FEBRUARY 9th, 10th, & 11th

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The Rhydin Center for Circus Arts welcomes one and all to the newly finished fine arts Vivant Theater, located at the North end of the campus with its own designated entrance where the box office can also be found.

Synopsis:

Each of the night's acts is a loosely woven tapestry of surrealism and theatrical romance aiming to fill the audience with a sense of nostalgia and wonder. You will see a madcap mixture of costumes, artistry, choreography, and music inspired by the concept of Love in its many and varying forms. The show is brought to life by a select cast of Rhydin's circus arts professional aerialists, acrobats, and entertainers. Act I: A trapeze duet that bleeds melancholic reminiscence of a love that once was and a longing for what could be; an intense tale of love and anger as two caged men attract and repel each other until overcome by their magnetic energy; sensational dancers turn up the heat performing a sultry and spirited dance that will entice the imagination; a tough yet supple feminine duo rise to new heights in daring feats of athleticism and strength on the lyra hoop. Intermission

Act II: A beautiful solo on the cyr wheel chronicling the journey toward self love; a vibrant trio of kindred spirits share a provocative story through powerful, intimate hand-balancing acrobatics; the first taste of love for two innocents whose plunge into pure waters reveals a friendship that will last the ages; and ending with a medley of dizzying flips and twirls on the silks with a seductive twist on reality.

Levity in the form of silly, gut-busting skits separate each of the night's eight scenes and during the intermission—be prepared for the infectious foolishness and untameable smiles brought to you by an ebullient clown duo.

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The foyer, beyond which lies the theater itself, is decorated festively for the occasion. After the show, guests will return to the reception area for food and drinks. A photo booth is set up with several circus-themed props available for use, tables and chairs for relaxed conversation, and plenty of room for mingling with anyone and everyone, including the costumed cast who will also be present.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/d916469f635fd0c5317b3344eb850a8f/tumblr_p3ozqlht7e1vaxy72o3_1280.jpg DRINKS:

Pink Amour -tangerine lemonade -dry champagne -pomegranate juice -orange liqueur -pomegranate and thyme garnish

Love Potion -pomegranate juice -strawberry vodka -black raspberry liqueur -dry ice (do not ingest) -strawberry garnish

Ember -habanero and pineapple-infused tequila -smoked tea liqueur -lime juice -blood orange juice -grenadine -salted rim -blood orange wheel and lime zest garnish

Whimsy -lime juice -black cherry-flavored seltzer -grenadine -halved cherries and fresh mint garnish

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FOOD: Several fondue tables are located along the outer edges of the room. At some are offered three different cheeses along with a wide variety of savory breads, meats, and veggies. The others boast steamy, chocolate fountains and a plethora of delectable delights including cookies, pound cake, marshmallows, fruit, and pretzels.

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((OOC: Feel free to post your polyvores and character reactions. I'll probably get around to making some kind of icon for attendees, so if you want one — then post! As an aside, I'd like to stress that while certain acts may be sensual, none are sexual in any capacity. Everyone is clothed. It is a show for the young and old alike. Don't make it creepy, 'kay"))

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Being that he owned the place, of course Cane was in attendance on opening night. He was seated in a more secluded section of the upper balcony. When the curtain fell, the Cajun's raucous, shrill whistling could be heard among the wild applause.

While there were no students who participated in the performance (which had starred only the Center's professional instructors and visiting artists), quite a number of the school's students bought tickets for opening night and were seen running around the after party with glee, mingling with one another and their costumed teachers.

Cane made his rounds during the social gathering, conversations a mixture of business and pleasure. He ate, he drank (so many Embers), he could even be spotted indulging groups of students with some time in the photo booth — a silent, secret tribute to the notable absence of the Youth Director, Lirssa.

Halcyon had never seen a circus before, and vaguely recalled that Valentines was some sort of couple thing. She therefor acquired a date for the opening night.

By acquire, it was actually meant that she apprehended Mist as he returned from a meeting with hospital officials. He was presentable in simple gray robes, and matched the rough hewn Kingfisher in a warm gold gown well enough.

They sat and watched the show, both watching the acrobatic acts with a certain amount of envy. The allure of the danger and beauty of the mastery of the trapeze and lithe ground effects was an inspiring thing, though Mist borrowed a bit of Halcyon's legendary skill of ironic melancholy.

"I will probably be setting bones for a week after this," he murmured aside to her. She snickered.

After the show, they joined those taking advantage of the fondu and drinks, Halcyon favoring the embers, Mist cheerfully trying them all. Halcyon only watched in a horrified sort of awe as Mist packed away the sweets, dipped into chocolate which didn't even have paprika in it, let alone proper chilis.

Halcyon curiously quizzed performers about the show and the techniques, while Mist wandered about, greeting and chatting with friends.

After the show, Halcyon gave Mist a lift back to the inn on Stupid. Which was much like riding a sofa.

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Yasmin was really excited to go with Michi to the circus before Valentine's Day. The circus had always been important to her and she loved to be able to share that with Michi.

"When did we start going out"?" Yas thought to herself while debating what to wear for the event. She had to think back. "Not last year" Maybe the year before?" Oh wait! It was at the Midsummer Night's Bash way back in "15" I wore polka dots"? And just like that, Yas had her outfit's theme for their date at the circus.

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Mark and Grace were celebrating their second anniversary a couple of days early with a trip to the Circus on Saturday night. The couple had a lot to celebrate these days, and a rare night out together —soon to be even rarer still— seemed like the perfect way to enjoy it.

While Mark enjoyed the Ember cocktail on offer, Grace limited herself to the Whimsy, a delightfully pretty little drink that made her feel like she wasn't missing out on the festive experience of the evening. The fondue made for messy grins as they playfully threatened to coat one another's faces in chocolate or cheese by turns, but in the end the little stylist indulged herself on strawberries and marshmallows a good bit more than the chocolate itself.

By the end of the performance, she had both laughed and cried several times over (gee thanks, hormones!) and she got to her feet to give the performers a standing ovation. "That was so beautiful," she said to her husband with wide eyes still glitter bright and shining. He made an obvious joke about not getting so caught up that she ran away with the circus, but Mark had a wide smile on his face, too as they left together, arm in arm.

It was always fun to go to the circus. Desdenova cheerfully dressed for the occasion, a nice dark gray suit jacket and tie over a green shirt, and dark slacks. There didn't seem to be a hat on his head tonight, but it was there. Just in case. He just left his hair loose in lazy curls to his shoulders.

That had nothing to do with Nile telling him his hair was so pretty.

He met Nile out front and cheerfully gave her a little bunch of roses from the family rose garden. They fastened to her wrist so her hands would be free.

After the show, he dragged Nile over to meet his aunt Halcyon, and pointed out Mist and Canaan to the girl. Then, it was on, seeing how interesting they could make the fondu dipped goodies and not promptly spit them back up.

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Given her principal role in The Lion King over at the Shanachie, Saila had been forced to miss both the opening night and the Saturday night performances. There was no way in hell she was going to miss the show altogether, though, so on Sunday as soon as she was done with her other obligations, she snagged Hex to head over for the final show.

Neither of them touched the fondue offerings or the non-alcoholic drink, pretty as it was, but they sampled liberally of all the others. A thing Saila in particular probably shouldn't have done given the intense and immediate headache that some of them afforded, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. Her favorite was of course the Ember, particularly once she'd convinced a bartender to give her one without the grenadine.

Cheering loudly for each performance, she was thrilled to be able to support the teachers, both the ones she'd worked with and the ones she hadn't. With each passing scene, though, confusion swelled somewhere in the pit of her stomach, ultimately forming a hard knot of inexplicable anxiety when the final curtain call had been completed and still she hadn't seen her.

Where the hell was Lirssa"

Milling about in the lobby afterwards, she paused to congratulate each of the performers, and tried to ask about Lirssa's whereabouts when she couldn't spot her anywhere in the audience, either. Some met her question with an honest I'm not sure, others gave her a blank stare and a vague response that made her jaw twitch. It was when someone shrugged and suggested she ask Cane that anxiety turned to dread. People came and went in Rhy'Din all the time, sure, but this felt different. It felt weird. Wrong.

Something was off, it had to be. She knew it as surely as she knew her own name. The knowing made her knees weak.

She turned to Hex, a stricken look on a pale face gone suddenly paler, and shook her head. "I...um. Let's get out of here. Please?"

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Michi's outfit came right out of Addie's closet. Okay, just the dress. Everything else was hers.

Polka dots..

At first she thought it was an odd choice to wear for Valentine's, but the nagging feeling like she had forgotten something persisted throughout the night. It had been about mid-way through the performance when she finally finally recalled it. The picture board she kept up in her room, one of the multiple photos of them together featured Yas in a polka dot dress ? their first date. The corner of her lips cocked into a smile and she'd slip her arm about Yas's to draw her in closer.

She'll have to pull off a theme outfit of her own next time.

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The Brat Prince had never been to the circus, aerial or otherwise, and was surprised to find himself utterly spellbound by the performance as a whole. While he was unable to delineate which emotions had been stirred up inside him, their depth and complexities were indeed experienced. Induced to fervent demonstration, he likewise gave a standing ovation when the show came to a close.

But there was none so ardent an expression as the one he wore when his eyes were on Ed. None.

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While Ace's preference of the Circus leaned more towards the sideshow attractions, he could still find himself consumed and fixated on the impressive display of acrobatics and performances given.

Though, it wasn't just their compromise that Ace came with Kami that night. Apart from simply spending time with her, it was her jubilant glee that brought a smile to his face. The almost childlike excitement that poured off her and wrapped around their little portion of audience.

It was one act in particular that seemed to draw both their attention, united in their appreciation and mutual revelation in similarities. His sharp smile softened at the edges when Kami found her place tucked into the curve of his arm. Idle was the way her fingers traced the inked symbols on his knuckles, much the way his fingertips traced blindly - yet accurately - over the fabric-hidden ink on her stomach.

It was a toss up which drink he liked more, the Ember or the Whimsy and even after trying them all, one could find him switching between the two for the evening. Gluttony was a thing, and present in the devil in that night, and he tasted the fondue available, leaning more towards the cheese than the chocolate. Kami's suggestion brought a wry smirk to his face. He mentioned something about them better getting it correctly, or else. Just to chuckle a second later and speak of how much of an improvement it would be from her processed tube abomination. "It's not cheese. No matter how much you try to convince me, Kami."