clawsandcaleb

[clawsandcaleb]

Caleb felt a laugh inch its way up his throat when Dandy spoke about Elsa's singing. Of course he was eternally thankful for Elsa providing him and Lorraine with a home. He was grateful for everything she'd done for him. Though he would never admit it, certainly not out loud, he wasn't a fan of Elsa's singing or performances. He would never speak that though, he was slow, but he didn't have a death wish."Well I am sorry to hear that, you must've had a favorite act though, right?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. When the boy mentioned he didn't have children Caleb nodded. "It's okay, I don't either." Caleb told him with a laugh. "I still am a kid, I don't want to raise any." He told the boy, his demeanor friendly. While they approached the camp Caleb knew his trailer was on the far end because his lion scared people. "Most'a the performers don't like people comin' and checkin' everything out so let's just stay near my trailer, if you don't mind."

Dandy listento the boy rattle on about his lion. Born white, great. He was born rich. He wasn’t impressed until he seen it. “Been to one show. Was dreadfully boring. The old bat sang me to almost the brink of deaf.” Dandy smied softly. “Kids?Oh no, not me.” He said as if having kids was a funny joke. In his mind, it was. Kids were dreadfully boring and weird. Dandy didn’t much care for the freak show. They had all rejected him. How they would react if they saw him once one.

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Caleb offered the girl a friendly smile while she used his kerchief to dry her eyes. The man had seen the sad girl before but had never really talked to her and she just seemed so sad. "I hope you feel better." He told her, unsure as to what was wrong but still knowing nobody should be walking around crying. "Maybe you should let me take you to Miss Elsa, she gives everyone trailers usually, set's us all up."

Zoe gently took the tissue, a small smile across her features. “Thank you,” she spoke, dabbing her eyes a bit to dry them. That’s when it hit her, new…circus. Holy shit that was it! She could pretend to be a performer until she figured out how to get home. It would be perfect, she could perform her magic without people being suspicious one bit. “Oh, yeah,” Zoe looked up. “I’m actually really lost around here…where do I…sleep?”

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Caleb could feel his body begin to relax when she noticed the girl wasn't angry. Even though he was 6'2" and probably double the blonde girl's weight, he was almost sure she could kick his butt if she wanted. Caleb was a submissive person naturally, and as much conflict he could avoid, he would. A part of him felt bad for passing judgment on the girl though, she seemed alright now. "It's alright..." The man held his hands up as if to show he was unarmed. He watched her light her cigarette and he raised his eyebrows. "Wow... Yes thank you." He told her as he took a cigarette from her pack and removed a match from his matchbook because he didn't have cool powers like Madison. "When do you usually wake up?" Caleb asked, never quite understanding people who slept in super late. "I'm sure you'll adjust better soon, sleeping is one of those things that you can change and fix. I'm lucky enough to have a lovely loud pet who wakes me up with the sun... speaking of which..." Caleb trailed off, hoping he didn't come off like he was asking for too much. "My trailer's too small to keep my lion in, and I can't keep her in a cage, I just can't. I know Miss Elsa likes her being on a chain but... I was hopin' you could talk to her about maybe lettin' me put a fence up for her."

Too Early For This || Madison and Caleb

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Madison felt a little bit guilty for being when she turned and saw who it was. Caleb had always stayed out of her way and never caused her any trouble so he wasn’t on her shit list, at least not yet. “Sorry.” The witch muttered as she fumbled in her jacket pocket for her crushed pack of cigarettes, waving her hand she produced a flame to light it. Most of the witches were very careful about concealing their powers from the freaks even if they already knew about them; Madison was reckless and just didn’t care. “Want one?” The blonde held the pack out in offering. “I just am normally not awake at this hour and it’s way too early for me.” She let out a soft laugh. “I guess after a little over a month I would be adjusted. Maybe it’s one of those things I’ll never adjust to.” There was no way that the teenager planned to tell Caleb that she had been suffering from a nightmare that woke her from her sleep, nightmares were things children had. “So what did you need?” Madison did have quite the gift in getting through to Elsa and getting what she wanted out of her and she would probably try to help Caleb if he presented his request in a way that didn’t piss her off.

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Caleb let out a nervous laugh. It was a wonder he'd escaped with all his limbs. It was horrifying but he wasn't about to think too hard on that. He wasn't afraid of Lorraine, he knew from the time she was a baby what she was capable of, but he was afraid of getting hurt ever again like that. "Actually this finger had to get re-attached once, not because of her but..." He flipped her off, hoping she would get that he was joking around. He stuck his hand out for her. "There you are." He grinned. 

Maggie pulled her hand back from the lion at that uncomfortable reminder, smile faltering. “It’s a wonder you’ve escaped with all of yours,” Maggie said, a grin teasing at the corners of her lips.  “I don’t envy you that.”  She took a breath and held out her hand again.  “Here.  Give me your hand.  I’ll see what else I can see.”

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"Was that you?" Caleb looked to his lion when he heard a disturbing rumble/growl noise. In all honesty he knew the sound came from his stomach but Lorraine's offended expression made him laugh. He scratched the back of the animal's neck with a laugh. It hadn't been long since breakfast but maybe Caleb's appetite had just grown lately. It also might have been brought on by watching Lorraine tear into the wild boar he'd gone out and hunted for her that morning, though that usually killed his appetite. 

The lion tamer found himself wandering back to the dining area. Breakfast had been over for a while now but that didn't always mean the food was gone. He wasn't much above picking the scraps off of other people's plates once they were done, a habit he'd picked up growing up in some far scarier circuses than the one he was presently in. It was just another way of getting fed to him. Shameful, when food was involved there really was no shame. 

When he heard Joey struggling in the tent he stopped, wondering if maybe he should just turn and leave so that the girl wouldn't be angry with him. Angry people were the first people Caleb tried to avoid. Then he heard the crash of the girl's plates and Caleb immediately jumped into the tent, knowing she needed help. The man saw the plates all over the ground and looked to the girl. "Need a hand? I got two." He offered.

Unhappy Help // Joey & Caleb

“This place in past be bullshit and I want to back to home in future.” The foreign woman muttered to herself as she cleared the table after breakfast. “I not be maid you know. Just like I tell everyone back in Coven household.” She was clearly distressed over the fact that she was doing everything herself with no help because no one stuck around after they ate. “Things work in better way if everyone lean to clean up for their own self.”

As Joey tried to balance an arm load of plates on each heavily tattooed arm as she walked to the area where they cleaned dishes, she quickly found out that she was way out of practice on working as a waitress. All of the plates slipped off one thin arm and in the attempt to save those she forgot about the ones on the other arm and those went clattering to the ground as well.

“Oh this be terrible! Miss Elsa will take my ass for this.” Of course her words didn’t come out right because of how flustered she was. She just looked at the plates all over the ground, thankfully not all of them were broken but a quiet a few of them were. “And this not even be my fault because no one helps!” If she did leave the mess after breakfast it would still be there at lunch time and she knew it.

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Caleb tried his hardest to keep still while the girl got the possum off of him. Having been an animal trainer for most of his life he had gotten used to strange animals jumping on him. Hell he was covered in scars after the event where his beautiful fur daughter Lorraine had mauled him. Even his face was a mess of scars. Still no matter what was happening with what animal, once it was on his neck all bets were off. He also wasn't a fan of oversized rats that tried to bite his ears. "The dang thing jumped on me." Caleb told her. 

Biting down on her lip to stifle her laughter, Claudette moved closer to the squealing man. “Just hold still..” She ordered, reaching up above his shoulder. Damn why did he have to be so tall? Fingers wrapping themselves around a small furry body, she lightly tugged it towards her. At her touch, the possum seemed to turn rigid and released its grip on the mans shirt. Pulling it into her arms, she stroked it gently. “Poor little thing, did the big loud man scare you?” She murmured to the animal. 

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Caleb put the hand that wasn't holding a dead animal in his pocket as he began to lead the way to the show. Though this boy seemed a bit weird, he didn't seem harmful at all, as long as he wasn't a possum. "You have? Well have you been to the show at all? She and I have been a part of it for a little while now, we arrived here not too long ago." Caleb explained, perhaps rambling on a bit. "She's an amazing part of the show though. I mean I only act with her, she does all the real work." Caleb told the boy. "Yeah she was born white, nobody knows why. Oh you got kids? You should bring 'em to the show." Caleb said, assuming that was what the boy meant by family.

Dandy’s eyes furrowed as he spoke about the blasted fair grounds. Of course he would be part of that gassly freak show. The one where he was rejected by now, TWICE. Dandy’s lips into an almost forced smirk. “Ah, yes. I have heard of the freak show. White Lion? How very intriguing. I must see it at once. My family will be so thrilled to know what I have seen today. Do lead the way.”

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Caleb struggled with the possum which was now putting it's hands on his face and trying to bite his ear. Caleb kept jerking his head around so that the creature couldn't bite him. "Don't let her bite me!" Caleb screamed and continued to shake his body around and slammed himself into a tree and the creature just clung even harder to his shirt. When he saw the other girl he tried his best to hold still at her words. "Don't let her bite me don't let her bite me." Caleb begged again. 

The noise of the man shouting had echoed far enough to where she was sat in her favourite copse of trees. At first she had thought it must be something incredibly dangerous attacking him in order to produce such language but as she ran onto the scene she was met with a surprising sight. Collapsing into laughter the breathless girl watched as the man struggled not to panic over the possum on his shoulder. “Hold-Hold on…Calm down..” Claudette urged through giggles. 

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"Thank you." Caleb said with a small nod of his head, hoping that he did. He didn't ever want to be a guy who sulked or wasted a single precious day. He wanted to be just happy, it was easier than being anything but. "I try my best to keep my business finished." He said and he meant it. Aside from not knowing where his parents were, if they were still alive at all, nothing truly weighed him down. His big fear was that in death he wouldn't see them again. Perhaps even in the afterlife it'd be just him. "Alright, yeah, you can look at my hand all you want." He nodded. "She could." Caleb told the girl casually. "Once she gets a hold of you, believe me, it's not easy to get out with all your limbs."

Maggie gave Caleb a small but sincere smile. “I doubt that would happen to you.  You are a bright force in life.  I’m sure moving on in death will be quite easy for you.  You don’t seem to be a  man who would have unfinished business.”  She let out a small chuckle when he started studying his own hand.  “I can see other things there, if you’d like me to look.  Free of charge.”    Maggie scratched lightly behind one of the lion’s ears, her apprehension fading a little.  “She does seem like just a big old kitten. Not that I’d treat her like that.  Not when she could very easily bite me in half.”

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"An artist?" Caleb asked with his eyebrows raised. It wasn't every day he met an artist in the woods. "What kinda art do you make, besides belts?" He asked curiously. When he got the chance to talk about his lion Caleb grew a wide smile. There was nothing he loved more in the world than Lorraine and telling people about her was always so fun. "Well I don't see why not, she's staying with me at the fairgrounds not too far off from here." The man said, pointing in the direction of Elsa's fairgrounds. "Mine too! You'll love her then, she's a white lion."

"No. I do not make clothes. I am a creator. I am an artist." Dandy boosted. His ears perked at the mention of lion. Dandy would enjoy so much to have a lion. He had a bear rug and a tiger one. A lion would completely his Wizard of Oz theme. "May I see? " He asked. "I am an animal.. lover." He said as he held the dead armadillos tail up. "Lions are my favorite." Dandy flashed a wide grin.

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Caleb thought for a minute about how he always figured when you die you go to be with all your lost loved ones again, and that sounded good. He also figured though that once there, you don't ever leave. Ghosts were the in between creatures. "I'd hate being a ghost before I moved on." He concluded. When she grabbed his hand he turned a bit red from the surprise. "Really?" He asked and nodded, then looking at his own hand for a moment, to him it just looked like a hand, it didn't show him any sign of living a long time. He was still glad to hear he wouldn't be dying anytime soon though. Lorraine allowed the girl to touch her without any complaints. "Lorraine's a real sweetheart when she want's to be." Caleb said with pride. Out of everything in the world he was proud of nothing more than this lion. "She's going to be three soon."

Maggie didn’t like digging herself deeper into her lies than she already was, but she did feel a sudden need to comfort Caleb.  He looked thoughtful and almost sad.  “I don’t think they’re as alone as you’re imagining.  They have each other after all.  And eventually all the ghosts move on to something better.”  Impulsively she reached out and grabbed his hand, ducking her head and pretending to read it.  “I see you don’t have to worry about it for quite a long time anyway.  If that’s a comfort.”  Maggie stroked of her palm.  “Long life line,” she added, before dropping his hand.  She smiled and approached the lion cautiously, reaching out a hand and touching the top of the lions head.  “Hey there,” she murmured gently.  “It’s nice to meet you.”

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Caleb bent to the ground to pick up the dead creature with a grimace on his face. After all the animal's he'd hunted in his life to keep his lion fed, he never liked it. It didn't deeply bother him, but touching dead things grossed him out. The man normally took pride in being a gentle and peaceful person but, when a lion's gotta eat, she's gotta eat. "A belt? Are you a clothes maker?" Caleb asked, raising an eyebrow. "A lion would, she'll eat just about anything I give her."

Dandy could see the shock and confusion on the male’s face. He looked surprised but not scared completely. “You may have the beast. I just request his tail. I’m building a belt.” He said in place of ’ I am using this to create a messed up looking animals fur rug for my room.” He tried his best not to scream psycho bored millionaire. Although, he did like the millionaire impression he left on most people. “What pet would eat an armadillo?” Dandy asked. He was curious. The armadillo seem about as appearing to eat as a pine cone.

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The biggest downfall to being allowed to stay on Elsa's grounds with his lion companion and preforming in her show was that sometimes they expected him to help with work. While he was out walking around some of the other performers had asked him to go help them hang banners and Caleb had to immediately make an excuse. He explained he needed to rehearse with his lion and they would have to be in the big top immediately. 

Whistling a song to himself he danced his way into the big top with Lorraine the lion walking by his side. He was embarrassed when he saw Matilda already in there and hoped she didn't see him behaving like an idiot. "I wasn't dancing, I promise."

Most of the time Matilda would tuck her long blonde tresses into a bun atop her head and literally crawl about the fairgrounds not caring if she got dirty or tore her dresses. It was nice feeling self sufficient even though she would readily admit that she still loved being carried around by those she trusted. It was fun, being able to view the world from the safety of someone’s arms or the height of their shoulders.

Putting her hair up and pinning it into a messy bun from the pins she pulled from the depths of a pocket in her dress, Tilly sung softly to herself, not once hearing the commotion of someone entering the big top behind her.

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Caleb took a kerchief out of his front pocket and handed it towards the girl for herself. "Here, you can wipe your eyes and all." He said with a small and friendly smile. He wasn't quite sure how to handle a sad young woman, but he wasn't really sure how to talk to people are all. "Don't be sorry." Caleb told her. "Hi Zoe, I'm Caleb, you're one'a the new people around here?"

Zoe jumped a bit, looking up at the tall man. “Oh yeah…I’m fine.” She insisted, nodding at him. “I’m just…feeling emotional.” She had no idea how they talked at the time. She sucked at history class and thought it never applied to her. If she knew then what she knew now. “I’m sorry, I’m Zoe by the way.” She spoke.

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Maggie almost felt bad, a little twinge at the back of her mind.  She didn’t usually feel bad for the people she conned, or tried not to.  But there was something so genuine about the people here.  Normal people weren’t like that.  “I think they are.  I don’t know why else they’d talk to me.”  She pursed her lips.  “But loneliness isn’t really limited to the dead either.  It’s a world full of loneliness.”  She forced a bit of a smile. “Do you think she’d let me pet her?  Or would I lose a hand?”

Caleb thought for a minute about what it must be like to be a dead person. He figured it would be sad. It'd been a long time since Caleb had really thought about the afterlife or ghosts. His mother raised him Jewish for those first few years he'd lived with her and even that he had to stay quiet about during the war time. So most of his religious beliefs died down through his life. He touched one of the deeper scars on his cheek, that was the closest he'd come to dying when Lorriaine had mauled him. Even then, he didn't think about what would happen to him when he died. "I'd be lonely if I were a ghost, I think. I mean, I'd be sad. Sad that I died and then I'd never get to see anyone again."Caleb shrugged. "I suppose that's true, but hey, that's why we stop each other from being lonely whenever we can, right?" He asked, looking to the lion. "Go ahead, you can pet her, she's a real kitten most of the time."