Up jumped The Scarecrow

{ASK/RP BLOG} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- {MOD AUTHOR – Adam V.} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- {MUSE – Yossarian} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- {I HAVE NO OWNERSHIP OVER ANY IMAGES. UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- { TAG - StrawCynic } --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- { sometimes NSFW / 18+ }

[strawcynic]

ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴ' ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴀʟʟ ꜰᴜʟʟ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰɪɴ' ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ꜰᴜʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴀɪɴ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍᴇʀʀʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴅɪɴɢ-ᴀ-ᴅᴇʀʀʏ ɪꜰ ɪ ᴏɴʟʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ʙʀᴀɪɴ

{ ᴍᴜꜱᴇ - 𝐘𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 }

{ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬. }

ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐚, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭, 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭, 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

{ ꜱᴇᴍɪ-ꜱᴇʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ / ᴄʀᴏꜱꜱᴏᴠᴇʀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅʟʏ }

{ ʙɪᴏ. } / { ᴘꜱᴀ. } / { ʀᴜʟᴇꜱ. }

[strawcynic]

Frankly, I'm not too thrilled with Yossarian. I think maybe his character doesn't stand out as nearly as much. There's too many loose threads and together, it's detrimental.

I'm thinking about rebooting him. Just starting over from scratch and seeing how it turns out. Then again, maybe the problem is just my lack of activity. I haven't nearly given him as much attention as my other muses ( which as of late, has been lacking ).

I'll keep my options open for the meantime.

[strawcynic]

"This place looks super depressing now, I hate it."

The Scarecrow looked up at Iris, his eyes now lost between fading ecstasy and melancholy.

“I know . . . I kinda miss the old circus. As much as I hated it.”

Yes, The Circus was a shadow of its former self. It’s dark, broken and impossible to repair. Not without Caine.

Yossarian felt relief, exuberance at witnessing Caine’s “death”. He hated Caine, grew to hate Caine. He felt vindicated with the false escape. Vindicated by the torture he forced upon everyone. Caine made them suffer their worst fears, their traumas.

And yet, what do they do now?

Caine’s death was not planned, never wanted. Without him, they were stranded more than ever in this husk. Standing up, Yossarian’s eyes soon made an effort for empathy towards Iris.

After all, what mattered was the group. The friends, the connections between each other. That meant everyone.

“But trust me . . . we’re better off without Caine. He’s a monster, always has been.”

[strawcynic]

Yossarian's honest reaction to Caine getting deleted.

[strawcynic]

(stolencrownsofplenty) "who are you? are we enemies?" *Coming from Empy's TADC verse!* ((Hello!! Hope you are doing well! :D))

@stolencrownsofplenty

“What?- No.”

Yossarian instinctively backed away from the other out of fear. Ever cautious, he doesn’t recognize the other as a player. The thought occurred to Yossarian, that this was another one of Caine’s NPCs. Yet, what purpose would there be to have one here?

Still, the way it reacted to him speaks to something more than just a “prop”. Still keeping his distance, Yossarian buildings the courage to ask.

“Are you new here? Does Caine know you are here?”

[strawcynic]

Mandala Effect - { Buzz / Yossarian } - CLOSED RP

@nebula-gaster

It was morning, it felt like morning. Yossarian wasn’t sure, he just felt that it was. Slowly, he rises out of bed, yawning and stretching.

He hoped this time he could really wake up. Still, he’s discouraged. Still, he clings to that small hope like religion. It’s just hurting him even more in the end.

Though unprepared, he heads out the door and walks the hallway. He tries not lingering on the empty rooms of former “cast members”. Yossarian’s mind turns to what Caine has in store for everyone. Whatever it was, Yossarian was dead set to stay out of it.

The last adventure saw the group solving a murder aboard the Orient Express. At first, Yossarian was pretty pleased with the adventure. Until his head was unceremoniously kicked off the train and into the cold, cold snow of The Swiss Alps. He had Jax to thank for that.

Heading down the stairs, he reached the common area and found nobody. Thankful for the peace and quiet, he sat down and laid back. Sometimes, the ambiance of the circus was calming.

Suddenly, he thought he heard someone sneaking up behind him. His mind jumped to conclusions.

“Jax, it’s too early. Knock it off okay-”

Yet, he turned and saw nobody was there. At that moment, he felt something strange coming over him. It could hardly be described as fear. There was ab genuine feeling of tension around him. A growing, gnawing panic, which creeped up his spine. Getting up, he walked back and then out of the corner of his eye. He sees him.

A strange, motley stranger lounging back on one of the couches. His clothes were almost late medieval jester flair, covered with ever changing patterns of Mandalas. His head resembling one of those school yard paper fortune tellers. The best sort for asking who will be your date, or what your favorite color was. It turned, its "mouth" opening just a tad bit revealing red, blue, yellow and green colors inside.

By now, Yossarian’s fear was replaced by complete confusion. He straightened out, head tilting as his eyes narrow a bit.

“Uh, excuse me. Who the heck are you?”

[nebula-gaster]

"What are you on about? He literally just showed up today!" Buzz hated when people lied, and he especially hated when they lied to his face. Why were Kinger and Ragatha playing into this false narrative of Mandala having been here since forever?

When Mandala suddenly showed up again, Buzz felt his throat tighten up. That thing was dangerous, he just knew it. Somehow, it was manipulating the minds of other players and excluding himself and Yossarian for some reason. If this was all just a joke of Caine's, Buzz was going to smash out each of his teeth with a hammer.

"Who are you, really? I know you're not a player; I got no memory of you or 'riding after Jax with the hounds', which means you must be a new NPC, part of some... psychological horror adventure? What are you doing to the others' minds?"

[strawcynic]

Mandala laughs. Bemused, he shakes his head and strolls over confidently. Though lacking eyes, Yossarian could feel the piercing gaze of cruelty. It made The Scarecrow back away, looking away as he tries not scratching his hands out of anxious panic.

“Buzz, Buzzz, Buzzzzzz. You gotta get your head checked. Eh Ragatha. Remember the time we left Buzz to be devoured by those wolves in the Catskill Mountains?”  

Ragatha shined a forced smile as she looked downwards. She seemed horribly disturbed, as if she just remembered every detail of that horrible event. Yet, some force of control keeps her from breaking out in fear. Kinger meanwhile was also staring, his eyes on Mandala. There was- something there beneath the senility. A kind of scattered-brained realization that has yet to fully connect the dots.

“WELL! I can’t linger around here all day long. Besides, Buzz, you get sooooo boring after a while.  I’ll see you guys later, I need to find Jax.”

Mandala leaves once again, snickering as he walks away. Yossarian moves past Buzz, straining his words as he tries keeping quite.

“He’s not one of us! I don’t know who that it, or what. Caine needs to get rid of it.”

[nebula-gaster]

Buzz saw that look in Ragatha's eyes; she didn't remember, at least not at first. Mandala was fucking with their heads, all but confirming he really was an NPC. No player had the power to do that, not even Jax, else he probably would've driven someone to abstract by now. Or had he already through other means? Thoughts for another time.

"You know Caine's not gonna listen. If he's a creation of Caine's, then this is all a bit, and he never breaks the bit. I think we're on our own, Cucurbito." Before anything else, he quickly buzzed over to Ragatha and Kinger, fixing them both with a glare.

"Avoid Mandala. Do not believe a word he says. Trust nobody's words but mine and Yossarian's. There is something very wrong in the circus..." The hornet started to wonder if anywhere in the circus was safe; an NPC could pop up anywhere at any time.

[strawcynic]

And Ragatha laughs. She laughs as though nothing happened in the last ten minutes. Despite the fear she showed- the haunting feeling of trauma, she laughed.

“Well Buzz, you have fun with that.”

Taking Kinger, they leave Buzz and Yossarian where they stand. The Scarecrow knew Ragatha was  altered, same as with Kinger. Mandala was behind it . . .  but how? This was not one of Caine’s games, not one of his pranks. The threat was real. The threat was here. Everyone in The Circus was in danger.

Turning to Buzz, Yossarian gives his own theory.

“What if Mandala is a player? Just  . . . someone who has cheat codes or whatever. Admin controls.”

Yossarian’s speculation was tied to his own fears and theories of the circus. He remembered things, strange things from his time outside the circus. Perhaps, Mandala was in league with the people who designed this place. What if he’s here to keep them in line, keep them from getting out? But that was Caine’s job.

“I suggest we find the others and TRY to get them to understand. Remember, Ragatha looked scared when Mandala talked about the Catskill mountains. Maybe, memory is the key to breaking whatever spell he has on the others.”

[strawcynic]

WIP for Yossarian's Bailiff & Locke Security Patch.

I might add more details. But generally, I'm going for something that's designed as "boring" and befitting for the kind of company that B&L was.

[strawcynic]

You doing okay after all… that?

“ . . No . .”  

Just one word was enough to show how miserable he’s been. Yossarian’s crestfallen eyes barely looked the other’s way, as his head hangs low. All that hope, all that trust and it was for nothing.

Just like the book, they entered the ice cave. They found the canned food- and there was no can opener. Only, that book's end was "optimistic".

Caine tricked everyone. With hope on a string, he played everyone.  Yet, most frustratingly, he wasn’t aware of the pain he caused. Maybe he knows, but knowing Caine, the lesson will never stay. He’ll be back, with more games and more jokes.

Yossarian was at his breaking point. His soul was sinking and he wasn’t sure he could return. He was not always the happiest of the bunch, but now?-

Now he was truly forlorn. No more hope, he could not suffer hope again.

“What right does he have to keep us here? What have we done?”

[inabsolute]

bill hader and aubrey plaza in an old sketch

[xxitsxbillxhaderxnationxx]

Photo of the Day:

Oh Billy, I know I’d definitely have a crush on you in high school. You were always incredibly handsome, weren’t you!? 🥹❤️

[strawcynic]

Yossarian's face and voice claim.

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FROM THE PRINCESS BRIDE *  assorted dialogue from the 1987 classic film, adjust as necessary

hello. my name is [name]. you killed my father. prepare to die.

give us the gate key.

as you wish.

who are you? are we enemies?

i've always been a quick healer.

good night. good work. sleep well. i'll most likely kill you in the morning.

get back, witch.

i'll try to stay awake.

it's not that bad.

you are wonderful.

i admit it, you are better than i am.

why are you smiling?

i've seen worse.

i told you i would always come for you. why didn't you wait for me?

death cannot stop true love. all it can do is delay it for a while.

i will never doubt again.

i could kill you now.

maybe you could come over and read it again to me tomorrow.

life is pain. anyone who says differently is selling someone.

you have a great gift for rhyme.

anybody want a peanut?

who are you?

get used to disappointment.

i don't suppose you could speed things up?

if you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do.

i do not think you would accept my help, since i am only waiting around to kill you.

that does put a damper on our relationship.

i promise i will not kill you until you reach the top.

that's very comforting, but i'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

i hate waiting.

isn't there any way you trust me?

throw me the rope.

we'll never survive. we may as well die here.

we have already succeeded.

i don't think they exist.

you've done nothing but study swordplay?

there's not a lot of money in revenge.

i certainly hope you find him someday.

you seem a decent fellow. i hate to kill you.

where is the poison?

i am not a great fool.

you've made your decision then?

you're just stalling now.

you'd like to think that, wouldn't you?

you're trying to trick me into giving away something. it won't work.

i know where the poison is!

then make your choice.

i am no one to be trifled with.

kill me quickly.

i would sooner destroy a stained glass window than an artist like yourself.

you got any money?

are you a rotten liar!

your first story was better.

do you always begin conversations this way?

you mean you wish to surrender to me? very well. i accept.

i don't think i'm quite familiar with that phrase.

drop your sword.

tear his arms off.

we'll never survive.

nonsense. you're only saying that because no one ever has.

he didn't fall? inconcievable!

you keep using that word. i do not think it means what you think it means.

i can't compete with you physically, and you're no match for my brains.

you're that smart?

let me put it this way. have you heard of plato, aristotle, socrates? morons.

why do you wear a mask?

were you burned by acid, or something like that?

i think everyone will be wearing them in the future.

you know, it's very strange.

i have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, i don't know what to do with the rest of my life.

you mock my pain.

[leneemusing]

for muses that are getting to know each other

❝ what's your favorite color and why? ❞

❝ can i come with you? ❞

❝ you have a nice smile, has anyone ever told you that before? ❞

❝ how do you take your coffee? ❞

❝ sorry, what was your name again? ❞

❝ it just occurred to me i never asked you what your last name is. ❞

❝ actually we've met before. ❞

❝ i've heard a few things about you. ❞

❝ care to join me? ❞

❝ i'm not really sure why i trust you. ❞

❝ i don't usually talk this much, it just feels easy to say stuff when you're listening. ❞

❝ i know we don't know each other that well but if you wanna talk about it... ❞

❝ could you help me with something? ❞

❝ do you like it here? ❞

❝ are you new around here? ❞

❝ you can ask me anything you want. i promise i'll answer truthfully except the things i feel like lying about. ❞

❝ i don't mean to be too forward, you just seem like you could use a friend right now. ❞

❝ you can come with me. i mean if you don't have anyone waiting for you. ❞

❝ we're friends now. you can ask me for help. ❞

❝ do you like this music? i can change it. ❞

❝ what are your favorite snacks? ❞

❝ really? i wouldn't have guessed that about you. ❞

❝ do you mind if i ask about it? ❞

ACTIONS:

VISIT: for sender to go to receiver's home for the first time

VISITED: for receiver to go to sender's home for the first time

CRYING: for sender to see receiver cry for the first time

CRIED: for receiver to see sender cry for the first time

BEGIN: sender and receiver are on their first date together

TRIP: our muses go on a group trip but end up stuck together, away from the rest of their friends.

SITUATION: our muses are acquainted because one of them is their friend's roommate. muse a shows up when their friend isn't there and ends up hanging out with muse b one on one.

GO: our muses go to a zoo or theme park together and get lost.

INVITE: sender cooks for receiver for the first time

INVITED: receiver cooks for sender for the first time

TOGETHER: our muses spend the night for the first time

TRY: our muses hooked up and are hanging out the next day

COMFORT: sender is going through a break up and receiver offers to cheer them up

COMFORTED: receiver is going through a break up and sender offers to cheer them up

OFFER: sender gives receiver a ride to the airport/picks them up

OFERED: receiver gives sender a ride to the airport/picks them up

AID: sender helps receiver redecorate

AIDING: receiver helps sender redecorate

[strawcynic]

Mandala Effect - { Buzz / Yossarian } - CLOSED RP

@nebula-gaster

It was morning, it felt like morning. Yossarian wasn’t sure, he just felt that it was. Slowly, he rises out of bed, yawning and stretching.

He hoped this time he could really wake up. Still, he’s discouraged. Still, he clings to that small hope like religion. It’s just hurting him even more in the end.

Though unprepared, he heads out the door and walks the hallway. He tries not lingering on the empty rooms of former “cast members”. Yossarian’s mind turns to what Caine has in store for everyone. Whatever it was, Yossarian was dead set to stay out of it.

The last adventure saw the group solving a murder aboard the Orient Express. At first, Yossarian was pretty pleased with the adventure. Until his head was unceremoniously kicked off the train and into the cold, cold snow of The Swiss Alps. He had Jax to thank for that.

Heading down the stairs, he reached the common area and found nobody. Thankful for the peace and quiet, he sat down and laid back. Sometimes, the ambiance of the circus was calming.

Suddenly, he thought he heard someone sneaking up behind him. His mind jumped to conclusions.

“Jax, it’s too early. Knock it off okay-”

Yet, he turned and saw nobody was there. At that moment, he felt something strange coming over him. It could hardly be described as fear. There was ab genuine feeling of tension around him. A growing, gnawing panic, which creeped up his spine. Getting up, he walked back and then out of the corner of his eye. He sees him.

A strange, motley stranger lounging back on one of the couches. His clothes were almost late medieval jester flair, covered with ever changing patterns of Mandalas. His head resembling one of those school yard paper fortune tellers. The best sort for asking who will be your date, or what your favorite color was. It turned, its "mouth" opening just a tad bit revealing red, blue, yellow and green colors inside.

By now, Yossarian’s fear was replaced by complete confusion. He straightened out, head tilting as his eyes narrow a bit.

“Uh, excuse me. Who the heck are you?”

[nebula-gaster]

"What are you on about? He literally just showed up today!" Buzz hated when people lied, and he especially hated when they lied to his face. Why were Kinger and Ragatha playing into this false narrative of Mandala having been here since forever?

When Mandala suddenly showed up again, Buzz felt his throat tighten up. That thing was dangerous, he just knew it. Somehow, it was manipulating the minds of other players and excluding himself and Yossarian for some reason. If this was all just a joke of Caine's, Buzz was going to smash out each of his teeth with a hammer.

"Who are you, really? I know you're not a player; I got no memory of you or 'riding after Jax with the hounds', which means you must be a new NPC, part of some... psychological horror adventure? What are you doing to the others' minds?"

[strawcynic]

Mandala laughs. Bemused, he shakes his head and strolls over confidently. Though lacking eyes, Yossarian could feel the piercing gaze of cruelty. It made The Scarecrow back away, looking away as he tries not scratching his hands out of anxious panic.

“Buzz, Buzzz, Buzzzzzz. You gotta get your head checked. Eh Ragatha. Remember the time we left Buzz to be devoured by those wolves in the Catskill Mountains?”  

Ragatha shined a forced smile as she looked downwards. She seemed horribly disturbed, as if she just remembered every detail of that horrible event. Yet, some force of control keeps her from breaking out in fear. Kinger meanwhile was also staring, his eyes on Mandala. There was- something there beneath the senility. A kind of scattered-brained realization that has yet to fully connect the dots.

“WELL! I can’t linger around here all day long. Besides, Buzz, you get sooooo boring after a while.  I’ll see you guys later, I need to find Jax.”

Mandala leaves once again, snickering as he walks away. Yossarian moves past Buzz, straining his words as he tries keeping quite.

“He’s not one of us! I don’t know who that it, or what. Caine needs to get rid of it.”

[strawcynic]

Mandala Effect - { Buzz / Yossarian } - CLOSED RP

@nebula-gaster

It was morning, it felt like morning. Yossarian wasn’t sure, he just felt that it was. Slowly, he rises out of bed, yawning and stretching.

He hoped this time he could really wake up. Still, he’s discouraged. Still, he clings to that small hope like religion. It’s just hurting him even more in the end.

Though unprepared, he heads out the door and walks the hallway. He tries not lingering on the empty rooms of former “cast members”. Yossarian’s mind turns to what Caine has in store for everyone. Whatever it was, Yossarian was dead set to stay out of it.

The last adventure saw the group solving a murder aboard the Orient Express. At first, Yossarian was pretty pleased with the adventure. Until his head was unceremoniously kicked off the train and into the cold, cold snow of The Swiss Alps. He had Jax to thank for that.

Heading down the stairs, he reached the common area and found nobody. Thankful for the peace and quiet, he sat down and laid back. Sometimes, the ambiance of the circus was calming.

Suddenly, he thought he heard someone sneaking up behind him. His mind jumped to conclusions.

“Jax, it’s too early. Knock it off okay-”

Yet, he turned and saw nobody was there. At that moment, he felt something strange coming over him. It could hardly be described as fear. There was ab genuine feeling of tension around him. A growing, gnawing panic, which creeped up his spine. Getting up, he walked back and then out of the corner of his eye. He sees him.

A strange, motley stranger lounging back on one of the couches. His clothes were almost late medieval jester flair, covered with ever changing patterns of Mandalas. His head resembling one of those school yard paper fortune tellers. The best sort for asking who will be your date, or what your favorite color was. It turned, its "mouth" opening just a tad bit revealing red, blue, yellow and green colors inside.

By now, Yossarian’s fear was replaced by complete confusion. He straightened out, head tilting as his eyes narrow a bit.

“Uh, excuse me. Who the heck are you?”

[nebula-gaster]

The hornet's attitude dropped as soon as the jester was out of sight. "Sorry about that, was hoping for him to go away if I played along. You never wanna be the straight man in this place, I mean, look at you." He reaffixed the pumpkin back on Yossarian's neck and gave him a pat on the back.

"But yeah, what's up with that guy? That's not a player, right? But... why'd he remember an adventure that he hadn't been on? Is this a prank by Caine?" It had to be an NPC; Caine conjured up some weird guys at times, some being created just for a one-off gag. Maybe this was his last-ditch effort to get Yossarian to do something other than mope around.

[strawcynic]

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Mordacious on tone, Yossarian twists and adjusts his head on his shoulders. The sounds of which are cartoony, like someone replacing a lightbulb.

Now, his mind turns to the stranger they encountered. Yossarian could feel that nervous itch crawling up his spine. The feeling od dread, doom upon him and everyone.

“Caine’s pranks aren’t . . . this weird. Also, what was that about you and creepy hunting Jax?”

Unconciously, Yossarian started to itch his hands. That was a tell-tale sign of his anxiety soaring higher and higher. Yossarian's next words came as a desperate plea.

“We’ll find the others. Get everyone together. Then go find Caine.”

[nebula-gaster]

"Never mind that. Don't listen to its words. But yeah, we gotta gather everyone 'n let 'em know we got some kinda rogue NPC on the loose."

For some reason, Buzz's curiosity was burning inside him, urging him to investigate the jester further when survival instinct should've been screaming to stay far away from it. Sure, he couldn't die in the circus, and abstraction couldn't be inflicted upon someone, but something about the jester was giving off rather wicked vibes.

The hornet then hurried off to find the other players, trying not to think too hard about the jester, and why its laughter seemed to be ringing a faint, distant bell in his head. He'd never seen it before, he knew that, but then why, when the jester laughed, could he hear it almost as an echo in his own head?

[strawcynic]

Yossarian followed, trying his best to keep up with Buzz. He was scared- nervous beyond false composure as his eyes trembled in anxious dread. Still, he prayed that Caine could fix this. That with one snap of his fingers, he could wish away The Other Jester.

Or, that Caine could reveal all this to be one of his games. One of his ill-planned and forced adventures, desperate for the engagement he craves so much. Yet, Yossarian feared that all this was for real. That everything was off the script. The Other Jester carried a quality beyond anything the scarecrow has encountered. There was real evil. Somewhere.

Soon, they turned the corner. Yossarian spotted Kinger and Ragatha.  They were hanging out by one of the twisting slides that dotted the circus. Yossarian ran to them, screaming his head off like some madman.

“Ragatha! Kinger! Where’s Caine! We need his help now!”

[nebula-gaster]

"Yo, Cucurbito, calm down, don't start a riot." Buzz grabbed Yossarian by his pumpkin's stem and yanked him back. "We ain't at the stage of full-on panic yet, let's try to keep our heads until then." That one wasn't even a dig at Yossarian, it had just slipped out.

The hornet folded his arms as he turned to the other players. "Alright, look, yeah, we gotta find Caine, but also, if you see a weird jester guy, not Pomni, stay away from it. There's something weird about it, knows things it shouldn't... I think. I dunno, might be a new NPC, a new joke by Caine. Look, just treat it as dangerous and get away, alright?"

[strawcynic]

The look Ragatha gave was not concern- not even fear. But confusion. Puzzled, she frowned slightly.

“You mean Mandala?”

Kinger meanwhile was staring off into space. Then suddenly, he raised his hand in revelation and shouted.

“Oh, you mean Pomni!”

Ragatha turned and smiled slightly, as she patted Kinger. The scatterbrained chess piece looked as Ragatha corrected him, kindly.

“No, Mandala. The other Jester.”

Kinger’s eyes searched for coherence, then came to brief stability. He nodded in a way, blinking as he “smiled” without lips.

“Oh, right. I’m sorry Buzz, but you’re mixing up Pomni and Mandala again.”

Meanwhile, Yossraian’s fear chased his mind like some rabid weasel. He vibrated, his panic overflowing and drowning his nerves. Beneath the fear, he could tell something was seriously wrong with their friends. They spoke of The Other Jester- of Mandala as if he was one of the casts. One of them, trapped here as the same and marooned on this digital dessert island.

“What? No, he showed up today! Me and Buzz never seen him before.”

Ragatha and Kinger looked at each other. Their eyes both expressing concern and confusion.

“Yossarian, he’s been here just as long as Kinger. I remember meeting him when I arrived and . . . well  . . .”

For a split second, Ragatha’s eyes were lost in thought as Kinger stared off. It was like she was remembering something, or that her memory was not matching up. Then, he appeared.

“Hiya, gang.”

Mandala was there, leaned against one of the slides. His “cootie catcher” fortune teller face opened slightly.

“Gossiping, are we?”

[strawcynic]

One of Caine's modifiers is making Yossarian sing this little number.

[milksockets]

'survivor after winter storm' in scarecrows - avon neal + ann parker (1978)