1959

[fiery_ring]

It's dark when Carlotta emerges with Teja and Egil. The audience are making their way home, and the circus folk are winding down for the night.

Comments

[ostro_goth]

"What sent him on such a slide?" Teja says. "He used to be decent."

[fiery_ring]

"The war." Carlotta answers simply. "He was a pilot. He never got over what he did to civilians on the other side."

She sighs. "However, eventually I had to put the kids first. I excused drunken cheating the first few times. When it happened a third time, enough was enough. He caused my first circus to go bust because he was taking money from the till for drink."

[ostro_goth]

Teja nods. "There is no way o get help for him?"

[fiery_ring]

"He had a psychiatrist for a while. Malcolm Crowe spent some time with him too." Carlotta says. "His parents continue to try and get him help."

[ostro_goth]

"I am truly sorry to hear that," Teja says, "for indeed, not all that suffer can be saved."

[fiery_ring]

"He has to do some of the saving himself." Carlotta says. "I can't do it all for him."

[ostro_goth]

"Indeed, that is true," Teja nods.

[fiery_ring]

"Sometimes things just don't work out." Carlotta says. "I think without the war, we would have lived happily ever after. But I have two lovely children, and I have built my life up again."

[ostro_goth]

"Have you found another that you would love?" Teja asks.

[fiery_ring]

"No." Carlotta shakes her head.

"I don't think Bobbie would accept another father figure."

[ostro_goth]

"It is not for him to choose," Teja says.

[fiery_ring]

"It's not." Carlotta says. "But it's his childhood too. Besides, the caravan would be very cramped with four."

[ostro_goth]

"You could get the children their own place to sleep," Teja says.

[fiery_ring]

"True. Well, Molly will be going to St Clare's in September, and Bobbie will likely be going to school in a few years, so the caravan will have more space then."

[ostro_goth]

"Maybe then, someone new can turn up," Teja says.

[fiery_ring]

"They could. But I don't know whether I even want that or not." Carlotta says. "Being married in this age usually means being submissive to the husband."

[ostro_goth]

"Nobody says you can't go beyond that," Teja says. "But things will happen as they happen. Fate and choice will ever keep a balance in our lives; we must but learn how to best stand upon it."

[fiery_ring]

"How is Pyrrha?" Carlotta asks. "Is she keeping well? It's wonderful that you've stayed together so long."

[ostro_goth]

"She is well, and going about her business as do I, when we are apart," Teja says.

Loki is also not nearly always Pyrrha, but Teja accepted that long ago, along with the rest of this strange arrangement.

"Our love does not lessen with time."

[fiery_ring]

"That's lovely." Carlotta says.

"Come, let me show you around the camp."

[ooc: Fade here? Thanks for the thread :)]

[ostro_goth]

"Oh yes, let's go!" Egil declares, all enthusiastic.


[[OOC: Good place -- and thanks, too! <3 ]]