Chapter Text
He was a monster like the rest yet smaller more petite, he stood at Columbina's height maybe even shorter by a few inches, almost human size even. Yet unlike them he was kind and empathetic to other monsters or to even humans as well and when things got to dangerous or loud he would hide behind the Silent One since that one was the strongest out of all of them, he'd observe quietly never showing emotions like the others do, always having a blank face as he watches on. Yet his emotions showed in a way that was more unique: certain patches of scales, his eyes, his tail and fins changed colors; flashing colors that represented his different emotions, the mean humans had fun calling him, Chameleon, he never understood why since he's not a monster from land to begin with.
"Little One, you mustn't show them what you truly are." The one with many horns and pretty purple eyes tell him, he nods a little bit, his colors flashing a soft yellow.
"I understand." His voice is soft as he gives the monster a small smile to assure him that he is fine. He understood the other's concern, mermaids, sirens and leviathans were hunted for different parts, mermaids for their tears, sirens for their voices, and leviathans for their teeth and eyes, but while they had unique pieces that were sought after, their scales were the most valuable because of their shine. His would be more so since they changed based off his mood instead of acting like normal scales that hold a bioluminescent to them.
Though they'd have to pour pure ocean salt water onto him, normal water wouldn't do a thing in changing how he looks.
While the group lived in a valley with torn flowers, he always watched how his friends, his family had taken him in with kindness even though he stayed near the Silent One most of the time, he did adore being with the others, being the youngest of the group he stayed out of trouble though he would play with The Other, the serpent like monster always played a bit too rough but that was fine, it helped him become stronger too.
The day when food became scarce was the day those humans arrived to give them an offer, instead of being hunted he'd give them shelter within the tent and plenty of food, so long as they would appear before other humans.
They should never have taken that offer.
Moods changed, The Other would go after Columbina, yet the Silent One would stand fast, his strength and passionate love never wavering. He even stood against the humans, a warning to stay away, their words had his own scales flashing in distress, his figure hidden by the biggest monster in their pack. Soft feathers hid him away as he watched the humans speak of the Silent One needing to learn manners.
Back in cages too small, he could only curl up best he could, reaching claws out to touch and sooth the Silent One, hearing him wheeze with each pained breath. This was their so called "training" they placed him under, he was barely alive... the monster with pretty purple eyes was the one to say that the Silent One would be the first to die then the rest will follow.
"...Sing?" that immediately has the feathered monster and the one with purple eyes growl low, both wanting to protect him.
"Don't. Be good Little One, be silent." purple eyes flash which in turn has him flash a deep blue even though he nods his head, understanding.
They were friends... They were a family... or so he thought... that tragedy shouldn't have happened. A deep wedge in their family shouldn't have happened this way, he could not help but place a little blame on the one that died. To him, she was selfish. He hated thinking like that when he knew the truth of the humans wanting her, wanting Columbina since she was "pretty". While she was pretty and kind... the way the humans said it, made dread and disgust crawl up his back.
He also blamed everyone else as well, for isn't this what the humans call... Sin? They had sinned. Devoured their own kind, The Other was the one to kill her, rip into her and words were thrown around, "She was weak, the weakest of us all." if that is the case, wouldn't he be the next? He was smaller, and weaker than them, his only defense was his songs but... but that had been taken away.
Perhaps... they did not... perhaps he shouldn't blame all of them as a whole... the scent of blood had drove them all crazy like sharks smelling blood in the water. They had gone into a frenzy, eating and devouring her, once they were out the other made excuses, he did not. He had been shocked and cried, he didn't not want her, he had clawed at his own throat to claw her out, clawed at his cheeks, scales falling as tears fell from his eyes, they stung against the ripped up scales and flesh of his face and throat.
Rivers of blood were spilt, the feathered monster took it upon himself to help him heal before it was too late. But it was, they had strength to kill the bad humans, all he could do was hold his throat as the others attacked and ate the humans.
The situation left little choice to Doctor, the water monster had no choice to be without a voice, his actions taking away his most favorite thing away. He doesn't know if it was done in rage for getting them into this situation or to give him a partner, but the Silent One was ordered to not speak.
Two silent companions both seen on different ends of strength yet while he couldn't say words, soft hums could be heard but rarely since it hurt. The Silent One like the others was given a new name, Pierrot, to him it was a lovely name, while he was given the name Chrome. Everyone had a color scheme, yellow and red for Pierrot, green and black for Harlequin, purple for Jester, cyan and tints of red for Doctor, blue for Ticket Taker. While everyone had a set color, Chrome didn't, so where he performed was in the black tent, among a buffet of delicacies for guests that hunger for fresh meat and blood where they could have dinner and a show.
His outfit needed special tailoring, his own scales plucked and sewn into the fabric, turns out even when not attached to himself if he still wears them, they change with his emotions. Within the Black Tent, he performed like a dancer before jumping into a large hoop that's lifted in the air, depending on his emotion he was that color for that performance, sometimes he would change colors mid performance, but only whenever he seen one of the others popping in to watch. When he wasn't performing or with Pierrot or anyone in general, his colors dulled shifting to greys that had his white hair and pale complexion standing out, his eyes turning a silver when this happens.
Most times if he's with Pierrot, Chrome's colors flash between yellow and a soft pink, his eyes ending up a mix of those two colors. Chrome wouldn't realize what the pink color meant till later, all he knew was that he was happy when he got to practice with Pierrot, the monster in human disguise was tall and strong, helping Chrome up onto the hoop without needing it to be lowered down. Other times he would sit on Pierrot's shoulder, the ruffle collar on his thigh so it didn't get squashed, he'd rest his upper body on those hidden horns underneath the bell-ended hat as he watches him practice knife throwing even though he was already good at it. Chrome always hummed at times enjoying the time they've spent together, through the years the soft pink shifts to a passionate red which always confused Pierrot and himself since that color usually meant he was angered, but later he'd figure out that his anger was a much darker red, while this red was bright, what did it mean? Chrome knew that Jester had the answers but even that one was confused, only gently shushing Chrome when the smaller clown's colors flashed and changed to show his distress.
Then one day he got his answer, some what. "Did it ever come to mind that you can shift to multiple shades of the same color?" Jester had spoke one day upon arriving into the Black Tent where Chrome was sitting in the aerial hoop, slowly spinning in his grey neutral tone, the color changing to a neon reddish-orange to show his shock before it settled to a soft yellow showing his happiness in seeing someone visit him. Spinning himself to fall back, knees hooking onto the hoop so he'd hang upside down to hold his hands out to Jester, the purple clown's steps jingling as he reaches up to hold Chrome's hands in his own, his smile going from sharp to a soft fondness, "Colors are shades my dear. While you have a solid color for your most basic emotions, there are darker and lighter shades that can mean different things."
Chrome watches as Jester's purple eyes glow, his colors flashing to a dark red at the notion of the other trying to use his power on him again but Jester's grin showed he meant to do that to show what he meant. Causing him to flash through colors again as he tilts his head at the other, "And with the dual tone colors you do around our dear Pierrot, you might be feeling a fondness for him much like he did with our sweet Columbina." That has him squint and look at him curiously, "Though I don't believe it'll be a tragic story since Harlequin doesn't look at you, hm?"
He remembers Harlequin's trickery and envy, it has his colors change to a lighter green to show his disgust before shifting to a deep blue before returning to his neutral grey. Like Pierrot, Chrome didn't like Harlequin but for different reasons, they had been friends, close even though it seemed like Harlequin back then only wanted a certain someone's eyes on him instead, not caring for the youngest monster being his close friend. Chrome doesn't like Harlequin because of, not only his actions towards Pierrot and Columbina, but for the loss on how it changed Harlequin. The two also buttheads whenever the clown in green decided to visit Chrome, his visits mostly were to agitate Chrome and cause the small monster to change to multiple different colors if he couldn't mess with Pierrot that day. The only way to escape Harlequin at first was to run to Jester, their leader being able to give the green clown a scolding while Chrome hid behind him to glare at the other. Now though, he hardly ever sees Harlequin, since he remembers that the last time was when he was practicing with Pierrot watching him. The two had tussled and Chrome simply laid in his aerial hoop, hanging over their heads and watched them, of course the commotion brought attention to the others mostly to Jester since the Black Tent was near his Purple Tent.
It must have looked silly, like a cat and dog fighting while a little bird merely watched on from its perch horrified. Chrome remembers how he was clinging for dear life onto his hoop since he wasn't that far out of their reach or more so their horns, seeing Jester had gotten those two to stop and soon he was scolding them which put an end to it. After all, fighting in the Black Tent was forbidden since it was their buffet of food and Chrome the entertainer for the monster's visiting.
Nowadays Chrome and Pierrot had to be careful even if Harlequin doesn't pop up as much as before. Jester does make good on his threats though, like a human mother he thinks.
"We'll be heading out soon for our new location. Start cleaning up ok, Little One?" Jester's words has Chrome focusing on the conversation again, he nods his head, his colors turning yellow to show he's happy as he smiles at their leader and head of their family. Jester grins and walks away after giving him a few pats on the head, that causes Chrome's eyes to narrow emitting a small hum but only for a moment. Once the taller clown was out of sight, Chrome maneuvers himself to flip, his hands holding him know as he folds in on himself to move his legs through his arms so he's hanging from the hoop, letting go he had been expecting to land on the ground like he always does only to find himself being caught and held. His bells jingle as he decides to hang limp in the arms of Pierrot, head lolling on the ruffle collar that covered the other's shoulder to stare at the other, who is grinning at him. Seemed Pierrot came to check on him and see if he needed help with getting things put away. When alone it was Pierrot that did the talking, soft whispers to which Chrome either nodded or shook his head at, their little secret.
"Hello Chrome... do you need help packing up?" the deep voice has Chrome nuzzling into the ruffle collar, clicking their masks together for a moment before he nods. The two get to work gathering Chrome's things before moving to gather his stuff from his personal tent, once every thing is packed the two get to work helping with taking down the tents. Chrome had a lot to figure out but when scouting the new city they're going to, maybe he'll go find some books to help him understand emotions better, because if what he feels for Pierrot is what the red clown felt for Columbina then he would have to find a way to tell Pierrot but he needs to be certain first.
