Late afternoon a few days after Joker had found his room found him sitting on his window sill and staring out over the expansive grounds before him. Perhaps to a few people the sight of a forest on fire as a dragon soared above it bugling might have been slightly disconcerting. Even the fact that in another section of forest bright lights and trees toppling over as though hit by a great force should have made someone uneasy as to what else could be residing in those woods.

No, to someone of Joker’s ilk the view before him was tame to those witnessed in the Dream Realms where imagination ruled. The only thing that could cause discomfort was that what he watched now was all real… and even that was trivial when his own powers allowed him to make his dreams reality.

What caused a slight frown to mar the usual geniality upon his features was the fact he was getting bored. Joker liked to have little things amuse him, things to keep him active and moving so that he would have no time to think on serious issues or events. It was one reason he had amassed an army of squirrels who made bombs out of acorns.

A small sound jarred him from the pyrotechnics blazing uncontrollably before him, his purple eyes moving towards the doorway where it stood inching open. His catlike eyes flicked down, a smile breaking across his features as he turned fully to the entrance of his abode and what creature had decided to pay him a visit. He only hoped it wasn’t the same creature that had brought him to his room; a wall climbing individual would ruin his plan.

The door swung fully open and in its open mouth stood a small creature garbed in black hooded robes that concealed its body completely. All that was visible to Joker was the small paw-like hands that gripped a letter between them.

“I come on behalf of-” the words were soft spoken but cut off abruptly as the being stepped forward into the portal Joker had created within the entryway to his room… that led to a portal in his ceiling that would drop whoever was in it into another portal in the floor in a cycle that would inch them closer to where Joker sat.

Joker sat and smiled as he saw the little messenger drop from the ceiling ten times before arriving lightly before him on solid ground, upon which it swayed.

“Greetings and welcome to Joker’s abode, denizen of these parts!” Joker threw his arms out and gave his best show-man’s grin, looking down at what had to be a woozy resident.

All his response earned was a paw with a letter rumpled by its deliverer’s fear tightened grip shoved in his direction.

“Message. From Master Orysius.”

Those terse words delivered, the being vanished into smoky swirls, leaving Joker with a bemused expression on his face.

“Well now, if he could vanish whenever he wanted why ever did he bother going through all those portals?” Giving a little snicker, the Dream Weaver opened his letter, hoping that whoever this Master Orysius was, he would explain exactly what Joker was doing in his domain.

Dear Student,

Get your ass down to room 845B now. You will face your final test there.

Orysius

Joker blinked at the short, terse note. Really, it didn’t explain anything at all. For one thing, Joker had yet to face any tests at all, let alone a ‘final’ test now. Unless dealing with a wall climber and a now traumatized messenger were tests.

“Ara, what an odd place Joker finds himself in~ Nothing for Joker to do but go to this room and see what it holds…” Standing up he checked that both his daggers were upon his person and deciding they were all he needed to survive he departed.

Figuring no real rush was needed, he proceeded down the corridors aimlessly, checking room numbers every now and then to ensure he was travelling in the correct direction. When he got lazy from walking, he created portals to the end of whichever corridor he happened to be in to lessen the distance. It was more fun when he created portals in the floor to sink down various staircases faster.

Eventually, he found his way to the designated room, raising an eyebrow at the heavy wooden paneling and iron ring that served as a handle. Grasping it, he pulled it open and was surprised at the dark interior lit only by two torches… one of which was held in the hands of a white haired girl.

Thoughts moved in Joker’s head swiftly, all possible situations and conclusions forming then being dismissed as nonsensical and incoherent until he settled on the only reason that girl could be there.

“YOU BE JOKER’S TEST!”

Upon his declaration, he pulled a dagger and brandished it towards her, the smile on his face seemingly at odds with the fact she could be a threat to his life.

__________________

RIP Duke
BA Characters:
Joker Kyralie Calista
Artwork - No requests =(