Geralt fumed silently as Lucien continued to criticize him. With his back turned, his grip on the neck of the wine bottle tightened and his teeth ground together. Pure rage was outline on his face, but he would not turn and give Lucien the satisfaction of seeing it.

He's got your goat now, Magician...The voice cackled in his ear.

The sound of his trailer door swinging shut was a relief, but his shoulders and his grip on the wine bottle did not relax just yet. The man stood there in the same position, frozen in his fury for minutes.

Responsibility? The Nephilim spoke like he knew Geralt, like he understood, like he could imagine what it was like for him to live this half-life, this cursed existence trapped in a body that did not belong to him, that he was forced to share with a creature spun from a web of pure evil. He talked like he knew of Geralt's suffering, of the things he had done, the people that he had hurt, had killed, the life that he had destroyed before it even had a chance to be...

"Rraaaagh!" An agonized scream escaped from the man's mouth as he turned and threw the wine bottle as hard as he could. The object flew across his trailer and exploded in a cloud of crimson and shattered glass. The liquid dripped down the dark wood interior and onto the dark wooden floor, turning it black. The glass sparkled in the light from the lamp, like so many stars in the night sky.

The man stared down at the mess blankly, all of the rage and frutsrtation drained from his features, and he didn't even see it. Instead, he saw faces: ones he had harmed, wronged...someone he had killed, his beloved, and a life he had destroyed before it even had a chance to be, his...

"Destiny..." A single tear loosened itself from his moistened eye and ran down his cheek, leaving a track on his skin. He didn't even feel it.

That creature does not know you, Geralt. He never will. He cannot understand your suffering, your guilt, your pain...He has never known a loss like yours, and he never will.

Geralt knew this was true. He knew that Lucien, no matter what or who he had lost, could never know what Geralt had been through. Even if he told him, he could never understand. The Magician, for all of his charms and all of his facade, knew deep down that his soul was black and shriveled like a lump of coal deep down in the deepest mine. Lucien shone like sunlight, his soul soared with angels, and Geralt...well, he had danced with the Devil for too long now to turn to the light now. This life was all he knew. He was cursed, doomed, and that was just the way it was. He had been foolish to think he could find redemption in the arms of someone touched by Grace. He was beyond saving.

He stood still for a long time, numb to everything but pain. His soul cried out inside of his body, limp and motionless, as it stared at the wine until it had dried. He didn't know how long exactly it was before he turned and collapsed onto the bed that was his but not his and drifted into a fitfull, drunken slumber.

The scream that emanated from Geralt's trailer had been heard by more than just Lucien. It had woken Ivory from her sleep, causing her eyes to shift toward the window with a furrowed brow. It had almost stirred Akane from her sleep, but not fully. She remained unaware of it's source

Lucien however had been the closest one to it. He turned toward the man's trailer. That was more than just a scream of anger or frustration. It was filled with so much pain... The Ringleader felt his chest tighten, overcome with a sadness he could not quite understand. He placed his hand against his heart, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. There was clearly.. something going on that he didn't know about. That had always been the case with Geralt. Even after the months he had been with them, he still knew almost nothing about him.

Despite that, how could he try to be understanding if he didn't know? If Geralt refused to speak with him? He hadn't wanted to be so harsh, it was unlike him, but he could not simply let this slide. It was disrespectful not only to him, but all the other performers who worked so hard to make this place successful.

The nephilim let out a heavy sigh, his anger diminishing. He could only hope that tomorrow he'd be able to get a proper response from the Magician. At this point, he at least wanted reassurance that this would not happen again. If he was unable to get at least that much, then Geralt's future here was unclear. That was something he'd do only if he found it absolutely necessary. He'd.. just have to see how the conversation went tomorrow.

----------

The atmosphere in the troupe was awfully quiet the next day. No one had really approached Geralt about anything, not even Ivory.

The dhampir would have normally made some sort of retort of what had happened, but at this point, she found it a waste of time. She had been close to thinking maybe the Magician wasn't all that bad.. until last night. Perhaps it had really only been a matter of time before he messed up this badly.

-

The next morning, after finishing taking into account the losses they had actually suffered, Lucien headed back to Geralt's trailer. His anger had faded by now, and the knock he placed on the man's door portrayed that. He had waited a bit more into the day, to at least allow him some time to recover from his.. hangover, but he made sure there was enough time for him to make last minute changes to the Big Top show if it was necessary.

Geralt awakened much later the next morning than he normally would. A pounding headache and only a vague memory of the exact events of the night before immediately put him in a foul mood. He knew that his conversation with Lucien had gone poorly, and the wine stain on the wall and the roll of bills left out was a reminder of that. Hopefully, it was nothing that couldn't be salvaged.

He made himself a hangover cure and drank it down with some gusto. Once he felt ready, he left his trailer to use the showering facility. He didn't bother with displacement, and made sure to show himself to members of the troupe that had been walking about in the afternoon. He did not smile or wave, he barely looked at anyone, but he wanted to make sure that his presence would be noted if Lucien asked after his whereabouts. He knew that a followup to last night's...disagreement was in short order. The Big Top was tonight, and Lucien could not risk any illusions about where Geralt's loyalties lay. The Magician needed to be sure that he was prepared to do what he had to to convince Lucien of his intentions without revealing anything...sensitive. It was a thin line to walk, and Geralt, for the first time in his life, was unsure if he would manage to stay on it.

Illyana saw the man walking across the grounds, this time clothed, heading towards the showers. She, too, had heard the scream echoing from his trailer. In fact, she had felt it. Waves of despair and fury had wafted from the place like a foul wind. Though she did not know of the exact events that had lead to that moment, she was confident that she had guessed the reason. Geralt had missed a show, and she had not seen Lucien that angry in...well, she couldn't even remember if she ever had. In fact, she had been surprised to see The Magician on the grounds this morning and expected that he would have left after being dismissed, taken his things in the night and simply...disappeared. It seemed that he was content to stay, get his affairs in order, and maybe perform one last time under the Big Top before he left them.

At the thought of his absence, the girl couldn't help but smile. A small bit of guilt prickled at the back of her brain for this reaction, as she knew that the feelings from Geralt's outburst were complex and deep, and that he must have had his own reasons for his behavior. Still, she knew deep down that Lucien was better off without the man sniffing around him for scraps any longer. They had a family here, and she would not see it torn apart by a dark intruder with hidden motives and illicit intentions. It would be best for all of them if he left as soon as possible.

She did not approach the man, she didn't even acknowledge him. It was none of her business, so she focused on getting everything ready for that night's line up.

Cora had not heard the scream, but she could tell that something was off. She hadn't spoken with or seen Lucien last night, but she knew that he was looking for Geralt and that he was unhappy. She hoped that everything had been resolved, but the mood around camp told her differently. She decided to stay out of it, it was not her place to interfere.

---------------------

After his shower and some food, that was eaten rather lack-luster, Geralt returned to his trailer and spent the rest of the day there. A couple of times throughout the day, he exited and took a seat in a chair he had set up by the door, reading the newspaper or fiddling with a deck of cards. He wanted to make sure that he was accounted for all day until the show, to illustrate that he had no intention of leaving on his own. If Lucien asked him to leave...well, that was another matter entirely, but he would not be pushed out without another conversation at the very least.

Luckily for him, his dark passenger had kept quiet all the rest of the day, waiting to see what would happen. The Magician could feel the creature inside of him, coiled like a serpent ready to strike, but he was glad for the thing's silence. His headache had never fully diminished, and it was not something he was capable of dealing with in a manner appropriate for the circumstances. Not right now, anyway.

He was inside his trailer when Lucien approached, lying in bed with his eyes closed under a damp cloth. He could hear the man's footsteps before he knocked, and prepared himself for this eventuality. Slowly, he removed the cloth, left it on the table next to the glass he'd been drinking from, and went to the door.

He opened it, squinted at Lucien out into the light, his head throbbing from the onslaught of fresh air and sun. He said nothing and simply stepped to the side to allow Lucien entry.

Lucien could tell that Geralt's hangover still lingered. Under normal circumstances he might have offered him help with it, but he had a feeling it would be denied even if he tried to do so. The man was silent, but he could tell by the way he carried himself that it was.. different from yesterday. He had noticed Geralt had made sure to make himself known throughout the day, perhaps his way of showing that he'd be sure to perform tonight, but he needed to actually hear it from the man himself. He wasn't kidding when he said he didn't want to make guesses anymore. He stepped inside, though not as abruptly as he had the night before. Eyes trailed briefly across the room, eyes landing on a stain he recognized as as wine.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, though the answer was obvious. Still, he wanted to make sure. This could also potentially impact his performance later. His tone was softer than the night before, his anger no longer lingering in his features, but his relatively stern expression lingered. At least this time he wanted to give him a chance to properly explain himself, if not at least provide him with the reassurance he needed.

Geralt crossed the room and took a seat in the same chair that he had last night without a word. After sitting, he watched Lucien take a look around, eyes lingering on the wine stain from last night. Though he could have cut the tension in the room with a knife, The Magician sensed that Lucien's crust had softened at least somewhat. He was still...charge with negative energy, but the anger was no longer apparent on his features. He looked...stern, but not furious. This was progress in the right direction, at least, and better yet, Geralt hadn't even needed to do anything to get a head start. He hoped the weight lifting meant good things for the next several minutes.

At the Nephilim's question, Geralt chuckled and shook his head. "I feel like a baby dragon is about to hatch from my skull," he said plainly, lifting a glass on the table to his lips. He paused before drinking and held it in Lucien's direction for just a moment, "Don't worry, just water," he said, adding a wink, before he took a sip and set the glass back down.

"But I know you didn't come here to talk about my well-being. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair across from his. Hurt though he was, The Magician was no longer inebriated, and with a sharp mind he was able to keep his tone and expression entirely enigmatic, as was his expertise.

Lucien walked up to the chair and took a seat, giving his water a small glance. He didn't doubt what it was, he could tell just by looking at it. Hopefully he would be feeling better by the time the shows began to start, if he planned to go through with it at least. That's what he was here to find out.

"I didn't, but it doesn't mean I don't wish to make sure you're doing alright." He said, before letting out a small sigh.

"I wish to know what you plan to do, Geralt. Last night clearly was not a good night for you, and that concerns me. I admit that I'm used to your.. occasional change of moods, but as your boss, I need to be sure that you missing a show without any sort of warning is not going to happen again." He told him pausing for a moment before his eyes shifted briefly toward the wine stain.

"As your friend, however.. and I do hope that you see me that way, I'm worried about you. Are you truly alright?" He asked.

Geralt let his face remain stoic as the Ringleader took a seat across from him and began to speak, and he managed to maintain this expression until he was finished. The Magician stared at the glass of water before him, his hand resting on the table and his fingers pressed against the cool glass. He appeared to be thinking for a moment before responding, musing over his options, but really he was simply thinking about how refreshing a cool glass of water could be on a warm October afternoon in California.

After a moment's silence, the Magician returned his gaze to Lucien's face. "I have to admit that I am...embarrassed with regards to my actions last night." He paused a moment and cleared his throat, glancing briefly at the stain the wine had left on the wall before continuing, "Frankly, I acted like an ass." His tone lightened slightly and he shook his head, smiling wryly.

"I can assure you that nothing like that will happen again." He brought his eyes up to meet Lucien's as he said this, his expression and tone firm and completely serious. "I don't want you to take what happened last night as a reflection of you, or of my proposed worth to this establishment. I'm committed to this place, to my role here, and to you. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have bothered showing up again after last night." He stopped again and stood from his chair, leaving the glass and walking past Lucien to the window behind him.

For once, the curtains were open, letting the fresh air wafting through Geralt's trailer, clearing it of the muggy smoke and smells of tobacco and alcohol. The Magician stood before this window, looking out of it into mostly nothing with his arm resting on the sill. After a moment, as if to himself, he said, "It's good to know where one stands...isn't it?" as he stared out across the empty stretch of land before him. He found its desolate nature comforting. Once he was satisfied with the pause he'd left, he turned around to face Lucien again and leaned against the frame, putting one hand into his pocket and letting that wry smile return.

He shrugged and said, "While I appreciate your concern as my friend, this isn't something that I wish to discuss with you. I think it will be easier for both of us if we keep...personal matters to ourselves, if we're to keep our relationship professional." Geralt ended this statement matter-of-factly, his tone suggesting that there was no room for rebuttal or negotiation. "Though I am a little worse for the wear today, it will in no way effect my performance tonight. If I thought it would, I wouldn't dream of going on. In the future, if anything threatens my ability to perform, I will come to you first, patron, as your humble employé."

That word...friend...what a nasty moniker it was. Geralt had never cared for being friends or having friends. What use were they to him? Burdens, and nothing more. No, he wasn't interested in being Lucien's friend, and he thought that the man should know that, since honesty was so important to him.

Lucien let the silence remain, allowing Geralt to contemplate his response. There was no need to rush it. He had to admit he was glad to hear him admit that the way he acted was out of line. That was at least one of the things he wanted to acknowledgement to before leaving here today. Lucien was tolerant of a lot of things, but there was only so much disrespect he was willing to accept, both to his Circus and the rest of the troupe members.

The seriousness in Geralt's tone told him that he meant every word. That much he was glad for. The last thing he wanted to do was fire the Magician, but he would have been willing to do so if he showed no signs of wanting to fix this situation.

"Well.. I'm certainly glad to hear that." He said to him, watching the man move toward the window in the trailer. For a moment he let his eyes wander, as he hadn't really taken in the sights of the trailer the first time he had been here, considering the circumstances. His decour was certainly.. unique, but very like him, he supposed.

As Geralt spoke again, Lucien's golden eyes trailed back to him, raising his eyebrows slightly at his words. He.. supposed he should have expected that much.

"I apologize for prying, I was simply.. concerned." He caught the emphasis on the word friend, and for a moment he didn't want to.. overthink the situation, but there was no way he couldn't read past that, considering all the attempts and flirtations he had received from the man. Perhaps he should not have used the word friend.

Despite that, this at least made it clear that there was something going on with him.. but it was something he was unwilling to talk about. It wasn't like he had room to talk, as there were some personal things he also didn't want to share. He couldn't really blame him for it.. but it was unfortunate, that there was nothing he could really do to help him. It was hard for someone like Lucien to simply accept, but he knew better than to press people to reveal things they didn't want to talk about. It seemed there was a gate he would have to get through to even attempt such a thing, but that wasn't something the Ringleader was sure he wanted to do. It was... conflicting.

"I'm glad that's settled." He said before rising to his feet. "Please do, I would never force you to go on if you weren't feeling well. I just like to know these things ahead of time. I will leave you to get as much rest as you can before your performance. I told those that came to see your show yesterday that you had fallen ill. They will be here to see you today at the Big Top." He said.

Geralt watched the Ringleader's ever move, looking for signs that what he had said had sunken in fully. It appeared this tactic had worked, at least as far as he could tell. There was the slightest bit of hesitation in Lucien's voice as he responded to Geralt's veiled ultimatum. Though The Magician couldn't be sure exactly what this hesitation indicated, he knew that it was better than nothing at all.

Perhaps acknowledgement of their relationship was exactly what Lucien had needed to get some perspective on this situation. Either way, Geralt knew that something had to change now, for better or for worse, and that Lucien knew it too.

The Magician merely nodded to Lucien's last statement, the smile remaining while the man was still in his presence. "Ah, yes, I will be sure to apologize and thank them for their patronage. I'm sure they were none-to-pleased about wasting their time in my line last night. I am sorry that my errand cost you extra work. Let me know if there is anything I can do to...make up for it." He took on an apologetic expression to match his contrite tone. If he knew that Lucien responded to anything it was someone in pain, someone in need. If that was who he had to be to get the Nephilim's attention, then so be it.

Lucien shook his head ever so slightly. At this point.. there was no need to be as harsh with the Magician. He had clearly learned his lesson, and knowing now there were.. other reasons for his actions, there was no need for him to continue to chastise him.

"It's alright, dealing with that kind of stuff is part of my duties." He said. "The... best thing you can do right now is get proper rest, and put the best show you can tonight." He added. At the very least he wanted those people to get what they had paid for. Hopefully after tonight they would not leave disappointed. Considering their conversation, he did not think that to be the case.

"I will see you tonight." He said, before finally taking his leave.

Their conversation had gone.. well, but it had left Lucien a little conflicted. He was unsure of what he could really do here. Even if Geralt had promised this would not happen again, whatever it was he was dealing with was clearly not something that had been resolved. His mood swings had been something they had all seen. Was this also the reason behind that? If that was the case.. he was unsure of whether this might cause some other issues in the future.

Still.. what could he do? Geralt had put up a clear wall between them. It seemed now that somehow the tables had turned. Did he have a right to try to surpass it? No matter how much he wanted to help.. it would get him nowhere if Geralt wasn't willing to let him, and he couldn't really force him to either. What exactly would trying to tear down that wall lead to? Where would that leave them? Any attempts to do so might mean having to tear down his own walls. Was he ready for something like that? The Ringleader didn't know.

With a sigh, Lucien returned to his trailer, deciding to spend his time there before showtime that night.

Geralt simply nodded in farewell to the Ringleader and watched him go. The door closing behind him plunged the man's trailer into the semi-darkness he preferred. He made his way to the bed, back to where he had been resting. He replaced the cloth over his eyes and laid back once more, willing the throbbing headache to leave him be. It wouldn't effect his performance, very little could do that...but it would be nice not to have to think about it for the next few hours.

Still, though he didn't sleep, a small smile formed at the corners of his lips as he held the image of Lucien's expression behind his eyelids. It was quite satisfying to see the hesitancy there. He supposed this was what he had to content himself with for the time being. All in all, it wasn't half bad.

---------------------------

That night, their performances went off without a hitch. Though Geralt's headache remained throughout the show, he didn't let it slow him or even give him pause for a half second. If anything, he was more enthusiastic, more entertaining, and more charming, and the audience responded in kind. At the end, someone even tossed a coin onto the stage. Geralt had no intention of accepting that gift, and flicked it back into the crowd. When it landed right in the open palm of the person who had thrown it, however, it caused an avalanche of coins to fly down from the stands after it. Geralt, who had expected something akin to this, practiced humility as carnies rushed to gather all the coins.

Leaving the stage, he gave Lucien a long look, a smile, and a half-bow as he headed for the exit, pointing to his temple. He needed more rest, and an after-show meeting with the rest of the troupe members did not appeal to his better nature at the moment.

Illyana, however, was looking forward to seeing Lucien after the show. Geralt's presence around camp was one thing, especially if he wasn't packing, but his performance at tonight's Big Top was something else. He had performed with extra gusto as if making up for a mistake, and this worried the young clairvoyant. She had been fully expecting Lucien to dismiss the man after the stunt he had pulled, but it seemed as though Cirque D'étoiles would not be rid of his presence just yet.

To stifle her fear, she wished to speak with the Ringleader and see what he had decided to do. If he hadn't yet, maybe she could undo what Geralt had just done and remind Lucien of the awful position he had put them all in, especially the circus' reputation. The look she saw the two men share before Geralt exited the tent did not fill her with the confidence that she needed. She hoped that this would be addressed in their after-show meeting, as all of the troupe members gathered around the stage. She stood there, hand clasped before her, biting her lip in anticipation of the man's decision.

Lucien gave Geralt a nod of approval as he left the stage. He couldn't deny he had made up for what he had done with this performance, despite the fact he probably still felt the aftereffects of the previous night. With this, and the satisfied crowd, he could say it was all forgiven. At least, that's what he wanted, but he still had some explaining to do. He had avoided speaking to the rest of the troupe in regards to this situation up to this point, mostly because he had wanted to wait to see how the show itself would go. With such an excellent closer, at the very least he felt more validated in his decision in letting him stay.

Once Geralt had gone, the rest of the troupe remained, the tent now having been emptied of their previous audience, and the carnies who had finished gathering all the coins. There was no point in beating around the bush here, he knew what they were all thinking, and wanting to know, Illyana especially.

"It was a great show tonight." He started. "I know you've all probably been wondering what happened the day before, and what will happen as a result." He paused for a moment, his eyes landing on Illyana, knowing she was the most anxious to know what exactly he had decided.

"I've decided to give Geralt another chance. Yesterday was a big mistake, and one he has acknowledged, and one we have agreed that will not happen again." He explained.

Ivory's eyebrows raised at this news. It was true that Lucien wasn't one to fire on the spot but.. was it really wise to keep him after a stunt like that? "Are you sure? He's a smooth talker, Lucien. Can we really be certain he won't do something like that again?" She asked.

Aurel had nodded in slight agreement, but he hadn't said anything. He gave Illyana a glance, knowing she wanted that man gone more than anyone. This.. had probably been the best chance for that.. but he wasn't surprised that Lucien had let him stay... not after having given a performance like that. It was clear he had been trying to make up for something. Now whether it was because he was actually regretful was something else...

Akane on the other hand was relieved by the news. What had happened with Geralt had been really disappointing.. and it had worried her, because the atmosphere around the circus had been.. tense since it happened, as everyone waited to hear Lucien was going to do about this. She hoped this meant maybe things could go back to normal, but there was a part of her that thought this would not be the case.

"He has assured it. I made it clear that sort of behavior is unacceptable here, not without good reason or fair warning. If by some chance it does happen again, I will do what must be done. I apologize for not telling you sooner, I wanted to see how the show tonight would go." Lucien said to them.

Illyana listened to Lucien with bated breath, but she knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth. It was the look on his face, the relaxed nature of his shoulders, the glow of his aura. She had known him too long to dismiss these signs.

She barely heard it as he confirmed that Geralt would be staying among them, and dropped her eyes to the ground instead. She knew that Lucien would be expecting this from her, but she could not just let this go, not when she thought that they were so close to being rid of Geralt's dangerous influence. It seemed that he was able to sink his hooks in further to Lucien than she had feared. She had been too distracted by her own happiness close at hand, that she had lost sight of the safety of the others in her troupe, and for that she felt guilty. Maybe there was still time to convince Lucien that this was not the right call.

Cora was also relieved to hear this news. She knew that whatever had happened had caused a ripple of negativity to flow over their troupe, and she was happy to see this end. When Lucien had gathered them all to talk, she hadn't been expecting this announcement, and was the only one who looked around in surprise when Geralt was brought up. When Lucien voiced his opinion and decision, she looked over her shoulder and flashed a small smile to Akane who was standing behind her chair. She knew that her friend had also been worried about Geralt and the others and was glad that this stress was now over.

Illyana was glad to hear that she was not the only one with doubts, and even more so that it was Ivory who voiced them. The dhampir was known to be outspoken, which was what Illyana needed right now. She was shy by nature and just the thought of speaking to Lucien about something so serious made her stomach turn and her hands shake and sweat. But, she knew what she had to do.

When silence had fallen over them again, the "gypsy" raised her eyes to the Ringleader, hoping that she looked confident but knowing it was most likely a lost cause. Her voice was quiet but firm as she asked, "Was a reason given?" It was a simple question, but it meant a lot right now. If Geralt had given a reason that Lucien determined was and acceptable excuse for missing a show, that was one thing, but Illyana knew that the man was slippery and hated talking directly about himself. The odds were high that he did not give a reason at all and that Lucien had no idea why he had been absent and where he had been when he was scheduled to be performing. If this were the case, then how could he let the man stay? Would he extend the same courtesy to the rest of them? Lucien was fair, but it was clear to Illyana that his judgement was clouded. She would never say her true thoughts in front of everyone, but if she thought it necessary, she would have to take him aside and speak with him, no matter how hard it would be for her.

Cora's smile faded as she looked over at Illyana and saw the look of concentration on her face. She was biting her bottom lip and gripping her elbow so tight with her opposite hand that her skin was turning whiter than usual from the pressure. Something was clearly bothering her...but this was good news. Cora didn't understand, but rather than asked, she simply watched. She had a lot to learn about humans.

Lucien turned toward Illyana as she spoke. He could see the nervousness in her body language, but could hear the determination in her tone. He knew speaking up like this was usually hard for her, but at the same time he also knew how Illyana got when it came to Geralt. Even after all this time he was aware she hadn't given up on trying to figure him out.

"No, there was not." He responded, pausing for a moment. "But enough was said for me to know that this was not simply a whim of his. If it had been, I would not have allowed him to stay." He told her, no hesitation in his tone. He did not want Illyana to think he had.. simply gone easy on him, or that he was only letting him stay because of his monetary value. He would have let him go had the attitude from last night remained. It was clear he had time to think about what he had done, and while he had not been provided with a reason, from what Lucien had seen.. and heard, he knew that there was something going on with him that he wasn't willing to share, and.. it was unlike Lucien to kick someone while they were down.

Ivory let out a sigh. There was no really no way to know whether this was true or not. She had seen the man do plenty on simply a whim, but this was crossing a line. Though she had not spoken to him directly, she had never seen Lucien that angry. Whatever Geralt had told him had clearly been enough to quell it. Whether that was due to his silver tongue or not was not something she could confirm.

Akane's eyes darted from Illyana and back to Lucien as he addressed the fortune teller's question. It was likely not what Illyana had wanted to hear, and while she wanted to remain relieved at the fact Geralt was staying, clearly that was not the only solution to the issue.

"I know that.. what Geralt did was bad. I was hoping that there had been a good reason for him to do something like that.. I know a lot of you were upset, but isn't it okay if he's apologized? The audience today was so happy by today's performance. It was even better than usual. Did he not try to make up for what he had done? People deserve second chances don't they?" She spoke up, feeling a tension in the atmosphere.

The dhampir glanced over at Akane as she spoke, not particularly surprised to hear her say something like that. She knew that people did deserve second chances, and it would be unfair for her to say otherwise, but she didn't like how open ended this resolution had been. Despite that, there was not much she could say to change Lucien's mind. For now, she decided to trust his judgement, but if it happened again, Ivory was not planning to stay quiet.

Illyana was slightly taken aback at the tone and directness of Lucien's response to her. Was there a hint of frustration in his tone? Lucien had always been someone who was open to criticism and suggestions for change. He was fair, and had always put the happiness and well-being of his performers before his own needs. Illy knew this, and yet...something about this situation was nagging at her.

She knew that Lucien would stop at nothing to defend the people in his care, especially Illyana and Aurel, who he had practically raised from childhood. She had seen him through disagreements, even small arguments, but never had she seen him react this way when it came to a performer or a Carnie. It was clear to her now that, whatever his true feelings for Geralt were, there were things between them that Illyana did not know, and that made her uncomfortable. If Geralt had been a person that she trusted, someone dependable like...well, someone she could count on no matter what, it would be different. She wanted Lucien to be happy almost above anything, as she had seen him in his darkest hours, but this...this was something else. If there was one thing she was certain of, it was that Geralt was dangerous. He could not be trusted as he was, and he was secretive, and there were dark reasons and intentions behind everything he did. Could Lucien not see this, or was he simply unwilling to admit it?

Akane's words fell on deaf ears as these thoughts rocketed through her brain. Normally, she would have dropped the subject and let it go, but this...she just could not do it. Geralt was not and would never be the person that she, Lucien, and even Aurel wanted him to be. No one could replace him, she wouldn't let them.

Cora was also shaken by Lucien's words. Though she, among almost the entire troupe, knew the least about him, she had never heard him take this tone with Illyana before, and never before had she seen Illyana react this way either. The girl stood with her eyes on the ground, biting the skin of her lip with such force that the mermaid could smell blood on the air. Her knuckles were white from gripping her arm, and her arm itself was beginning to redden from the pressure of her grip. Akane's words helped to ease Cora's mind, but she could tell that Illyana was still distressed.

"I think they do..." Cora spoke up, keeping her voice quiet and looking to Illyana. "Isn't that what we got? What Lucien gave us? It's only fair that Geralt gets the same."

Illyana's gaze flashed to the mermaid and her tone was hard when she spoke, "Geralt the Great got his second chance, remember? He had his time to make up for his mistakes, and he seems to have squandered it. He faces no consequences for his actions, not ever as far as I can tell. How is that fair?"

An eerie silence hung over all in the tent, including Illyana. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could tell that her ire was rising, and unfortunately, mis-directed. She saw the look of shock and hurt that washed over the mermaid's face, Cora was not good at hiding her emotions. The clairvoyant immediately felt guilty for her outburst, and a red blush spread over her cheeks as her face relaxed and she looked at Cora now with pleading eyes.

"I'm sorry, Cora," she said, very quietly, then dropped her gaze once more. "That was out of line."

Cora, who had been instantly hurt by Illyana's words and whose pain was written clearly on her face, slowly began to relax as the girl apologized. The mermaid knew that she didn't mean to be harsh, she could tell by her expression that Illyana was sorry for what she had said just as soon as it had left her. The corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile and she nodded, "It's okay," she said, and meant it. Though even the mermaid had some lingering doubts in her heart. She had never seen Illyana this way...was Geralt's presence that much of a strain on her? If so, should they re-think their assessment of him? She didn't want to hurt anyone, but Illyana was her friend...and seeing her like this hurt her heart. She wanted to do what was best for everyone, but it seemed that, in this case, there wasn't one thing that was best.

Lucien and Aurel were both surprised by Illyana's outburst. This behavior was unlike her. Over the years sure, there had been small temper tantrums as a child but.. this had clearly gotten to her. This was bothering her a lot more than he thought it would. For a moment, she thought that Illyana had somehow found out of Geralt's hypnotism incident, but that wasn't possible. It was something Lucien had decided to keep to himself, since it had seemed Geralt had learned his lesson and they had been able to speak of his reasons behind it. He hadn't found it necessary to tell Illyana, not when she had been looking for any sort of reason to want the Magician out of their circus.

He let out a small sigh before he looked at the others. "Perhaps it is best that we adjourn this meeting for the night. If any of you wish to speak to me further about this, feel free to stop by my trailer tomorrow. You all need rest." He said to them. It would do them no good to continue this conversation with the others. He needed to speak with Illyana about this alone.

Ivory scrunched up her nose slightly at the slight smell of blood, giving Illyana and Lucien a wary glance. At this point even she knew that it was best they had a chance to speak alone. She motioned to Cora and Akane, who followed her worriedly out of the Big Top.

"Do you think they'll be okay..?" Akane asked.

"I'm sure they'll be fine.. They just need to talk about it." Ivory responded.

--

While the other three performers had gone, Aurel had stayed. He was too worried about Illyana and Lucien to just leave them like this. It wasn't often the two of them had a disagreement this big.

Lucien had waited until the others left, giving Aurel a small glance as he had decided to remain. He didn't mind. He wanted his opinion on the matter as well.

"I'm sorry that this has upset you, Illy. I understand that Geralt's actions were completely uncalled for, and I made sure that was known. Last night I questioned his dedication to this circus, I'm not lying when I said that I made it clear that this sort of behavior would not be tolerated again." He said, before letting out a sigh.

"It's been months since Geralt joined us. I know he's had his unsavory moments, but he's never brought harm to anyone here. You know he wouldn't still be here if he had. Earlier you spoke of fairness.. but let me ask you this. If Ivory or any of the others missed a show without reason, would you have told me the same?" He asked her, his voice softer than before. He didn't want to sound harsh, but he wanted her to understand how biased she was being. He didn't think any of the other performers here would do such a thing, but he cared too much about all of them to simply kick them out on the spot. They weren't just a business, they were also a family, he would never throw them out into the streets for something like this. If they no longer cared for the circus, while it would hurt, he would happily let them go to do with their lives as they wanted.

Cora let herself be pushed from the tent by Akane, and gave one last long look at Illyana before they exited. The girl had her eyes fixed on the dirt beneath her shoes, distress clearly written across her face. The mermaid frowned, but said nothing. She hated to see someone that she cared about in this much pain, especially after everything that Illyana and Lucien had done for her. She hoped that they would figure everything out sooner rather than later, and that Geralt also got to stay. But something still bothered her about Illyana's reaction. Clearly, there were things about the trio of them, Aurel included, that the rest of the troupe members didn't know.

She turned to the night sky as they left the tent, marvel ling at it's beauty. Where she had come from was like a mirror to that, so much darkness with so many little stars to light the way. They were like stars, she and her companions, she just hoped that they were not drifting too far apart.

As they walked, Cora absently let her cheek slide to the side and felt it brush against Akane's hand. The Kistune must have seen the mermaid's face and been concerned, for she had placed her hand on Cora's shoulder. Cora looked down at it, then glanced up at Akane and smiled. The Kistune smiled back and was about to withdraw her hand, but Cora laid her cheek against it, comforted by the closeness between them. She hoped nothing this frightening would ever happen to drive them apart.

--------------------------------

Illyana felt the heat rising in her face as angry energy tore at the seams of her carefully constructed demeanor. Normally, she was very practiced at keeping herself distanced from emotions, as powerful ones had a tendency to overwhelm her, but now it seemed that she was unable to. Memories, and for once her own, were flashing through her head at light speed. She was lying in a bed, fast asleep with Lucien and Aurel. The three of them had been reading and drifted off when she was a girl. Then, she was riding on someone's shoulders. He was so tall that she thought she could touch the sky. She and Aurel were alone in their tiny room and she was telling him all sorts of things about different animals, cold and warm blooded. He was interested, and sometimes would sketch them from her descriptions. All four of them, their little "family" sitting in camp chairs under the stars, eating a meal that had been prepared for them over an open flame, saying nothing, but happy...content with what they had.

But she didn't feel that way now. She was not content, she was not happy. She had never gotten what she wanted from this relationship with Lucien, but for a long time it had been enough. Was she, was Aurel, no longer enough for him? She had already been unworthy of the love of her parents once, she could not let that happen again. And all for what, for some stranger who waltzed into their lives like he knew them? Like he owned them? No. If Lucien wanted him, he would have to choose.

"I know that you did what you think is right, Lucien, you always do. I'm not questioning you or your actions, but I don't trust that man." As she spoke, her voice started out in a low tone and she gently raised her eyes, and in them the torture she was feeling was sure to be clear. "Of course I would never react this way if Ivory or Cora or Akane did this...they're like...they're my friends. But Geralt is not. You talk about him like he's one of us, like he's earned the right to be here beside us, and he hasn't. There is something wrong here, Lucien. I don't know why you can't see it like I can." She was pleading with him now, moisture collecting in the corners of her eyes. "He's secretive, and mean-spirited, and sometimes openly hostile." She glanced back over her shoulder at Aurel when she said this, "He makes us uncomfortable to be around him and I know," she placed a hand on her chest, over her heart as she said this word, "there is something sinister behind his charm and his...the way he looks at you. He wants something from you, Lucien. I just wish I knew what it was..."

At this, her vision clarified slightly and she looked Lucien directly in the eye. "He's not the person...the man you want him to be, Lucien. He isn't....he's not who you're looking for."

Illyana knew that when these words left her mouth that she was crossing the line. She had never spoken to Lucien openly about this before, and she knew to avoid the subject because it would only hurt him. But she couldn't stop herself once she began. It needed to be said. There were some people that could never be replaced, and Faolan was one of them. Not for Lucien, and not for Aurel, and not for Illyana. For a long time, she knew Lucien would never try...but now, she wasn't so sure.

Illyana's words brought doubt to the Frenchman. He had never seen her get so angry. It was clear how much this bothered her by the look in her eyes. Had he really been blind to Geralt's actions? Golden eyes drifted to Aurel as Illyana turned to look at him. Did he feel that way too? If so, how could he not have noticed? He knew that Geralt's mood swings were sometimes not the best, but he hadn't seen him lash out at anyone. If anything... in the recent days he had thought that everyone had grown more used to having him around. Even Ivory hadn't been as hostile toward him as she had been when he had first arrived. He was beginning to think that no matter what happened, Illyana would continue to see him this way. It was honestly hard for him.. to see her like this. He hadn't thought this was truly bothering her to this extent...

His thoughts were cut short by her final comment. Lucien furrowed his brow, trying to hold back the hurt from his expression at hearing those words.

"What kind of man do you think I want him to be, Illyana?" He asked, upset that she had taken things that far. Did she think.. he was interested in the man in that way? "Is that why you think I don't want to let him go?" Frustration seeped into his words as he spoke.

Aurel tensed at Illy's words, eyes darting toward Lucien and then back to her as she spoke. Lucien's demeanor had changed. It was clear that her words had both hurt and frustrated him. While he agreed with Illyana in the fact that Geralt's presence was.. unseemly, he hadn't wanted things to get this far. He hadn't really thought of things the way that Illyana had about what Lucien saw in that man. It had concerned him for a very long time, that perhaps the Magician had managed to sway him. He hadn't thought it would be possible, and honestly he wasn't sure if that was even the case.. or if there was more to it that they didn't know about. Whatever the reason, he found it best to speak up now, before things got further out of hand. He stepped forward, and gently placed a hand on Illyana's shoulder.

"I don't think.. Illy meant it that way, Lucien. I'm sure there.. are other reasons why you made the decision you did. I agree with her in the fact that there's something he's hiding... and while I understand that you've always been respectful in regards to people's privacy..." He paused for a moment, giving Illyana a small glance.

"I think perhaps.. it would help if we actually knew what it was he was hiding. Geralt.. is a wild card, he always has been. In the time he's been here my snakes and I have both seen how.. bipolar he is. He could say that he'll never do it again now.. but it can always happen again, Lucien.. I don't.. want to tell you how to lead this circus.. I've always trusted in your judgement but.. perhaps.. you should talk to him again.." He said, his worry clear on his expression. Up to this point he had refrained from giving his direct opinion on Geralt. While he did make him uncomfortable, he had grown accustomed over time. Aurel had not wanted to cause any problems, especially knowing how much he had been helping them recover financially. But now.. it was possible he'd become a bigger problem. He didn't want Geralt to be what ended up tearing their family apart.