"Come! Come on in! Don't just stand there peeking in! Tonight I've got a present for you all!" The Ringleader with her black hair and shining black eyes was charismatic and alluring as all in her trade must be, standing outside the brightly lit tent on a wooden crate with cane in one hand, her hat in the other, crying to every passerby about how just inside the opening behind her was the greatest show on Earth. About how anyone who entered would leave a different person. Many a person believed the woman, passing through the tent flaps into the show with much cheer from the charming Ringleader. And much to each person's surprise, the woman's boasting came from a place of truth. The show was full of wonderment and joy with dancing contortionists and flying daredevils and fire blowers and sword swallowers. The crowd's favorite, however, was always the ballerina and clown with their charming love story. And indeed, everyone who left the show night after night were changed forever, in some way many would never understand. After all, how was anyone supposed to know that the performers in the show were demons enslaved, who used their otherworldly powers along their talents to ensnare their audience? How were they to know that the more the enjoyed the show, the more of their souls were lost? How on Earth should they have known that at the end of each night the Ringleader would smile to her rose as it grew redder and redder with the power of the souls she stole away? "Let's toast! To your darkness, to the darkness within you! Raise the last of your blood to your dreams and to your darkness! Cheers!" --- Inspired by Buck-Tick's entire Thirteenth Floor with Diana concert. Ficlet contains lyrics from the song "Diablo," the rest written by me. It was written on the fly so forgive the choppiness of it, just felt the image could use a little context. The kanji symbol on the Ringleader's stomach means "Demon." Character morphs on all three figures, posing, expressions, lighting, floor prop and texture by yours truly. Cane and candelabra with candle props by MelC. Rendered in Poser Pro , postworked in Photoshop Seven. Thank you for viewing :-D