The sight she found even better than seeing a full house was all the kids that would stick around afterward. Sukeena found herself most familiar with the mind and imagination of those children and one of her favorite things had always been talking to them. She told them stories of a fantastic reality; ones with truth, but hidden behind a mythical splendor. Then she’d just chat with them, introducing their little imaginations to all the sights and sounds that she’d experienced in her travels.
Of course, usually her stories didn’t seem nearly as fun as they should’ve, as most of the kids became nervous under the glare of a particular someone.
This time, one of them was brave enough to ask, “Who’s that mean-looking guy behind you?”
Sukeena didn’t lose her smile. “That’s Umi. He’s not as scary or mean as he looks, I promise.” She turned around to look at him and gestured him over. “Come on, don’t make me look like a liar. Everyone will feel a lot more comfortable without you sulking in the corner like that.”
“Unlike you, I didn’t come here to talk to kids,” he mumbled.
“No, but I bet they’d like it if you showed them what you were working on before the show.”
All of the kids understood that part, cheering in unison, “Show us, show us!”
It was Sukeena’s hopeful look, though, that did much more than anything the kids could’ve said. Umi went to his tent and came back to them a moment later with the little half-finished wooden horse. He didn’t seem to have any particular feelings towards it, but the kids all came close to look at it; it earned him many awed looks and compliments.
“I still think it’ll be a great idea to pass those around after shows,” Sukeena quietly said to him. “I know you’ve sold a few of them but I think people would really like them. Natharie would be more willing to let you make more of them.”
Umi shrugged. “You’ve never seen my aunt’s talent—it isn’t much compared to her.”
“Stop being humble. I’ve come across some pretty talented people in my travels and you easily top them.” She noticed two other things, though, so she told the kids, “It looks like your parents are almost ready to leave. It was nice talking with all of you! I hope we’ll see each other again someday.”
Once they nodded and rushed off to their parents, she stood up to take care of the second thing. To Umi, she gestured to a young woman watching them and remarked, “You’re not the only one brooding tonight, apparently. I’m going to talk to her.”
He said nothing. After taking a moment to put the wooden horse away, he followed her to meet this new stranger.
“Hello! Did you enjoy the show?” Sukeena asked her, her smile never faltering. “I’m Sukeena, by the way, and this is Umi.”
“Mati,” the young woman returned. After a moment, she slowly nodded. “I watched your show. I wanted to ask… what brought all those people there—why they’re all performing. How such different people could all come together…”
Now, there was nothing about Mati’s tone that suggested any kind of disdain, but it wasn’t general curiosity, either. She was asking for a reason. Sukeena had overheard those kinds of questions, Insith’s answers, and what sometimes came out of it. But, believing there really was no ill intention behind it, she intended on answering—though she remained ready to defend if she needed to.
She gestured to each of the members when she talked about them. “My grandfather started a circus, which my father eventually took on, and that’s now mine. I was born and raised in this kind of lifestyle. Orith and Natharie were friends of my parents. Natharie was the first new person my father recruited after he took charge and Orith had been a friend of my mother. Umi was my first new recruit after I became the ringleader, he was wandering a while before we crossed paths. Detu’s parents didn’t want him so we took him in instead. Miho, Ilathy, and Nillie came to us, they were wandering around, too. Miskunn was kind of like an old family friend, so we let him in when the performing troupe he was a part of decided to break up. Lastly, there’s Theisi, who, in her own words, is running away from her ex.”
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Mati looked more at ease, actually, when she heard it all. In fact, she chuckled, though in a kind of way that didn’t hold much meaning. “So a bunch of dumb luck and unfortunate circumstances..?” She shook her head. “Well, I don’t see a point in being subtle about it. I… was wondering if I could fit into this merry band of misfits of yours.”
Sukeena was just about to welcome her on, but she must’ve felt the need to explain herself more. Mati cautiously looked around before more nervously saying, “I’m from the Pasha region, in Qizar—I was able to get accepted into Missa-Sidyn, though. It… wasn’t what I was expecting. They tried accusing me of something I didn’t do and even after I was able to convince them I didn’t do it, they still acted like I did. I decided it was better to leave than stay in a place where I wasn’t wanted. I’d watched one of your shows and, well, here we are…” In a quick mumble she added, “Also I would be honored to work every day with someone as hot as you.”
“I was already about to say you’re more than welcome to join us,” Sukeena pointed out. She thought nothing more of the mumble; she’d heard those kinds of things from several people her age that had watched a show. She didn’t find a reason to draw attention to it. “Natharie is right over there. All we have to do is talk with her and you’ll be one of us in no time.”
She gestured for Mati to follow her, and Umi trailed behind them. Natharie must’ve noticed them coming because it looked like she repressed a sigh as she walked over to meet them.
“Is there something she wants?” she asked, only glancing at Mati for a moment before looking at Sukeena.
“People were being jerks to her and she wants to join us,” Sukeena summarized. “Can she? Please?”
Mati anxiously shuffled, focused on the ground, and mumbled, “It’s a little more than that. You get it too, don’t you? What it means to stand out as a child of Fleyw Bresh in Seothia..?”
That surprised all three of them, but it only really earned a casual statement from Sukeena. “I’m not a child of Fleyw Bresh.”
“I—I assumed, with your magic—”
“Both my parents were Seothian.”
“A magister, then..? Isn’t that what they call their own with a close connection to it?”
“I’ve never really heard anyone call me that, either.” Sukeena shrugged. “But that’s probably what it is. That’s usually genetic, right? My mom had powerful magic, too. Funny enough, neither of us could see Illusion magic, either.” She didn’t think too much about it; there’d been other members of Insith’s troupe and some people in the crowd who couldn’t see it. She’d simply assumed that was just something that not everyone had… and not in the way that suggested one group had something else the others didn’t.
Either way, Natharie seemed glad to change the subject—quite unexpectedly, too, given what she said after turning to Mati. “You can stay with us, at least for a little while. There’s no point in arguing with Sukeena. What’s your name and some talents? If we’re quick, it won’t take much to squeeze you into the next performance.”
“You’re really not going to argue?” Sukeena asked, just as shocked as Mati looked. “Every other time someone wanted to join you were always against it…”
“Would you rather I try to fight it?” Natharie returned. “You’re exactly like Insith—it’s a waste of time trying to argue with you. I’ve tried everything I could think of by now and I can’t stop you. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to be closely watching this yet-unintroduced new member, just that I’m going to save myself some time.” There was something a little more to it, though. She still seemed like she was avoiding something…
Mati, perhaps still partially acknowledging that her request had come true, only now thought to answer Natharie’s question. “I’m Mati. I can’t say that I have many talents as a performer b-but I… know magic? Could that be enough..?”
Natharie nodded. “It’s something we can work with, at least. I’ll introduce you to the others.” As she ushered Mati away, she remarked, “And you won’t have to worry about your birthplace here. We’re a mixed group—the only thing that matters to us is that you’re a part of making someone smile.”
Sukeena couldn’t help but smile; Insith used to say something like that, too, whenever they’d get a new recruit. It made her feel like they were that much closer to what he had achieved.