I Write Sins, Not Tragedies [Zagreb/Public]

((WHAT IS THIS, I DON'T EVEN---I am considering naming all of Djuro's topics after PatD songs, herrrpderp.))

Dust.

The damned dust.

It got on Djuro's shoes, on his socks, up his trousers---what he wouldn't give to just lock himself up in his office instead of dealing with this mess. But no, the carnival had just finished setting up here and it was the young Croat's job to make sure that it was soon bustling with the depressed and...common. He started to stroll up and down the rows of bars, twirling his cane, waiting for the moment, the moment when...ah. A young girl and her family walked by, the girl's eyes growing wide as she turned to tug at the sleeves of her parents. The mother looked wearily toward the gates, about to refuse, when--

"Ladies!" He approached the family, cane still twirling. The girl's eyes followed its movement, hypnotized. Djuro gave her a small smile (Look at that clothing, hideous, hideous!) before tilting his head at the unimpressed father. "Gentleman. Come, come restore yourselves by taking the time to view our humble establishment." Humble? Ha! Only if you were unlucky enough to be a freak. "I guarantee it will delight and surprise. And it'll make your little child oh-so-happy."

The older woman shifted her weight. "I don't think we can--"

At that moment, Djuro suddenly stopped twirling his cane. He met the woman's gaze lazily, eyes narrow and flickering. It was as if, at that moment, time had inexplicably frozen, leaving nothing clear but each other's eyes. And then, in a firm voice, he started to speak: "Just once, miss. It will be the most wonderous experience you've had in a long time."

Suddenly, he returned to his cane spinning, time snapping back into his usual dull tick. The woman, at first dazed, broke out into a glorious smile, grabbing her child's arm and sharing an infectiously happy glance with her taken-aback husband.

"It sounds so fun! Oh, one little time wouldn't hurt, would it? Come on, honey, let's go see it, I've always loved looking at the acrobats, anyway."

Without a second thought, she walked up to the booth, bought three tickets (at a price even extortionists would have called unfair) and was whisked away into an escapist's dream. Djuro chortled to himself as new people, attracted to the woman's excitment, started coming forward. Showtime.

"Ladies, gentlemen, girls, boys, please step forward and enter a world of mystery, enchantment, the odd and the sublime!"

As he spoke he was sure to maintain eye contact with certain members of the crowd, almost directing them forward with his cane.

He may have hated his job, but damn if he wasn't good at it.

It wasn't often that Fränze wandered among the low-lifes, but when she did, she had a reason. She figured she ran the place, so she would usually come down to make sure things didn't look in shambles and make sure no one was slacking off. She usually had to do alot of correcting.

But this time she saw something that caught her eye rather than her looking for something wrong. It was that Djuro man, whom she hadnever really paid much attention to before, she had never seen him in action. She stood there as he changed peoples minds in a second, entranced herself. He was doing something to make that happen, for sure... But what? "Well, didn't we find the perfect man for the job?" She wasn't aware of his desire to move up the ranks.

Things were going quite smoothly now, a steady stream of new sightseers flowing through the gates. A few managed to slip away from the spell being cast, but for the most part Djuro had done his job, the excitement and curiosity catching quickly enough so that he could now step back and let people come in on their own. He took off his flat and now dirty hat, dusting it off disdainfully. Hopefully he could retreat back to the fairgrounds themselves, leave the entrance behind him and get the rest of his job over with...

"Well, didn't we find the perfect man for the job?"

He turned around, eyebrows raising in amusement at the woman he now saw. She was, without a doubt, not of the common folk, obviously a person of power within the establishment...and a woman who still knew how to dress. He smiled, giving a small bow.

"I am perfect for any job, but this one just comes more...naturally, I suppose." He flicked his hand idly. "But it's something I would rather not do."

"A jack of all trades, then," She corrected herself, shielding her eyes from the sun to look up at him on his pedestal.

He was lucky to be working above all these common people and the freaks, but the dust kept everyone on the same level. Her delicately embroidered gauze shawl was already covered in the red dust as the wind whipped through her meticulously curled hair. How long would this drought last?

She laughed. "Well, at least you don't actually have to go into the tents. I don't want to catch whatever's in there." Harsh, but true, to her.

He stepped off his platform, gesturing with his cane to his empty office, small, but much cooler than staying outside with the sweating, stinking masses.

"Would you like to go inside? I don't think it needs mentioning that we shouldn't need to stay longer than we have to with...with..." He swept the cane outward, pointing to the people now struggling to get inside."These."

At the mention of the...things...inside of the tents, he echoed Franze's laugh. "I still have to introduce them and their ugliness. But you're right, I am quite lucky that I am fortunate to interact with ladies like you and not those freaks."

To be honest, the freaks always intimidated him, always made him think they might try and revolt...

She obliged, stepping into the small office and away from the sweating horde.

Looking visibly worried when he said he had to stand up with them and intorduce them, she asked incredulously, "You don't have to stand too terribly close to them, do you?"

That must he horrifying. She didn't even want to walk near their cars or cages. She didn't want to acknowledge the possibility of an uprising, but she knew it was possible. If that time came, they could handle it, for sure. Half of the freaks were seriously sick, they kept them deprived for a reason.

She inspected the office as if she had never seen one before. "Well... What would you like to do if you had the choice?"

"You don't have to stand too terribly close to them, do you?"

He hung his hat up on a petite rack, pulling out a chair for his honored guest to sit in.

"Only close enough so that people can still see me. I'm usually a meter or two away. I don't...touch them, if you're worried." He started pouring water, so precious in a drought, into seperate glasses for the both of them.

Another glance upward found his gaze lingering a little longer than he would have liked. She was gorgeous, what was she even doing in a place like this? Around these monsters? He was about to ask, but she slipped in a question first.

"Well... What would you like to do if you had the choice?"

Djuro sat down, touching the glistening diamond of his cane to his lower lip, wondering if this was perhaps a chance to level up. This woman must have been an angel.

"Truthfully? Ringmaster, but that doesn't exactly come easy to a simple spokesman, yes?" He added a light laugh, eyes drifting back to hers. It would be so simple to make her more open to the idea, lighten the mood.

It couldn't hurt, right?

Still holding her gaze, his eyelids dropped lethargically, almost looking disinterested. "But wouldn't it be fantastic if I could move up more quickly?"

The diamond flickered eerily.

Giving a relieved sigh, she accepted the chair he pulled out as well as the glass of water. She wasn't going to drink it-- she would never eat or drink anything in front of a man-- but it was just as important for manners that she accept it. "Good-- I would have to fire you if you said you were getting too near those people." She laughed like it was a joke.

She became half entranced, nodding along to his words, not realizing what was comin over her... Until he mentioned he wanted to be the ringmaster. When the last one had died, she realized she could control things just as much. Her fixation with him was cut short by her own selfishness. The spell proved hard to break free, though. "I... I don't know... Jumping straight to ringmaster..." She ran a hand through her curls and glanced into the glass of water. "I know you're good at corralling people, but... I don't trust it that much yet..."

What was this? Apparently, either Franze was particularly resisitant to Djuro's manipulations (Impossible!) or Djuro's glammours were staring to wane (Even more impossible!). Of course, there was the more likely possibility that the Croat had suggested something too far out to take hold easily. Either way, Djuro was quite shocked and tried to hide his surprise by pretending to cough and then taking a sip of water.

"I understand. I'd do the same if I were in your position. It's just that I can't stand being so low on the scale. If there were a position that had less to do with dealing with the caged ones, however, I'd love to accept it..." His eyes flickered.

He once again feigned a cough and smiled politely.

"Where are my manners? If you would like, I could escort you back to where ever you were heading. I'm sure that a lady such as yourself is always busy. Unless you'd rather stay--"

He had to cut himself off. He was really starting to fall for her, even though this was arguably the first time they had spoken directly to one another. It must have been for the lack of anyone else with beauty around the front gate.

There was that feeling again. She didn't understand it, but she felt... drawn to this man. Impossible, she had only known him in person for a few moments-- but it was happening.

She struggled to find an answer. "W...Well... There's always.... being a middle manager?" It was lower than her management but higher than what he was doing at present. "You would manage the people that deal with.... them..." She felt like she would not be satisfied until he was pleased with what she offered. But she certainly wouldnt give him the same power she had. She wouldnt give that to anyone (though, inadvertently, she already had).

Soon though, Franze had snapped out of it. "Oh... well..." It didn't seem right that someone with his tastes was stuck in such a small space for the rest of the day. Sure, he could wander outside, but what was there to meet him there except dust? "I could use an escort, and my car is much bigger than what it seems you have to suffer through." She laughed lightly. "You can stay in my car for a while, if you like. I'd like to talk about your new job, as well." The job she just couldnt believe she had given to him, but surely wouldn't revoke it.

So his charms weren't all gone after all. He nodded soberly at her suggestion of middle management---oh, what a relief to be further away from that contamination. He felt something close to joy rise up inside, only for it to be rapidly sapped away into the cane, leaving him cold. He couldn't have that excess emotion leaking out, now, could he?

"You can stay in my car for a while, if you like. I'd like to talk about your new job, as well."

Well, what did you know: the job offer came with automatic perks. Djuro put forth a sincere smile, one that doubtlessly came off looking a little less than normal on his face.'This was easier than I thought.

"You are too generous my lady," he added smoothly, rising from his seat to open the door ahead of her. "After you."

She stood up after replacing the untouched glass of water on the counter and gathered the thin shawl around her. No use in getting sunburned, especially common in this weather, or lack thereof. Smiling, she said a quiet thank you and exited the tiny office, a gust of dust blowing right across her path. Franze was at first shocked (how dare wind do that-- didn't it know who she was?!) but remained her composure and reset her appearance while she continued to walk. "And I thought sandstorms only happened in the orient." She grumbled lightly. "The world is going upside down."

After fishing out a key from the folds of her dress, she opened the door to her car-- it was fairly large, they used the same car size to comfortably (well, not really) fit 8 freaks. And she had it all to herself. It had a decidedly rococo air to it-- the shelves and walls were gilded at the edges, and everything luxurious was generally in abundance. She checked her reflection in the mirror on the back of the door-- a little disheveled, bu otherwise not bad. Turning back to her guest, she asked, "I think this is better than that place you are trapped in so much, yes?"

Upon seeing the luxury this woman resided in, Djuro paled briefly. It was so much better than what he called "home" (well, not exactly home, but in the context he was living in it begrudgingly was accepted as one). He felt almost ashamed of even being in her presence as any sane man should, but swallowed his own numb pride, reaching to his head to take off his hat...only to notice he had left it in his office. Instead, he recovered by flicking a strand of sweat matted hair out of his face.

"I think this is better than that place you are trapped in so much, yes?"

His smile came a bit late, as he was still taking in his surroundings, but he replied nonetheless, even if it did come off a bit...jealously. "It's beautiful," he said quietly.

Once again, he started to twirl his cane...

She smiled. "Danke. I've been in here most of..." Suddenly there was that feeling again, of anticipation or desire or something else she could not name but had no idea of it's origins. "...My life..."

Not sure what to say or do for the feeling but knowing it had to be something, she blinked off the confusion for a moment. "Is...is there something you need? I just... Suddenly have the feeling... I'm no being very hospitable..." Her ees wouldn't leave the jewel on the cane. She didn't attribute it to anything strange though... It was just a... Very... Pretty... Cane...

Djuro, whose eyes had been focused elsewere, snapped them to the woman and then followed her line of sight downward. The cane.

"Ah, no, you've done more than enough by letting me take this job," he said hurriedly, a nervous squeak seeming to slip out. He couldn't damage this, not yet.

He halted the cane, planting its tip firmly on the floor of the car, hopefully dispelling any excess empathy that came from it...and from him. He tried to avoid her eyes this time, focusing on what looked like a very extensive collection of figures. How odd...

"If there's any special conditions that I have to know about...?" He posed the question slyly, though his attention was now drawn solely to the figures. "How life-like..."

As fast as the fixation appeared, it was gone again. She was beginning to think the weather was just making her sick.

"Well... By getting this job, I trust you'll know how to manage. I don't promote people at random." Or had she? "Jus remember to keep your ear to the ground... You never know what these freaks are planning."

She was about to sit down when she saw him eyeing the figurines. Quickly, she caught his hand in the air. "Please don't touch those." She said, something ominous flashing in her eyes. "They.... Have sentimental value..." A poor cover up for her sudden outburst, but she supposed it would work. "Why dont you... Sit down?" She offered nervously. She was always shaken up when people got too close to her souls.

"Oh, I know how to manage---"

His hand was captured by the woman's greedily, a shimmer of her own seeming to flicker in her eyes. It went by too quickly, however, for Djuro to do anything but raise his eyebrows. 'Sentimental value'? If she said so...He took the seat offered, though a little hesitantly considering what had happened.

"Gifts? Or a hobby?" He asked, but then let the question drop. "How did you end up here, at a carnival? You don't seem the type to run one, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. You're too..." His sight once again flickered to her, though this time without him being concious of his actions. "...beautiful for here."

Suddenly, his cane slipped from his hands, rolling to the floor. His eyes seemed to flash as a sudden surge of emotion and feeling flooded him, seeped into his body, into the room--

"Ah...!

He glanced downward, bending over slightly to pick it up, hoping that the sudden ripple hadn't disturbed anything.

She took a seat next to him, finally cooling down over what should have been nothing at all. It was just as well he didn't press into the questions; she wouldnt have answered them.

"You are quite the gentleman yourself." His compliment didn't surprise her; she knew what she was. But for someone to just come right out and say so... Auguste hadn't really done that. Franze felt heat rise to her cheeks as she started to explain, "My family has been in this business for generations-- like an empire, if you will." Flashing a smile, she added, "And isn't that a reason people come here? To see something beautiful?"

Then he dropped his cane, and something went haywire in his eyesfor one split second. She didn't think very much of it-- it had a jewel on it, after all. Valuable. "I suppose that has sentimental value as well?"

"I suppose that has sentimental value as well?"

Djuro gave a nervous chuckle, twisting the cane in his hands obsessively. He could feel the panic starting to drain back out of him, leave him calmer, more professional. But some of the panging hadn't just come from him losing that cane..

"Yes, you could say so. It's so important, I just can't let go..." And if I did lose it for more than a minute, who knows what could happen, he thought cautiously.

"If they have come to see something beautiful, they're looking at the wrong things." Djuro leveled his eyes onto hers and let a tinkling laugh ring. "An empire? Ah, I suppose that makes sense, then. That makes you something of a princess, then?" He grinned back, bending quickly forward to plant a light kiss on her cheek. Okay, so maybe not all of the emotion was gone. "Then what does that make me, I wonder..."

"I know the feeling," She responded. She felt the same way about this carnival. She was the weakest link in her family's dynasty-- she wasn't going to let herself falter.

Franze wasn't really used to things without decorum-- what had happened with Auguste was a slip-up. A product of stress and loneliness and the feeling of everything threatening to be ripped away. Little did she know, he was the cause of the problem. Looking away, quite flustered, she searched for something graceful to say. He was sweet, and handsome, and shared her same opinions. She was beginning to think that in Auguste's eyes she was a lesser being. And if it was true, she wasn't going to tolerate it.

"That makes you...." A laugh bubbled from her lips, and she hurried to cover it with her hand. "...I'm not quite sure... but very forward, most definitely..."