Rogue looked at the ticket she had just bought, and then headed to the line. The circus wasn't due to start for at least another half hour, but she felt that it disn't hurt to be early.
Neither did a number of other people and their screaming little brat children for that matter.
Well, Rogue didn't normally think of them as 'screaming little brat children', but one particular child in the area was being particularily annoying at the moment, and it was wearing on her nerves.
It had been awhile since she had last gone to a circus, and she was rather looking forward to it.
She glanced around - there were a number of games booths around. Again, she was tempted to play one, and again she decided not to.
Pyro
Before the actual show started, Pyro stood in a side booth juggling fireballs for tips.
Rogue
Rogue continued to look around, when she noticed that there was a small crowd gathered around one partiuclar booth. Not really being able to see what was going on, she stepped out of the line (the tickets were numbered, so she'd still end up in the same spot) and wandered over.
Her eyes widened in amazement. Not because of this fantastic feat of juggling fireballs... but because she knew who the juggler was!
Pyro
Pyro looked. At first he was a little uncomfortable and ashamed, but then decided to play around. He looked at Rogue, and winked. Then, he created a daisy-chain of fire to encircle Rogue's head like a wreath, without actually coming close enough to singe her hair.
The crowd gasped and cheered, slipping Euros into the tip jar.
Rogue
Rogue gave Pyro a look that clearly read "cheeky rascal", although it didn't take away from her admiration of the display.
Rogue also noticed that the people who had been standing closest to her had moved away. Like she blamed them - she was keeping her head very still.
Pyro
"Ta very much, folks," Pyro said, making a fire rose for Rogue, as he had the day she showed up in his history class. "If you'd all entire the circus, the show shall be starting soon."
Rogue
Rogue grinned and rejoined the line with the others after sending Pyro a wave in acknowledgement. No doubt he'd tracked her down after the show was over.
Soon they all got into the tent and were escoted by the various hands their seats. Rogue made herself comfortable as the rest of the customers filed in.
Pyro
There were typical circus acts: clows, jugglers, tightrope walkers, acrobats, trapeze artists, but there were a lot of mutants among the circus ranks, and even a few aliens posing as mutants. Pyro swallowed fire, juggled fire, and even did an imusing mockery of the Human Torch. He finished his act by creating a giant dragon out of fire and making it fly around the ring.
Rogue
Rogue applauded for all the acts, but perhaps more passionately for Pyro. What a fantastic circus this was!
The show seemed to finish all too soon, and everyone slowly but surely started to depart.
Pyro
Pyro saw Rogue hanging back and went up to talk to her.
"I'm not sure if you're still speaking to me, but. . . " John broke off, hugging her.
Rogue
Rogue hugged him back, and then regarded him.
"I don't understand - not entirely - why you left," she admitted, "But of course I'm still speaking to you. How have you been? How long have you been with the circus?"
Pyro
"Magneto had, well, blackmail on me, basically. So I went with him. I owed him," Pyro said. "What nobody except Professor X knows is that Magneto took me off the street and brought me to the school. He rescued me from a bashing, then called in my debts." Pyro made a grim smile.
"Anyways, I've been with the circus a few months now, I love it. It's the closest thing to a family I've ever had, and I'm free to be myself. Also, we travel all over, and make pretty good money."
Rogue
"Well, that's awesome," Rogue said. "I'm glad that everything's worked out for you. I'm just travelling at the moment, y'know, seeing the world. Hey, have you been to Genovia? It is so cool there."
Pyro
"Why don't you come back and meet the rest of the circus?" Pyro suggested. "Then maybe I can convince you to travel with us for a little while. We haven't been to Genovia yet, but we're scheduled to stop there in a couple of weeks."
Rogue
Rogue giggled.
"Sure," she said. "But I don't know about going on tour with you. I know I'm a freak show, but what could I contribute to a circus?"
Pyro
"Atom manipulation," Pyro said. "There's a few aliens in the circus, they tend to bring in a lot of crowds. It would be great to have an old friends around," Pyro admitted. "WHy don't you come into the back and meet the pther performers?" he suggested.
Rogue
"Yeah," Rogue smiled. "I think I'd like to meet your new friends."
She still wasn't sure about joining the circus. But then, maybe for a little while. She did need to keep the odd job up on her travels else she'll run out of money.
Pyro
Pyro took Rogue to the back area that wasn't usually open to the audience. First they passed the clowns. A lot of them were mutants, and not people wearing make-up.
"Rogue, this is Fizzy," he said, introducing her to the clown who like to spray fizzy drink at people. He was a hydrokinetic, but his mutation caused him to crow gills and have a sort of fish-like appearance.
Rogue
"Hi," Rogue said cheerfully.
There were sure a lot of mutants here. She wondered if there were actually any humans.
Pyro
As if he knew what she was thinking, Pyro spoke up. "Actually, the only complete humans here that I know of are the acrobats, doing the trapezes and highwires. They're a family, and have been with the travelling circus for 50 years!" he said. "Cool, eh?" He led Rogue over to where the animals' were kepts, but surprisingly, they weren't in locked cages.
"This is Flora," he said, pointing to the animal trainer. "She has animal telepathy," he explained. "The animals know better than to hurt any person, or each other."
Rogue
"Wow, that's awesome," Rogue said. "What about food?"
"Oh, they know we feed them," Flora smiled. "Maybe not their first choice - self caught and fresh - but they're happy nonetheless."
Rogue nodded and held out her hand.
"I'm Rogue."
"Nice to meet you," Flora said, shaking Rogue hand with a sidelong look at Pyro, "but I had better be getting back to work."
"Okay."
Pyro
"So," Pyro said as they walked through the back of the circus. "How's Bobby?" He asked awkardly.
Rogue
"Good," Rogue nodded. "Okay, wow, I don't know how much you know, but Bobby is at uni now - he's studying to be an accountant, if you can believe it. And he's engaged to Julie. Wait... I don't think you ever met Julie... She's human and she has Bobby's sexual appitite. She also has four kids - two sets of twins. One set of half alien, the others are second gen mutants. She came to mutant high because of the half alien twins - couldn't raise them at home, and it was too awkward staying with the father because he tours all the time."
Pyro
"ooooookay," Pyro said. "So do you think Bobby forgives me for everything that happened?" He asked.
Rogue
Rogue shrugged.
"I can't really see Bobby as a grudge holder," she said.
Pyro
"Oh, this is Cornelius," Pyro said, introducing Rogue to what first appeared to be an ape-man, but was really just a very hairy guy.
Rogue
"Hi," Rogue said, holding out her hand to shake his.
Cornelius
"My real name is Sam," the hairy man said. "But after I mutated, people called me Cornelius like in Planet of the Apes. My wife and I run this circus, but it's more like a family. I think you met her already, Flora?"
Rogue
"Oh!" Rogue exclaimed. "Yes I did. I'm Rogue. The circus is amazing."
Cornelius reminded her a little of Hank, except Hank had blue fur.
Cornelius
"Rogue, eh? Johnny-boy mentioned you. ONe of the mutant school student, right? Would you like to travel with us for a while?" Cornelius offered
Rogue
Rogue glanced briefly at Pyro, then back to Cornelious.
"That would be great," she said. "But I'm not sure what I could contribute to your show."
Pyro
"She has atom manipulation," Pyro said.
"How much can you do with it?" Cornelius asked.
Rogue
"Well, I can go through walls. Umm, fix clothes. I moulded the handle of a knife into my hand once. Things like that," Rogue replied.
She tossed up telling him about her actual mutant power, but decided not to. She had finally developed some level of control (mainly through the discipline acquired trying to use her atom manipulation). If it came up she would, but it wouldn't be much use for performing.
Cornelius
"Could you make sculptures?" Cornelius asked. "He had somebody who could do that, but she left. She took sand and manipulated it into glass sculptures. Took requests, and sold them to the audience."
Rogue
Rogue looked interested.
"I haven't done that before," she admitted, "but I'd be willing to give it a try. Uhh, quick question... have you ever heard of fuzzles?"
Rogue figured she should check that her pets could come with her.
Cornelius
"Tribble-like little fuzzy things, right?" Cornelius asked. Pyro nodded. "They're welcome aboard."
Rogue
"Oh good," Rogue said relieved. "I have about 17 of them. My original, Liberty, has had two litters, and one of her children has had a litter. I promise they won't be any trouble."
Cornelius
"Okay, as for sleeping arangements, you could share John's car, which has a bunk bed, or you could share my daugher's bunk, Ava, she's 12," Cornelius said. "Otherwise, most of the single girls sleep 4 to a car."
Rogue
"Okay, umm..."
Well... on the one hand, Pyro was the only one she knew here. On the other hand, having some female roommates might afford more privacy. Oh, but then there were the fuzzles to think of, so perhaps either Ava or Pyro (less people for them to annoy).
"I guess... whichever is the most convinent," Rogue said finally. "My fuzzles can get a little roudy, so perhaps not with anyone who is going to be easily disturbed or whatever."
Cornelius
"Why don't you come meet Ava?" Cornelius asked. "But first, I must ask you, do you know any aign language? She can lip-read, and hear a little, but mainly she signs."
Rogue
Rogue couldn't hide the surprised look.
"I know a couple of signs," she said, "but not enough to have a conversation with. Would be happy to learn some more."
Cornelius and Ava
"Well, we'll all be happy to help you learn," Cornelius said. "Johnny boy here is getting quite skilled already." He pressed a button on the wall of one of the trailers, and the lights in the trailer cars all blinked twice. A small girl poked her head out of one of the cars, and her father waved her over. He spoke and signed at the same time.
"Ava, this is Rogue. She's going to use the extra bed in your room for a while. Do you want to show her where it is?" The girl nodded, and spoke in an odd, hollow voice.
"dis way, aw sow oo."
Rogue
"Okay," said Rogue.
She turned to Pyro.
"I guess I'll talk to you again later. Oh, I will have to go to my hotel room to pick up my things too."
Pyro
Pyro smiled and gave her another quick hug. If Bobby was out of the picture now, maybe he'd finally have a chance at winning her heart.
Rogue
Rogue returned the hug, thanked Cornelius and followed Ava to what would be he new room. At least for awhile. Wow, imagine Gambit's reaction when she told him she had joined the circus! The thought made her giggle.