thicker than thieves {c}

Shani had her own tent - a large tank fixed in the center, lighting up the inside with a blue, rippling glow. She had a dressing room in a small adjacent tent, where she changed into normal clothes, left her costume to dry. She had a towel draped over her shoulders, her hair was still damp, but it was a bright sunny day and she'd dry off quickly by her next show.

She usually wandered the circus in between performances, and while she didn't mind doing so alone, she was pleasantly surprised when she was greeted by a familiar face almost right away. "Thanks!" With a bright smile, Shani pulled Hazel into a brief friendly hug. "I'm starving though, you want to get something to eat with me?" She offered.

@hazel
//im so sorry this took forever im a piece of shit

She flashed Hazel a smile as she eyed the tent - to Shani, it felt like home - before leading the way out and into the flow of the crowd. In full costume and make up, she stood out whether on the stage or not, but now she might as well have been another visitor with a friend as they walked along the dirt paths between tents.

Most of the food stalls were in the center, and Shani knew the maze of tents that made up the circus like the back of her hand - she didn't need to read signs or even give much thought to where she was going, as her feet seemed to carry her by themselves.

The majority of circus food was greasy, unhealthy, and she didn't make a habit of eating it regularly. But this would be a treat. "We could share a platter." She suggested - they could see once they got there.

The two of them had met when Hazel had seen Shani dance, though now their friendship extended past the circus grounds, it was nostalgic to be here together again. "How have you been?"

@hazel

She smoothed down her damp hair, though she knew it would prove futile when it dried out and frizzed up. It couldn't be helped - working in water had its pros and cons, but at the end of the day it was too fun to give up.

"Good as ever." Shani said, jostling through the crowd that always seemed to stick near the center, people stopping to eat, to decide which tent to visit next. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Hazel was still with her, pausing and pointing at a stall. "Fries?" She was hungry enough to eat anything at this point.

@hazel

They paid together, and Shani carried the paper plate, heavy with steaming hot fries, to an empty table for two, plopping down on a seat. She picked a fry off the plate, then a few more, ravenous as she was, before she rested her elbows on the table and leaned in closer to Hazel.

The fries were fresh and piping hot. Not a healthy lunch, but a treat for the two of them, though seeing Hazel again was a treat enough for Shani. "Alright so, have you been?" She said again. "Details."

@hazel

Shani grinned. Whatever most people deemed uninteresting always seemed interesting to her. She'd never been to school, and she'd never had formal education. She knew how to read and write and do math, but her parents had thought the most important lessons were practical ones. "Well, at least you got today off." She said, waving a hand absently in the air. "Though, I heard it was gonna rain." She added with a frown. The sky looked too clear, only a few white clouds dotting it.

@hazel