RPG Scrapmetal Circus: Revamped

[Inuyasha Fandom]

Zeke over looked the entirety of the grounds housing the Scrapmetal Circus. The Heifon Galactic Space Port was a wonderful and diverse place, the many different species enjoying them selves peacefully. Ver, Mysidians, Humans, and a number of other sentient species all laughed and made merry.

He stood atop the Carnival, watching from afar, and ready to begin shooting off the fireworks to announce the beginning of another show. The fireworks would be shot out of a series of platforms mounted to the Carnival and all around it. The Carnival itself sat on a special landing platform built just for it, as the Carnival made yearly trips to Heifon, each usually lasting about two weeks. There were several planets they made stops at, and usually they made short stops at their home base on Teirilo between them to restock on supplies.

But, that wasn't important at the moment. Zeke pressed the detonator, and instantly, fireworks zoomed up and began exploding in the air high above the circus grounds. The crowds shifted, and people began filtering inside.

The performances they put on served two purposes. One, they were for the crowds of people who came to see them, and two, they allowed the rest of the booths and tables and smaller attractions enough time to reset for after the show while there were fewer people wandering the grounds. While it may have cost a pretty penny to gain admittance to the circus grounds, it was well worth it. The only other charges made while in the grounds themselves were the costs of food and playing some of the other games. The big shows themselves were in the price of admittance, and people were more than welcome to see the shows more than once. All in all, everyone loved the Circus it seemed. And not that Zeke was complaining, either. The Scrapmetal Circus always delivered, and always made a tidy sum of money, even with the costs of the productions and traveling expenses. Hundreds upon hundreds of people flocked to see the Scrapmetal Circus every time they made landfall. Of course, pictures weren't allowed to be taken, at least during performances. Souvenir photos were wold after every performance, each unique and of course broad in selection. Autographs were also given, the performers always made an effort to make even more of an impression on their audience.

Life was good for the Scrapmetal Circus, and freedom a commodity Zeke valued above all else. The smiles of the crowd, the laughter of the children, it made his own existence all the more worthwhile. All of the other performers felt the same way, given none of them were the many species they were built to resemble. Machines.... robots.... androids.... none of those terms made any difference here. They all felt emotion, they all existed, and they were all capable of their own decisions and carving their own paths through life. But, being together, it made surviving much easier, especially with the military police breathing down their necks at every turn.

Zeke overlooked the grounds now, and he turned to head inside to get ready for another show, this one being a rendition of a classic human fairy tale, known and loved by many.

Cinderella would taking center stage tonight, and Zeke smiled as the fireworks continued to go off. They certainly knew how to leave an impact, that much was obvious.

Hopping down into the open hatch, He wandered through the ship, heading to the backstage area, he needed to get ready, the show would start in thirty minutes, just long enough for the performers to get ready for the first act and the first stage to be lifted into place. It took a lot of effort and exact timing to put together the performances, and it wasn't something just thrown together. Months upon months were spent practicing for the shows, until every detail was perfect and on the mark, even the rigging of the various stages into place and the hologram projectors and sound dampeners syncing perfectly with the various performances they all worked hard on. Timing was everything, and even being slightly off could cost the entire show. A lot rode on them delivering the goods, so to speak.

In arriving in the backstage area, one of the other performers sighed on seeing him. ?Already in your outfit??

?Of course.? Zeke's mouth turned up as he looked at himself in the mirror adjacent to him. He wore a short vest that revealed his chiseled abs, and billowy black pants with wrappings around his feet. To complete his look, he had a silver cape. Looking around the dressing room, he spotted his half mask, which looked to be little more than a mirror that covered half of his face with a red rose painted around the left side of the mask on the cheek. He looked himself over in the mirror, and headed to take his place on the stage. The extensive holograms that many of the other machines had were more convincing than typical models, they were perfect. Smiling widely, he looked on at the faces in the crowd, he currently hidden by an extensive hologram. The show was about to begin.....

[ExcelExcel]

Anya looked over to Zeke, though it was only a fleeting glance. She was the only visible person on the stage, and to the crowd, it appeared as if she walked on air at eye level, as the seats for the crowd were raised above the stage itself. The crowd was spell bound by her, as she bowed. She resembled a three ring circus leader, though her attire simply poked fun at masculine attire. She wore a white bathing suit, showing off her perfect though muscular legs, with a white vest adorned with overly large silver buttons, and showing off her enormous breasts. She also wore a bright red sequined overcoat with black lapels, and off set by her much to big bow tie, the entire outfit making her appear whimsical and fun, not slutty.

"Welcome one and all to the Scrapmetal Circus! At the beginning of every show, we hold a special perfcormance just for our esteemed guests. Join us in our delight as we bring to life the tale of Cinderella, a girl with dreams as big as her heart." Anya snapped her fingers, and several cloaked figures began to appear in flashes of light. In reality, the holograms hiding them were disipating. They were dressed like sorcerers, and a dark pink mist began to filter through the stage, being yet another hologram. Anya lifted her hand up, seemingly only pointing at the ceiling, unill a sparkle appeared, glittering brightly. It rose as she lifted her hand above her, glowing brighter and growing larger. Suddenly, the bright light shot up from her hand, and then mere seconds later, exploded with thunderous effect. Silver sparkles rained down, appearing as if to 'paint' reality, revealing the stage itself as Anya seemingly disappeared. She jumped down about thirty feet, and jumped down under the stage before the performers could begin their routine. Above her, she knew very well that the 'sorcerers' were throwing off their cloaks to begin dancing on the enourmous trampoline set, given a shiny silver motif, as if somehow related to regal decor. Anya smiled as she walked over to the backstage dressing rooms, to watch a few scenes on a television before she went out again to announce intermission.

She wasn't alone as she entered into the cool room, kept as such because many of the bio-androids were hot after they went onto the stage and so came here to change for another scene and to cool off. Looking up at the monitor, Anya smiled, seeing the performance from the perspective of the audience. It was no surprise to her the Circus was to popular, they were indeed amazing and perplexing. Granted, the technology behind it all was state of the art, but that didn't matter to the crowd. The weaving of fantasy into reality attracted a large number of families with young children, and it was mostly for those children they performed. Laughter and smiles beat mayhem and destruction any day, at least to her.

[Draco]

As the actors and actress co on and off the stage and the props and items used for the show come off the stage. EJA was their making sure the next set was going up and moving the previous sets away from the elevators. Lights had to be programed with every set and the hologram projectors timed with the actors appereance on stage.

For the past 3 years with the circus has been rewarding for EJA. Some of the performers call him "No non-sense Jack" or just Jack. Ever set, every lighting tweak, and all the other vital things where either timed, pull off, or put on. Learning the timing of the holograms projectors, the lights, and the stage props only took a few hours thanks to the Mark 9. Even though he still misses the battlefield which he was built and geared for.

He had a team with him underneath the stage which gave him a little breathing room to get up stairs to look at the faces of the people watching the show. Emotion and facial expression still seemed beyond what he could learn. Maybe its something living people know how to do from birth. Or it is a highly complex program string in bio-roids that allow them to emulate them like living beings.

But he couldn't linger on the floor. Things for the bigger sets need to be ready for their time. Lights need to be programed as well has the projectors. Off he went back to the understage where the maricals on stage where made.

While all that wa going on, he would still in his mind or his CPU thank Zeke for finding him wandering around in that jungle 3 years ago and giving his exestance meaning.

[OMNOMNOMALY]

[FONT="Garamond"]Ness sat perched on a giant decorated swing, high above the audience. She hummed to herself quietly, smiling as she gently swung herself back and forward. The show was going to start soon, and she had to be ready to switch her mic on the second Anya came out and did her part. Ness was a bio-android, and not a very fancy one at that. She was light but she wasn't built to be super agile or acrobatic, and so Ness took on the role of the Voice of the Circus.

Sure, sometimes she'd be lowered down during slow numbers, to move around amongst the other performers, but usually she stayed up high somewhere, singing or narrating if the show required as such.

Ness loved singing. Or at least, she thought the way she felt about it must have been akin to some sort of emotion equated with love. It made her happier than anything else. Her voice gently floating over the crowd as they were drawn further and further into the story, she loved it and she felt valued, like an integral part of the team, even though she couldn't be as fancy as the others out there.

She especially loved when they did musical. But she didn't mind Cinderella, there was still enough music material for her to learn that she thoroughly enjoyed practicing it.

Ness snapped to attention as Anya's booming voice filled the amphitheatre. It was show time.

[I]"Welcome one and all to the Scrapmetal Circus! At the beginning of every show, we hold a special performance just for our esteemed guests. Join us in our delight as we bring to life the tale of Cinderella, a girl with dreams as big as her heart."[/I] The other performers sprang into life as Anya moved off the stage.

A backflip here, a much too high jump there, as the main characters were introduced.

[I]Cinderella...[/I] Ness' voice chirped lightly over the sound system
[I]In the sweetest story ever told...[/I]

[B]Once upon a time, in a far away land, there was a tiny kingdom...[/B] Ness loved this part, letting her voice ebb and flow and embellish. Everyone on stage moved into their second positions.

Ness took a deep breath, steadying herself for the song, calming her 'nerves'.

[I]A dream is a wish your heart makes...[/I] They began to swirl and dance, here and there, columns of colour erupted from the floor in fantastic pinks and blues, greens and reds.

And as the characters filtered down to just one, Cinderella, the story began.[/FONT]

[chibi-master]

Burton Alexander was watching the show from behind the scenes. He was never good in front of crowds and he had no interest in acting, singing, etc. Burt was content to watch the show and build things. Not to mention any repairs were usually his job. Yes, Burt was watching as the show began, smirking at the awed faces of the viewers. "You are happy about something, Burt?" a voice from behind him asked, sounding prett happy itself. Burt felt his skin crawl as he kept himself from jumping.

"Ah, EKO-919-013579 (Echo)... You snuck up on me," Burt breathed, turning to face Echo. He saw her face change. Though she was still smiling, her eyes had narrowed and her expression changed to that of someone with sinister intentions.

"Really? Saying that I snuck up on you implies that I am at fault. I walk silently, just as I was built to. I would say that your lack of observation means that [I]you[/I] are the one at fault."

"EKO-919-013579 (Echo), I never said that anyone was at fault. You're getting angry over nothing. Do you want me to do some more personality tweaks again?" Suddenly, Echo's face softened.

"I... I'm sorry, Burt. I didn't mean for that to happen. If you would, then please work on my personality program again later."

"It's okay. Look, I promise I'll finish that new and improved personality program soon. I just need to work on a few more things and find a couple more parts. Please just wait until then."

"I will. I waited all that time for someone to put me back together and you did. I believe that you can help me, and I'm prepared to wait as long as it takes..."

"Thanks... Now, come on. Let's watch the show."

[Inuyasha Fandom]

Zeke smiled, as the performance began. He watched the faces of the crowd as the levitating platform rose into the air. The performers waited in their various positions, each dressed as a maid or a butler. they all bowed, until they began to move. far below them, under the levitating and rotating platform, slept Cinderella. It as her dream, and in she was becoming something more, as portrayed by the performers. The maids and butlers all began to glow, and then with a flash, they were all dressed in fine evening wear. The gravity distorters were working in overtime as one by one, half of the performers drifted down onto a miraculously forming ballroom floor. The sleeping Cinderella awoke, and her bed seeminglt melted away onto the floor. An orchestra, tuned with the performance began to sound, and Cinderella was whisked away into the crowd of dancing people.

Zeke himnself stood above it all, his dark attire representing the darkness of her real life. He danced in sync with the other performers, merely something to see and wonder about. Cinderella was oblivious to him, and he never danced with her.

Cinderella's dream advanced, and the platform sprouted, transforming from a simple trampoline stand, to having rotating trapeze circleing it. the performers made a beautiful performance, the elgance never leaving them. The prince arrived, just to dance with Cinderella. The people on the dance floor parted, making a path for the prince to approach her. However, it was not to be.

A slight dinging noise rang through the crowd, and Cinderella's pleasant dream ended. A heavy misst rose up around the performers, as they each smiled and bowed their heads.

"Cinderella! Get your lazy bum up here and serve me breakfast!"

[ExcelExcel]

Anya looked on at the screen as Zeke walked in. A wooden staircase was appearing on stage, seemingly from no where. Even to her, knowing what was going on, the circus still yet amazed her.

"Hey Anya, what's up in here?" He threw off his short cape and his mask, moving to sit next to Anya.

"Just watching the show. I'm not all that sure why, but I like to watch."

"It's no surprise. I do too. We're the ones who make the Carnival what it is... no wonder the Circus is so popular if even we're mesmerized by it."

Anya shrugged. "How so very true. Anyway, look." Pointing at the screen, she smiled. "Ness is singing again."

Zeke leaned foreward, his own mouth in a smile. "Alot of people come just to see her sing. Think we'll get more offers for her to go work for some music deal?"

"Naturally. we get them all the time." Anya replied. At the moment, Cinderella was singing again, while the many other performers emulated her. Several were dressed like mice, scurying around and trying in vain to help her. They made a comical appearence, much like the loved characters of the fairy tale in presentations from long ago. "Shouldn't you be getting ready? Aren't you in the next scene?"

Zeke shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose. But it won't take me long. See ya." He walked out of the room, leaving Anya to her thoughts.

[CaNz]

[SIZE=1]Atomsk thumbed through its monthly DescreteBeat magazine. Human bodies were amazing, and the interactions that occurred in these publications are much different than average life. Atomsk should have been watching the many cameras it had placed in order to capture all possible angles of the play his carnival as producing, but porn was much more fascinating. Atomsk didn’t mind helping out with preparations, and it always filmed and edited every stage performance ever produced (and there were many) but it was never part of the play itself. Atomsk didn’t resent this in the slightest and nether did most of the other members of the scrapmetal circus since it would be difficult to fit it into a role. Atomsk did not look human, and could not even act like one.

Atomsk put down his magazine briefly to zoom in on the face of Ness. She was singing and that was one of the favorite parts of most shows. He had placed a couple monitors that show a live stream next to the theaters backstage so that the performers could watch the show as well as have a better idea when their cue was close. After the song he panned out a few of the cameras, returning the shots to normal and then picked up it's dirty mag. These times of peace were always brief, but enjoyable.
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