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Description

time to die, once again

build »

Name. Daniel Jackson Xavier
↳Nicknames. Dan ; Danny
Age. 14
DOB. 31 May | ♊
Gender. Male

Species. # 332 | Cacturne [shiny]
Ability. Sand Veil
Nature. Modest
Characteristic. Highly curious
Moves.
Absorb
Spiky Shield
Sand Attack
Poison Sting

the circus »
Faction. Lune
Job. Sideshow Musician: "Street performing" Trumpeter.
↳ On the pathways of the circus, as patrons go from booth to booth and tent to tent, you can see Danny standing there at the side, set up with nothing but his instrument in hand as he entertains anyone willing to stop by with an act and music. He tells small stories, jokes, and reenacts scenes from famous films and plays, all the while playing along with his trumpet and dancing. Sometimes on the weekends, he'll perform on a small stage outdoors.
[ x x ]

Wish.“Whatever happened that day... I wish I could help her, somehow. Take away her pain. If I can carry the weight of her burden on my shoulders... I will.”

↳ As an effect of his wish, Daniel's words were taken literally, and now he is attached to the one he spoke about - his sister, Jacqueline - through her memories of the Circus. She was a part of the Circus herself, something which came with its own consequences; the knowledge of her curse and what she'd done because of her foolish wish are all that plagued her, but thanks to Daniel she is now free from her binds and her own backfire. However, she can't remember anything that occurred over the three years she'd served under Mr. Dark. If she were to ever recall anything about it at all, this would affect Daniel in that he will feel a weight dragging him down, starting from his shoulders and causing his back to arch downward - as if he were burdened by a weight, eventually crushing him into the ground. Additionally, if he were to leave the Circus at any time, Jacqueline will begin to regain her memories and Daniel's backfire will kick into place. Any memories Jacqueline may receive will proceed to vanish under the condition that Daniel returns to the Circus. It's impossible for Jacqueline to permanently recall her time in the Circus unless Daniel were to leave it forever - and perish.

With this being said, Jacqueline may still have minor flashbacks even when Daniel is within the Circus grounds. Small things that remind her of her past life there - either certain names, familiar sights, or anything of the sort - may grant her bouts of recognition; it'd be nothing exact, as it's a very faint memory that she'd never be able to grasp fully. So long as Danny remains within the Circus, she can never truly remember the Circus. Although, due to her slight moments of deja-vu, Daniel has a constant ache in his shoulders.

Jacquelines current whereabouts are unknown.

personality »
+ Disciplined | + Observant | + Benevolent | = Sheltered | = Restrained | - Ignorant | - Juvenile | - Meddlesome

↳ Daniel is a golden example of a well-behaved son from an upper-class family. Trained well in the ways of etiquette and manners, he's able to handle himself in a polite demeanor and treats those he meets with respect right off the bat. He can switch gears between leading a conversation and being a passive listener - the latter of which being the one he'd do the most given his age, but this wasn't without its benefits. Whenever he'd be left out the 'old people' talk, he'd made a habit of looking around and picking up the tiniest of details to entertain himself with. Seeing as though he's accustomed to being around adults, he's learned how to properly speak, never interrupting those around him and not speaking unless spoken to should the situation call for it. He'll make a point to never be rude to someone in the presence of others because that could hinder the reputation of him and his family.

Not that he'd never find it in himself to be rude the first place. Possessing a heart of gold, Daniel is unable to judge others when he doesn't know them well enough. He's very generous and sympathetic in that he'll offer help to those in need, whether they're a stranger or a friend. It pains him to see anyone in emotional turmoil, and even if he may not understand the situation at hand, at the very least he'll offer a shoulder for them to cry on. With that being said, his kindness and manners can cause him to not be as honest as he probably should be; if there's something he doesn't like, it's hard for him to find a way to say it without risk of being rude. He'd hate to hurt someone else's feelings, and so he'll endure a bit of discomfort in their favor. It'd only be in times of complete emotional distress where he'd openly say whatever comes to his mind.

In regards to this, he is still a child, one who's had his entire life served to him on a silver platter. Not only has he yet to experience certain aspects of the world around him - different lifestyles, mannerisms, etc. - but being pampered with excess gifts and an extensive wardrobe, Daniel hasn't quite gotten the hang of living life on his own yet, and will find himself questioning the need to do things himself rather than having a maid or butler do it for him. While spoiled is a heavy word, it's no surprise that Danny lives life teetering on the border of the term. He won't make demands for things to be given to him, he simply just won't understand why he has to do the work himself. If he's properly instructed on what to do and how to do it, he'll try his best, even if it doesn't always come easy to him, and making it a habit takes even longer. He's a good kid; childish at the worst of times, but still willing to learn.

Yet, his ignorant nature is not without its faults. Daniel may be open-minded and willing to understand the predicament at hand, but should there be an aspect or a result not to his liking, he risks losing composure. Given his sheltered lifestyle, it's hard for him to accept harsh reality. His mind is precariously in the clouds, and anything that drags him down to earth can and will set him into shock. Frightening things, people getting hurt, the simple sight of something so abnormal and painful - it terrifies him to the core, and he locks down, unable to react or respond. It's at times like this where the child in him really comes out, and he'll seek a hiding spot or the comfort of someone else, hoping and praying that it's all the bad dream.

Daniel is fairly well-educated due to proper schooling and additional lessons in his home life. He loves to learn more about the world around him, and as such he's a very curious kid. Too curious, perhaps. If something were to catch his attention, or if he even gets the whiff of someone holding back a secret, he will stop at virtually nothing to find out what it is they're hiding. He'll press on in conversation, asking repetitively what they're up to, and if they refuse him he'll try and find out some other means of satiating his curiosity. He doesn't like not knowing things, and he this can result in him being annoyingly nosy. It's the only time where he might seem selfish; he may understand the concept of privacy, but his desire to not be left in the dark overcomes his manners at the worst of times.

Likes. music ; family ; dancing ; films and plays ; classic literature and poetry ; circus game booths
Dislikes. pain ; risk ; crying ; sharp objects ; losing his hat ; Ghost Type Pokemon (feral) ; secrets
Fears.
▶ Violence (moderate)
↳ Violence, harm, and pain in any manner frightens Daniel. He doesn't like the idea of anyone or anything getting hurt, even if they might deserve it. Witnessing acts of hostility can cause the boy to freeze up, and it'd take someone to snap him out of his daze or the violence to stop before he responds again.

history »
Hometown. Castelia City
Current. the Circus
Family.
▶ Father | Henrick Xavier | 52 | Bayleef
▶ Mother | Anora Xavier | 46 | Cacturne [deceased]
▶ Sister (half) | Jacqueline Vaughan | 24 | Cacturne

↳ Daniel was born in Castelia City to a wealthy family of three - his mother Anora, his father Henrick, and his half sister Jacqueline. He wasn't aware of it at his young age, but Daniel's arrival was considered wonderful news due to the fact that Anora had lost her first husband to illness just over a year prior. In celebration, he was exposed to the life of luxury and upper-class parties as an infant, for the Xavier name was one well known for their elegant events in the district. Things didn't vary much from this over the years; Daniel had grown accustomed to being surrounded by strangers early on, and he was quite all right with it. As far as he knew, it meant a chance for excellent food to eat, fun music to listen to, and people to give him the nicest compliments!

The presence he'd acknowledge the most though was his sister's; as a child, Daniel and Jacqueline were inseparable, despite their age difference of approximately ten years. She was often the one playing with him, even more than his parents would. When Jacq was busy elsewhere, he was cared for by the maids of the estate, but they were never as gentle or fun to be around as his sister was. During the parties that their family would host, Danny noticed that his sister never seemed to mesh well with the guests; she was disinterested in mingling, and would stand at the side most of the time. When Daniel would approach her, a smile would break out on her face and she'd open up to him, joking about the fat old rich people who hovered around the buffet. She'd even offer to show him corners and hiding places in their large party hall so that he doesn't have to talk to the adults. Even though he had no problem with adults, he'd always agree to follow her and hide - like the two of them were on a secret adventure.

When their mother took notice however, she harshly scolded Jacqueline, telling her to not ruin Daniel's behavior with such immature antics. This was something he consciously began to take notice of, because over time Jacqueline seemed to spend less time with him. Her affections never wavered, but the time they spent together did. He never had the chance to linger on her lessened presence however, because when he reached the age of five, his homeschooling began. His lessons over the years comprised of basic elementary, as well as added topics that work well with someone of his class, such as public speech. In addition, he was offered music lessons, and while he was put on piano at first, he later chose to pick up the trumpet, inspired by the live bands his family would hire for their parties. At the end of every week, his parents wanted to see updates on Danny's progress, either in small speeches he'd present comprised of the topics he learned, or small performances on the piano or trumpet. He loved to show his improvement, but the formality felt too much like one of their parties and not enough like fun show-and-tell to a friend.

But then there was Jacqueline; every time he had something new to share, she'd always make an effort to listen to him, offering an ear and a smile with every enthusiastic story he'd tell or song he'd play. Her lack of formality inspired a sense of generosity in Danny, and she inspired him to learn and share more - with her, and with the world!

And so, Danny grew to be a polite, smart young boy at the age of ten, disciplined in the ways of etiquette yet able to maintain his personable side thanks to Jacq's influence. Yet he couldn't help but notice that the more he was praised, the less he'd see of his sister. The mischief and kindness she once had seemed to be gone. Danny loved his parents and he had good friendships with his maids and tutors, but the only one that introduced something new and fun to him seemed to fall into her own trepidation. Unaware of why Jacqueline was growing so distant, Danny took it upon himself to make her feel better. One day, Danny heard about a circus rolling into town, and Danny developed an idea: the family could go to the circus! Surely this would be exactly what she needed?

While the plan was flawless in his mind, Danny noticed that Jacq still didn't seem to cheer up. In fact, she looked terribly on edge, eyes shifting and form flinching away from anyone who walked too close. No matter how many times he asked if she was okay, though, she still forced a smile and told him she was fine. Until at one point, they entered a small, tightly packed tent to watch a performance, and it was here where things took a drastic turn. Danny placed a comforting arm on his sister's shoulder, but she immediately flinched away from him and fled from the tent. Her reaction startled Danny, yet while he wanted to chase after her, his mother encouraged him to stay, muttering about how she needn't make such an embarrassing scene for no reason. But there must have been a reason, right? Jacqueline wouldn't have run off like that without one!

Tormented by his curiosity about his sister, and his guilt - the circus was his idea, after all - Danny could barely relax for the rest of the day. His concern kept him up late at night, until he heard the sound of the front door shutting. Scrambling out of bed, Danny went to investigate, only to be met with the sight of his sister - with long, sharp looking spikes. As Cacturnes, they make an effort to file the spikes they grow down as to not prick those around them, and while they do grow back, they take quite a while. He was certain his sister didn't have spikes that long earlier that day...

But he was just happy to see her! He rushed over with a happy cry and pulled her into a hug - until he felt a pain in his back from her touch. Danny reeled away, surprised at the sensation, and his reaction caused Jacqueline great distress to where she grabbed his arm to steady him, something that only seemed to make things worse. It felt as though she was raking knives down his arm, his shoulder, his face - every attempt she made to help him resulted in her cutting his skin with her impossibly sharp claws and spikes.

Danny fell to the ground, bleeding and crying, completely in shock. He'd never felt pain like this before, and his mind and body had no idea how to react. The only thing he remembered was Jacqueline crying out to him, before she ran outside.

When he came to, he was in his bed, covered in bandages and surrounded by nurses. It wasn't until his parents came to check on him that learned why; all the family knew was that they found Danny unconscious and covered in cuts and stabs, while Jacqueline was no where to be found. The Xavier family reported her missing, police were alerted, and flyers adorning her face were handed out, yet it was all in vain. Amidst their distress, Danny chose to stay quiet; he wanted to help find her, yet he hated the idea of them blaming her for what happened. She was sad enough as it was... It must have been an accident.

But where did she go?

It took Daniel a while to heal from the injuries, and noticeable scars were left behind. With the absence of Jacqueline, the household felt far more lonely than it did before. His parents would host charity parties in Jacqueline's name, garnering sympathy and condolences from their peers, but no amount of consolation would make Danny feel better. It didn't help that his mother seemed to grow more distant, focusing only on maintaining their home and reputation. A few years passed in this stagnant state, until one day, when Danny was studying in his room, he heard his front door slam open, his father shouting in a panic, grabbing for the telephone and ordering for the police to make their way over there immediately. Danny could barely register anything that was going on until, among the frantic shouts from his father, he picked out a few simple words.

His mother was killed - by Jacqueline.

His father explained that he witnessed Jacqueline stabbing their mother with the spikes on her arm. Henrick claimed that she must have been the one who hurt Daniel that night for whatever reason, and so the hunt for her had begun, wanted now for the murder of Anora Xavier and the attempted murder on Danny.

But that just didn't make any sense...! Daniel knew Jacqueline didn't mean to hurt him. She was the real one in pain here, not him. But his mom...

He didn't know. He just wanted to know why. Why did she leave? Why won't she talk to him?

His home was deathly quiet for a year. He barely saw his father. They stopped hosting parties. All Danny had were his lessons. The isolation was driving him crazy, and he'd find himself skipping lessons and sneaking away from his responsibilities, like Jacq used to. During one of these escapades, he came across the gates of Circus Darkrai - the same place from the day everything went wrong. Willing to grasp onto his final happy memory, Danny made his way inside.

Despite the cheery atmosphere, Danny was still plagued by his thoughts, something that caught the attention of a tall Darkrai with a welcoming smile and a glint in his blue eyes. The man noted how upset Danny looked, asking why he wasn't enjoying the circus. With a start, Danny realized that he must be the Ringmaster, and his manners kicked in as he frantically tried to explain that it wasn't the man's fault at all - but after a pause, he sighed, and with a little more persuasion from the Darkrai, he admitted that he just missed his sister.

The Darkrai, with a knowing look, offered his condolences and assistance - in the form of a wish. The caught his attention, and Danny looked up with interest. A wish... it seemed too fantastical to be true, but... Danny found himself speaking.

“Whatever happened that day... I wish I could help her, somehow. Take away her pain. If I can carry the weight of her burden on my shoulders... I will.”

With those words and a snap of the Darkrai's fingers, Danny felt some strange sense of relief wash over him instantaneously, but it was short lived. Only a heartbeat had passed when Daniel was dragged to the ground, as if gravity increased tenfold. The weight was crushing him, and he wheezed for a breath, confused and petrified at this weird unknown force - until it slowly lessened.

"Such a heavy burden to carry, young Daniel," he could hear the Darkrai speak above him as the weight continued to let up, "but not impossible, so long as your sister no longer remembers what haunts her. And in order for that to happen, you can not leave this circus. The wish only works here, after all - and you wouldn't want it to wear off, would you?"

The weight was nearly gone at that point; Danny wasn't sure what exactly the Darkrai meant, but he tried to understand his words through the terror he felt over the situation. Not terror at the Ringmaster, but at the cost of his wish. With a trembling nod of his head, Daniel agreed to remain in the circus, and thus his new life began.

misc »

Alignment. Neutral Good
Voice. x [ Art Parkinson ]
Theme. < a href="" >tba< /a > -
Other.
▶ Daniel has various scars from when his sister accidentally hurt him. Back at home, his mother would have him cover them up as best he could with makeup. Since joining the circus, he lacks the proper make-up to do as such, and so he's a little self-conscious about them. So, please don't stare or point them out.
▶ He can play the trumpet and any variants in the same key (i.e. cornet, bugle, piccolo trumpet, and baroque trumpet). In his performance inventory, he only possesses a standard and a piccolo.
▶ The very concept of ghosts makes Daniel uncomfortable, rendering him disconcerted by feral Ghost Type Pokemon. Ghost Type people don't have the same effect unless they intentionally try to spook him.
▶ He's rather possessive of his hat, and unless he's locked it safely in his room, he won't let it out of his sight. He doesn't like it when people point out the rips, and refuses to have it mended.
▶ The various magical objects in the circus (such as the carousel and dunking booth) intrigue Daniel, but he's far too uncertain to try them out himself.
▶ Unbeknownst to Daniel, Jacqueline is a former member of the circus. Her disappearance and the death of their mother are results of her time in the circus. Her anxiety from the first visit to the circus was caused by her fear of crowds and physical touch, something that inspired her wish, which ended in her spikes growing out and her fingers turning into claws. Their mother's death was an accident; Jacq had returned to the city to try and make contact with her family, but she unintentionally fatally injured her mother.
▶ In a strange way, he's comforted by the effects of his wish; he knows it's not natural, but knowing that he can feel the backfire tells him that the wish is working. Whatever distressed his sister must have gone away when he made the wish.

cacturne/ pokemon [c] nintendo

art / story/ character [c] Delayni

YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO USE, REPOST, EDIT, OR CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THIS WORK WITHOUT DIRECT PERMISSION FROM ME.

Description

time to die, once again

build »

Name. Daniel Jackson Xavier
↳Nicknames. Dan ; Danny
Age. 14
DOB. 31 May | ♊
Gender. Male

Species. # 332 | Cacturne [shiny]
Ability. Sand Veil
Nature. Modest
Characteristic. Highly curious
Moves.
Absorb
Spiky Shield
Sand Attack
Poison Sting

the circus »
Faction. Lune
Job. Sideshow Musician: "Street performing" Trumpeter.
↳ On the pathways of the circus, as patrons go from booth to booth and tent to tent, you can see Danny standing there at the side, set up with nothing but his instrument in hand as he entertains anyone willing to stop by with an act and music. He tells small stories, jokes, and reenacts scenes from famous films and plays, all the while playing along with his trumpet and dancing. Sometimes on the weekends, he'll perform on a small stage outdoors.
[ x x ]

Wish.“Whatever happened that day... I wish I could help her, somehow. Take away her pain. If I can carry the weight of her burden on my shoulders... I will.”

↳ As an effect of his wish, Daniel's words were taken literally, and now he is attached to the one he spoke about - his sister, Jacqueline - through her memories of the Circus. She was a part of the Circus herself, something which came with its own consequences; the knowledge of her curse and what she'd done because of her foolish wish are all that plagued her, but thanks to Daniel she is now free from her binds and her own backfire. However, she can't remember anything that occurred over the three years she'd served under Mr. Dark. If she were to ever recall anything about it at all, this would affect Daniel in that he will feel a weight dragging him down, starting from his shoulders and causing his back to arch downward - as if he were burdened by a weight, eventually crushing him into the ground. Additionally, if he were to leave the Circus at any time, Jacqueline will begin to regain her memories and Daniel's backfire will kick into place. Any memories Jacqueline may receive will proceed to vanish under the condition that Daniel returns to the Circus. It's impossible for Jacqueline to permanently recall her time in the Circus unless Daniel were to leave it forever - and perish.

With this being said, Jacqueline may still have minor flashbacks even when Daniel is within the Circus grounds. Small things that remind her of her past life there - either certain names, familiar sights, or anything of the sort - may grant her bouts of recognition; it'd be nothing exact, as it's a very faint memory that she'd never be able to grasp fully. So long as Danny remains within the Circus, she can never truly remember the Circus. Although, due to her slight moments of deja-vu, Daniel has a constant ache in his shoulders.

Jacquelines current whereabouts are unknown.

personality »
+ Disciplined | + Observant | + Benevolent | = Sheltered | = Restrained | - Ignorant | - Juvenile | - Meddlesome

↳ Daniel is a golden example of a well-behaved son from an upper-class family. Trained well in the ways of etiquette and manners, he's able to handle himself in a polite demeanor and treats those he meets with respect right off the bat. He can switch gears between leading a conversation and being a passive listener - the latter of which being the one he'd do the most given his age, but this wasn't without its benefits. Whenever he'd be left out the 'old people' talk, he'd made a habit of looking around and picking up the tiniest of details to entertain himself with. Seeing as though he's accustomed to being around adults, he's learned how to properly speak, never interrupting those around him and not speaking unless spoken to should the situation call for it. He'll make a point to never be rude to someone in the presence of others because that could hinder the reputation of him and his family.

Not that he'd never find it in himself to be rude the first place. Possessing a heart of gold, Daniel is unable to judge others when he doesn't know them well enough. He's very generous and sympathetic in that he'll offer help to those in need, whether they're a stranger or a friend. It pains him to see anyone in emotional turmoil, and even if he may not understand the situation at hand, at the very least he'll offer a shoulder for them to cry on. With that being said, his kindness and manners can cause him to not be as honest as he probably should be; if there's something he doesn't like, it's hard for him to find a way to say it without risk of being rude. He'd hate to hurt someone else's feelings, and so he'll endure a bit of discomfort in their favor. It'd only be in times of complete emotional distress where he'd openly say whatever comes to his mind.

In regards to this, he is still a child, one who's had his entire life served to him on a silver platter. Not only has he yet to experience certain aspects of the world around him - different lifestyles, mannerisms, etc. - but being pampered with excess gifts and an extensive wardrobe, Daniel hasn't quite gotten the hang of living life on his own yet, and will find himself questioning the need to do things himself rather than having a maid or butler do it for him. While spoiled is a heavy word, it's no surprise that Danny lives life teetering on the border of the term. He won't make demands for things to be given to him, he simply just won't understand why he has to do the work himself. If he's properly instructed on what to do and how to do it, he'll try his best, even if it doesn't always come easy to him, and making it a habit takes even longer. He's a good kid; childish at the worst of times, but still willing to learn.

Yet, his ignorant nature is not without its faults. Daniel may be open-minded and willing to understand the predicament at hand, but should there be an aspect or a result not to his liking, he risks losing composure. Given his sheltered lifestyle, it's hard for him to accept harsh reality. His mind is precariously in the clouds, and anything that drags him down to earth can and will set him into shock. Frightening things, people getting hurt, the simple sight of something so abnormal and painful - it terrifies him to the core, and he locks down, unable to react or respond. It's at times like this where the child in him really comes out, and he'll seek a hiding spot or the comfort of someone else, hoping and praying that it's all the bad dream.

Daniel is fairly well-educated due to proper schooling and additional lessons in his home life. He loves to learn more about the world around him, and as such he's a very curious kid. Too curious, perhaps. If something were to catch his attention, or if he even gets the whiff of someone holding back a secret, he will stop at virtually nothing to find out what it is they're hiding. He'll press on in conversation, asking repetitively what they're up to, and if they refuse him he'll try and find out some other means of satiating his curiosity. He doesn't like not knowing things, and he this can result in him being annoyingly nosy. It's the only time where he might seem selfish; he may understand the concept of privacy, but his desire to not be left in the dark overcomes his manners at the worst of times.

Likes. music ; family ; dancing ; films and plays ; classic literature and poetry ; circus game booths
Dislikes. pain ; risk ; crying ; sharp objects ; losing his hat ; Ghost Type Pokemon (feral) ; secrets
Fears.
▶ Violence (moderate)
↳ Violence, harm, and pain in any manner frightens Daniel. He doesn't like the idea of anyone or anything getting hurt, even if they might deserve it. Witnessing acts of hostility can cause the boy to freeze up, and it'd take someone to snap him out of his daze or the violence to stop before he responds again.

history »
Hometown. Castelia City
Current. the Circus
Family.
▶ Father | Henrick Xavier | 52 | Bayleef
▶ Mother | Anora Xavier | 46 | Cacturne [deceased]
▶ Sister (half) | Jacqueline Vaughan | 24 | Cacturne

↳ Daniel was born in Castelia City to a wealthy family of three - his mother Anora, his father Henrick, and his half sister Jacqueline. He wasn't aware of it at his young age, but Daniel's arrival was considered wonderful news due to the fact that Anora had lost her first husband to illness just over a year prior. In celebration, he was exposed to the life of luxury and upper-class parties as an infant, for the Xavier name was one well known for their elegant events in the district. Things didn't vary much from this over the years; Daniel had grown accustomed to being surrounded by strangers early on, and he was quite all right with it. As far as he knew, it meant a chance for excellent food to eat, fun music to listen to, and people to give him the nicest compliments!

The presence he'd acknowledge the most though was his sister's; as a child, Daniel and Jacqueline were inseparable, despite their age difference of approximately ten years. She was often the one playing with him, even more than his parents would. When Jacq was busy elsewhere, he was cared for by the maids of the estate, but they were never as gentle or fun to be around as his sister was. During the parties that their family would host, Danny noticed that his sister never seemed to mesh well with the guests; she was disinterested in mingling, and would stand at the side most of the time. When Daniel would approach her, a smile would break out on her face and she'd open up to him, joking about the fat old rich people who hovered around the buffet. She'd even offer to show him corners and hiding places in their large party hall so that he doesn't have to talk to the adults. Even though he had no problem with adults, he'd always agree to follow her and hide - like the two of them were on a secret adventure.

When their mother took notice however, she harshly scolded Jacqueline, telling her to not ruin Daniel's behavior with such immature antics. This was something he consciously began to take notice of, because over time Jacqueline seemed to spend less time with him. Her affections never wavered, but the time they spent together did. He never had the chance to linger on her lessened presence however, because when he reached the age of five, his homeschooling began. His lessons over the years comprised of basic elementary, as well as added topics that work well with someone of his class, such as public speech. In addition, he was offered music lessons, and while he was put on piano at first, he later chose to pick up the trumpet, inspired by the live bands his family would hire for their parties. At the end of every week, his parents wanted to see updates on Danny's progress, either in small speeches he'd present comprised of the topics he learned, or small performances on the piano or trumpet. He loved to show his improvement, but the formality felt too much like one of their parties and not enough like fun show-and-tell to a friend.

But then there was Jacqueline; every time he had something new to share, she'd always make an effort to listen to him, offering an ear and a smile with every enthusiastic story he'd tell or song he'd play. Her lack of formality inspired a sense of generosity in Danny, and she inspired him to learn and share more - with her, and with the world!

And so, Danny grew to be a polite, smart young boy at the age of ten, disciplined in the ways of etiquette yet able to maintain his personable side thanks to Jacq's influence. Yet he couldn't help but notice that the more he was praised, the less he'd see of his sister. The mischief and kindness she once had seemed to be gone. Danny loved his parents and he had good friendships with his maids and tutors, but the only one that introduced something new and fun to him seemed to fall into her own trepidation. Unaware of why Jacqueline was growing so distant, Danny took it upon himself to make her feel better. One day, Danny heard about a circus rolling into town, and Danny developed an idea: the family could go to the circus! Surely this would be exactly what she needed?

While the plan was flawless in his mind, Danny noticed that Jacq still didn't seem to cheer up. In fact, she looked terribly on edge, eyes shifting and form flinching away from anyone who walked too close. No matter how many times he asked if she was okay, though, she still forced a smile and told him she was fine. Until at one point, they entered a small, tightly packed tent to watch a performance, and it was here where things took a drastic turn. Danny placed a comforting arm on his sister's shoulder, but she immediately flinched away from him and fled from the tent. Her reaction startled Danny, yet while he wanted to chase after her, his mother encouraged him to stay, muttering about how she needn't make such an embarrassing scene for no reason. But there must have been a reason, right? Jacqueline wouldn't have run off like that without one!

Tormented by his curiosity about his sister, and his guilt - the circus was his idea, after all - Danny could barely relax for the rest of the day. His concern kept him up late at night, until he heard the sound of the front door shutting. Scrambling out of bed, Danny went to investigate, only to be met with the sight of his sister - with long, sharp looking spikes. As Cacturnes, they make an effort to file the spikes they grow down as to not prick those around them, and while they do grow back, they take quite a while. He was certain his sister didn't have spikes that long earlier that day...

But he was just happy to see her! He rushed over with a happy cry and pulled her into a hug - until he felt a pain in his back from her touch. Danny reeled away, surprised at the sensation, and his reaction caused Jacqueline great distress to where she grabbed his arm to steady him, something that only seemed to make things worse. It felt as though she was raking knives down his arm, his shoulder, his face - every attempt she made to help him resulted in her cutting his skin with her impossibly sharp claws and spikes.

Danny fell to the ground, bleeding and crying, completely in shock. He'd never felt pain like this before, and his mind and body had no idea how to react. The only thing he remembered was Jacqueline crying out to him, before she ran outside.

When he came to, he was in his bed, covered in bandages and surrounded by nurses. It wasn't until his parents came to check on him that learned why; all the family knew was that they found Danny unconscious and covered in cuts and stabs, while Jacqueline was no where to be found. The Xavier family reported her missing, police were alerted, and flyers adorning her face were handed out, yet it was all in vain. Amidst their distress, Danny chose to stay quiet; he wanted to help find her, yet he hated the idea of them blaming her for what happened. She was sad enough as it was... It must have been an accident.

But where did she go?

It took Daniel a while to heal from the injuries, and noticeable scars were left behind. With the absence of Jacqueline, the household felt far more lonely than it did before. His parents would host charity parties in Jacqueline's name, garnering sympathy and condolences from their peers, but no amount of consolation would make Danny feel better. It didn't help that his mother seemed to grow more distant, focusing only on maintaining their home and reputation. A few years passed in this stagnant state, until one day, when Danny was studying in his room, he heard his front door slam open, his father shouting in a panic, grabbing for the telephone and ordering for the police to make their way over there immediately. Danny could barely register anything that was going on until, among the frantic shouts from his father, he picked out a few simple words.

His mother was killed - by Jacqueline.

His father explained that he witnessed Jacqueline stabbing their mother with the spikes on her arm. Henrick claimed that she must have been the one who hurt Daniel that night for whatever reason, and so the hunt for her had begun, wanted now for the murder of Anora Xavier and the attempted murder on Danny.

But that just didn't make any sense...! Daniel knew Jacqueline didn't mean to hurt him. She was the real one in pain here, not him. But his mom...

He didn't know. He just wanted to know why. Why did she leave? Why won't she talk to him?

His home was deathly quiet for a year. He barely saw his father. They stopped hosting parties. All Danny had were his lessons. The isolation was driving him crazy, and he'd find himself skipping lessons and sneaking away from his responsibilities, like Jacq used to. During one of these escapades, he came across the gates of Circus Darkrai - the same place from the day everything went wrong. Willing to grasp onto his final happy memory, Danny made his way inside.

Despite the cheery atmosphere, Danny was still plagued by his thoughts, something that caught the attention of a tall Darkrai with a welcoming smile and a glint in his blue eyes. The man noted how upset Danny looked, asking why he wasn't enjoying the circus. With a start, Danny realized that he must be the Ringmaster, and his manners kicked in as he frantically tried to explain that it wasn't the man's fault at all - but after a pause, he sighed, and with a little more persuasion from the Darkrai, he admitted that he just missed his sister.

The Darkrai, with a knowing look, offered his condolences and assistance - in the form of a wish. The caught his attention, and Danny looked up with interest. A wish... it seemed too fantastical to be true, but... Danny found himself speaking.

“Whatever happened that day... I wish I could help her, somehow. Take away her pain. If I can carry the weight of her burden on my shoulders... I will.”

With those words and a snap of the Darkrai's fingers, Danny felt some strange sense of relief wash over him instantaneously, but it was short lived. Only a heartbeat had passed when Daniel was dragged to the ground, as if gravity increased tenfold. The weight was crushing him, and he wheezed for a breath, confused and petrified at this weird unknown force - until it slowly lessened.

"Such a heavy burden to carry, young Daniel," he could hear the Darkrai speak above him as the weight continued to let up, "but not impossible, so long as your sister no longer remembers what haunts her. And in order for that to happen, you can not leave this circus. The wish only works here, after all - and you wouldn't want it to wear off, would you?"

The weight was nearly gone at that point; Danny wasn't sure what exactly the Darkrai meant, but he tried to understand his words through the terror he felt over the situation. Not terror at the Ringmaster, but at the cost of his wish. With a trembling nod of his head, Daniel agreed to remain in the circus, and thus his new life began.

misc »

Alignment. Neutral Good
Voice. x [ Art Parkinson ]
Theme. < a href="" >tba< /a > -
Other.
▶ Daniel has various scars from when his sister accidentally hurt him. Back at home, his mother would have him cover them up as best he could with makeup. Since joining the circus, he lacks the proper make-up to do as such, and so he's a little self-conscious about them. So, please don't stare or point them out.
▶ He can play the trumpet and any variants in the same key (i.e. cornet, bugle, piccolo trumpet, and baroque trumpet). In his performance inventory, he only possesses a standard and a piccolo.
▶ The very concept of ghosts makes Daniel uncomfortable, rendering him disconcerted by feral Ghost Type Pokemon. Ghost Type people don't have the same effect unless they intentionally try to spook him.
▶ He's rather possessive of his hat, and unless he's locked it safely in his room, he won't let it out of his sight. He doesn't like it when people point out the rips, and refuses to have it mended.
▶ The various magical objects in the circus (such as the carousel and dunking booth) intrigue Daniel, but he's far too uncertain to try them out himself.
▶ Unbeknownst to Daniel, Jacqueline is a former member of the circus. Her disappearance and the death of their mother are results of her time in the circus. Her anxiety from the first visit to the circus was caused by her fear of crowds and physical touch, something that inspired her wish, which ended in her spikes growing out and her fingers turning into claws. Their mother's death was an accident; Jacq had returned to the city to try and make contact with her family, but she unintentionally fatally injured her mother.
▶ In a strange way, he's comforted by the effects of his wish; he knows it's not natural, but knowing that he can feel the backfire tells him that the wish is working. Whatever distressed his sister must have gone away when he made the wish.

cacturne/ pokemon [c] nintendo

art / story/ character [c] Delayni

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