|
|
|
Username: Phayth Less
Title of Story: Fortune's Misfortune
NPCs involved: Carnival Velvetine, The Ringmaster
Character Item(s) Referenced: Crystalline Velvetine, The Ringmaster
Link:
***
The carnival is alive. Children, teens, those of all ages, scream in delight and in sheer terror over the numerous wonders that await them around each corner they turn. The whirl of cotton candy machines and the dinging of metal-on-metal from the roller coaster, the popping of gourmet popcorn and the hypnotizing music as it floats on the air. All of that brings the carnival to life and gives it meaning.
But, for many of the performers, it is just another day. Nothing ever changes. Each day is just another endless migraine, another day of making worthless people feel like they can do anything they want just because they're at a carnival. It is no different for Velvetine.
She sighs as one of the road crew--a young girl named Bethany--yanks on the strings of her corset, constricting the material against her ribs. Bethany whispers a sincere apology when Velvetine hisses in pain. Velvetine waves a hand, signalling for Bethany to continue. The pain reminds her that she is still alive; that she has not lost all of herself yet.
"Velvetine," Bethany says, timidly. "I have a question for you."
The girl's hands drop away from the small of Velvetine's back and she starts fiddling with her thumbs. She is clearly nervous and Velvetine spins on her heels to look at the girl directly instead of through a mirror. Bethany's eyes widen a bit at the sudden movement but she remains quiet.
"Out with it." Velvetine snaps, her temper already at the end of it's rope from the event earlier this week. "I have no time to waste. The carnival opens in an hour."
"You--I mean--The Ringmaster, you," She stutters over her words and a blush creeps across her freckled nose. "Never mind, Velvetine."
A pang deep in Velvetine's heart makes her choke on a sob. "Bethany, you know better than to play games. Ask your question, girl."
"You love him, don't you?" Bethany's horror returns as Velvetine turns away from her and stalks out the door of her dressing room.
***
Stifling heat is the first thing Velvetine can feel after the shock and numbness leave her body. It sobers her up just enough for her mind to start racing again and she collapses next to a tent a ways up from her caravan. Her body shakes with tremors of sadness and despair but nothing comes forth. Not tears, not screams, not even goosebumps. It's like her body has lost all of it's humanity through her years as a Teller.
Do you love him?
That is a stupid question. She could never answer that question without remembering the truth behind him. There is not a single soul that she could tell who would believe her and didn't that just question her sanity in an of itself.
"Velvetine," Smooth, rich, barely there but there all the same. That's the only way Velvetine could ever describe his voice.
She looks up, into the glowing orange eyes of the Ringmaster. His face is eerily pale, marked with his trademark thick liner around his eye, and he covers his real scars with black paint across his eye. Everything about him screams mystery, temptation, but those are the things she knows she needs to stay away from.
"Velvetine, we need to talk." He extends his hand out to her and spreads his long, bony fingers out. "I wish to explain what is going on, my dear."
"Ringmaster, I understand it all to well." Her voice quivers slightly before settling. "I don't think there is anything else to explain."
His fingers wrap around her wrists, pulling her off the ground and into his arms. The warmth she feels is real enough, the weight against her back is real enough. He holds her against him as he floats off, not jerking her weight at all as they make there way away from the carnival.
Soon, the forest envelopes them and the waning light of the sun is replaced with darkness; only Ringmaster's eyes light the way. He places her on the ground in a clearing but keeps his hands on her shoulders as he kneels next to her.
He shifts and moves his hands to cup her face. "Velvetine, you have seen many things in your years as a Teller. You cannot tell me that my secret is anything more shocking than what you've seen before."
She shakes her head. "It's not but it still leaves me conflicted about what I am doing with the carnival anymore."
Ringmaster lowers his head close enough to her face that he can smell the sweet perfume of her skin. "You know that just because I am not entirely here, you won't leave the carnival. It is your home as much as anyone else's."
She holds as still as she can, closing her eyes to ward off the hypnotism of Ringmaster's eyes. "I have called many places my home, Ringmaster, do not assume that I cannot find another."
"Don't leave, Velvetine." He whispers in to her ear, leaving a trail of goosebumps along her flesh. "I love you too much to let you go."
A cruel laugh escapes Velvetine's lips before she can catch it. "Ringmaster, you couldn't chase me down if you wanted to. You are more attached to this carnival than anyone knows."
"Why does it bother you so much that I have no real, physical being?" His voice sounds desperate. "What difference does it make that you have this vessel to hold you in your place? The spirit of the carnival does the same thing. I am here. I breathe. I feel."
"It matters because..." Velvetine chokes on her words as another sob threatens its way in to her throat.
"Because why?"
"Because the cards once told me that I would fall in love with Misfortune. That is all my life is to ever be and if I fall in love with you, all that will come of it is misfortune. I can't bear to watch the carnival--and you--die because I made the mistake of getting too close."
Ringmaster closes the distance between them, sealing her lips with his own in the most explosive kiss she has ever known. The world comes to a complete stop as his hands pull her hair from it's clasp and he deepens the kiss. The taste of carnival--cotton candy, popcorn, thrills, and fear--is all that Velvetine can taste as Ringmaster kisses her. All she can think of is how she never wants to lose him and how much the carnival means to her.
In the back of her mind, Velvetine hears Ringmaster whisper "Misfortune be damned. I love you too much to see you go."
 Phayth Less · Mon Oct 07, 2013 @ 09:42pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
