Gothic: Cashton

Quinque

Calum allows Ashton to lead him off the train even though he only has a pair of black socks covering his feet. He doesn't seem to feel the gravel below him. Ashton's, suddenly comforting, hand rests on the small of Calum's back, leading him to the food tent that had been set up. Calum sees the acts from the show sitting at various picnic tables with small bowls of grey-ish looking oatmeal in front of them. Calum wrinkles his nose at the sight. He hates oatmeal. Ashton turns Calum to face him, concerned with the look on his favourite pet's face.

"What's the matter?" He asks. Calum blushes and toys with his tan fingers.

"I'm just not a very big fan o-of oatmeal" he whsipers. Ashton cups his cheek gently and coos at the smaller boy.

"What would you like, Pet? Anything." He says. Calum looks up at him with big brown eyes and flutters his eyelashes.

"I would like some eggs maybe? Ooh a-and ham! I love ham" he exclaims. Ashton frowns

"Darling you know I adore you" Ashton begins, tightening his grip on Calums shoulders substantially . "But I need you to use your manners" he finishes in a hiss. Calum whimpers at the pain in his shoulders. He'll surely have bruises.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Calum cries. Ashton wipes a tear from the corner of Calums eye.

"Then say it" he whispers. Calum's bottom lip trembles.

"P-please, Daddy?" He whispers. Ashton smiles and lets go of Calum.

"Of course, baby. Go sit down and Daddy will have someone bring you your breakfast" he says. Calum nods and tentavely approaches the dining area. Each table is nearly full with various people and creatures chatting and eating their slop. Calum sees Doll at a table of acts and waves shyly to her. She rolls her eyes but waves him over. Calum hurries to the table and sits next to her.

"Hi" he whispers. Doll sighs.

"Hey. I'm Anna. But when Freakshow's around you gotta call me Doll okay?" She says. Calum nods

"Okay but why?" He questions. Anna sets her spoon down.

"Because that's the name he gave me and if he hears me using my real name he'll kill me, quite literally. But I like using my real name. It makes me feel like I still have some sort of power over myself, ya know?" She explains. Calum forms his lips into an 'o' shape

"Makes sense. I'm Calum. He hasn't given me a new name yet."

"Trust me, he will soon." Calum can't help but smile. Everything Ashton does makes him feel special and happy. All he wants is to be someone's favourite.

"Why are you smiling?" A boy speaks up. Calum looks over to see a the boy has scales and black beady eyes.

"Because I'm getting my new name today. It means he cares." He explains. The boy wrinkles his nose in disgust.

"I don't like the new names. They make me feel less human than I already do. I was normal once. Then he changed me." He says sadly. Calum pats his hand.

"Its gonna be alright. What's your name?"

"My real name is Damien, but Freakshow calls me Python." Calum nods. "This is my sister. Her real name's Judith. Viper in the show."

"Hi, Viper" she hisses.

"Unless he's around you call me Judith, you got it?" Calum holds up his hands in surrender.

"I'm sorry." She nods curtly.

"Should be." Anna gets his attention back.

"Calum. This is Kieron. You know him as Blade." She says, gesturing to the ghostly pale boy across from her. Calum shrinks away from him a bit.

"Hello" he whispers. Kieron bows his head.

"Thank you. For earlier I mean" he mumbles. Calum is shocked. Just earlier he'd been spitting on Calum.

"Yeah. Yeah you're welcome. Why did you spit at me? I didn't do anything to you"

"You- you're- he loves you! He doesn't treat any of us that well. Its not fair!"
Calum blushes

"I didn't do anything special."

"Exactly!! I figured you must have slept with him or something! He's never so gentle" Calum smiles.

"He's lovely to me" Kieron resists a snarl.

"You must not be strong willed. He must be able to take over your tiny mind easily." Calum frowns

"I'm strong willed! He's just nice to me. Maybe if you weren't such a pain he'd be nice to you too!" Calum isn't sure what just came over him, but he feels bad for snapping that way.

"You little-" Kieron begins, but Ashton's server comes with a plate full of eggs and ham for Calum. Anna's eyes nearly bug out of her head.

"Holy shit how'd you score all that?" She exclaims. Calum grabs his plate and stands.

"I'm not a little brat like the rest of you seem to be." He snaps and leaves. He follows after the server and taps his shoulder.

"Excuse me? Do you know where Ashton is?" He asks. The server points to a small red tent and Calum smiles.

"Thank you, sir" he hurries to the red tent and peeks in

"Daddy?" He calls quietly. Ashton looks up from the table he's sitting at.

"What?" He snaps. Calum frowns

"I just want to eat with you" he whispers. Ashton runs a hand through his hair.

"Calum just go eat with the others Daddy has work to do"

"But-" Ashton stands

"I said go!" He shouts. Calum's shoulders slump and he turns back to the dining area. He returns and sits at a table that's been cleared. He hears the table that he was sitting at snicker and frowns. Hes embarrassed. He pokes at his eggs and takes a couple bites. After a few moments, a small girl sits on the table in front of him. She seems to have a few cat parts.

"Hi" she says cutely. Calum musters a smile.

"Hello" she points at his ham

"How'd you get that?" She questions. Calum smirks to himself.

"I was a good boy." She nods

"Can I have some?" Calum pushes the whole plate to her.

"Help yourself, I'm not hungry. What's your name?" He asks. She smiles with a mouth full of food.

"M' name's Critter" she mumbles out. Calum smiles.

"Hi, Critter. My names Calum."

"Not for long"