Chapter 7: Dance On My Tightrope Of Love

When the two lovers returned to the academy halls, they found that Mr. Wagner was looking for them.

"Ah, Mr. Storitz and Mr. Evans! Thank goodness you have returned just in time. The Fleurys told me you both ran off to somewhere and I was worried you would not make it." The old man waved at them enthusiastically. "Come, come! We need you on the stage right away! I hope you are prepared for the speech!"

"Speech?" Stein asked, still a little dazed from the events that happened earlier.

He can't stop touching his own lips.

"Just stay put, my dear." 'Franklin' said. "I'll come back soon, I just have to say a few words about my invention and come back to you."

No one paid attention to the four-eyes doctor calling his companion 'my dear'. Zhe Chouhen knows that's because of the time period they are in. Back then, it is natural to have 'romantic friendships'.

Romantic friendships are the reason why so many men write intimate letters with each other, and so many women as well just kiss and touch each other so lovingly. It is not seen as bizarre or suspicious at all. It is much more difficult to discern back then who is truly part of the rainbow brigade and the lavender society, which is why many queer people from the era would use symbols to tell apart who is just dandy, and who is really fae.

Oscar Wilde used green carnations. Some used lavender lapels. Being gay had never been more conspicuous, yet also inconspicuous.

He went up the risen platform, the auditorium part of the school where symposiums and some seminars are held. A hostess is already there, making introductions for them before they start speaking. A prototype of his prosthetic leg was on a glass case for everyone to see, and Mr. Fleury was by his side.

"Herrs and Fraus, let us welcome one of the greatest scientists and inventors of our century, the prodigy himself, Dr. Franklin Storitz!" the woman said, which brought a generous round of applause. 

'Franklin' bowed in front of the audience with much poise, but the man inside his body is reeling from anxiety.

Zhe Chouhen hates speeches. Seeing so many people makes him want to retch everything his body. His stomach is whirling like a washing machine, and his head is getting bombarded by so many thoughts at the same time. But he had been used to putting up a farce and handling his agoraphobia well, and so he maintained a carefree smile as 'Franklin'.

She then continued speaking through the small Victorian Era microphone. "And with him would be the benefactor of his invention himself, a man that traveled across the seas just to be with us, the dashing Mr. Samuel Fleury."

The applause was a little softer at this, as some of the people were confused and shocked from seeing the black man come on stage. For some of them, it was the first time they saw one, and asked if it was really his skin color, or if he was just dirty. Some of them had seen a black person before, but only used to seeing them plowing the fields and never in a suit, much less a prestigious occasion like this.

But those people are not many. There a quite a lot in the crowd who are slowly becoming more open-minded and treating people from a different race as just the same as them. Freedom has been well-fought for the African people, as well as recognition. They just regarded him with amazement and reserved interest.

Mr. Samuel Fleury was still delighted to be in this party nonetheless, and the drop of enthusiasm did not faze him. He kept that bright smile that can charm millions. He made a bow, a different one from 'Dr. Franklin Storitz's' simple and graceful one, and his was more of a showman's. 

Stein can't help shifting from foot to foot as he watched. He was blocking the view of the people behind him, but they did not dare complain to the intimidating giant with the creased eyebrow.

There is something about Mr. Samuel Fleury that he can't quite place. It makes him restless, and his foot was tapping as if in a frantic dance, in an irregular rhythm.

The hostess spoke to the microphone again. "Now, let us have Mr. Fleury to share his experience with us, and present his new leg courtesy of the illustrious Dr. Franklin Storitz!"

An interpreter went to the side of Mr. Samuel Fleury, but it seems that it was not needed much because he had walked to the podium already. He seems to understand some German, though not better than Captain Clerval's level. It was still a good thing as he can easily discern what people are saying about him..... in case they are being spiteful and untowardly.

"Good evening, everyone. Pardon me for speaking in English as my German is not that 'gut'." He said with an exaggerated accent to make people laugh, which they did. It's not even that funny, but there's just a certain entertainer's charm in him. "I have my interpreter to translate, but I am sure many of you fine Herrs and Fraus are well-versed in the English language already to understand me."

"I do not want to overstay my welcome in this cozy little podium, so I will get to my speech already that I have prepared." He said, taking out a piece of paper that he had folded many times, and placing it in front of him. "Ahem. My name is Samuel Fleury, and I was not born into a noble or aristocratic family like most of you folks."

"Mein Name ist Samuel Fleury, und ich wurde nicht wie die meisten von Ihnen in eine Adelsfamilie hineingeboren." The interpreter translated line by line.

"I was an orphan, and I was adopted by a circus troupe before I even had my wits with me. I do not know my parents, or their reasoning for leaving me behind." his bright tone lowered a little. "So you rich folks must consider yourself lucky, for you know who your 'Mutter und Vater', or at least get enough milk from suckling."

It was pretty passive-aggressive, yet still earned laughter from some. Stein did not laugh, nor did Captain Clerval who was nowhere to be found around the area.

Zhe Chouhen already know this speech by Samuel Fleury, so he focused on repeating his own in his head again and again. He can't make any mistakes, not just out of embarrassment, but for his own life as well.

But the anxiety is getting to him a little. He can't ask anyone to console him or calm him down, because he can barely open his mouth to speak. His lips feel dry and the magic of the dance earlier is fading away.

He wished someone would read his mind and know the pain he was going through. That pain of holding your breath and compressing your stomach.

He does have a person like that, Daoist Panda. But when he needed him the most, that is when he is nowhere to be found.

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(Daoist Panda, where are you? Heh, I really don't like speeches.....)

No answer. He manned up and straightened himself, but sweat poured on his forehead.

Mr. Fleury's booming voice with hints of a French Creole accent continued. "I was a tightrope walker. Truly, you don't believe it? I do not just walk, I even cycle on a rope 30 meters high up the air!"

The people made "Ohhhs" and "Ahhs" in amazement, wanting to see this pulse-quickening performance for themselves.

"I juggled while walking or cycling through ropes, and got the name Two Dancing Elephants. Elephant due to my great physique and grayish skin color. My circus manager was not very creative."

The people chuckled, but still questioned about one thing. Mr. Samuel Fleury already guessed what they're going to ask.

"You must be wondering why "Two Dancing Elephants" when I am only one." The former circus performer grinned, but his eyes saddened a bit. "Well..... I once had a twin brother. We were very close, inseparable one could say."

"Both literally and figuratively."

The people were more intrigued. He really has the talent to attract people's attention and pique their interest.

"My brother and I..... His name was Samson, like the strong man from the Bible.... We were conjoined twins. Joined at the hips upon birth, our organs entangled with one another."

An old version of a projector, modified limelight invented by one of the students in the Akademie, soon started showing something on the white curtains. It was a faded black and white picture of two adorable twins wearing overalls, but it was adjusted for them to fit because they are joined by the hips and waist.

"I was on the left, Samson was on the right. We move as one, performing our tightrope act by moving in sync with each other, if not, we both shall fall. We were always together in everything: when we eat, when we sleep, when we bathe..... even when going to relieve ourselves, whoops, excuse me!"

The people burst out in cackles. It was a terrible situation to be in, but thanks to his wording, there's some hilarity in it.

"I love my brother more than anything else. That is, before I met my dear beloved wife standing among your right now. Please give my dear Marie Jeanne and round of applause!" 

Everyone did so and turned to the beautiful woman, who shyly curtsied and smiled with her cheeks red.

"Even with Marie, I still love Samson dearly. That never changed but..... It was quite difficult. Marie and I are in love, and we want to get married, but that would mean that Samson would also have to stay in the same house, share the same bed we use.... We both wanted normal lives where we could still be close as ever, yet also separate."

He then gestured to Franklin. "We have achieved that, all thanks to Dr. Storitz. He operated to separate us for free, and even make a prosthetic for my right foot that had muscular dystrophy. He was an audience at one of our shows when he was in New Orleans in America, but he pitied our situation. It was a difficult choice for Samson and I. By separating, we say goodbye to our circus performance as a duo. And there was also....."

" The risk of one or both of us perishing from the operation."

He paused for a long while, as if trying to stop tears from falling in front of this audience. He cleared his throat again, and bore a sad smile. "My brother.... My brother Samson passed away from such an operation. I do not blame Dr. Storitz, as he had asked us again and again if we are sure of such a decision, but I am still deeply saddened by it. I have a good life, and a good wife, because of the sacrifice my brother made."

"I shall never forget him." He said with fondness.

The feelings were genuine, and some even shed tears for the tragic fate these brothers had to suffer.

Mr. Fleury felt the change in the mood, so he tried to cheer things up again. "Anyway, this Dr. Storitz' night, and about the success of his scientific endeavors. Let us not focus on my story too much. I am merely here to show you the fruit of his labors."

He went over to raise his leg....

And pulled up the pants to reveal his right leg, which is no different from a normal leg!

"Behold! The most realistic prosthetic man has ever seen!" He said, and everyone began to clap in wonder and amazement. "I shall let the good doctor to explain the components of such a wonderful thing!"

'Franklin' walked calmly to the podium, and began to speak. "This prosthetic leg was patented by me and my teacher here in the academy, Dr. Schiller. I am sure many of you are already aware of it. The insides that make up the skeletal base of the leg are lightweight steel, and we have added several more components for smooth movements of the joints...."

Stein could not focus on his lover's speech at all.

He had fallen unconscious, and someone caught him, dragging him out of the crowd before anyone could notice.

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