You say it was just some leftover cursed ring stuff. As you gently wake Tamako, you ask if they had fun taking pictures of you.
Kamiko looks properly embarrassed, blushing slightly. Emogen just laughs and says, "Sorry, but I couldn't resist. It was just to adorable. I'll send you the pictures later."
You hear a click and then a staticky voice from nowhere say, "Now approaching the Valley of Laughter, Jangleburg station. Door is to my left. Next stop, The Valley of Laughter, Stripes City."
Your co-workers stand up, and you and Tamako follow suit. Despite the windows still showing office buildings and power lines the train doors open to reveal a more medieval themed train station. The second you step out this place gives you a very different feeling from when you were traveling through the faeworld last time. There is a sort of cheerfulness in the air and though somewhat quiet in the station save for the sounds of bells from people walking around in fool's caps, you can hear music and loud, happy voices coming from outside. Though the walls of the station are polished stone brick and the floor checkered tiling, the hues of whites, blacks, and grays seem more vibrant. Periodically along the wall is a rectangular, tapered banner is hung that breaks up the room nicely. The left side is red, the right black, and in the center is a jester's head in white.
From what you can see, nearly everyone here is a jester, or at the very least dressed up like one. So much so that you almost didn't notice the jester wearing a crown stride carefree over to your party.
"Long time no see, my fellow story-goers. But we've seem to have lost a grandpa and a dog, but gained someone new!" The Jester King says, giving your porcine co-worker a polite bow.
"My name is Emogen." she responds. "Golly, never met a king before."
"Well, I'm happy I could oblige! Anyway, I came down as quickly as I heard it was the mechanical monster slayers themselves." The Jester says, bouncing on his heel a bit.
Kamiko takes out a pen and notepad while asking, "Can you give us more information on your missing daughter? We came as fast as we could, so we don't have the best intel."
"Yes... Well, I know where she is. She couldn't be anywhere else but with my ex, the Mime Queen! She was on her way to visit after our time in the story. Hm? Yes, she was there." The Jester says at the surprised look in your eyes, "It was a bit of a father-daughter bonding exercise. She played one of the failed and punished suitors, you may not have seen her. She was there when the story concluded though."
"So this is a very recent disappearance?" Kamiko asks, jotting down some notes.
"Yes! Her mother, and I all met up for celebratory dinner and... Well, there was a bit of an argument and then she dragged my daughter away! She claims my daughter stormed out shortly after and should be home. She has the gall to claim we're the ones holding our daughter. Poppycock!" The Jester says annoyed.
