New Start (OPEN)

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou took a deep breathe, it was a startling thing for her to not automatically know a persons intentions or even mood. The pencil in her hand quickly fell onto her sketch book that she had on her lap and she placed it beside her, watching Matt's eyes wander around the Trailer. It was pretty basic really, a few scattered pictures of different members of the cirque and places they had traveled, a coffin for drake in the far corner that faced Bijou's own bed as well as a few scattered objects such as books and clothes.

"I'm fine...it's just." She wasn't quite sure just quite how to explain it. "Your thoughts, I can't hear them." Realizing just how weird and awkward that sounded she quickly added, "I'm a telepath, I can hear everyone's thoughts, except yours." She hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand, even more startled when she heard nothing from his mind even with physical touch. "I'm Bijou Wilks, I'm the Cirques Oracle."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt noticed the coffin in the tent and his eyes seemed to darken at the site of it. He knew it was Drake's because he could smell his scent all over not only the coffin but the whole tent in general. Matt shook his head as he thought of the Vampaneze. The guy had brought him to a place to get help, for that he was thankful, but it was not as if he could forget all the pain that the Vampaneze had caused him. He simply couldn't.

He shook Bijou's hand and smiled a bit. Once she explained what was making her uncomfortable he chuckled a bit to himself. He couldn't believe that he had not seen that before. After all, Drake had said for Matt to mind his thoughts. He should have guess that she was a telepath. "Oh...sorry about that...I've been blocking my thoughts since I arrived. That Vampaneze...Drake...he told me to mind my thoughts." He paused for a moment as he looked at her. "I'm a Shape-Shifter...or Pyro-Shifter as others know me." He collected his thoughts, making sure that all of the memories that he did want shared were stored away. "If it would make it more comfortable, I can unblock my thoughts for you. I'm just a bit cautious of people I don't know." He explained as he smiled a bit more at her.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou couldn't help but roll her eyes, of course Drake had told him to be careful around her. She had a pretty short temper and a decent right hook-everyone still made sure to keep the wolfman as far away from her as possible after he thought about eating her once-and Drake had always been wary of it.

"Drakes always been worried about it, he tends to think that I judge people to quickly." She had to admit he was partially right, usually before someone even met her she already could see what kind of person they were based on their thoughts, she liked to think she was a good judge of character. "Don't worry about him, by the way. He only feeds when he has to, and often uses the way stations around." She frowned then, wrinkling her nose slightly. "Unfortunately there wasn't one within fifty miles or so."

Bijou brightened slightly at the mention of his powers, she loved meeting people with special abilities. "That is so cool, I've never met a shifter before! Well, unless Evra counts. He's part snake." She smiled, Evra was a pretty decent guy, if you didn't mind snakes. She was tempted then, to say that he should let her into his head. But Matt seemed pretty guarded, and she understood. "You don't have to, it just caught me off guard, that's all."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt nodded as she spoke. He could be worried about that as well. He had memories that often came to the surface of his mind; things that Bijou might not like to know. Though Matt had not been a bad person, himself, he did not want her to feel pity for him yet. After all, he did not know her well enough to be able to allow her to see his past.

Matt growled as she mentioned Drake feeding, but said nothing. He was having to concentrate on holding his thoughts and memories back at that moment. It was things like Vampaneze that brought such things to his mind. He really did not want to share those horrors with Bijou yet because he was afraid that he would freak her out.

Matt smiled a bit when the telepath spoke of his powers. "Yeah, I became a Pyro-Shifter many years ago...It's interesting to say the least." He said as he shrugged as he looked at her. "Thank you...I'll think that I'll keep my thoughts to myself for now...until I become a bit more comfortable." He decided as he looked at her.

Suddenly his stomach protested it's lack of food. Matt grumbled at that. "Sorry...I haven't eaten in about two weeks." he murmured just loud enough for her to hear.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou gave an amused smirk at his growl, in all honesty she was used to the hostility between her being in everyone's head and Drake killing others to stay alive. It made her wonder about how it was okay to be a vampire but not vampaneze, it seemed they hated each other just as much as the vampaneze hated vampires. It hadn't really mattered to her before, she always stayed neutral, but with Altair and Drake at each others throats, she chose to side with the cirque.

Matt silenced Bijou's internal rant with an explanation of his powers, which she found fascinating. A smile crossed her lips, she could have sworn she had read about pyro-shifters somewhere before, probably in one of Drake's dusty volumes of books. "I understand completely, after hearing everything someone doesn't want to say, it makes me glad that others cannot hear my own thoughts and judgements." She met is gaze with a steady one of her own, only for it to break when his stomach grumbled.

She giggled, despite her trying to act as though she didn't hear it and grinned at him. "Do you want to go and get some food? The main crowds probably done eating by now, so it's not that crowded."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt noticed the smirk on her face as he growled. He could imagine that not a lot of people would not like a Vampaneze hanging around them; he knew he didn't. "Vampaneze haven't been in good light with me for some years..." Matt explained as he looked at Bijou and then shook his head. He was okay with Vampires, because the used control and did not kill humans, but he knew Vampaneze did no such thing. "Sorry if this offends you in anyway, but after seeing what Vampaneze do, I can't bring myself to simply act like I don't mind them." Matt added quietly, seeing as it looked like that Bijou and Drake were friends of sorts and he didn't want to upset her.

"Its not my thoughts that I want to keep away from you at the moment, but memories. Sometimes I have flashbacks of my past and I don't want those exposed to you until I feel more comfortable here." Matt told her and he pinched the bridge of his nose. He was going to try his best to keep away from everyone or everything that could trigger his memories, especially during the nighttime hours; when he had the possibility of night terrors.

Matt smirked, embarrassed by the fact that she had heard his stomach. "Yeah...that would be good. People were staring at me as I came into the Cirque...very uncomfortable to say the least." Matt stated as he stood. He was still a bit wobbly on his feet, but he managed to keep himself upright.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou nodded, she understood where he was coming from. The vampaneze had a reputation and they usually held up to it. It hadn't taken much to convince Mr.Tall to let Drake stay, but the rest of the Cirque not so much. They hated him from the start, and some still do. "Don't worry, it doesn't everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I tend to stay away from the wolf man for that same reason." Her and that furry creature never did get along, and it was very clear when ever they had a performance.

The flash backs caught her interest right away, but she didn't breathe a word of it. It was strange to her, that people could recall things so easily. She couldn't remember her childhood, or her parents, or anyone really before she joined the cirque. Not even her real name, Mr.Tall had dubbed her Bijou because she was like a startled cat when he found her, hissing and defensive.

Bijou smiled at him, a teasing glint in her eye. "Well it isn't every day that Drake decides to help someone, you've gotta be special." She'd never admit it, but she knew exactly why he was brought back. The members of the Cirque saw Drake as nothing more than a monster, and he wanted to prove them wrong.

[Matt Breaker]

Matt chuckled for a moment. "What? Not an animal lover?" Matt joked as he looked at her. He had seen the wolfman as he had came into the cirque. Of course, when he had been a child, he had dealt with creatures like that.

"That is not comforting...I don't want to be special to a Vampanze. Besides, after being alone for so many years, crowds are not something I enjoy dealing with." Matt grumbled shaking his head slightly. He preferred to be alone or with only two to be around him, so the idea of being in the middle of a group was a bit overwhelming. He sighed and gestured to Bijou. "Okay...lead the way..." He said as he smiled at her.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou smiled, she liked animals well enough. She didn't pick up on their thoughts-although she was curious to see just how complex they could be-and made great companions. But she was a total and utter cat person, they were quiet, fluffy and loved to be adored and held. The Wolf man was just a mad dog in a cage who could kill her in an instant, not to mention she heard his thoughts and just how much he would love to have her for his next snack.

"Let's just say we don't get along. Him and I have been at each others throats since day one." She wrinkled her nose at the thought of the wolf.

"I know how you feel, but not all vampaneze are the same. You can't stereotype the entire world, but you can try." Bijou shrugged and stood up, straightening up her shirt as she did so. She decided it would be best not to pressure him to like Drake, just because she did didn't mean everyone had to.

While she knew that she would be fine with long sleeves on, it was still rather cold outside. "Do you want to borrow a jacket? It's kind of cold out."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt smiled. "Well I guess that would be a good reason to keep away from him. Maybe its just me, but I don't think the Wolf man would bother me all that much. Call it an...animal instinct." Matt chuckled at his inside joke. He knew very well that in his true form, he was very animistic so it made sense for him to not feel threatened by the wolf man.

Matt shook his head, not speaking to her on the subject of Vampanze anymore. He could tell that she like Drake and the last thing he needed was to upset the one person he had become friends with here. The last thing he needed was to start making enemies within this place, especially if he wanted to stay. 'I'll have to find out who to talk to about staying...that way I can know soon whether I am welcomed or not.' Matt thought to himself.

Matt went to reject the girl's offer when a slight breeze chilled him. "Maybe...if you don't mind it smelling a bit like smoke." Matt said as he looked at her. Usually the cold would not bother him at all, but in his weakened state, he got cold easily. It wouldn't be until his fully strength returned that he would not have to worry about the cold.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou smiled at the remark, she had no animal instinct what so ever it seemed, her own reflexes were the freeze part of flight or flight. Which sucked when you surrounded yourself with people with heightened senses like those at the cirque du freak.

She frowned at the breeze that crept in from the open window, she could have sworn she closed that because of the wind that seemed extra chilling that night. The telepath quickly pulled the window shut with a sheepish smile. Returning his gaze she replied,

"Quite honestly, everything smiles like smoke around here, everyone always gathers around the camp fire at night." Bijou wrinkled her nose at the thought of the fire, she had a pathetic fear of flames that caused her to jump at the mere sight of a lighter.

She reached into a small closet and pulled out a plain black hooded sweatshirt, and grabbed a white one for her. It was just starting to become winter and the chill had already seeped in. Bijou held it out to her with a small smile, "Here you go."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt nodded and shrugged. "Okay." Matt said simply as he shrugged a bit. He realized that there was probably a lot of smoke around the camp anyhow; he just wanted to let her know.

He watched as she got out two hoodies. He smiled back as she held out the black one out to him. "Thanks..." He said as he took the hoodie from her. 'Well I guess it's good that I'm under normal weight...otherwise I'm not sure that this would fit.' He thought to himself as he looked back at her.

"Okay...ready when you are." he said as he waited for her to show him to where the food was. He was glad that she was helping him, it put him a bit at ease.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou smiled and opened the door of the trailer, frowning a bit when the knob stuck and she had to jingle it open. The damn thing never wanted to work for her, but anyone else and it opened right away. Stepping out she swerved so that she was next to the door, a smile crossed her face at the sight of the stars that littered the sky that night.

Her boots dug into the gravel as she glanced around, noticing a few stragglers like them selves on their way to dinner. "You know, the Cirque is always looking for new talent." Bijou couldn't help but say, she liked Matt so far and it would be nice to have someone around that she knew well. Besides, it looked like he could use someone to depend on, and the Cirque had them in full supply. After all, they were a family, of sorts.

[Matt Breaker]

As Matt walked with Bijou he was able to get a better look at the Cirque. He could tell that there were a ton of different people around. From humans with unusual traits to immortal creatures, there was a bit of everything here. He couldn't help but smile at that. Since he had become a Pyro-shifter, Matt had always felt out of place with the normal world. Being around normal Mortals put him on edge knowing that if they found out what he was then they would reject him. Here was different. Everyone was abnormal, so it was okay to be a monster.

Yes, Matt still considered himself a monster because of what he was. He had not gotten over thinking about himself that way; after all of these years. Matt remembered that even when his mentors had been alive, he had called himself that. Even though they had said he wasn't a monster, Matt couldn't think of it that way. To him, being human one moment and not being one the next was what a monster was. He had never considered his mentors monster, however, because they had been born that way. Matt sighed silently at his own thoughts.

"They would consider having a monster like me in their show?" Matt murmured to himself, voicing the thoughts that he had been previously thinking about. He actually had not meant to spread his opinion of himself; it had just slipped out.

"I wouldn't even know what to do...Maybe shift to my other form and juggle? That would be amusing." Matt added softly as he shook his head at the idea. He had no idea why he thought of juggling...maybe it was because he like to juggle as a child; but he wasn't sure. He chuckled at the idea as he glanced at her. "Though I am pretty sure people my be scared off if I shifted in front of them. I've only shifted once in front of a human...but it didn't go very well." Matt said as he remembered that.

--Flash back--

It had been a few years after his change and his mentors had gone out for supplies; leaving Matt to fend for himself. He had been playing at a small playground near his adopted family's shelter when a larger boy had entered the area near where Matt was. The boy had started pushing and yelling at Matt because he had been on 'his' swing and Matt, who had not learned to fully control his shifting, acted on the instinct to protect himself and shifted right there in front of the boy. Of course the boy had stopped his bullying, but he had also ran away screaming 'There's a monster in the playground...that boy is a monster!' Needless to say Matt and his mentors had to make a made dash to leave before the townspeople had caught them.

--End Of Flash Back--

Even since that day, Matt was very careful around humans...making sure to keep that side of him hidden. To was a strange idea to, now, shift in front of humans to give them entertainment. "Do YOU think I would be accepted here Bjiou...even while being the type of creature that I am?" He had the feeling that she would say yes...but he asked the question anyway. He needed to be reassured that if he asked to stay that people would not shun him or think that he was something to be wary of. That was the last thing he wanted.

ooc: This is to make up for my absence over the last couple of weeks...

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou smiled softly, picking up on the thoughts of those around her. It seemed that Jack and Alice were back together, again, seeing as everyone was gossiping about the couple who held the record for on again off again relationships. She was so caught up in the flurry of familiar thoughts that it almost startled her to hear Matt's voice, however soft it was. Bijou winced at the term monster, it seemed as though that word would never fully leave her memories. The world seemed so black and white, they left no room for grey area, and if you fell into that category they tried to label you: monster, freak, or otherwise.

A weak smile crossed Bijou's features at the mention of juggling. She never understood how someone could balance three balls in the air at once, then again she didn't have the best hand eye coordination either. "You can juggle? That'd be pretty cool." Bijou couldn't help but tilt her head at his comment on what others would think. Most people know what they are getting into when they come to a performance, and even if they don't Mr.Tall gives out so many warning labels it makes her head spin. The only bad reaction she had on stage was when a married man was thinking very... descriptive thoughts about her while his wife was simply in wonder that Bijou picked up on so many things. Of course Drake had saw the look on her face and had yanked her off stage before anything could happen and blamed it on a dramatic exit.

But the look on Matt's face made it obvious that this wasn't about trivial little opinions, he was afraid to be hated, to be found not right. His question only confirmed the worry that had settled in her, he was afraid people would find him unwanted. It stopped her in her tracks just outside of the cluster of tents that hid the dining area. The telepath spun on her heels to face him, looking him right in they eye. "Matt, look around you." Bijou glanced over at a red head, she had a lighter in her hand and was flicking it absentmindedly. "That's Jane, she can control fire. Burned down quite a few places before she got the hang of it. But she has the most infectious laugh you have ever heard." Bijou smiled at her before pointing over to a group of little people who were staring down a goat. "Those are the little people, they scare the crap out of everyone because they don't talk, and eat pretty much everything. But they're loyal, and willing to pull more than their own weight." Bijou smiled at them as well, watching them nod in recognition before tackle the poor creature.

"You see Matt? No one is perfect, everyone has some skeletons in the closet-some actual skeletons, but that's another story-and everyone has learned to accept that. The Cirque is neutral territory in more ways than one. We all accept each other, because otherwise we wouldn't be able to accept ourselves. Quite frankly, I don't care if you're an ex-ax murderer, as long as you're willing to work and keep an open mind. Oh, and not kill me with your ax of course." Bijou smiled teasingly at him with the last part.