Thread: All The World's A Stage (CptPeriwinkle&Mdm Mim)

In her fury and humiliation, Natasha had no idea where to find a needle or a cork, and both had been Blaine's idea. With a nod of approval she took him by the hand and pulled him back to her tent . Not only did Shane like the circus, when traveling, to have the appearance of a traditional gypsy-like circus despite being anything but, the style was also to Natasha's tastes and were comfortable most places they settled down. Since she was one of the youngest performers both in age and in experience with the circus, she got a tent rather than a trailer in the caravan. Inside was just as colorful as the outside, with shawls and scarves hanging here and there from the ceiling and her bed partially concealed by a sheer fabric. It was just an air mattress, but with foam beneath the fitted sheet she had managed to make it comfortable enough. A few overlapping rugs kept Natasha and her belongings from mud and muck--for the circus almost always set up camps in fields outside of cities and towns--and apart from a large trunk in the corner with a laptop and a jewelry box perched on it, the only other furniture were several squashy-looking pouffes either bought or made at Natasha's own expense, thrown about for when she had friends over. By the time she had brought Blaine into the tent, she still hadn't explained what was going on. Sit anywhere, she said gruffly. Before anythink I change. This costume, is ridiculous, da? She hated the unitard - skirt combo Shane forced her into. She felt stupid and she looked stupid it was meant to accentuate her bust while at the same time hide her tattoo. Shane didn't like body modifications on women, which was why unlike most circuses you would find very few women with piercings or tattoos in this cirque. Natasha had had hers before she had come here, which was why she was allowed to keep it only if she kept it covered up. This tattoo of a dragon was revealed when Natasha started to strip off her costume, tossing it onto the bed before turning to cross to the trunk. She didn't seem to mind much that she was in just her underwear in front of someone she barely knew before pulling on a pair of cut-off shorts and a tank top. She spoke over her shoulder to him as she rifled through the jewelry box. You have a lighter, da? Or can make fire? I ah...I cannot haff one. She found what she was looking for and turned around, smiling sheepishly. Needles, they are a weakness, da? The dragon, at the time she'd gotten it, hadn't merely been decoration. Shane had found her strung out, sleeping on a bench in the Saint Petersburg train station, and after talking for a bit gave her a ticket to the circus. To this day she wasn't allowed a lighter for any reason, even candles. That was why she couldn't leave, not yet Shane had gotten her clean and done so much more for her, even if he was abusive. Taking up the needle and cork in one hand, along with whatever she'd pulled from the jewelry box, and with the other hand pulling Blaine over to sit on the bed with her, she crossed her legs and held the two items up. Chewing on her tongue, she had to think for a moment what to say. Ve show Shane he is not ruler of my body, I am, she explained at last. Natasha was the closest to what could be considered the circus's 'problem child.' Ven I say, you heat needle, ve pierce my nose. Da? She had chosen Blaine specifically because he was new everyone knew that she had been fighting Shane for a long time over this, and no one else would be willing to go against Shane's wishes. Natasha had finally gotten fed-up with the struggle, and especially after Shane's reaction--after making her do that --she was willing to defy him. Meanwhile, backstage, Shane was congratulating everyone on another show well-done, clapping them on the back and patting their shoulders. Well done, everyone! Well done! Derek, Ali, Ginnifer, you three come with me. Time to press the flesh, you know how it is. Everyone else, why don't you start on supper? You all deserve a good hot meal. Derek the empathic strongman, Ali the firethrower, and Ginnifer whose ability amounted to magnetic manipulation followed Shane out of the main tent to meet with a carefully selected portion of the audience, hand-picked by the ringmaster himself. Ali spoke quietly to Shane as they walked, heads bent together. This new kid, Blaine, he murmured in Shane's ear. I think he's ready. As the other pyro in the circus, the Arab had taken him under his wing, so to speak. Not yet, Shane murmured back. We don't know if he can trust him, and he doesn't yet realize the full strength of his ability.