July 25, 1941
It was a day like any another except today was going to change for two certain people a gangster and freak. It was the day after the child search fiasco, Johnny was home at in his office going over the deal about a low-rate gang joining his, but wasn't sure if was going to consider them from what his men found out is that they are young, have slight skills with weapons but are full of themselves and reckless. He may be a dangerous gangster, but he wasn't stupid and wasn't going to risk his rep for some young punks who think they can walk on the same level as him, as he was wrapping up his work there was a knock at the door, "Come in," Johnny announced and his "wife" Charlotte and Angie walked in, Angie was still holding her bunny as she ran to her dad. "Honey, the Boysie's invited us to party at their Manhattan house," Charlotte said flaunting the invitation as she swayed over to her husband in a two-piece red suit that almost looked like swim wear, "Well that's nice, but I ain't goin'," He said not paying much attention to her as he was giving his daughter attention "What do ya mean you ain't going, you have to go," Charlotte said trying to persuaded him, but it wasn't working. "I promised Angie we go see the newest edition of Cirque De Muses ring of entertainers," Johnny said smiling at his little girl who smiled back but when he looked at Charlotte she had a skeptical look "Oh really well than why not we go as a family," she said dropping the invite on his desk before walking to their bedroom to get dressed in another skimpy outfit to where tonight.
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On the other side of town at Cirque De Muses, Rene was sitting in front of her vanity humming away as she brushed her hair making sure everything was going to go perfect since it was her first show back with the carnival and couldn't help just feeling so nervous and she assumes it's not just the show, more like who is coming. "I've never seen you so nervous for a performance since we first were street performers and decided to build our troop on the poor streets of Brooklyn," Rene turned to see Andrew and the Siamese twins (conjoined twins) Carrie (right) and Sherrie (left) standing in the entrance way of her tent "I have no idea what your talking about, Drew," Rene said faced her vanity once more still making eye contact with her friends, who remained where they stood. The twins giggled as Drew rolled his eyes with a smirk on his lips, "Rene we know why you are so nervous for tonight and it's not about your dance since you are very talented," Carrie said smiling before turning to her sister "It's about that man you helped find his daughter and not to mention deliver the child's toy to the father before they left," Sherrie said giving her the look of 'we know' as Rene's eyes widen before turning towards the twins "How did you two know about that?" Rene questioned.
Andrew just chuckled as the girls were having a little argument, "So he said he was hoping to see my show, what's wrong with that?" Rene said getting up going towards her dressing shade beginning to get dress into her costume for tonight as she listened to the twins giggling and walking out of her tent. Drew came over a little more so she can here him,"Rene, you know I love your dances and so does our audience, but are you sure you want to do this specific 'dance'?" Drew asked questionably and concern "Drew, that was the past and it was a mistake, he was a mistake and it won't happen again," Rene said with a little sadness in her voice, trying to not let her emotions over come her. She walked out wearing her robe, since her costume is a surprise for everyone, and approached her vanity once more to put on her bracelets while trying not to think of the past, but she can still see the concerned look on Drew's face through the mirror, "Drew, my friend, enough with the look, what is truly bothering you?" Rene asked without turning to face him giving him time to answer, "Rene, you are my dearest friend and we've known each other for years, but I feel that the moment you perform that dance something might happen and I don't want you getting hurt again not like last time," Drew answered approaching her placing a gently hand one her shoulder, in turn she placed her hand on his understanding where he was coming from.
"Thank you my friend, but that is not the only that is bothering you and I know half of it is about that man from last night, what is the other half?" she asked knowing him too well for his own good "Ha ha, as usually you know me, I don't know what to do Rene?" Drew said as well as getting a questionable looked from her asking what he meant than he continued "We may be going out of business for good," he said with disappointment in his voice while Rene looked at him in shock, "what?"
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It was 6:45 pm, as the whole McClain family left for the carnival and through the whole car ride it was silent no one spoke not even Charlotte until Johnny decided to ask a curious question "Why are you even coming? You don't even like the carnival cause the freaks give you goosebumps," she looked to her husband offended "When have I ever said that, sweetie?" she asked and with that he responded "Yesterday when I took Angie," after that it went quiet again until they reached the carnival until Charlotte noticed a small bouquet of white roses in between her husband and child "Who are the flowers for?" when her husband didn't answer her suspicion grew. Once parked Angie hoped out of the car with excitement, not even waiting for her folks, until her father called out to her "Baby girl, wait for me, don't run off!" Johnny yelled with a smile on his face seeing his little girl so excited like yesterday, Angie looked back while slowing down till she bumped into someone and fell on her butt.Â
She looked up to see two girls who were "stuck" together, but she wasn't afraid of the girls "Oh my are you okay sweetie?" Carrie asked Sherrie followed the question "Your not hurt, are you?" all Angie did was shake her head 'no' in reply. Johnny and Charlotte came towards the twins and their daughter, "I'm so sorry about that--wait I remember you two, you helped me look for my daughter yesterday," Johnny said with a slight smile on his lips than the twins remembered him from the other day, "Of course, how are you? Are you here for the newest show tonight?" Carrie said with a Cheshire grin as her sister giggled. Johnny made a sharp laugh while scratching the back of his head before nodding, "Oh yes, but is there a chance we can see the dancer before her performance?" Johnny asked them, their smiles immediately grew two times "Well usually civilians aren't allowed in the back before shows, but," Carrie trailed off looking at her sister "We can probably make an exception this once," Sherrie said gesturing the McClain's to follow them, even Charlotte but she was skeptically because she didn't like these people, to the back were their camp was to Rene's tent.
As they entered the camp the freaks and other performers were waving 'hello' to them, mostly to Angie, as they pasted making their way to their destination, they almost there until they saw Andrew coming towards them from Rene's tent. First, seeing the twins than the McClain's behind them he gave the twins a look, "What do you two think your doing bringing civilians back here? you know the rules," Drew scowled at the twins while crossing his arms "We know Drew, but this man his daughter wanted to see Rene before her show, they are the same pair from yesterday," Sherrie said to him trying to persuade him let them, at first it didn't seem to work until Drew saw the man and little girl and realized it was them from yesterday "Oh it is them! I am so sorry, it is great to see you two back and please go right ahead Rene is just making some finally adjustments to her costume," Drew said warmly to them letting them be on their way as he makes some finally touches to the big show.Â
In her tent, Rene was putting the finally touches on her hair while sitting in front of her vanity until she felt a slight weight on her shoulder, she looked to see Mumbai's head there looking into her eyes as they "spoke" to each other in their minds, "What is it, Mumbai?" Rene asked out loud just looking into Mumbai's small dark eyes listening to her calmly "Are you alright? you're more nervous than usual, actually your never nervous," Mumbai said to her and Rene just gave her a small smile as she gently stroke the smooth head on the bright yellow python. "I am fine my cherish, I just don't want to have this night turn into disaster," She said looking at her reflection trying to calm her nerves than she heard someone clear their outside the drapes of her tent without turning around she answered as she placed on her robe, "Who is there?" Rene asked than she heard the twins giggle making her chuckle as well "Girls, Is there a reason you're standing outside when you should be getting ready for show in about ten minutes, I assume," Rene said than she heard the drapes be pulled back. Rene turned around expecting the twins to enter her tent, but instead she got Johnny and behind his legs was Angie, she gave them a smile kind of happy to see them well than in walks another woman. The moment the unknown woman looked at her she gave a load yelp seeing Rene's slight appearance and the mass amount of snakes inside the make-shift room, "Oh hello, you are from yesterday, I assume your here for the performance tonight Mister..," Rene asked not quite sure what his name was until he spoke "McClain, Johnny McClain but please call me Johnny," He gave her an amazing smile in which she returned "Johnny and this must Angie your daughter," Rene looked down at the child who came out from behind her father's leg and nodded. Rene looked up to see the woman next to Johnny slightly edgy than she slowly approached them and the woman clanged to Johnny, "Who might this be? Mister John-- I mean Johnny," Rene asked making eye contact with the woman with a small smile, before answering the woman spoke "I am his WIFE, Charlotte," she said extending her left hand to show the diamond ring to Rene, who in turned looked at the ring without much thought not caring about it, than snuggled into her husband as he shrugged her off, Johnny brought out the roses and extended them out to her. Rene could not process what was happening, no one had ever offered her white roses before, she gently reached for the beautiful flowers and cradled them in her arms as she looked up to him, "I am sorry, I'm confused, why are you giving me flowers specifically roses?" she asked not knowing what is happening, he was about to speak, but remembered that Charlotte was in the room with Angie.
Johnny bent down and whispered to his daughter to wait outside, she sweetly agreed and went, than he looked to Charlotte "Go wait outside with Angie," he told her but she want to leave his side "No baby, I wanna be here with you," Charlotte said eyeing Rene angrily, thinking she is a tramp, than he grab her forearm tightly without Rene noticing and whispered "I said wait outside, now," he said again but harsher this time to which she followed and exited the tent, not before looking back not wanting what she thinks is going to happen, happen. Once alone Rene and Johnny didn't know what to say to each other, she wandered to her make-up table and placed the flowers in an empty vase before filling it with water in doing so, Johnny found the nerve to speak "I wanted to say thank you for helping look for my daughter and for your snakes not harming her," he said as he observed all the serpents in her room "Oh no, it was a pleasure especially once she was safe I couldn't imagine if one of my own disappeared, if I had one that is," she said as they both gave out a sharp laugh. Johnny stopped admiring the snakes and turned to the emerald beauty before him knowing he feels a strong attraction to this unique and elegant woman before him, "Rene, I am looking forward to your performance, but I liked to ask if it would be alright if I could visit you, um, before shows like in afternoons," Johnny asked slightly timid, hoping for an okay, she just stared at him with a confused expression not knowing if he was serious or not, "Forgive me Johnny, but why would want to hang out with a, well, freak I am flattered but it doesn't seem right," Rene asked feeling slightly uncomfortable or is more frighten to say the least. She has never had anyone visit her before the shows, than again there was him  though just taking a better look at the man in front of her she feels that she can trust him, but doesn't know if she should. Rene looked at the man and saw the look on his face seemed to be genuine not like that man in the past, "I am sorry, I must've came of as a creep and made you uncomfortable just forget what I said earlier, but I hope to see you on stage dancing the night away," Johnny turned to her with a sad smile and the look in his eye wasn't anything different and walked out of the tent to get his seat in the big top.
Rene stood quickly to stop him, but she wasn't quick enough and he disappeared with his family into the carnival grounds, Rene entered her tent again to only stand for a few moments until she rushed to finish up and exited to the big top to start her performance, this time she will make not just changes to a certain part of her routine, but the whole routine.
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Johnny was still in a gloomy mood since he didn't get the answer he wanted from Rene, though he wasn't going to force one out of her especially since he made her feel slightly uncomfortable, "So baby what exactly were you and that thing talking about while I was outside?" Charlotte asked with disgust in her voice wanting an answer from her husband since she didn't like the idea of him being alone with any women, freak or not, "It doesn't concern you, what me and Miss Rene discuss in her tent is between me and her alone," Johnny answered in a harsh, uncaring tone as they continued in the line to see Rene's performance. Once they got to the front, Drew stopped them from entering the tent Johnny looked at him confused until he spoke "I was told to give you and your family the front row seats for tonight's performance and the performer would like you to meet her after the show," Drew whispered with a smile on his face as he led them to their seats and as they were seated Johnny stopped him before he left "Wait, you mean she wants to see me," he asked with a mischief smile on his lips as Drew walked away with a sharp laugh.Â
Behind the curtain, Rene could see johnny and his family in the front row seats, she somehow calmed her nerves as she adjusted her costume than she heard Drew get on stage and announce her entrance, "Ladies and Gents', boys and girls tonight is the night to see our newest and permanent addition our home of freaks and talents, Renenutet! Let's hear some cheers!" Drew yelled in the big top and the crowd roared with excitement, Rene even saw and heard Johnny whistling and his daughter was jumping on the wood chairs, "Now our lovely Rene has choreograph the perfect dance to perform for you tonight, For those single men in the audience your hearts might throb and For the married couples, ladies keep a close watch because it might be something your husband might want you to do," Drew chuckled as the single whistled and the couples laughed "Now let's start tonight's show, Rene's Courtship Dance," Drew yelled and threw a smoke bomb to the ground and in the array of smoke Rene appeared on stage with her back to everyone and every man held their breath especially Johnny the moment the music started everything went quiet.
Her movements were graceful, sharp and entrancing to everyone in the tent, more fully to Johnny, Rene was truly a serpent woman the way her body swayed and bend in all directions in her dance was bewitching. Johnny could not take his eyes off her or her body as she danced, he wanted her in ways he couldn't explain in words, Charlotte noticed this and didn't like it one bit even what happened next. As Rene was finishing her dance with the final twirl she stopped in front of Johnny making complete eye contact with him and they both stared into each others eyes for a long time as the crowd roared in cheers after the music ended not caring if the two of them stared at one another except one person. When she exited off the stage, Johnny jumped to his feet handing Angie over to Vinnie, his right hand man, before exiting the tent before anybody else could and headed towards the back where he saw Rene exiting while adjusting her robe since it was slightly chill tonight. He sneaked up behind her and placed his coat onto her shoulders which gave her a fright turning to see who was behind her, she took a breath of relief knowing it was Johnny "Oh, you gave me a fright," Rene giggled before realizing that Drew must of told him to meet her after the show "Johnny would mind accompanying me to my tent I want to have a word with you before you go, I assume your daughter is exhausted," she asked after stealing a glance of him while stage and saw his daughter was passed out in her fathers' lap, Johnny nodded as he followed her not knowing that they were being followed by a very paranoid wife.