Baby, There’s a Snake in the Water
Smallelvenprince as Callie “Cottonmouth” Caldwell
Frostlich1228 as Cadenza Vialli
There was a naga out by herself, slithering about in the nearby swamps by the circus grounds. She’d been on foot, or rather on tail, for some weeks now since she had to lay low. That and, well, how would a naga even drive? She looked down at her map and compass, tilting her head when her compass had stopped working. “What th’ world…?” She said, then sighed and put them both back in the bag she’d packed. Surely she had to be close now.
Walking out the back of the tent to get some fresh air and to stretch her wings, Cadenza picked up something moving in the corner of her eye. The swamp water was rippling heavily, causing the Siren’s eyebrows to perk up. “Is it a fish…? If it is it must be huge… I wonder if I can cook it.”
Flying up and diving towards the pool, she got there relatively quickly even though she was trying to make little noise. She smiled as she slipped into the pool and began to sing towards where she saw the disturbance, hoping to lure the fish towards her.
The naga heard the singing, perking up and looking around with her head out of the water, “Somebody out there? ‘Cause you got a lovely voice if it’s me not hearin’ things.” She said, not immediately susceptible to the Siren’s song, but if it were prolonged exposure she, like anyone else, would definitely fall victim.
Her head out of the water, the siren did a double take as she ceased her singing. “You’re not a fish are you? Some kind of mermaid?”
“I’m no lovely mermaid, but I can tell ya that they’re one helluva sight in Louisiana.” The naga said, slithering onto shore. This exposed the rest of her body, as well as a minor charm on her bag to make everything in it waterproofed. “Name’s Callie Caldwell, though some people call me Cottonmouth on account a this little feature I have.” She said, opening her mouth to reveal a cotton white colour in place of something normal. After a brief moment, Callie spoke again, “Know any reason a compass might stop workin’, sugar? Mine stopped on a dime.”
“Weeell… There is a lot of magic nearby, dearie. Could be causing some sort of magnetic disturbance.” Cadenza explained.
“Oh? What’s all that collective magic from, if ya happen know?” Callie asked, tilting her head.
“The Circus.” Cadence replied simply with a grin.
Callie began to grin widely, giving a small squeal. “Finally! I knew I’d find the place eventually!” She said, giggling a bit.
Caught a little off guard, the Siren chuckled. “We don’t get too many people actually looking for us, you know.”
Before the siren knew it, the naga was right in front of her, a puppy like expression of excitement in her eyes, “Couldja lead me the rest of the way? Pretty please, miss?”
“Hmm… I dunno…” Cadenza trailed off, “It’d be a shame to just show you the way without continuing my song… You said you liked it, didn’t you?”
“I did, and you can continue if you’d like.” Callie smiled, her tail swirling a bit for better balance.
“Well, I can’t say no to an audience request, now can I?” She leaned in and continued singing.
Callie listened, soon falling under the spell of the song as her eyes grew heavy.Giggling, the siren rubbed a hand alongside her face. “It’s funny really, If I had the mind to, I could turn that whole circus into a little army, but the spotlight is my real calling love…”
“I bet you make a real killin’ off your act…” Callie murmured, giving the slightest purr.
“Oh, you know it sweetie.” The hypnotist hummed, “Well, my usual arrangement is I ask you a question about yourself, and you can ask anything you like about me, sound fair?”
“Quite.” The naga agreed.
“So, you have such a cute little accent, but that begs the question, where are you from?” Cadence asked first.
“Grew up in Louisiana’s bayous. Learned my accent from my mama and daddy.” Callie answered simply, “How ‘bout you, darlin’?”
“Oh, all over, never really did stay in one place long. However, if you’re asking me where I was born, then the answer would be off the coast of Florida.” She replied. “Now, for my next question… Just how strong is that tail of yours?”
“I’ve easily lifted ‘bout 200 pounds with it before, so it could knock a man on his rear end easy enough…” Callie responded, “What other tricks ya got up the sleeve?”
“Fufu… Well, I can fly dear, I can also swim obviously, I’m also not bad with a spear.” The feathered fish girl listed off.
Callie’s eyes were slowly falling even more, little purrs of sleepiness sounding occasionally. “You know… I’ve always wanted a pet snake, they’ve got such cute little eyes…” Cadenza whispered, having more than a small amount of fun teasing her.
“No one’s… ever said that to me ‘fore…” Callie seemed to be drifting in and out, swaying just slightly.
“Really? Well, allow me to be the first.” Cadenza said, moving around the side and laying a hand on her tail. “I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time in our circus, little thing… And I personally can’t wait to see what you can do to entertain everyone… Including me, if you like.”
Callie seemed to go completely under just after listening, her eyes closed completely as she continued to move like a charmed cobra.
“I call tell you really enjoy this… And you want more, don’t you?” Cadenza said, petting her charmed snake. “You’ve been traveling for awhile I take it? You really would just like a rest…”
“But… I’m so very exhausted myself…” She suddenly yawned, breaking the spell over Callie suddenly and jarringly.
Callie snapped awake, blinking a couple of times. She looked over to her companion, looking like she wanted more.
“What’s wrong? You seem a little… Unsatisfied?” The Siren chuckled.
“I… kinda want more a that…” Callie said, her eyes twinkling just a little in interest.
“Really?” She said, surprised, “You’d like me to keep going?”
Callie nodded, smiling brightly.
“Mmm… I don’t know, I’m not really convinced…” She toyed.
“Pleaaaaaase?” Callie pleaded, holding her hands together.
“Well, if you insist…” Cadence hummed as she continued her song, Callie’s want for it allowing her to fall much easier than before.
Callie easily fell asleep in short order, swaying gently once again. Cadenza slowly moved around her again, whispering to her gently. “Whenever I sing to you, you’ll fall even easier than you did this time… Now, you’ve come a long way to find us, so what you’ll do, is you’ll follow me to the Circus and there, you’ll find my bed and take the longest, most comfortable nap you’ve ever had…”
“You’ve been a wonderful guest, it’s the least can do… It doesn’t help that you’re so cute…” The hypnotist said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Now when you wake up, you’ll do everything I just said…”
Snapping her fingers and stopping her song, Cadence quickly woke the Snake girl up. “How do you feel?”
“I feel… tired, like I should nap somewhere.” The naga replied with a slight yawn.
“Then follow me… I know just where you can sleep.” She said comfortingly, leading her away.
Callie awoke a few hours later feeling well rested, sitting up and stretching a bit as she reached for her bag at the side of the strange bed she was in. She looked around the trailer she was in, taking in the surroundings since she hadn’t had the chance to earlier.
“Hey sleepy, how was the nap?” A familiar Siren asked, currently making breakfast.
“Good nap, best one in a while for me actually.” Callie replied with a soft smile, looking over at Cadenza.
“Good to hear. Want some eggs?” She asked casually, moving the pan.
Callie nodded, swiveling herself so she was sitting upright on the bed and facing the Siren.
“I didn’t want to make you ask me, but how did you come to hear about us? What made you choose to track us down like this?” Cadence asked, preparing some plates.
“When a circus of supernatural sorts pops up, word travels from person to person of our sorts like wildfire. I heard about it a few years back, and I knew then that I could be somewhere I was accepted and could put my talents to use. Always wanted to be in a circus before that, too, so why not?” Callie explained.
“That’s as good a reason as any.” She smirked, “So, what is it you can do, dearie?”
“I can read into the future, see other timelines, that sorta thing. My cards and crystals have yet to fail me. That, and occasional visions have yet to be wrong either.” Callie said simply, trying to not sound cliched, or worse, boring.
“That’s certainly a power alright… Must get kinda boring knowing how thing are going to play out, huh?” Candenza replied.
“It ain’t really too boring, lets me be prepared. Though, I gotta say, I didn’t think this was the timeline where I met you first.” She giggled.
“So, you already knew me and knew what I was going to do to you… And you let it happen?” The Siren laughed, putting the heat down.
“I knew you weren’t dangerous, to me anyway. I’m sure you can be, though.” Callie said, leaning on one side.
“Well, I wouldn’t hurt you, but I’m sure you know I can go to some interesting places and do interesting things when I use my song… You’d be okay with that?” She asked, moving the sunny side up eggs to two small plates.
“‘Course I know that much, and I personally would not mind a bit~” Callie said with a subtle wink.
“Oh, I like you. You seem like you know how to have fun.”
“So I’m told~”
“Well here are your eggs.” Candace said as she handed off the plate, “You little flirt…”
Callie giggled a bit in response, “Thanks, sugar.” She said before digging in.
“Don’t mention it, dearie.” She said, wrapping an arm around her. “Welcome to the family…”
“Thank ya for havin’ me.”