Cirque Noir

Well, well, there's quite a few unfamiliar faces. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of my company lately, let me introduce myself. I'm Violette, your resident dancer and mistress of the obscure.

[...]

And for those wondering, yes, I'm finally back from my little vacation.

If anyone is looking for recommendations and has any interest in the history of witch trials then consider visiting the Witches’ Weigh House in Oudewater.

As most of us are aware that many people were unfairly judged as witches and put to death for something as simple as being different, but in this small town here in the Netherlands 13 people were charged with witchcraft, but were acquitted because the scales were set to reflect an accurate depiction of weight.

That is quite a legacy.

I accept you, demon.
I will not cover your mouth.
If it be man I love, apple laden and foul
or if it be woman I love, sick unto her blood
and its sugary gasses and tumbling branches.
— Anne Sexton

[ ETA: ]

does anyone have cigarettes to spare

So given that I'm from Ireland it's no secret that I am pasty as fuck so I figured while we're here in this glorious heat I'd take full advantage of it.

Nobody likes having legs that could in Lord of the Rings summon aid for Gondor.

What I neglected to take into consideration was a) I'm pasty as fuck b) just because there's cloud it doesn't mean the sun is any less intense and c) freckles really like the sun so... I am now a cross between sunburned and very freckly.

Fun times.

What a welcoming city Amsterdam remains, and Haarlem has a real sense of peace to it.

Just remember to keep some common sense about you. When the cirque was here about 15 years ago a particular group went out and got so high and drunk that three of them tumbled into a canal together.

[Reggie]
And that canal water smell never came out of those jeans, no matter how much I washed them.

Fair warning, I will be practising a new trick with my knives near my trailer.

Approach with caution.

Or not.

It’s entirely up to you.

Speaking of inspiration, something lit a fire under my ass and I actually took a few photos.

( attached images )

when you get hit with the sudden inspiration to rearrange your entire home. some might call it motivation, others might call it mania. i guess you could call in spring cleaning too, huh?

Nell spent a few days on a slowly tightening spiral of maybe maybe maybe, and then the Cirque picked itself up, spun itself around, and with the landing came the sensation, for once welcomed, of nature at work. She lay on her bed, all the tension coming whooshing out, and then she grabbed for her phone wondering what in the heck she'd ever been concerned about. Everything was great!


Levi

Hey, crisis averted. We are in the clear.

Nice change of scenery, huh?

The level of excitement some of you show for a red light district I'd think you were all virgins and nuns.

The secondhand record stores here are quite amazing though. Anyone think they've found the best wine bar yet? It's the best place to look for dinner.

Hello, to the Netherlands. Mijn luchtkussenboot zit vol paling. I'm excited to be here, although I don't speak more than a few sentences of Dutch myself.

I haven't done too much in the city yet, other than walk around and take in the different experience to Yokohama. But Isaac and I have been out to look at some of the flower fields together and took photos like we were instagram influencers, but we weren't the only ones doing it and I suspect the others thought we were mocking them a little.

I don't have many future plans yet but Wednesday I am going out to a very lavish restaurant to have dinner with Bliss and actually wear some of the remarkable clothes Elia buys me. (And the shoes! I'm sorry, Elia, the shoes hardly ever get an outing.)

I encourage you all to exercise good judgement when out and about in the city. Remember that many of you are capable of great feats of strength and magic that should not be demonstrated to the general public, and that while it may take a truckload of illicit substances for some of you to become impaired, it can still happen. If you have not experimented before, please be mindful that your abilities and senses may be impacted in unpredictable ways.

Stay in pairs or groups and call for help if you need it. The city may be beautiful but it may not always be kind to us.

I would say that I am surprised by the glee at realising we are in the city known for a red light district, but that would be a lie. This city is quite beautiful in all areas. I encourage you to spend your money diversely.

[Arden]
Stop bothering that wolf for coffee and get a decent night's sleep. Come for tea with me tomorrow.

for those of you who didn't come out on friday
i brought some fun drugs, if anyone wants to partake

Boy, I must've been so tired. I slept for almost two days? Really? That was a much smoother ride than I thought it'd be. Does anybody have any idea how this mystery magic works, out of curiosity? I have so many questions.

On the other hand, I feel like baking. Any requests? Oooh. Maybe I'll find some local baked goods to try and recreate. Anyone been to here before that might have any suggestions?

I do not believe my lost day was spent sleeping. If it were then you would think I'd feel rested. Alas, I feel the same as always. I am pleased with our new location, however, at least.

A poem for the day:

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

A Dream Within a Dream
Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849

Well, that time skip fucked with my head and my energy.

At least we're in Amsterdam so I can get both those things sorted relatively quickly.

Part of me wants to ask how the hell it's Friday, but I know there isn't an answer for that. I'm not thrilled about loosing a whole day, but at least we have a whole new city to explore.

Everyone make it through the move ok?

Woah, is today really Friday?

[ leon (they're probably just a room away, but she texts him anyway) ]

✉️ Leon! I'm going out with a friend to get Stroopwafel Liqueur.
✉️ AND THEN ME AND YOU ARE GOING ON A BUS RIDE TO THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT FOR SOME FUN DRUGS AND OUTLAWED AMERICAN TOYS. Okay?

I'm very excited about the upcoming move, like everyone seems to be. But I would be much happier if it didn't make me feel quite so... nauseated. If anyone has any ginger tea, I would appreciate it?

( Private to Mikhi )