Roll Up, Roll Up

[Robin Lichester-Raven]

Robin had no idea whether or not what he was planning to do today was legal, but as far as he knew the laws of the wizarding world were different from the muggle world. The problem was that wizards did not tend to appreciate these fine arts because magic was apparently more impressive. Robin laughed at such foolery. Physical strength was the foundation of true magic, and he couldn't abide seeing seeing older wizards growing fleshy and round while waving their wands lazily. His own father had taught him well, and he could only hope that the witches and wizards of Brightstone would see just how hard he worked. If the carved stomach muscles and torso were not enough to display, then the speed in which the shining metal spun through the air at his fingertips was everything he had to convince them.
Rob was going busking.
The great tent of La Grande Tour Circa was positively freezing in the New Zealand winter, but still Rob wore as little as possible even though he was headed out into the street. A long black-tailed vest was donned over bare shoulders and chest, falling onto loose arabian-style blue pants. His shoes were barely shoes at all, something that an acrobat might wear on the tight rope, but he placed a comically tilted top-hat on his head and grinned as he passed the long hall of mirrors leading out into the world. Robin looked good, and he knew it.
Even so, presentation was only half the show. By this time he stood at the cobble street corner with a little silver tin at his feet, and he began his performance. Robin was in his element, and it mattered not whether anyone came to see at this point when he balanced the tiny white balls on the tips of his fingers. Knives would come later, when all the kiddies had scampered away. For now, he rolled them across his arms and flicked them from finger to finger. They balanced on top of one another on the tip of his nose, and swirled around in the wind when he juggled them to and fro. Forget an audience. This was fun.

 

[Sophora Knox]

Sophora's eyes were white today.
It was fortunate she had had such high grades in transfiguration or she would have been unable to re-do her whole look in time for each gig. Unfortunately, Othila had not had an album for a while or a single and so they had been free for some time.
Sophora needed to do some shopping- Her hair product stores were running low; muggle hair product seemed to work better than trying to style ones hair with magic.
Fortunately for Sophora there was a shop selling muggle items so she didn't have to wander the muggle world trying to find the right shop.

Sophora's eyes picked out a tent. A large tent.
Curiosity got the better of her and Sophora walked to the tent, walking inside and..
There was a man juggling.
Alright, magic could do that easily but he seemed to be doing this the muggle way..
Sophora walked to the man to watch him.
"Amazing." she breathed, watching the act.

 

[Kita Katsunie]

Soft curling iron curls feel past dainty shoulders as Kita walked passed the big tent hand in hand with her sister. It amazed her how much Kita and Kuyumo looked alike though Kita had a fondness for curls while Kuyumo celebrated her pin straight hair. Those that knew then could sometimes tell them apart. There where times though when they didn’t want to be told apart. The neon orange dress fell past to her knees while slightly tattered white jeans fell to soft looking orange ballet shoes. Her sister was in the inverse in a white dress and neon orange stalking. Kita was the first to spot the rather good looking young man giving a street show outside the massive tent. Needless to say, Kita smirked.

 

[Kuyumo Katsunie]

This one of the days that Kuyumo didn't want to be told apart from her sister so she was in the inverse of her. A white dress with neon orange stalking and sleeves. Her hair was softly curled as well. She had her arm intertwined with Kita, keeping her close. There was every possibility that there was someone from their mother's family here but Kuyumo like Kita didn't want to stop living because of idle threats. There was every possibility that their family didn't even remember they existed. Kuyumo followed her sister's line of vision and smirked as well.

Kuyumo changed the direction that they where walking in where the young man was preforming. Her smile changed to a bright and happy one. She didn't need to look at her sister to know that her smile turned very cute. "Bravo." She said brightly.

 

[Robin Lichester-Raven]

Ah, finally ... an audience! rejoiced Robin inwardly as he flicked a white ball into the air to catch it on the back of his neck. There he paused to grin at the three women now watching the show, one dark eyebrow quirking at them coyly. His head dipped and he flicked it back swiftly so that the lone ball sailed forward, only to be caught on the tip of his toe in front of them. "Ever seen true juggling, ladies?" he asked the small crowd, flicking his foot now so that the ball became airborne once more and rolled onto his arm. All at once, the six other balls seemed to roll out of nowhere where he had stashed them in strange places when their eyes were distracted. One even fell out of his top hat to join the others that Robin was swiftly juggling with both hands now.

Robin's sharp eyes were now focusing on each girl/woman in turn, sizing them up with a coy look and a grin playing at his lips. He heard an 'Amazing!' and a 'Bravo!'. This was his cue to turn the show up a notch. The twins were standing fairly still, so with a simple roll of the wrist, he let one of juggled white balls free to run across Kita's shoulder and around to the other side before adding it back into the vortex-like cascade of balls being tossed around in his hands. "Doing this the wizard way is so utterly boring," drawled Robin in his lazy English accent. His movements were smooth and infallible, but his eyes sparkled like a squirrel, looking this way and that for various reactions. With a flick, he let a white ball drop carefully into Sophora's hair, waiting for the crowd to grow.

 

[Sophora Knox]

Sophora felt one of the balls drop into her hair.
For some reason, this made her laugh. A lot.
"Truly wonderful." She said, looking about. "I'm surprised you don't have more of a crowd.. How long have you been doing this? I mean, not today but.. Weeks? Months? Years?"

 

[Lumina Sangora]

Curiosity had got the better of Lumina and she entered the great tent in Brightstone:
She had been planning on seeing Merry again that day and those plans still stood until she approached the man juggling.
Lumina lurked behind the other women who were watching in awe.
And when he spoke, she knew. She knew it was him. His eyes were just as magnificent as when she had first seen them.
He was still handsome.
Her eyes gave a twinge and began to sting as tears formed in them.
She could not live with what she had done.. She had been young and hopelessly in love.
And now she ran from the tent, fleeing back to Hogwarts, to her office.. To her desk to open the drawer and take out the photograph.

 

[Kita Katsunie]

Kita watched him in awe as the young man added ball after ball in his hands. When he let the ball roll across her shoulders she started to giggle as her forehead joined with Kuyumo’s. The accent was to die for and had Kita been another type of girl would have swooned over him. Kita played with one of her loose curls and beamed at the juggler. “I would think so. It looks like there’s not a spell in existence that could give juggling the kind of flare you do.” She said, her Japanese accent thick but understandable. The sound of someone coming the going came to her ears but Kita would not take her eyes of the juggler.

 

[Kuyumo Katsunie]

Kuyumo was giggling as well but not for the same reason Kita was giggling. While the two girls talked to the juggling man Kuyumo was taking in the sights around then. A lady had come to then and seemed to have teared up. It was her distress that was making her giggle along side her sister with their foreheads connected. Kuyumo deemed it interesting to see where this took them if it did take them anywhere, the girl with the tall hair seemed quite interesting to just look at.

 

[Robin Lichester-Raven]

Attention, attention! Robin was loving this, but he was too calm in the limelight to let the kid-in-a-candy-shop attitude show. Professionalism was too important for that kind of nonsense, but the truth was written in his eyes. It was moments like these that were the best in his life, surrounded by people and entertaining to the best of his ability. Rob couldn't help but grin like a chesire cat when Sophora began to laugh at his antics. Suddenly the white ball was out of her hair once more, retrieved into his palm. Yet he hadn't taken a single step towards her and there was no hint of spells or magic in the air. It was a trick of the eye, and Robin quirked an eyebrow at them all. "All my life, in fact." Robin answered Sophora, his hand now rolling a ball from the back of his hand to his palm hypnotically; back and forth, back and forth.

Robin had no idea that he was being watched by a source that was not absorbed in his show. Even if he had noticed Lumina in the background, he would not have given her a second thought, if he did not try to cheer her up first. There were three pretty girls watching him; as they said, like father like son. "You are too kind, ma petite," Robin told Kita jovially, giving Kuyomo an extravagant wink. "But wait!". The eight balls now swinging in perfect succession around his shoulder blades made their way into his top hat one by one till all were gone. "Be not alarmed, for the only one in danger," he began, bowing slightly and giving the women a perfect angle of his chiseled muscles. "Is me." The next flourish was a far sight more delicate, and those with a sharp eye would see Rob's eyes now completely focused on the three showman's daggers balancing on his fingertips. One quick fling, and a flash of metal that was sure to make the ladies gasp, Rob now juggled the blades suavely, making sure to grin at one of the girls at every break between tosses.

 

[Kita Katsunie]

Kita finnaly let go of Kuyumo's hand to clap when the ball seemed to disapper from the woman's hair and into his hand. She knew it was slight of hand but it was still pretty amazing how he could do this kind of this without magic. She left her hands together and put them on the side of her face cutely and beamed. "Ohh after that you can't call me kind." She said giggling again. She was talking about how the balls seemed to vanish into his hat. Kita's cheeks went slighlty red when she caught a better veiw of his chest. "Oh Juggler-san no!" She said putting her hands to her cheeks when Robin said he was in danger. She gasped as the daggers seemed to dance in his hands.

 

[Christobelle Montgomery]

Christobelle was not at all an outgoing person. In fact, she was painfully shy. She'd attempted to work in retail, but it had failed, miserably. She'd given the job to a younger, vibrant person, and retreated home to hide away from the world once more. At least she had Wallace, her twin. It seemed that Wallace got all the boldness in the equation. He was always out having fun, making lots of new friends, in fact he was even enjoying his work in the Ministry. Christobelle could barely bring herself to leave the house, let alone find employment or talk to other people. She felt like a bit of a moocher on poor Isolde, but she kept the house tidy and was rarely a nuisance.

Christobelle had often wondered if she had agoraphobia, but she didn't think that was the case. She didn't mind going outside. She'd always loved running along the beach when she'd gone to visit Isolde's family in Cornwall, after all, as well as traversing the moors around the United Kingdom. And when she'd come to New Zealand, she'd taken great pleasure in seeing the mountains and all the beautiful scenery New Zealand had to offer. So, she was fine with the outside world. It was simply that she had great difficulty talking to people, and would go to great lengths to avoid contact.

Today, she was out in Brightstone Village, for the purpose of purchasing some things at Honeydukes for Isolde and Wallace - she liked doing nice things for her family, the family that hadn't virtually disowned her, that is. She walked quickly, keeping her head down so as not to make eye contact with anyone. But a small commotion piqued her interest. Shyly, slowly, Christobelle raised her head, and came to a complete halt. Why, the man was juggling daggers! That had to be dangerous. Gasping, Christobelle raised her hand to her mouth, her awe conveying her amazement. The man looked to be a bit of a show off, but wow, he was good.

 

[Moko Craven]

The figure clad in a dark warm robe against the bracing cold of the New Zealand wandered aimlessly about Brightstone. She had returned for the holidays as now the school had ended for another year. Alot on her mind she sighed not caring about the shops she wandered by and not letting anything else grab her attention, not until a juggler intent on flirting it would seem with half the female population came into her line of vision.

It wasn't so much his skill with the items he juggled that riveted her to the spot but more how he teased and cajoled the ladies and young girls about him alike. She remained back from the crowd as if not wanting to be detected, she had already clearly made out two Durmstrang girls as part of his fan club. The male species were not in her good graces at the moment, still sore from her ordeal at the graduation ceremony at Hogwarts, any student from that school or graduate was also out of favor with her.

Jostled by a passerby her hood fell from her head revealing the beautiful sombre face beneath. Her chocolate brown eyes looked directly at him before lifting the hood back up again. She moved a small bit closer and off to the side hoping to just lose herself in the crowd.

 

[Robin Lichester-Raven]

Robin was soaking up every gasp and exclamation from the growing crowd. In some ways he was slightly disappointed that all of them were female; he might have felt just a bit better about the work he was putting in if at least one male was there to appreciate the skill involved. Even so; notice was notice, and it seemed that at least some of the girls were genuinely impressed by what he did. He hadn't been training his whole life just to toss around a few plastic baubles, or even throw a few knives in the air. Rob taught trapeze to the younger acrobats, did his own aerial silk act and participated in some of the dance and flipping routines. But to anyone who asked, he was just a juggler. His street show was a preview to the real deal, and it was about time that he did some advertising.

Light snow was beginning to fall onto his bare shoulders and if he kept up the dance in the cold, he'd soon drop one of the knives; or worse. Out of the corner of his eyes, Robin saw one or two people lurking around the edge of the growing ring. Seeing that always made him want to lasso them in further and to take part of the magic. Rather, he made eye contact with Christobelle and Moko, his eyes holding the promise of mystery and excitement. Come closer, they said. But would the women dare? "All this and more, at La Grande Tour Circa; this Sunday at the big top!" called Robin, the knives disappearing one after another into his top hat till the perfectly coordinated movements ceased. With that out of the way, it was time to have some fun of a different kind.

Rob padded forward through the light sprinkling of snow to move closer to the women. Sweeping off the hat, there was a suddenly explosion of activity as the hat burst open and white doves poured from the top. The birds lifted in a giant arch across the grey sky, and Rob grinned impishly. "Well ... that really was magic," he said, eyes sparkling. But I'm not finished yet, thought Robin, eying the girls at the edge. Closer, and I'll show you a thing or two...

 

[Harrison Landers]

Harrison had planned to meet the boys in the town center before making their way to the Hogs Head and do a spot of proper boy catching up before they headed out to Essie. She had some big news for them all and even though his own parents had broken it too him with relish, always hating how she had moved to New Zealand in the first place, Harrison knew he would have to pretend to be surprised by the news of her leaving.

The Gables held some great memories for him but he also knew that Andy would be gutted, she was meeting them all for dinner at The Gables later as well. He just hoped that she wouldn't be bringing any strays home with her this time because it was going to turn into a very sad evening. He took a deep breath, he was now a graduate and had applied for a few positions all around the world. Still not sure exactly where he wanted to settle or just what it was he wanted to do. He hoped the next few days would help him there.

As he approached the town center he saw a crowd gathered around some street performer and as he had some time to kill walked over along to watch. The guy was really good, not just run of the mill any wizard worth his salt could do the stuff but he was genuinely an artist at juggling. The knives trick was a difficult one to perform he knew only because after seeing a similar trick himself, Fenton and Aries had attempted it. The result had been as bad as a splinching. Harrison had a red line down his right arm, Fenton's index finger on his left hand was missing it's tip and Aries had gloated that the two were complete and utter idiots.

Watching now he had to clap loudly, put his fingers into his mouth and whistle in appreciation. He couldn't care if he got looks from some of the girls around watching. They were most likely enthralled with old funny breaches performing instead of the actual performance anyhow. The doves were a nice touch, definitely one to please the ladies. He stepped aside hurriedly as bird droppings hit the shoulder of the woman beside him. Chuckling he took out his wand and cleaned it for her before she had even noticed. Then turned his attention back to the street performer.

 

[Christobelle Montgomery]

As the street performer met Christobelle's eyes, the shy redhead blushed a shade of red not dissimilar to her hair. Christobelle rarely made eye contact with anyone, too afraid that they would scrutinize her and judge her harshly. Of course, she had no real reason to be looked down upon - apart for her blood, for some - but it was an irrational fear she just could not shake.

Secretly, however, Christobelle loved to watch others perform. Such a childish, innocent joy filled her heart as she watched the performer juggle knives, even knowing he was a magician unable to quell the fear that he could seriously hurt himself with his act. But of course, he didn't. He executed it perfectly, and Christobelle was simply amazed. Although she could perform magic of her own accord, there were certain things that could almost be classed as magic - such as this juggling act - that would never, ever cease to amaze her.

Christobelle had, of course, noticed that there were plenty of other girls there - well why not, the guy was cute, of course - but Christobelle didn't know any of them and didn't expect to have to actually speak to anyone. In fact, she hoped she wouldn't have to, not to be rude, but merely because she was simply too scared to make much contact with others. But the performer drew closer to them, pulling a bunch of doves out of his hat - quite impressive. A few more confident girls stood closer to him, but Christobelle remained close to the edge, not saying anything, not moving away, but not drawing closer either. She was oddly curious to hear what he had to say. Maybe she'd consider going out to see the circus on Sunday. Isolde and Wallace were always telling her she needed to get out more, and here was the perfect opportunity.

 

[Moko Craven]

Her gaze went to each person as she continued to walk around the periphery slowly edging her way closer. The audience was in rapture, captivated by their entertainer. Her feet crunched lightly on the spattering of snow beneath her feet. It would take her some time to get used to this type of weather in what would normally have been her summertime. Over the shoulders of his congregation she allowed her gaze to follow the movements of the knives. Slowly and menacingly they seemed to fly into the air, his skilled hands juggling them as if they were merely feathers.

Allowing her gaze to drift Moko looked once more from the sharp blades to the man throwing them. Was it her imagination or was he looking at her? A slight frown made her gloved hands pull her hood over her head some more. Hiding her face completely, obscuring her from his sight completely. The coo of the doves steadied her steps, turning slowly to look as the birds fluttered one by one into the air Morrigan did not notice her feet walking her closer to them. The doves took to the skies and her head lifted skyward as still her feet moved her forward. Her hood slid hanging in place at her back as she watched the doves in the air. Snowdrops with wings, Moko smiled at them. Shedding the shroud of melancholy that had been her make-up for the past few days now. Still in awe of the beauty she had just whispered she lowered her head, her gaze came directly to the performer.

When had she walked so near? Though still a save distance from being harmed by any of his tools Moko stood for just a moment to look at him and then she was turning to walk back into the crowd again but people had surged forward as she had to admire the birds and her way was blocked.

 

[Sydney Benoit]

Sydney didn't exactly know why she was in New Zealand. Furthermore, she didn't know why she was in New Zealand dressed for the French summer that she had become accustomed to. She shivered as she walked down the street in brightstone village, pulling out her wand and casting a warming charm on herself. Giving one last shiver as the last of the cool sensation on her pale skin subsided, leaving her with a feeling reminiscent of being wrapped in a warm blanket, or wearing Pajamas that had just been pulled out of a muggle dryer. The charm did a much better job than any coat could do that much was for sure, it was snowing for goodness sake and she was toasty warm in her not so warm Outfit. The skies were grey and the air was thin, something large and colorful off in the distance stuck out quite prominently in the distance.

Walking a bit quicker now, Sydney slowly but surely made her way over closer to the tent and the crowd of people. More hoping the wind wouldn't blow her hat off as she walked against it than focused on getting there at the moment, she absolutely hated hat hair but it wasn't the end of the world, just very... very annoying to have to chase a hat down a street, as she had had to do before. Once she got to the tent she focused her attention on what everyone else seemed to be so enthralled in, Just in time to see the birds fly out of the guys hat. She had missed all the knife juggling so at the moment all she thought was that he was very skilled with his magic. Doing that to the hat and conjuring all those doves so fast, it was impressive.

Sydney wasn't quite in the crowd of people, more out at the fringes than anything. It wasn't that she didn't like the show, from what she had seen so far it seemed good, but she could see fine from here and from the way some of the girls near the front seemed to be fawning over him she felt it would be best to stay back and admire the admittedly very good looking guy from afar. When she wasn't within the walls of Beauxbatons she was painfully shy. She wouldn't approach anyone but if they were to talk to her it would be like flipping a switch, well... if she liked them anyways. She couldn't help but wonder what the mystery performer would do next, She was now glad Trista had showed her how to Sneak out of Beauxbatons. This was much more interesting than studying for NEWTs.

 

[Robin Lichester-Raven]

Robin watched with faint amusement as one of the girls he had been eying was trapped on the inside rings of the crowd. There would be no need to help her though, for he was planning his finale and the audience would disperse. In the meantime, his cheeks lifted impishly and he swept off his hat, bowing deeply to each and every one of the spectators. Was it just him, or were there more than there was just moments ago? Robin's eyes singled out a new girl further in the back, and (he was pleased to see), one male figure half in and half out of the throng. The urge to draw everyone closer came again, but he squashed it and beamed.

"Ladies ... " he winked. "Gentlemen," he grinned. "To reiterate; the tip of the iceberg is at your feet, and if you want to see more of me, or any of the beautiful ballerinas, strapping acrobats or hilarious clowns, there is only one place to go..." Robin did not have to concentrate for the next trick particularly hard, since he had enchanted the objects earlier. Even so, the result were spectacular. Scooping his hand into the top hat, he seemed to withdraw nothing, yet he still tossed his hand in the air as though it were filled with confetti. In an instant, the space around him was filled with multicoloured paper butterflies, which lost not time in making a friend of every person standing. When the spell would eventually wear off, anyone who had decided to keep one would notice that it was not just origami, but a tiny little flier with 'La Grande Tour Circa!' written in minute calligraphy all over. Robin said nothing more, for he didn't need to. With a wink and a flourish on his vest tails, he was gone. There was no crack of apparation.

 

[Moko Craven]

Morrigan became incensed that she would have to now stay and watch the show, she couldn't simply barge through the group of people or could she? Wasn't she a Durmstrang after all? What did they care for peoples feelings when her own most especially got trampled time and again. She heard him begin to speak and looking just once to almost glower at the boy who had done nothing wrong to her other than be male, Moko turned back to the two bodies barring her way and shoved them roughly aside.

If she had stayed a moment longer she would have witnessed his great disappearing act but she was too busy attempting to do a rougher version of her own. Wanting nothing more than to just be out of there, as far away from crowds and cute boys as she could possibly get she all but ran into another boy. Refraining from stomping her foot she glowered once more before finally coming to the edge of the crowd and racing off down the street.