The Raven & The Spider (CURRENTLY UNDERGOING HEAVY EDITING)

Chapter 15 - Newcomers

Your POV (Second Person):

"Look at this fellow." Said Joker as he analyzed the boy before him. "What an adorable little sprog you've brought us. You are a boy, aren't ya?"

"Yes." Confirmed the boy sheepishly. "I-I've been in service as a pageboy for some time now. My name uh... is Finnian. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Joker stepped towards Finnian and said, "That's quite an imposing name for a sprite like you. No worries, we'll give you a proper stage name."

Joker suddenly leaned towards Finnian's face. "Are you really sure that you're a boy though?"

You brought your hand up to your face and sighed. Typical Joker... never understanding personal space. Especially when it came to strangers. You decided you'd keep your eyes on this Finnian as well as the man though. You didn't trust either of them, and you had more reason to now that this... Finnian boy was dressed as a commoner when you'd clearly seen him dressed as a noble the night before.

You looked over to the man to see a gaggle of female performers surround him with excitement. You shook your head. Really? Could no one else see that these two were untrustworthy?

"Quite sure." Finnian insisted uncomfortably, as Joker was very close to his face. "Yes, quite."

"Oh, well being adorable won't see you through a circus lad." Joker informed Finnian. "You've got to have talent too. So, what're you good at?"

The blue-eyed boy pondered for a moment then said, "I don't know. I'm good with darts I suppose."

Joker hummed in thoughts. "Knife throwing's closest then."

"Robin! Wha'd I miss?" You turned your attention to Doll who was in full costume as she made her way over to you.

"Doll? Why are you all dressed up in costume?" You asked.

"Well, the others are." She responded with a shrug.

"Yes, but you don't normally wear your costume except for shows." You pointed out with suspicion.

She shrugged again. "I wanted to practice my tight-rope walking today, and I figured it was best to do it in costume."

"But you've already got your act down perfectly." Then realization hit you. "Wait a minute... are you in full costume only to impress the newcomers? You want them to see you and recognize you from the show last night, right?"

She shook her head quickly, though you knew the truth now.

"Fine, whatever." You said. You decided that Doll was too stubborn to admit to anything. "You didn't miss much." You said as Joker called Dagger over. "Except that this boy, Finnian, is going to give knife throwing a try."

"Knife throwing?" Questioned Doll. "Should be interesting."

"Dagger!" Called Joker. "Give him some knives."

Dagger nodded and pulled some knives out to hand to the boy. "Here you go."

"Erm, thank you." Murmered Finnian nervously.

"Alright then!" Exclaimed Joker as he pointed in the opposite direction. "Let's see you hit the target."

Doll and I looked over to see the target which was positioned maybe fifty feet away. Finnian grunted with worry when seeing the distance. You chuckled lightly. At least now this kid wouldn't get in as easier as his friend.

"That's cruel." You heard Dagger whisper to Joker. "You might as well 'ave put that target the next country over. There's no way his tiny little arms can throw that far."

"I'm not being cruel in the slightest." Chuckled Joker. "I can't put a great nix to him, can I?"

You watched as Finnian held the blade in his hand and pointed it's end towards the target. His sapphire eyes shown with determination and you waited with bated breath.

Miss. Miss. Miss. Miss. You chanted in your head. Maybe if the boy didn't make it in, the man in the black tailcoat would leave as well.

He flung his arm back and threw the blade, but it wasn't exactly the best throw. It seemed the knife would fall back to the grass before barely making it more than halfway.

"There. You see." Started Dagger. "What did I tell-"

Dagger cut himself off when the dagger Finnian threw suddenly planted directly into the center of the target's head.

The crowd gasped as your jaw dropped. No. Way.

You quickly turned to look back at Finnian who was smirking with pride. He threw another knife, and the exact same thing happened! The blade landed perfectly in the center of the target's head... right next to the first one.

Finnian threw a total of ten knives that each landed perfectly in the target's head. You couldn't believe your eyes. In fact, you didn't.

The boy smiled smugly as he presented his skill to the onlookers. "Shall I throw another set?" He asked haughtily.

Dagger glared at the boy with his mouth agape. As the crowd of performers clapped excitedly, Joker rubbed his jaw line thoughtfully.

"Well," He said with impressment in his tone. "That was an impressive feat, ain't no lie. You're more talented than I reckon, sprite, but, that was only the first part of the audition."

The boy's smirk faded as he turned back to Joker. You couldn't help but smile as you saw Finnian's cockiness dissipate.

"Next we'd like to see your tightrope walkin' skills." Joker declared.

You glanced over to Doll who shrugged. "Guess it's my turn to help out." She realized as the performers filed into the main tent.

_____

You stared up at the nervous boy's face as he stood up at the top of the ladder. Doll tied the rope around his waist for security and you remained at the bottom with Joker, Dagger, and the man in the black tailcoat.

"Wow, Joker." You mumbled. "I didn't think you'd actually get him to go on the tightrope."

Joker looked at you with a grin. "Well, we never let newcomers join easy, now do we?"

He then called up to Doll and Finnian, "How's it comin'?" He yelled with amusement. "Don't be shy with those knots alright Doll! They'll chop him mangled up right good if he fell!"

You sniggered silently at Joker's antics. You knew he was just being dramatic, but you didn't mind because the look on Finnian's face was priceless! All previous trace of pride had been erased and replaced with a look of pure fear.

"I-isn't there any other test you could devise for me?" He called down nervously.

"Oh dear! Not givin' up already, are you?" Barked Joker with a smile.

Finnian hesitated. "Eh, no not at all! I'd simply prefer if-"

"Stop yappin' and shimmy along!" Called Joker. "Haven't got all day, 'ave we?"

You couldn't help but laugh as Joker continued mocking Finnian's hesitance. He turned toward you and grinned as he ruffled your (H/C) hair before directing his attention back to the ceiling.

Finnian took his first shaky step out onto the rope and you watched with anticipation. Although you didn't trust these two one bit, you wouldn't wish any harm upon them.

The boy slowly made his way across the tightrope as you watched from below with a shocked Dagger and amazed Joker. He wobbled considerably, but he was doing well so far.

When Finnian was about halfway across, he without warning lost his balance and leaned back. He was going to fall! Dagger screamed and Doll gasped, but before you knew it, the boy had regained his balance!

"Blimey!" Said Joker with impressment. "I don't know how he recovered after that."

You stared up at the boy as he roughly made his way across the rope... though... wait... he seemed to be in pain. Why was that?

Finnian eventually made his way to the other side of the rope and Joker began clapping delightedly. You were relieved that the boy had not gotten hurt, but this meant that now he had completed two of Joker's tests.

The boy rubbed his side and winced after coming back down. You turned to the man in the black tailcoat to see what he made of the situation, but his head was turned. Wait... he was laughing.

You shook your head. You didn't understand these strangers. They were so... strange.

"That was amazing!" Shouted Joker. "I didn't reckon you were going to make it after that first wobble, but here ya are!"

"Yes. Here I am." Muttered Finnian grudgingly as he continued to rub his side.

Dagger ran over and planted his hand on the boy's head. "Looks like this poppet passes all the tests then, ay Joker?"

"Not yet." Joker remarked as he walked over to Finnian. "There's something of the utmost importance that you're missin' still."

Finnian waiting nervously as Joker pointed to the boy's face. "Yes, I'm talkin' about... a big smile!"

"Ah, wha-?" Gaped the boy with shock.

You snorted. A smile? From this kid? He looked like he'd never smiled before in his life except for those smug grins after his knife throwing earlier.

You looked over at the man in the black tailcoat again to see that he'd completely lost it. He seemed to be overcome in a set of silent laughs, though he seemed to be trying to hide it from the boy.

"Come on then. Smile for me." Joker sang out. "This is the easy part. Don't look so gutted. What's wrong with ya?"

Your attention was drawn to the boy's hands as his knuckles turned white. You noticed his teeth were clenched tightly, and you were certain his patience was about to snap.

"Go on. Big smile!" Cheered Joker as Dagger stood nearby grinning. "It can't be that hard. Just give us one smile, that's all. Smile. Smile!"

Suddenly, Finnian revealed a smile so convincing, for a moment you forgot about your mistrust of him.

_____

After Finnian got dressed into a blue circus costume, complete with a blue pirate's hat, Joker called some of the main performers over to the main tent to introduce them to the newcomers.

Finnian stood next to the man as Joker presented them to the performers. "Everybody!" Called Joker cheerfully. "We have some talented new mates joining our show! Allow me to introduce... Black!"

Joker pointed to the man in the black tailcoat, who had kept his regular attire, though he switched out his black tie for a purple bolo tie, and was now wearing a top hat. Not to mention, he had painted a purple streak of paint down his right eye. "Hello, I'm Black. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

"Then there's the wee one over here," Began Joker, pointing to Finnian. "Say hi to Smile!"

"Smi-!?!" Gasped Finnian with horror as Black sniggered silently.

"Go on now. Let's give 'em a warm welcome!"

"Hello!" Called out everyone to the newcomers.

"Come now, Smile." Chuckled Black, barely holding in his laughter. "Wouldn't you like to say a few words to everyone?"

Smile glanced around at all the performers waiting for him to say something. He hesitated before saying, "Yes, I'm uh... so happy to be here."

"Come on, Smile." Grinned Joker. "Smile!"

Well this will get interesting. You thought as you looked at the two new members of The Noah's Ark Circus.