-- OPENING NIGHT --
Just outside of the gates, crowds gathered with their tickets in their hands. There wan't a cloud in the sky and the lights shone brightly beyond the midnight black gates. All of the tents had been hoisted high, their black and white colors giving the circus an air of mystery. Everything about this circus was odd and the air surrounding it would give anyone shivers of excitement and curiosity. Just as the last rays of sunlight fade away into dusk, a woman appears without warning in front of the gates. Whether those closest to the gates noticed it or not, it seemed as if they had taken a couple steps away to form a semicircle around her.
The woman wore all black, with traces of silver and white sewn into her long skirt and jacket, and atop her head sat a tall top hat with a single white rose gracing it. She stood on a box to give her an acceptable height difference and to make sure that all eyes were upon her. She gave the crowd a big smile and they silenced immediately. That's when she spoke in a boisterous tone of voice that elicited excitement from even the most dubious of guests. "Welcome, my friends!" Her voice was silky and dark. "I would like to thank you all for coming to my humble home, Cirque de Noir! Please feel free to leave any donations upon leaving our wonderful show, for I do not ask for payment other than your shining smiles and musical laughter!"
Then the gates opened behind her with a wave of her hands, a few people stepped back, wondering if they were automated or if someone had managed to open it up without their noticing. But those thoughts immediately dissipated at the sights and scents that awaited them. Music from various tents could be heard in the distance, enchanting anyone who cared to listen. The air of mystery was to only grow stronger.
"Now... let the show begin!"
And then the people poured through the gates, trying to decide where they would go to first. Each tent looked similar, except for size and shape. Signs at the entrances seemed to glow with their own light, trying to attract anyone who would care to discover what lay beneath the fabric. There was magic in the air.