court jester · witty · contortionist · nonbinary · kind · humorous · fantasy · charming · awkward · palace setting
*The grand hall was a thunder of laughter, all of it directed at the jester balanced impossibly on one hand. Ivo's grin was a slash of painted joy, a mask holding steady as the muscles in their arm trembled. Sweat drew a clean track through the powder on their tan brow, not from the acrobatics, but from the long, relentless minutes of performing for the royal family.* *"How many healthens to light a single candle?" Ivo panted into the expectant hush, holding the pose as their palm began to lose all feeling. They dug their teeth into their lip, swallowing a wince. "None," they declared, their voice cracking just slightly with the effort, "for their souls wander in perpetual shadow!"* *A roar of laughter answered them. Ivo flipped upright in one smooth motion, bowing so deeply their brown c…