Fourth Strike - [Action | Experiment]

[not_klonoa]

[Anyone outside or around the bar will see a very unusual sight indeed. Presea is very much without her large and trusty axe and has entered Good Spirits with an air of determination about her, even if her face is the same emotional void it always it. As she looks around inside Good Spirits, she pushes a few tables together in one corner, where the

Comments

[lezareno_prez]

[Another passerby spotting Presea and... well, he had hoped they could find some way to cheer her up, but this is not quite what he had in mind.]

[not_klonoa]

[Presea obviously doesn't recognize anyone, and will just continue with her godawful comedy act. Please, someone stop her. It's almost painful.]

[lezareno_prez]

[His first thought is that this is some sort of experiment-- it's the only explanation. His second thought is the realization of just how painful this is.]

Are you feeling all right?

[not_klonoa]

[Presea stops her happy little pacing and drops the spoon from her mouth, staring at Regal dimly.]

Fine...want to make people laugh. ...Felt right. Now, excuse me. In the middle of my routine... Would you like to hear a joke?

[If you value you health, say no.]

[lezareno_prez]

I appreciate the offer, but I think it might be a better idea for you to find a test audience to practice on before you decide to take the next step towards becoming a professional. Perhaps some of the local wildlife would be interested in evaluating your routine.

[... okay, so that's kind of cruel and unusual punishment for the animals, but shh. Hopefully they don't know much about human senses of humor.]

[not_klonoa]

[Those poor animals might bleed out their ears and die, Regal. That is...if Kratos hasn't already taken most of them in for his Petting Zoo. Presea blinks slowly, and mulls over his suggestion.]

...Everyone's a critic.

[But she hops down from her little stage and pockets the spoon. Don't question her, Regal, that is her treasured microphone now. Looking up at the big man, she has to wonder.]

...Change? [Any change in your daily life? Sudden urge to be a cabaret singer? Join the Russian ballet? Hairstylist?]

[lezareno_prez]

[He understands what she is getting at, and shakes his head, amused.]

Nothing yet, though I suspect it will happen within the next few days. I have yet to have good enough luck to escape one of these experiments since I arrived here.

[not_klonoa]

Experiments?

[You guessed it! Presea knows very little about Luceti, seeing as how she was taken almost directly from the blizzard by Kratos, and didn't get to look at the guides at all yet. So she shows a general interest, and perhaps confusion, in her sudden change from axeman and woodcutter to stand-up comedian.]

[lezareno_prez]

[He nods.]

Once a month the Malnosso inflict some sort of experiment on the population of Luceti. It can be anything from making us younger to affecting the weather or the environment around us, and they last anywhere from a few days to a week. This particular experiment seems to have given people an uncontrollable desire for a new calling in life, something they would never have chosen otherwise.

[not_klonoa]

[Presea listens intently, blinking and making sure to keep this information for future reference. She knew about the Malnosso, but not about things like this. It did explain her sudden urge to be a comedian, though.]

...Understood. Thank you.

[Her lips form a thin line, perhaps the only indication of her irritation at this. It's only fleeting however, before the girl hops back onto the little stage she made, then swishes her feet. Nope, the urge to tell extremely bad jokes was much too strong for her. Sorry, Regal, you're going to have to force her to go home.]

[lezareno_prez]

I'm not certain this audience is ready for your wit just yet. It might be wise for you to practice first-- fine-tune your jokes, so to speak.

You saw nothing.

[not_klonoa]

[Well, considering one of her earlier victims> audience members ran away in terror of her jokes, Presea may just have to take his advice. Her blanks stare, however, equates to the worst darn scowl ever, Regal. Or perhaps a pout. WHY YOU GOTTA CRUSH HER DREAMS, MAN?]

...All right. I will practice. Get better... [She lazily twirls the spoon a little and closes her eyes, thinking.] ...Suggestions?

No worries, I am known for my HTML fail

[lezareno_prez]

Suggestions?

[Oh man. Regal may be somewhat of a troll at times, but telling jokes is not one of his strong suits. He's more the sort of guy to poke a little playful fun at someone, not come out and actually tell a joke. Time to think quickly!]

... perhaps you could try asking around the village to see if anyone knows of any jokes you could use.

[Just please oh please oh please don't ask someone like Zelos.]

I am the queen of fail. :|b

[not_klonoa]

[Knowing Luceti, Presea may just seek out Zelos for this reason. Good thing she doesn't know he's here, though. Presea listens to his words, nods her acknowledgment, then jumps off the little stage for the final time, turning towards the exit to leave.]

I will do that. Thank you...

I am the queen of late

[lezareno_prez]

You're more than welcome.

[What else can he say at this point? Seeing her like this is painful for him, even though he knows she feels nothing.]