#i live to act and perform! like a silly jester!

[ganymediocre]

not masculine not feminine but a secret third thing (male character played by afab stage actor)

[bloos-bloo]

Welcome to the circus but make it make SENSE

TOYBOX AU!!! ITS REAL!! >:D

What is the ToyBox AU? ToyBox is a circus AU that’s HEAVILY inspired by Digital Circus, Circus Monster, and Hypno’s lullaby! I highly suggest looking into those things if you’re not aware of them-

THIS IS YOUR WARNING BTW- THERE ARE MENTIONS OF ABUSE AND TORTURE

---

The circus is held in the lands of the Old Faith every few years, it used to be a yearly event. But after the new ownership- the circus suffered greatly. There are less guests every year- it's constantly losing money, there's hardly any performers. So, how is this issue fixed?

Easy. :)

Starting off with the Ring Master! The Jester! Silly little guy! Dirty kidnapper

Emery’s the beloved Jester in the circus. She makes sure everything’s in order before the next show. She’s been doing this for a very long time, seeing many guests come in and out… but what caught her attention was a certain black cat.

She had to have him- he always smiled and laughed at her performance- she needed him.

PATHETIC WET CAT IN QUESTION-

Narinder was a regular at the circus- (regular meaning biyearly-) It was his favorite past time to do with his siblings. But- what was creepy was the way the jester would stare at him…

Narinder doesn’t remember how he was recruited, but he’s always near Emery.. why? He can’t even tell you- something about it makes it hard to think of for long periods of time

Leshy’a such a little guy in this AU!

(Emery was scared of how tall he was- so why not take that away! Seeing him small was so funny!) His hands act like his eyes, cause- nobody knows where his eyes are. Not even him- Plus the snake-like creatures are very smart, they keep him out of trouble.

It’s hard to see during routine since his only way of vision is blurry He tries to ignore the way Emery stares at him when he gets too close to Narinder... Why does Narinder look so scared anyway? Is there something going on? Where is the exit? Oh- his act is up next.

Heket was hard to deal with. She’s loud- she has muscle- and she looked like she was going to kill Emery-

It was easy to make her stand down though, just a few quick words and string! Nothing too crazy. Heket usually keeps her distance from Emery, but with her getting closer to Narinder and always sticking with Leshy. She had to protect him in some way or another and keep Shamura preoccupied…

Emery made her a greeter so she wouldn't interact with her siblings (and have the guest ignore her pleas)

Noel’s Lament looking ass-

Kallamar was the hardest to convert- still is the same. They’re always crying about something, leaving him with a ton of conflicted emotions. She’s an acrobat and silk aerialist, but with her constantly covered in needles- it makes her job a bit harder.

Emery hates Kal- for some reason, they never share a conversation or a moment alone. She’s always avoided him- was he aware…? He must be. He cries about his old life every night...

Emery did have to pin his ears back after he overheard a lot of stuff though…

LITTLE BABYYYY- WAHHHH-

Shamura’s mind is very much broken in this AU- except it was Emery fault. They knew too much! She had to!

..Right?

Anyways- Shamura is very aware of what’s going on. They can see through Emery just a bit- but it’s hard to do anything when she takes their key, or even beat them. The cracks on their face represent each beating- Emery hates Shamura, but they can’t do anything about them besides make it harder for them to live around the grounds-

ANYWAYS- a very basic rundown of ToyBox! :D I have a few other doodles planned for this AU- and I’m so excited to actually write it- YIPPEEEE. There's nothing sinister going on here!! :D Happy fun time little AU!!

[everettswritings]

Got an idea for a cute story with a dash of angst if you want

How Shadow milk became the caregiver of regressor y/n....imagine if he had freed himself from the tree (or somehow freed himself again after the events of the story) and began roaming around, doing his usual antics! He eventually reaches y/n's home town/village/well...just home. He does his antics and y/n gets so stressed out, they regress and start crying like a baby.

For Shadow milk...why do I imagine...instant switch flip. From chaotic scary jester mode...to instant funny dad mode...also can imagine Shadow milk just realizing y/n is a regressor and goes '....ok, I'm a dad now. This is my baby now. All mine.' Just instant adoption...releases everyone else because now 1000000% focus is on baby now XD.

Just think the total sudden 180 would be funny lol...

BTW to explain...dash of angst that instantly gets resolved is y/n being terrified of Shadow milk lol...like seeing him all scary with evil laughter and so on scaring y/n so much.

Whole fic time! I actually really love this idea so much, Shadow Milk accidentally adopting someone(especially Y/N) just sounds weirdly canon. (NSFW/Kink accounts DNI!)

Laughter echoed through the air of Beast-Yeast, the maniacal cackling was as loud as lightning and even more frightening than such. Somehow, some way, the Beast known as Shadow Milk Cookie had breached his prison and was now spreading horrific chaos across the land. Circus-y music was blaring loudly and the noises of various acts being performed by mind controlled cookies only added to the cacophony.

You were crouched down in the corner of your living room with your ears covered, paralyzed by fear and trying to fight off your littlespace. You naturally screamed when you heard and saw someone crashing into your home, and you couldn’t help but shake as those heterochromatic eyes locked onto you.

“Well, well, well! What do we have here?!” Laughed the jester causing this madness as he approached you, fully intending to pull you into this like everyone else. You couldn’t hold it back anymore and involuntarily went into littlespace, instantly bursting into scared tears… somehow it made the jester pause in his advance. A look of concern spread across his usually-grinning face as he saw your tears rolling down your cheeks. He felt a pang inside him; but a pang of what? Guilt? Regret? He couldn’t quite decipher it, as it was probably a mixture of many emotions- he couldn’t recall the last time he felt something other than anger or manic joy. He crouched down in an attempt to look less threatening, feeling another wave of this emotion crashing down as you looked over with misted eyes. The jester gave a weak smile, “Hey, lil’ one… It’s alright. You’re alright…” He reached out for you, but you shrunk away. He retracted his hand and paused to think of how to turn your frown upside down.

The Beast’s grin returned to their face as a lightbulb went off; a puppet show! A puppet show was the perfect idea! They pulled a couple puppets out of thin air, clearing their throat to do the appropriate voices, which caught your attention again. One puppet was a baker and the other was just an ordinary guy- where would this go? The baker puppet held up a cupcake with a sleepy face stitched into the felt: “Here you go!” The baker said “One dozin’ cupcake!”, the ordinary guy grumbled “I said one dozen cupcakes!”.

You couldn’t suppress your giggles. The bit was a little dumb, sure, but it was still funny! At least to a regressed you. Shadow Milk Cookie’s grin widened with genuine affection and he decided to keep going, he kept pulling out assorted puppets and performing silly skits with them in order to make you laugh. Eventually, you decided to finally approach the jester and threw your arms around him in a hug. Although Shadow Milk Cookie was a bit surprised, he couldn’t say no to seeing you smile or hugging you back.

“Thank you, you’ve been such a wonderful audience!” They laughed, giving your little head a pat and handing you a little kettle-corn to snack on. As you graciously munched on the sweet treat, they breathed a relieved sigh that you calmed down. Maybe that’s what the pang was- a paternal feeling. They pulled you onto their lap and ruffled your hair.

“I guess I’m a dad now, huh?” They grinned.

That’s all! Ahh! Loved this, loved this, LOVED THIS! Thank you for the request! Have a good one 🫶

[thatmooncake]

The way Sun and Moon have experienced so much hurt and so much horror but in a way they may never be able to fully address because they just may not quite have the full understanding or the drive to unpack all of what’s happened to them in any sort of context beyond just seeing it as another part of their lives as silly jesters performing at the whims of other people as a small fragment of a dying franchise. That denial and where that understanding escapes them makes it even more tricky for them to heal because they can’t even begin to come to terms with the way the virus and their repurposing has affected them both, but the horrors keep on coming and they’re slowly unraveling and they know - they’ve known from the start - that something is wrong, and yet they can’t quite figure out what for the longest time.

When the virus hits, they just carry on as normal because that’s all they’ve ever known. They notice the other one is acting differently and it alarms them but they aren’t listened to. Perhaps they don’t openly voice their concerns, or maybe no one is there to hear them. Perhaps they don’t even stumble upon the answer until a long time has passed, sitting in denial, just blocking out the changes and the concerns, and the other one whose existence has now thrown their lives into turmoil.

Sun carries on like everything’s fine and dandy - that is, until he can’t anymore. What a life. Always on. Always acting. He’s a good actor, sure, but when you’re meant to play one half of a day-night cycle I bet it wears at you when you now have to cover both shifts. The fact that he’s even trying to - he’s desperate not to be pulled back into the abyss so Moon can come out because he knows how broken Moon is right now. And I’m guessing that even if he did have a clue how to fix them (which, maybe he honestly didn’t, or simply wouldn’t come to terms with until he saw the faz-wrench in Cassie’s hand in Ruin), he couldn’t leave the daycare at most hours because he’d be at work, entertaining the kids, or not supposed to be out if the daycare was out of order. And then when the pizzaplex was closed, there were the blackouts all over, keeping him locked in where the generators were, where he’d have a chance to retreat into the light (and we can’t forget how useful Moon was to Afton and co as a retrieval bot, so he’d be out and about of course, they’d make sure of that, but not as himself).

The alternative would have been knowingly risking unleashing Moon upon more potentially innocent victims, and getting both of them in even more trouble when he should have been out. He should have been making sure things stayed working at least a little bit. And we see Sun fighting Moon with everything he has in the Ruin jumpscares just so they won’t do something they’ll regret. How long has he been fighting? How many times might he have tried and failed to stop Moon and woken up with blood on his hands?

How exhausting that must have been. Did he blame Moon at all? Any animosity between them could only have hurt more. And even if he didn’t give in to that frustration, the fact is, he was keeping Moon away that whole time, not letting him out to play. For his own good or not, that can’t have felt nice, and it certainly can’t have been easy.

And then Moon on the other hand expresses little clear awareness that something is wrong in Security Breach itself, at least none that’s addressed to Gregory or any of the others, simply going about his business, but it’s heavily implied he knows - and maybe he always knew - that there is something pulling from beneath the surface from the things he says in Ruin. “It won��t work!” He knows at that point at least that Sun (or perhaps Cassie) has a plan, of sorts. But he denies it. He doesn’t trust in that plan to fix them. He knows Sun is there, fighting to come out the moment the lights come on. He’s determined not to stay locked away anymore.

Imagine that frustration too. He wants Sun gone - he has to - because he’s in pain as long as the lights are on. And we can tell from Sun’s sad little song that he feels every bit of emptiness when he’s not active as well. And yet, being active feels like a desperate struggle on both sides as well. They’re in a constant battle with themselves, and there can be no victor.

Now imagine if Moon’s awareness - or his relative resignation at the state of the virus - had extended way back to the main game, when they first became afflicted by it. Knowing there was nothing he or Sun could do to stop it - because he (because they?) tried, and failed? Or just (optionally, if we’re considering the novels) because he was always the “villainous” appendix FazCorp couldn’t cut out of the otherwise comparatively “functional” working daycare attendant? Because then maybe Moon knew all along that there wasn’t a version of events where he was actually supposed to be here anymore.

(When he was infected by the virus, on the other hand? Moon had a purpose. Not a nice one, exactly, but a purpose nonetheless. Something Sun still had in the daycare that he wasn’t allowed. It’s not surprising that they ended up at odds with each other at all no matter how you look at it.)

[4amfnaf]

FNAF 1 Kingdom AU Headcannons?

I guess? And they’re also humans idk

Idk whats come over me, might continue with this if people like it though…

Freddy:

The King, duh

Good at his job, respected by his people, feared by his enemies.

May have certain mysterious magical powers

Charismatic, intelligent, an excellent leader with a sort of mysterious allure to him; almost always seems to know something you dont

Overall really awesome, yet somehow chronically bitchless

Bro CANNOT get laid, most girls end up thinking hes weird (no one knows the reason)

Citizens and other royal subjects genuinely fear he may never produce an heir 💀

Both of his parents are dead, and he doesnt even need to tell you, you can kind of tell just by looking at him

Chica:

The Royal Advisor/personal assistant/acting Queen (since Freddy cant get a real one)

Has lived with the royal family her whole life, and was initially a servant until her friendship with Freddy led to her gradual promotion

Shes basically his second in command when it comes to the welfare of the people; she cares a lot about keeping them happy and healthy

Many wish she would actually marry Freddy and become the Queen, but shes really not interested (after knowing him his whole life, he is NOT her type)

She has a sweet and caring nature, and is loved by the community for it. Although, shes known to be a little too ambitious with her kindness, which has ended up biting her in the past

Also is known to spend a lot of her free time in the royal kitchen, baking, cooking, and maybe only a little annoying the head chef by butting in.

Bonnie:

The Court Jester

Fuckin hates his job

Does he run around jingling and making a fool of himself regardless? Yes, but he does NOT enjoy it

Only remains employed because sometimes he gets to shred on the lute (and because Freddy insists hes “such a silly little guy” and wont release him)

Actually somewhat stoic and nihilistic by nature, dare one say cool, but certainly capable of mischief

Occasionally gets fed up while performing (because anything other than playing the lute drives him crazy), and loudly threatens to- ahem- ‘kill everyone in here and then himself,’ but no one takes it seriously because they think its part of the bit (this drives him even crazier)

Shockingly, is also a close advisor for Freddy. Given that he’s always around for entertainment, he ends up hearing everything anyways. Sometimes has good ideas, sometimes Freddy just laughs and says “what a silly little guy” when he suggests something (once again drives him crazy)

Known to flirt with any nearby maidens, and it would probably work if not for his goofy ass outfit. He curses Freddy’s name for making him dress like a freak.

Foxy:

Pirate turned Knight

Was a highly wanted criminal, as he was very good at being a pirate. When he was eventually caught, Freddy gave him the choice between life in prison, or becoming a knight, as he was skilled in combat.

He actually chose life in prison initially, something about a pirate’s honor or whatever, but Freddy said he could keep his ship if he became a knight, so he couldn’t refuse

Definitely relishes the glory and attention he receives being a knight, but if you ever asked him he’d vehemently deny it- he’ll always be a pirate at heart

He worked his way up the ranks and is now one of the head knights, being the fastest and most agile. He works closely with Freddy, as Freddy values Foxy’s less biased input (all the other nights and guards kiss his ass)

Fiery and a tad dramatic, has many pirate stories to tell (that no one can verify the truth of), and the people somewhat begrudgingly regard him as the strongest warrior in the kingdom other than maybe Freddy himself (if he were to fight that is). Hes capable of getting down to business when needed, but he tends to be a little more on the eccentric side.

However he is chronically clumsy around girls, therefore also subsequently bitchless

For some reason fnaf reverse harem kingdom AU shojo comedy is really speaking to me rn

Considering making a little fanfiction comic about this… idk should i do it? Be fr with me guys

[pearliepatootie]

THE DIGITAL STAR CIRCUS ENTERTAINMENT

AU by PearliePatootie

In the digital world of wacky adventures and eternal suffering(digital suffering), it tends to be tiring to do the same thing over and over again. To find real entertainment, and something to do with their never ending and undying lives, the characters from the Digital World decided to make entertainment by making music, art, dance or anything of the likes to put ones heart desire to work.

What is DSCE?

D.S.C.E. was created by none other than Caine the Performer. Caine is an AI that operates as a helper and a guide for human characters who tend to go a little crazy after realizing their stuck in this world. Caine created this industry to see which of the performers could get the money rolling. And to keep the digital world alive.

Caine the Performer (AI)

An artificial intelligence programmed to accompany human subjects to be full citizens of the digital world, he makes sure everything is in order. He also entertains them by performing silly shows but is short-lived. He lacks basic emotions and tends to freak out about accidentally breaking some of the characters if not being careful with the tricks. But when he made the Pop Idol Industry, its became evident that this is his calling. One of his top performers, Ragatha, is his first and favorite performer. He guides her to reach her true potential on being a performer and favors her the most.

Ragatha the Doll

A sweet little ragdoll who sings and dances for the other residents of the digital world. When Caine first offered her the job, she really didn't like it because she was sloppy. But when she performed her first show, it was like it was natural to her. She's everyone favorite because of her sweet and soothing voice, as to put it to the words of the audience “her voice is like of an angel coming down to heaven to make us feel like flying”. And since she's the most favored one, she feels pressured to perform better, and to be perfect. Jax, one of her companions, always is there to comfort her whenever she needs it.

Jax the Clown

A very annoying and loud character who performs by being a jerk to his audiences, and this actually works too (surprisingly). Caine offered him the job after Ragatha. He's the type of person who typically likes to clown around during and even after his acts, but when it comes to his free time, he just rests. But be careful tho, when you disturb him on his free time, you'll eventually taste a piece of his fist or hammer. He may or may not have something going on with the DSCE’s top performer, Ragatha. Its a hot topic in the minute.

Zooble the Abstract

A bundle of random parts, has a short temper and is always annoyed. Zooble’s performance revolves around making weird artworks, reflecting her own personality. I guess that's about it for Zooble. Oh! And she likes to be alone most of the time so when you see her, just let her be.

Gangle the Fangirl

One of the craziest ladies of all digital world, she has all the cards and merchandise. Although she is also one of the performers, she tends to draw and make artworks about her fellow artists. She can be a bit tempered similar to Zooble, but she's sensitive about yknow, everything- if one of her collections or artwork is broken, she changes personality, hence her masks. She's also a dear friend of Pomni, the new recruit of DSCE.

Kinger the Opera Singer

One of the oldest members in the digital world, an expert at singing opera and jazz music. He gets a little crazy with his songs sometimes, just singing from the heart and never wants to be disturbed. Well, that depends on his mood. He's a sweetheart most of the time and spends his time talking to the other members. Caine likes his style of music so he's also one of his favourite performers, second to Ragatha.

Pomni the Singer (Newbie)

A silly and panic-induced individual who found her way into the digital world. She used to be a jester who performed at the circus(she sucks), but now she decided to try singing? She's awkward and shy but she has the spirit. Her closest friend is the crazy fangirl of the entertainment, Gangle. So, with this, she tries her best to go to the top for the promise of freedom by Caine. What will she do in order to stay on top?

[00belle00lovely00]

*+_THEATER AND OG DAYCARE AU!_+* (PART 1)

(OK. THINGS FIRST, DO FORGIVE ME IF YOU SEE SUDEN STRANGE CHANGES IN THE ART STYLE, I swear to my mama I made all of these, just that I've been drawing this concept idea for the past 2 years and I somehow completely changed from my own art style for these sillies towards the cardboard cutouts that the game has us to offer. So if there's any confusion, the first image up there is the latest from a few weeks.)

So I had this concept AU idea where I wanted to explain WHY the Sun and Moon can be completely separate while Eclipse is just cast away from the whole 'brotherhood' the fandom has created. And BECAUSE I haven't seen anyone do this back when I had this idea, I decided to make it my own!

AU LORE:

Eclipse in this AU appeared way back when the pizzaplex was being built. Small variations of iconic attractions such as a smaller version of the atrium, a half-cut area of Rockstar Row and Bonnie Bowl which was, at the time, the biggest attraction at the in-construction were all located within the upcoming glamrocks with their beta versions. Back at that time, Eclipse was somewhat of a prototype for the present-day daycare attendant we all know and love. They began to work around a smaller version of the daycare, being introduced to the children with both daytime and naptime protocols to ensure their safety and fun in Superstar Daycare.

Eventually, though, the pizzaplex began to grow bigger and bigger, to the point where more clients of all ages started to watch the early performances of the beta Glamrocks. Due to funds increasing and higher-ups becoming much more daring, a new attraction was set up near the daycare, this being known as the present-day Theater where Sundrop and Moondrop were introduced as its performers. Working as entertainers and jesters for comedic acts, especially for the adults who dropped off their kids and went off for a bag of popcorn and a soda to watch the sillies on their performances.

Sun and Moon as Jesters:

Sun back at the time was his usual joyful and happy self, yet one full of ego and quite self-centered if you must say. As Sun was given the role of the main character in the majority of his performances, he kept the idea that everything must be according to what was planned. Perfect, clean and nicely done, he thinks that the smallest mistake could ruin his "character arc" and much rather be scrapped on set in front of all his fans than admit that sometimes you just have to get off your fantasies and set yourself in real life.

Moon on the other hand, oh boy, that guy wasn't any less good. As the antagonist of the majority of the performances, he grew a 'villainous wanna-be' personality. Where he tries to prank you, trick you, and make pathetic yet silly obstacles before laughing away in an 'evil' laugh. I mean... what would you honestly expect? This is Moon who we are talking about you guys, there's no way this guy can be a calming presence to be around, not even before the virus situation.

FAMILY BONDING:

At first, Eclipse seemed a bit shocked and wary about how there were suddenly two completely identical modelled animatronics that resembled a lot of him living just near his daycare. At some point, they didn't want to be involved in whatever these two jesters were.

But as time went by, admittedly Eclipse grew attached to the twins. Having an older sibling bonded with them as they were the ones making sure those two imbeciles wouldn't go at each other's necks for dumb reasons like a scrip, a mistake in their performance on stage or even just a simple argument. Which they had. Multiple times.

Things were always a ruckus with the jesters. They hung out on their after-hours, helped each other with their usual routines for the day, and even there were rare occasions when Sun and Moon were invited into the daycare. That, of course, was where Sun learned how to adore arts and crafts. Seeing the beauty of art from his own viewpoint. As for the Moon jester? Well, he learned about disciplinarity, the need for perpetual rest and most wholesomely, he grew to like naptime due to Eclipse's soft lullaby that they would spread to every kid alike. Although too proud to admit, he is slightly jealous of Eclipse's calming nature. In a good way.

ANYWAY, ILL UPDATE ALL WITH THE 2ND PART SOON BYE-

[schrodingerseurydice]

Sometimes I think about how BBC Merlin is a story shown from the perspective of a jester, and I think that's SO COOL.

Like no, Merlin isn't formally a jester, but he gets treated like one throughout the show, being asked to wear silly outfits and perform tricks, and he makes many jests and japes.

But more importantly, he plays an incredibly powerful advisory role to the kings (especially Arthur but occasionally also Uther). He is able to do this, not because he's magic incarnate and the most powerful sorcerer to ever live, but because he's perceived as harmless. I need to read more on the history of jesters, but from what I've read in Shakespeare and about "jester's privilege," this is similar.

And yeah Merlin is punished often, but hardly as often or harshly as one would expect with the things he says and does. And he has such immense influence on the crown, calling the royals out for their acts of injustice and having his wisdom heard, and I think this is in part because he takes a more subtle and playful approach to his critique (vs Morgana who is loud and direct and openly powerful, which is perceived more as a threat and responded to with defensiveness).

I don't really have anything profound to say, I just think it's neat. I find the jester trope is usually fulfilled by a side character rather than a main character. I also like that Merlin is usually represented as an advisor because of his ancient and arcane wisdom, but in this show it's for precisely the opposite reason - he's a nobody and a fool who runs his mouth, but he's loyal, and that's why he can be trusted.

[vallitemaiden]

on mikoto's powers

Canon ways Mikoto uses her powers

The barrier that protects Hoshido from (living) soldiers

Chapter 3: Hoshido Ryoma: They're known as the Faceless. Creature with no will of their own. Created by Nohrian mages. Hinoka: I call 'em dead meat. But they're the only thing Nohr can throw at us right now. Our mother, Queen Mikoto, put up a magical barrier around our kingdom. Regular enemy soldiers find themselves without the will to fight upon crossing it. So long as Mother is able to keep the barrier up, Nohr can't invade Hoshido. Ryoma: That's why Nohr sends those…things. They have no souls-no will of their own. That's why they are able to penetrate the barrier and terrorize our borders.

Perhaps related to this, if you squint and tilt your head, is that one of Mikoto's cipher cards has a similar ability.

Miracle Emblem: Until the end of this battle, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a Critical Hit.

The infamous letters (If Takumi, Hinoka, or Sakura are S-supported, Mikoto leaves them letters explaining that Corrin is not blood related, and they all mention Mikoto was known to have prophetic powers so she must have foreseen them falling in love)

Foreseeing her own death. This differs between the game and the audio drama. It could also be that she knew the exact moment but didn't let on that she knew.

Chapter 5: Mother Yukimura: I hate to deliver this news, but… Queen Mikoto foresaw her own death. This isn't your fault, Corrin. King Garon set these events in motion. And the queen speculated that there may be an even darker force at work. She didn't know when or how death would strike, only that it was certain. And there's one other thing. Please take a look at that statue.

Hoshido Drama CD, Track 8 Mikoto: Takumi, you really have wonderful retainers. Hinata, Oboro, please continue to support him. And Kaze, please watch over everyone. Because soon.. you will have to do it in my stead. *she sighs deeply* From today’s waning moon.. to that day at the square.. There is not much time left.

These are all the references I know of. In summary, she can affect morale of living humans and has prophetic visions not only of herself but also of others.

I also like the idea that the reason Mikoto could act so oddly at times was because of her visions draining her. Orochi speaks of it a bit.

Orochi C Support Orochi: Oh, she was endlessly hilarious. One time, I recall catching her swimming— with her slippers on! She'd forget she had two chopsticks in hand—and eat with four! Some might say she was absentminded. Not I. She was a dreamer of dreams. So what if Lady Mikoto had her silly mishaps. We loved her for it. Avatar: Please, go on. Orochi: Once she sat cross-legged for so long, her legs went to sleep. And I am talking a DEEP sleep! She stood up before the court—and careened right into a fountain! Avatar: I wish I could have been there. Er, at least to help her out of the water. Orochi: Your mother was truly unique, like a wise sage and an accidental jester. She had the sweetest voice, but the things she would say… Honestly, that dear woman—she really was a hoot.

I do think some of this is simply her personality, that she tried to face life with a smile and making others happy, but the more absent-minded type moments I like to think were actually her recovering from having a vision and trying to not worry anyone.

The one thing they don't really touch on is how Mikoto holds that barrier. Azura uses her songs to do similar things to Mikoto's powers, but it takes a larger toll on her. To maintain a barrier around Hoshido and for 10 years or so is a wild amount of power. I assume it has something to do with Mikoto being raised in Valla and being older, so she's more practiced.

My best guess is that the barrier is something Mikoto needs to maintain by performing the rite pretty frequently and that she's also familiar with dance and singing the same way Arete and Azura are. We just see her for such a short pocket of time that it doesn't really come up, but Orochi does say that she has a lovely voice.

One way I expand her powers in TOA is that she can also see events leading up to this point if the person is from fateslandia (any route) because of her powers coming from the First Dragon (Anankos), who affected the land pretty deeply. Of course, I only do this if the other mun agrees. For people like the Awakening trio, it's more limited cause they're not from Fates but spent time there. Otherwise, she can see the future of anyone (again, barring the other mun's permission).

She can also use her song power to quell enemies or bolster allies, which can mean different things with out-of-combat flavor text depending on how we wanna write it (inspiring them to fight, to feel elated, or conversely to feel sedated or a kind of peaceful calm that saps the will to fight). When she's using this type of magic, her focus is solely on that, so she can't fight in those moments.

Her powers are actually something I'd love to explore much more, especially the implication of changing someone's emotions even if only temporarily.

[loud-kid2]

@peaches2217 @silly-inky @itsavee4117 @bberetd I had an idea that kept haunting me so I had to do something about, so meet Blythe Kaboom, the Boo court jester!

She's an old childhood friend of the KB triplets, they used to play together whenever the triplets were in the land of the dead and kept in contact through letters and each other's respective parental figures until they were old enough to have phones. She is trans so back then she went by a different name and she is a Bomb Boo

Her court jester outfit is just your average medieval court jester outfit in her dark blue and white. Her casual outfit consists of a bomber jacket, a Bob-omb t-shirt, a long skirt and some flats (outfit pictured below), her hair texture is thick and coily, almost like the rope-like wicks of cartoon bombs

Her go to entertainment specialities when being the court jester is playing the lyre, telling entertaining stories and performing tricks like throwing knives, magic tricks, balancing acts and acrobatics. Part of a jester's job is typically going to battle to entertain and boost morale for the soldiers but since Blythe is a Bomb Boo she doesn't have to do that because if she gets hit hard enough she will blow up, causing major problems for everyone

When she's not being a jester Blythe serves as the grounds keeper for the graveyard Henry lives near

Blythe and Henry used to date but broke up on amicable terms. When they were teenagers Henry got pressure from other nobles to find a partner (Alexander already had Rosemarie and King did not care), so he dated pretransition Blythe to get them off his back. They didn't find each other that compatible as romantic partners so they decided it would be best to stay friends, they find the best thing that came out of that brief period was that Blythe figured out she was trans. Henry supported Blythe as she transitioned, even helped her pick out a new name

[everythingelvispresley]

Stories From Elvis’s Band

When he first hit in 1955, Elvis was like an H-bomb on shaky legs. In 18 months, he went from hillbilly singer to the biggest star in America, with a parade of No. 1 hits such as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “All Shook Up” and “Jailhouse Rock.” Along the way he upended our entire pop culture—from music to fashion to attitudes about race and sexuality.

His traveling companions on the road to the Hilton were a group of ace musicians, including Glen D. Hardin (piano), James Burton (guitar), Ronnie Tutt (drums) and Jerry Scheff (bass)

Preparing for Elvis’ new live show was an impressive undertaking. Luckily, Elvis and his new band clicked immediately. We rehearsed probably 200 songs, says Jerry Scheff. When we played them with him, it wasn’t like a rehearsal. It was more like we were just having fun, like jamming almost.

In rehearsals, and on stage, Elvis keyed off the guitar, says James Burton. We had great eye contact. He loved guitar. If I’d play a lick or something, he would just turn around and say, Yeah, baby! It was a great communication that all of us had. With so many songs at his disposal, Elvis rarely followed a set list. You never knew which way he was going to go on stage, Burton says. He could change at any moment. He’d say, James, give me an E. Then he’d go into whatever song he had in his mind.

He’d play stump the band, Hardin says. He’d try to find little ways to pull something on us. I don’t think he ever did because we were watching him so closely. We were playing the Forum in L.A. one time, and he was about as far away from me on stage as he could possibly be. He bent down to kiss a girl and I guess she whispered in his ear, Do Blue Christmas. As he raised back up, he went right into it. Now there’s only three eighth notes as pick-up notes. I’ll have a … and the whole band came in. It was things like that, non-stop. He was always very appreciative that we were right on top of him.

Says Tutt, As time went on, he would use more and more karate moves, to cut off songs and during songs, where there’d be musical interludes or solos. Because they’re almost quicker than the eye, those moves, I felt like there was only way for me to really understand them. And that was to study the same form of karate as he did. We’d have lessons and workouts up in his suite. It helped me a great deal to understand how he moved.

Elvis the comedian

The intensity was balanced out with practical joking. For all his iconic status as the king of rock ’n’ roll, Elvis often acted more like a jester on stage and off.

He was always coming up with something silly, says Hardin. Once he introduced me and said, You know, somebody told me the other day that the D in your middle name stands for Dolores. Is that true? I said, Why, hell no!He said, I think it is. I was told by somebody who ought to know. He just went on and left it at that.

He’d do imitations too. He did Engelbert Humperdinck and Tom Jones real good. He could do Billy Eckstine, Dean Martin a bit, even Moms Mabley. He would sing happy birthday to me a lot, Burton says, even if it wasn’t my birthday.”

Scheff says, One night, he brought one of those little battery operated laugh boxes on stage and said, Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like you to meet Colonel Parker. As far as the humor is concerned, says Tutt, Elvis, as much as anybody I’ve ever known in my life, loved to laugh. He was a very emotional man when it came to that. He didn’t hesitate to laugh or cry. His whole life was built around trying to find humor in things.

What Might Have Been

All the musicians agree that the big fight that might’ve saved Elvis was a world tour. During the ’70s, he toured America, but never beyond the 50 states (his 1973 TV special Aloha from Hawaii was a vicarious substitute, beamed worldwide via satellite). The reason that Elvis never performed outside of the U.S. was that Colonel Parker, née Andreas Cornelius van Kuijk, was an illegal alien. To fly out of the country would risk not only being exposed but barred re-entry.

Elvis wanted so bad to go to Europe and to Japan, says Burton. He was looking forward to it, even in the year or so before he died. He felt that these people always came to him from around the world to see his shows, and he felt like it would be great for him to go over there and present his show to them in their country.

If Colonel Parker had let him follow his idea to become a more serious artist, things might’ve been different, adds Scheff. Elvis had a lot of pressure put on him by the Colonel and by fans to do the old stuff. I’ve worked with a lot of people, like Bob Dylan and Bob has always been able to change, like a chameleon. He didn’t care what the fans thought. He didn’t care what his manager thought. Elvis wasn’t able to say, Listen, screw you. I’m doing it my way. That more than anything else was one of the reasons he got so depressed.

In the end, when these players talk about their time with Elvis, it’s overwhelming how much they loved and respected him. I’m sure I expressed how much I enjoyed working with him, but he wasn’t one to sit around and let you pat him on the back, Hardin says. If you said, You’re the greatest, he would’ve probably said, Well, I’m doing pretty good for an old country boy.

I don’t think I ever told Elvis how much I admired him as a singer, says Scheff. Back then, everybody was being cool. I regret that now. I don’t even have an autograph, because I was being too cool. I think if I’d asked him for his autograph, it might’ve pleased him.

Burton concludes, Elvis didn’t know how great he was. He never came off like, I’m the king of rock ’n’ roll. As a matter of fact, there were many times on stage when people yelled out, Elvis, you’re the king! And Elvis would say, No, I’m not the king. God’s the king.

[immoralimmortals]

Hi, not sure if you have before but I'd like to ask whether you could post an in depth character/personality analysis of Takara? Because while you do a very good job describing, I'd like to understand things more from her perspective. Like, why does she act the way she does, and why does she call herself a clown.

This is an AWESOME question! Let's crack my knuckles into early arthritis and get started:

All cards on the table: this character is just me but with more extremes. I am still attempting at least the veneer of it being a reader analog-- I try very hard for her to be relatable and think along the lines of "if I was not *me*, would I be getting something out of this?"-- but it's still an analysis and critique of how I imagine myself, especially in romantic, emotional, and social situations.

I've been especially focusing on the idea of her being a "performer", and that is because, as I am an autistic person that tries to introspect a lot and also communicates for a living at this point in my life, a lot of social life is really a performance. Takara is performing both in the literal sense and in that she is constantly trying to step back and look at the big picture, see where she fits on the stage and in what shape. She is painfully aware of her limitations-- that she's a bad liar, a hypocrite, and above all a big fucking wuss-- and so the roles she takes on tend to be more likely to put her in less confrontational situations. She's comfortable, in the end, being a singer because the context is that it's a very small venue and she feels safe. Outside of that context, she is doe-eyed, scared, and a follower. She moves with the breeze and wonders how on earth she got carried away.

The comparison to a clown is a specific aspect of this whole "performer" thing. You may have heard of Jester's Privilege, which is the concept that the court jester can say whatever he wants because it is of no consequence. No body listens to you, boo hoo, but also...if nobody listens to you, you have no real responsibility. This is why Takara did not want to name herself. She has a lot of trouble claiming responsibility. She, however, also knows it's impossible to be so small and quiet you stop existing. So if you HAVE to exist and be known, to be a clown is a pretty good alternative. You can be silly, you can talk, you can sing...and no one will take you seriously. In a world so foreign and dangerous...that's a very safe place to be.

As a side note, I also call Tobi a clown and jester for very similar reasons, even if the exact nature and permanency of the persona in his personality differs. They both perform; Tobi's role is more specified and changes less from situation to situation, whereas Takara has more flexibility as she attempts to be sincere through masking and coping with her mental illness and bizarre circumstance. Tobi is sincere only in the outcomes he intends from his words and actions as the Akatsuki's royal clown.

She is, ultimately, my analysis on my own desire to be safe and liked while also being scrupulously kind. I am drawing from fantasies I've had off and on since I was a teen about being a rescued innocent finally given the adoration that will heal me...and thinking about it more critically. I think that's the best summary of where I'm coming from here when I write. I'm trying to draw from the idea of an adored and cherished self insert/reader insert and seeing how it would most likely play out. I guess that's another aspect of her being a performer, too: I want her to wear multiple faces as both her own character and a subversion of the sort of fanfics that I've spent so much time reading.

Please feel free to send more asks if you want to know more about her, the fic, or how I write the Akatsuki in it! I'm hoping this is a good start to answering your question and helping you understand where I'm coming from.

[irresistiibles]

was that avan jogia? oh no no, that was just fizzarolli, a canon character from helluva boss. they are twenty eight years old, use he/they, and are aware that they are not actually from washington dc. too bad they can’t stray from this city for long.

how long has your character been here

three months.

what is your character’s job

they work as a popular host and a bar/club. basically i figure it's a place that does live performances and fizzarolli introduces the performers, chats with the guests in between acts, and is just generally a bit of a performer.

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom

pre season 2 episode 6 so he doesn't remember reconciling with blitz, having his giving mammon the finger, or having his relationship go public

has any magic affected your character

he's human now but that's it

more info:

we're back with the same universe as hazbin hotel except this time we're got fizzarolli is an imp, so he is a hellborn demon rather than a human who died and went to hell

as a result he typically is in a different ring of hell than anyone from like hazbin hotel

grew up as a circus performer along with his best friend at the time blitz.

fire and serious injury tw: this all went to shit when a giant fire broke out in the circus tents, detonating fireworks right near fizzarolli. he was permanently injured from the event with all four of his limbs being prosthetics as well as having some pretty serious burn marks on his face and body

it's something they almost always cover up with makeup. fizz is a good performer and uses that to hide behind

though he also does love performing. he got caught up under a boss that absolutely sucks, but he does love being a clown

that being said i'd qualify fizz as more of a jester than a clown at this point in his life, the difference being he gets his laughs by making fun of the people in the audience rather than having them laugh at him

despite the fire and injury fizzarolli went on the become a pretty huge name back home working for two of the seven deadly sins

definitely possible for people from hazbin to semi recognize him if desired considered there's a whole line of robots known as fizzbots sold in hell in the universe and valentino owns one i definitely think other characters from the pride ring could potentially have heard of him as well

he has been extremely confused since getting to washington but it hiding it and settling fairly well. they're good at being resourceful in confusing shitty situations so fizz got himself settled pretty quickly though mentally he has definitely lowkey been panicking

personality wise this is a whole clown like for real! a performer! very dramatic, loud, crude, silly, always going. a lot to handle, but relatively charismatic about it. fizz can read a crowd, knows when to pull back and when to give more, though he does better on stage than one on one conversations to be honest

they can actually be a little timid when confronted. it's something he's slightly grown out of, but here in the city feeling alone and confused it will definitely come out more

knows sign language

plots:

any regulars where he works, either as performers or just like patrons

drinking/bar friends are always a plus

any other performers would also just be fun

restaurant buddies. fizz is not a foodie, but they can't cook for shit, will absolutely burn anything, so he eats out of uber eats everything. give him someone to try resturants with even though they'll wind up wanting to go to a cheap burger joint every single time

probably has adopted several dogs from an animal shelter, so could know someone through that or just regulars at the dog park

roller skating buddies

someone helping them get used to washington while putting up with the fact that fizzarolli constantly refuses to act like washington confuses them (though potentially someone he lets his guard down with a little here for the sake of having a guide)

maybe people he doesn't get along with as well, mostly likely fellow performers he's had to go against for gigs

[eponymous-rose]

A Critical Role Campaign 2 Mechanics Primer

Got a request from a new Critical Role viewer for some clarification re: rules and characters, and dang, yes, there’s so much stuff to deal with as a new viewer at the moment. So here’s an attempt at clarifying some stuff!

How does D&D work?

Fundamentally, one person (the DM) sets the scene and the players riff off that scene by acting out what their characters would do in response. Whenever a player’s actions would lead to an uncertain result, the DM can call for them to roll a die and try to hit a predetermined target number to see if they succeed. The players’ individual characters have abilities that boost certain categories of rolls and penalize others; a very strong character is more likely than a scrawny one to be able to open a jammed door, but they could still have an unlucky roll. It’s the DM’s job to incorporate the sometimes-absurd results of those die rolls into a coherent story.

Combat is the most “gamey” D&D gets, where everyone has a turn set aside to act (with an order determined by the “initiative” roll that starts combat). This is where character classes come in handy: magic-users cast spells, fighters jump in with their weapons of choice, and so forth. Each character has a set of hit points, and once those reach zero, the character is unconscious and possibly dying. But combat ain’t just hack-and-slash: there can be conversation, strategy, manipulation, collaboration, and all sorts of weird subtleties going on. Fundamentally, players’ actions are limited only by their imaginations.

It can be super weird getting into a D&D show even if you have played a bit because everyone plays the game a bit differently. Critical Role’s gameplay leans hard into roleplaying and character beats (there are episodes with basically no dice rolls) but also leans hard enough into the rules that a random bad or good roll can completely derail the story; rolls aren’t fudged or handwaved for the sake of a predetermined narrative, which means nobody playing (including the DM) knows how things are going to end up. This makes for a viewing experience that is a cross between dramedy improv and live sports; the cast plays out long scenes of conversation, but their characters could also permanently die at any time, adding to the high stakes. It’s also totally unedited, which accounts for the absurdly long runtime. 

If any of that isn’t for you, there are a lot of great D&D podcasts out there (often labeled “actual play”) that run the gamut from silly with minimal rules to mechanically involved but edited down. It’s a cool time to get into D&D!

Okay, so how exactly do these characters do their thing?

One of the more confusing aspects for new viewers of the second campaign of Critical Role is that they’re using a fair amount of content that’s not in the baseline ruleset - some character races and classes are coming from expansion content, and some are from Matt Mercer (the DM’s) homebrew. Here’s a quick summary of what each character has going on at the start of the campaign, moving from left to right in the first episode’s seating arrangement.

Fjord (played by Travis Willingham)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Travis is the big guy who looks like he could throw a football real far. If you’re listening to the podcast, his character voice has a Texas twang.

Fjord is a half-orc warlock. A half-orc typically has green skin and tusks but otherwise looks fairly close to a garden-variety human. Warlocks are magic-users who gained their abilities from a bargain with a mysterious (generally somewhat malevolent) being of great power. Mechanically, they rely a lot on what are called cantrips (spells that can be cast an unlimited number of times a day) since the number of more powerful spells at their disposal is very limited. However, unlike most other casters that have to get a full night’s sleep to regain their stronger spells, warlocks just have to rest for an hour or so and they’re good to go. More specifically, Fjord is a hexblade warlock. Hexblades are warlocks who have a particularly strong bond with their weapon of choice and can summon it from nothing.

Beauregard (played by Marisha Ray)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Marisha is the woman who often perches on her chair like she’s about to take flight. If you’re listening to the podcast, her character voice is a bit gruff with a sarcastic drawl.

Beau is a human monk. Both humans in this campaign use a variant version of human that allows them to pick a feat at the start of the campaign: Beau has some extra expertise in investigative and athletic abilities. Monks are preternaturally powerful martial artists; what some classes do with magic, they do with unarmed combat. Mechanically, they rely on an ability called ki points, which are a stockpile of points that can be used for extra-powerful abilities such as being able to hit extra times on an attack or being able to stun an enemy. More specifically, Beau is a Way of the Cobalt Soul monk, which is a homebrew from Matt and means she’s essentially a warrior-monk-librarian whose key abilities center around rooting out useful information.

Caleb (played by Liam O’Brien)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Liam is the guy who perpetually looks like he’s about to launch into a Shakespearean monologue. If you’re listening to the podcast, his character voice is soft with a German accent.

Caleb is a human wizard. His variant human feat gives him an eidetic memory and the ability to always know what time it is. Wizards are magic-users who got to where they are with careful study; Caleb has to keep track of his spells by transcribing them into a spellbook. He also has a familiar in the form of the cat Frumpkin, although Frumpkin can also change forms. Mechanically, wizards can pick up spells from a lot of different sources to learn them, but again, the cost in time and materials of transcribing them into a spellbook can be substantial. More specifically, Caleb is a transmutation wizard, which means his wizardry focuses around the act of transforming one thing into another.

Nott (played by Sam Riegel)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Sam is the guy with an alarmingly big smile and a comically oversized flask. If you’re listening to the podcast, his character voice is high-pitched with varying levels of Cockney accent.

Nott is a goblin rogue. Goblins are small and quick, and may or may not be well-received depending on the location. Rogues are sneaky individuals who do best when striking from the shadows or scouting ahead to investigate potential traps and unlock doors. Mechanically, they get a huge bonus in combat if they attack when unseen or when an opponent is distracted by an ally. They’re also very good at avoiding attacks and at hiding from view. More specifically, Nott is an arcane trickster rogue, which means she also dabbles in magic related to illusions and enchantment.

Jester (played by Laura Bailey)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Laura is the one who may or may not be instigating every round of giggles at accidental innuendo. If you’re listening to the podcast, her character voice is bubbly with an Eastern European accent.

Jester is a tiefling cleric. Tieflings essentially look like brightly-colored humans (Jester has blue skin) with horns and a tail; they’re the result of infernal ancestry and also may or may not be well-received. Clerics are magic-users who derive their power from the blessing of a deity or other extremely powerful entity. Jester’s divine patron is the Traveler, a mysterious trickster with an affinity for phallic graffiti. Mechanically, clerics have a massive stable of spells from which they can choose a subset every morning; their abilities range from healing wounds to causing devastating harm. More specifically, Jester is a trickery domain cleric, which means her spells have a strong focus on illusions and pranks.

Mollymauk (played by Taliesin Jaffe)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Taliesin is the one who looks like he may be some sort of ancient fey creature who’s come to our realm to play D&D. If you’re listening to the podcast, his character voice has an Irish accent of varying intensity.

Molly is a tiefling blood hunter with purple skin. Blood hunters are a custom class Matt created that can use their own blood (in a process called hemocraft) to augment their combat abilities. Mechanically, blood hunters are high-risk high-reward; they can perform devastatingly brutal attacks, but often only at the cost of shedding some of their own blood to do so. More specifically, Molly is an Order of the Ghostslayer blood hunter, which means he’s got an affinity for things relating to the moment of death.

Yasha (played by Ashley Johnson)

If you’re watching the show in video form, Ashley is the one who isn’t around for a little bit (she was splitting her time with a TV show on the opposite coast) and then SHE’S BACK AND I’M STILL SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. If you’re listening to the podcast, her character voice is soft with a faint Scandinavian accent.

Yasha is an aasimar barbarian. Aasimar are the semi-divine counterpart to tieflings, although Yasha is a fallen aasimar with a fairly different aesthetic. Barbarians use their rage to enhance their already fierce battle prowess. Mechanically, barbarians in a rage take less damage and deal more damage, and also embrace a high-risk high-reward playstyle as tanks in the middle of the fray. More specifically, Yasha is a Path of the Zealot barbarian, which means her battle rages are fueled by the influence of a divine being.

Interested in watching from the start of campaign 2? The show has a YouTube channel with each episode posted in its entirety, and all episodes are also available in podcast form (they did jump channels partway through, but you can usually find a playlist that has them all). If you want to delve into campaign 1, I highly recommend it, but be aware that they’re still figuring out tech stuff and you’re also jumping in partway through the game they started years earlier at home. Campaign 2 starts 20 years after campaign 1 on a different continent of the same world, and is intended to be an appropriate jumping-on point for new viewers.

Interested in catching up faster so you can watch live with friends? Search Critical Recap for a series of recap videos on YouTube, which then becomes a series of written summaries on the CritRole website after episode 88. There are also great summaries on the Wiki, and many people have put together catch-up guides for new viewers. 

There’s A LOT of content out there. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for skimming the early stuff if you want to get in on the new episodes sooner. <3

Episodes air at 7 PM Pacific every Thursday on Critical Role’s Twitch and YouTube channels; the VOD goes up for free on YouTube the Monday after. In the last few months, the cast has been distanced at the studio (all on separate cameras) and episodes have been pre-recorded several weeks in advance; normally, the show is streamed live and everyone is around the same table.

Hope that helps! If you have any questions, let me know. This is a fun show to get into, and a great all-consuming massive body of entertainment if you have the time for it.

[elizabethemerald]

Spring in Nicodranas

Jester leaned over the prow of the ship as the Nein Heroes slowly pulled into port. A bright smile was permanently pulling at her lips. Nicodranas in the spring was always a welcome sight to behold. With one hand still holding a line while the wind whipped her skirts around her ankles, she wove her hand through the air, pink sigils hanging in the air for the sending spell. 

“Hey Caleb! It’s Jester, Fjord and I are back in Nicodranas for a few days. Could you pick up the others so we can watch momma sing?”

She felt like maybe she had gotten cut off there at some point but she wasn’t worried. Caleb knew what she meant. Sure enough only a few seconds later Caleb replied, a slight laugh in his voice. 

“Ja, Jester, We will meet you at the Chateau. Could you message Beauregard to ensure she’s home and decent? I don’t want to interrupt anything.”

Jester nods to herself as she preps another sending spell. One of the biggest problems of being able to teleport directly into the living rooms of the their friends is it sometimes had fun consequences. Well Caleb would probably consider it awkward at least. 

“Hi Beau! Caleb is coming by to pick you up, are you home? Are you naked? Oh! Are you and Yasha having super hot sex?”

“Hey Jessie, thanks for the warning. We’ll be dressed when Caleb gets here. Looking forward to seeing you again. Tell Fjord we’re working out tomorrow.”

She cackles to herself a little, Fjord is going to be so upset to have to work out again. He enjoyed their time at sea because he didn’t have do Beau’s super difficult work out routine. She had one last message to send, as her fingers danced through the air. 

“Heya Veth!! We’re meeting at the Chateau today, momma is singing. Bring Yeza and Luc and we’ll all have fun together. Oh my gosh, I saw the craziest seagull yesterday!”

“Sure thing Jester. We wouldn’t miss it. I have to pick up Luc from daycare and we’ll be there. Also you got cut off there.”

Jester smiled to herself and was about to send another message when she realized the Nine Heroes was moving alongside the dock. She jumped to get her hands on the ropes. Getting a ship this large properly docked took a lot of work and needed all hands. Including hers. 

When the ship was finally tied off and Orly had started to unload the cargo. Fjord pulled Jester aside, gently wiping her bangs out of her face. She was surprised to see he was wearing his fanciest captain’s outfit.

“Ah, Fjord! Look at you! Why are you dressing all fancy? We’re home, we can relax!”

“Well your mother is performing tonight. I feel silly showing up looking like a mess.” He said smoothly. 

“Ooh, should I dress up too? We can make it a fancy date night!” 

“That sounds like a great idea, you go get dressed, I’ll finish up here.” Fjord said. 

Jester dashed off to their cabin. She only rarely got a chance to wear her fanciest dresses, so it would be nice to get super dressed up. It took her a few minutes to find which dress she wanted to wear and to make herself as dolled up as possible. 

Soon enough she and Fjord were walking through the evening air of Nicodranas arm in arm. She had a wide smile on her face as they walked. 

Waiting outside the doors of the Chateau were the rest of the Mighty Nein. Jester was surprised that they were all dressed just as fancy as her and Fjord. Caleb was wearing his Xhorhasian jacket and a suit. Yasha was wearing her crushed velvet black dress. Beau of course looked as stunning as her fists in her gray suit. Essek and Caduceus had also dressed for the occasion and to her surprise, Kingsley was there! He had his own ship now and she rarely saw him. 

When the group stepped through the door they found Veth, Yeza and Luc sitting around a table. Jester cheered and hugged her friend, chattering happily with the Nein as they all settled down at the table. Food was ordered, drinks filled, and they all seemed ready for the performance to start. 

Jester looked around, normally her momma’s performances completely filled the seats, but now there were only a few people sitting around. As she looked around closer there were other things that seemed off to her. Why were all of the Nein dressed in their fanciest? Fjord was sweating, why was he so nervous? Some of the conversation seemed stilted, like the others were waiting for something. Even Sprinkle was acting differently, relaxing on the table top, watching her and Fjord. 

She was just about to ask about the strangeness when the music started up for her momma’s performance. Whatever was going on would have to wait until after. The other guests seemed to fade away as Marion stepped down the stairs, her voice already carrying through the air. 

Marion’s performance was breath taking as it ever was. She sang a new song, about a sailor and a princess and the adventures they got up to as they fell in love. Jester sighed dreamily, as the song ramped up to a crescendo. Then just as the sailor was going to propose to the princess, Marion stopped singing, her arm outstretched towards the table the Nein sat at. 

Jester looked around in confusion. The people in the crowd had all disappeared. And Caleb’s programmed illusion had changed to show scenes of the Mighty Nein in amber. Meeting up for the first time, saving each other, fighting side by side. Scene after scene of their adventures drifted through the air around her. Sprinkle sat and stared at her with twinkling eyes, a small barely visible green cloak wrapped around his shoulders. 

Fjord stood up, straightened his jacket, then knelt down in front of her. 

Her hands flew to face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. 

“Jester Lavorre. I have loved you for so long. Would you do me the honor of making me the happiest man on land or sea. WIll you marry me?”

Jester gasped, tears sparkling in her eyes as she nodded as fast as she could. When Fjord stood up to put the ring that had been in the box on her finger, she wrapped her arms around his middle, lifting him up off his feet and spinning him around. She realized she was laughing and her smile was so wide her face was starting to hurt. She finally set him back down and let him slide the ring onto her finger. 

The rest of the Mighty Nein immediately started clapping and cheering. The illusion around them changed to miniature fireworks. A few actual fire works may have gone off thanks to Beau. Jester kissed Fjord, holding him tight as around her, her family cheered. Soon the kiss evolved into a group hug as one by one the rest of the Nein piled around them clapping their backs. 

Drinks were called for as they once again took their seats, Marion moving to join beside her daughter. Jester held Fjord’s hand for the rest of the night. Her heart felt full to the bursting. Love for Fjord. His love for her. Their love for their strange family. The love of the Mighty Nein for the two of them. Marion raised a toast to the pair. 

“To the future stories you two will share. May you find yourself surrounded by this love at the end of each adventure.”

[somniaxperdita]

"That's.... a good question ta ask, actually."

It isn't that Liv thoughts clowns or jesters were silly. Why she would of never questioned Pomni's choice of avatar because she truthfully wouldn't want to judge anyone by their appearance in such a 'stuck' state of living right now. Additionally it seemed nobody questioned why they were the way they are right now. At least not out loud for other teammates to hear.

Clearing her throat, the canine gives a little grumble. "Some people like clowns. N-Not ta say that clowns an' jesters are the same 'cause they're kinda not. Jesters are slightly less slapstick an' have titles that might exceed that of a clown in history. Many performed for kings, ya know."

Liv hopes Pomni doesn't ask about why she knew this difference. She knows it's not common knowledge but something is telling her that it's a fact. Maybe it's a connected to whatever her life was before getting trapped in this circus ring of family friendly fun.

"I think I'd rather be a jester than a clown should the choice ever come about when it comes ta their titles. For fashion? All jester. Ya don't hafta look like a poofy lemon cake or somethin' like I do."

There's disappoint for Liv in what Pomni says about the lack of freedom in this place. Something that Liv thought might've been a trick or something Caine had kept to himself upon her arrival. The guy sure seemed to hold a lot of secrets for someone so loud.

Liv held the same silent sentiment about her own wardrobe. Stuck in a rich, bright yellow dress, it didn't matter if she tried to tear the fabric off as the puffy sleeves were annoying, all they did was reappear as if nothing had happened. Forget about the white gloves, as they would find their way back on her 'paws' after she tried to slide them off. It was a strange hell to live in for the blue eyed canine.

"I was hopin' you wouldn't say that, Pomni." The truth is better than blind optimism, no matter how much Liv wanted to remain hopeful things could change for the better in this place somehow. She sighs, sounding defeated, but then gives Pomni a small impish smile, sharp teeth showing.

"'Cause now I gotta figure out how ta break that choice for us." The act of rebellion is already itching inside of her. How she would do it? Liv isn't too sure about it but she would try something. "This is a video game, right? I remember that much when I put on that head set. That means this place is nothin' but code... an' codes can be solved if ya know where ta look."

Ohliv? Well, it was at least closer to being a real name. Less like a random word plucked from some language Pomni couldn’t speak. Ohliv, like Olive? Olivia? Olivine? At least she could make her own nickname out of it, didn’t have to wait around for Jax to assign her some derogatory term of endearment.

Pomni blinks, almost one eye at a time.

“Why would anyone choose to be a jester?” Only one step down from clowns, hands-down the creepiest profession ever created by washed-up former theatre kids who hadn’t been able to land a supporting role in local community production The Taming of the Shrew. Jester, also known as the fool, jingling miserably wherever she went.

“Believe me, I’ve tried taking it off. I can’t.” It was like neverending layers of ruffles and puffs and eyestrain-inducing colors. One hat comes off, another’s hiding right under it. Maybe it was a glitch, maybe it was Caine’s attempt to keep their avatars “family friendly,” maybe it was a special brand of torture just for her. “We don’t exactly have a lot of choices in this place. Things are just kind of decided for us.”