Courtyard Concert {Pop}

The Ringmaster nodded. "Not a problem, my dear Richard Trickson. You may perform with your own guitar, if you wish," he said, taking the guitar back. Once it made contact with his hand, it exploded into a hundred blue morpho butterflies.

"It seems that we've come to an agreement, Mr. Trickson." The stage went dark. The circus' spotlight was on the two of them. The Ringmaster flashed his trademark winning smile and offered Richard Trickson a handshake. "Would you care to shake on it?"

The Ringmaster beamed. As soon as their handshake was finished, the lights all came back on in one, happy burst. Circus music played in the air and confetti began to rain down on the ceiling. An audience of life-like ghosts stood in the crowd and cheered in delight.

"The Midnight Circus is glad to have you on board, my friend! Now, let's talk contracts after your first weekend. I assume you'd want to think it over after your performances before you commit, yes? Oh! And before we end this meeting..."

The Ringmaster pulled out his rose from his breast pocket and offered it to Richard Trickson with a smile.

"Here. A gift. If you ever need to get transported to the circus right away, hold this flower in your hand, think about the circus and open the next door. That would lead you to us in a jiffy."

The Ringmaster... smiled.

This scene felt very familiar. With all his years as a traveling circus, there were many people that hopped on board feeling the same thing: gratitude over the Ringmaster's kindness. Again, that feeling of happiness with an underlying bitterness took over. He wished he wasn't the first person that was kind to them in this magnitude, but at least it happened before they realized they were unlovable. That wasn't true at all.

"No need to thank me, Mr. Trickson. The pleasure is all mine." He took off his hat and bowed.

Ah.

That held a story, but it was a story the Ringmaster thought that Richard Trickson would share, if he ever decided to. The Ringmaster nodded. "Then I accept your thanks, and tell you that you are most definitely welcome!" He clapped his hands and ceased the fanfare.

"Now," he started, clearing his throat. "This meeting would suffice for now, yes? I just remembered I was supposed to pick up my dear daughter from school. It would be unfortunate if I left her hanging for too long." He placed a hand on the small of RT's back, gesturing for the exit. "Shall we both leave?"