.
askbarnum
*Wrinkles his nose in distaste and defiantly drags over his seat to sit directly between Bennett and Lettie as if to deter them getting too close. Grouchily grabbing a jam tart to chew on since he can’t find grounds for an argument.*
Oh, Mr Bennett. Did you know we are going on tour next month? Our Circus train is nearly ready, so we will all be out of the state for weeks, perhaps months. Some of the acts might be staying up in our new Circus in Coney Island permanently, including our delightful Lettie. If course they’ll be missed but it is a lot more lively and exciting up there, an excellent place to start anew.
*Puts down his tea and reaches over to take back the kitten, gently lowering him onto his shoulder and stroking his velvet fur to relax*
Shame you have business here in the city and can’t come along.
———
askcarlyle
*sputters into tea mid-sip and stares at Barnum as if he had just sprouted a second head*
Coney Island? The resort and amusement park we visited? That Coney Island? Were you planning on discussing this new acquisition with me at any point in the near future?
*dabs at the tea stains on the front of his shirt with a handkerchief in vain*
And for what it’s worth, the circus has already extended Gordon an invitation to come along on our first performance tour. The Herald thought it would be an excellent opportunity, we already have a car outfitted for guests, and it would be beneficial for public relations to have an accompanying journalist chronicling such a notable new venture. So his business will actually be to come along, as luck would have it.
*Breaks off a piece of her jam tart and throws it a Barnum’s head*
If you think for one second that I am moving to go and live in some tacky funfair that smells of children’s puke, you better damn well think again, Barnum. Find someone else to be your main act over there, my home is here in New York.
*Stands from her seat and wanders from the room, returning moments later with a damp rag and kneeling down to scrub at Carlyle’s shirt*
That’s going to stain, this is green tea. Leave it out for me tonight, I’ll soak it in wine vinegar.
*As she stands up she uses the rag to gently dab Phillip’s chin too to remove a spot of jam, then returning to her seat, stroking one of Bennett’s ladies as she paces over to rub against her leg*
It will certainly be nice to have you accompany us across the country, Mr Bennett. You’ll be welcome to come and visit my carriage any time you need some company other than Barnum. I’ll show you what I can do outside of cooking and singing. *Flutters her lashes at him and hides her grin in her tea cup as she sips slowly.*
*Chokes on his tea, startling Lady Gaiety into sprinting straight into Barnum’s legs with notable force*
That...well, I—
*Pulls our a handkerchief to dab at the tea around his mouth, recollecting himself and adjusting his monocle for good measure*
I look forward to getting acquainted with your no doubt innumerate other talents, Miss Lutz.
