Redansia and Coriel slowly approached the two silhouettes, their visages illuminated under the glowing orange lamplight. The woman had raven-black hair tied behind her head, and the man the same, albeit shorter. They wore simpler clothes than Redansia, which, given their current circumstances, made sense. Who would frolic in attire like the troupe leader's?
"Ms. Coriel, Caramine has said much about you and your mother, it's lovely to be in your company." The woman smiled as she bowed.
There was a poem that was quite popular in the Southern Continent of the surface world. It went by many names, and it often used several different variations, but it always portrayed the same story. In that poem, there was the focus of a woman who was sought by many others.
She was only ever referred to as 'the lady' - the lady in the poem. She wasn't the most beautiful woman that they had seen, she wasn't the wealthiest, and her family wasn't powerful, but still she was the most sought after.
Why was this?
It was the lady's smile. It enchanted all those who saw it, men and women alike. It made those who were sad, happy, and those who were unfortunate, lucky. Her smile made the world brighter when it was at its darkest.
Coriel saw the same in Meline.
Even still, if she ignored Meline's radiant smile, she was truly beautiful, unlike the lady of the poem.
"It's lovely to meet you, I have only heard good things about you." Coriel responded in kind, smiling slightly.
She glanced over at the man standing beside him. His coarse black hair fell past his jawline, and his eyes were violet in hue. He grinned, albeit slightly, as if he were trying to repress his confidence. For whatever reason, he stood slightly beside Meline, allowing her to take her turn at conversation.
"You must be Monsieur Graham." Coriel bowed her head slightly.
"Indeed, Ms. Coriel." Graham's eyes seemed to light up immensely, the simple moment he was talked towards. He wore a black top hat, which he quickly removed as he bowed deeply towards her. His pose was enigmatic, it gave off the impression that he took his showmanship very seriously.
But when he glanced back up, she could sense the deviousness in his eyes.
"Would you like a sweet?" Graham extended his hand outwards. There was a small object in his hand that had been wrapped in coarse paper and bound with twine. While not particularly fond of the man, Coriel was certainly fond of sweet things. However, before she could reach out to grab it, Meline picked it up and stowed it in her own pocket.
"Don't accept anything from Graham, he's just trying to make you owe him a favour." Meline sighed.
This Magician is really a character…
Suddenly, squeaking erupted from Meline's pocket, causing her to reach inside, grasping at the paper-wrapped item. Instead, she pulled out a wriggling furry creature, which glanced up at Coriel with black-dotted pupils.
It was a mouse! Just like they had seen earlier!
"Ta-dah… it was a mouse all along…" Graham smiled sheepishly, letting out a hollow chuckle.
Meline didn't seem so pleased by his trick, sighing aimlessly as she shook her head.
"But there's more. Check your pockets." Graham grinned mischievously.
No way…
Coriel cautiously reached her hand into her coat pocket.
However, nothing was there.
She glanced towards the other two, who had also reached into their pockets to check, but came up with nothing.
"I'm just kidding. I'm not that good." Graham shrugged.
"Stop with the silly tricks, it's time to prepare." Redansia spoke in a low, unamused tone.
"Prepare to leave?" Meline asked curiously.
"No, to perform. This will be the debut of our newest member, our Clown."
The Magician and Dancer looked over at Coriel, their eyes widening. They measured her up and down, and then seemed to adopt the same mischievous smile.
"You know, Caramine loves painting…" Meline spoke in a sly tone of voice.
[+++]
I have no use of my arm now... Coriel sighed. I used it too much when handing out advertisements for the performance…
She couldn't do much as Caramine demanded she assist with her Clown makeup. After being told of such a thing by Meline and Graham, she had insisted that she be the one to do so. She had already drawn several coloured inks across a palette, holding a brush gently against her fingertips as she carefully examined the contours of Coriel's face.
She drew the brush along Coriel's cheek, laughing when she twitched. She couldn't help it, it tickled. She was far too gentle with her strokes, and she only had the one hand to fight off the feeling, so she didn't bother at all.
"Are you feeling better now, Ms. Caramine?" Coriel asked in a polite, calm tone.
Caramine stared silently at Coriel as she continued painting, as if to ask what she meant. Coriel then began to wonder if it really wasn't obvious as to what she was eluding to. Being straight-forward seemed embarrassing, would she really have to say it out loud?
"You were crying, weren't you? Earlier, in the Performer's caravan… I hoped you were feeling better now, since you're laughing."
"Ah, that… I told your mother a bit about it, but I don't really like telling others their bad fortunes. But I can't hide the cards I draw, I'm not skilled in cardistry like Graham. That morning, I had drawn cards for Meline, and they were not that good… she assured me it was fine, but I'm far too superstitious, it feels like I've doomed her myself."
Coriel had a slight urge to ask about the cards, but felt that it was best left alone. Caramine had already explored her feelings on the matter enough. Wasn't the right recourse to comfort her?
She reached out a hand, placing it gently on Caramine's head.
"There, there…" she spoke sheepishly.
Caramine chuckled. "You're quite silly."
"Meister Redansia said this is how a Clown should act. Do you think I'm doing it properly, so far?"
She nodded. "Indeed, you're doing splendidly. Above all, a Clown should be themselves, not because this is a key tenant of Clowning, but because this is the main trait of all performers from Redansia's Troupe."
Caramine dragged the brush through a palette of black ink, raising it towards Coriel's face before dragging it over her closed left eye. It tapered off to a point in the center of her cheek, where a faint red circle had been drawn below.
She then reached beside her, procuring a small red ball, holding it up to show Coriel.
"Monsieur Heathrow wore a red nose just like this one, he was a very kind, funny man." Caramine smiled, touching Coriel's cheek with one hand as she outfitted the nose on her face. The clown's makeup had only been half-finished, stretching down the left side of her face, her freckle-pocked pale skin still visible on the other.
Her cheeks had reddened, and Caramine had suddenly been caught in a daze, staring into her deep, sapphire eyes. She traced her hand along the contour of Coriel's jaw, soft but also sharp.
Caramine suddenly leaned forward, placing her lips on Coriel's.
Coriel was taken aback. What was this? Was this a part of a Fortune Teller's act? How should a Clown act in this situation?
Was this… not related to the troupe at all?
Then how should she take it?
She didn't know what to do with herself, she only leaned into it. The clown nose had fallen away, and her face paint became a bit smeared, but it wasn't to be minded.
There was silence in the air when they broke away, when Coriel and Caramine were left staring into each others eyes, listless, unable to conjure anything to say to one another.
Caramine was the first to break the silence.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that..."
"Did you not enjoy it…?" Coriel asked in a confused manner. Why else would she say such a thing?
"No, really, it was... when you were so direct with me... it made me feel intrigued... it felt pleasant. I did enjoy it, I just wonder if it was too sudden, too direct. Did you not have the same feeling as I did?"
"What feeling was that?"
"I just thought… that you looked very pretty, is that strange?"
"I always thought you looked very beautiful, Ms. Caramine. Is this not the same?"
"In the way that made you wish to kiss me?"
"Did kissing me make you happy?"
Caramine nodded her head slowly.
Coriel leaned forward and placed her lips on Caramine's once more. It was short-lived, it was light and fluttery.
"Then smile..."
She placed her fingers on the edges of Caramine's lips, twisting them up into a crooked smile. This caused Caramine to laugh, grasping at Coriel's fingers.
I don't know much about love... is this... me being a good Clown, then?
She felt awkward, even out of place.
But perhaps that was the point of all new things.