Alphamath - A Deeper Prologue

Chapter 1 - Discovery

Seam tapped the back end of a pen on the wooden table, staring at the contract he was due to sign for his next show.
It had all been fair enough to him - he did the show, people cheered, he entertained, and nobody knew anything else of him. That's how it was for 3 years, and that's how he liked it. Not even his own host knew much about him, just that he lived down in the fields and ran a shop on his off-days.
But it was now that he was feeling the utmost of hesitancy, his bright orange button eyes dwindling and over again across the text stating that he was assigned to perform with a partner. No further information.

He mumbled the name to himself a few times, trying to ring it out in his head.

"Jevil the jester... Jevil the jester..."

The name sounded strange to him, in a way. His thoughts began to wander, surmising what he would look like? Perhaps a fair fellow from the castle with bright yellow or blue eyes. Surely dressed in a fitting costume of sorts. If he was going to be honest the thing he most imagined was a humanoid boy, dressed in blue and yellow contrasts, with vibrant eyes and a smile.

He hummed, his mind flooded with thoughts. He found it a bit hard to keep track of and follow them all, but he eventually settled on a decision. To ask his host if perhaps he could perform without the partner.

Suddenly, the door was flung open with a start, causing the cat to muffle a yowl and his fur to stand on end as he whipped around to face the newcomer. He stared at him, studied him.
Before him stood an imp, maybe 3 feet and a half or so in height. His skin toned purple, his eyes topaz set atop a black stone. The length of his pointed ears might suggest he was a crossbreed of some sort but who would know of what. He had a tail, tipped in a thin hammer shape.
He was already dressed in jester clothes, colored vibrant purples and chartreuse.

Seam double-checked between the time on the clock and the time set for the meeting to commence on the paper. "Dammit. I've been fooled again by my own stupidity," he thought, ears flicking in an irritated manner. He took a breath, and looked back at where the jester had been, only to find him bounding up to him like a domestic dog approaching one of its own.
Friendly, but with a hint or two of caution, he could tell that much.

The air was silent, stagnant. Seam had expected his new partner to at least start a conversation first, given his energy. Seam cleared his old throat. "Hello. My name is Seam. Pronounced Shawm. Nice to meet you, Jevil." He held out a paw as a sign of friendliness and received only a flinch, followed by a smile moments after.

Seam pretended like nothing happened, but in reality, he had been paying very close attention to the way Jevil acted with each word that he spoke and each action he took as he greeted him.

"Well, not much of a talker, are you?" He questioned, rhetorically. "How fortunate. I'm not either."

He returned his attention to the papers at the desk that sat in front of him, but before he did, he took a last glance at Jevil. He wasn't sure how to feel about him. So far, he was silent and flinched at simple gestures but also ran up to him almost like trying to greet a friend.
He decided not to concern himself with it and instead pull his notebook out from underneath all of the contracts. He knew fully well this was intended to be a meeting but he saw no reason for there to be one.

They both would study and know their lines regardless if they met or not. Seam scoffed underneath his breath, thinking about it.
Hunching over, he began to write a note dictating that he simply couldn't work with partners. Then he scribbled that out, and sighed. Maybe he should just ask how long they were paired for. If it was only for a few shows there would be no problem. Jevil would just be another face out of the thousands he's seen, if that were the case; and he was honestly hoping it would be.

He couldn't remember at the moment, the last time he depended on someone or trusted someone. He began to wonder what that would be like, or if Jevil would ever begin to speak. What he would be like, on stage.

He wondered what Jevil was really like, beneath that silent exterior of his. There was definitely something wrong. A flinch and a smile, and curious excitement at the same time. If Seam hadn't known anybody he would've said Jevil was, in fact, an abused animal.

Suddenly, a buzz rang out, along with a voice, calling out the word "Curtains!"
Well, it seemed one of his questions would be answered soon, then.