The White Butterfly of Phantomhive

Chapter 33: The Noah's Ark Circus Tryouts

When Joker leads Sebastian to the back of the circus, it gives the handsome demon a small window to look around. Since the show was over, a lot of the troops were taking the time to unwind and relax. Removing bits of their costumes, tending to the animals, taking a smoke, whatever they feel like. "It's just back this way a tad. The ol' place is a bit of a mess I'm afraid." Joker says as they walked down the dimly lit tents.

Up ahead, they spotted Snake leaning against a couple of crates. Along with his snakes around him, he is dressed in thigh-high boots and a high-collared jacket with baggy sleeves that were long enough to cover his hands, wore a striped black-and-white shirt under his jacket; it was cinched at the waist and neck, with two belts in each location. "Well good evening there Snake. Do you know if Doc's back in the medical tent?" He asked the serpent dancer. Snake doesn't verbally reply to him but one of his snakes points to a certain direction.

"Oh, maybe making his rounds then?" Joker laughs as they walked towards the direction Snake pointed out. As they walked, they passed by the trapeze duo who were staring at Sebastian with amusement, smiling at him all the while. "Say isn't that the lad that got bitten by the tiger?" Wendy asked. "Aye, that's him. What a stupid little boy." Peter chuckled.

They then walked inside, to what looked like a mess hall, where they see Dagger getting his leg checked out by a man bound to a wheelchair. He must've been the Doctor if the lab coat wasn't any indication. "Good, there he is. Oi, Doc!" Joker called out, making Dagger and Docter turning to look at them. The Doctor was a bespectacled man with black, unkempt hair that comes down in waves, framing his face and slate grey eyes. He wore a clean suit along with a wide ribbon tied in a large bow around his neck, and black dress shoes.

"Joker, what can do for you tonight? Is your hand acting up again?" Doctor asked with a kind smile when he greeted the ring leader. "Ha, no. I've brought a different patient, see?" Joker says to him. He was about to introduce him when Dagger, quickly recognising Sebastian, suddenly jump up and pointed at him. "Wait, him!? He's that bloke from tonight's tiger act, he's the one who got bitten by Betty!" He shouted.

That instantly got Doctor's full attention. His eyes widened in shock as he looked back at Sebastian. "Hold on, what?! Goodness, how terrible! We need to get you to the infirmary!" He shouts as he grabs his wrists and rushed back to the medical tent to check out Sebastian's wounds. Doctor had to check him over three times before letting the information sink in.

"Are you quite certain you've been bitten by a tiger?" Doctor asked, looking at Sebastian's head. No matter where he looked he didn't find a trace of any bit marks. "I don't see any gashes or broken skin." When Doctor pulled away, Sebastian sat up straight and held a loving smile. No doubt thinking about Betty and her beauty. "It was just an affectionate nip." He tells him.

"Affectionate, eh?" "Nip, eh?" Joker and Dagger said, thinking back. Betty was biting down hard on Sebastian head, most likely trying to crush it. "Well, I'm just glad you're alright. That could've been a serious injury indeed."

"Too true, too true. Imagine letting a customer get injured, if I did that the troop leader will kill me." Joker says with relief. Wait, the troop leader? But shouldn't Joker be the leader in all this? Sebastian thought about this and turned to face him and said, "I had the impression you were the troop leader."

"No, not me. Afraid I'm only the hired help." Joker says with a small laugh. "The real leader's downright scary, not someone you want to cross."

"Brave of you to say so. That kind of talk can get you in trouble, better be careful." Dagger says as he and Joker share a good laugh. As they laugh, Beast arrives and enters the tent to get her leg checked out. "Hey Doc, do you got a minute to look at my leg?" She asks. The very second she came in Dagger was delighted by the sight of her. "Hello, Beast!" He says. Unfortunately for him, Beast completely ignores him and glared at certain red-eyed man sitting by. "Why are you here!" She yells.