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

[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.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

All by yourselves? [It's more of a thought than an actual question. Penny hurries after Doll.]

[freckleddoll]

Yeah, 'course, who else!

[they're standing in a circle around the one-armed boy, right in the middle of the circus grounds, and he's grinning and pointing to each of them in turn, handing out stage names.

Doll rushes up to him, pointing at herself.]

One fer me too!

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Penny can't argue with that logic. She stays just outside of their circle, ogling the circus grounds. The kids seem excited, but the circus? Is that really a good place for kids?

...And doesn't Doll already have a name?]

[freckleddoll]

"You're Doll." [the boy replies, pointing at her. She makes a face and looks embarrassed.] That name don't fit me. Don' want a girly name like that.

[he pats her on the head and grins] "'course it fits you. 'cause you're our cute little sister."

[She looks shyly pleased before running off to where some of the others are already setting up for the circus.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[No wonder Doll misses her circus family so much.

Penny follows Doll quietly, not even sure if she's still a part of the dream. Whether Doll can see her or not, though, she wants to see more of her life. Is that invasive? Maybe, but she wants to see some happiness in her friend's dream.]

[freckleddoll]

[Penny is still a part of it, and Doll shoots her a grin when she notices her again.

A tightrope has been set up close to the ground and she's taking her first few tentative steps across it.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Penny smiles back, glad that the tightrope isn't too high up. How anyone can walk across them escapes her; Penny wasn't even that good at walking across the balance beam in school.]

You're not afraid of heights?

[Not that this tightrope is high. She's thinking about the tightropes she's seen Doll walk across at the circus.]

[freckleddoll]

A bit...

[Luckily it's less than a foot from the ground, because very soon she loses her balance and falls. It's not easy when she's only got one eye to see with.

Her face crumples up like she's disappointed with herself.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[No, not potential crying! Penny sits on the ground by Doll, concerned.]

Are you okay? Did you scrape up your knees?

[freckleddoll]

No...can't do it, it's so 'ard.

[someone else kneels next to them, one of the boys from the alley, still a little wobbly on his new prosthetic leg. He places a hand on her shoulder, gives her a grin and tells her not to give up before helping her to her feet again.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

It takes practice.

[Penny smiles at the boy, wondering which member of Doll's family he is.]

[freckleddoll]

[Doll gets to her feet then, sighing and rubbing at the back of her head.]

S'going t'take a while. [and with a smile towards her brother] Thanks, Dagger.

[She gets onto the tightrope again. As she takes some more tentative steps she gets older, steadier.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Dagger. Penny can only guess at Dagger's role in the circus act.

She does a double-take at the rapid progression of time. It's easy enough to forget that everything is possible in dreams.]

[freckleddoll]

[The tightrope's a lot higher now, and Doll's in her circus costume, balancing with her parasol in one outstretched hand.

But she's standing next to Penny too in her boyish outfit, looking up at herself.]

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

[Penny doesn't notice the Doll standing next to her for moment, watching the Doll on the high wire intently. Recognition is accompanied by mild surprise.]

Hey. [She nods towards the Doll in the circus outfit.] You're really good, you know that?

[freckleddoll]

D'ya think so? [She looks pleased at the compliment, and not too confused at there being two of her.]

S'nice t'have somethin' you're good at...

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

I really do.

It is. You're good at more than just that, though.

[freckleddoll]

Yeah, but...good at somethin' I can make a livin' at, I mean.

[a shrug] This place don' seem real.