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“But Esse-e-ek!”
Jester continues her pestering much to the delight of Essek’s impending headache.
“She’s literally the best in the whole world.”
“And I am sure you all will have a lovely time. Tell me how it is when you return.”
“It’s not the same!”
“Precisely.”
“She only does this one like once a year maybe and you don’t want to go see?”
“Again, Jester.”
Essek smiles:
“No.”
She leans into his space and her insistence, pouting and brow tight.
“You’ve gone to her shows with us before, though.”
Ah. A game of fluster this is, then. Easy. Jester hasn’t managed to make Essek blush in eight days.
“Her performances that are decidedly musical in focus, yes. I have no interest in the rest.”
“Well how come?”
“I am not their intended audience.”
“You could be if you went.”
“Would you be entertained sitting still for hours watching a lecture on undercasting methods as they relate to the forming of a desired school-contour?”
“I could be if you taught me.”
“I have tried going. I have been uncomfortable each time. Even if I hadn’t tried, why do you want me to sour your moods with my own?”
“What makes it uncomfortable? It’s just dancing- oh. My gosh. Essek?”
Jester hides her faux-scandalized grin behind her hands. Shoulders wagging in time with her voice, she rings a sing-song on each word.
“Does the dancing make you really horny and you just have to sit there the whole time stewing and all night too before you can go back to your room and go to town all huahuahua?”
Essek refrains from wrinkling his nose. He remains court-pleasant.
“I am- generally, do not care to be around others when they are- ‘horny’.”
“You don’t know for sure if someone’s horny or not, Essek. If they don’t say, you don’t know.”
“In an audience of strangers when an act is in part intended to titillate? It isn’t a difficult guess. It flavors the atmosphere.”
“What, is it gross? It’s not like cooties, you know. Did you know that, Essek? That being horny’s not cooties?”
Despite the bawdy friends flashing into his mind, Essek does not beg to differ.
“It is watching a comedian and missing all the jokes as everyone else around you laughs. You can have the punchlines explained and appreciate the craft of the set, but nothing pulls even a huff from your belly.”
“Oh.”
Jester’s tone gentles.
“It’s not fun being left out.”
Aha. Essek’s endurance reigns. Check.
Essek matches, his voice soft too.
“It is not.”
“That’s why I was asking you to come.”
“I know.”
Essek rests his chin upon the heel of a hand, gloating only slightly.
“I can appreciate the artistry. I appreciate the time and training and practice and physical aptitude and confidence necessary to present a smooth act. I thoroughly respect the dedication your mother has for her work and the enjoyment she derives from it, and the joy she brings to others. So tell me about how you see it. Let me know how it goes. I’m sure there will be other shows I can enjoy in their entirety and you are welcome to continue inviting me along. Don’t make me go just to see this one for myself. She deserves to stoke enthusiasm, not boredom.”
A fang at her lip, Jester narrows her eyes.
“We could be not-horny together and laugh at everybody else, though.”
A shallow dig, Essek brushes her off just fine.
“I feel as though making a show of the audience would defeat the purpose of going, no? Was it not to support her?”
“I mean, we can do both. Momma’s good at multitasking too.”
Essek drones.
“Jester.”
She brightens.
“Okay so what if like-. What if it was a private show like without a whole bunch of strangers around, just a little party party and stuff, just the Nein.”
Gods, no. No. Even worse.
“Come onnn, it would be so much fun!”
“I don’t know, Jester. I can’t imagine it much better. Take my no as the trust that it is.”
Showing his underbelly may be a low blow for a quick end, but Essek doesn’t mind playing dirty in games such as this.
Indeed, Jester sighs, setting her mouth aside.
She outstretches her hands and resigns.
“Can I hug you?”
Check. The end is in sight.
Essek rolls his eyes for the play of it. He readily opens his arms.
Jester tucks him close, tight and warm and kind.
“Don’t miss us too hard, okay?”
A creature of solitude, he will be fine for a few hours. His friends will return, no doubt.
“Enjoy yourselves.”
“We’ll do our best.”
Check- he’s all but won.
Jester then loosens her hold. A breath away, she smiles wide with pride- far too pearly.
“Mmmmwah!”
She leaves Essek with a wet smack to the side of his nose and his ears aflame-flushed, cackling the victor as she goes.