welcome to my

[manofmyword]

The deck of Jokers keeps on enchanting. It takes a few days. The ones with various sweethearts get various visits.

Slowly, everybody's aura builds up.

They're not just less powerful than the Bells'; they're different. Joker auras don't tell you they're attached to magic and power; it's not 'look at me, I'm important' or 'look at me, I'm magical' but 'look at me', the end.

Except that that is not the end at all.

Their auras track emotions, like the Bells', but far more responsively. They can be whimsical one second and terrifying the next; they can laugh while their auras cry and cry while their auras laugh. It's all in how you play it.

The initial differences are subtle. Beast's aura can make him seem more human, or more beastly, whichever form he's in. The others of variable species don't seem to do anything similar, at least not to nearly the same degree. Ghosty's is the most interesting, because she can show her aura without manifesting physically; suddenly she has a presence even when she technically doesn't.

Micaiah's aura is the first one to manifest an obviously unique feature, although 'unique' isn't quite accurate, because after a few more hours of spellcasting they all have one:

A soundtrack.

Pretty soon, they're all cuddled up in one of the guest rooms and the music is going strong. With the whole pile of them together, somebody's aura will start playing a song and the rest will either pick it up or add embellishments. It's tremendous fun.

Comments

[autokinetic]

Aegis has come in from dancing outside. "Hi," she says, peering at him in fascination.

[cross_and_bow]

"Minus found him," says Juliet. "Recognized him right off without the bar even handing over a key first."

[manofmyword]

The Joker blows Cam a kiss and disappears with Jellybean.

[gunpowdergelatine]

Queenie readjusts her snuggle for increased visibility, but doesn't let go. The rest of the pile can go acquaint themselves with Jellybean - and indeed they are.

[lifes_sake]

Cam inspects auras as the other Bells trickle in, Shell Bell and Golden having been long gone with no reason to stick around through the Jokers' round of enchanting. "Quite an assortment," Cam remarks. Stella shows up a bit later, Angela a bit after that. Cam likes Angela's. "Pity the auras don't take requests, I'd like to go around looking like a benevolent deity," he remarks to her.

[jovahs_heiress]

"I'm sure you'll get something suitable," Angela says. "When your own Joker is ready to channel for you, which could take - a while."

[gunpowdergelatine]

Queenie giggles.

"Did Kas and Micaiah go to say hi? I bet they did."

[jovahs_heiress]

"Yes."

[self_composed]

"I mean, as long as their respective Bells are occupied... Gosh, you really do look like us apart from the being a boy thing. Welcome."

[lifes_sake]

"You all look like me apart from the being girls thing," retorts Cam. "And in one case, wings, and in another, a seriously chalky complexion and the eye color."

[gunpowdergelatine]

"I bet you'd look cute with wings," muses Queenie.

[lifes_sake]

"I'd be adorable, but I can fly without 'em now," laughs Cam.

[gunpowdergelatine]

"But they're really snuggly," she says. "Micaiah and Petaal sometimes have them and they are fluffy and soft."

Her aura of cuddle flares a little when she says this.

[lifes_sake]

"I don't really want to get used to a new set of limbs right now," Cam says. "This is already enough of a trip."

[gunpowdergelatine]

"Okay," she says fondly.

[she_sells_seashells]

"None of us have opted to grow wings for about the same reason Angela hasn't opted to trade hers in for wingless flight," agrees Shell Bell.

[lifes_sake]

"Sort of like why I didn't get standard-issue recall, mine hooks into my notebook," says Cam. "My notebook is sort of like a - slightly less metaphysically entwined daemon to me, I guess."

[dark_light]

"Really," says Amariah, leaning forward and letting Path shimmer into existence now that there are slightly fewer cuddle-hazards around her. "You think so?"

[lifes_sake]

"I'm not claiming Grace is my equivalent of Pathalan, but nearest counterpart, sure," says Cam. "She doesn't like anyone else to handle her, even, though she knows how to show them old algebra notes and grocery lists if somebody does. She's my only exception to that definitely-against-having-my-mind-read thing."

[dark_light]

"Huh. Yeah, sounds like a step down from Path but just a step."

[gunpowdergelatine]

"Interesting," muses Queenie. Her cuddle aura continues to operate.

[luminous_regnant]

"I wonder," says Golden, "whether Edward would be just as uncomfortable with you as he is with the other eight of us. I suspect he might not be. Of course he wouldn't like to come here, but perhaps sometime you'll visit Aurum. Sufficient wishcoined defenses can screen him out," she adds. "Witches aren't as automatic an override of coins as ingots are."

[lifes_sake]

"Aurum sounds worth a look at some point," says Cam agreeably.

[gunpowdergelatine]

"Aurum's fun," says Queenie. "Jokes loves it there. Careful a vampire doesn't get stuck on ya, though."

[lifes_sake]

"Because that worked out so poorly for him?" Cam chuckles. "But yeah, probably worth checking with the Imperial Seer there first."