Taking a deep breath Remy walk into the center of the big top where the Ring Master stands his arms outstretched as he bellows loudly into the waiting crowd.

     “Ladies and Gentlemen! Girls and Boys of all forms I welcome you to my Circus. Tonight, will be a special night.” He backs up a bit his never moving smile unnerved as he continues. “Tonight, our one and only Remy Arceneaux will be sharing his amazing talent. Now let me proudly introduce you… THE MAN WITH A THOUSADN ARMS!!” He shouts as the spotlight hits Remy, who stands there frozen.

     “Oh no… The dear is frozen.” Lucy mumbles shaking her head. Until a hand lands on her arm. Looking back Milo points passed her head motioning towards the high wire. “What are you planning.”

     “Giving the poor man a heart attack.” Milo chuckles throwing the pack off their back. Smiling Lucy shakes her head as Milo slips up the ladder, walking cautiously until he reached the middle of the high wire. “REMY!” They shout, making everyone look up.

     With a confused look Milo leans forward dropping off the highwire the netting that was once below it had been removed for an earlier act. The crowd gasps as he plummeted, laughing the whole way down until he was suddenly stopped. Now hanging in the air by an inviable force as Remy’s sleeves hang up slightly. Pulling Milo close, Remy takes a deep breath.

     “Don’t you ever fucking do that to me Mon amour!” He shouts as Milo laughs. The crowd around them erupts into loud applause as Rico steps out in front of them.

     “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, our next wonderous act will be revealed in no time. Until then please enjoy the festivities.” Pulling both men back behind the curtain Rico runs his hand over his face. “Almost gave everyone a heart attack Milo.” He breaths out before a smile broke his features. “Good Job!” He cheers happily as Milo bowed.

     “Thank you, Thank you.” They joke feeling a slap to the back of their head. Looking up Remy is shaking his head at them.

     “Next time you wish to give me a heart attack please refrain from it.” Remy says as Yukiko step around the big top.

     “Sir, we have a problem…”

     Following her directions, we stand between an irritated vendor and a young man no more then thirteen dark green scales scatter his sharp eyes as he holds a large snake over his shoulders.

     “Why don’t ya keep your mind to yourself you Ass!” The serpent rears its head back hissing lowly as the vendor bellows.

     “Well, I don’t ask your opinion freak!” Some of the other vendors are nodding in agreement behind him as Rico steps up. Drawing their attention, he fixes his top hat.

     “There is no use for such language. What seems to be the problem gentlemen?”

     “Your little freak here needs to stay away from our stalls. Scaring all our customers away.”

     “Was not! They were rigging I just wanted to watch!” The young boy yells making the vendor go read in the face. Rico nods looking from the young boy and back to the vendor who now looks infuriated.

     “Is the game rigged?” Rico questions

     “And what if it is? Aren’t no problem getting a little more bank for your buck!” He draws out, motioning towards the other vendors. “Most of us do it.” Pulling his hand back he glares the boy down, going straight by Rico’s head as he steps into the line of sight.

     “That my dear man is not prohibited on my grounds. We all here are doing our fair share of work. Cheating isn’t really an option.”

     “Well, you freaks don’t even have to try!” The man argues back throwing a hand forward a finger pointed accusingly at all of them. “People will come far and wide to see you monsters.”

     “Henry dear boy, I need you to take your boa and go to prepare for your show with Lilith.” Rico says an unmoved smile on his face as he turns his attention back to the man. “Gather your things gentlemen. I would like to see your stalls out posthaste.”

     “You can’t do that!”

     “I am the Ring Master; I can do what I wish with my circus. Now posthaste.” He waves a hand towards the man before turning around. The man whose face was red with rage balls his callused fist, pulling back he takes a swing. Lucy catches the man’s fist as it comes inches from the Rico’s head.

     “I wouldn’t have done that if I where you…”

     Yanking his fist back the small crowd that had surrounded us disperses. The man wide-eyed takes another jab at Rico. Only to meet a dark claw between them. Lucy taking the opportunity with both hands free to deck the man in the abdomen knocking the air free from his lungs as he doubles over.

     “Thank you, Milo.” Rico nods in thanks as he continues walking away, leaving the man hunched over. Lucy is quick to follow him fixing her gloves as she walks.

     “No good Freaks…” The man mumbles, as he turns and stomps over to his stall. Starting to pack things as other vendors fix and continue to run their stalls.

     Milo shakes their head as they turn to Remy and shrug. “What’s so bad about being different?” The question hangs in the air as Remy leads them back to the front of the tent. “Is something the matter?” Confusion laces their words as Remy continues to stay silent.

     “I always forget that the Ring Master found you. You truly don’t know the reason…” Remy mumbles as they step through the crowd, which seems to spread like the red sea. “People don’t like what is different Mon amour.” He tries to explain motioning with his sleeve towards the people who are watching us as we make our way to one of the stalls.

     Cotton candy and other verities of sweet goods line the wall and shelves before us.

     “Two multi-color swirls please.” Milo says holding up two fingers, he wiggles them before putting his hand down. Slapping themselves in the face Remy raises a brow.

     “What is it my dear?”

     “I forgot my pack back behind the big top. Just my luck.” Remy shakes his head, taking out two copper coin tickets. Handing them over to the vendor he eyes them for a moment before throwing it into a small pile that they had accumulated over the night. Handing us two large cotton candy swirls with a soft smile.

     “You both have a good night now.” He says, turning back to move around his inventory.

     “Thank you.” Remy says as we walk away with the swirls.

     “Can’t tonight be any weirder?” Milo questions as they circle the grounds. Ending back up at the big top hours later the moon hangs low within the sky signaling the approaching end as they stepped inside to Yukiko and a cat girl with dull curly auburn hair dance around the middle of the circle stage.

     People cheer as they bow, as Yukiko takes the young girl into her arms. Stepping forward Rico bellows loudly.

     “Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys of all forms. I thank you for joining us tonight! For this be our finally night we shall miss the wonderful cheers and applause you have given us! Now please return home safely!” With that, he bows and turns away as the lights dim hiding him in darkness as people start making their way out.

     “Milo! Remy! Guess what?” The Cat girl falls in front of them making them both jump in surprise. Remy clutching the front of his sweater as Milo ducks behind him.

     “y-yes?” Remy stutters out as he tries to calm his fast-beating heart.

     “Were going to have a movie night, day thing you in?” She asks placing her hands on her hips as she smiles proudly.

     “I don’t mind. Milo?”

     “Okay, just no more jump scares please.” Milo says stepping out from behind Remy.

     “Awesome can’t wait! See you there!” She cheers rushing off towards the back of the tent. Yukiko hangs there a few feet above us by a very thin web, as though she was floating. Giving a toothy grin she lifts herself up into the darkness of the big tops point, vanishing entirely.

     “Well looks like we won’t be going to sleep yet.” Remy chuckles as we walk through the now empty big top.

     “What fun.”