redwagon ; the mod journal (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} redwagon) wrote,@ 2011-10-16 22:34:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the premise.
Fifteen years ago the first rumours of superpowered beings began to emerge out of small, backwater towns across America. Tales of a girl who had an affinity with plants beyond the norm, stories of a paralysed boy who jumped out of bed one morning. Much of America dismissed these tales as nonsense, waved them aside as the product of sheltered communities and old wives tales taken too seriously.
Then, ten years ago, there were more stories. Still few and far between though they were, it was impossible to deny they were growing in number. It wasn't just the tiny dust filled towns making claims either now, the bigger towns and even a few cities were getting in on it. Newspapers began to devote columns to these wondrous, inexplicable tales and everyone knew a friend of a friend whose son could fly.
Five years on and superpowered humans were no longer a figment of imagination or a flight of fancy. They were real. Suddenly the public wanted to see these incredible creatures and were willing to pay good money for the chance too. That, of course, is where the circuses and carnivals came in.
The Birling Brothers' Circus has been travelling the rails for ten years in various forms but has only recently come to enjoy success and the ripples of infamy. Four years ago Robert Birling pitched to his brothers the idea of a circus which made use of superpowered beings like themselves. Slowly they began to travel the country, seducing down on their luck powered humans with promises of fame and fortune. For many the romance of the road was too hard to turn down, especially when faced with unemployment and ostracism elsewhere. For some the chance to belong to something again, to contribute, was all they wanted. For others though, it was the opportunity to show the public exactly what they could do that sealed the deal.
It's worth noting though that the circus still has a small collection of troupers from seasons past, those who can remember what life was like before the powered humans came along. A few are resentful of the turn of events, irked at losing their place as a headlining act and finding themselves further down the ladder than they like. For that reason, and others they're keeping to themselves, the Birlings disapprove of contact beyond what is necessary between the two groups. What once existed as a barrier between performers and roustabouts has now morphed into one between powered and non powered.
In the midst of a dark Depression that there seems to be no way out of, the circus is providing Americans across the country the chance to leave their troubles behind, if only for one day.
Well, provided they can pay the entry fee of course.
Then, ten years ago, there were more stories. Still few and far between though they were, it was impossible to deny they were growing in number. It wasn't just the tiny dust filled towns making claims either now, the bigger towns and even a few cities were getting in on it. Newspapers began to devote columns to these wondrous, inexplicable tales and everyone knew a friend of a friend whose son could fly.
Five years on and superpowered humans were no longer a figment of imagination or a flight of fancy. They were real. Suddenly the public wanted to see these incredible creatures and were willing to pay good money for the chance too. That, of course, is where the circuses and carnivals came in.
The Birling Brothers' Circus has been travelling the rails for ten years in various forms but has only recently come to enjoy success and the ripples of infamy. Four years ago Robert Birling pitched to his brothers the idea of a circus which made use of superpowered beings like themselves. Slowly they began to travel the country, seducing down on their luck powered humans with promises of fame and fortune. For many the romance of the road was too hard to turn down, especially when faced with unemployment and ostracism elsewhere. For some the chance to belong to something again, to contribute, was all they wanted. For others though, it was the opportunity to show the public exactly what they could do that sealed the deal.
It's worth noting though that the circus still has a small collection of troupers from seasons past, those who can remember what life was like before the powered humans came along. A few are resentful of the turn of events, irked at losing their place as a headlining act and finding themselves further down the ladder than they like. For that reason, and others they're keeping to themselves, the Birlings disapprove of contact beyond what is necessary between the two groups. What once existed as a barrier between performers and roustabouts has now morphed into one between powered and non powered.
In the midst of a dark Depression that there seems to be no way out of, the circus is providing Americans across the country the chance to leave their troubles behind, if only for one day.
Well, provided they can pay the entry fee of course.