[Flashback] A Vital Role

[Guy Laliberte]

Day 17 of Spring of 488 AV

“You begin working on your juggling today, Guy.” The 6’3” man had shot, brown hair, and large, tinkling green eyes. Creases on his face gave away the fact that he smiled much more than the average person. His name was Jionn Laliberté, and he was Guy’s father.

Standing outside their small home in Syliras, Guy and Jionn wore their normal clothes, which were plain cotton things, and nothing that would pride a tailor. The family only had one costume, which was passed down from generation to generation, with the occasional necessity of fixing.

“Alright, father, but I know how to juggle already...” Guy, age 11, had been practicing for about a year, and thought he knew it all. Taking from his father the three juggling balls, he begins to volley them in the air, and his true skills become known.

Though not amateur, Guy still must work on his form and posture. While he is juggling, his hands are flying everywhere haphazardly, and he almost seems to be stretching backwards, to see the balls trajectory.

“Stop, stop, stop...” Said Jionn. “You still haven’t learned what I’ve told you.” Guy looks at his father, and drops the balls.

“What’d’ya mean! I did everything you said!”

“Do not yell at me, young man, or I will not teach you a thing.” An awkward silence seizes control of the atmosphere as the two stare at each other, Guy fuming and his father staring calmly but sternly.

“Alright. I’m sorry.” Guy apologized. Sighing, he walks about and picks up the three juggling balls, then looks back at his father. “Well, what did I do wrong this time?”

[Guy Laliberte]

“Your hands... They can’t be flip-flopping all over the place, boy! No matter what, you must present yourself as organized. People do not like sloppy performers.” Jionn takes the balls from him, and starts to juggle, showing the proper way to do so. His hands seem to be always rotating in the same direction, and opposite of the other at the same time, almost like a clock mechanism. Smiling, he catches the balls in one hand and hands them back to Guy.

“But how am I supposed to do that if they don’t go all perfect when I throw them up?” Guy sighed. It was true, perhaps he did not pay as much attention to his father’s lessons as he thought he did. But making fun look like work... well, it took the fun out of it.

“That’s what you first must learn. Here, try it again.” Jionn puts his hands above Guy, about a foot over his head, and right in front and above of each of his shoulders. “Forget about juggling for now. Just hit my hands with the balls.”

Guy did as he was instructed, throwing the balls up with his cupped hands, hitting his fathers, and then catching them again. After ten minutes, Guy asked, “I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

“That you are, son. Now, lets see if you can do it without my help.” Jionn removes his hands, and Guy continues to juggle, the balls going up in perfect formation and coming down again. Guy has a large grin on his face, extremely happy with his work today. Work. Could fun be called work? It is if you get money for it... His thoughts not focused on juggling, the balls go astray, and he automatically adjusts his hands to catch them again. His gin dies down as the balls go flying every which way.

“Ah well. You did better today, son, I’m proud of you.” Grinning, he tousles Guys’ hair, and walks up the short set of steps to the patio of their small cottage. “Gather the balls before you come back in.”

[Guy Laliberte]

Grumbling to himself, he walks over to a grassy area between two houses, and grabs two of the brightly dyed balls. Looking around, he cannot find the third. Walking back out into the road, he looks around more. It was hard to miss such brightly colored balls... There, a glint of red, in the grass. He runs over, and a robin flies up and calls out, loudly, being startled by the searching boy.

Come on, it must be here somewhere... The juggling set had been bought by his grandfather, or so said Jionn, and were an important family heirloom - almost as important as the costume. Looking for perhaps thirty seconds longer, Guy stifles tears and walks up the three steps to his house, already thinking of what he would say, when there, under one of the steps, was another hint of red. Smiling, he jumps over the hand rail and crouches, looking under the stairs. Yes, it was the ball, so he grabbed it and walked once more up the steps, glad he did not have to report bad news to his father.

“Guy, come on, it’s time to eat.” Jionn called from inside. He could smell fish inside. Fish? Fish are expensive... Guy wondered why his father had purchased fish. He couldn’t think of anything special happening today.

[Guy Laliberte]

“Guy, I need to discuss something with you.” Said Jionn, after the meal of fish and peas was finished. Guy had greedily gobbled up the delicious food, not used to such taste.

“What is it, father?”

“Do you know why we do what we do, Guy?”

“Well, no, not exactly... But definitely not for the money, right?” The two laugh. Definitely not for the money.

“On that, you are right, son, but I don’t think you understand exactly why we do what we do. We do what we do - we have been doing it for generations - because it is our destiny.”

“Destiny?”

“Yes. The Laliberté clan has been in Mizahar since before the Valterrian. We are an ancient family, and for all those years we have done but one thing - entertain.”

“But, what use would people have for entertainment after the Valterrian?”

“None. For many generations, our family trained in secret, learning a day trade on the side, in order for them to be able to keep our trade alive. But, with any civilization, if you do not have people keeping the general population happy, then that population usually declines into anarchy and chaos. The role of the entertainer is a vital one, son, an important part of the city’s ecosystem.” Jionn started speaking with gusto, seeming to be giving a speech.

“It is our job to provide happiness where there is none, pleasure where there is but pain, distraction where there is work! A wearisome work, but fulfilling nonetheless. It provides us with a feeling of contentedness, of fulfillment, and of work.”

“So... What are you trying to tell me, father?” Guy didn’t exactly understand the nature of this ‘speech’.

“W- What am I trying to tell you?” Jionn sighed, and took a breath. “You must gain an understanding of why it is we do what we do. Until you truly comprehend that, you will not be able to entertain to your fullest potential.”

“Alright, but can we learn that tomorrow? I’m tired.” Guy’s eyes droop, and he is on the border of sleep and waking.

“Alright. Tomorrow it is.” Jionn smiles, picking up the small boy in his arms and laying him down on a small cot, covergin him with a thin sheet. He then goes to another bed himself, laying back. “Ionu, bless this child... Rhaus, bless his voice... What shall I do with him?” He chuckles, and drifts off to sleep.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Guy Exp +2 Observation, +1 Juggling Lore The Power of Apology, Laliberté Clan History (Basic), Service with a Smile Additional Comments I absolutely love the idea of an entertainer PC! I don't think there has been one yet, and is possibly the most unique of a character I have seen yet! If you have any questions or comments about my grading, feel free to PM me and we'll find out a solution. Thanks for using the Giant Sea Monster for all your grading needs, we look forward to pleasing you again soon!