Chapter Text
It was a bit of a curious sight.
A lone figure observed from afar with growing interest as people decorated in pink danced around in the usually calm streets. They waved filers around with a strange empty enthusiasm. Those passing by did not seem to notice how hollow it rang. But, you noticed a lot more than most did- didn’t you?
You lifted a hand up as a stray flyer drifting in the wind and was caught between your fingers. It was almost as if you had called it forth and it listened with glee.
Taking a glance, you hummed quizzically. A Circus, is that what this is all about? Or is that what they pretended to be?
You looked back to the pink dots in the distance, musing on how to handle this… intrusion.
It was unknown to you as to how something capable of such a large display of puppeteering managed to slip their way into your sleepy little town, but it would not be honest of you to say you were angry or worried about the new presence. For as long as you have taken residence in the small forgotten town, it had the pleasure of your passive protection. No tragedy had befallen any who had lived there. Though you only did it to keep your own peace and nothing more. Strange how it was that a rot of cruelty managed to grow from within the people themselves.
Perhaps it would be more amusing to watch how things would unfold while keeping your distance, rather than stopping whatever this “Circus” had in store for the people of your town. You would hope the sudden danger would humble the growing entitlement you seen over the years, and frankly you had grown bored with the peace over the last century. Why deny a mystery when it so nicely delivered itself to your doorstep? Even better if the Circus doesn’t even realize you were there. Messing with unsuspecting creatures from the dark was always a delight, one you hadn’t allowed yourself to savor in eons.
Your attention was stolen as another circus member, this one dressed in a stark red and yellow, was suddenly shoved down by a random drunkard. With narrowed eyes you heard the man start to berate the … clown?, attempting to goad them into a fight. It was evident that the clown was not going to engage, instead they sat still from where they fell and took all of the abuse silently much to your increasing annoyance.
This was precisely why you wanted to leave the town to the wolves. The number of humans thinking they were untouchable even from each other was outnumbering the quiet and polite ones you settled here with long ago. The town was becoming less sleepy and more loud and angry over any and everything. You supposed you could supply the reckoning yourself, but why squander something more poetic in your eyes?
However…
You huffed rising from the bench as the man started to use his fist against the clown who was still sitting quietly, not even raising a hand to block the blows. You swiftly walked over and with a subtle flick of your foot, the man was now face down on the concrete before you could even think of why the sight upset you as much as it did. Paying the man and his indignant shouts of protest no mind, you turned to the red clown with what you hoped was a convincing smile. It had been a moment since you had directly interacted with someone, much less someone potentially not human. And as you offered your hand and helped the clown up you determined that the man was definitely NOT human. His tall and lanky frame towered over you. His masks shown signs of a growing blush and masks don’t blush. You took notice of the sharp claws of his hands as you pulled your hand away slowly as soon as you were sure he was steady on his feet once more.
“I’m awfully sorry about that. I don’t know what could have possibly gotten into anyone's head to think outright attacking you was okay.” Glancing down at the perpetrator you missed the way his eyes started to sparkle. The man now with a bloody nose took one glance in your eyes before scurrying away without another word, like something had clicked back into place in his brain.
Turning back around you found that the circus performer was watching you carefully, closely- way too close! You took a small step back even though it didn’t seem to do much. You had just planned on not being perceived this much by one of the intruders, but ah you can’t undo that now. You would just have to make sure they did not catch on to what you were.
You gestured to a small cut on his cheek and for him to bend down. “Here.” You pulled out a random bandage from your bag and smiled, amused with how the pink blended in with the blush of his mask? Face? You were unsure of which at this point, but that blush was growing fast as you laid the bandage over the cut. It was endearing how in awe he seemed to be, but enough of that.
“I must be on my way now.” You waved. “Try not to get harmed anymore now, okay? It would be a shame to see such a cute performer get hurt again.” And with that you left as quickly as showed, making sure you walked clear out of sight, leaving behind an astonished clown in your wake.
————~Jester POV~————
It just didn’t make sense.
Jester had honestly (and maybe with a touch of naivety, something he thought to be rid of long ago) thought the rumors of this strange small town were of silly story tales. To have no natural or freak disasters over such a long length of time was absurd. Even more so that no one outside of this town even knew about it. The rumors only had reached his ears after they had settled in. It was as if the town was contained in a bubble. Strange was putting it lightly, but that alone wasn’t enough to put him on edge.
But the air was heavy with something he could not name. Something was here surely. Jester decided it would be best to leave at the first sign of something shifting. It would not be the first time they had accidentally encroached on another’s territory and he would rather not deal with that sort of conflict if possible. He made Bil aware of the possible retreat, but not the others. Best to not bother or make them fearful with what could be paranoia on his part. He would just have to keep watch closely.
As the first few days passed, nothing came to pass beyond Pierrot arriving back with a strange pink bandage a bright sunny smile. Which had made him happy to see if not nervous as to what caused it. But when the first couple of disappearances took place, nothing still made itself known. Jester thought that it would for sure be the catalyst if something was truly out there. He finally started to relax then. Whatever creature resided here, it was either nonexistent or too weak to confront them. He was sure now that even if it did decide to retaliate, it would be handled easily enough.
————~Witch POV~————
Well this was quite the predicament.
Not the Circus exactly, no. You were well aware they were stealing people away for “dinner” as it may. Your sight reached far enough to see what they were up to. No no, all the man eating monsters were the least of your concerns at that moment. It was in fact just the one, the red one to be precise (and the green one to some degree).
He kept finding you. Any moment you ventured out into the town to try and witness things from up close or to maybe even cause mischief, he would materialize out of thin air, only to watch you from a distance with strange yellow glowing eyes. I mean, you still found it extremely endearing. He didn’t realize for even one second that you knew he was there. He was akin to a little shy pup. But, it was making it increasingly difficult to get up to no good around the circus in secret with him watching your every step. Even when it came time to retreat back home you had to be creative in distracting him for just a moment long enough to slip out of sight. You couldn’t (and haven’t) allowed him to follow you to your abode, as that would likely force your hand against him. Poor thing was always upset about losing you every time. You couldn’t help but feel guilty seeing him pout pitifully when he realized he lost you once more.
Not to mention the fact he was also being followed. It was unknown why the green clad clown also was lingering around, but he was at the least much easier to lose. You felt he was more preoccupied with his red companion than you for the time being. As much as you wanted to figure out his deal as well, you couldn’t do too much in your current state.
You had briefly considered changing your appearance to avoid their attention, but the red one seemed to track things with a sixth sense he may or may not be aware of. There wasn’t much you could do about that.
If the red clown would just approach you, that would make things easier. Trying to kick up dust with the info you had on hand would be not as effective and while you could see everything, you could not hear. So, if he were to approach you instead of playing the role of your shadow, you could maybe innocently ask some questions. Or figure out a way to get him out of the way long enough for you to snoop.
How could you force a meeting between the two of you? It was time to do more than sit still.
__________________
You could not decide whether he was just a bit dim witted or if he was just that distracted by your presence.
It was a little more than obvious that you had set up a self made trap with how precariously you had stacked these books in the last hour of him watching you at your little temp “job”. Last thing you needed your little stalker to do is wonder why you did nothing but roam the town all day, so you had implanted yourself at the library as an assistant to make sure he didn’t find your day to day schedule strange.
You took a moment to admire your work and yep. That tower of hardbacks wobbling back and forth was ready to fall the next time someone so much as glanced at it. And, he had sat from a dark corner of the building watching you the whole time, to zeroed in on how you moved, adjusted yourself, blinked, or whatever else he was paying attention to other than what you were actually doing.
You weren’t entirely sure yet of his reasonings for being so fixated. For all you knew, you were next on the menu to be devoured in his mind. Regardless of how it would end very badly for him.
Holding back a smirk, you climbed up the shaky stepladder with every intention of letting the trap fall on top of you. You would be okay if he stood by, but would he willingly sit idle as you were hurt?
An answer was quickly given as soon as you felt your body in the air as the books began to topple and the stepladder fell back. Once moment you were weightless and the next you were being held, surrounded by soft red and yellow fabric.
“Ah.” Looking up with fiend surprise, you seen a worried expression being worn upon his face. Just how versatile was that mask anyway? While you patiently waited for him do anything except stand there, he stayed frozen in place. Did he just now realize what he had done?
“Thank you?” you laughed softly at his discomfort. “You can put me down now.”
He seemed to fight with himself a bit longer on whether or not to comply and a small part of you hoped he wouldn’t. He was pleasantly warm and you like where you were.
Something to unpack later.
Once he had finally put you down with a gentleness that would had anyone else reconsider if he was indeed a monster, you gave him a warm look.
“It is so nice to finally see you again!” You were sure he was about to melt into the floorboards with how red he became.
“To be honest, I’ve been hoping to run into you again. I would have gone to the circus but” you slyly looked away, “I don’t handle scary things well.” Just a small little lie, if you could even call it that. The circus was indeed horror themed, but it wasn’t that you were too fearful. Horror just didn’t effect you at all. You were one of the scary things in the dark too after all.
The clown beamed at you at hearing you wanted to see him, and you took that as encouragement to continue.
“What is your name if I may ask? Oh, but you don’t speak do you? At least I don’t think I’ve seen you do so…” That part was true. You hadn’t. Was he mute?
He took a moment to look around to see if anyone else was near. There wasn’t.
You made sure of that.
“I’m not suppose to.” He grinned and oh- his voice was much deeper than previously thought.
“Oh, part of the act?”
“Yes, but I can make an exception for when it’s just me and you.” He winked. You liked the implication more than you should have. “My name is Pierrot my dear.” He did a small bow and finally a name! Even if it was most likely a cover name. You ignored the fact he didn’t look like a traditional Pierrot.
“Its lovely to meet you Pierrot.” You then told him your name, stupidly your REAL name. You would have to scold yourself later. Pierrot not realizing your blunder (How could he?), repeated your name out loud, like he was testing the taste of it. Your ears twitched at the sound. You wanted to hear it again.
“Well my dear, if you would like to see me again soon, perhaps you would like to come see my show?” He flipped a red ticket out of thin air and you clapped at the simple trick.
“For me? Is this not expensive?”
“Nonsense, consider it a thank you from when we first met.”
You frowned at the memory. The image of Pierrot being hit and bullied irritated you much more than it did before.
“You haven’t had anyone else be cruel to you, have you?” You needed to know. As far as your sight on the town went, you couldn’t be watching everyone at all times.
“Its just the nature of the profession, dear.” He tried to reassure you. “Many find us… unsettling.” Your frown deepened. That was hardly any excuse.
As you took the ticket from his outstretched hand, you made sure to to linger your hand in his palm just to see his reaction. His pupils dilated for a split second, hand trembling slightly ready to close it around yours at any moment. Inwardly you keened, enjoying the way he was trying to not come undone in front of you.
Ticket in hand, your smile returned. “I guess I better face the horrors and come see you then. I can’t be letting some rando try and ruin it can I?”
If his returning smile was any brighter, you were sure you would have become fully blind.
You wondered if he would ever catch on to the fact that you never did question why he was at the library of all places to begin with.
————~Pierrot POV~————
He was so puzzled by his love.
Their mannerisms felt slightly off, and the way they carried themselves did not match the way they spoke. And their smell…
Pierrot shivered at the thought as he entered his tent, ready to prepare for his most important show yet. He took a deep breath and grinned widely as he gathered the things he needed.
It was when he first arrived when he smelled something faint, but completely unrecognizable to him. It was spicy? Sweet? What ever it was, he liked it. He felt drawn to it and so he was determined to find the source.
So, when it waltz up to him of its own volition in the form of his momentary savior, he felt himself fall instantly as their scent surrounded him like a warm blanket. He knew he probably looked silly and dumbfounded as the beautiful stranger helped them up off the ground after tripping his attacker. How wonderfully sweet they were! Pierrot wasn’t entirely sure as to why the whole town smelled of them, but there was no mistake that it was them. He continued to take in their scent with greed, making sure to commit all the different notes to memory.
And then they called him cute! Cute! Him! That meant they liked him right? But then they had slipped away so quickly before Pierrot could even process what they had said to him. Disappearing into the wind, which seemed to be something his love was skilled in.
For days he followed his new light every second he could, he had to know everything about them! Everything about his beloved. How else would he know their likes and dislikes, how they liked to be held, if they would like to be held dow- Pierrot tightened his grip on a nearby post, leaving behind indents in the metal.
But, he still could not find where his love slept at night! They always managed to somehow evade him before they left for home. How terribly cruel fate was. He could only imagine how sweet and adorable the beautiful one was while sleeping and ah how could he protect them if he didn’t know where they were??
How would he be able to caress them while they slept?
It wasn’t fair!
But now they were going to come see him! His beloved wanted to see him! He was so happy he could burst! And oh how frail they felt in his arms. Pierrot wanted to snatch them away right then, but that wouldn’t do. They had to come to him. He wanted to see and hear their affections for him fall from their precious lips willingly over and over again. And, that wouldn’t happen if he pushed his love too far, no. He needed to be slow and gentle. Even if he was sure they wouldn’t mind a little bit of pushing.
Pierrot closed his eyes remembering the way they shyly asked his name. His heart started to beat faster, and he felt like they were so close to blushing in that moment. What a sight that would have been, if they only had! Then his smile dropped slightly.
He wasn’t sure why they lied so blatantly about being afraid of the circus (he saw them staring down the members every day with an overwhelming amount of interest, though maybe his love looking for him?), but it must of been because they were shy. Yes his little darling was just shy of course!
He would make sure to put on the perfect show for them. Nothing but the best for his sweet.