Coriel accompanied Redansia through the large settlement of Eastchapel, in search of the Magician, Graham, and the Dancer, Meline.
These two had grown close in recent times, according to Caramine, certainly and especially due to the death of the former Clown of the Redansia Troupe, Heathrow.
Caramine often suggested that Graham go on the supply runs for the troupe, but it wasn't bullying that she was engaging in, it was some adverse kindness. She knew that Meline would accompany him. This was her way of influencing them, so that they might have time alone.
To her, this was her way of spreading joy, when she felt so downtrodden about informing others of their terrible fates. She could at least make the present of some people enjoyable.
And so, before the performance was to happen, Redansia went to find them, taking Coriel along with him. This wasn't just to introduce her to her fellow performers, but to also give him time to explain her role as a Clown in the troupe. It was, as he put it, one of the most important roles in their performances.
"When Heathrow performed in our troupe, he had a variety of different acts. If I were to boil it down to a single trait, a Clown would be the sort of performer who encapsulates most other performances. The Jester, the Dancer, the Bard, and even the Magician have traits that the Clown uses to their advantage. The ultimate goal is entertainment, that is true for the troupe, but for the Clown most of all, this entertainment is wrought from laughter and smiles. They are often making themselves a joke, or using coordination and balance to perform physical tricks."
"So, I should perform tricks? I can certainly do something coordinated, and my balance is somewhat fair…"
Redansia held up an oil lamp as they stepped through a dark alleyway plastered in fresh mud. A mouse scurried by, ducking into a pile of timber, squeaking as it saw the two approaching. Wooden boxes were stacked on top of each other in large piles, curtains of sullen sheets stretched across. Redansia lifted his hand to part one of these curtains, beckoning Coriel to pass him by.
"It's not really a matter of 'tricks', anyone can do tricks. It's more like… you're creating a perception of yourself. All aspects of a Clown work towards this goal, the makeup, the outfit, this is the 'demeanor' of a clown. The 'tricks' are a way to show off a Clown's exaggerated movements, the odd way that they act, but also to impress the audience at the same time. This anticipation of what you will do with your oddness is built up, and then the Clown's joke, their humour is performed, and it lands so much better because of that anticipation."
Coriel bowed her head as she walked past the towering figure.
"How can I accomplish this?" She questioned. "Perhaps I can perform tricks, but to do them oddly… how does one act 'odd'?"
"A Clown may look silly, but it is deliberate and calculated. Acting 'odd' is as simple as acting 'abnormal'. While it may sound like I have just said the same thing twice, once you consider it, it becomes very simple. What is 'normal' when applied to a person? If a person spoke with a lisp, you would notice it immediately. It is not wrong, but it is abnormal. It is just a deviation from the standard by which most people operate. The way a Clown would walk, would perhaps be with great strides, or jubilantly. Perhaps a Clown would skip at times, isn't that as joyous as one who spreads happiness should be? Why don't you try it now?"
"That would be a bit silly…" Coriel's words trailed off as she came to a realisation.
Ah… it would be 'silly'…
She raised her foot slowly, and in her next stride, she skipped a step. She bounded into the mud past her. However, her balance was not up to par. She slipped in the mud, and with all of her strength, fought desperately to keep upright, swinging her hands forwards in an attempt to gain purchase.
Coriel instinctively fell backwards, placing her hand into the mud below as she used her momentum to flip herself, landing onto her own two feet.
When she had finally stood up straight, she let out a satisfied sigh, raising her hands in the air. Watching this, Redansia covered his hand with his mouth, letting out a soft chuckle.
"That was perfect. Whether it was by accident or intentional, this was exactly how a Clown should act. You exhibited your oddity, engaged in a trick, and performed your humour. It was hilarious!"
Coriel glanced back at Redansia, her cheeks a bright-red hue. She certainly didn't mean to do that at all! Was this really how a Clown should be? Should she feel embarassed in her performance.
It was then that she recalled what Redansia had first said to her.
A Clown would often make themselves the subject of the joke.
And she had done exactly that.
The two exited the town shortly after, reaching its edge, where an expansive hillside stretched into the horizon, shrouded in a blanket of glowing white flowers. They captured the light of the cavern's crystals, and as night came, they became a field of starlight as far as Coriel could see.
Redansia had donned a scarlet coat that stretched down to his ankles, expecting the chill of the air, which wavered in the evening breeze.
"This isn't the only method you can use to act as a Clown. Most times, you will have free reign of the stage. Even if someone else is performing on it, you can enter the stage and try and make the audience laugh."
"How can I do that? Won't it interrupt their performance if I do so?"
"The most popular form of something like this is mimicry. You will enter the stage behind them and exaggeratively copy their performance. The audience will see this, and it is often seen as a form of comedy, so they will laugh in response. As for whether or not it interrupts the performance, it isn't too big a deal. Most of your fellow troupe members will expect this, but if there's one performance you really don't want to mimic, it would be Meline's."
"The Dancer?"
Redansia nodded his head. "Meline bases her performance off of being able to entrance the audience with her movements, that's why she's our most popular performer. Meline may not mind it if you enter the stage to mimic her, she might even think it funny. But sometimes, this will have an adverse effect on the audience. Breaking that 'trance' of her performance through your 'comedy' will draw their ire instead, because it is the same as that 'anticipation' you build. You will have to measure things like this as a Clown."
Laughter and smiles are the goal of a Clown… and these can be achieved through humour, through exaggeration, through making a joke of my comrades and of myself. In the end, as long as it accomplishes entertainment, anything is fair game.
I've been a soldier, I know the jokes of men, of the men in my squadron who knew humour at others expense… is this what people seek? I can replicate that…
"Well, take my words only as an introduction. Clowning is an Art, this is what Heathrow would say. It is free-form, and is subject to your tastes and how you choose to carry it out. Most of all, we wish to entertain, but also have fun. Don't worry too much when you perform, it isn't some grand thing we're doing."
As they continued into the field, Coriel caught sight of a shadow ignited in aqueous light, waving like the grass in the evening breeze.
For once, although she had somehow never thought much about it, she wished that the moon would ascend from the horizon and cast its glow over the shadow. Her heart ached as she watched the silhouette in the distance, and her breathing ceased.
She watched as the silhouette twirled, raising its hands into the air, before fluttering them outwards like the wings of a bird.
Another figure joined her, extending a hand as he beckoned her grasp. She embraced him, and the two began to spin amidst the waving flowers. Laughter echoed through the field as the man fell once more to the ground, watching as the shadow continued her dance.
Then, beckoned by the silence of the wind, she stopped dancing, and facing Redansia and Coriel in the distance, bowed her head gracefully, extending her arm outwards, a performer's gratitude.
This is... the Dancer of the Troupe...
She's...
Tears began to stream down her cheeks, collecting at the edge of her jaw. She shut them only for a moment, rubbing her wrist against her eyelids as she tried to clear away the haze, just so she could take one more look.
She could not comprehend it, could not understand... just how beautiful this shadow was.