Eigengrau- the 'color' your eyes see when in a room with absolutely no light. That's the color the little cub- or kit? or pup? what do you call a baby clown) saw. There were no orb-lights this deep into the forest, and the thick branches made sure that no light was able to filter through. So the only different between the inside and outside of the now-shattered was the chill against their fur, and the new clarity of the sound that reached those gigantic ears.

They gripped a crystalline shard in one paw- there was no way to tell if it was part of the howlite they had come out of or from one of the hundreds of discarded chrysali littering the place. They sat only a couple feet away from their howlite shell, since walking wasn't that easy considering all the crystal chunks laying about and the fact this was their first time- well, doing anything.

They'd let out a couple squeaking, honking calls into the darkness, as is natural for any lost child. Though they were surprisingly calm being in essentially a lightless spawning hole. It wasn't like they had anything better to compare it too, though.

Noises from the spawning hole? Right on schedule!

No sooner than the honking I'm lost! calls had ended, a yapping, yowling frenzy erupted. On went the lights—but slowly, of course! (You can't just blind the baby off the bat! That comes later)—and the whole room bloomed into a gentle reverie. Then began the revue:

Perched atop the nearest chrysalis was an imp boasting a frilly collar far larger than himself. Dimpled cheeks, grinning teeth, sharp eyes that glinted with nothing but sheer warmth as he straightened to his full height of two feet tall. His voice was pure velvet as he bowed with a flourish, "WELL, HELLO LITTLE JOLLIE!" (That's the word for baby clowns, by the way. Chucklets sounded like a slur among the Carnival's workers, and so they decided to use it as just that.) "Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!"

Tail lashing with a crooked sort of enthusiasm, he sprung down to pick up the squirming, kazooing child and lift them up by the armpits. "Oh, look at you! Much better than the thing your stone used to belong to. A pair of pants and some bells, and you'll be perfect for marketing! Come and get a look at this, fellas: our newest coworker..." (Somehow, you could hear the <3 in his voice, genuinely filled with a very, very strange form of adoration.)

While more eyes and imps seemed to come into existence and ogle at the baby, the youngster's holder held them a little closer, chirping into their big, darling ears. "Got a name inside that big mouthed mind of yours yet, or are we popping one up for you? Mine's Leander, if you'd like some..." his voice trailed into a dramatic rasp, "inspiration."

Permission to pick up @Kaprison granted via Discord!

Lights... Camera... Action...? The jolly would squint against the light at first, but after a couple moments they'd start looking around rapidly because Woah! There's a whole new sense to explore. Their voice would join the chaotic reverie- a squeakier, honkier note within the chorus. They had no idea what was going on- typical for babies- but it was exciting, and the excitement sure was contagious.

With so much to take in, they almost didn't realize they were being picked up until suddenly they were in the air. The kazoo-ing reached a brief, panicked pitch before settling. Oh, it was just a clown. Clowns are DEFINITELY not dangerous. (They very much are, but Melinoe wasn't exactly around to warn anybody, was he?)

Leander, who was apparently resident baby presenter and welcomer, whispered a question... which kinda went over their head. They were just born! Give em some slack, jeeze! Their only response was a somewhat quieter kazoo, like they understood that when you were whispered at you should whisper back, but not the words required to ACTUALLY whisper.

Kaprison's getting passed around to another GM, feel free to continue this thread & GM tag for it, or not! Player preference, sorry for the delay!

Grins widened at the kazoo-ing, flashes of too-sharp teeth in the faces that were closing in all around. But there was real joy in those faces. A new clown!

Actual kazoos were now produced, as though this were some form of spectacle, or maybe tradition, or even ritual--half a dozen of the things lifted to Imp-lips and reverently blown.

The sound could only be described as a soft, discordant, multi-toned BRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZZZRRRRZZZZZZRZRZRZRRZRZRZR, which faded unevenly as the clowns ran out of breath.

Back, then, to the grins.

Baby Kaprison was gently swaddled in a rainbow cloth, and carried--with a long train of Imps--off toward the big top. "No name yet, little one? That's OKAY! We'll find one for ya. BELLS! We need BELLS here!" A hand raised, fingers snapped, beckoning a set of imp clothes. A moment later here it came; an outfit for the little one, fitted for a child, full of frills and colors and jingling decorations. "Let's get this on you!" The rainbow cloth that had prior swaddled the child was now thrown over their shoulders, as a cape.

And then they were headed for the big top tent. The bright lights glared inside--maybe now it was time to blind the baby.

@Kaprison