» The Gleam of Adventure, Open!

Off school for the summer, Tybalt was insanely glad to have his magical elder siblings residents of Hogsmeade, otherwise he would have had to be shipped back to their parents’ home, where there’d be nothing to do but avoid awkward encounters with his muggle brother, who led a very different life to his siblings, or flirt with the muggle girls in town. He might’ve been able to impress them with ‘magic tricks’ if he had been allowed to do magic, he thought absently. What a dull summer it could have been back in the muggle world.

But luckily, Atticus, Lavinia and Bianca all lived here, so Tybalt could stay. Oh, they knew he’d be a nuisance all summer and he wouldn’t deny it, but at least today he was officially out of their hair and had plenty to see at the Carnival. He didn't mind coming alone in the least, as the place itself was utterly packed, and he wasn't ever scared to meet new people. Of course, the sixteen-year-old boy didn't attract much attention, roving around amusedly by himself, not in this sea of people. He did keep a lookout for anyone he knew, though, or anyone that looked potentially interesting.

On the forefront of his mind, though, was what to do that looked potentially interesting. It all did, of course, but he was already carrying cotton candy - an unabashed child, he would admit - and didn't know where to go next. He had spent a bit of time being entertained by the games of chance, cards or otherwise, and given it a try himself. And lost. He was half-tempted by the burlesque later on, but he wasn't sure he'd go alone or with the cotton candy, if he were honest. Perhaps some other kind of show, fire-eating or the trapeze or magical circus creatures... "What am I going to do next?"

He half-wished he had some circus skills himself. But ever since Elsie had jokingly mentioned juggling, Tybalt had been rather oddly taken with the idea. And where better to see something like that than the circus? "And who would know how to juggle...?" He mused aloud again. There had to be a show around or in one of these tents... He eyed his surroundings quizzically, stepping a little out of the flow of the crowds to get his bearings. It was then he spotted an open crate, some metal glinting out. He sauntered closer, seeing that they were exactly the sorts of knives one might use to juggle. Perhaps in the wizarding world one cheated and enchanted them so there was no real danger, Tybalt theorised critically, being a muggleborn himself. But perhaps not...

Look who's alone now

It's not me. It's not me. Those three Wise Men, they've got a semi by the sea. Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now? Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now?- - - -

It seemed that the exotic look was what she was supposed to be propagating and despite having spent what little that remained of her money on a nice sedate English outfit consisting of a white blouse and dark brown skirt but the moment she had left her caravan wearing them she had been told to go back in and change, she looked like a servant and no one wanted to see a servant as an exotic mystery of the east. She had sighed heavily but had complied none the less. She liked this job and if that meant walking around looking like she just fell out of a chinese theatre then that's what she would do - she did have to admit that the English style appealed to her but the colours were drab and boring. She didnt have to perform for a few hours but it was a nice enough afternoon and it was too nice to stay inside. She had thrown a light shall around her shoulders over the blue and pink dress she had changed into after her English one.

Even early in the day there were still crowds in the carnival area- it never seemed to get quiet with people coming by to look at the animals in their pens or the carnival workers as they practised and did their routines ahead of the nights show. Yue had flashed a smile at some of the strong men as they lifted their weights as she passed them. Everyone thus far, had been incredibly nice to her, although she wasnt sure how far thier good grace would extend if they knew what she had done in her life before the carnival. As she passed into another part of the performance area she heard, in passing, a boy saying And who would know how to juggle...?.

The boy wasnt much younger than she was - she would guess no more than a year and she stopped short, her head cocked smiling. 'You are bored?' she queried with a grin, her loose flowing raiment so different to the stiff taffeta and linen of the English style. 'You have come for some amusement?' Yues english was poor, it was functional but her grammar and elocution could do with significant work.

TAG :: OPEN WORDS:697:: CLOTHING: Hanfu Dress

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

He wandered closer to the crate of knives, avidly contemplating drawing one or two out, and at least - if he couldn't bring himself to try juggling - swing them around, get a feel for them. They almost reminded him of pirate cutlasses... and Tybalt could be both very immature and very dramatic, he didn't deny it. He grinned to himself, making a mental note to go to once of the shows at the carnival later, but he glanced up and suddenly saw someone wandering by.

She must have heard him talking to himself. Tybalt's mouth quirked to the side, and then he licked his lips self-consciously, checking there was no cotton candy coating his face. He then took a few steps away from the crates he'd been surveying and lifted his gaze to look over the girl that had just stopped nearby. She was Chinese, he figured, and her attire was distinctly oriental - or so he assumed, from some illustrations he'd seen in a book or a picture in the newspapers or something once a long time ago, for he had never actually travelled out of England. She was certainly striking... and she was rather young, he noticed... if she were older than him, it wasn't by much. No harm in that. He also assumed that she was a part of the carnival, if only because she didn't seem the sort to be usually found around Hogsmeade. He was intrigued by the thought of all the young people at the carnival; how and why had they joined the circus? What would their lives be like?

"Well, I wouldn't say bored..." He didn't refrain from grinning back; despite her somewhat stilted English, she seemed friendly enough. "But I would never say no to some amusement," He explained cheerfully.
And perhaps she could help. He stared at her squarely, eyebrows rising interestedly. "Anything you would suggest?"

Look who's alone now

It's not me. It's not me. Those three Wise Men, they've got a semi by the sea. Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now? Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now?- - - -

It was clear from the boys expression that he was contemplating some manner of msichef when she had happened upon him, it was an expression she had been used to seeing on Huan Fang’s face. Although that memory brought a bitter pain to her chest and she quickly covered it with a smile and a knowing look at the boy. The puckish expression was where the resemblance between him and her brother met its rather obvious end. Huan had had the same strong features as her father, a prominent chin, strong nose and angular features. He also looked stoic and humourless much of the time, save for when that expression made its appearance. Yue got the impression that this boy constantly had a mirthful expression on his face.

He fidgeted slightly as she observed him, self consciously checking his features. He asked for her advice on amusement and she grinned wryly, playing the part of the mystic orientalist that these English seemed to enjoy so much. ‘People who come to our carnival should feel diverted at all times- otherwise we are not doing our jobs correctly’ she said moving past him in small steps, twirling the parasol so that it span like a wheel. ‘I shall have to tell the owner that we have failed in our service.’. She moved to the box of knives and pulled one free. Knives were not her trick, she was purely an acrobat but she had trained beside Haun fang for long enough to know the basics of his art, just as he and Mei had known the basics of hers. She stood the knife on its base on the tip of her middle and forefinger before, with a flick of her hand, she threw it up into the air, she flipped the parsol after it and as it span back to earth the knife sliced through the paper of the umbrellas expanse and she caught it by it’s handle before balancing the top point of the parasol on the handle of the knife. It was far from the extravagant tricks that Haun could perform with a knife but it would serve for the moment.

‘So tell me sir, what method of entertainment do you seek?’ she pressed, flicking her large brown eyes to meet his.

TAG :: OPEN WORDS:697:: CLOTHING: Hanfu Dress

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

She had something of a knowing look on her face as Tybalt stood there, regarding her with interest and trying to look somewhat innocent. He heard her remark right before she began twirling her parasol and that alone was enough to distract him, divert his eyes for a moment. He didn't surrender too easily into being mesmerised, though, and found himself able to at least reply. "No need for that," He referred to her comment about telling the owner the carnival had failed to amuse him, smirking loosely. "I'm quite willing to give this place another chance..." He waved a hand, vaguely gesturing around him, though his eyes remained on the young woman.

It was all a joke, of course, for the carnival was mysterious and enchanting enough to deter any complaints; the way it suddenly came alive, all the people started surging through, the outskirts of Hogsmeade transformed into a labryinthine kaleidoscope of colour and activity. Still, it was early evening, and he was certain this hardly compared to the night in full swing.

The girl's knife trick rose another notch towards mesmerising him. His jaw had tensed as she plucked up one of the knives, had tightened further as it whipped through the air and then the parasol, jaw only slackening when the knife had been caught and balanced again as though it were as common a thing to do as tie one's shoelaces. He didn't want to appear too impressed - though impressed was something of an understatement - but couldn't refrain from nodding in awe, standing silently until he figured out a response. "Well. That's rather brilliant, Miss," Tybalt grinned broadly, trailing off into silence as he momentarily confused himself about how to address her - he didn't know her name; ma'am didn't sound right - but then again, perhaps these carnies were not so constricted by rules of etiquette.

What method of entertainment did he seek? Tybalt's eyes widened at her, a roll of his shoulders conveying his uncertainty. "I've tried my hand at the games of chance, but they and the food stalls are all I've happened to explore in depth," He explained. "I'd be happy to discover anything else; I'm sure there are plenty of things I've yet to see. Perhaps you might point me in the direction of a show to see later?" He would have asked for a full-blown tour if that hadn't seemed utterly presumptuous: he didn't know what she did, but she likely had more to do than simply conversing with the carnival's visitors. Now he was wondering what she actually did, other than being enigmatic and throwing knives on a whim.

Look who's alone now

It's not me. It's not me. Those three Wise Men, they've got a semi by the sea. Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now? Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now?- - - -

She of course had had no intention of telling the owner of the young mans lack of diversion there was no way that they could attempt to be all things to all men, they could try and offer as wide an array of entertainment as they could and they had entertainers from all across the globe in their little troupe, Yue was proof of that.

In her own way Yue was outgoing, it was a different sort of personality to many English girls, she did not say much but her features were animated and her sense of humour was glib. Sometimes it was unintentional but she knew that the intensity of her upbringing, the cloak and dagger way that she had been raised had left her with an intense sort of personality of her own. Although it was hard to imagine that a child, raised among criminals could be any other way. Even her carnival friends here were in a different boat, they had been raised as travellers or as entertainers, but she had been raised to rob houses and to eliminate targets when they were needed. She had been spared much of it because they had had Huan Fang to take on the brunt of that work and her connection with the organisation had thankfully ended before she had been required to do much, she had threatened at the generals right hand but that was as far as it had gone.

If her imitation of Hauns skill impressed the boy he managed to hide the look, she didn't see it but he did offer his praise, in that formal way that English people seemed to find so necessary. It was not on the same on the continent, when French people showed their praise it was effulgent and over whelming, they held little back. English people were not the same, and Yue had limited experience with one on one interactions with English people and so sometimes struggled to meet their expectations and yet not affront their sensibilities. But seeing the boy struggling she inclined her head in a slight bow 'Please sir, my name is Yue Zhén Sháo, the bird spider, but most people call me Yue.' she said, tossing the knife at a wooden post where its tip imbedded and she returned her parasol to her shoulder and at his ambivalence she quirked her head, observing him like a bird observing a curious spectacle.

Yue let out a light laugh at his description of the carnival, at the games which were almost entirely fixed - not that anyone really talked about them. 'For obvious reasons the best show is ZhiZhu Niao' she said gesutring to one of the brightly coloured billing signs that decorated the midway, an image of a woman in oriental clothing, suspended from streams of ribbon contorted into weird and wonderful movements. 'but since that show does not start until later there are many other delights to entice a discerning gentlemen until then.' she said pushing her own show with a wry and teasing smile, the image on the bill board obviously her, in a costume similar to the one she wore right now, and the name Zhizhu Niao translated beneath as bird spider. 'If it does not affront your sensibilities, I could escort you down the midway, show you the delights that our little carnival has to offer, by way of apology for the owners short comings.' she teased, gesturing with her arm, one long sleeve spreading outwards like a wing as she gestured towards the hustle and bustle of the carnival proper.

TAG :: OPEN WORDS:697:: CLOTHING: Hanfu Dress

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

He couldn't tell whether she had expected or wanted more praise for her knife trick, but she - still a stranger, true - had shot right up in his esteem for her skill, and his childlike - childish, too - enthusiasm was only stunted by the smallest of pouts at the fact he was not the one doing the impressing. Of course, Tybalt could really do nothing impressive, and certainly no exciting knife tricks, but showing off was still one of his chief tactics - right after teasing and trying to make people laugh - and it felt odd to be a recipient for once. He was bemused, but in awe nevertheless.

She gave him her name, and he was grateful that she explained most called her only Yue, for her name was slightly unusual and Tybalt didn't really want to make an ass of himself by forgetting it or pronouncing it wrong. "Tybalt Kirke, pleasure to meet you," He returned, unable to stop the smirk spreading slowly across his face, his eyes finally being drawn away from the knife she'd just whimsically thrown into that post.
He knew what he was going to practise next time he snuck into a family or the school kitchen, anyway.

The first show sign she pointed to captured his attention for a moment or two, and by the time he turned back to Yue he was verging on a chuckle. "The bird spider, huh?" He repeated, now understanding her earlier introduction, when presented with all the ribbons and ropes. So her act had nothing to do with knives at all, she had a whole different area of expertise. "Wow..." He began sincerely, but grinned teasingly as he added, "Now that's just showing off." Ty might not have slipped too quickly into his teasing if he had been around an unfamiliar, prim upper-class lady, for he figured he'd be shooed away by a chaperone within seconds, but these carnival types, for the most part, seemed more easy going, a little less constrained by propriety. "At any rate, I just might keep that show in mind," He confirmed casually.

She had a sense of humour, too, for she had now offered to show him around a while - all on behalf of the carnival owner, clearly. Tybalt didn't care why she offered; an offer was an offer and he received it gratefully. "Oh, I wouldn't fear for my sensibilities," He said with a small shake of his head, taking a bounding step or two forwards as he surveyed the chaos of the carnival "And I can't imagine why else I would refuse... so, please, do!"

Look who's alone now

It's not me. It's not me. Those three Wise Men, they've got a semi by the sea. Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now? Got to ask yourself the question, where are you now?- - - -

When he gave his name she bent at the back and gave a low sweeping bow in the overly formal, polite and theatrical style that was expected of a theatrical foreign woman of her type. 'The pleasure if all of mine Mister Kirke' she said with an arch of her neck. When she stood back to attention, the little decorations that adorned her elaborate hair do tinkling slightly as they settled.

His chuckle when she showed her bill board caused her to cast him as covert a look as possible. She wasnt entirely sure if he was mocking her or being teasing, she sometimes found it hard to tell with Englishmen but his smile and the twinkle in his eyes made her think that he was indeed being genuine in his teasing rather than setting out to deride her. 'My brother Huan Fang, well he isn't here...he performed with swords and knives, while I performed on the trapeze and contortion.'. There had been more than one lewd suggestion made about her contortion abilities in the past and she was well used to it.

Yue folded away the parasol, the hole in the paper of the parasols cover made it useless now, she would repair it late. She leant it against the wall of her caravan, confident that it would be safe until her return, but produced a fan from the folds of her dress and flicked it open to keep her cool as they headed off through the midway, the bottom portion of her dress fluttering around her feet as she moved. 'The games a'e in this a'ea, although I would recommend them to almost no one because they a'e almost all fixed' she admitted most people knew this, 'Except for the strong man game, although a talented wiza'd could fix it in thei' favou' with a cleva' cha'm.' she joked.

'If you will excuse my curiosity, might I ask your age Mister Kirke? A'e you still in school?' Yue asked, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she suspected he was around her age but she wanted to know for certain

TAG :: OPEN WORDS:697:: CLOTHING: Hanfu Dress

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

Oh, Tybalt would definitely see her show later. Whatever he said, he was pretty impressed, and he was sure it would be spectacular. Trapeze and contortion, she said, that would be entertaining to watch, but Tybalt was momentarily more interested in her brother. 'He isn't here'... he was ever so tempted to simply ask 'why?', but he didn't like to be too tactless, and so, just about refrained, though his lips had parted slightly, and his expression was involuntarily one of serious curiosity. He couldn't be sure whether Miss Zhen Shao noticed or not, but he kept quiet anyway. It could be nothing, of course, perhaps he had left the circus, joined another, but it could be he met a worse fate... but no, Tybalt shouldn't really pry.

Yue left the parasol and they began walking - well, to Tybalt it was more of a natural saunter, leisurely like a stroll but with a casual spring in his ambling step - down the midway, venturing into the midst of the mystery and colourful chaos. Here were plenty of these games again, cards and tricks and other little set-ups. Oh, Ty had certainly guessed they were fixed, but to hear her, as a worker there, admit it, made him laugh a little. "Ah, there'd be no fun in fixing it, even to win," He commented lazily, and it was probably evident from his face that he half-fancied his chances without the help of magic. Well, he was hardly a full-grown man, he realised, but he was a Beater, after all, and had practice with a bat. But he was cocky without an intention of actually trying, of course.

Instead, he considered her question, perfectly at ease with her curiosity. "Yes, I'm still at Hogwarts," He replied, "And I shall be seventeen in September." He wasn't sure of her age, but Ty did think it sounded better than phrasing it as 'I'm still sixteen', for he was rather looking forward to coming of age in the wizarding world. "And what about you?" He peered at her again. "How long - if you don't mind my asking - have you been with the carnival?"

Yue could not help but notice the silence that fell over him for a moment when she mentioned her brother and she could guess what it was his curiosity that sparked it but she did nothing to disabuse him of his curiosity, after all how would one explain to a relative stranger that your brother had been executed by the authorities of your homeland for being a part of the murderous gang of thieves and smugglers, and that you too had once been part of said gang and had been trained in the same muderous tactics, even if you had still be rather junior at the time that it all went down. Yes, that would make for a longer awkward silence. So she allowed the matter to lapse, there were few people to whom she spoke about Haun, indeed there was no one in the current troupe that knew about her family circumstances.<BR><BR>

'You would be surprised' she said with a laugh, 'sometimes the owner allows young gentlemen to cheat in order to impress a young lady or other.'. If she was rather honest she found the practise a little obvious and she wasn't entirely convinced by it's effectivness, certainly it would not have worked on her. <BR><BR>

When he explained about his age and the fact that he was in school, Yue had to admit that she was a little jealous - the thought of going to school was something she envied and the fact that her education had consisted of the Generals master classes in offensive and defensive spell casting, as well as her house breaking and contortion had not made for the most conventional of educations. There were huge gaps in her knowledge base, some of which would likely never be filled. <BR><BR>

Yue took no offense to his questions, after all she had taken the liberty of asking his age and she had no real qualms over her life now, as careful as she would have to be about her life before. 'I was 17 in Janurary, I have joined the Dragon Circus when I was five, my parents died and my siblings and I were taken in by the circus' it was the easiest way of describing the Jade Dragon, it was their cover after all. 'This circus' she said motioning to the tents and other workers, 'well I have only been here for about 8 months, since I came to europe.' she acknowledged.

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

He chuckled at her further comment about the strong man game and cheating again. "Don't tempt me," He added jokingly, now half tempted to try by the thought of it being able to impress young ladies as she had just said. However, he would have preferred to be able to do that without having to cheat, and just shook his head, smiling. What would have been interesting was if this meeting had been the other way around, and he had been a member of the circus, talented with knife tricks and other impressive things. He felt, as Yue went on soon after, that his upringing had been comparably tame.

And she was only a little older than he. It seemed she had done a lot with her life. Tybalt presumed the Dragon Circus was off somewhere oriental - China, perhaps? - but he knew nothing about the east, so couldn't be sure. She'd spent the majority of her life as part of the circus though, or so she said, and yet she was relatively new to this one. Wow, the travelling she had done. The big adventure her life must be. Tybalt wasn't a Gryffindor in every way, but he couldn't deny a thirst for adventure. "I must admit, I'm rather jealous. Travelling, adventure... it doesn't get dull, does it?" He questioned, certain such a life couldn't ever. Not like school. He suddenly remembered what else she had just said, and hastily added, "I'm so sorry... about your parents." Hasty yes, but still sincere.

At a loss of what else to say about that sad aspect of the topic, he let his gaze drift off sideways towards the stalls and circus set-up for a moment. Glancing at Yue again and hoping she wasn't too affected by mentioning her long-deceased parents, Tybalt tried to keep the conversation cheerful. "New to Europe?" He remarked, musing, as he glanced around at all the Hogsmeade people, all these people from the only country he'd ever known. It was dull to him in all its safety and security, but at least it did feel like home. He was curious as to how it appeared to an outsider, and grinned lightly. "Seen anything you like?"

she let out a small laugh as he joked about using the corrupted games to impress a young lady; it happened almost every night as far as she could tell, some young beau would come by about lunch time and slip the operator a few knuts and then come back later that night with a young woman and with a nod and a wink to the operator the machine would be rigged and he would gain a suitable level of success and a romanntic toy for his troubles. By her observation the practice seemed to work, there were certainly more than one young couple who were caught trysting on the fair grounds.

'Please do not distress yourself, I do not remember them at all, my siblings were older than I so they remember them but I have few memories of my life before they died and I began to live at the circus.' she explained her features not changing - she felt no sadnes for her parents, she had brealy known them, but her siblings were a different matter. She had known and loved her brother and sister when they had been taken from her - taken from her for someone elses sins.

Her life had been exciting and and certainly different compared to the life of her current companion, but then people always wanted what they coul t have. 'This part of the world of lovely,' she said with a smile, 'I could see myself settling here in the long run but I have no connections here and no income outside of the carnival.' she admitted, 'So until one of those two things change I am bound here' it was perhaps a little candid for a stranger but then she was a candid person.

'Have you always lived here?'

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

She didn't seem too distraught, just as she said, so Tybalt didn't feel too anxious about the topic, even though he was usually rather awful with solemn situations. Regardless, it was sad about her parents, especially since she did not remember hers at all, and whilst Tybalt's parents were still alive, he didn't see them very often anymore so he felt an awkward pang of guilt, though shooed it away mentally. "Oh, but at least you had siblings?" He was thinking that would make it easier to cope, to have company; but little did he know that perhaps her siblings were not in this circus with her, and that his supposed 'bright side' he may be putting his foot right in it. But the conversation continued, and the topic changed somewhat. So, she liked this part of the world.

"I'm certain you could find some of both rather easily," Tybalt remarked, looking at her thoughtfully. He did not know, and did not know if she knew either, what sort of career would suit her outside the world of acrobatics and contortion, but he figured there were plenty of opportunities for young women in the ever-growing wizarding town to earn pay, even without a formal education... Nevertheless, being a shop assistant or a welcome witch or suchlike could hardly seem at all appealing! They might prove vaguely more bearable to commit to if she did have connections here as well, for otherwise it would definitely be a lonely, tough time. Still, Tybalt was interested to hear she was considering it, and personally, he supposed it'd be nice if she resided in Hogsmeade at a later date, for he had decided she was quite friendly and fun to be around.

"I have! Well, not quite in Hogsmeade, I live much further south than this -" The Kirkes lived not far from London, in an entirely muggle area... which made sense, considering Tybalt's parents were muggles. "- but ever since Hogsmeade was founded, in '77, my elder siblings have lived here. So my time in summer is divided between here and there - the carnival's the best excuse to stay, I must say - but... I haven't ever been out of Britain, you see." His tone was cheerful, and he wished he'd been able to boast about an exciting life, but even if he had lied to embellish the story a little - which, hm, he had momentarily considered - nothing had popped into his head that was more exciting than countries in the far east or Yue's carnival life, so there you were. "And I shall still be here if you do decide to live here ever," He added, his broad grin slightly teasing.

Yue was not sure how English women should have reacted or how they should have spoken about those of their family that had passed on, perhaps it would have been the same, perhaps, after this many years, they would have been as resolved to their status as orphan as she was, perhaps they would have been heart broken still weeping and morose about it. As it was she could not see where her grief was supposed to come from, she had regrets, certainly, regrets that she had missed school, regrets that she had been trained to kill and removed from all that it meant to be a lady in this world, rather than the murderous creature that she had been made into by the General and his men.

When he mentioned her siblings she quirked a smile in acknowledgement and then turned her head in such a manner as to hide her expression, he had already been forced to apologise for mentioning her family, she didnt want to admit that she had also been the cause of her brother and sisters deaths as well, that they had been executed by the chinese authorities for crimes including murder, theft, and smuggling. She had escaped with her life but also with the guilt of having left her brother and sister to die. No, that was something which this kind stranger did not need to know, instead she listened to him talking of his families history in the town, of his brothers nad sisters and their lives further south than hogsmeade, in warmer climates and in more fashionable company, as she had heard London was for those who lived there.

'I am sure that when you finish your schooling you will have plenty of opportunities to see the world.' she smiled. 'I have heard that young gentlemen, such as yourself, go on grand tours and such things before you settle down to profitable and well meaning lives, as proper men of society.' she said with a teasing smile. It was a life that few members of her carnival would ever aspire to, respectable, domestic lives were not meant for people like them, for a start no one that was interested in a life with them was capable of providing the sort of life that would generally be considered respectable. 'But perhaps if I did settle here the curious eastern girl might be able to offer you some semblance of society' she said as they walked through the brightly coloured tents, Yue was forced to take a quick dancing step and a side step to avoid the burst of fire from the mouth of one of the fire eaters who touted his show for patrons. 'Is there some business or profession that you would care for after your schooling, and of course, your grand tour, have finished.'

	Yue Needs • Her Brother, Huan Fang (23) • Her Sister - Meiying (21) • The General - Criminal leader • Find them HERE

Tybalt continued in conversation, completely oblivious to what he didn't know of her siblings and not noticing anything amiss in her expression that she'd hid. He couldn't complain when her response remained more focused on himself than her own plans - it was an unfortunate trait that he found easier to ignore than the rest of the world, but Tybalt did tend to enjoy hogging attention - but it was an interesting topic in itself. "I do hope so," He agreed, when Yue suggested that he'd have plenty of opportunity, going on a Grand Tour or whatnot. Travelling would be fun, almost certainly, for it would be a great adventure. And what Gryffindor didn't love an adventure or two? He didn't know where he'd go! His thoughts got caught up in this as his gaze drifted from left to right, the bright colours and fanfare and bustle inspiring ideas. He could not help but shake his head at the words profitable, well-meaning and proper... what predictable words!

"Perhaps she may offer a bored English boy a welcome diversion from the dullness of society," Tybalt replied with a grin; he'd rather watch a dozen knife tricks and death-defying stunts than the sorts of earth-shatteringly tedious activities normally carried out in society's classiest dinners and dances. Well. Not that Tybalt would ever get invited to those!

The burst of fire distracted him for a moment, as the girl from the carnival spun away from it. His eyes narrowed from the brightness before widening in enthusiasm. Fire-eating, heavens, if he could do that... He made a note to visit that show later in the evening, too.

Yue had asked him a question, though, so Tybalt turned back to her thoughtfully. His future. It was the one thing he tended not to think about; the present was plenty to occupy oneself with... The matter worried him, though he dare not admit it. Of course, he had his NEWTs to get through, and hadn't yet received his OWL results, though they wouldn't possibly be any better than average... and Tybalt wasn't academic enough to be suited for most high-flying magical careers. Being an Auror was likely too competitive, he'd be an awful Healer, sitting in an office would be dull as anything, he wasn't even good enough at Quidditch to earn a professional position, of that he was sure. Still, he swallowed and put on a bright face as usual. "Oh, I don't know," He responded lightly, "I hadn't given it much thought, but there's not much I can see myself being suited to... it shall be a surprise, I suppose, at any rate." Tybalt would have asked a question in return, but his own bemusement had stalled his brain somewhat.

"Or I may just have to run away with the carnival," He joked - unable not to make an added joke - just about keeping his snickering from turning to a sigh by looking on avidly at the entrance of another tent they had come across. Ooh. He wondered what could be in there.

Sorry for the wait!