Chapter Text
Within a stationary carnival, the streets and many attractions were bursting with activity. Children screaming for cotton candy and many groups of friends sharing the moment of their lives, laughing with great joy as they did their best to win prizes. From the many attractions gathering big crowds, to small food stands serving great snacks, tonight would surely be one to remember.
Within one of the carnival’s biggest tents, housing a circus, the lights went dim, and along with it the idle chatter of the audience seated within. All quieting down with anticipation.
Suddenly a booming voice marked the beginning of another of the circus’s many shows, “ladies, gentlemen, and every other distinguished guest, the grand performance you have all been waiting for… Are. You. Ready…?!”
With great fervor the crowd erupted in cheer and hype. Hearing this, the announcer responded in kind, “IT’S SHOWTIME!”
Immediately the first of many sets of lights flashed on, then another, then another, then another. Soon the whole tent was filled with dizzying, bright lights. Music started playing, the tempo fast and energetic. The first act tonight, it seemed, would be acrobatics.
In position, two skilled aerialists started their performance. Swinging in from one of the high beams on a trapeze, Jesterspace made a grand entrance. Making a show of throwing herself and flipping before catching the trapeze again, capturing the audience’s attention with grandeur. Meanwhile, below, Stargazer approached the center of the stage. They summoned their gear and pointed it at the ground, with a flourish, they were launched up high into the air, doing multiple flips before catching themself on an aerial hoop. Each of the aerialists swung from their equipment, spinning and bending themselves in incredible ways with mesmerizing grace, keeping up with the music’s fast tempo.
As the music reaches its climax, Stargazer hangs from their hoop upside down as Jesterspace swings toward them, letting go of her trapeze. The world seemed to stand still as the music stopped and the crowd held their breaths. Stargazer catches her, and the music picks back up. The audience lets out the breath they were holding. The two aerialists continued their performance, hanging off of each other, they struck poses that showed off their flexibility, balance, and strength.
…
Backstage, Party Rocket filters through the controlled chaos that comes with the beginning of a show. Working in tandem with Outerspace, they check in with each member.
“I’m missing a pin!” Calls out Clownhammer.
“Is it under the bleachers?” A voice calls back from the chaos, “I can swear I saw one there!”
“I got it,” Party says as they head over to retrieve the pin. There was a rubber band, confetti, a single half deflated blue balloon the color of Stargazer’s signature outfit, and multiple other miscellaneous items. Huh, how’d all that get there… Ah the pin! “Found it!”
Quickly returning to Clownhammer, he passes the pin over before moving to give Clownhammer’s other equipment one last safety check.
“Thanks Party! Have some Love Bunny,” Clownhammer says jokingly, pulling a bunny holding a heart out of his hat.
“Oh save that for the audience,” Party laughs, rolling his eyes as he dodges someone rushing past.
Sensing the opportunity for mischief, Egobworder spoke up from where he was waxing his board, “hey Clownhammer! With all the trouble we’re going through for you, you better nail that performance down!”
“Hammer out any slip-ups before you head out on stage!” Shurisuit adds on, grinning.
Now it’s Outerspace’s turn to roll his eyes, “oh get outer here… Wait. That pun wasn’t intentional, it just slipped out...”
Now everyone laughs as Party smiles at the banter. “Two more minutes and you’re up, Clownhammer.”
“Yeah yeah…” Clownhammer says sheepishly.
…
The last performance wraps up and Party makes the announcement for the end of the show, “Thank you all for coming to see our wonderful circus! Do enjoy the rest of the carnival and try out the snacks. Come back next time for another grand performance.”
As the audience filed out of the circus’s tent, all the energy started to wind down. Backstage, the atmosphere was a comfortable buzz. Everyone was helping with cleaning up, a few biografts running around, moving crates and equipment.
“Good work everyone,” Party says, “we really put on a show!” They pulled out their gear and aimed it up before pulling the trigger. Confetti falls around the room as Party takes out and blows into a party horn.
Stargazer watches the mess in amusement as they put their supplies away for the next show. “You going to clean that or…?”
“Nope! I’ll let the biografts handle that.”
Stargazer shakes their head before going to help Jesterspace with her overcrowded supply closet. Somewhere else Outerspace asks Clownhammer to bring a box of mini fireworks to the Evening Circus. Eventually, everyone had finished cleaning up and left. Some headed towards the residential area while others moved to other parts of the carnival, either to hang out or fulfill their other duties outside the circus.
Party, despite being among those who were free to head back to the residential area, as they had finished all their work for the day, decided not to. After all, the sun was still quite high in the sky. Therefore, to them, it was far too early to retire for the day. Instead, they decided to spend time with someone else. Jesterspace had already run off to complete other tasks so that left their older sibling: Stargazer. It was some time during mid day and the siblings hadn’t had lunch yet.
As Party and Starrgazer walked out of the circus to carry on with their day, Party asked, “do you want to get lunch together? It’s been a while since we ate at a cafe together.”
Stargazer pondered for a moment, probably mentally going over their schedule for the day before responding, “I suppose we could. To the one over there then?” Pointing across the street, there was one of the two cafes in the entire carnival.
Party nodded. There aren't many options to begin with, but the placement of both was very convenient. It just so happens that there was one right across the Morning Circus. The other one was in front of the residential area, allowing Party and the other performers or staff to grab something to eat before work in the morning and afternoon.
A cold breeze passed the siblings as they approached the cafe. It was almost winter.
Ding, rang the door chime as Party opened the door and held it open for Stargazer. The cafe was full of people, most of them likely here after watching their performances.
A cafe worker moved to seat them towards the back. The cafes in the carnival were separate businesses with contracts with the carnival— so there were infernals working here instead of biografts. It was nice talking to them once in a while but the cafe staff, like the rest of the circus members, were too busy to actually spend that much time together.
On the way to their seats, Party could spot Egobworder and Eggsquerade seated together, also eating lunch.
“It’s a shame Jesterspace couldn't join,” Party said, waving to the two as they enthusiastically waved back.
Stargazer hums in agreement, skimming through the menu. “You know how much work there is.”
Jesterspace was always working so hard. Being the leader of the circus and technically boss of the carnival, all the burden falls on her shoulders to keep everything running smoothly. Party, Stargazer, and Outerspace tries to help alleviate the burden but it doesn’t change the fact that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and they were a little understaffed. Finding experienced infernals to help with the circus was very hard. Pushing these thoughts out of their mind for now, Party picks up the menu.
“Oooo- I haven’t had pancakes in a while. I'm going to get those. I wonder if they have milk,” Party says, turning to flag down a waiter.
“The tater tots are also very good. I’ll get that with a grilled cheese sandwich,” Stargazer says. After Party gave the waiter their orders, Stargazer asked, “do you want to do a dancing performance with me for the next morning show?”
“Sure! We should include our gears somehow…! You know that performance from Sunburst and Egobworder from a few months ago still gives me chills. I’m so happy Jesterspace got a video of it— that has to be the best performance of the year!”
The siblings talked about arbitrary topics, conversation lacking aim as they chatted about anything which comes to mind. When the waiter arrived with their orders, the two thanked him and hungrily dug into their meal.
Taking a slice out of their pancake, already covered in syrup, Party observed their sibling with curiosity, “are you eating tater tots with syrup?”
“Yea, It’s a good combo. Wanna try?” Stargazer offered, gesturing to their plate.
Tentatively, Party stabbed one of Stargazer’s tater tots with their fork and dipped it into the syrup before putting it in their mouth.
“Damn, where has this been all my life?”
“In Sunburst’s collection of weird food combos,” Stargazer said, taking another bite of their grilled cheese.
“Gee, really?” Party made a mental note to ask Sunburst for good food combos they should try. Why is this actually good…
As Party reached out to spear another tater tot, Stargazer huffed before saying “you can order yourself some more tater tots, you know?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to,” Party replied with a big grin and a mouthful of pancake.
…
After their meal, Stargazer pays the bill and decides to go finish their other work for the day before going to check on Jesterspace to make sure she eats. This left Party alone to their own devices.
Taking the longer route to the residential area, Party passes The Tree and also the Evening Circus. Their mind couldn't help but wander. Party couldn’t remember a life outside of the circus. All their life they could only remember endless performances and shows. Sometimes they felt like they enjoyed the attention of others but at the same time, they sometimes preferred being alone. At first they thought that this just meant that they were faking a personality because of the circus, but they aren’t so sure which version of them is the real them. Of course, after telling Stargazer about their problems, Stargazer told the younger Party that they were just over thinking it, and both of those parts are real. Party thought that made sense but sometimes they weren’t so sure…
Shaking their head and clearing away the memory, Party sees Shurisuit doing magic tricks at the meet and greet booth. There is a small crowd of children watching in awe. Shurisuit catches Party’s eyes and they wave at each other. Watching the scene for a little longer, Party's smile returns to their face as they continue their walk.
Inside the residential area, Party approaches Valleystaff’s small garden. It was well kept with vegetables, herbs, flowers, and small berries growing.
Party has always been amazed by her garden. Despite the semi-small plot, she still manages to grow such a variety of healthy plants. To their right, they see a small cranberry bush with ripe, red, delicious berries in a pot. To most inphernals, cranberries were too sour and tart, the flavor too intense to eat handfuls at a time. Not to Party though, they loved cranberries. Party could help Valleystaff with harvesting them. Or they could pocket a few berries right now… and also help with the harvest later.
Party glanced around looking for anyone who might catch them in the act. No one was around. But as they reached a hand out, they suddenly heard something, above him? Looking up he saw— SOMETHING COMING AT HIM?! Before he could move out the way-
“LOOK OUT!!!”
CRASH
“ACK!”
There was a silence as they tried to understand the situation. What the…?
Confused and dazed, Party looked up from where the impact had made them fall over, Party came to a realization. The thing that had crashed into them, was not a thing at all but an infernal with wings and feathers.
The only thought that crossed their mind in that moment was, what in the unholy shit!?