"Um, thank you Mister Julian," Kioko replied softly, the red creeping over her face having nothing to do with how close to the fire she was.  The flames in her palm reverted back to their normal state, dancing over her fingertips where she had curled her hand around them.  "But I wouldn't say I'm adept yet.  I still have some... issues when it comes to my power."

Diresa snorted lightly from her position on Kioko's leg, before lifting her snout and nudging the girl's forearm with a wet nose.  "Just take the compliment, girl.  No one's perfect, you know."  She yawned, then stood and circled the spot where she had been laying, dropping back down with a grunt.  "Tired, tired, tired," Diresa mumbled, flipping her tail over her eyes.  "Where's that magician of mine at?"

---------------------------------

"It would probably be more convenient for you if you did, Felix," Selvai replied.  "There is plenty of space around the fire, if you wish to warm yourselves up," he offered, noting the longing look Jesca cast over at the flames.  "I doubt anyone would mind if the two of you joined the group over there."  Selvai scooped up his shirt and towel from where they had been forgotten on the sands.  "And speaking of the bonfire, Diresa is probably wondering where I am."  He shook the sand off his shirt and pulled it over his head before nodding to Felix and Jesca.  "You're both welcome to sit with us if you choose."

Walking towards the group gathered around the bonfire, Selvai spotted Julian and Kioko, with Diresa curled next to the white haired teen.  "Hello Kioko, Julian," Selvai greeted.  Taking the spot on the other side of Diresa, he realized she was already asleep.  Lowering his voice to keep from waking her, the sorcerer spoke to the two of them.  "How are the two of you tonight?" 

((Pfft. The future is... Somewhat dissapointingly uneventful. o_O And smooth, Dravius. Real smooth. xD *Clung to* <3))

Raphael chuckled heartily at Jesca's obvious embarras.sment, before he followed her gaze towards the blazing flames further back on the beach. He looked back in time to listen to Selvai answer Felix's question, and the tall blonde Ring-Master agreed with a silent nod. "It would, and that's not a bad idea," He murmered, smiling at Selvai before turning back to Jesca and Felix. "Once you've warmed and dried yourselves, I'll see about getting you some accomodation, but for now... I have a certain young man I need to find,"

He bowed flamboyantly to the two new guests, then grinned at the magician. "I trust you can take care of them for me, I won't be long," With that said, he turned on his heel and started walking, heading past the fire and towards the vans.

~~~

Julian smiled slightly at Kioko's spoken modesty, then shrugged and looked into the crackling flames before him. "You'll get there," He replied, his dark voice somewhat amused. Indeed, many of the members had had some trouble with their abilities when they'd been picked up... They did, however, have all the practice time possible to them here at the Circus.

The Sword Master pulled his eyes away from the fire to look as Selvai approached, crossing his arms and glancing towards the ocean. "I'm fine, and you, Selvai?" He asked, his voice naturally quiet and unobtrusive as he looked at the now sleeping Diresa.

~~~

 Having kept her eyes on the Co-Master the entire time since she's spoken, Maya caught every change in Dravius's ex
pression, and showed no surprise at the sudden breaking of the bond between the two males. Even the insults proved no problem; She'd been around Dravius long enough to become accustomed to these sort of colourful phrases. What she hadn't expected, was the ferocity with which Dravius laid into Break, despite the fact she watched with no change on her face, though her eyes betrayed she was on edge. Not because of what she was watching, no. She'd been in the Circus too long for that. She was on edge because of her worry for Dravius's safety.

 She was, strangely enough, almost disbelieving with the end of Break, watching almost impas.sively. The fear that had existed before seemed to have dissapeared entirely, though the gaze Dravius directed at her made her slightly nervous. In all honesty, she wasn't frightened of him, not really, though she probably should have been, she hadn't been scared of the Co-Master since the age of 11. No, her only fear regarding him in any way had been his own safety, she did, however, take a step away from the white haired male when he looked at her.

"Dravius?" She murmered, keeping her wary eyes on the Co-Master, her face still wet with tears and her ex
pression still unbearably sad. She had, without thought almost, raised a hand as though to reach out for the seething Dravius, allowing it to fall after a moments notice. Maya was completely unsure of his sudden, merciless nature, and stood, her mind alert as she wrapped her arms over her stomach, trembing slightly with a very sudden exhaustion.

Nylat, having slowed down once she got in the city, had been searching, unknowingly, rather close to where she wanted to be. However, it wasn't until she heard a long and, to her, eerie scream that she actually managed to find Maya. Picking up her pace, she rounded a corner, almost immedeatly turning around, taking in what she had caught within her two seconds of a glance. A dead body that she hoped was who she thought, as well as Maya and Dravius. Closing her eyes, the hybrid backed up further, laying down with one ear pricked in that direction. Her protective nature kept her close. But she remained where she was, setting her head on the ground, both ears now pricked. Cities unnerved her enough without it being nighttime.

((Pfft. Nylat does have a life. She just prefers to spend it watching over Maya. <3))

[[oh gosh darn it. D:<

also, d'aww at Kioko.]]

Zinc had to keep "shooshing" Sh'Yama as they peered around a pile of trash and who knows what else. Watching was not Sh'Yama's forte, and she had been a little alarmed by the sudden attack that was quickly ended— too quickly ended, she decided, and she wanted to instruct Zinc to burn the remains. 

A bit alarmed, Zinc wondered why he bothered bringing her at all. He had only been worried about that giant blonde-headed bimbo. Therapy wasn't his strong point, but hey, maybe a good crack upside the head would put Dravius back on solid ground. Or kill him. But he doubted Sh'Yama would be as keen on that with the one she WANTED to destroy already dead. 

She'd probably be more disappointed than anything. "We'll just wait a little bit... see if he—" but Sh'Yama was already shoving him out of the way and walking over to Maya, as silent as a shadow on her bare feet. She didn't say anything as she came up to stand slightly behind Maya. Zinc was a bit right. She'd give the fool a chance first. Humans... monsters. Both were impeccably stupid and she'd be glad to be rid of all of them.

Dravius tilted his smiling face further, slightly resembling a rather blood-soaked owl as he just plainly looked at the blonde girl, before his longe, pointed tongue snaked out and licked a spot of blood off of his face, one near the side of his nose, bringing up a long finger the rub a long, nail mark tracing down the corner of his good eye, bringing his blank gaze from Maya to his bright red finger, licking it as well, with a purple-black tongue. Tucking that finger back inside a fist, Dravius turned to Break, a smile still resting absently on his face. Dravius mudged Break's dead face with a bare foot, turning the pretty face to the side, and put his full weight on it, Break's skull cracking audibly as Dravius used it as a tepping stool to perch on top of the long blade still protruding from Break's neck. Standing on one foot, the flat end of the blade just large enough to accomodate the ball of his left foot, the other hovering in the air next to him.

Cocking his head towards Maya, Dravius leaned backwards, as he had been facing away from the girl, his back arching until it looked impossible that he was still on the tip of the blade, his upside-down smile sharp. "Yes, insect girl?" He asked, humming a slow tune, before singing slightly, with not much of a tune and a disjointed rhythm, "This is way beyond my remote concern, of being condescending. All these sqauwking birds won't quit. Building nothing, laying bricks... 'tis a nice tune, insect girl. Called, 'Caring is creepy',"

Turning on the ball of his foot, Dravius twisted around, asking, "Why do you look so sad, girl-with-wings? Poor Break, though. Stupid man," He growled, his face instantly twisting into a mask of malice, hopping lightly backwards and landing on Break's turned head, brain and flesh splattering as he came to a stop. Sticking his hands in his pockets, Dravius turned and began singing disjointedly again, heading back down into the circus with a trail of bloody footprints.

Turning to look at Yama, he said, with another twist of his head, "Oh look, another. I'll be back at the circus if I'm needed," Humming cheerily, Dravius turned his walk into a trot, red streaks threaded through his light hair, drying brown and clotting together.

"A bit tired, but otherwise I'm well," Selvai responded to Julian, leaning back on his elbows as he did so.  "It isn't often that Diresa and I can simply relax like this.  I should remember to thank Mister Raphael for this break when I see him again."  

Kioko nodded in agreement, rubbing at her tingling shins.  "My legs are starting to fall asleep," she murmured absently.  Balancing on her hands, she unfolded her legs from under her and stood up carefully to avoid waking Diresa beside.  "Uhh," she winced at the pinpricks as the circulation returned.  "I'm going to go for a walk, and try to wake up my legs," she told Julian and Selvai quietly.

Stepping away from the fire, she strolled up the beach toward the circus vans.  Leaving behind the vans, she let her mind wander as she walked, picking out the forest trail easily in the bright moonlight.  

She finally stopped to rest sometime later and realized she could no longer see the glow of the bonfire, or hear the chatter of the other circus members.  "I'm too far out," she realized belatedly, and began to backtrack on what she thought was the right path.  Not that she was particularly scared of the dark, or getting lost in the woods, but Kioko didn't want anyone from the circus worrying about her.  After navigating around a large rock in her way, she looked up to see the familiar outline of a person on the path a few yards in front of her.  

"Oh, Mister Dravius," the teen called out as she walked toward him.  "You didn't come looking for me, did you?  I didn't mean to walk so far away from the rest of the group, I just became distracted and didn't realize.  I'm sorry if anyone was worried about me."  Walking closer, she became a bit nervous when the man didn't answer right away.  "I mean, it's a bright night, and I was just admiring the stars.  They're more visible out here, away from the city lights and everything, so, um..."  Realizing she was babbling, the girl stopped talking as she closed the distance between them.

And immediately gasped in horror when she saw the blood streaked through his hair and clothes, and the gore coating his bare feet.  Staggering backwards, Kioko swayed slightly as a wave of nausea twisted her stomach and bile rose in her throat.  Pressing the heel of one palm to her mouth, the white haired girl fought for a moment to keep from vomiting at the grisly sight.  

"Dear God," she managed to choke out after what seemed like an eternity.  "What happened Dravius?  Were you attacked?  Do you need me to go for help?"

((Poor Kioko.  But I couldn't think of anything else, so...)) 

The stress of the night so far was clearly taking it's toll on the butterfly-winged Maya, her unwavering gaze still following the now unfamiliar Co-Master, trembling visibly with both the cold and strain. She had, at some point, noticed Nylat's appearance, though showed no sign of outward recognition; Her attention was entirely focused on Dravius and his sudden change in personality. She did, however, glance fleetingly at Yama when she sensed the taller womans presence a short distance behind her. 

It was Dravius's voice that brought Maya's gaze back to him, and her eyes narrowed as she watched the white haired male with a detached and anguished ex
pression as he quite casually mutilated the now dead Break. Something wasn't right, definately not right, and she hadn't the faintest idea what it was. It was tearing her apart. "Nylat?" She asked, her voice as despairing as her ex
pression as she watched the deranged Co-Master walk away. "What's wrong with him?"

Her gaze fell onto Break, and she shuddered inwardly as she looked back towards Nylat, her tear-streaked face unbearably pained. She stood lost in thought, before she finally shook her head, her face becoming set. "We have to follow him," She said flatly, before she followed Dravius's footsteps at a graceful sprint, being sure to avoid stepping in any of the blood the male had left behind. It didn't matter if she felt she couldn't handle it, she had to try, she was unwilling to give in. Dravius wasn't himself.

It didn't take her long to find him once they were out of town, and as soon as she did, she jolted forwards and grasped him roughly by the sleeve, wings flared somewhat and casting a sudden blot of colour in the darkness of the night. "Dravius, stop!... What the hell is wrong with you?!" She almost yelled, any sense giving immediate way to her recklessness. "This isn't who you are..." She added in a murmering tone, fresh tears emerging from the girls violet and distraught gaze.

She had been on the verge of speaking again when she finally took note Kioko's presence. "Kioko?..." She asked weakly, her grip on the Co-Masters shirt sleeve remaining firm as she looked at the white haired pyro, her face mirroring her utter despair.

~~~

Raphael had pretty much walked around the entire camp site by this point, frowning as he went, and had started patrolling the outer fields, away from the camp itself. He wasn't really concerned, Dravius could usually take care of himself, but in light of everything that had taken place in the last week, it seemed unusual that the kid would leave the camp grounds, especially at this time.

He yawned as he skirted a nearby wood, pausing to listen to the skittering of nocurnal animals and voices. Voices?... Sliding his hands into his pockets, the Ring-Master continued forward, listening intently to said voices and stopping altogether when he finally recognised them, his face confused. Exhaling through his nose, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and made his way directly towards the sounds, coming to stand right next to Kioko.

He didn't greet them, which, in any other situation would have been unusual and would have been noticed immediately. Raphael's attention was primarily focused on Dravius and Maya, his grey eyes narrowed and concerned, his face set into such a seriousness it was impossible to imagine him as he usually was. The change in Dravius was obvious, he had, afterall, dealt with the kid for the last 8 years of his life, and Maya, well... Spoke for itself, really. He'd clearly missed something here.

Nylat shrugged in response to Maya's question, following along at a quick pace, never further than a couple of feet from her friend. She wan't gonna leave her alone for a second. Not for a while. She flicked her tail, coming to a stop behind Maya as she flared her wings, the hybrid's ears were back, only half-raised, a half-whine, half-growl rose in her throat. It was clear she was just as puzzled the next person, but even still, she unconsiously unsheathed the claws on one front paw. In the light of the past few days, she was amazingly wary. Whether or not she'd do anything...that was a completely different matter.

~~

Kanec, still gliding on updrafts, glanced down to see a small group forming, with almost all of the older members part of that group. Sighing, he flipped back, right side up, before slowly spiraling downward, flaring his wings as he neared ground, and stumbling a bit as he landed. It wasn't like him, but a yawn answered his question of why. He folded his wings, quickly covering the short distance he had left. As he approached the group, he yawned again, taking note of the melancholy note that seemed to fill the air.

((And Ima have to look back and read again for Tara...*strides off*))

Dravius turned towards the Kioko's call, raising a thin eyebrow at Kioko's ramblings, then put a hand to his mouth and laughed darkly, his absent smile still floating on his face. "No, not attacked. No, don't need help. As to what happened, I killed Break, girl-of white-hair," He snickered, licking a long scratch curling around his wrist with another sharp grin, looking down with a slightly amused ex
pression was Maya clung to him, lifting his sleeve and shaking it gently to try to dislodge her grip. "Not who I am?" Cocking his head away from Maya, he laughed again, leaning against a huge tree to his right. Putting his free hand over his eyes, he began laughing again, a slightly deranged, all-too-amused sound. "There is nothing wrong with me, pretty one," He grinned at Maya, although he seemed to look through her, rather than focusing on the girl. "Now, please release my clothing, pretty one. It is rude to cling," Shaking his arm again, making Maya extend her arms if she wanted to keep gripping the black sleeve.

Noticing Raphael, Dravius's grin grew wider, his lips curling at the ends as he shifted from foot to foot, still absently trying to tug his shirt away from Maya, still putting his weight against the nearby tree. "Hello, there," Dravius smiled darkly, picking at a scab tracing down the side of his face, and pulling a shiny blond hair from the dark cloth of his pants. Holding it in front of his blank good eye, he grinned again, tossing the long strand of hair aside and pulling a coin from his pocket. The coin had a small hole on the top, and was threaded through with a dark purple string. "Heads or tails, pretty one?" Dravius asked Maya, leaning down to offer the coin to her. Humming a slightly, he moved his head back and forth to the tune inside his head, scratching a spot behind his ear, tugging on the ring in the ear as well. "Why does everyone look so distressed, pretty one?" Dravius asked amusedly, forgetting about the coin in his hand and straighttening up again, rolling the decor coin in between his fingers with a laugh.

"They're distressed because you're acting like a stupid bonkers boy. Need some morphine? Wanna go in the little white room with the straight jacket? I don't care who you are, Dravius, or who you want people to think you are." Sh'Yama stepped forward, lips set in a thin frown. Enough of this babying. "What caused you to break? If you'll pardon the pun," Even Zinc would have gritted his teeth at that.

"But honestly. Is this a pity party thing? 'Oh no look what I did, my life is awful'. Or do you really have a personality disorder? I can't help but think it is the former. You think you are the only one who has done bad things, or who has had bad things happen to you? At least you look like a human! At least you have a family who cares about you! Sure, we could all try and "win" at being the saddest person who has had the most awful past ever... but the past is past! Get over it for the Spirits' sake!"

Yama grumbled something inaudible and stepped solidly in front of Dravius. "You know what I think, Dravius? You are a selfish boy! You are selfish and you do not deserve the people who care about you! Is this what you want to here? Do you want to hear that I think Break wasn't really strong at all, but that you felt that somehow you deserved it— or that you needed it? That you were unworthy of other people so you decided that the worst choice was the only choice?" 

She almost hoped he'd attack her or something. Maybe if he spazzed out again and hurt someone else he'd snap out of his stupor. Better her than people who were his friends.

 - - -

Zinc had been left behind, as, he really didn't think he'd be useful in the situation. Except to smack Dravius roughly upside the head with a blunt ob
ject. Though that would make him feel better, he didn't know if it would help solving their current problem. So instead, he was cleaning up the... mess that had been left behind. Honestly, how these kids avoided mobs with pitchforks and torches was a mystery in its self.

 - - -

As brittle as Maya seemed to be, her firm grip on the Co-Masters sleeve did not at all weaken as he tried without any real effort to dislodge her hand. She remained resoloutely where she was, frowning at Dravius's words. It was strange, the way he was being, the way he avoided calling anyone by their name; It was almost like he was unconsciously trying to prevent himself from remembering anything that might bring him straight back to reality. A reality that had probably affected him more than he let on.

She was instantly brought out of her thoughts by Dravius and his question ragarding the coin, though she made no effort to answer it, glancing only once at the metal round before returning her despairing gaze back to the Co-Master, listening in silence to Yama's tirade.

Raphael's voice was the next in line, and Maya turned quickly to him, her ex
pression confused. "What?"

"You heard me. Let go of him," Raphael's gaze, she noticed, was focused entirely on Dravius, and his tone of voice was that of someone giving advice, his ex
pression slightly unbelieving at the news of Breaks death. It was clear he'd noticed, or read more into this situation than she had, and it was with a great deal of effort that she released the Co-Masters sleeve. She took a quick step back, her eyes roaming from one male to the other.

The Ring-Master was a man who gave chances, anyone who knew him knew that, and it could sometimes cause more problems than solving them. There was something about this situation however, that forced his mind into immediate action. He wouldn't wait this time. They did, afterall, have a vacation to finish, and Raphael was strongly inclined to deal with the problem then and there. Yama's words and posture clearly portrayed what she was hoping, though Raphael strangely doubted having Dravius attack anyone would help. His eyes narrowed as he read through the kids current personality, noting, like Maya, the way he seemed to avoid anything remotely familiar to him.

"Yama?... Would you mind if I tried something first?... I'm more than sure you can handle yourself, but I'd really rather not risk it unless I absoloutely have no choice in the matter," He frowned, then sighed, taking a step closer to the deranged Dravius, his face set. "Dear me... I'd hoped never to do this to you again,"

"What are you going to do?" Maya asked quickly, glancing between Dravius and Raphael, her anguished ex
pression merging with a slight confusion and obvious concern. "Raphael-"

Her words were cut off when Raphael smiled at her, the ex
pression unusually strained before he glanced back towards Dravius. "I'm going to put him in a very familiar situation, seeing as that's what I think he's trying to avoid," He frowned again, scratching a temple. "I can't say whether it will work, though. If not-" He looked pointedly at Yama. "-We might need to get a little more phyiscal about it,"

The Ring-Master then shrugged, and focused his penetrating gaze back on Dravius, his eyes giving no hint as to what was going through his mind. If this didn't work, they'd have to knock him out, as much as Raphael hated the idea. Unfortunately, the last week in general had left the usually laid back Ring-Master with very little patience, and he could not afford to have his Co-Master lost in this haze.

There was absoloutely no change in the tall blondes ex
pression as he focused his will into an illusion directed at Dravius, his mind lacing every little detail as he read the injuries on the kids face and neck. It was an easy matter to as.sess how much pain would come with such cuts, and it was a definate that it would be far more painful than a mere bruise. He closed his eyes, then sighed. "I'm sorry, Dravius," He said, opening his eyes again as he unleashed the illusion, linking each injury with the pain it should cause. Well, you couldn't get more familiar than that.

((Hmm. I'll post here in a second, but first. I gotta read the other Circus rp. Just to make sure of something. ;D *skips off*))

((It is. xD Julian, Spider, Diresa and Selvai are there. WILD JULIAN. o-o

Edit: WOAH. I just realised this is the 1000th post. Never expected it to last this long. o-o))