"It's okay," Kioko told Dravius as he slid off the van roof.  "I just wasn't expecting to see you hanging upside down like a bat."  The teen ran her fingers through her white hair, wishing she had thought to comb it before leaving her van.  She gave up trying to untangle her hair and simply shook her head at Dravius' next statement.  "At least it's over with now, and everyone can enjoy what's left of our vacation.'

"That's quite awhile to hold a grudge, though," Disera remarked, moving from behind Selvai and circling Dravius once, poking him in the leg with her nose as she did so.  "You'd think she would have given it up and found something else to obsess over by now."  The shifter stopped in front of him, sitting down on the sand.

"You need to eat Dravius, or else you'll feel worse than that.  Don't make me hold you down and force feed you," Disera joked with him.  "I'm alot stronger than you'd think.  Just ask the magician over there," she said, flicking her tail to point at Selvai, who simply chuckled quietly.

"There's no need to feel bad, Dravius," Selvai spoke up when the boy began to apologize.  "Of course we would be worried if a fellow Circus member were in trouble and taken into custody by the police.  And taking into account everything that's occurred as of late, I don't think anyone would hold it against you for succumbing to stress." 

Kioko's stomach chose that moment to growl, reminding the girl that she had skipped breakfast and hadn't eaten anything at all in the excitement of the day.  "Uh, s-sorry," she mumbled, bowing her head and nervously playing with the hem of her cloak.

Selvai smiled at the girl's red face.  "I'm not hungry myself, although it seems Kioko would like to join you.  Disera, are you going to eat as well?"

"Sure, but what are you going to do?" The summoned creature tilted her head to the side and flicked one ear sideways in curiosity.

"I believe I'll go for a walk on the beach.  It's quite a nice day, despite everything."

"Okay.  Just don't get yourself lost," Disera called out as he walked away.

Selvai nodded and waved backwards over his shoulder as he continued along the beach, smiling at the relaxed air that had overtaken the members now that Dravius had returned.  People waved and called out to each other cheerfully, the tense mood of the morning almost gone.  He noticed Maya and a soaked Raphael sitting together on the sand, and altered his course to speak with them.

"Hello, Maya, Raphael," he greeted, smirking a bit at Raphael's waterlogged state.  "It seems the circus members finally managed their revenge," Selvai pointed out, amused.

After watching Maya silently for a moment, Raphael shrugged slightly, before glancing off and waving to a few members who called out to him as they pas.sed. Yawning once, the blonde illusionist made an attempt to squeeze out as much water as he could from his soaking shirt, looking up at the sound of Selvai's voice with an exaggerated pout.

"Oh, sure. Don't rub it in," He laughed. "Do you have any idea how much effort it took to let them get me?... I was sorely tempted to just flush them all back onto the beach with a well-placed tidal wave," He replied, his eyes falling back onto his shirt and the water that was coming from it.

"You did do that though," Maya added, sitting up and brushing sand from her arms, before addressing Selvai with a slight smile. "Hello, Selvai," She said quietly, crossing her legs, her wings splayed on the sand behind her and her gold hair glinting in the burning orange of the setting sun. She looked back at Raphael when he responded to her previous comment.

"Ah... Yeah, but only after I'd let them drown me first.." He frowned slightly, his face becoming thoughtful. "I'd have been running for the rest of the vacation if I hadn't let them have their way," Laughing, the Ring-Master released his shirt from his hands and stood, brushing as much sand from his wet pants as he could manage, which wasn't a lot. Sand and wet clothes never went well together. He waved at hand at Nylat, who he spotted laid out on Maya's van, before turning back to Selvai.

"So, Selvai," He yawned, looking towards the magician. "How are the others?... I'm going to as.sume they already know what happened with Dravius today, and after everything that has happened this week... Well," His face became somewhat pained, glancing momentarily at Maya. "It's enough to make anyones head spin,"

The butterfly rolled her eyes, then also stood, having a much easier time with removing the sand from her clothes before crossing her arms behind her back; Her eyes on the glowing, orange tinted ocean. She still looked somewhat ill and weary, but she clearly refused to make an issue of it, and simply turned back to the two with as much of a genuine smile as she could muster.

~~~

After a few silent minutes, Julian, who now sat in his van holding a slender sword in one hand, stood and placed the metal weapon against the wall. Sure, he needed his time alone, but he wasn't one for simply sitting in the van. Glancing around, the Sword-Master eyed the huge selection of weapons that lined his van walls, anything from small, streamlined daggers to huge, war-like axes. The effect was a medley of silver glinting, sharp shapes that loomed over the Sword Masters walls.

He figured, as long as he stayed away from Zinc, he'd be fine on the outside. Sighing through his nose, Julian immediately headed for the door, slipping out and closing it with a small snap behind him. The two vicious looking swords that hung each side of the door looked rather imposing, and the silver tribal shapes that coated his black van didn't help the image. Julian had noted that the weather had cooled cosiderably since they'd returned, signalling the onset of the suns descent.

He spent a good few minutes simply walking the grounds, before spotting the little group that consisted of Dravius, Disera and Kioko. He noted, as any of the older members would have, that Dravius seemed completely free of any form of stress. No surprise, considering what he'd just got out of. That kid was pretty darn lucky.  Besides, this was what Raphael had wanted, giving the members of the Circus a chance to just be, rather than be a Circus freak.

He inclined his head slightly in their direction, then looked off towards the fields, watching as a few Circus members set up what seemed to be a picnic, set right under a huge, and rather beautiful, oak. Well, turns out this vacation still had a bit of potential, huh.

Nylat raised a paw in a wave to Raphael, then, yawning, took the carving in her teeth and stood, leapng lightly from the van and padding over to the Ringmaster, setting the wood down and grinning up at him.
"So, I saw your being attacked in the water. You know very well they wouldn't have drowned you. But yet you had to ruin their fun with that wave of yours. I have half a mind to drag you into the water myself for that. Despite a stiff side."
She laid a paw on the carved pole as she sat down, flicking her tail and scattering sand. Her ears were pricked and, for just a moment, she may have pas.sed as the carefree 'pup' she'd been just 7 or 8 years ago, just after meeting Raphael. Not worrying about running from capture, and no worrying about the well-being of so many, being self-proclaimed 'guard dog'. But, of course, it was short-lived. She yawned again, bringing herself back from her thoughts, and blinked slowly. She was sleeping in her van tonight. No doubt about it.

Dravius watched Kioko try to untangle her hair, and dug through his pockets, eventually coming up with a comb that seemed to be made of a bone, and inlaid with silver. "Uhm, here," He said, offering her the comb. "Indeed. Eight years is a long grude time. And I do hope I can enjoy it, although I've never been one for vacations," He shrugged, tapping the toes of his right foot on the ground, exhaling through his nose. The lank boy's face was shadowed heavily by the dimming light, the lines in his face filled in harshly, his high cheekbones casting a shadow to the rest of his face.

"Ah, but it's part of mine and Raphael's job's to feel bad and be worried," Dravius waved his hands in the air, rolling his eyes. "I'm also not supposed to succumb to stress, but, eh." Brushing his hair away from his face, the boy laughed quietly at Disera's comment. "To the food van, then?" He grinned at Kioko, his sharp teeth glinting in the dimming light. "Hey, Disera, if it isn't too pushy, what do you really look like?" Dravius tilted his head to the side, gently running his fingers over his scar-broken eyebrow. "I'd really like to know. And, side note, if you think I hang upside down too much, you should see Aeros. Although that's unlikely, unless you catch a pound of bugs and knock on his door at midnight. I should actually visit him. I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight. I've slept way too much the past few days. Aero can't go out during the day. Kioko, Disera, have you had a chance to meet everyone else? I can take you around after dinner, if you like. The only person we wouldn't be able to visit would be Beron. 'S a full moon." Dravius flicked a hand towards a short wagon with a picture of a crouching werewolf splashed across it, and no windows or visible door on it.

Dravius seemed to realize he was going on a bit too long, and coughed slightly. "Anyways, it's kind of important that everyone meet you." He said, still rubbing a spot just above his scarred eye. "I actually have to ask Beron if she needs any more padding inside her wagon," The Co-Master looked towards the wagon, thinking hard, with his eyes narrowing. Looking around, you could see people trotting around the circus grounds, laughing and munching on food either from the van or various picnics sprouting on the beach or under trees. Four identical-looking boys walked towards Dravius, with wind-swept, bright red hair and yellow eyes, and said in unison, "Have you seen Hairu?" Dravius shook his head, and replied, "Nah, look on the beach, Rev." The four boys nodded and merged into one, walking towards the beach, every so often splitting into two or three and merging again.

"Ah, here's a good example. That's Rev. He can split himself as many times as he wants, but as a bit of a result, when he's one, he's got split personalities." Dravius explained, watching Rev talk to himself, before walking up to a girl with ground-length black hair, whose red eyes were constantly moving back and forth, Rev split again into four, and one of him started waving his hands in the air, while the other sighed heavily and chattered to the girl, who shrugged and handed the four of him a sandwich each. "And that's Hairu. Her hair's alive."

Shrugging once more, Dravius pointed towards the food van, inhaling the thick scent. "I always the smell of food more than the taste." Turning towards the van, Dravius looked back and asked, "Are you coming?" Behind him, Rev merged once again and sat down, while Hairu bits of her hair twisting into braids and back again. "We cna meet more people at dinner,"

[[meh.]]

Nice. In the ancient meaning of the word, maybe. He absently waved a hand at the tree branch pulling at his hair, too preoccupied with the question to realize that it was the tree pulling on his hair. "Well... he just has a conflicting personality. Nice or mean, he just drives me bonkers. I don't like people who are insufferably sad and depressing all of the time. You know, humans usually get one life, and it's quite irritating to watch them all dash it away in the same way for the same reasons. If they'd just get over that stupid hurdle and get things over with instead of thinking about it all of the time..."

Zinc trailed off, realizing he was rambling. "Anyway, what I mean is he causes too many problems and somehow invents more things to be depressed about. Really, like most people. It's irritating when I am trying to keep my family happy, though, you see? People say I'm mean for it, but Spider is a very important person (to me) and for some dumb reason when These People are sad he gets sad. And that makes me sad." He started walking toward the current congregation of people and patted Miranda on the back.

An eight year old might have liked a simpler answer, but maybe it was better than the lies most people tell children. "As for Yama? I don't know. She doesn't like anyone. Unless you're Spider. And only one person is Spider. You can gain her respect and she'll like you, but so far, she hasn't been impressed with Dravius. Hence her sour attitude. But that isn't so bad. Nobody here has impressed Yama. Maybe you'll get on her good side, though, since you got the jump on her and are obviously highly skilled in your abilities for such a young age."

He stopped near Dravius and the others, raising an eyebrow briefly at them. He was imagining all of them as children. It seemed to make it easier to forgive them for being idiots all of the time. Of course, Kioko was still a bit little and cute. Zinc had a feeling she wouldn't like being carried around and doing arts and crafts with him, though. Another nice thing about Spider. The boy loved arts and crafts. He probably wouldn't mind being carried around either. But Zinc had decided that probably wasn't the best thing to be doing.

Yama sighed blandly, spider webs stuck to her chin. "You make it look easy." She muttered. "Ah?" Spider continued to pull her free of some webs and sat back. Her eyes swivled in her sockets and she looked up at Spider. "Do you know what Zinc would want a dress for?" She asked, pulling her arms free and putting her head in her hands. Spider shrugged. "Maybe it's a present."  He guessed. Sh'Yama grunted. There was a problem. She didn't know how to go about addressing it. "You said before you didn't like it here. I don't like it either." She was sure that had already been established, but repeating it wouldn't hurt.

"But it is safer, despite the problems. The difference between the Circus's problems and my problems is quite different. Because, dear heart... I am one of the bad guys. Truly, honestly, a monster. Much better at doing awful things than Zinc." Sh'Yama picked at the webs under her fingers and made another sighing noise. Not one of despair or sadness, but more in the way someone who is tired and irritated at a small child's antics would sigh. "Most of the Not Nice People you get here are so very far from what I am it is laughable the circus considers them a threat."

A man who is interested in cheap tricks and hurting women. a cliche man who believes himself far more powerful than he actually is. A simple law enforcer. A woman who revels in ripping the flesh off of people's bones and devouring it. "So you see, what I am trying to get at is that I have enemies. I've hurt many people. I'm not safe. I cause problems." Yama sat up, as best as she could on the unfamiliar surface of web, and crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving Spider a severe look.

Spider's nostrils flared and he gave his sister an icy look. The look was a bit betrayed by his watery eyes. "But you're my sister."
"That's not a good excuse."
"I'm not talking about this!!" And Spider pressed his hands over his ears. When Sh'Yama tried to speak again, Spider started to make a serious of childish noises, finished with a "No no no! I'm not listening!!"

Sighing again, Yama leaned back toward the "exit" of Spider's web. "You need to stop behaving so childishly." She said, before jumping down to the floor, taking a fair bit of the web with her. Without further comment, Sh'Yama brushed off the webs sticking to her clothes and stepped out the door.
 

[[quick; how much do you all like Yama?]]

"Rub it in?  Never," Selvai replied with a good natured grin, chuckling at Raphael's attempts to squeeze the saltwater out of his clothing.  "I don't think that's doing much good.  After a soaking like that you'll need to dry it by machine, or hang it in the sun for a bit." 

"That is, after Nylat is done with you," Selvai added when the hybrid joined them.  He nodded to her and Maya.  "Hello, Maya, and Nylat," He greeted them, noticing Maya's quiet mood.  Still not quite herself, then.  It couldn't be helped, he supposed, after everything that had happened that day.  Selvai sighed, turning his attention back to Raphael when the blonde man spoke again.

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

"Oh, thank you," Kioko took the comb from Dravius,  carefully running her fingers over the silver design inlaid in the bone.  "It's very pretty," she commented before using the comb to gently untangle her white hair.  Finished, she handed it back to Dravius before following him as he walked to the food van.  "I don't think we have yet," she admitted when Dravius asked about meeting everyone in the circus.  "If it's not too much trouble, I think I'd like that, Mister Dravius.  It would be nice to meet everyone else in the Circus," 

She looked back at Disera when the white haired boy asked about her true appearance,  Kioko had been curious about the shifter as well, but hadn't had the courage to ask about her true form.  The pyro wondered if Disera would mind being asked to reveal herself by the Co Master.

"You wanna see my true form?" Disera asked uncertainly.  The shifter seemed to be debating something internally as the three of them stood in front of the food van, waiting to enter.  "I- Well, I suppose, since Selvai trusts you guys, and it looks like our stay is going to be permanent, it wouldn't hurt to show you."  She walked a few feet away from them, making sure she had plenty of room around her.  "Now, watch closely you two."

Taking a breath, Disera dissolved into a dark mist, which began to grow as it formed a humanoid shape.  As the mist solidified, three pairs of wings grew from it's back, beginning with a solid black feathered pair, with a smaller set reminiscent of bat wings behind them, and two membranous insect wings between those.  Antlers sprouted from the top of the figures' head, solid black and raked backwards.  A mane of thick, dark hair surrounded a narrow face with large, pointed ears and eyes that glowed a bright, unearthly blue and possessed a white slit pupil similar in shape to a cats'.

Finally finished, Disera flapped each set of wings separately, beginning with the insect pair and folding them to her back when she was done.  She turned around slowly, allowing Dravius and Kioko to see a set of three long, thin tails that trailed out from under her dress, each of them the same dark blue color as the rest of her skin.  "Well?" she asked, looking at them.  Her tails swished back and forth in the sand behind her, leaving strange trails several feet long.  "Am I what you thought I'd be?"

((I know I like Yama.  She's an interesting person/creature.))

Raphael rolled his eyes at Selvai's obvious amusement at his predicament, and got to thinking that this seemingly innocent magicain probably had more of a devious side than most people would as.sume. Darn magician, he thought with a silent laugh.

The blonde Ring-master had still been in the process of trying to empty his shrit of salt water when Selvai spoke again, and he shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Probably. Can't knock a guy for trying," He replied, sorting quietly and eventually giving up, pulling his soaking shirt over his head and throwing it over his shoulder.

 He looked at Nylat as she approached, raising an eyebrow at the carving she had brought with her, a strange sort of smile on his face. "Is that what I think it is," He asked, crouching down and lifting the branch with a hand, holding it on one end as he placed it vertically in the sand. His eyes were amused as he surveyed the cut wood. It really was a beautiful piece of work. Raphael raised an eyebrow at Nylat's voice, eventually tearing his eyes away from the wood to look at her.

"Now, now... Theres only so long one can go being willingly drowned before they have to take measures," He laughed, glacing off towards the ocean before looking back at the hybrid. "What good will dragging me back into the water do?" He added with a nervous laugh. Noting the fleeting look on the hybrids face, Raphael smiled and scratched her behind an ear, before straightening himself up and stretching his arms.

He turned his gray eyes back to Selvai as the magician spoke again, a small frown replacing his cheerful smile. "Ah." He glanced over his shoulder at Maya when the magician spoke of Kioko. "Yeah," He said quietly with a slight smile. "Maya's got that way about her. You probably wouldn't believe how many of our Circus members go to her when they want to talk," He turned back to Selvai. "It probably has something to do with being part butterfly, that and her gentle nature,"

Maya, who hadn't been stood too far from them, frowned slightly at Raphael's words and rolled her eyes; Mentally reminding herself not to do that movement again. It wasn't helping her headache. Inhaling through her nose, Maya yawned, returning Selvai's grateful smile with her own, before sitting back on the sand with a soft flump. 

Raphael's gaze had returned to the vans as the magician continued. "Poor Spider... Can't say I blame him. Nor any of them, to be honest," The Ring Master sighed, then ran a hand through his still wet hair. "And yeah. I agree... I believe things will improve, eventually, though." He shrugged, then smiled at Nylat and her wood carving.He eventually turned back to the ocean, his face neutral. "Well, guys. Why don't we go join on of those picnics out on the field?... It'll make a change to being out here on the beach," He asked, looking between the three of them, his cheerful smile back in place.

~~~

Julian watched the leaving of Dravius, Disera and Kioko without much interest, nodding at a pas.sing member who waved merrily to him on his way down to the beach. He sighed through his nose, closing his eyes momentarily. Upon spotting Zinc, the Sword Master made to head away from the bogeyman ,pausing only when he spotted Yama energe from Spiders van.

 He raised an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong?" He asked from where he stood, noting Yama's almost tired ex
pression, hands in his pockets. He glanced fleetingly over his shoulder at Zinc, carrying the little tree-talking Miranda. He hadn't realised bogeyman were so in-tune with the youngsters. All he knew of those tales were that the bogeymen usually ended up being feared and not something to hug.

Shrugging mentally, he returned his gaze to Yama. He wasn't particularly fussed whether or not Yama chose to answer his question. But hey, whatever.

"No problem," Dravius took the comb and slipped it back into one of his pockets, adding in reply, "Alright. We won't be able to see Beron, but everyone else should be alright. I'm sure everyone's wondering who you guys are as well," Dravius turned and watched Disera reveal what she really looked like, a slight smile curling his lips.

" Well, I really didn't have any idea what you looked like, but very nice," Dravius replied, leaning against the side of the van. "I do think your eyes are nice, though." Ducking into the food van, Dravius grinned at the people inside, who turned to see the three, gave a few waves and went back to their food. "Ah, there's a few seats," Dravius pointed to a few seats in a row. The food van had three tables that stretched the length of the van, and people were milling around, munching on foos and laughing every so often.

Dravius sat down at the long tables and across from five Revs, and they waved in unison, before merging into one to make room for a girl with an entirely bandaged face and a boy with light green hair with plants braided through it. "Hey, Eease, Frou." He waved to the two, and they waved back, with slight smiles, even though the girl's wave was aimed a little to the right.

~-~-~

Miranda frowned slightly at Zinc's explanation, then shrugged and said, "I see what you mean. Although Mr. Dravius usually fixes more problems than he causes, but I guess he's had bad luck. And Miss Yama and you are really cool. A lot of my friends think so too. But thet're afraid of you, so they elected me to go ask you guys to eat dinner with us on the beach. Will you?" She grinned, watching the tree bend it's branches to make a gesture similar to bunny ears. "That oak is making fun of you," She pointed, and the tree resumed it's origianal position.

Miranda giggled again, nuzzling her face into the space in between Zinc's neck and shoulder. She seemed on the verge of falling asleep, but seemed determined to eat with Zinc and Yama.

Selvai pushed his hair out of his face and laughed quietly when Raphael rolled his eyes at him.  He was almost certain he didn't want to know what the Circus Master was thinking right then.  "I suppose not.  It isn't as though getting wet is going to ruin it." He remarked as Raphael tossed the shirt behind him.  His attention was drawn to the large carving Nylat brought with her as she walked over to join them, and he made a noise of appreciation as Raphael picked it up and displayed it.

"Do you carve that, Nylat?  You're quite talented," Selvai complimented her as he admired the carvings that covered the large branch.  He hadn't thought the hybrid would have been able to create such detailed images with only her paws and claws, but it appeared the magician had been greatly mistaken.

"That doesn't surprise me," Selvai commented at the mention of other circus members going to Maya with their problems.  He looked over at the butterfly as she rolled her eyes at Raphael's words.  "He's not wrong, Maya," the magician commented when Maya returned to sitting on the sand.  "You have an incredible ability to help people, simply by listening and being there when they need you."

"I find that concentrating on positive things and looking forward to them helps when life becomes hectic like this,"  Selvai offered with a small smile when Raphael spoke again.  He'd had to, it had been one of the few things that he'd had left to believe in after his banishment.

"And I think you're right, Raphael.  As nice as the sand and ocean are, it does get monotonous after a few days.  A picnic in the field would be a nice change of pace."

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

"Really?  Thank you, Dravius," Disera said, smiling happily.  "This is only the second time I've been in my real form since Selvai summoned me.  He told me how most normal people get scared easily when they see something they don't recognize, so I always kept to one of my animal forms." Her tails swished back and forth behind her, giving the impression of a dog happily wagging it's tail.  

"I'm glad none of you are like that, though," she continued.  Noticing Kioko looking at her wings, the shifter flared them outward, giving the girl a better view.  "Well, Kioko?  What do you think?"

"Your wings are very pretty," the teen commented shyly.  "Can you use any of them to fly, or are they too close together?"

Disera grinned at the girl's question.  She folded the bat and cicada pair flat to her back, leaving the feathery pair extended for her to look at.  "I usually fold the two smaller pairs when I fly, and use these for flight."  Disera flapped the feathered pair once, causing the wind to gently ruffle Kioko's white hair.

"Neat," the girl giggled quietly.

"I'm glad you think so," Disera smiled happily.  "Shall we go eat?" she asked, gesturing to Dravius as he walked into the food van.  She allowed the girl to go ahead of her, ducking her head to avoid hitting the door frame with her antlers.  The shifter followed the two of them to the seats Dravius pointed out.  She picked the seat next to Kioko, waiting until the white haired girl had sat down, then pulled her chair out and turned it around, sitting in it backwards so her wings wouldn't be confined by the seat back.  "Hello, Eease, and Frou." the shifter greeted the two. 

"She is, isn't she?" Raphael murmered with a smile, his eyes on the hybrid when Selvai spoke of her carving skills. He evntually looked at the wood himself, tilting his head slightly as he gazed at it. "It's in rather good condition to say it's what, almost 8 years old?" He grinned at Nylat, then stretched his arms again, glancing off towards the fields.

Maya had still had her eyes on the ocean when Selvai spoke, and glanced sideways  at him with a modest sort of smile. "Listening is an easy thing to do if your patient enough," She replied, still smiling slightly. "And it helps when you've got problems of your own to deal with," Shrugging, Maya looked up at Raphael when the Ring Master again spoke to Selvai, only half listening to him as she focused her vision on Nylats carving.

"That's a good way of looking at it," He murmered, referring to Selvai's last comment, before laughing gaily and turning on his heel, pausing only to look over his shoulder. "Alright then, let's go find some accomodating Circus members,"

At Raphael's parting comment, Maya pulled her eyes away to watch him leave, then stood and promptly followed. It didn't take long for them to find a spot, in fact, it was relatively easy. 3 members of the mob who had earlier attempted to drown the Ring Master sat underneath a couple of close standing oaks, sprawled out on a rather large sheet with a huge amount of food splayed around.

Just as Maya and Raphael approached, two of them got into what seemed to be a friendly fight, running off while one of the members pelted the other with snowballs. "That's kristle, by the way. Plays with temperature," Raphael laughed, pausing in front of the last member who sat under the oaks. He was blonde haired, far lighter than Raphael's shade, and grinned openly at their approach.

"Well, hi thar, Oh great and Noble Ring-Master. How was the ocean?"

"Shut it, Zephyre," Raphael said with a matching grin. "I'd like to see you try that again though," Chuckling, Raphael looked at Selvai. "This is Zephyre. He's got this thing with metal and mechanics. Knows everything about it, basically, and alters the shape and strength of any kind of metal. He's usually responsible for setting up the frames to the tents. He's also our resident van constructer," The Ring Master flopped onto the blanket beside the green-eyed blonde, then helped himself to an apple.

Maya had, by this point, sat herself on a low lying branch of one of the oaks, watching the temperature manipulating member with amusement. Her wings hung at each side of the oaks branch, the colour on them making her easily visible to any members over by the vans. "Don't you want to eat?" Raphael asked, glancing up at her and offering another apple with an outstretched arm.

"Uh, no thanks. I'm really not hungry," She replied blithely, not taking her eyes off the other members. "Besides... Eating might make me feel worse,"

"You haven't eaten all day, Maya. It's not good for you, you know,"

She sighed, then frowned at him. With a pout, she reached out and took the apple with uneeded speed, before simply rolling it between her hands and grumbling under her breath about pushy Ring-masters who deserved to get drowned, just loud enough for him to hear.

Zephyre snorted. "Snippy today, isn't she?" He asked Raphael with a joking grin, almost choking on his sandwich when he caught sight of Maya glaring at him. With an agitated pout, the butterfly delibrately turned her back on him, her impressive wings flaring, and resorting to staring at the apple in her hands.

Raphael sighed dramatically. "She's not feeling all too well, and I am so mistreated," He said, answering Zephyres confused face and referring to Maya's grudging comment, then glanced back towards Selvai. "Help yourself," He laughed, gesturing to the food with an open smile.

(Nuh! -Hugs legs- Why would she leave?))

Dravius looked around, reaching behind him and leaning the chair he was in on two legs to grab a stemful of grapes, turning back and offering some to Disera and Kioko. "Everythings over there, or if you want something special, you can go to the window," Dravius pointed to a window manned by a bored-looking girl.

The boy grinned at Disera and began moving his lips, but all that came out was a loud rustling, like the wind in the trees, and the girl laughed and said, "He says that he finds you entrancing. He adds, your wings look as if they could stir a thousand branches. I'm Frou." The boy spoke agian, briefly, and Frou translated, "He said that he's Eease. See, Eease is my eyes, and I'm his mouth. We're brother and sister." Eease gently took his sister's hand and put it on Disera's, and the girl drew her long fingers over Disera's wrist, and the bandages around her mouth twitched up in a smile. Eease spoke again, his rustling voice increasing in volume. "Eease says that we have to go, although we are pleased to meet you. Oh, Rev's here?" The girl turned and ruffled two of Rev's head's hair, and got up, navigating perfectly through the people. Eease got up as well, taking Disera's hand in his and saying something in rustles, before kissing her hand gently and sweeping out of the van.

"I do belive you have an admirer, Disera," Dravius remarked, watching Eease leave. "Poor you," He joked, waving another male over, this one with light blue skin, and hair that resembled seaweed. The boy's eyes were completely black, with no white. His long fingers were webbed as he sat, his hair dripping slightly into the soup he was carrying. "Hello there," He said, the boy's voice sounding as if half his mouth was underwater. "Who are you?" He asked, lifting the soup bowl to his mouth and taking a generous drink. "Dravius, are they new?" At the nod, the boy held out one wet-looking hand, the fingers dripping salt-smelling water. "I am Slipke, and welcome to the circus." Slipke's hand was gled towards Kioko, and the water he dripped sank into the table at once, as he with drew his hand. "Dravius, I cannot stay here. I shall put the poor girl out!" He laughed, gliding out, still leaving the scent of the ocean behind him. "Well, Slipke is quite flighty. He controls water, and looks a bit like a fish himself. Ever want his help, you better have some small fish and a whole lot of seaweed. Ah, maybe this person will stay for more than a minute,"

The next occupant of the chair across from Dravius was an african american girl, panting slightly. Sh eseemed to have an entire side of beef in front of her, and her eyes kept darting around, as she said quickly, "Aero's told me there are some new ones who want to meet all." Her words were clipped as she ripped a hunk of meat off and ate quickly, her long fingernails tapping on the table. "God, Beron, you know full well the moon's full tonight, why'd you come out?!" Dravius said,his face gowing tense. "I know. Hello, I'm Beron. I'm a werewolf. Not really, but kind of. Bye." Beron finished her food and fled from the van, her barefeet thudding on the wood. "That didn't last long," Dravius muttered, leaning his head on his hands.

(( I have returned.ouo ))

 Jazz was relaxed as eve rwhile she was in her van taking a nap, smiling from a dream.Of course when a loud thud hit her van she awakened not feeling very happy."What's going on?"She grumbled, and yawned with a stretch.She soon saw Shizu peek her head into the van before climbing in."Sorry about the noise Jazz.I kinda tried to climb a tree.I fell onto your van."She said with a small smile to tired black haired girl.Jazz just nodded and yawned more before looking around."Where's Raphael?"Jazz asked her companion calmly, whom replied witha shrug."I don't know.Why?"She asked a smirk playing onto her lips.Jazz automatically blushed very slightly even though it wasn't very noticable before she looked away and pretended to be fixing her looking at her collection of odd little trinkets."No reason."She told the silvery haired older girl, whom sighed and left the van.

Ria had been spying as usual.Watching various members of the circus,and thinking her own peculiar ability."Should I join them?I have been watching them for quite awhile."She qeustioned herself curiously.She wasn't exactly sure but sighed.She climbed ontop of a van and begant o podner on it.

Nylat, taking her branch in her teeth carefully, followed after Maya and Raphael, before taking her own place in the same tree as Maya, but in a different branch, and jammed the wood in the space where branch joined tree. She'd take it out later, when she left. Sitting on her perch, she cleared her throat--rather loudly--and flicked her tail.
"Well, Raphael, to answer the question you asked before you so uncerimoniously left me, yes, it is what you think. And you so deserve to be dragged back in the water."
She grinned wolfishly(pun intended) before changing her attention momentarily.
"Oh, hi there, Zephre. What mischief have you been up to?"
She flicked an ear, glancing up at Maya and whining in a low, but still audible, pitch. She shot a glare at Raphael and Zephyre that said what she meant: 'What did you say or do this time?'

((Fail post, but I hate school and it's been a crazy day. DX))

The metal creating Zephyre had been in the process of stuffing his face with melon when Selvai spoke of thanking him for the accomodation, and the blonde smiled slightly around the fruit in his mouth, raising a hand and saluting the magician.

Raphael, sat with his back against the tree that Maya currently resided in, smiled at Zephyre, before turning his gaze upward to Nylat. "Ah, oh... Sorry," He chuckled. "And I'm impressed.. I thought you'd lost that carving a long, long time ago," He shrugged slightly, straightening himself up and taking a bite out of the apple he had. "Delicious..."

"It's one of Vineya's, so it's bound to be," The blonde Zephyre said once he'd managed to get his mouth clear of edibles. The Ring Master "ah'd", then glanced sideways at Selvai. "Vineya's got this paculiar ability with plants. She's our harvester, able to grow any sort of green produce at any time of the year. She's useful to have around," He laughed, returning to his unfinished apple.

At Nylats last question, both Raphael and Zephyre looked up at her, with identicle and confused expressions. "We did'nt do anything," They both said in unison, both looking about as innocent as a dog that had just obviously ruined the furniture.

"Well, if you'll excuse me," Zephyre said quickly, standing and brushing himself off. "I believe I'm going to go help Krystle with her target practice," He laughed, turning and trotting off towards the two members who were still very much in the midst of a snowball fight.

Maya, still staring at her untouched fruit, glanced up to watch the metal-maker leave, then turned her gaze onto Selvai, blinking at his words. She frowned at his agreement with the Ring-Masters recommendations, then started somewhat guiltily at the magicians last words. She sighed, then smiled slightly, a small touch of amusement on her features. "Maybe not," She murmered, looking at the apple.

With a quiet sigh, Maya glanced over her shoulder, and from her current height, easily spotted Julian, Zinc, Miranda, and an agitated looking Yama. With a slight frown, the butterfly slipped from the branch, using her wings for balance. "Excuse me for a moment," She said, placing her uneaten apple in one of the bowls, and heading in the general direction of the mixed group.

Raphael watched her leave, frowning slightly. "Honestly, that girl," He murmered, glancing at the apple she'd left. Sighing quietly, the Ring-Master glanced skyward, noting the time to be around sunset. Streaks of telltale colour were beginning to show, signalling the descent of the sun.

~~~

Julian showed no surprise at Yama's revaltion, clearly recognising the notes in her voice that said she'd rather not go into detail. He mentally shrugged. He hadn't asked for an explanation, simply if something was wrong, and that had been answered. He sighed when he heard Zincs voice, though he kept his dark gaze on Yama.

At that moment, Maya chose to make an appearance, and she paused between Zinc and Julian, her eyes following Yama "What's wrong with her?" She asked, the Sword Master glancing at her once she'd voice her question.

"She's choosing to leave," He said simply, shrugging a shoulder, Maya responding by raising her eyebrows at him. She could have been wrong, but the butterfly was pretty sure not all that many people would be happy about Yama's leaving. Spider, obviously, was an example... And so was Kioko. After all, they shared a van, it was only understandable if the pyro had bonded with the Blodwen sibling.

She frowned slightly, then resoloutely walked off, Julian watching her leave with a barely visible curiousity. Oh?

~~~

It didnt take too long for Maya to pinpoint Kioko's location, having asked around and being directed to the food van by Eease and Frou. Actually approaching the van took some effort, the scent of cooking food was making her feel a little queasy, and she didn't particularly want to make herself feel any more ill. She prepared to hold her breath for a while.

Sighing through her nose, the butterfly entered the van, smiling fleetingly at a member who spoke a pas.sing greeting, before directing herself to where Kioko was sat. The pyro was pretty easy to spot, even in a van full of freaks. No sooner had Maya reached the table before she was distracted by Dravius. What followed was a hasty number of questions and quickly spoken comments, which eventually ended with, "Are you alright?". She placed both hands on the table rather hard, flinching slightly at the jolt in her bad wrist, and looking at the Co-Master with an overly concerned ex
pression.

It took less than a second for her to register why she'd come here in the first place, and she managed to take her attention off Dravius long enough to look at Kioko. "We've got a bit of a prob-" She stopped mid-sentence, raising an eyebrow at Disera's current form in confusion. "-lem," She finished, her eyes still on the 3 winged creature.

Shaking her head slightly, she stood away from the table and focused her gaze back onto Kioko. "I'm sorry to disturb, but I think you might want to speak to Yama as soon as possible," She smiled somewhat sadly. "I think, she's getting very close to leaving us... I figured you'd want to know,"