Everything annoyed you today. You woke up feeling weirdly drowsy, your stomach aching for no clear reason, and then, just to top it off, you spilled your entire meal on the floor. Great. And of course, you still had to go to that forbidden circus. Not like you had a choice, you promised Pierrot you’d come. Backing out now would feel almost cruel.

After getting ready and making your way there, you noticed his red tent was still dark, unlit for now. So, you’d have to wait. There were two others open, though, and after a moment’s hesitation, you decided to check out the purple one. Why not?

The performance centered around forbidden love.

It felt… strange. Beautiful in its own way, but unsettling all the same. You couldn’t tell if the blood was real or just some incredibly convincing trick, and the thought made your stomach twist again.

The longer you stayed, the more you noticed the Jester stealing glances at you, his expression uneasy,like he was holding himself back from something. You chose to ignore it. It didn’t matter.

When the show began to end, you lingered, waiting so you wouldn’t have to leave with the crowd. You hated crowds. A lot.

As you finally made your way toward the exit, you felt a gloved hand rest on your shoulder. Walking towards the tent exit, you felt a gloved hand on your shoulder.

"Well, dear Visitor, "

The smooth, suave voice started, calm and rich, carrying a warmth that lingered just enough to be noticed. It was pleasant, almost inviting, the kind of voice that held your attention before you even realized it had done so.

"I hope you are aware that you're bleeding quite heavily, for whatever reason. "

What.

You felt your heart sink instantly. No way. Did you really just get your fucking period mid-show? The realization hit hard, and with it came a wave of panic. You had nothing on you, no backup plan, nothing.

"... You okay there? You look quite... Horrified. In a way."

He leaned down toward you slightly, his grin faltering just a bit, though there was still a hint of amusement in his expression as he took in how completely deadpan you looked.