21 tightropes walked - dream vortex

[freckleddoll]

[Slums. A deserted alleyway, dingy and dirty, not much to be seen but piles of refuse left lying around. And a small group huddled under a blanket, children, too young to be left on their own but alone all the same.

At a closer look there's more wrong with them than the dirt and hungry faces and torn scraps of clothing. A boy with one empty sleeve, and a boy and a girl with the remains of a leg wrapped in strips of cloth. An even smaller child with a partly burnt face being held by a boy too large for his age.

A dog runs around them, barking - Tiger, for those who'd recognize him, even though in the strange way of dreams, Doll clearly doesn't know him. The children are too miserable to pay him any attention.

And standing for a while in that alley, one will be able to hear the strain of circus music filtering in, perhaps even the reflection of bright lights.]


((ooc: the way the dream goes depends on what visitors do. Anyone welcome!))

Comments

sob I'm sorry

[nobodyneedknow.livejournal.com]

[Slums. Dorian knows those; only in an observer sort of way. He walks through, and pauses when he sees Tiger, and looks over to see Doll; he has a good eye for people]

Girl.

XD no, it's fine!

[freckleddoll]

[all the children seem taken aback to have one of them addressed by a gentleman, and Jumbo's arms tighten protectively around Doll as the small girl looks up at him through messy hair, a grubby paw wiping at her face.]

...me, mister?

[nobodyneedknow.livejournal.com]

What's your name?

[freckleddoll]

[She looks surprised and her gaze turns towards the other children, asking what to do. The one-armed boy gives half a shrug, as if to say where's the harm in it, so she looks back at Dorian, whispering a name in her weak, childish voice.]

((ooc: Doll isn't her real name and canon never revealed her name from back then so assume she told him her real name?))

[nobodyneedknow.livejournal.com]

[The name slips in and out in the dream like a haze, but Dorian doesn't mind. Instead he leans down, making sure his tails do not touch anything]

Are you going into that circus?

[freckleddoll]

Circus, mister?

[she turns her head towards the lights, seeming to see them for the first time now.]

Yeah, I...think we're supposed t'go there. [turning towards the other children for confirmation, and suddenly they're all on their feet, a few years older, still poorly dressed but better taken care of, two of them on crutches.]

[nobodyneedknow.livejournal.com]

Then you'd best hurry before someone finds a better use for you.

[freckleddoll]

[There's a rather frightened look in her eyes at that idea and one of the others lays a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

But it seems there's no need to hurry, because they already are in the circus, looking around in awe at all the performers and colourful costumes.

Even though they're standing there as children, they're also there as their adult selves. Joker as the ringleader, juggling a multitude of balls with one real and one skeletal looking arm. Beast cracking her whip in the tigers' cage. And Doll herself, sitting on a barrel and tying the ribbon to one of her shoes in preparation for walking the tightrope, her parasol resting by her side.]

[nobodyneedknow.livejournal.com]

[The smile on Dorian's lips is dangerous as he winds around the theatre quietly]

This I understand.

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

[Anna's rather unsurprised at this point to be in someone else's dream, but the feeling of this one is much different. She walks through the dirty streets looking for a familiar face and finds... a familiar dog. She kneels down to extend her hand to him, wary that in this place the dream's owner might have made him a stranger to her, just as the dream makes her seem... more like her angelic self.]

Hello, Tiger.

[She looks over him to see the children huddled, the smallest one with a familiar, but younger face. She smiles at the group, and her friend.]

Hi, there.

[freckleddoll]

[Tiger is as friendly in Doll's dream as he is in real life, though the children seem to be quietly closing ranks at the appearance of a stranger without even moving.]

...'ello? [Doll finally ventures to speak, wary because usually people either ignored them, or noticed them for rather negative reasons.]

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

[She pets the dog happily and stays where she is, it looks like those kids can get spooked easily and that's the last thing she wants.]

I'm Anna. It's nice to meet you.

[freckleddoll]

[They'd definitely get scared easily, but it's not like they can run off when two of them can't even walk. Doll isn't really sure what to say to being greeted. Why would anyone think it's nice to meet them?]

...nice t'meet ya too?

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

[She surveys the scene, kids on the street, it always bothered her the way people treated each other. These kids needed homes, families, at the very least a good roof, warm blankets, and a good meal. But she keeps the spike of anger back and the smile on her face.]

I'm new here - do you know a good place to get some food?

[freckleddoll]

Food?

[They all just look at each other and shrug. None of them have eaten in a while. The East End isn't exactly kind to orphans, and even less to those who are lacking the way they are.]

Sure yer s'posed t'be 'ere, miss?

[backseatangel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, food. You guys looked hungry, thought I'd get us something to eat.

[And that was the saving grace - this was a dream, she was pretty sure she could do it if she wanted to.]

And, no, I'm not really supposed to be here. But... neither are you.

[freckleddoll]

Ain't really anywhere for that 'round 'ere.

[The alley looks strangely brighter, the sound of music growing closer.]

But nowhere else'll take us... [But that doesn't seem to be quite true, because they're standing now, looking older and slighter better taken care of, even if still very poor. The two missing a leg are getting by on crutches, and they're all looking rather dumbfounded at the circus entrance in front of them.]

Come on, miss, we've got to go an' try out or Father'll be mad. [Doll takes Anna's hand, tugging anxiously and looking at her from her one good eye.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[It only takes a moment for Penny to know whose dream she's in this time. If the slums (and her outfit, which apparently chose to deteriorate to match the rest of the scene) and Tiger hadn't tipped her off, the little girl would have. She approaches the children slowly and smiling, trying not to frighten them. They already look absolutely miserable.]

Hey there.

[She tries to make eye contact with Doll. The burn on her face looks painful.]

[freckleddoll]

[They really are miserable, cold and hungry and with no idea where the next meal will come from. But they still look up at her when she approaches, everyone moving slightly closer together.

Doll is looking to the side, her head resting against Jumbo's chest, but she notices that she's being looked at after a while, returning the gaze.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Poor kids. Penny wants to take them all home and feed them, which, unfortunately, isn't feasible in a dream. She crouches in front of them and smiles at Doll.]

It's okay. ...What're you guys doing here?

[freckleddoll]

Ain't got anywhere else t'go.

[It's not usual for Doll to be answering for the others, but it is her dream after all. She looks quite seriously back at Penny when the woman smiles at her.]

...think we're meant t'be somewhere else though. [Struggling to get to her feet, it's as though the circus music is suddenly getting a lot louder now.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

No where--what?

[Penny stands as well, looking for the source of the circus music. How can it be getting louder?]

[freckleddoll]

[behind them is a workhouse, filled with children playing, and Doll and her group are standing right between it and the threshold of a circus, looking from one to the other, before the one-armed boy motions them all onwards.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

Hey... where're you going?

[freckleddoll]

We're settin' up a circus! [Doll calls over her shoulder, waving at Penny to join them.]