♕ 002 // Action for Goldenrod (Circus)

[lackingbeauty]

-ere.

[Beast, for anyone who remembers her first broadcast some time ago, seems to have gotten the hang of the PokéGear, holding it so that it better shows her from the shoulder up, outside Eve's Garden Circus in Goldenrod.]

Reckon that's workin' now. Ye can 'ear me an' such.

[She looks. Irritated? Stern? Strained? Maybe it's just her face.]

Been 'ere longer 'n I care t'be, but apparently that isn' about to change, so I'll introduce myself proper.

Name's Beast. Animal tamer by trade. [She snorts a bit derisively before muttering under her breath-] Though looks like everyone 'n their brother is claimin' t'be the same in this place.

Any 'ow, I figured to thank the people who tried to talk t'me when I first arrived. Ye'll forgive I weren' exactly the 'appiest woman at the time, seein' as I think takin' that sort a arrival calmly might mean yer off in the 'ead.

Didn' get most a yer names, but I appreciate what ye done.

[Which is the closest she'll come to apologizing for how she treated some of you. Take it or leave it.]

That said, 'll be takin' up at the circus time bein'. 'd like t' 'ave a few words with anyone who considers themself a part a that. In person, preferably. This gear'll do if yer away.

Good day t'ye.

[Look at that- so polite.]

Comments

[diehardreaper]

Wager everyone's an animal trainer of sorts 'round this part now. Course, m'not belittling your skill, miss.

[ He's currently somewhere around town but mental note to pop over to say hi when he comes back from his cycling. ]

Apologies all around though. Didn't get to greet you your first day in. I was prolly trying to figure this all out myself but... bob's your uncle, here we are, eh? If I knew a lass like you was in a spot of trouble, I would've come 'round, no question.

[ Have a small two fingered salute though. ]

It's Ronald Knox, by the by. Judging from where you are, we'll be seeing a bit of each other at the circus, I suppose.

[lackingbeauty]

Everyone's tryin' their 'and at it, anyway. Don' reckon I'd call it difficult when the animals round 'ere practically walk 'n talk, but, who's askin' me?

[Is that professional bitterness in her tone? Yes. Yes, it is.

The flattery bit is summarily... ignored.]

Remind me yer job round 'ere, Knox?

[She'd gotten a run down from Joker but seeing that... she was a bit information overloaded at the moment, she figured she'd remember better hearing it from people directly. Put a face to the name and position.

[diehardreaper]

It's prolly what we've been handed here to do so, why not, eh? Though the residents are a touch friendlier'n what you might be used to so back home, I'd still call what you have a skill.

[ There's an approving little nod from his duskull. ]

Joker said he'd known my boss from home. You lot know him as... Suit? I offered to give it a go, whatever he used to do to fill his spot. Figured it'd be only right.

[lackingbeauty]

"Why not" in't much of a reason by my thinkin'.

[She isn't even going to touch the friendliness of the locals. It's weird. Someone who's used to getting by on the fringe, to not being accepted in normal social circles... all she had for being welcomed was skepticism.

That went in to overdrive the second Ronald said "Suit".]

- Suit was yer boss?

[diehardreaper]

I figure it'd be a bit of a holiday from the usual grind.

[ Hm. More of that. Joker did have almost the same reaction when they first spoke. ]

Yeah. I was acting as backup for the collection. T'was a big job, after all. Hardly anything one reaper could take on his own.

[ A beat to think. ]

You know, you did say something about speaking to people in private so... if you'll give me a bit, I could come 'round and... d'you fancy some tea? Coffee? There's a cafe somewhere in town we can talk. My treat.

[lackingbeauty]

[Interestingly enough, Beast has the same reaction- for different reasons. Someone doesn't know anything about collections, any big jobs, or reapers.

Beyond Suit's weird ramblings. Which had been suspicious enough.]

What collection? In't ye some sort a government employee, then, if Suit was yer boss?

[That's what she'd heard anyway- and he looked the part, all uptight, stone-faced, and unfunny. A right weird fellow, and she'd never taken to a shine to him like Joker and Dagger had.]

... Yea, why don' ye come round. Tea'd be keen.

[diehardreaper]

Tea it is. I'll save the details for later. Give me about... ten minutes?
But a bit of a question while I ride.

[ He'll just pause so he can mount his bike again. ]

What's the last thing you remember? No wrong answers and nothing's too ridiculous or impossible. You can be as vague as you wish.

[lackingbeauty]

Ten minutes, then.

[Beast is already on guard- being related to Suit somehow might have given Ronald a pass with other members of Noah's Ark, but not with Beast. So that question really doesn't seem like something she'd like to answer, let alone to someone she doesn't know.]

Seein' as we jus' met, I doubt anythin' I say'd make a lick a sense t'ye in the first place.

[diehardreaper]

[ And he'll save his answer for when he actually gets there. Ronald ends up riding up right outside the circus on his bicycle with a ponyta galloping by his side and a duskull chilling in the bike basket. Said duskull gives a happy little wave as Ron hits the brakes. ]

Fair's fair. We've just met so... the last memory's prolly a bit private. Best I not pry, eh?

[ He'll pause again to get off, holding out a pokeball to call back the ponyta. ]

That's his exercise for the day done, then. And... Beast, right? Nothing beastly about you, that I can tell.

[ And holding his hand out for a proper greeting. ]

[lackingbeauty]

[Beast is standing right where she made her broadcast from, her Pokegear in hand and her foot tapping anxiously. - The real one. Noticeably absent is a Pokemon. She wasn't... acclimating well. That might be a good way to put how she felt about those animals.]

Reckon so.

[Is how she greeted him and his little entrance. That... thing was waving at her.

She didn't wave back.

She did reach out to grasp his hand in a firm, maybe too firm, shake.]

Charmed, 'm sure.

[- She wasn't. But she was trying to be polite.]

[hardknoxlife]

[ Oh hey, the lady has a grip. One he appreciates. Grim however seems to shrink back slightly and remain in his basket. ]

Absolutely charmed, miss. Now then... best we talk over that tea we agreed on. If you're ready, we can head off whenever you please.

[ He'll just take to wheeling his bike after he steps off it. ]

Wager you've just arrived too, then? I've been here nary a month, myself.

[silentscales]

[Snake seeks her out after the post ends. Unfortunately his new Onix is so eager to see her for being one of those that "considers themself" a part of the circus that he ends up bumping into with his nose. Snake has a new grumbling voice for this rock snake,] You wanted to talk? asks Quincy.

[lackingbeauty]

[Beast had been deep in thought, glaring at her Pokegear and poking through its features, still not exactly an expert on the thing, when-]

Bloody 'ell-

[She whirled around in momentary alarm, trying to stuff down the sheer panic she feels at being confronted with a...

Well. A huge snake made of rocks???

Yeah, she's... really not used to this Pokemon thing yet. Her own Pokemon is noticeably absent, not even a Pokeball in sight. But once she spots Snake behind the Onix she tries to settle down a bit. Though she... backs up. A few steps.]

Snake, put that thing away-

[She sounded a bit ticked off, but really, Snake was a sight for sore eyes amidst a world of the unfamiliar.]

[lackingbeauty]

Right, then.

[Beast cast something of an anxious look back at the circus tents, a fleeting moment where she considers telling Joker or Snake she'd be stepping out.

But something stops her.

Instead she takes up an easy stride besides his bike. If anything went wrong, (and seeing as in her memories, things feel about to go very wrong indeed), well. She knew how to take care of herself.

They all did.]

- Bout the same.

[hardknoxlife]

Yeah, that'd explain away why I didn't hear of you the first time round. Wish I could've been a bit more help though.

[ And so he begins to lead them down the street. ]

How're you getting along though?

[rarestcandy]

You're a circus person?

[She seems pretty pleased by this news, face close to the 'gear when she opens up the video.]

My bud Ralph's in that! He's the strong guy. I show up for the candy an' the fun.

video 5ever

[soundmind]

Miss Beast?

[Of course, still with the 'Miss.']

My name is Maka. That clown's using my Rapidash in his circus, and he bugs me a lot, so there's that.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[Well this woman...definitely looks a bit like Envy's sister, Lust. If Lust had short, curlier hair.]

Didn't realize that I'd need to get interviewed before joining.

Name's Envy, I'm just in it for the month. Still want to talk to me?

[silentscales]

[Snake keeps using the grumbling voice for Quincey, sounding a bit hurt,] I'm not a thing... says Quincey.

[But Snake really can't blame her for being scared. Quincey's a giant snake made of rocks with little idea of her own strength. At least she slinks back behind the rest of the team.

Snake might not keep his snakes hidden in his clothes, (since they were too big for that,) but he still usually had them all with him. He looks like he's gained a bit more muscle, but the Seviper who has made her way onto Snake's shoulders might help explain that.]

He only wanted to make you feel better, says Gaskell. [Snake spoke for the male seviper still on the ground using a understanding and soothing voice.]

[lackingbeauty]

[One of these days, Beast held out hope that Snake would stop pretending to translate for his snakes. (It's not like people could speak animal languages or be demons or any of that nonsense, anyhow-)

But today was not that day.

And she is side-eying that Seviper so hard. If she'd intended to close the distance between them again once the Onix retreated... she reconsidered.]

Not really in the mood t'be cheered up, sorry t'say. Even if ye seem well cheery yerself.

[She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, mouth set in a firm, displeased line even as she threw in her own version of "glad to see you looking well".]

[lackingbeauty]

Animal tamer, at yer service. Pleasure to provide the latter, a course.

[She tries to remember to put her stage person on somewhat- more potential customers might be using this thing.]

[lackingbeauty]

- Pleasure, Maka. Sorry I didn' catch yer name before.

[She remembers the girl from... well. The jumble of confusion and overwhelming strangeness of her arrival.]

[video]

[lackingbeauty]

Don' think of it as an interview so much as a vettin'. In't that normal fer any job, no matter the term?

[God, Joker, have you just been hiring any old person???]

[lackingbeauty]

I got all the 'elp I needed.

[From the one person she'd accept it from. Seeing as she tried to listen to others on arrival and ended up ignoring them after a few exchanges. They'd seemed like loons to her at the time.

... Still sort of did, really. Beast followed him with a certain degree of wariness, her tone betraying how she feels about small talk.]

- an' I'm gettin' alon' fine.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[He laughs.]

Yeah, I guess it is, isn't it? I'm not really used to having the kind of job you'd get hired for.

You're at the circus now?

[He doesn't really mind going along with the vetting. This is the first interesting 'job' he's had here.]