The Circus Date

**The Circus Date** is the fiftieth (and a half) episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. Kaz and Quincy go on a date to the Vayilcor Circus in *Kra'Kash*.

## The Circus Date

### **Three Weeks before "*Acquaintances in the Underbelly" . . .***

Quincy had been doing security for the *Wandered Eye* for a few weeks now. They had been received well by the mistress of the house, Fren, and were set up not only with a job but a spare room to sleep in as well. This afternoon, there is less hustle and bustle in the brothel leaving Quincy and Kaz to eat lunch in peace together in the main foyer. As they sit, Quincy asks Kaz if she has ever been to the Vayilcor Circus and learns that she hasn’t. Quincy reveals they haven’t been either, despite stopping in port several times in the past as Kylan was always on business when they were here and Kerrack always stuck very closely to Kylan’s side. Quincy then asks if Kaz would like to go to the circus with them, having already asked Fren for the night off for both of them, which they realize now is a bit presumptuous and offers that Kaz could simply take the night to herself if she wanted. Kaz agrees that it was presumptuous but she would enjoy going if she already has the night off and the two agree on a time before going quietly back to their meal.

Time speeds along as we come back to Quincy in their room, with all of their clothes laid out as they have been arguing with themself over what to wear for over an hour. The decision should be easy as Quincy has very little to choose from but they are interrupted by a familiar Tiefling woman with a short pixie cut of white hair and slim black horns that curl back behind her ears, wearing a fitted dark blue suit with gold trim. Antra asks if Quincy is planning to wear that and Quincy says yes before immediately doubting themself and admits they have never once been on a date before. Antra tsks them lightly and takes them to her room where she opens an immaculately organized closet. Antra has a vast wardrobe, showing no real preference for masculine or feminine wear rather than just things she considers pretty. Quincy was raised on hand-me-down dresses from their step mother and never liked that, though Nana was kind enough to swipe the trousers and shirts that Quincy’s brother Enoch grew out of. Quincy reaches for what feels familiar and finds a pair of fitted pants with leather cuffs and a billowing shirt similar to what they tend to wear though made of a nicer material. Quincy also finds a Skorian Empire brigadiers’ coat, made with dark brown material that’s flecked with green and dotted with fine silver buttons and lined with blue and orange material that matches the light of the two suns.

Up another set of stairs, the view moves through a door and finds Kaz in her room, sitting in a vanity and doing her hair. She wears a simple but lovely purple sheath dress and she is trying to do something different with her curls, pinning it up and bringing it back down before trying to pin it up again. As she does so, there is a solid thunk against her foot and she looks down with a smile and asks Boris if he is ready to go on an adventure today. Kaz says she is excited to see it, as it is likely to be unlike anything they have seen before and Boris grumbles and growls happily as he makes his way across the room to a box filled with sand that he happily digs around in. A knock comes to the door and Fren walks in, an older woman with her hair tied to the side in a simple braid. Kaz thanks her for the night off and Fren explains Quincy was very adamant and that she wouldn’t take this away from them. Kaz explains that they will be going to the circus and Fren says it will be exciting but warns that the two women who stand at the front gate are very strange and quite crude with each other. Fren goes on to say Quincy has been asking about Kaz and when Kaz asks for details Fren recites questions like where Kaz is from and her favorite color. Fren says they are not her questions to answer and points out that Quincy isn’t very direct but is glad that this is happening tonight before asking if Kaz has ever thought of leaving. Kaz says she hasn’t, not wanting to leave a stable job and nice people but Fren says in a business like theirs, they had to be good to one another and she didn’t want to see Kaz roaming Kra’Kash alone with just Boris. Fren then tells Kaz she looks like a knock out before leaving the room, Kaz soon following with Boris in tow to find Quincy.

Back in Quincy’s room, Quincy laments not thinking about fixing their hair and asks if the braid is alright but Antra notes she would be worried to see what it looks like outside of the braid. Quincy then asks for a bit of kohl, quickly making the perpetually smudged makeup around their eyes look more purposeful. Antra sniffs the air and notes Kaz is coming before quickly leaving the room, giving Kaz a thumbs up as she crosses paths. As Kaz knocks on the door, she hears the quiet cursing of Quincy panicking before Quincy answers the door. Quincy says Kaz looks stunning and invites Kaz in, Quincy asking if they look like a tool in the coat but Kaz assures them that they look wonderful and adjusting the lapels. Quincy invites Kaz in as they need to put on their boots and Boris drops from Kaz’s shoulder to snoop around. Boris is the size of an average domestic house cat with white flecked skin similar to the scales of a snake. Kaz tells him not to invade the area to but Quincy assures it is fine as there is little to find but for proper gun safety Boris shouldn’t be allowed near the cabinet where they keep their pistol. Kaz says everyone looks at Boris rather strangely but Kaz thinks he is sweet. Quincy admits he is an odd pet to keep and asks where he is native to, Kaz giving the non-answer that he is from very far away. Quincy allows this without further questions and while deciding to leave their pistol here, takes their knives and whip just in case.

The pair leave the *Wandered Eye* arm in arm into the night outside. Kaz notices that the people that roam the streets and wait in line for entrance to the circus stare at them, looking anywhere between jealous and admiring before they catch sight of Boris and look on in mildly horrified confusion. Tonight, the line into the circus is long as there is rumor of something special tonight and it takes some time to reach the front. Quincy and Kaz begin to hear the sounds of two feminie voices as they spot the two Halflings standing atop tall pillars wearing checkered, fitted suits as they shout at one another and greet people while juggling between each other. Kaz and Quincy are called out as “quite the sight” before they enter the Vaylicor Circus. The area is filled with a number of fantastical acts that not even magic is fully able to explain. A sword swallower takes an entire great sword and bows at the crowd’s approval before removing it, a man eats a glass jar in large bites, a man drinks from a jar and spits fire into the air and above them a Firbolg hangs from nine chains hooked into their skin as they soar above the crowds.

A number of foreign creatures are led through the crowd, Quincy and Kaz spotting an Owlbear being ridden by an Elven woman which makes Quincy gasp. Quincy explains that Nana told them stories of a prince who rode into battle on an Owlbear but even when Nana told them the creatures were real, Quincy didn’t quite believe her. Kaz asks if Quincy would like to follow it and the pair do, following in the wake of the creature until the Owlbear is brought to a quiet tent where the Elven woman introduces the creature as “Micheal” and invites them to pet him. Kaz drags the still-starstruck Quincy over and the pair pet Micheal happily, Quincy collecting a few fallen feathers to make a bookmark for later. The conversation turns to Boris and how one day he might be of a similar size to the Owlbear and Quincy realizes they never thought of Boris getting much bigger. Quincy asks where Boris goes, as they know he tends to stay in Kaz’s room but even then there are times that Quincy cannot find him. Kaz gives yet another non-answer that he may just be hiding in his sandbox or elsewhere. The Elven woman eventually has to pull Micheal away as it is time to do another round but Kaz and Quincy thank her for the time and look around to whatever might catch their fancy next. Quincy wonders about the knife thrower and his skill as they gesture to the knives they keep with them and Kaz leads them over. The man hurling daggers at three targets, one stacked on top of the next and then on top of the next as he does various tricks while closing his eyes or with his back turned. As they watch, Boris signals that he would like to be let down and with Kaz's permission, drops to the ground and instantly burrows as Kaz feels him speed around underground.

As they continue to watch, the knife thrower notices them watching and Quincy admits they are impressed by his skill. They ask how long he has honed his craft and he admits most his entire life as he was born in the circus and Quincy admits he has quite the jump on Quincy then. The knife thrower then suggests Quincy try their hand at the targets, Kaz encouraging Quincy forward. Looking at the targets, Quincy pulls the two daggers strapped to their thigh and reasonably believes that they can make the higher end of the middle target. Quincy aims to start just below that but surprises even themself with managing to hit the upper end of the target. The second toss, they aim higher and stick it into the bottom half of the highest target. Quincy then looks back to Kaz and sees her smiling and watching and asks the knife thrower for a third dagger to borrow and he hands them two. Quincy weighs the dagger in their hand and finds it is made of a much finer, lighter metal and with ease the dagger sails up and hits the top of the highest target. Kaz jumps forward and wraps Quincy in a hug as she congratulates them and, in accordance with a wager set earlier, the knife thrower hands boxes the remaining dagger that Quincy gets to keep. The knife thrower removes the daggers from the targets and hands Quincy back their two before Kaz and Quincy head off deeper into the circus.

Quincy and Kaz approach the largest tent in the area where the main show is set to start and are greeted by a large Loxodon man in a bowler hat that he tips their way and a trunk that is covered in beaded bracelets and bangles. The pair enter the tent and quickly find seats as close to the front as they can manage, Quincy keeping an eye on the crowd around them to ward off anyone who might think of doing something untoward around Kaz. There are lanterns lit in varying shades of red, blue and green around the octagonal ring at the center of the tent that all go out as the show is due to start. Quincy, afraid of the dark, closes their eyes and squeezes Kaz’s hand as Kaz assures them it will be alright. A spotlight goes up and Kaz tells Quincy it is alright to look as the Loxodon man from before starts the show. The man introduces himself as Lyre and greets the audience, welcoming them to the Vayilcor Circus, once known as the Clockwork Flying Troupe before making a home for themselves in *Kra’Kash.* Lyre explains that in their world, fantastical things happen by the use of magic but what will be shown here tonight is no illusion but feats of mundane abilities brought to their highest.

The show starts with three Halflings, who start on high pillars before taking daring leaps and dives as they soar across the room. They each plummet and land in cannons before being shot out, ripping holes in the tent above them as they are shot into the night sky above. Next is a man who comes out of a box and bends and twists his body in unnatural ways before folding himself back into the box once more and is wheeled out of the ring by another performer. The woman they had met before, riding the Owlbear Michael, returns but she enters, soaring over the crowd suspended by two chains nearly close enough to touch. She descends at the center of the ring where there is now a Displacer Beast that she mounts and rides as it bounds around the ring and bamphs into various spots in the crowd. Micheal comes out into the ring and tumbles around, Kaz and Quincy joking if the displacer beast is named something similarly mundane like "George". The two creatures do a trick together, the Beast balancing on Micheal’s back as they do a round of the ring together and Kaz wonders how the woman trains the creatures and Quincy tells her to remind them to tell a story about a one armed man and a hellhound.

There is a rumble in the ground next, as the ground at the center of the ring moves and cascades away as a young Purple Worm emerges from beneath it. The worm lifts Micheal and the Displacer Beast into the air on its head, as well as the Elven woman who trains them. The woman casts *Dancing* *Lights* in a burst of flaming butterflies as the worm descends back into the dirt with the other creatures and woman still on its head and they all disappear. The dirt is quickly packed back down as the tent goes dark and when the lights return a number of Gnomes run out and begin tumbling and jumping across the ring, creating a tower and a triangle of themselves and taking a lap around the room. As the Gnomes leave, Lyre returns and reminds the audience that this is not an illusion or trick of some kind. He then thanks them all for coming and asks if they would like to end with a dragon. The crowd roars and gasps as from out of the shadows an adult silver dragon appears, the scales glimmering in the lantern light all around it as its piercing green eyes scan over the crowd. The dragon exhales a plume of purple smoke that bursts into purple flames as the crowd continues to cheer in awe before retreating back into the shadows. Lyre returns to the center of the ring and thanks the audience once more for coming, asking them to return and tell a friend before the lights go out. The lanterns return to their original colors, the center ring empty as people begin to leave the tent.

Kaz and Quincy talk about all that they have seen, Quincy wondering if Boris saw the purple worm or the dragon and Kaz explaining that Boris doesn’t exactly have eyes but maybe they bumped into each other underground. Quincy asks if Kaz had a good time, Kaz assures them that she did. Quincy notes that they always try to get a trinket when they go somewhere new, mentioning the bookmarks they try to collect when they go to a new city. Kaz says Quincy does not have to get her anything but Quincy insists and the pair leave the tent as Quincy looks for a jewelry vendor. The first stall they find is good quality and Quincy finds a bangle of silver with a small hourglass charm filled with sand that they present to Kaz, asking if they like it. Kaz tries to slide the decision off but Quincy says tonight is about her. Kaz shakes her head and admits to Quincy that she has been asked to the circus many times by many people but she has never said yes until now and she doubts she will ever come back because there is no one else worth going with. Kaz says she wants something that reminds her of Quincy. Quincy nods quietly and starts looking through vendor stalls with intent, wanting something gold as that is Kaz’s preferred color and possibly with red semi-precious gems that look similar to that of Kaz’s eyes.

Quincy searches for a time before finding one bangle in particular, the ends of the bangle shaped like snakes’ heads and with eyes of a red gemstone. Quincy quickly purchases that and asks the vendor if it can be engraved, paying extra to have “home” engraved on the inner band. Quincy pays for the item with confidence but realizes before turning back to Kaz that this is quite the gift and a lot to hand over to someone, freezing momentarily in a panic. Kaz gently lays a hand at the center of Quincy’s back and asks if they are alright. Quincy turns and silently holds out the gift, Kaz taking it and saying it is beautiful but Quincy’s questioning if it is too much when Kaz notes the engraving. Kaz calls it perfect and asks for assistance with putting it on her wrist, which Quincy does without question and finds it is the perfect size. Kaz says the night doesn’t have to be over just yet, offering that they can sit and talk at the *Wandered Eye* and Quincy can tell her more stories and Quincy agrees, not ready for the night to be over just yet.

Kaz and Quincy leave the circus arm in arm and make their way out into the streets of *Kra’Kash*. As they walk, there is a small rumble from below before Boris bursts out of the cobblestone street with such speed he is able to land on Kaz’s shoulder. Quincy bursts out laughing as Kaz assures them that she and Boris have practiced the maneuver. Kaz asks if Quincy would like to hold him and Quincy readily agrees as Kaz sticks out her arm and Boris descends into Quincy’s open palms, flopping like a loaf of bread. Boris eventually crawls up Quincy’s arm to wrap around their neck and Quincy notes that he is very warm, Kaz agreeing he is good for cold nights. The pair continue to walk back to the brothel and for the first time since arriving in *Kra’Kash*, Quincy does not check the *Docks* for the possible arrival of the *Misty Moon*.

Inside the *Wandered Eye*, Kaz leads the pair back to a far corner and to her favorite couch where few people tend to be. The black chesterfield is empty and the brothel quiet as they enter and sit down, Antra stopping by to drop off two drinks that have more liquor than anything else. As they sip their drinks, Kaz mentions that she has heard Quincy has been asking questions, and Quincy instantly mutters about Fren. Quincy admits to not being very good at being direct and Kaz offers that her favorite color is purple. Quincy notes that Kaz also likes poetry and wonders what her favorite book is. Kaz says she can’t remember the title but all of the poems reminded her of home, of the way sand sounds as it moves over the dunes. Kaz tries to call it silly but Quincy says it sounds lovely and offers that maybe one day they can find it again. They lapse into a quietness before Quincy admits they want to get to know Kaz, and there is another long pause before Kaz says she is from the *Badlands*. Quincy nods and says they have never been but have seen it from the shore. Kaz says most people don’t go unless they have a reason and Quincy asks if they always leave for a reason. Kaz says not always, but pointedly says home is usually a reason people leave. Quincy says home is a very strong word and that it is hard to define, house and home having very strong connotations. Kaz agrees, saying she didn’t have a house but she did have a home and Quincy admitting they very much had a house but home is where the heart is. Quincy glances at the bangle they gave Kaz not even an hour ago and sighs as they say that their heart is somewhere at sea.

Kaz, who has been playing with the bangle quickly stops and tells Quincy that she is not stupid and she has always known this is temporary. Kaz says she knows what someone who likes to move looks like. Quincy desperately corrects her that they do not want to move but have to keep moving and Kaz says she knows what that looks like too. After a long moment, Quincy wonders if Kaz has ever thought of leaving *Kra’Kash* and Kaz says they sound like Fren. Kaz says she has thought about it and with a pointed look at the bangle, Quincy asks if she has thought of the possible circumstances that she might leave. Kaz says that it would have to be a good reason to leave a stable job and a roof over her head but there are reasons to be found. Quincy knocks back the rest of their drink and wonders if Kaz would like to hear a story and Kaz happily agrees. Quincy asks if she wants something old or new and Kaz asks for her favorite which makes Quincy laugh, still unsure why it is Kaz’s favorite as Quincy thinks it is a rather mundane tale. The night goes on like that, as stories are told one after another and Antra continues to bring them drinks until the two suns return to the sky.

The two are barely awake as they ponder if Antra had motives of her own as the drinks had quickly become just liquor and there are a number of empty cups on the low table in front of them. Quincy offers to take Kaz up to her room and though Kaz allows Quincy to lead the way, they both know who the more capable one is to tug them both up the stairs. They walk up one flight of stairs, past Quincy’s room and up a second set of stairs where they reach Kaz’s door and Quincy laments having not realized they would have to make it back down the stairs. Kaz jokingly offers that Quincy could try moving like Boris and scooting down the stairs and Quincy seriously considers it in their drunken state. Kaz and Quincy share a quiet good night before Quincy turns away to begin their descent but Kaz calls out for their attention. Kaz says she agrees, home is where the heart is, and quickly kisses Quincy once on the mouth before running back into her room and closing the door. Quincy smiles, dumbstruck, before making their way back down the stairs and into their room.

1. ↑ Quincy now has a +2 dagger in their inventory retroactively
2. ↑ A lie of omission as Quincy has been to *Zhai* before, a city on the western edge of the *Badlands*
3. ↑ Kaz having a 16 in Strength in comparison to Quincy's much less impressive 10