video:

[charring]

[There's a harsh glow coming from the device. Bright. Yellow-orange-red and occasionally a very, very bright blue. There are the sounds of a crowd cheering and yelling and applauding when the blue flashes and then shouts and gasps when things whoosh and flash multi-colors. And there's a constant crackling sound, faint hisses and pops as if something was on fire.

Which is accurate to a point. It's not a something. It's a someone. And they're not on fire.

They are fire.

The glow retreats some and Charlie comes into view, an almost unrecognizable version of herself and if it weren't for the fire everywhere, she'd be quite obviously naked. The fire is well placed, thank God, because Charlie's pissed enough.

There's an announcer somewhere, one who is shouting about the Fire Elemental and don't get too close, folks! She's a fiery one!

And Charlie is pacing, watching someone off-screen with a glare. The voice creeps closer and Charlie continues pacing. Waiting. Watching. There's something clearly predatory about the way she's moving. When the voice moves closer again, Charlie flits from one spot to another much closer to the bars and reaches through, lips curled in a snarl.

The crowd gasps again and the announcer shouts it's okay, it's alright! She can't get out. The bars are flame resistant.

It's true. With Charlie as close as she is, there should be some damage to her surroundings but there are none.

Offstage, someone hurls a bucket of water at her and she ducks, arms over her head as she hurries away from it. She gasps and the water hits her, pain on her face as she tries to shield herself from the onslaught.

The crowd laughs, the laughter fades and the camera switches out just as Charlie peeks out beteen her arms, glaring. Whoever put her in here better hope she doesn't get out.]

Comments

[tangledintower]

Oh, God, no...

Charlie!

Oh, God, this is all my fault...

[charring]

[Charlie can't speak. Much. Any time she opens her mouth results in sparks and flames shooting out, but no words. She's discovered, however, she can write words in the air. Just a couple at a time.]

No. It is not.

1/2 video;

[oceantrauma]

[It's hard to tell, right away, but once he gets it.]

Charlie-san! What happened?

video;

[oceantrauma]

They.... This is uncalled for. [There's a glare for the people throwing water on her, before he cuts the feed. Guess who's going to the circus!]

[beyourarmy]

[Setsuna is nearly unrecognizable himself, huge beak on his reshaped face. He can't speak, either, but makes a melancholy birdsong at Charlie. He wishes he could help her.]

[charring]

[She watches with some uncertainty, not entirely sure of who she's seeing. And then...she carefully writes a single word in the air, fire leaving a brief trail.]

Setsuna?

[tarot_witch]

Oh sweetie...

[charring]

[Written in the air, leaving a trail of fire forming letters;]

What?

[deadmanbusiness]

[Theo had been poking around the circus after having seen several rather distressing videos from people around the city. When he sees the girl on fire he's reminded of his fiancee and sort of tries to beeline for her as best as he can, pushing people out of the way.]

Hey.

[charring]

[And who is this? The guy gets a suspicious look and she writes in the air;]

Circus staff?

[infernoandhearth]

Oh.

[charring]

Hi, Luke.

[tangledintower]

Luke. Luke, we have to get her out of there.

video;

[asofwar]

This is unacceptable.

video;

[charring]

Very. Tried to rescue Rapunzel. [A pause and then a frown and more writing in the air.]

Lost my sword. [And she's mad.]

Private;

[punchedhitler]

We're coming to get you, we're going to try, do you hear me?

Re: Private;

[charring]

[Frantic writing because by this point, others have tried;] Not safe! NOT SAFE!

video;

[candothat]

Charlie, is someone coming to help you?

video;

[charring]

[Writing in the air with her fire covered finger. NBD. She's used to this.]

Yes.

video;

[firesneeze]

Charlie? [ Shit, seriously?! ]

No- not you too.

[ He can't leave Asami, not after what they had done to her. ]

Re: video;

[charring]

[All these people showing concern. What even? She writes in the air, her only way of communicating;]

I will be fine. How is Asami?

ACTION

[infernoandhearth]

[Luke finally has his powers, and the meat of his shoulders and his faculties back. So it's time to go rescue Charlie. Hell yes.

He goes in looking different, for the spirit of the rescue, even though he's fairly certain the carnies don't actually care. Once the next performance is over, he walks over to the rope surrounding the cage, still looking different, and smiles at Charlie, communicating a hello directly from fire to fire. The sentience is different. He can communicate in words instead of concepts.]

Re: ACTION

[charring]

[Once Charlie's sure of who it is, she grins at him. Writing;] Hello, yourself.

[headofoperations]

Such spirit! Yes! Give us more.

[charring]

[At most, all she's going to do is flip you off. Other than that, she's going to sit very still.]

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

[... They managed to capture even Charlie. He really doesn't know what to say, simply frowning at his device at the horror show it displays before him]

Re: video;

[charring]

Do not worry. I will be out soon. [she hopes.]

action?

[what_the_flux]

[Doc has stopped by, and stands lingering in the shadows, out of the view of the crowds, monitoring the cage. It seems his modifications are holding up well enough. Of course, he's not quite Doc as he normally is - captured, manipulated by the very same forces that have been turning the other citizens to suit the circus' devices, he's now being compelled to work for them. He's been made to look even more his part, his hair somehow more unruly than usual, goggles with one magnifying lens worn pushed up past his hairline, his wardrobe dominated by dramatically large gloves and a buttoned, floor-length labcoat.

Of course, he's no more free than any other citizen; while he is under intense manipulation, there are still staff with him as he monitors Charlie's assault against the bars. When the audience lets up a bit, he approaches the cage himself, wordlessly testing the temperature and structural soundness of the bars. His eyes are focused on the bars, avoiding looking at the girl inside. Perhaps that's a part of Doc that still lingers, too guilty to face her.]

action:

[charring]

[Charlie's crouched in a corner, sulking. She's trying to not be seen by anyone but when she glows like the sun, she's hard to miss. So she doesn't see the Doc right away, just registers a presence there.

When they stay longer than usual, her curiosity is piqued and she turns to look over her shoulder.

Her jaw drops when she sees who it is. Oh, Doc.

She heads over carefully, crouched low and watching him with concern. And writing where he can see it.]

It holds. Built well.

[It's really hard to not play nice, right now. On the one hand, she knows he's affected somehow. On the other, it's still his cage.]

[ video ]

[pratful]

[ quiet, seething fury slowly overtakes him as he watches the footage, noting the location, the people, the crowd that seems determined to enjoy Charlie's suffering.

How dare they treat such a woman? He doesn't pause to think, not even once, that the only difference here from the public executions of countless wizards back in his time is that he knows this one. No, he doesn't think, he merely acts. ]

Charlie! Where are you. I'll bring Merlin and we'll get you out of there. Just... don't do anything stupid.

Re: [ video ]

[charring]

[Oh, Arthur. You adorable idiot. This isn't a place Charlie wants anyone, even Merlin. That should say something, right? She's going to protest. By...writing with fire in the air.

Awkward. But she's getting better at it.]

Stay where you are. Luke is coming. He's good with fire. It'll be safer.

[See? She cares. She doesn't feel like getting her best friend or her fiance burned. that'd just leave her guilt-ridden for weeks.]