AceHigh
(2m39s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty lets the music fade as the air clears and glances up - a single being carrying a viola, not a fractured duality. She offers a dangerous smile, though her eyes warm easily.
(2m23s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty says, quietly, “There are chords in the letters Sessine draws in mid-air. There's a harmony in each piece of scrap metal. I can hear a dirge in the echoes of an EMP blast.”
(2m11s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty says, “And in you, my dear..” She gently grips Snickerer's shoulder. “There is nothing that Mundanity can conquer long. I hear a sonata in you.”
(0s) <SPOON> Count Sessine quietly pours Snickerer, and himself, a cup of Red Rose tea. “Only on the Island, you say? Pity.” He clears his throat, and falls silent.
(1m29s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer is speechless for a moment, then bows head, smiling weary but true, and takes Zolotisty's hand. “Thank you.”
(2m45s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer takes a sip of the tea and nods to both the other Jokers. “I'll have to leave some things. Would be nice if you can help make sure they get to the proper recipients.” A pause, a sharp whistle.
(23s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer beckons to the Contraption as it clanks out of the Jungle in response. “Help them, will you? And keep an eye out for Max Dougwell, he may need it, I worry.” It chimes in agreement.
(4m31s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer takes a deep breath, then starts putting down buckets of Awesome points, each with a label. Hermein, Hairy Mary, Obsidian Cain, Skidge.. the list goes on and on.
(2m) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty gingerly steps across a teeming bucket to acquire a cup of tea. Cradling the cup in one hand, she observes the growing army of Awesome with some mild trepidation.
(49s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer snaps fingers, remembering, and pulls out a fine ivory die. “Make sure this gets back to Obsidian Cain? I expect he'll be wanting it soon.” Next comes a faintly luminous blue crystal.
(24s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer smiles faintly. “This, I shall leave to Skidge. It's not made for where I'll be going, and I expect she'll find a map and anchor helpful.” A pause.
(30s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer murmurs, “I'd meant for farewells to so many others. Theo, Bodoni, Rombo, Cheftec, PP.. oh, so many more, but I haven't the time.” A sigh. “So it'll have to be, then, I suppose.”
(12s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer turns back to the other two Jokers with a faint smile. A bow to Sessine. “You know what I leave to you, my friend.” A turn to Zolotisty, and the smile quirks up. “I've something for you now.”
(46s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty tips her head. “Oh, aye?”
(0s) <SPOON> Count Sessine watches silently. The sadness is not gone, but it is joined by.. something else.
(56s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer smiles. “Somethings, I should say. The first.” A twist of will, more difficult than usual, but nevertheless the Glass Armonica of the Aether manifests and is proffered.
(24s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer explains, “It seems best left in your care. The second.” Zolotisty's hand is caught. A deep breath, concentration, and a shape at one complex and simple traced. It gleams for a moment.
(1m30s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer sighs, then smiles softly. “Sigil of the Dragonfly. My sign. It goes far deeper than Jokerhood. Wherever I be, whatever I be, with that.. you can reach me, at need.”
(15s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty remains very still, gaze locked on the image that's just been fixed on the back of her hand.
(15s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty inhales shakily and meets Snickerer's gaze. Her vision wavers with heat, and she blinks, nodding. “Thank you.”
(1m27s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty sets aside her cup of tea. It hangs obediently in mid-air, and Zolotisty glances over the assembled buckets, at the Contraption, the Armonica, all of the little things.
(1m2s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty so often has words, but she's at a loss.
(57s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer gives a small smile. “And now the final.” Hands go to shoulders, and the laughter-colored cape is removed for the first time since its owner attained Joker status, neatly furled, and presented.
(22s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty stiffens. Alarm eclipses across her face as the finality of all of this really settles in. She stares at the cape, helpless. “But that's..” ..yours, she wants to say. She loses her words.
(18s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty nods weakly and accepts the cape. Tears course freely down her face. “I expect.. that I'll only be taking care of this. In your absence,” she manages after a moment.
(2s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer smiles softly. “It's entrusted-” a sudden shudder interrupts the sentence. A glance upward, a frown. The last of Joker signs are fading. A whisper. “Time to go. But - ah!” A wince.
(3m8s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty tenses again as a wind kicks through the Outpost. She throws a worried glance to Sessine - there's a wild impulse at the back of her conscious that insists something can be done.
(2m39s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty knows better. This game has already been played to its end.
(1m30s) Contestant The Wanderer stands quiet and still as the wind snatches his hat from his head. It whirls away.
(1m9s) Contestant The Wanderer watches it go. … He'll be able to find it later. It's more important to watch this, now.
(36s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer breathes hard, clenching a fist, trying to ward off the motes of light that are beginning to swirl around. “I know it's much to ask still more of you, but.. if I may ask a favor..”
(0s) <SPOON> Count Sessine reaches out and takes Zolotisty's hand. Touch is comfort.
(1m59s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty nods immediately, tightening her grip on Sessine's hand. Time is of the essence. “Of course. Whatever you will - name it.”
(1m3s) <SPOON> Count Sessine knows the request is for Zolotisty, but all the same, he breathes, “Anything.”
(5s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer quirks a rueful smile, plucking the clan badge from sleeve. “DICE. It will need someone to look after it, and.. should really stay in proper Joker hands. There are too few of us still..”
(1m4s) <SPOON> The Soloist Zolotisty reaches out with her free hand, clasping it with Snickerer's. She takes the badge, and in so doing, grips the other Joker's hand nearly as tight as she has Sessine's.
(6s) <SPOON> Count Sessine grips her hand tighter.
(3m14s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer smiles, bowing head. “Thank you.” A last glance up - perhaps skyward, perhaps at the cameras - and a murmur of, “I'll remember,” then a last look back at them, a wave, and a smile.
(41s) <DICE> Phantom Snickerer murmurs, “Farewell,” and then is obscured completely by wavering air and dancing lights. The motes part and swirl skyward on the wind, leaving nothing in the space they surrounded.
(36s) <DICE> The Soloist Zolotisty stares for a long moment into empty air, ill. Glancing off toward the Clan Halls, toward the <SPOON> Hall especially, she lets out a soft, choked sound and sinks to her knees.
(4m44s) <SPOON> Count Sessine embraces her gently. “You could not do otherwise. It is the next stage. I promise, you will not be alone.”
(42s) <DICE> The Soloist Zolotisty leans against him, silent. Which stage, she wants to ask – right now, all she can see is loss. These are the sorts of Events that drive a Joker to rickety gondolas in the Jungle.
(3m51s) <SPOON> Count Sessine whispers in her ear. It sounds rather like, “…Right Estimable Company of Players.”
(16s) <DICE> The Soloist Zolotisty allows herself a ghost of a smile, then pulls away slowly. “Thank you for the tea,” she says, straightening. It's useless, meant only to fill the air.. but it's an attempt at normalcy.
(4m9s) <DICE> The Soloist Zolotisty glances toward a conspicuously empty spot and shivers. She glances at Sessine. “I'm going to find a safe place for some of this.” She gestures at the gifts. “I'll see you, I'm certain.”
(3m24s) <DICE> The Soloist Zolotisty disappears with nowhere near her usual lustre.
(1m25s) <SPOON> Count Sessine does not smile. He touches her chin with one finger, and lifts it gently. “We can do this. We can make it work. It will be all right.”
(0s) <SPOON> Count Sessine blinks at the slight time distortion. Well, that was only to be expected… Then he, too, disappears.