Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was the day for the private circus! Certainly a day for excitement and relaxation for those involved with the SHR Agency, and a fun day for everyone just to get to know everyone else without the stresses of training and the like.

To get there, a car-pooling system had been set up, there was no reason to waste resources by having everyone come separately. Most of everyone that came though were put with workers that lived around their area that they didn't necessarily know, trips were spent in general chitter-chatter about nonimportant things, or ignoring the strangers that sat in the same van as them.

Upon arriving at the circus, there was a huge greeting by the circus workers who wouldn't be in the limelight first, Andy was not a part of that group. Clowns did clown-like things, artists greeted children and adults alike, talking about the show and the spectactular things that would be seen, there was a general atmosphere of open-welcome. Every person was given tickets to be able to get two free drinks, a meal, and a souvenior. Anything else would need to be bought.

Seats had also been arranged for the different groups. The children, their guardians, the supers, bosses, and their families were all put in the same general area, in the closest seats. Other groups were spread throughout the grounds, though everyone got pretty good places as it was a private performance.

They were just pulling up to the circus now, and it one could be surprised to see that the woman more excited then the young boy beside her. "See, see, I told you this would be fun!" Ruriska poked Raleigh avidly in the side, even as he tried to swipe her away. "We haven't even gotten out of the car yet!" His guardian only giggled girlishly and began pushing him towards the car door before it had even stopped.

"What are you on!?" Raleigh demanded as he slid off his seat, disgusted by the revelry that surrounded them. Large crowds were ok when you were not the object of attention, but here they all had their eyes on him, trying to show off their stupid clown tricks. "Look kid, I'm doing this for you, so smile and enjoy it." Ruri was of a mixed mind about this day; she liked the circus but she could be doing better things then staring at tumbling idiots. Who the heck would take a clown as a job? Really desperate people.

The two walked into the circus, one looking surly and the other looking darkly annoyed.

"This isn't the circus!" Ace yelled from his backseat as Jim punched in the security number for the gates, "Mom said you weren't allowed to work today."

"Think REAL hard about those two statements," Jim answered, "Don't leave the car," Jim left the car running in front of the front door and rang the bell, "Come on, Charles, you knew we were coming, Ace is going to explode back there if I have to drag you out..."

Charles sighed deeply as the doorbell rang and stood up to open the door.

"Jim." Charles sounded not happy at all, and it showed. He had his arms folded as if to protect himself from the looks of others. His usual black suit had been exchanged for a pair of dark blue jeans with a black t-shirt on top of it. His shoes were still black, but not as fancy as they used to be. Everything seemed to be brand new which showed through in Charles' movements, they weren't as brisk and self confident as usual although that could also be because Charles just felt very uncomfortable.

Charles glared openly at Jim, a look which was clearly visible because he wasn't wearing his usual shades either.

"Hey there, buddy!" Jim greeted Charles, decidedly cheerful, "Glad to see you're ready, Ace is so excited, I don't think he'll ever stop running his mouth or bouncing around. We'd better get there before he decides to walk."

As he spoke, Jim stood aside to let Charles out, waving him along a little bit as had always been his habit, and shut the door firmly behind them. Ace had rolled down his door and was waving excitedly out the window, confirming Jim's words.

"Uncle Charles! I didn't believe Daddy when he said you were coming! Sit in the back seat with me? PLEASE? I don't wanna take care of Joy...."

"Pssh, boy, like he wants to sit back with you," Jim joked, and pushed Ace's head back in the car, "We're not dogs now, Ace. You ready, Charles? Let's go!"

Charles smiled when addressed by Ace and raised his hand in greeting. "Hey Ace! How are you today? Yes, I'll come sit with you." He shot another glare at Jim as he walked passed him and ducked in the back of the car.

"And if it isn't Joy! My, my!" Charles smiled at the young girl and tickled her for a moment. "Such a big girl, already."

He glanced back at Ace and grinned at the young boy while ruffling his hair. "And you too, Ace! Bah, you get bigger every time I see you. If you're not careful, I won't be able to ever lift you or tickle you again!" He let out a mock gasp of horror as he started tickling Ace.

Ace and Charles chattered back and forth with Jim's occasional comment and Joy's occasional giggling while Jim drove them to the fairgrounds. By the time they'd arrived, they'd talked on such important subjects of growing up, clothes flling off of flying people, spandex, cereal, and sugar. Of course, Ace had tried hiding behind Joy, who'd pulled at his hair, and it ended up with Joy crying and Jim threatening to turn around again, but in the end all was good.

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Charles grinned and unstrapped Joy. He poked her softly on the nose. "Alright, you. Come, lets go." He lifted her onto his lap before stepping out of the car himself and stretched out, as far as you could while carrying a toddler.

"Come Ace! What are you waiting for? Well, I guess if you don't want to come out, we will go in ALL by ourselves." Charles sighed while shaking his head. "What a shame." He grinned and winked at Jim as he put down Joy and took her hand.

Ace didn't hear Charles, he wa stoo busy jumping out of the vehicle, "Can we get front row seats? Will Zack be here?"

"We'll get what seats we get," Jim informed Ace and waited for Charles and Joy to come. As soon as they were on the other side of the car, Joy reached up to be held. By Charles. Ace had already bounded to stand beside Charles.

Jim sighed, "Underdog with my own kids," he winked at Charles, reached down to pick up Joy, but she turned and buried her face in Charles' leg, "Fine! Less work for me! Geeeez..."

Charles chuckled. "Ah well, Jim. That's how life works. I'm just SO cool. Its no wonder your kids love me."

He picked up Joy and ruffled Ace's hair again. "Well then, lets go, shall we?"

"Erm, gee, I am, aren't I?" Alicia replied with slight sarcasm in her voice and a smile on her face. "Because I am," she added with an afterthought as she followed Spark, her lips turning upside down again. Now would not have been a good time to tell him the truth.

Her smile was placed back on her face after she came out, grabbing a pile of lollipops on her way. So what if they cost? Alicia would pay for them, she didn't care as long as her happy face could hide the truth. Children were walking up to her accompanied with their parents, and she gave a child a "Hello! Have a lollipop," while giving him a round, green piece of hard candy on a stick. "Oh, and enjoy the show!"

As they reached the circus, Lorina moved so swiftly that it was lucky the car had stopped before she had gotten out. She scanned the area as she waited for her slow guardian. Airaka's face held a slight look of worry, but as Lorina gave her an affectionate lean Airaka's frown turned upside down.
"I've never been to a circus before!" Lorina said happily, bouncing up and down, while clapping her hands.
"Me neither..." the red haired guardian muttered.
The 'super girl' wore a light orange sleeveless t-shirt with darker orange embroidered flowers, a navy blue jean skirt that reached down to right below knees, and white shoes with orange lases. Her hair was brushed, and wore long.
Lorina received a pink balloon flower from a clown with a smile, and a bow of Airaka's head, then rushed inside the arena area, wanting for whatever excitment that would happen to happen quickly.

Andy chuckled in full enjoyment of this when Malcolm went to hide him, and he obeyed gladly.

The clowns waved their hands frantically. Of course, having seen everything, they put on a whole suspicious pantamime, looking through Malcolm's hair for Andy, running around Elaine in an attempt to "surprise" Andy into coming out... Demanding that they look under-feet. It was only a few moments long, really, and ended up with the clowns looking rather despairing of the whole thing.

Andy had, meanwhile, scooted himself while under the bleachers further and further, startled little children along the way and chuckling lively at them to hand over some of the circus-items he had stolen.