lackingbeauty | ♕ 001 // Action for Route 29

[Someone is apparently styling the black and white sad clown makup look today. One half of Crocker's face has black makeup, outside of outline a frown with some white makeup on that side and the white makeup side has a black makeup outline of the frowning painted on facial expression and a single black tear near the rim of his glasses.]

Looks as if you could use some help there.

I see you know Doll, Joker and Snake. So - WELCOME!

And no- you're not any crazier than I am!

[It's been... a day.]

[Just like he'd predicted with Jimmy, some young little lion cub lookin' things which seemed suspiciously similar to Lysandre's Pyroar had shown up. It's easy to be ecstatic, he's good at that... at first. But something inside him snaps and, well, that's why there are now 20 Litleo in his PC and probably being released en masse back at the circus. He hardly knows what got into him all that.]

[But... Alright, maybe that's a lie. Maybe he already knows why. Because when you think "lions" in a circus act, you inevitably think "animal tamer". And...]

[It's the longest he's ever been from his family. Even back when he was nothing but a kid who looked like he was made out of nothing but twigs or dirt, when they were all starving and lived in filth, they still saw each other just about every day. They still were with one another.]

[Here it's just him and Snake- Doll and Suit alike gone within just a few months, not nearly long enough for him, and the others... the others never here.]

[There's a part of him, admittedly, that hisses in his own mind that this is his punishment. He's only ever cared for his family, only ever been able to care for his family, so wouldn't it be fitting that this would be Hell for him? Maybe the good book was wrong. Maybe Hell isn't fire and brimstone, maybe it's being given everything you could ever need and want except you can't share it with the people who really matter. You can't make it up to them.]

[It's the kind of thinking he tries to run from; it's just too suffocating. Besides, it's not just himself he has to think about with these things. Angel always feels it too, and tries to get his mind off of it like now as she looks up at him with sad eyes and nudges the Pokegear into his hand. They've been with each other long enough that saying anything isn't necessary. He gets the idea. Maybe they can distract themselves. God knows the network has always been full of colorful characters.]

[But then he hears that voice and it feels like his heart nearly damn well stops. Joker isn't even sure he's breathing as he stares at the screen- he knows that voice. Those eyes. Shakily, without thinking, he raises a hand to the scarf around his neck. It's only at those final words does he snap out of it.]

[He hastily grabs at it, flicking on his own camera and trying not to drop the thing in his excitement. He probably looks a wreck- pale underneath his usual colorful makeup and possibly on the verge of tears.]

Beast! Beast, it's you- it's like a fancy telephone, it's- are ya okay!? What's the last thing ya remember!?

Cor, it's really you-

Edited 2014-09-11 22:08 (UTC)

[Well, it certainly has been a day. What with the lions showing up and all, Jimmy found himself not too surprised to find that Joker had gotten a fair few for himself. Perhaps twenty seemed like it was a bit overkill, but the boy didn't really think much of it, especially after their incident with the bats previously.

From his hotel room across from Joker's in Azalea, he hears a video come across the network from where his Gear is lying on the bed. He looks up from where he'd been stroking the top of his Noibat's head, waiting for the little one to drift off to sleep, stretching a long arm out to pick up the device.

When he hears her mention Joker, he freezes for a moment before answering.]

Hello? ..Joker is here. I've been traveling with him...

Who are you?

Nah, you're fine. It ain't unusual to think you're goin' crazy, though.

[Veronica had found a seat underneath a tree, her Eevee sitting comfortably in her lap, while her Murkrow chose to watch overhead.

You know who Joker is?

[So, more people from the same world then.]

[That's a feeling he's familiar with. Wondering if he's maybe gone crazy, or he's dreaming, being here. Even after having been in Johto for several months, it's something Chihiro finds himself thinking about often.]

You're not crazy. I mean...if you were, then the rest of us would have to be, too.

...are you okay?

[There was a clown on her screen and that blasted device was talking at her. She was lost, in a town she'd never seen before filled with people dressed like she'd never seen, houses like she'd never seen, animals like she'd never seen, and she's alone.

Crying wasn't an option- she had to find out where she was, had to join up with the rest of her family again, finish their mission so they could reunite with Joker back at the circus and move on just like they had every other time.

That's what had to happen.

But instead she feels the pressure of the threat of tears behind her eyes even as she tries to figure out how to respond to the first voice, and then-

There's another one, and it's not just his voice, it's his face, and she's ashamed that after what she's done the first thing that floods her is relief.

He's alright. She didn't- nothing had come of it-]

Joker... ?

[Aware that he'd asked questions, and yet his name was the only thing that came out.]

[She's still there. She's really there. The name on the 'Gear says "Beast".]

[Besides him, out of view of the camera, Angel looks like she's going to hyperventilate. Her own eyes already have tears spilling from them- she's always been more honest about his own emotions than he's been. He has to remember to force in a breath.]

[Old engrained habits deep in his mind try to force the same usual smile to his face, cheerful and relaxed and comforting, but he can't. All he can remember is laying on the floor bleeding and heavy with the knowledge that he'd sent his family to their deaths. That he'd asked Suit, William, if they really had.]

[Another breath forced in. Joker manages to steady his voice even though it feels like his heart is stuck in his throat.]

Listen, I'm comin' as soon as I can, alright? I'll rush over there- but tell me yer alright, please.

[She's so shaken and quiet, is she from straight after then? Is that why? Nausea churns in his stomach. She'd wanted them to go and he couldn't have done that, he couldn't have, but maybe if he'd done something...]

[The sound makes her start, jerking the device back up from the grass to her face. The make-up would normally identify him as something familiar, but- she didn't know his face, he wasn't Noah's Ark...

Yet he claimed to know Joker? Doll? Snake?

She really was going crazy.]

Who the 'ell are you?

[And she was yelling at a small... Box. Yup. Crazy.]

[He couldn't know that what's choking her up isn't shock, isn't some trauma or death, but her own guilt. She'd told herself that the next time she saw him, she'd tell him everything. Confess what she'd done, what- what Black had done- and beg him once more to come away, let that be the last job. Father would have what he'd truly desired, and surely... They didn't make much but their circus could support those children-

But nothing comes out, and instead, when faced with him, let alone this alien place...

Instinctively she pushed that truth far out of sight in to the darkest and most secret part of herself.

Instead she focuses on the screen. There are voices and pictures and it's overwhelming, so she blocks them out for now, focusing on the only one she knew or cared about. Joker was asking-]

M'fine-

[No, she isn't, but when has anyone in their little ragtag group truly been?]

I jus' don' know- where the are we, Joker-

[Another voice, video, what have you-

This technology was far beyond Beast's world, far beyond even the reaches of her imagination (though she wasn't that imaginative to begin with). She bit her lip, holding the device alternatively too close or too far, trying to get a good look at the boy on the screen.

Though his question didn't seem to sit well with her.]

Who the 'ell are you?

[Jimmy's breath catches a little at Beast's tone, and it causes the bat hanging on to the front of his shirt to lift his head sleepily, letting out a soft squeak. He pets the top of his head again with his free hand before turning his attention back to the screen.]

Jimmy! My name is Jimmy, Jimmy Two-Shoes.

[No, she was definitely not fine.]

Sounds jus' like what a bedlam lad'd say.

[All these people claiming to know Joker is disorienting- almost as much as the place itself. It made her nervous. Didn't she know everyone Joker did? So who were all these-]

Fer all that it's yer business!

'ow is any a this okay?

[The outburst isn't because of or really at the person on the other end of the video, but that's what Beast had to say on that matter, her grip on the pokegear liable to break it at this rate.]

Hah-! Tough to argue, when you put it like that. But I'm not...er, I'm pretty sure I'm not insane myself. This place is just impossible, it's nothin' wrong with you.

Hmm.

[Veronica's brow furrowed, the stitches that lined her face stretching ever so slightly with the motion.]

Well, he's here. Just letting you know.

[She's fine, she's alright, as well as any of them have really ever been but that's all he can ask for. Joker feels his heartbeat slow a little from its rapid panicked pace.]

[Right, right, this place is so strange but he's just been here for so long, how do you even begin to explain? Doll had been easier, a lot like him maybe in that she'd been able to adjust, but he knows the rest aren't like that. He takes a breath and closes his eyes until he can fake a smile to help put her at ease.]

It's... It's real difficult ta explain, but it's called Johto and we're a real long way from England. When I get there, I'll explain everythin', but until then... A whole lotta other people can talk ta ya on this. They'll answer questions, lots a helpful sorts around this place, so don't be shy.

Before ya know it, I'll be there. I'll go as fast as I can, alright?

[Chihiro jumps, his grip on his own Gear slipping a bit at the sudden outburst.]

I-....

...i-it isn't. Especially if....y-you've been taken from your home...nobody deserves that.

...but...it's really...not that bad of a place, here...

[Especially if you're fortunate enough to have friends with you.

And he knows he's not really one to talk, since many people probably have better reasons for wanting to go back home. Whereas he has his reasons for wanting to stay.]

[Johto. Joe-toh? Jyo-too?

The word is as foreign as the place seems. When was the last time she'd seen a place like this? Picaresque woodland and grass and green? She remembered the last time as clearly as anything- the hill on which Renbon Workhouse set. But it had been nearly ten years since those days. Ten years of travel and roads and cities and performances and this unspoiled nature is now like foreign soil once again, like a mocking reminder of some attempt at childhood.

A long way from England? That was all well and good, if she remembered anything at all about her journey. One minute there, one minute late waking up to some woman she didn't know hanging her things and pushing out of a house- her house?. Being handed a strange ball, running, fleeing what could only be a nightmare, be madness-]

Where 'r you?

[Maybe it was actually a dream- she wasn't crazy it was just a horrid dream. Beast doesn't even address Jokers suggestion, that she not be shy and ask questions of those strangers. That had never been what she was good at- not outside the circus ring anyway. The last thing she wanted to do was acknowledge the other voices and faces, for fear that would make... Whatever this was. More real.]

[The more they talk, the more he can feel himself calming down. She's not going anywhere- not yet anyway, and he can only pray not for a long while. It finally occurs to him to move. The sooner they find each other again, see each other in the flesh, the better. So he gets up, 'Gear still held in his hand as he starts to make his way out. Angel watches out for him. She always does. Now, right at his heels, she keeps the doors open for him and listens carefully to the conversation.]

It's a lil' town near a mountain and a forest called Azalea. New Bark is where yer at, and they ain't too far from each other.

[That's a lie, actually. They're quite a damn ways from each other. It's a week long travel from Cherrygrove to Violet alone, and those two towns are between him and Beast right now. That's fine, right now, not like when he had to go fetch Doll. He's already making plans as he heads to the Pokecenter. Ariel prefers to go her own pace when he's flying her and normally that's fine... But right now he needs someone who will fly fast like the bleedin' devil is on their tail.]

[Like with so many lies he's told, Joker does his best not to make it apparent it is one. He keeps working at his smile, keeps making it fake genuine, and has his tone stay steady and reassuring.]

[...Even if he's aware that if there's anyone who'd see past it, it'd be Beast.]

All the towns 'round here are named after flowers, seems like. Cherrygrove, Violet, Goldenrod, Mahogany, all things like that.

[Something mundane to hopefully help the whole situation seem so... bizarre.]

[It's not that close.

Beast realizes that when she notices his smile. (Hadn't she always noticed his smile?) it wasn't sincere- not that she'd necessarily seen a true smile out of him for years. - Had it been years? But she'd been watching, aching, until she could tell how much of a lie was concealed behind each one, if not what the lie might be.

But in this situation what else could it be? She hoped it was about the distance and not some other unknown, more terrifying truth of their capture or this place. She realizes from the video that he's moving, but she's standing still. Sitting, really, she'd collapsed once she put the town behind her, behind a tree just off the beaten path. The hiding place of someone who wasn't sure if they wanted to be found or not.]

... I'll wait.

[Is what she says though, not wanting to reveal the lie this time. She wanted to believe he was close. That any minute she'd see him again. It wasn't as if he'd been gone long, only two nights by her count.

But oh, what could happen in a night.

- if he would be a time, she'd need to make some sort of camp. Find food- her eyes dropped to the strange- what had that man called it? A pokeball?]

What's this, some sort a candy sweet land, then?

[Its an attempt at her normal more gruff, tough demeanor, turning up her nose at the names of the towns around them as childish, but she wasn't nearly as good an actor as Joker. Her tone fell flat.]

No, you're not.

[Does Beast need a no-nonsense schoolgirl talking to her.

Well, too bad, because she's got one anyway.]

Miss, you're part of that clown's family, aren't you? He'll be happy to see you--then again, knowing him he's probably already found you. I can answer any questions you might have, if you want.

Denzel Crocker.

[There's something rather edgy-creepy when he says that with his voice.]

And you are Miss -?

As far as Joker and Snake are concerned, I can say they are here. What's that to you?

[His eyes seem to narrow behind his glasses.]

And Doll was here but she returned home - but that's besides the point!

[Candy sweet land- ha. He gives a chuckle. It's not perfect- you don't get a shark flung at your head and think "this place has no problems ever". He's not that naive anyway. He's never been able to afford to be. But...]

[This place is better than a lot of other places he's seen. Too many kind people who haven't pulled the rug out from him yet. Too many ways to make sure you're just as protected as anyone.]

Would ya believe me if I said you've plopped right inta a fairytale land? [It's a tease, and it's comforting to make it.] We always said Doll was the Circus' princess, but I think ya would make a fair Snow White~!

♕ 001 // Action for Route 29

no subject

video- tl;dr

[video]

[video]

no subject

[video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[video]

[video]

[video]

no subject

[video]

[video]

no subject

no subject

[video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

[video]

no subject

no subject