“All the world's a stage, and we are mere players.”
Roccia always wears a serene expression, calm beyond her years. That doesn't mean she is unfeeling. Quite the contrary, Roccia is unusually observant and very sensitive to other people's feelings, no matter how subtle or well-concealed they are. When they first came to the island, she noticed the secret anxieties the adults harbored. When they had been living on the island for some time, she noticed the feelings of homesickness her companions tried to hide for fear of them rubbing off on those around them...
Roccia, never good with words, will always try to find a way to cheer them up-accompanied by Pero, of course. She might make a thick soup that reminds them of their hometown, or stage a show that helps them forget about their worries for a while. She does her best. On stage, the juxtaposition between her calm face and chaotic movements never fails to elicit laughter. So, remember to enjoy yourself when she puts on a show for you, and don't forget to repay her with a smile.
The troupe is not flush with money. Everyone aboard does their share. Roccia is no exception. She never takes anything she doesn't feel she deserves, not even a simple piece of bread. Riding her suitcase, Roccia explores the ship, quietly and unobtrusively. Discarded trinkets will be devoured by Pero and later given a new life by Roccia's magical hands.
A cardboard box can be made into a backdrop, against which many stories unfold. A shattered glass ball and an old telescope can be transformed into a kaleidoscope, through which light shifts and dances. Luceanites buried in The Strand are unearthed and brought onto the stage, where they get to shine brightly... Some call Roccia and Pero a treasure trove that contains everything. Before the compliment can fully reach her, Roccia is already riding off on her suitcase, her serene expression unchanged.
When Doctor Benir first joined the troupe, he was a practitioner of something called "teacup assessment." He would judge a patient's mental state by the shape of tea leaves, and make diagnoses and suggestions accordingly...
Roccia, who is in charge of the troupe's bookkeeping, soon discovered an issue. Tea is a rare commodity on the island, expensive but not essential-ten pounds of fish could be traded for five pounds of flour, or a single pound of leaves. One day, when Benir came to Roccia for tea leaves, she offered him two pounds of seafish, three pounds of shellfish, four pounds of seaweed, and one pound of salt. Benir was reluctant to accept. Roccia took some of the ingredients and made a thick soup with them.
The soup filled the room with a mouth-watering aroma. He swallowed hard and finally accepted the offer. From the way the soup looked, Benir knew Roccia had a meticulous mind and a peaceful soul. More importantly, the soup tasted heavenly.
One ordinary afternoon, a huge suitcase appeared on deck. It was no ordinary suitcase-it was a treasure trove of defiance and creativity. It held various items: a quill still wet with ink, a crumpled handwritten script, a worn but beautiful mask, an unvetted play banned by the Order, and a petition signed by hundreds protesting the harsh restrictions on artistic freedom... The suitcase had been left behind by a rebellious playwright who refused to churn out cookie-cutter plays and disappeared without a trace.
The suitcase set sail with the ship, listening to the Fools sing as they battled hardships on their journey. The objects inside symbolized the final ideas of many creators. Over time, these ideas reacted to the Fools' soulful songs, merging together like rivers of inspiration until they became something new: a magical being, shiny and dark purple.
The magical being, Pero, was the one who found Roccia-a lone girl with no home to return to. In turn, Roccia was the one who gave Pero a name. The peculiar suitcase would emit a sound like "Pero, Pero," and the name reminded Roccia of a loyal helper from a play she had once seen. Pero shared the dazzling shows and ideas hidden within her belly with Roccia, while Roccia gave Pero an identity-a name. This is how the troupe's Fools came to live together, their fates forever tightly intertwined.
Roccia is dressed in an elaborate, brightly-colored costume, complete with a masquerade mask that sits at a rakish angle on her head. She stands still. She slowly raises her hand, her sleeves and skirts flapping. As if in response, the curtain rises. Welcome to my improv show!