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“I wonder what's going on over there. I don't believe I've ever seen a crowd that large in that part of town before.” Intrigued, you stayed off of your path and wandered over to where the masses of people had gathered. Unable to see what was going on due to the fact that you were too far back, you squeezed yourself through until you were almost at the very front of the crowd. Once you were finally able to see, you fully understood the crowd. “A circus, which means, Joker's probably in there.” You pushed through the other spectators once more, but this time, you snuck around to the back of the tents where you knew only the performers would be. Unfortunately, you saw no one at all. “That's odd, they must be around here somewhere.”

“Excuse me miss, but you're not allowed back here.” A gentle, yet serious voice spoke up from behind you. Though you recognized it instantly, you just couldn't place the face. “Its staff only in this section you see? If you could just wait-.”

It suddenly hit you. Spinning around, you greeted him with a delighted smile. “Dagger. I knew your voice sounded familiar. How have you been?”

“Oh, it's you.” He smiled sheepishly. “I've been fine, but I can bet you aren't here to see me now are you?” Grabbing your hand, Dagger excitedly pulled you into one of the tents. “Hey Joker, you've got yourself a really pretty visitor here. I think you should probably come see her before she wanders off and gets lost.”

Joker looked up from what he was doing and turned his eyes towards you. Though he was already smiling, seeing you widened that smile tremendously. Though the two of you had only met once before, he recognized you in an instant. He quickly stood up from his small rickety chair and walked over to you. “It's been a long time hasn't it?” Taking your hand in his, he tilted his head slightly and shut his eyes, as if remembering your short time together.

Surprised by just how warm his welcome was, you gave his hands a little squeeze. “It hasn't been that long. Actually, it's only been a month tops.”

His eyes popped open in shock “Only a month? A month is a very long time to go without seeing someone. Unless of course you don't like that someone, then it's not nearly long enough.” His expression finally relaxed as he led you out of the tent. “But, since you went out of your way to come see me, I'm pretty sure you like me.” Smiling wide yet again, he turned his head towards you and winked. “At least I hope you do.”

“Of course I do.” Though you didn't want to ruin the moment or sound rude, you hadn't the slightest idea where he was taking you. Already being in an unfamiliar place, this worried you a little more than it needed to. “I would like to ask you a question though. Where exactly are we going?”

“It's almost time for the show to begin, so I thought I'd show you to the best seat in the house. You are a very special guest after all.” You couldn't comprehend how you could be all that special. He barely knew you but was treating you like a dear friend. Joker stopped a few feet away from the largest tent and brought you around to stand in front of him. The corners of his mouth were tilted town just slightly. “You did plan on staying for the show didn't you?”

“I'd love to, but I didn't even buy a ticket.” You sighed at your terrible lack of forethought. “I can't cheat you all like that, it just wouldn't be right.”

He pressed a bony finger to your lips and shushed you. “Don't you worry about that. If you have fun and laugh, you will have made it up to me.” Giving you a little tug, he led you into the tent, which was already filling up. Joker walked to a row of seats all marked with the letters, “VIP” and sat you down. “Keep an eye out for me okay? I've got to go, see you after the show.” With the opening act about to start, he rushed away from you and took his place behind the curtains.

Sitting almost completely alone was both very nice, and a little awkward. The only people around you were the rich, stuck up patrons who treated this event like some sort of special social gathering. This made you feel a little out of place and uncomfortable. On the bright side however, was the fact that you could see every single thing that happened on the stage. Once the show really got started, you forgot that you were ever awkward at all. You became so intrigued with the many different tricks and talents that you noticed nothing else. Your favorite act by far, was Jokers. He made the whole crowd laugh with ease. The more they laughed, the more confidant and funny he became. By the time the show finished, your cheeks and sides ached from laughter.

As the performers left the spotlight, an older man stepped onto the stage to bid everyone good night. “Thank you all for coming, we hope to see you all again really soon.” The sound of his farewells were quickly muffled out by the clatter of everyone around you.

With the crowd of people quickly dispersing, you stood to your feet and started to look for the exit. A moment later, something soft and squishy hit the back of your head. “What in the world?” You turned around and looked to the ground only to find a bright red ball by your feet.

“So, did you enjoy the show?” Joker stood less than a foot away from you with his wide smile plastered to his face. “You looked like you were having a good time. I waved to you a few times, did you see me?”

A blush dusted your cheeks. You'd thought you'd seen him wave to you, but with so many other people there, you weren't sure. Knowing that he'd taken the time to find you in that crowd, and then wave to you was very embarrassing for some reason. “Yes, I saw you. You had the whole tent laughing so hard they were crying. You're really good at making people happy.”

Your words made him beam. “Thank you, I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. Now I don't have to make you pay for your seat.” He furrowed his brows together and let out a strange sort of laugh. “Trust me, you don't want to know how much they cost.”

“I don't mind paying. I did after all get to enjoy the show. It's only right.” You reached into your pocket and pulled out a small purse. “How much do I owe you?”

Joker gently pushed your purse back towards you, vigorously shaking his head in depute. “No, no, I can't let you do that. I brought you to these seats. I practically made you watch the show. You don't owe us anything at all.”

Despite his firm insistence, your conscious just wouldn't let you agree with him. “Well I have to do something.”

He shut his eyes tightly and shook his head again.“No you don't.”

“Stop arguing with me. I have to do something to repay you and you're not going to stop me.” Your words were finally firm enough to keep Joker from arguing with you anymore. But now, you had absolutely no idea what to repay him with. “What can I do to make things even? And don't you dare say nothing, I won't have it.”

Joker tapped his chin with his skeletal finger and thought. “Ah, I have it.” He grabbed your hand and rushed to the outside of the tent where the show schedules were posted. With one clean motion he ripped the paper from the bulletin and handed it to you. “Here you are.”

You looked down at the paper with a confused expression. “I don't understand.”

“Well, if you're wanting to make things even, you can come see me again. I like having you in the crowd. What I gave you is a list of all the show dates and times. Now you'll know when we'll be close by.” He looked down at the paper, feeling just a little melancholy. “Though I wish there was a way for me to see you more often. The show doesn't come this way but a few times a year.”

With your cheeks turning pink once more, you nodded and tucked the paper away. “I'd like to see you more often too. I hope we can find a way to do that. But for now, you have my word, I will go to every single show you do within a day's journey.”

Joker grinned wide. “Well then, I'll just have to do more shows then won't I?”

Description
“I wonder what's going on over there. I don't believe I've ever seen a crowd that large in that part of town before.” Intrigued, you stayed off of your path and wandered over to where the masses of people had gathered. Unable to see what was going on due to the fact that you were too far back, you squeezed yourself through until you were almost at the very front of the crowd. Once you were finally able to see, you fully understood the crowd. “A circus, which means, Joker's probably in there.” You pushed through the other spectators once more, but this time, you snuck around to the back of the tents where you knew only the performers would be. Unfortunately, you saw no one at all. “That's odd, they must be around here somewhere.”

“Excuse me miss, but you're not allowed back here.” A gentle, yet serious voice spoke up from behind you. Though you recognized it instantly, you just couldn't place the face. “Its staff only in this section you see? If you could just wait-.”

It suddenly hit you. Spinning around, you greeted him with a delighted smile. “Dagger. I knew your voice sounded familiar. How have you been?”

“Oh, it's you.” He smiled sheepishly. “I've been fine, but I can bet you aren't here to see me now are you?” Grabbing your hand, Dagger excitedly pulled you into one of the tents. “Hey Joker, you've got yourself a really pretty visitor here. I think you should probably come see her before she wanders off and gets lost.”

Joker looked up from what he was doing and turned his eyes towards you. Though he was already smiling, seeing you widened that smile tremendously. Though the two of you had only met once before, he recognized you in an instant. He quickly stood up from his small rickety chair and walked over to you. “It's been a long time hasn't it?” Taking your hand in his, he tilted his head slightly and shut his eyes, as if remembering your short time together.

Surprised by just how warm his welcome was, you gave his hands a little squeeze. “It hasn't been that long. Actually, it's only been a month tops.”

His eyes popped open in shock “Only a month? A month is a very long time to go without seeing someone. Unless of course you don't like that someone, then it's not nearly long enough.” His expression finally relaxed as he led you out of the tent. “But, since you went out of your way to come see me, I'm pretty sure you like me.” Smiling wide yet again, he turned his head towards you and winked. “At least I hope you do.”

“Of course I do.” Though you didn't want to ruin the moment or sound rude, you hadn't the slightest idea where he was taking you. Already being in an unfamiliar place, this worried you a little more than it needed to. “I would like to ask you a question though. Where exactly are we going?”

“It's almost time for the show to begin, so I thought I'd show you to the best seat in the house. You are a very special guest after all.” You couldn't comprehend how you could be all that special. He barely knew you but was treating you like a dear friend. Joker stopped a few feet away from the largest tent and brought you around to stand in front of him. The corners of his mouth were tilted town just slightly. “You did plan on staying for the show didn't you?”

“I'd love to, but I didn't even buy a ticket.” You sighed at your terrible lack of forethought. “I can't cheat you all like that, it just wouldn't be right.”

He pressed a bony finger to your lips and shushed you. “Don't you worry about that. If you have fun and laugh, you will have made it up to me.” Giving you a little tug, he led you into the tent, which was already filling up. Joker walked to a row of seats all marked with the letters, “VIP” and sat you down. “Keep an eye out for me okay? I've got to go, see you after the show.” With the opening act about to start, he rushed away from you and took his place behind the curtains.

Sitting almost completely alone was both very nice, and a little awkward. The only people around you were the rich, stuck up patrons who treated this event like some sort of special social gathering. This made you feel a little out of place and uncomfortable. On the bright side however, was the fact that you could see every single thing that happened on the stage. Once the show really got started, you forgot that you were ever awkward at all. You became so intrigued with the many different tricks and talents that you noticed nothing else. Your favorite act by far, was Jokers. He made the whole crowd laugh with ease. The more they laughed, the more confidant and funny he became. By the time the show finished, your cheeks and sides ached from laughter.

As the performers left the spotlight, an older man stepped onto the stage to bid everyone good night. “Thank you all for coming, we hope to see you all again really soon.” The sound of his farewells were quickly muffled out by the clatter of everyone around you.

With the crowd of people quickly dispersing, you stood to your feet and started to look for the exit. A moment later, something soft and squishy hit the back of your head. “What in the world?” You turned around and looked to the ground only to find a bright red ball by your feet.

“So, did you enjoy the show?” Joker stood less than a foot away from you with his wide smile plastered to his face. “You looked like you were having a good time. I waved to you a few times, did you see me?”

A blush dusted your cheeks. You'd thought you'd seen him wave to you, but with so many other people there, you weren't sure. Knowing that he'd taken the time to find you in that crowd, and then wave to you was very embarrassing for some reason. “Yes, I saw you. You had the whole tent laughing so hard they were crying. You're really good at making people happy.”

Your words made him beam. “Thank you, I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. Now I don't have to make you pay for your seat.” He furrowed his brows together and let out a strange sort of laugh. “Trust me, you don't want to know how much they cost.”

“I don't mind paying. I did after all get to enjoy the show. It's only right.” You reached into your pocket and pulled out a small purse. “How much do I owe you?”

Joker gently pushed your purse back towards you, vigorously shaking his head in depute. “No, no, I can't let you do that. I brought you to these seats. I practically made you watch the show. You don't owe us anything at all.”

Despite his firm insistence, your conscious just wouldn't let you agree with him. “Well I have to do something.”

He shut his eyes tightly and shook his head again.“No you don't.”

“Stop arguing with me. I have to do something to repay you and you're not going to stop me.” Your words were finally firm enough to keep Joker from arguing with you anymore. But now, you had absolutely no idea what to repay him with. “What can I do to make things even? And don't you dare say nothing, I won't have it.”

Joker tapped his chin with his skeletal finger and thought. “Ah, I have it.” He grabbed your hand and rushed to the outside of the tent where the show schedules were posted. With one clean motion he ripped the paper from the bulletin and handed it to you. “Here you are.”

You looked down at the paper with a confused expression. “I don't understand.”

“Well, if you're wanting to make things even, you can come see me again. I like having you in the crowd. What I gave you is a list of all the show dates and times. Now you'll know when we'll be close by.” He looked down at the paper, feeling just a little melancholy. “Though I wish there was a way for me to see you more often. The show doesn't come this way but a few times a year.”

With your cheeks turning pink once more, you nodded and tucked the paper away. “I'd like to see you more often too. I hope we can find a way to do that. But for now, you have my word, I will go to every single show you do within a day's journey.”

Joker grinned wide. “Well then, I'll just have to do more shows then won't I?”