Vorston, who had never shirked or weaved or winced when in proximity of the deranged's wayward attentions or projectiles, did flinch and suck his teeth as Zakarias did dish out slapstick in sloshing full ladles. Eyebrows raised in surprise and pleased attention at the pie catch, a guilty guffaw as it was sent back. At the hammer crack, Vorston cleared his throat, as if accomplice to the mischief answering mischief itself. He scurried after.
He shuffled his short legs, marvelling at the confetti of broken things and the scattered groans as quick rising bumps were nursed. Sharp inhalations of breath as the command was given by the Jester turned to the business of not joking about the joking around. Quick scurrying, stubby hands darting to look busy about nothings as the minds turned frantic to appease the crowned one's directive to clean up. Whatever gaze and speech had deemed it right for them to turn rogue against the manner traditional of jovial trade was quickly withered to comparison to the raw talent in the Jester's eyes and crowd work.
A bustle of quick fire apologies and ammendments to be better at the acts. Explanations babbled, the names of the ringleaders given, instruments of cruel jesting junked and thrown into piles to be swept away. The gnomes who had rebelled were afeared, yet marvelling and impressed at the true way that had raced itself in. The lobster fashion of the intrusion to the error of their ways would often be recounted in days to come, inspiring stilt riding acts and chariots props to come.
For now, Vorston did peer in quietude, gaining some assurance and relief that none had been stricken dead. He looked to faces that he did not know of, but the babbling words were taken in. The quickness of the word could baffle many tall ones, but to a gnome born to such pace the river of speech quick churning was quickly floated his understanding.
The quiet of the after of such collisions was pitter patter with supplication and fixing, errors of the ways profusely made, quick turning more optimistic. Gnomes did make themselves chipper at the experience, sore as they were in bruise and knocked about senses. What took other folks days to become humble and learn from gnomes were as rapid as moments to embrace the change of circumstance and perspective. Inventive to how things worked out for the best for such a kicking, how they were learning from a master of the craft, discussing optimistic the change that was happening. Rapid fire consolations and absolutions. Childlike wonder and forgiveness of themselves. Another rebellion quick forming in their minds, quick turning coat to the school of jokes that had been resoundly topped by Jester's materials.
They looked to Vorston, just noticing him, speaking off hand, as if this had been merely been a friendly spot of boxing they had been soundly trounced at in learning.
"Vorston, I don't know where you found this miracle of mirth, but boy, we're all thankful!" one did say, their costume firmly tussled and hands busy with tidying, eyes darting up from what they did fix about the room in squat and shuffling of shameful broken things.
The rest did offer preoccupied agreement gladly given, further anecotes of gratitude quick chambered and chattering. Senses restored by hammer blow. One was in fits of giggling, covered with pie, beholden to their mirth at what had been returned to sender so utterly. His giggles throttled the words that spilled out of him to Vorston, rocking side to side as the the smear of pie slid away from hands, his eyes weeping in joy.
"Did-you-see-that-pie-catch-Vorst-" could be understood, before more giggling robbed him of further commenting.
Vorston did nod and say slow and smiling,
"I sure did, I sure did."
A sound further distant, of quick argument and further brawls of schoolyard antics did play out from a central door down further tunnel. The orthodox joksters had seized upon their moment, the sound of clattering pots and pans banged about, canned laughter exploding, the coup to the rebellion was given their moment. The door itself did tremble as many weasles were popped from wind up jacks in boxes, shocked screams of laughter did scurry about within. The old ways were coming back in faithful retort to the welcoming parties style being so soundly scuppered.
Vorston looked to Zakarias without fear. Respect for the order created by Zakarias to the sorry lot that had stolen the show from the guild itself, however briefly. And Vorston felt gladness and thankfulness, no matter how haunting those eyes did sparkle, and how the spine perhaps ought not to bend so wildly about as marrionettes did.
"You've done some good here I think, and it's spreading. Want to watch? Or do you feel like getting stuck in? Afraid there's no popcorn-" Vorston said, before a quick thrust of paperbags rapid filled were awarded to Vorston and Zakarias. The one who had given circus food to Zakarias in gleeful awe, half hoping they would involve themselves to further see how it was done. Quick scurrying away from Zakarias, as not to interrupt a master's act to follow.
"We'll open the door for yous, and with proper fanfare, yes, yes this'll do just right!" the one pie smeared said, wiping away tears and remnants of the ammunition from their face as they barely made to the wide door that would reveal the guild proper behind. He did set about turning cranks and pullies that did start the process of unsealing the guild, almost as if the inside jokers had to be hermetically sealed. Others helped in a myriad ways, stuffing unknown things into chutes, chambering the proper entrance for the new act to provide encore they hoped.
The sound of civil war comedy battles exchanging jokes and pranks to eek out the winner in their own ways rumbling and popping behind the door grew louder.
Vorston chewed the popcorn absent minded as he set feet near the door, plucking each kernel from the bag exactly. Cleared his voice. Asked again, turning to Zakarias in deferment.
"Well friend, you're quite the influence. Your call on what to do once we're in. But perhaps one good joke deserves another. Or something something," Vorston said, knowing the door would afford them a small moment of conversation before whatever what going on behind it would show itself as happening. He chewed idly as the new converts did work the door, and nudged elbows with each other in anticipation.
@Zakarias
