Welcome to the Freak Show

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Ravin was quiet before he gave a slight itch to his hair.
"Night has been around only a few months."  He peered over at the feline, then finally over towards Ariel. "Do you have a cat of your own?"

[GoblinFae]

The huntress shook her head. "Cats eat owls," she said simply as if that answered everything. In her mind it did though. "Where did Night come from?" Ariel tilted her head in wonder, eying both the cat and boy as if trying to ascertain what kept them together. But, who could really explain a cat's mind? Only the cat of course!

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"I don't know," Ravin replied softly, peering over at Owlet, then the cat, who was now purring contentedly on the floor. "A few months back we were passing through a town,a nd one night the cat approached my cage. I watched her for a while and let her sniff my hand, then the next thing I knew, she was inside my cage and then sleeping on my lap. Though I'm surprised she's remained with the caravan, considering Lord Martin keeps us frequently on the move." And instinctively, he moved a hand across her black fur to pet her, and she purred and purred happily, curling up and turning just enough to show off the soft fur of her belly.

[GoblinFae]

"Maybe she had an eye for travel," Owlet jested, feeling jealous at how an animal that could come and go as it pleased decided to stay. "And that monster, he lets her stay?" she continued, referring to the man that had decided her fate in the circus. "Or is she part of your little act?"

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Ravin stared at Ariel quietly for a time before simply replying as his eyes drifted back towards the purring cat he pet.
"No. He... has no idea she is here. He has rarely seen her and presumes he's shooed her off the first time." He continued to pet the cat, and she seemed to be smiling, quite happy by the attention. "But even when Lord Martin scared her, she returned the next day. And we were in a completely different town by then. She seems to know when he is coming, and will take off and hide into the woods." ANd as he said it, his green eyes lifted to peer out towards the ghostly shadows of the forests, and as he looked at them, he commented, "You know he's going to make you part of the act."

[GoblinFae]

Ariel snorted, her lip curling in disgust. "It can try but that monster won't be gettin' much entertainment out of me. Owlet's not afraid of little boys like you." She crossed her arms over her chest in defiance even as her mind filed away his comment concerning the black cat.

In her mind, Night could very well serve as a warning system should Ariel try to escape. If the cat truly did wander off before the monster appeared then that would be the perfect for the little huntress. She would have to keep an eye out for that in the future though. It was not like she could trust Ravin yet. He seemed far too complacent for her liking.

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Ravin only gave one curious blink, for it was an odd choice of words to call him a little boy when she herself was probably around his age. Though who was he to say? He was in a circus of freaks, though most were manufactured, and none could boast the show stopping ability that he possessed, not that Ravin was the sort to boast. Studying her, he found himself turning away when Night suddenly swiveled her ears and her fur bristled, she even growled before she darted out. Looks like company was coming and fast, and as Ravin peered over his shoulders, he noted that it was Lord Martin himself who was to make them a visit that night. Though slightly surprised, the 'demon' showed no real signs of it, except when he had initially turned his head.

In the moonlight Lord Martin looked a terrifying sight, using his walking cane as a crutch, he approached the cage and it's shadows cast long grated shadows across him, making the round-bellied, red coated man seeming even more devious than before. And the first thing he did when he approached the cage was hit it, an the metal end of his cane gave a spark.

"So how are you two animals fairing? I see Ravin has yet to devour our little girl." And it seemed the wounds, from which he was recovering from (no short thanks to Ariel), were wrapped now in gauze or had been treated with some sort of sticky potion, and the eerieness of the glow from such an ointment made Lord Martin even appear much less handsome than he could have before., for the shine of the ointment even out shined the shine of his sweat and grease in his hair as even the stars might have been seen in such a reflection. And Ravin simply gave the man a cool and unflinching stare, even as he prodded the cage again.

"Come now speak up, child, I know the beast boy barely says a peep, but you, certainly, have got a lot to say." And then he chuckled as he inquired. "Any new scratched or claws marks since you've been placed inside your new home?" And at this, Lord Martin gestured towards the entire whole of the cage, his smile cutting across his face exposing his teeth as dimples cut into the grease of his cheeks. "I hope you find our accommodations adequate. Though I'm surprised you're not trying to get your rest. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day for you both."

[GoblinFae]

The cat's behavior did not escape the wild huntress who was pleased to note that the boy had spoke true. Mentally she counted how long it was until the monster himself arrived and was slightly disappointed to see that it was a very short interval.

'Owlet'll need to make sure she's ready before she truly leaves. No mistakes,' she mused even as her lips formed a sneer. The banging on the cage though and the resultant sparks had her flinching and recoiling back towards Ravin though faster than a kicked cat. It reminded her too much of fire and that she did fear almost as much as she hated bathing.

Her fear was quickly forgotten in the face of her captor's taunting. The moment he addressed her, Ariel was flinging herself at the bars of the cage, her hands clawing out through the bars into the space that barely separated him from her. Like a crazed wild thing she hissed and howled, baring her teeth as she tried to gain purchase on anything that would cause Lord Martin harm.

"Come a little closer," the girl snarled, once more lunging at him. "Let me shows you hows I likes it here!"

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Lord Martin was taken back by the girl's animalistic tendencies, and made a face at her, wrinkling his nose. He then promptly banged his cane on the side of the cage to deter her from any further 'frothing' with her mouth and claws.

"Really, what an uncivilized gesture," Lord Martin said with an indignant sniff. "And if I were you, I'd watch where you strike those claws. I have no qualms removing all of your finger nails," he told her with a dark grin and smacked the bars again, as a warning for her to stay back.

[GoblinFae]

Ariel retreated some, her side pressing in tight against Ravin's unknowingly. Her gaze though did not lower from her captor's face. "You'd have to come near enough to do that," she boldly claimed with snapping teeth and a wide leer. "Lose your eyes if you try."

His last smack on the cage made her growl low in warning. The first chance she got free of her prison she would make him pay. She would make him scream and writhe in pain to her heart's content before leaving him to die the slowest and most painful of deaths. All she needed to do, was wait.

A wild laugh bubbled up from within her and her eyes gleamed with mischief moments before she spit in his face.

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At the spit, Lord Martin's smile faded into a scowl of disgust as he drew out a kerchief from his inner breast pocket and gave it a snap, then drew it to his face and wiped the spittle from his cheek while keeping a glare locked upon the young child.

"Oh, you'll pay for that, little wild child, just you wait and see. Tomorrow you'll be infront of the crowd and I'll show you how wild a beast can be." Cutting a nasty sneer towards Ravin, the man walked away without so much as a goodbye, and Ravin's eyes remained upon him until he completely left their sight.

[GoblinFae]

She waited until he was gone before turning to Ravin. Ariel was momentarily startled by his proximity but it ended quickly as she narrowed her eyes at him. "And you're willing to be possessed by that monster! Little Ravin you are a fool not to try and fly your cage. A fool!"

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Ariel might as well have been talking to the iron bars of the cell, for Ravin didn't even seem to flinch at her retort or words, but kept his eyes glued upon the vanishing form of Lord Martin.

"If I knew of a way out, I wouldn't know what to do. For if I escape, the collar may not longer work and I'd turn into the monster from within."

And as much as that probably wouldn't scare Ariel, considering she had not seen what that entailed, Ravin had been coping with his dual personality for years while remaining enslaved by his 'master'. Part of him feared the monster, and that part also made him feel ....natural, unchained, but also other worldly.

As a human, he supposed he had a muted persona on life, after all he was living in a cage and did almost precisely what Lord Martin and his crew commanded him.
Though there had been a time when he fought it, it had been too long for him to even remember- or care.

But as a monster, as a monster no one controlled him until the collar struck and forced him back into his useless, pathetic, human body- the meek shell which Ariel saw before her now.

[GoblinFae]

Ariel sighed and shook her head. "Why fear what you are? Be what you are! Be free!" She shook her head angrily wishing she could shake him instead. "You're not a monster, just a little boy they dress up to amuse the real monsters."

Retreating from him back to her corner of their shared cage, the young girl curled in on herself, laying down in a tight ball. "If you want to waste your life away behind iron bars then fine. Just don't gets in Owlet's way."

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'Be what are are! Be free!'
The words echoed inside Ravin's head. Though he understood what she pressed, she had no idea what she meant. He had no desire to leave these bars, his sanctuary that kept him from guilt, that kept the money lining Lord Martin's pockets- that kept his monster in chains. He kept his gaze avoiding hers as his eyes took in the grounds surrounding the camp, then after a few calls from Lord Martin in the front of the caravan, they began to move.

The wheeled cage in which they were kept trembled at first before lurching forward, than squealed wheels groaned as they rolled over top of the uneven terrain. The next city would appear come morning-t hat's how it always worked. That's how it always was. Lord Martin liked to make a scene, and that was by having an entire town wake up to a procession of entertainers rolling through the middle of the streets. And the city of Dakken faired no differently than the rest, as the morning sun began to rise and people began to poke their heads outside of their doors and windows to have a peep of the procession as they rolled by.

Children giggled and squealed at the ferocious animals, but as usual, by the time the end of the procession passed, they would quiet, then giggle to see a boy and girl in chains inside a cage. And then towards Lord Martin's calling voice they would follow-
A circus this evening! A circus there would be! And a man turning into a demon for them all to witness right there in the center of town!

And the entire place was bustling wtih activity as a pair of siamese girls, attached at the hip, approached the cage.
"You two ready to prepare for tonight's show? Lord Martin does not like wasting time, so come on." And the woman went to fish out a pair of keys to unlock their cage.

[GoblinFae]

After being lulled into a restless sleep by the constant clunking and swaying of the carriage, Ariel was abruptly awoken by its grinding halt. It was not long thereafter that a pair of joined humans approached the cage and made to open it.

Groggy, as she was not a morning person, the wild child was not able to make the escape she had intended. Instead she slipped and bounced off the side of the opening the moment she lounged for it, effectively landing on her back. The women made short work of gathering her back on her feet though and further binding her so that any attempts to run were ruined.

Wiggle as she may there was no getting free. Ariel gave up with a growl and huff before finally allowing herself to be dragged off to wherever they intended her to "perform," not that she had any intentions of doing so. Her opinions on that matter were further affirmed the moment they managed to haphazardly shove her into a poor excuse for a small dress. How she hated dresses!

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Throughout the town Lord Martin continued to advertise, and sent his most charismatic folk to do the same. Once he was done, he returned to his quarters and was busily preparing for the opening night. He knew the town would be floored the moment his demon boy was presented, and that very idea had him day dreaming of money.  Tapping his lower lip, he turned when he heard a knock at the door.

"We have the girl."

A wicked grin crossed his lips.

"Go ahead. Bring her in here. It's time we tell her more about tonight."

[GoblinFae]

Ariel allowed herself to be dragged about from place to place as the women attempted to make her show worthy. She believed that if she conserved her strength and observed as much as possible she would be out of this farce of a show in no time.

All of her carefully thought out plans went awash the moment she was in his vile presence again. The moment the young hunter laid eyes upon her captor, she was a spitting wildcat. She clawed and screeched at her bonds, intent on breaking free to dig her dull nails into his smug face.

"Let me go!" Ariel growled, kicking her feet and thrashing herself about in an attempt to be free.

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Ariel had been collared and leashed like a dog. She was at one opposing end of is office carriage and with a shake of his head, he commanded Ravin be brought in next.

"Though this will be difficult to actually have happen without the magics in place, and Ravin actually transforming, I do need you to remember you're a girl, child, and not some animal you're trying to froth an imitation off." He gave a sneer, but as the girl fought her chains, his eyes scanned her with a dark intent.

"Besides, if you're good. You'll be rewarded."

[GoblinFae]

"I'm not some dog you can call to heel for little treats," she hissed darkly. "There is no reward that could entice me to obey the scum you are!" Ravin's presence had calmed Ariel enough to stop throwing a temper tantrum however, she did strain herself painfully so, against her collar so that it was pulled taut.

A growl hummed under her breath as Ariel tried to glare the other man down. "All I want is freedom and you would never let me go if I obey."