So. What to do with You? [Probable M]

[DragonSong]

@Paladienne



Smiling to patrons as he steered the two young people before him toward his tent, Vis tightened his grip on both Addie and Rhyske. The placid, friendly expression on his face never slipped, not until they were inside the tent, out of sight from the carnival grounds.

Then his shoulders slumped and he paced tiredly toward a small desk tucked into a back corner of the tent. Well, "tent" was a little misleading; it was essentially a portable home and office, with plenty of space inside and a few gossamer dividing curtains hanging from the ceiling. The whole place smelled of chamomile and iron, just subtly, but enough to catch a guest's attention.

Viserian clicked his fingernails against the wood of the desk, then glanced back up at his daughter and the young thief she'd helped Snake hide. "So. Who wants to explain the specifics of this whole debacle, hm?"

[Paladienne]

Rhyske had never felt small before, but before Viserian, he felt microscopic. He'd never experienced something like this before, where an adult just simply stared at him and waited for him to break. His mother would simply strike him, or she would cry, or she would scream and rant and make him feel like he was the most useless piece of flesh ever made. But he had never felt small. He'd never felt as if he were no longer in control, because eventually Rubiyah would collapse or stop ranting and raving and end up needing him to take care of her. But now... now he felt like he wasn't in control at all.

He glanced at the girl. She wasn't speaking. If anything, she looked like she wanted to curl up into a ball and hide. Which meant that he needed to speak, because everything that had happened was his fault, and his fault alone.

So he took a deep breath and said, "I was... I was working the crowd. Stealing. It's how I make a living. I mean, they're rich, right? So it's not like they'd miss much. And I was careful not to stay in one area for too long, either. But... one guy happened to see me do it. Steal from him, I mean. And then I was running away from him and fell into that pale guy's tent, and he said I should run to this girl here, and he'd stop them from following me. But he didn't, and they did, and..."

Rhyske trailed off, staring at Viserian and waiting for the man to respond.

[DragonSong]

"I see." Viserian leaned back against his work desk, tapping his clawed fingers against the wood faster now. He looked to Addie. "And you?"

The trapeze artist shrugged, arms wrapped loosely around her middle as she stared at her feet. "He told me Snake had sent him, and I figured that was good enough. So I helped. Or I tried to."

"Mm..." The Ringmaster looked between the two of them, expression inscrutable. "You, lad. Why exactly did Snake decide to help you? Did you say something to him? Do something?"

[Paladienne]

Rhyske lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I just... fell into his tent and knocked over a bunch of swords. I offered to pick them up, and he asked what I was running from, so I told him. It wasn't like the rich people needed the money, you know? No one noticed until that last guy."

His shoulders dropped then, and he looked away from Viserian. "I don't know what I did or said or anything. He just... offered to help. That's all."

[DragonSong]

"You just told him?" Viserian lifted an eyebrow. "Snake asked what you were doing and you just...told him?"

Addie glanced sidelong at the boy, shifting her weight slightly from foot to foot. She wasn't sure exactly what her father was thinking, but she could tell he was getting into one of his moods.

[Paladienne]

Rhyske stood straighter, his bright eyes narrowing at the tone of Viserian's voice. "Yeah, I just told him." he spat out, not liking the way he was being spoken to at all.

Okay, he'd screwed up and had gotten innocent people involved in his stupidity. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. He just... hated being lectured like this. Like he didn't know he was wrong.

And that got his temper up. So he couldn't quite control his tone when he snapped, "I just told him what I'd done, and he told me to go to her, and she'd help me, too. What do you want me to say? It was an accident that I fell into his tent. If I hadn't tripped, you wouldn't be involved, and I wouldn't be here being lectured like I'm a little kid! I'm not a little kid! I've been taking care of myself for a long time, okay? I don't need you telling me that I messed up! I know I did!"

His temper, though, didn't last long. The young Horizon quickly deflated, his eyes drifting to the floor and his expression became melancholy. "I already said I was sorry."

[DragonSong]

"Easy there, lad." Viserian raised his hands peaceably.

Addie took a step away from Rhyske, instinctively wary. In her experience, angry men yelling never ended well. Even young ones.

The Ringmaster noted her caution, but didn't comment on it. Holding the young elf's gaze, he said calmly, "I'm not going to lecture you, child. And you are a child by the way, at least when compared to myself." He tilted his head slightly to the side. "And I believe your apology, like I believe that you told Snake the truth."

His lips quirked into a wry grin, showing a flash of sharp canines. "Which is why he helped you by the way. Because you told him the truth willingly. Theft aside, that is an admirable trait, knowing when lies will only dig you further into damnation."

[Paladienne]

Rhyske stared, uncertain what Viserian was getting at. Because he told the truth, Snake had decided to help him? Because he hadn't lied?

"Well," Rhyske said, "what point is there in lying? If you tell the truth, you don't have to have a good memory." And, more, he wouldn't have to worry about his mother trying to figure out if what he said was a deception or not. Her hold on reality was tenuous at the best of times, and so Rhyske had learned early in his life not to mess with the fragile line between truth and fiction. "And anyway... the truth eventually gets out. People look at you differently after they catch you in a lie. Trust isn't an easy thing to get back once you lose it."

He glanced to the side at the girl, noticing how much distance there was between them now. He recognized it for what it was; she was afraid of him. Well, that wasn't new. Most people were afraid of him. Still, that made him feel infinitely worse, because she'd helped him when he'd needed it and now he'd returned that kindness with fear.

"I'm sorry," he said to the girl, hoping that the words would fix whatever had broken between them. Then he looked toward Viserian. "So what now? I'll leave here, and I won't come back, I promise. I'll just get my mother, and we'll go."

[DragonSong]

Viserian nodded slowly. "A good philosophy, lad." He flashed another fang-tipped grin. "But I wouldn't be so hasty to leave our fair carnival, there's no need for that."

Addie's eyes widened slightly as she caught on to what he was thinking. "Papa..." she eyed Rhyske sidelong. "Are you sure? We don't really know anything about him."

The demidemon shrugged. "I don't ask many questions of our family, Addie, you know that."

The girl fell silent, looking at her feet with a considering frown furrowing her brow. Turning to Rhyske again, Viserian arched an eyebrow. "Where is your mother now? Did she come with you today?"

[Paladienne]

Rhyske blinked. Don't be so hasty to leave? What the hell did that mean? Was this man really saying what he thought he was saying? And... family? Rhyske was so dumbfounded by what he was hearing that for a long while, he didn't know what to say to the question that Viserian had posed to him. Then he shook himself, tried to remember what it was that Viserian had said, and tried to make his tongue work in concert with his mind well enough that he could give the man an answer that sounded like normal instead of a garbled mess.

"My... my mother..." Rhyske stopped and licked his lips, trying to shove his shock somewhere to the back of his mind so he could give the man a clear response. "My mother should be wherever the food is. That's usually where I find her. A tavern, a bar, anywhere that offers food. She... takes all the money I make and just... spends it on food."

Honestly, he didn't know where she put it all, but she could - and had on a few occasions before - eaten everything that there was to offer. He didn't know why she ate as much as she did, but it didn't help her any, and rarely improved her mood or gave her the ability to be coherent.

Rhyske looked at Viserian with confusion. "Why?"

[DragonSong]

"Well, it seems we should go find her!" Vis clapped his hands and straightened up. "I'm sure she must be worried about you. Addie?"

His daughter, who had been watching Rhyske with a sudden look of stunned sympathy, snapped her attention back toward the Ringmaster. "Yes, Papa?"

"Why don't you find Snake? See how he's doing. I'll help this young man find his mother-- she may still be at one of the food tents."

"Yes, Papa." Addie nodded to him again, then turned to slip back out of the tent. She cast one last glance over her shoulder at Rhyske before she left, blue eyes darkened in the shadowy light.

[Paladienne]

Rhyske blinked at the sudden joy in the voice of Viserian. He instinctively took a step back, as if he was prepared to defend himself. But when Viserian did nothing but look at the girl and order her to go find Snake, Rhyske allowed himself to relax. He caught Addie's gaze, uncertain of what he saw on her face. Was she upset about what her father wanted? Or was it that she distrusted him and didn't like him? Well, either way, whichever one it was, Rhyske decided he didn't care. He was used to people distrusting him and not liking him. That wasn't his problem. He'd defend himself if he needed to, but he didn't actively go looking for a fight. And chances were, he'd never have to interact with Addie more than he needed to.

Well.

If he needed to.

He looked to Viserian once they were alone and studied the man as he might a high-value mark. Certainly the man was dangerous; Rhyske hadn't forgotten what he'd done to the circus patrons in order to protect his people, and he wasn't likely to forget that. He knew that those powers could just as easily be turned against him as they could be used to protect him. But what he didn't know what was what Viserian wanted. He didn't know what the man wanted with him and his mother.

"What is it you want?" Rhyske asked, simply blurting out the thought. "If it's about paying you back for any damage I caused, I can do that. I do have money that isn't dirty."

[DragonSong]

"Oh, I don't want your money, lad." Vis smiled at him and clapped him on the shoulder as he steered the boy out of his tent. His grip was firm but not overbearing-- if Rhyske wanted to pull away he could do so easily.

"I want to help you," the Ringmaster continued as he began guiding them through the carnival grounds. "First, I want to help you find your mother, and see about getting her some delicious food from one of our stands if she hasn't already found some. After that...well."

He glanced down at Rhyske and smiled, sharp canines glinting briefly. "I'd like to help you as long as you'll let me."

[Paladienne]

After that, well... what?

Rhyske wanted to ask, but at the same time, he didn't know if he wanted the answer. He'd seen what Viserian could do, and he wasn't sure if the man was actually giving him a choice or just saying he had one. So, Rhyske followed him quietly for a moment, mulling over the man's words. He wanted to help him? Why? For what reason? Rhyske wasn't sure.

Finally, he looked up at Viserian. "No one's ever offered to help before. Sorry if I seem a little skeptical. What is it you want me to do in return for this help? What is it you want my mother to do? I mean, Mom's kind of... useless even on her good days, but she's my mother, you know? I can't just leave her behind somewhere. I can't just... walk away."

As they approached the food tents, it was easy to spot Rubiyah. She was sitting at a long table surrounded by empty bowls. The stacks didn't phase Rhyske one bit. He knew how much his mother could eat, especially with no one there to stop her. Especially when she had the coin for it. She was still eating, he saw, and Rhyske wondered - not for the first time - where all of that food went to, for it wasn't like his mother gained any weight.

Slowly, he approached her, smiling gently. "Hey, Mother." He stood by quietly until she rolled her head around to look at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you having a good time? Are you okay?"

Without blinking, Rubiyah stuck out her hand, palm up. "Money." she growled. "Give it here. I know you have some."

Rhyske winced. So, she was in that mood. He knew if he didn't give her what she wanted, she would cause a scene, and he felt there had already been enough of a scene for one day. He glanced toward Viserian apologetically, then stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out some coins, placing them in his mother's hand.

[DragonSong]

The Ringmaster paused the moment he caught sight of the woman. No expression visibly passed over his face, that same charming smile fixed in place as always.

He watched the interaction between mother and son placidly, but stepped forward when Rhyske moved to hand over the coin and put his own hand out, wrapping his fingers around Rubiyah's before she could take the money.

"My lady." He bowed at the waist, deeply, and brushed his lips across the back of her hand in a respectful, almost reverent kiss. Straightening up, he released her hand and said with a bright grin, "I wonder, would you be amiable to a conversation...somewhere a little more private? Your boy here has-- well, caught my attention, as it were, and I'd like to make you an offer." He looked between the two of them. "Both of you."

[Paladienne]

Rubiyah stared at the man addressing her, her grey-green eyes roaming from his face to his feet and back again. Her gaze slid to the side then to regard her son, then back to Viserian. Again her eyes moved, and she now stared at their joined hands, and at the spot where his lips had brushed her skin. Her eyes narrowed but not in a bad way, Rhyske decided. It was more like she was trying to remember something, and whatever she was trying to remember was evading her search. Rhyske hoped that, if she remembered, it would be a pleasant memory and not one that would trigger a fit that would leave her in an almost catatonic state. Or, worse, leave the circus a smoldering crater and then her in a catatonic state.

Thankfully, her expression relaxed as whatever she was trying to remember evaded her, and she pulled her hand from Viserian's grip. She gestured to the table she sat at then, indicating that the Ringmaster could sit if he so chose. A narrowed-eyed glower at Rhyske had him moving to the closest food tent to buy his mother more to eat, and as soon as he'd placed the platter in front of her and took his seat beside her, she began to tear into the food with a single-minded intensity.

"So," Rubiyah said around the food in her mouth, "what has my idiot son done this time, eh?" She chewed and swallowed, then picked up a chicken bone and pointed it at Viserian. "We don't need to go anywhere private to have a chat. He's not for sale, if that's what you're wondering."

Rhyske held in his groan. "Mother."

"Well, you're not." Rubiyah waved the bone around in the air, her eyes never leaving Viserian's face. "So what's this deal you have, mister? And just for the record, I'm not for sale either. I already gave that a whirl and look what it got me." Her head tilted toward her son, who looked away with a hurt look on his face.

[DragonSong]

Vis winced slightly, but covered it quickly, hopefully before the woman or her son could see. He turned up the charm a few degrees in his smile, leaning down and lowering his voice as he spoke to Rubiyah.

"Madam, I assure, my intentions are nothing sordid. However...I really do think it would be best if we had this conversation somewhere quieter." He glanced up at Rhyske, then back to his mother. "Perhaps you should choose the venue, if that might make you more comfortable?"

[Paladienne]

Rubiyah's jaw worked. Her eyes darted between Viserian and her son, and then focused on the plate of food in front of her. Rhyske knew she didn't much care for talking with others, especially about a potential future, but he wondered if his mother would put aside her own wants and needs to attend to someone else's. She often had strange spats of motherly love and affection for him, such as when she had gifted him her pendant, but those instances were few and far between. Still Rhyske knew she was capable of them. It just depended on what kind of mood she was in.

Maybe the weather, too.

Finally, Rubiyah lifted her hands and closed them on the plate in front of her, clutching tight to it. She lifted her chin, practically looking down her nose at Viserian.

"I don't know where a 'private' venue could be found in a place such as this," Rubiyah finally said, her words clipped with a haughty air, "but I suppose in this I'll defer to you."

Rhyske held back his wince. At least his mother was being polite. For her, anyway. He only hoped that Viserian didn't take offense to her words, and he hoped that the Ringmaster wouldn't demand that Rubiyah leave the plate behind. She certainly made it clear that she wasn't going to, especially when she rose from the table with it still in her hands.

He rose, too, giving Viserian a pleading look. Rhyske hoped the Ringmaster would understand that, in this, it was better just to let Rubiyah do as she wished. She'd be far more cooperative that way.

[DragonSong]

"Oh, that's not such a difficult task as you might think," Vis chuckled with another grand, sweeping bow. "Come, I can escort you to my tent." Glancing at the plate she clutched, he added shrewdly, "And I'm sure we can procure some more food for you, if you'd like."

[Paladienne]

Rubiyah seemed content then to follow Viserian to his tent. Rhyske sighed. So long as she had food, his mother would walk over broken glass without flinching. The boy trailed behind his mother and the ringmaster, keeping close in case his mother needed him for something, but otherwise he didn't interfere in her activity.

When they reached Viserian's tent, Rhyske held the flap open for his mother and the Ringmaster, then followed them into the tent. Rubiyah instantly plopped herself in a chair and began to eat again, her eyes following Viserian's every move.

"So," she asked between bites, "what is it you want wish to discuss?"