The Ringmistress

The show is over.

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

// The show is over! I swear that the bitch is finally dead this time.
Thank you all for your support in my endeavors of evil! I cannot get over how much attention this gal got. I made the account on a whim and her evil power immediately spiraled into something much bigger ++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

than me. I will never forget all this and it will remain special in my heart.
The Ringmistress is dead, but long live the circus! If you’d like to find me elsewhere, I still exist at @Real_SashaJames.
Thank you all again, and I hope you enjoyed the show!

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

// The show is over! I swear that the bitch is finally dead this time.
Thank you all for your support in my endeavors of evil! I cannot get over how much attention this gal got. I made the account on a whim and her evil power immediately spiraled into something much bigger ++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha [She doesn’t exactly breathe. She doesn’t have to. But there is not much left, and what is left is fading.]
Nnnnever change. Neverrr changed.
[It still sounds like her. It laughs one last time. And dies.]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[The show has already begun. The Ringmistress strikes quickly, and harshly, and there is catharsis to burning another circus down. The first time she did this, she was overthrowing Nikola Orsinov in the name of Sasha James. This time ... this time, things are very different.]
++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[*Click.*]
[The voice is Sasha James, pleading, weak and dying.]
N-nottie, no, please, no. I see you, I see you, please—
[The voice and her agonized screams are muffled, and there is the sound of ripping and rending. And then quiet.]
[*Click.*]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha [And her voice belongs to Sasha James, weak and desperate and human.]
N—nottie, please, no. I see you, I see you, please—

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha [Claws, and brutality, and blood and viscera and whatever these creatures are made of. But one ringmaster, cocky as she may be, is not prepared for the vicious power of an Inheritor.]
[But when Natalia is over top of her, she speaks.] ++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha [She extends her arms, bows and then rises again.]
You are truly terrible at upholding deals, you know. Pesky little thing. Perhaps your girl will have to pay after all. I’m really not scared of going toe to toe with the web she’s in — might even be fun.

[Adelard Dekker @AdelardDekker]

Every day the Stranger does things.

[🎪🎶Ni ko la ~ !🎶🎪 @showmannequin]

[Click.]
[An explosion. Underneath, a high-pitched, staticky screech.]
[Click.]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@deathtobanks Destroyed some competition.

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

There we are.

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[*Click.*]
[A sigh, a metal clink, and then — an explosion.]
[*Click.*]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha @showmannequin [Blind as she is now, there is no looking at the explosion, but she finds it beautiful nonetheless.]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha @showmannequin [The Ringmistress sighs, and in one swift motion unravels the whip and scoops up an explosive in her free hand. She catches the pin between her teeth and throws it, scampering back from its radius.]
++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha @showmannequin [The Ringmistress’ tone gains a very slight edge.]
I don’t recall making you such a promise. It’s all about darling Sasha, isn’t it? Would it hurt so terribly to trade one of many clowns in the circus for her?
[Her smile widens.]
One last job, Natalia. Don’t lose your nerve.

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha @showmannequin But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
[She gestures around the scene, whip wrapped around her hand, turning towards the Not-them.]
I thought it would be better to see it yourself, Natalia. Is it all falling into place, now?

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

@humansasha @showmannequin [The Ringmistress laughs, a low and light sound, and adjusts the brim of her top hat.]
Well, you know, I went very far on my first go-round with Nikola Orsinov. Been there, done the beautiful coup. I just don’t see the appeal in wasting unnecessary resources on number two. ++

[🎪🎶Ni ko la ~ !🎶🎪 @showmannequin]

[Click.]
[Burning. That’s all. The crackle and roar of a fire, continuing until the tape distorts and breaks.]
[Click.]

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

⚠️ CW for Major Character Death, violence.

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[The show has already begun. The Ringmistress strikes quickly, and harshly, and there is catharsis to burning another circus down. The first time she did this, she was overthrowing Nikola Orsinov in the name of Sasha James. This time ... this time, things are very different.]
++

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[The Ringmistress stands over her prisoner, and smiles with a little bit of sick delight.]
A quiet death wouldn’t be becoming of you, no. It has to be a setpiece. That would only be fair, wouldn’t it? One last show.
@showmannequin

[The Ringmistress @newringmistress]

[There is not joy in the destruction, for this ringmaster does not feed off the flames and the hurt, but there is a cold satisfaction in the march of progress. The carousel turns, and things without eyes which cannot be known lurk in the edges of vision.]
++