"Doodle" Caine & Bill Cipher

Rough draft of the first chapter if anyone wants to give feedback and inspo that would be great. Trying to keep the motivation up. Working title

Plot: Alastor runs away to join the circus escaping poverty in the Louisiana backwoods. He sends money to his mama because he’s a good boy.

Lucifer copes with being a widow and keeping a circus up and running and raising his daughter.

Alastor’s mother and father had married young Marie Hartfelt was only 14 a Native Creole and voodoo practitioner.  Alfred Hartfelt was 18 and white Lutheran. Marie had been lured in by promises of a happy life, wealth, and true love. Until Alfred Hartfelt was injured on the job he was often in pain and became an alcoholic and abusive towards his wife and son when he was at home. Money was hard to come by as he was often out of work and drunk.

To help keep the family afloat Marie took on work everything from washing laundry, taking on borders to the family home, selling pies and beignets to neighbors and cafes in town, and waitressing. 

Alfred had no problem with his wife working as he was often to drunk to notice or care.

She tried to protect her son from the worst of her husband's violence and outbursts. When things got too bad at home she would pack a bag and go to her parents house where grandpere and grandmere doted on their grandson. Alfred would return in days or weeks begging and pleading for her to come home swearing he had changed and would never drink again. Marie would return home and for a while things were peaceful till Alfred hit the bottle again and his wife and son.

This would be a pattern till his death when Alastor was older.

Alastor was a young boy no older than 7 years old he believed when the circus came to town. He was in town with his mama; they were running errands delivering pies and dropping off ironed shirts when the sounds of music and excited voices filled the air.

“Mama what’s that?” he asked, tugging on her skirt and pointing in direction where all the excitement emanated from.

Marie stopped in her movements; she had a handbag and an empty basket on one arm; she had also heard the music and had recognized it from when she had been a child herself. She smiled and looked down at her young son and said “Come along Alastor let's go find out.” She picked up the young boy and carried him in her arms.

She walked with him till they arrived at mainstreet where she set her son down and held his hand in one of hers as they looked on.

Alastor was amazed by what he saw, his amber eyes blown wide as he stood by his mama; he had never seen anything like what he was watching: two men carried a large banner declaring in an elegant script the “Big V Circus,” behind came an elephant with a woman in a blue costume with matching feathers in her hair, brightly painted carts were being pulled by horses in colorful harnesses and feathers, animals he had only heard of in school and books were locked in cages lions, tigers, panthers, gorillas, monkeys, zebra, wolves, other animals walked freely being led by leashes giraffe, zebra, camels, ostriches, elephants,.

All manner of people in different clothes and costumes went by: the tallest man Alastor had ever seen, adults who were his same height, a fat man sat on a cart being pulled by oxen, a woman with a beard, tattooed men and women, clowns in white face paint and colorful wigs and costumes, jugglers, acrobats, women in very little clothing and veils danced by shimmying their hips and shoulders causing young Alastor to blush and look away. A man in nothing but a leopard print leotard walked by covered in muscles doing acts of strength picking up heavy weights, people playing musical instruments walked by a kalliope on a horse drawn cart, women in bright costumes rode horses doing handstands and standing. A man wearing a long snake draped upon his shoulders walked by, and a woman stopped to lower a sword down her throat.

A fire eater came too close blowing out a large plume of flames and scared the small boy causing him to cower in his mother’s skirts. The ringmaster, catching sight of this, approached Alastor’s mother. 

Marie Hartfelt was the beauty of the town and few men could resist her. Most didn't approach her as she was a married woman.

“Apologies Ma’am we didn’t mean to scare the tyke please accept these free tickets to the circus.”  he said, removing his hat in a bow. He had black slicked back hair and a handlebar moustache.

Alastor’s father was a proud man who refused to accept charity. She looked down at the way little Alastor’s little eyes were blown wide as he looked up at the ringmaster and then shyly gazed at his mother.

She had seen the way his eyes lit up at seeing elephants walk by and all manner of animals and humans had paraded by  and his mouth hanging open she accepted the tickets vowing to keep it a secret from her husband. After all, she had once had a chance to see the circus when she was a young girl.

“Thank you sir.” she said, dipping her head in a curtsy. 

The man smiled, donning his hat and walking off again waving and calling to the crowd the “Circus is in town!”

After the man went by, a boy close to Alastor’s age appeared. He had black hair and blue eyes and wore a blue costume. He was juggling balls and he came up to Alastor and juggled before him asking Alastor if he would like to try.

Alastor shyly nodded as he rarely spoke to other children and tried to copy the boy as he was a quick study even as a child. He tried a couple times dropping one of the balls till he managed to do a couple rotations.

The other boy smiled and took the balls back “You’re a natural. See you at the circus” and he walked away waving and smiling.

They continued to watch as the parade went by with performers in colorful costumes, exotic animals, and unusual people known as “Freaks” the parade moved out of town some of the towns folk followed after.

That night they went to the circus as Alfred was going to a card game and wouldn't be home. Alastor and his mama dressed up in their best clothes, Marie taking care to comb Alastor’s hair. They had an early dinner and walked through town to where the circus had set up outside of town. Marie handed over the tickets and they passed beneath the lit up sign announcing the circus. They milled about the circus grounds taking in the sights there were all sorts of people milling about. Stalls selling every type of carnival and circus food you could think of: hotdogs and hamburgers, popcorn, lemonade, cotton candy, caramel apples, and ice cream.

There were carnival games, everything from games of strength to throwing balls to knock over bottles, dart games, prizes on display, kewpie dolls and chalk ware. Rides were operating ferris wheel, pony rides, fun house, haunted house. The sideshows were advertising with large colorful painted banners and flags announcing all manner of human oddities and talents; some were frightening to a young boy and others were curious. 

Outside announcers beckoned the townspeople to pay a nickel to see what was inside the tent. Performers were outside showing an example of what could be seen. Animals were on display tied up in stalls or behind cages.

They walked by and took in all the sights till the circus was about to begin and they filed into the tent. They had seats on the bleachers and waited until the circus tent filled up with people and the music began and another variant of a parade began around the big top. Alastor was in awe once again. Elephants walked by, people in bright costumes, animals of all sorts.

Vendors walked the bleachers selling all manner of concessions. Alastor’s mama bought them a box of popcorn and a bottle of lemonade they shared amongst themselves.

From the moment it started Alastor was in awe and couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was magic honest to god magic he was witnessing at a tender young age. 

After the parade the acts began: a tightrope walker, acrobats, clowns, jugglers of all sorts, a magician, a knife thrower, a sharp shooter, dancers and singers, trapeze, fire eaters and fire dancers, sword swallowers, aerialists, trick riders, lion tamers, it was all magic.

When the show concluded that night Alastor knew from that moment what he wanted to be when he grew up he wanted to join the circus. It would remain as one of his happiest childhood memories.

The circus remained in town for a week before they packed up and left behind posters that would weather and fade due to the elements . He started by practicing with whatever he could find to juggle: sticks, rags, balls, anything. He dropped a lot of items and where other kids would become discouraged and find something else to do Alastor had a stubborn streak and practiced. At school and the library he looked for everything he could find on the circus books of magic, sleight of hand, juggling, exotic animals, anything and everything. He poured over the newspapers reading what he could and collecting pictures and clippings.

By the time the next year came the circus returned and a silent tradition was started between himself and his mama. During the year Marie would squirrel away pennies hiding them in her sewing kit to take herself and Alastor to the circus every year. 

The older Alastor got the more he practiced and did acts he had seen juggling, sleight of hand, it also helped that his mama and grandmere were part of a coven of voodoo priestesses. Who taught him things as well. He was no stranger to mysticism.

Grandpere often whittled and taught young Alastor how to as well. He was proficient with a knife, often throwing the knife at targets as Alastor grew older he showed his grandson who showed an interest. 

Alastor grew older and could help out around the house and the household even being taught to hunt and clean his kills. It helped ensure food was on the table and relieved household expenses. 

Being older meant Alastor could spend time watching the circus when they came to town and erected the tents with the older boys and townsfolk. He also ran into the same boy who had shown him how to juggle and they became penpals after a while. 

Vincent was the boy's name he had a curious nickname of Vox as it was his stage name he had said. They exchanged letters and Vincent taught him other tricks.

When Alastor was 12 tragedy struck his father who had been stumbling home drunk was hit by a train and was killed. Alastor and his mama attended the funeral. Marieand Alastor would receive a small pension but it wasn’t enough to live on not with a growing boy in need of glasses and new shoes and clothes. 

They took on borders and Alastor became an apprentice to the butcher in town after school running deliveries, cleaning the shop, and gradually how to butcher. The butcher found Alastor’s interest entertaining and they would throw knives at targets while the butcher had cigarette breaks.

Alastor was 15 and his mama was struggling to make ends meet. They no longer had money for the circus but Alastor kept in contact with Vincent.

“Why don’t you run away and join my family's circus. You can send money home to your mother and during the winter you can go home” he said.

“I can’t just leave my mama alone,” he said.

Marie sighed she knew what her son wanted and despite how it would tear her heart up she wanted her son to have a future. “Alastor, if this is what you want I give you my blessing. Go join the circus you can always come home if it doesn’t work out you will always have a home here.” she said.

Alastor and his mama talked for hours. Finally he packed a sack with clothes, a knife, books he liked, and some other sundries. His mama packed him a basket of food and a mason jar of lemonade. She wanted to make sure he had something to eat.

Marie hugged her son close and peppered his face with kisses. “Remember you can always come home and you will always be welcome. I will see you in the winter.”

Alastor met Vincent who reintroduced him to his father.

His father liked what he saw of a tall boy, handsome, well mannered and spoken, with good hygiene. “You can start out as a roustabout. Well, you need to put some meat on your bones so we won't have you do any heavy lifting for now. If anything you can work as a candy butcher during the spec. Vincent says you want to be a performer, well work your way up and show me what you can do you can start out as a working act or a clown.”

He started out as a roustabout, he sold concessions and balloons in candy striped shirts as he was polite, well spoken, wasn’t drunk, and didn’t skim off the take like the others. As a result he was given plum jobs that used his skills.

Of course!

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who stayed until the grand finale. I will subsequently extend my thanks to those who remained in their seats during Mr. Zsasz's performance -- I do hope your vaccines are up-to-date. I cannot speak for his." Victor, visible at the front of the wings, offers the front row a charming shrug and licks the tip of his favorite scabbard.

1952:

"Jeremy, you haven't touched your dinner."

"Momma-"

"A growing boy needs to eat his food Jeremy, how about a slice of pie?" The sixteen year old looked up to see his mother already coming over with a plate as he nervously looked down at the dessert.

"Momma, it gives me pimples."

"Nonsense Jeremy. As Peter says, the only beauty that matters is the precious light that comes from within."

"Momma, at school everybody already thinks I'm strange. Don't you think I should try to fit in?"

"Whatever are you talking about Jeremy? Being different is the Lord's blessing." Jeremy didn't say anything after that as he stared at the food prodding it wait his fork much to the discontent of his mother. "You're not eating."

"I'm not hungry." He flinched as she got up and grabbed his hair from behind.

"Care to say that again?"

"Momma, please don't-," she smashed his head down into the pie then yanked him back up and doing it again and again before backing away when the plate broke. Jeremy was crying as he held his bleeding face, the pie smeared all over.

"Damn it Jeremy, that was my favorite plate. Now I'm going to have to buy a new one because you were stupid enough to break another one this week."

"I-I'm sorry momma."

"I hope you know this is coming out of your college fund. I know you're not going to be able to get there on your grades so every penny counts but if you keep doing this you're not going to have any future." Shee ignored Jeremy's crying, taking out her handkerchief and handing it to him. "Go clean yourself up, the Valentines are going to be here later and I don't need you scaring them off."

"Yes momma." He was almost at the stairs when his mom called out.

"And Jeremy?"

"Yes?"

"You know I love you, don't you?"

"Yes momma."

"Good."

~~

Jeremy sat in his bed as the sun set with only the candle by his bedside illuminating the room allowing him to see into the mirror he was holding. The makeup he applied earlier was starting to fade, exposing the cut from his right eye to his nose that he knew would become a scar.

His momma didn't usually leave marks that people would see but lately she had been a lot more angry so she didn't care of the marks were visible or not. It's not like Jeremy would tell anybody how he got the mark anyway. He deserved it for being a bad boy. Sometimes he wondered what he did that way so bad to make momma hurry him like this but then he'd stop because he remembered what momma said about questioning her.

He'd go to hell with all the others who didn't listen like they were supposed to. It's not like he wanted to hurt momma...at least not most of the time. A few days ago while cleaning her room he found the gun she hid under her mattress. He thought about taking it and while she was asleep and shooting her right there in bed. But good boys didn't do that. Good boys listened to their mommas.

Setting the mirror aside he laid down and brought the covers up over his head as he tried to forget about the incident at dinner when there was a knocking on his door followed by it being slammed open.

"What the-momma?" He was confused to see his mother's face as she came in and grabbed his right arm, yanking him out of bed.

"You didn't think I would find out?!"

"Momma what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this!" She waved a letter in front of his face. "A letter from Mrs. Tucker, she said you were caught kissing her daughter!"

"Momma, I can explain! She was the one who kissed me-," he was interrupted by a smack to the face as she stood over him angrily.

"You stupid boy!" She hit him again angrily grabbing his throat and shoving him to the floor. "You think you can just take advantage of poor girls like her?!" Jeremy tried to protest but her grip just grew tighter as he struggled. He managed to push her off in his panic running towards her room with his mother chasing after him. "Jeremy, get your sorry ass back here!" He ignored her as he slammed the door shut behind him, locking it as she began to bang on the door.

Terrified he dug under the mattress and grabbed the gun pointing it at the door as he heard her insert the key. "Jeremy, I hope you realize you..." The door opened all the way and she saw her son pointing the gun at her.

"L-leave me alone momma."

"Jeremy, listen to me, put the gun down."

"No! You listen to me! I'm tired of you doing this momma! Always getting angry at me f-for nothing! I-I'm sick of it!"

"Jeremy, you're not thinking right. Just give me the gun and we can talk about this," her smile was warm but as she approached Jeremy he panicked, closing his eyes and pulling the trigger. There was a loud crack as the gun went off and he opened his eyes to see his mother in the of the room stumbling towards him before collapsing on her son. She took her final breath, blood now staining Jeremy's shirt as he screamed.

Thanks @arokel! 🖤☕

rules: the tagger gives a word, then for each letter of that word you share an excerpt from your wips that starts with that letter.

This Monday’s word is MORBS

Tagging: @augustjustice and anyone else who'd like to pick up the thread. (The Word is VEAL).

🍸

Mount Carmel had been the turning point. Between tours and film shoots, when his pathological need for solitude grated against Jeanne and everyone else within three feet of him. Sitting in a rented house on the bluffs, reading comics while Jer danced in the kitchen, singing along to the radio as he made hamburgers and latkes.

And he thought “…perfect.”

It was perfect.

It was the life they should have had, before everything that made them rocket to the moon chucked it in the ash heap.

🎪

Oswald thinks of the aspirin Edward inserted into his sinus cavity through the corner of one smoky eye, then spit into an unsuspecting audience member's hand while Bridgit held his glasses. How he had myopically scanned the wings for Oswald's slight figure, assessing for approval or disapproval without an ounce of subtlety. Can he work with him? "Of course."

🎸

Rena, the cashier at Birth and Death Records, hasn't seen Eddie in a bit. She doesn't run out to give him a hug the way Bess had, but seaglass green eyes follow him from the second they walk in. And Steve spots the way her mascara blots wetly against high cheekbokes by the time he makes it to the counter.

"You okay?"

"Word travels fast here," he says, trying for a smile. "It's good to see you, Rena."

"Knew it was bullshit."

"Yeah. The cops absconded with my Dio, Ozzy, and Iron Maiden. Can you help me out?"

🚑

Bob Woodward, apparently having been just beyond the cracked door for the whole conversation, steps inside.

He looks good. Under-slept, hyperkinetic in a way he usually only was when he'd spent too many days with Carl, and… scared.

"Hi," Carl speaks first, mouth dry. "Your hair's longer than I remembered… What's wrong?"

And now, devastation and apoplexy are creeping in at the edges. Bradlee's shifting in his chair like he'd rather be anywhere else. Carl needs to fix this.

"Hey, Bradlee? Would you maybe--?"

"Get out." Bob's words are flat and reverberate like a bell ringing in the otherwise quiet room.

☎️

“She doesn’t like it when the party leaves town.” Spoken in Eddie’s laconic, drawn out manner, it’s almost a question.

“’Guess not,” Steve replies.

“You didn’t notice after last time?”

“I haven’t tried to go anywhere since last time.”

I want to write a fan fic on AO3 where Alastor runs away and joins the circus instead of becoming a cannibal, serial killer. I plan on it being human au and circa 1920-1930s references and slang. Think the golden age of circuses and sideshows. Any suggestions for added characters or performance abilities or "freak" show.

Ships: Radioapple, past lucililith, charvag, Huskerdust, radiosilence, cherripen,

If you want inspiration, I would love any art you make or pics you find for inspiration too.

If you don't like circuses or sideshows don't come at me this is meant to be fun so sorry.

Alastar: roustabout, candy butcher, dump tank, knife thrower, gentleman geek, cannibal, piano, announcer

Lucifer: ringmaster/circus owner/manager, trapeze, aerial silks, sings, violin, albino?

Lilith: serpent dancer, aerialist, the spanish web, trapeze

Charlie: equestrian/trick riding, singing, ringmaster/ circus manager

Vaggie: sharp shooter, sword swallower, 

Vox: ringmaster/circus owner manager, straight jacket escape, hypnotist

Valentino: escape artist, bed of nails, strongman

Velvette: costume maker/seamstress, ticket booth

Rosie: Lady Geek/Cannibal, Albino

Angel Dust: Cooch dancer, contortionist, the spanish web, chinese poles, elephant rider

Fatty Nuggets: miniature hell pig

Husker: Magician/cards, cigar box juggling, hat juggling,

Nifty: dwarf/cyclops, Alastor’s impalement artist, entomophagy, electric chair 

Cherri Bomb: cyclops/tattooed lady, fire dancer/ fire eater/breather, human cannonball, globe of death rider

Sir Pentious: Snakeman, comedian,  inventer, globe of death motorcycle rider

Egg Bois: clowns, acrobats

Mimzy: cooch dancer, acro dancer, trick rider

Baxter: fish man, scientist

Mammon: the fat man and insult clown

Asmodeus: the strong man

Beezelbub: Trapeze, hairhang,

Leviathan: siamese twins, 

Satan: lion tamer, 

"Who do you think pays for the meals in the cookhouse? Who makes sure we have safety measures in place, permits paid? Who puts gas in all the vans? You’ve never had to worry about things like that, Ed, because you’ve never known what it’s like to take care of anyone, not even yourself!”

“I didn’t need you to take care of me.”

Chapters: 5/6 Fandom: Gotham (TV), Batman - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Oswald Cobblepot/Edward Nygma Characters: Oswald Cobblepot, Edward Nygma Additional Tags: Sideshow AU, Freaks au, Alternate Universe - Circus, Angst with a Happy Ending Summary:

Fishbone Cirque arrives in Mammoth City to bad weather, hostile law enforcement, and a late-season crowd of fewer than 200 people. Worse still, the Quizmaster’s beautiful assistant has flown the coop, forcing Penguin, the stunt sword-swallower formerly known as “Bird Boy” to pinch hit.

Too bad Quizmaster is his ex(partner) and they haven't spoken a word to each other in three months.

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