Chapter Text
Ridley was only 6 years old when she was left behind. That day plays in her mind like a movie, one that never ends. She remembers the lights and sounds of the circus as people walked by her. Ridley was told to stay and wait. She had no idea that her mother would not come back for her that day.
She was found around midnight by a taller man. He found her curled up, sitting against one of the food stands. The man had black hair slicked back and a light blue suit. "Where is your mother, little one? We're closing; you should leave soon." The man would say.
Little Ridley couldn't speak; she had no idea how to tell the man her mother never came back for her. All she could do was look at the man with teary eyes; he seemed to get the memo and bent down to her level. "Well, for tonight, young one, we will provide you a place to sleep and food to eat. When morning comes, we will set off to find your family." The man held his hand out to help the girl up. "My names Bil"
Ridley nodded and took the man's hand. He walked her to a large purple tent. The man, whom Ridley now knows as Bil, seemed to hesitate in front of the entrance. "You can approach, Bil." A voice from inside spoke.
Bil walked in holding Ridley's hand. I found a child; it seems her mother has lost her, and all the other guests are gone."
The other man in the tent slipped something over his face before turning around to greet Ridley. Ridley stepped back, cowering behind the leg of Bil. "I don't mean to scare you, young one, I mean no harm." He said, stepping closer. "You may call me Jester." All Ridley could do was hug Bil tighter.
"I am not sure what her name is; she won't speak, or maybe she can't speak." Bill sighed. "I propose we introduce her to the others while we…figure out what to do with her."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn't long until the group was all settled in the purple tent. "What's this all about? I'm a very busy being." The one in green said.
"I must finish cleaning my tent. I petition you to make this quick." A taller man spoke, his voice cloaked in a thick Russian accent.
The third man, in deep red, didn't speak. "I know you all have your own grievances, but this can not wait," Jester announced.
Bil walked out, holding the young girl. Ridley cowered behind his leg, just as she had done when meeting Jester, her mannerisms like a lost puppy. There was a long pause as the air was seemingly sucked out of the room, tension sharp enough to be cut by a claw. "You brought a child with you?" The tall man said.
"We hope this arrangement is only temporary, you see, her mother left her behind, and we hope to find her home tomorrow." Jester declared.
"And you expect us to…?" "Behave." Bil cut off the man in green. "Just for one night."
"Do we even know the name of this child?" The one in red finally spoke.
Everyone turned their head to him. The one in red took this as a sign he shouldn't have said anything and sank further into the chair, which was way too short for him. "We are unsure of her name; she doesn't speak." The tallest man perked up at that.
"I would love to take a look at her." He said.
"You can try," Bil muttered, "but she's very timid, and the masks freak her out."
"So that explains the illusion," The green one hissed. "It was starting to freak me out."
The tall one stepped closer, and Ridley hid as far behind Bil as she could. The tall one sat down to get to her level. "Hello, sweetie. My name is Doctor, do you mind coming with me for a bit?" Ridley hesitated for a minute. Her head was spinning with so many worries: would these men hurt her, and would they take her far from home? She was always told by her mother to fear men, that all men are pigs who only want women for their bodies.
When she snapped back to reality, The Doctor was still there, his hands outstretched, waiting for her to take them. Slowly, almost like a dog taking careful strides to figure out if the human in front of it means wrong, she rests her hands on top of the doctor's. He gives her a second to get comfortable before lifting her into the air with both hands and then cradling her on his hip.
The man in green gets up from his seat to snake closer to Ridley. When he reaches for her, she screams, burying her face in the doctor's arm. "It's the masks," Jester realizes, "She is afraid of the teeth, Harlequin. That's why she isn't afraid of the doctor."
The man in green, now recognized as Harlequin, smiles at Ridley before sneaking out of the tent. No one noticed that the one in red was already long gone.
The doctor gave one last glance at Bil and Jester before exiting the tent with Ridley.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bil's illusion dropped as he slipped a two-colored mask on his face. "Well, what next?"
Jester sighed, pinching the area where the bride of his nose would be on his mask. "We are in quite the predicament; we can't just eat the kid, but we can't keep her around another day." He sighed, "Kids wander, it won't be long until she figures out, or Harlequin gives us away as one of his plays, and we scare her off, and she brings unwanted attention to our door."
Bil spoke, "We keep her tonight, give her a place to stay, and tomorrow we find the kids' parents."
"And if we don't."
"Then we figure out from there, let's try not to think the worst. There are probably humans looking for the girl as we speak. For now, our priorities are trying to get the young one's name."