The Dolenz Circus: Season One: It's Great, It's Terrific!

Episode 8 : Every Stranger's Eyes

  Jimmy Page felt like such an idiot.

  As he meandered around people, zebras and props, the magician began to mentally kick himself. Jimmy didn't care where he stepped, as long as he was going to some secluded area to sit and stay. Perhaps to watch what all was going on, as well. But his mind wasn't nearly as quiet as his lock-jawed mouth.

  When he talked to Robert, he sounded like he had the verbal acuity of a fifth grader, oh god. And did he have to follow the Falcon leader everywhere? Good lord- Robert Plant was the biggest act in the entire circus! Of course he wouldn't have much time for Jimmy, even hours ahead of the show. Plant was probably a bit of a celebrity here, he was probably one of the busiest peoole here. Busy doing... What? Flips? Managing a team of... Two others? Jimmy saw him bantering with the clown. Important indeed.

  The magician let out a small sigh. What was Page doing, exactly? He felt so out of his league here- in a place where everyone knew each other, lived together like some commune. It was so lively and so inclusive, oh, right, yes, of course it was...

  Then why did he feel like he was just a fly on the wall here?

  Jimmy found that he was headed for an abandoned crate box. He figured that he could sit in the corner and pass the time there by the horse pen. But as he stepped around the circular holding pen, he felt eyes on him.

  The magician had only just looked back over his shoulder where he felt the stare, noticing a spidery-limbed man sprawled on a stack of straw bales. He didn't have time to even blink before the figure motioned to come closer with a nod of his head.

  "Page," Jimmy heard the man call his name, this time waving over. "Come 'round, then."

  Jimmy hesitated. Looking from side to side to see everyone else still bustling, he sucked in a breath. After gathering his strength, he ducked his head and strode over, his hands in fists at his sides. While he neared, Page took in more of the man sitting in the straw.

  The man had long, past-the shoulder brunet hair, which was waved slightly towards the ends. His bangs seemed to be in need of a cut, too, because they were so long that they provided such severe shade over the eyes that Jimmy could hardly see any pupils- just a raccoon-like mask of shadow. The face was long, and thin, and made even a bit frightening by the large cheekbones. The nose was long, too, almost comically large and round-pointed. But that mouth was so... Strange. So large? And big-lipped. Jimmy almost felt rude for staring, until he realized that looking at a face wasn't overstepping any social boundaries.

  "Oh, er, hello." Jimmy gave a curt nod to the man to mask his fumbling voice.

  The man simply reached out an excruciatingly long arm over to a crate next to him on the ground, and patted it. "Come on, then. Don't go sitting in the corner, isn't an elementary school here." And smiled, showing a mouth of snaggled white teeth.

  Very stiffly, Jimmy sat down. "Thank you-"

  "Waters," The man beside him said in a haughty voice, reclining until his back and head rested on the metal bars of the holding pen behind him. "Roger Waters."

  Roger extended a hand over, and Page took it in a slight but stiff hold for a shake. Jimmy realized he could see green eyes looking back at him from inside the shadow's mask.

  Waters smiled. A relaxed, slow thing. "Exploring today? See you've already met Robert- surprised he hasn't chatted your ear off."

  Once again, Jimmy noted another British accent among the circus staff. He began to wonder why there was so many people from apparently across the pond.