Katie Girl.

Hubble cars never peaked their interest in a land where airships whizzed by.
Shalla wiggled her toes, settling next to the nook around her window. Perfect for people watching and curling up in her billowy dress as the next set of tourists flew by.
Her hair, toppled with curls was strapped by a single thread of ribbon, feathers bombarded a tiny hat that flowered beaded silver. She was certainly a sight to be seen. Shalla, now 21 stretched out her freshly tanned ankles and stretched out in the sun like a cat. Her corset taut as ever made her back slightly itchy from the mesh of cloth and lace.

An asian man, beautiful skin and emerald tweed suit smiled at her but she bashfully shook her head.
Outside her window was a world of imagineering. Robots cranked and motorized to behave like humans. They too, were powered by water, cogs and steel. Bubbling happy along with their work, unencumbered by human emotions they too did their part in building the 8 mile high city.  Bombarded by clocks, Valencia and Victorian Clothes. She was enamored with it. The lot of it.

Gypsies littered the streets below with venomous laughs, claps and tamborine sizzle. Their hearts soared every full moon with spirits, flowing skirts and flirtatious smiles. It was utterly addicting and Shalla felt herself wanting to leave her tower more and more.
Find herself amongst feathered men with pocket watches and ask them how exactly it is that they charm with a smile.
She picked up a trinket toy with her foot bringing it to her hands and winding the tiny little music box.
It chimed merrily for her as she passed it from palm to palm.

She sang along her lips molding into a soft smile thinking of ..

find me in the garden my dear,my dear
ne'ever should a word be spoken from here
in the garden once light hits the water at night
i'll find you there if not now then tonight


She brushed the toy to her lips, her eyelids getting heavy and finally slumping to the floor, her hand falling softly onto the pillows that were scattered around her.

a soft thump,thump, thump rolled across the ceiling above her but she did not stir.
The Gypsies giggled to themselves as they walked across tight rope to find the princess of the goons.
Goons, they called them. Idiots who lived in high rises and considered themselves above the fun.
They never once wondered about the Nouveaux court of miracles, The tamborines or the loud horn music.fools.

Nor she did expect the most charming of them to find her, to watch her sleep within her cocoon of pillows. She looked like a princess.

Shalla Ideole Jarrah.
She was the only child of a wealthy game exhibitor. His love for wild geese and shot guns protected his daughter from the chance of truly ever being in a romance. It had been rumored all of her lovers were murdered at gun point. Shot straight through the forehead.

No mercy musket heads. 




The next night.
After sun fall there was a secret circus. A freak show of sorts showing off the best of the best, sword swallowers, fortune tellers and children with monkeys. The sea of the most wonderful of performances would take place and Shalla would be there.
Her laced up boots made her stick out like a sore thumb as she peaked into the tent. Hoards of unhappy animals growled and paced as she made her way towards the center ring. The roar of the crowd and drunken stupor was mystifying.

The ringer was handsome as ever, his arms reached up high as he wafted the crowd in an crescendo of cheers, booze and animal taming. His whip cracked with the howl of a sad elephant and he ran from pole to pole announcing the next acrobatics until his eyes fell upon her.
A smile twitched on his perfectly groomed mustache and he bowed before disappearing so that the next act could appear.

She found a seat for herself near the edge of the steps.
"Enjoying the show?" Came a whisper, brushing her ear lightly she jerked to her left. Eyes wide and frightened.
His toothy grin was unmistakable.
Even as the high flying act spun she couldn't take her eyes off of his top hat, his spats.