Diedra clearly didn't need an answer either way; she settled into the dimly lit tent and sprawled out over the floor sensuously, toying with her hair as her violet eyes regarded the scene with familiarity. Caius' tent always seemed to remind her of home; his refusal to use modern technology left it looking like the closest it would ever get to Diedra's gypsy caravans. The only downside to it is that when she did go missing from her stage, Madame Sombre and Tanner knew exactly where to look.

[b]"I think she knows, you know."[/b] hummed Diedra pensively. It wasn't often she dropped the affectionate act, but it was clear that whatever was on Diedra's mind managed to break through the carapace of almost theatrical care and emotion that composes Diedra's personality. Just as Caius was the metaphorical father of the circus, she took on the motherly role; and it was only in each other's solitude that they dropped it and started talking seriously. [b]"The missing people. You'd think...you'd think it would scare the little ones into working harder. Didn't you notice that?"[/b]

Diedra leaned forward, arching her back, her eyes wide and hungry with the flames of defiance and disgust. [b]"Didn't you notice that?"[/b] she repeated more firmly. [b]"No-one escapes the circus. They're dead, all of them. It's a ploy...Monochrome has found a way to kill us."[/b] 

Diedra cut herself off as a new customer strolled in, she relaxed again and drew circles on the floor, smiling teasingly at the woman. The act of being a very promiscuous woman seemed to be so deeply ingrained into her personality that she couldn't really stop it anymore; nobody thought much of a whore, after all. Caius introduced Diedra as his 'assistant', and Diedra didn't change her act in the slightest. Assistants can still be pretty things in the background, like stage props.

Or, perhaps, like the missing stage-hands.

As soon as the woman left, Diedra dropped her act. She smiled coyly when spiced rum was mentioned, but held a hand up delicately, shaking her head. [b]"I can't stay here for long, I realise. My babies are telling me I should return quickly. I thought...I thought you might need to know, because it's getting hard for me. And it's getting dangerous too."[/b]

Diedra looked away, and a rare moment took place in which all of the hundreds of years started to show on her features. She looked up at Caius with a shared sympathy of those in captivity, walking closer and twirling a lock of his hair around her finger. [b]"I can tell now; sooner or later, me and Monochrome will butt heads again. And if she does, somehow, find a way past the enchantments around this place and kill me..."[/b]

Diedra's hand slipped from Caius' hair to his shoulder, gripping it tightly; only a fraction of her power is used, however. Caius would know full well she could probably crush his shoulder into bone fragments if she really was trying. But it wasn't a threat, it was a sign of fear, and a need for stability. [b]"...Then by the Gods, make me into a [i]martyr[/i]. Overthrow this black-and-white prison and have Monochrome's entrails decorating the gates."[/b]

[b]"Nobody's safe anymore, not even her. We'll have that rum after performing hours, I think I'll need it."[/b] teased Diedra, twirling her fingers in the air dismissively as a dark, horse-shaped silhouette stopped in front of the tent to gnaw at some of the grass beside the entrance. Diedra was concealed by it's presence from a prying eye, as she slipped from Caius' tent back to her own, ripping off her costume and changing it back into the cold, black-and-white lace of her act.

The horses returned to the tent, and then the music started up again.