Post by greywalker13 on Mar 8, 2010 3:04:22 GMT -5
Infadell. The prime capital of Desarith. The sea gently rocked the port, where the Sea Cypress remained docked, preparing for the next voyage to Kham’hur. People bustled along the seaside stalls, where merchants haggled with the populace, eager to sell their wares. The air smelled of work and the sea, as the people went about their daily lives.
A crowd had gathered at a raised platform in the stall district, where a red haired man in a flashy vest was juggling red steel balls. An open satchel lay at his feet, already lined with coins from the onlookers. Not three, but 6 balls flew in the air, forming continuous loops in the air. As the crowd size increased, the balls began to slowly disappear, until a mere two remained. The crowd did not boo at this turn of events, however, for they knew what was to come.
The juggler simultaneously tossed both balls in the air, and swiftly withdrew a pair of slings from within his vest. The slings swung upwards and caught the steel balls at the height of their flight, and a new form of entertainment began. The slings began to spin, the red glint of the balls creating a light show as they caught the sunlight. The slings swung in patterns, first as simple loops, then increasing in complexity, until swirling glints of light surrounded the grinning showman. Then suddenly, the glints stopped, and empty slings fell to the ground. The crowd searched the area for where the balls had gone, and the showman replaced the slings in his coat. He then whistled, attracting the crowd’s attention, and extended both arms sideways. There was a small whistling, and two red streaks fell from the sky. Just before they hit the ground, the showman’s arms became a sudden blur, and he proudly displayed a red steel ball in each hand. The crowd erupted in applause at the end of the show, and the satchel was made heavy with coin. The showman bowed deeply, picked up his earnings, and departed.
Pretty good haul, for one day. This’ll probably keep food on the table and a roof over my head for another month or so. The figure ducked into one of the alleys and began to count the coins.
How’s it look? Will we have to go out tonight?
The soft hissing voice interrupted the figure’s counting, and he glanced at the serpent head emerging from a nearby culvert. The serpent was a large cobra, jet black save for red eyes and a loop pattern on his hood. It turned its head towards the showman, its tongue flicking in and out.
“No, there was quite a large crowd today. Apparently I’m becoming famous in the city.”
It’s somewhat preferable to the infamy you seem to like. I don’t see how you’ve avoided being caught all this time. Still can’t figure you out. You terrorize the people by night, and entertain them by day. Seems counter-productive, don’t you think?
The showman stopped counting, and focused his gaze on the black cobra.
“We’ve been over this. People are rather simple-minded. They like to forget about the things that terrify them. To do this, they seek a distraction. They’ll take whatever they can get, but they like to see danger most of all. Particularly if it’s someone else at risk. I scare them at night, and by day they’ll seek escape. My show provides that, and I profit from their fear. It’s quite a nice circle.”
Satisfied with his explanation, the showman pulled out a small cigarette, which lit on its own once it was in his mouth.
“Although you do have a point, I am in a bit of a rut. Wouldn’t mind a change of pace."
The serpent retreated back into the culvert, and the showman resumed counting.
A crowd had gathered at a raised platform in the stall district, where a red haired man in a flashy vest was juggling red steel balls. An open satchel lay at his feet, already lined with coins from the onlookers. Not three, but 6 balls flew in the air, forming continuous loops in the air. As the crowd size increased, the balls began to slowly disappear, until a mere two remained. The crowd did not boo at this turn of events, however, for they knew what was to come.
The juggler simultaneously tossed both balls in the air, and swiftly withdrew a pair of slings from within his vest. The slings swung upwards and caught the steel balls at the height of their flight, and a new form of entertainment began. The slings began to spin, the red glint of the balls creating a light show as they caught the sunlight. The slings swung in patterns, first as simple loops, then increasing in complexity, until swirling glints of light surrounded the grinning showman. Then suddenly, the glints stopped, and empty slings fell to the ground. The crowd searched the area for where the balls had gone, and the showman replaced the slings in his coat. He then whistled, attracting the crowd’s attention, and extended both arms sideways. There was a small whistling, and two red streaks fell from the sky. Just before they hit the ground, the showman’s arms became a sudden blur, and he proudly displayed a red steel ball in each hand. The crowd erupted in applause at the end of the show, and the satchel was made heavy with coin. The showman bowed deeply, picked up his earnings, and departed.
Pretty good haul, for one day. This’ll probably keep food on the table and a roof over my head for another month or so. The figure ducked into one of the alleys and began to count the coins.
How’s it look? Will we have to go out tonight?
The soft hissing voice interrupted the figure’s counting, and he glanced at the serpent head emerging from a nearby culvert. The serpent was a large cobra, jet black save for red eyes and a loop pattern on his hood. It turned its head towards the showman, its tongue flicking in and out.
“No, there was quite a large crowd today. Apparently I’m becoming famous in the city.”
It’s somewhat preferable to the infamy you seem to like. I don’t see how you’ve avoided being caught all this time. Still can’t figure you out. You terrorize the people by night, and entertain them by day. Seems counter-productive, don’t you think?
The showman stopped counting, and focused his gaze on the black cobra.
“We’ve been over this. People are rather simple-minded. They like to forget about the things that terrify them. To do this, they seek a distraction. They’ll take whatever they can get, but they like to see danger most of all. Particularly if it’s someone else at risk. I scare them at night, and by day they’ll seek escape. My show provides that, and I profit from their fear. It’s quite a nice circle.”
Satisfied with his explanation, the showman pulled out a small cigarette, which lit on its own once it was in his mouth.
“Although you do have a point, I am in a bit of a rut. Wouldn’t mind a change of pace."
The serpent retreated back into the culvert, and the showman resumed counting.