in to the ground and took a military stance. Then in a hushed voice he spoke. “Please, enjoy the show.”
The flaps of the entrance erupted with sound and people. Clowns poked and teased the audience as show girls rode horses around and flirted with the men. If the audience looked up they would see acrobats climbing ropes and getting ready. All in all the entire show wouldn’t end till four hours after this mark.
“Arty!” Hakuba crooned to the man closest to him. “Have you ever seen anything like this?"
Arthur looked to their other companion with a patient sigh and shook his head. Robert, however, humored the younger man with a shake of his head. "Only in fantasy,” he said, and then nodded to the center stage. “Don’t miss anything, James. You’ll need to remember all of these details for later.”
The blond turned back around in his seat, eager and excited. “Right, right… Just think of the murders that could take place in such a scene! So many people watching, so many things going on… it would be easy to commit a crime right under everyone’s noses and no one would be the wiser. They could easily rule it an accident… There’d be far too many suspects and far too many witnesses – a diffusion of responsibility and blame – god, what a splendid stage!”
“James,” Arthur said, groaning. “I can’t hear a bloody thing you’re trying to tell me over the crowd! Just watch the show!”
Similar conversations were shouted over the cheering and applause, and Hakuba was keen to join in on the more impressive displays of oohs and aahs. And he was flirted with, of course, as were his gentleman companions in their suits and finely groomed appearances. Those with money and power always attracted interest, and the young heir was particularly susceptible to those siren calls. But that was why he never went alone to this sort of thing.