4th Act

[pipers_son]

Who: Everyone involved in Joker's circus!
Where: Goldenrod
When: Throughout March 16th
Summary: Time for some good ol' fashion practice! And perhaps the first time plenty of folks will meet their coworkers.
Rating: PG at worst
Log:

A lot of work has been put into this day. Warning's been given, transportation has been worked out, and a space has been found! All of those who've been roped into Joker's circus one way or another have been sent directions and an address to a very large warehouse in the city. Inside?

A circus performer's paradise.

There's some acrobatic things way high up and a tightrope all prepared. (A safety net should assuage anyone's worries, hopefully.) Plenty of weights in all sizes are in one corner. Another has some hoops and balls. Basically if you can imagine it, then it's probably around here somewhere and there's enough space for all sorts of people and Pokemon to practice together.

Since the ringleader of the circus is also fairly considerate, there's a table set up close to the entrance people will be going through. It's a pretty long one, every inch of it covered in various fruits, snacks, and sandwiches. There are some large tubs filled with ice cold water bottles too.

So get to practicing, everyone! And don't be afraid to go check out your coworkers or their Pokemon, either. Your ringleader can't be the only one getting in everyone's business.

Comments

Sho Minimimoto ~ The Accountant

[yoctogram]

[Sho has arrived with the following equipment:
[•Two (2) Eevees in Everstone collars and makeshift saddle bags full of notepads (Nor) and pens (Nand)
[•One (1) Liepard in a hat with makeshift saddle bags full of his medications, aspirin, a spare 'Gear charger, bandages, some money and some snacks courtesy of Belphe, printouts of whatever tax information Sho could find, a calculator in case someone wants to check his maths, narcotic level headache medication for whatever poor sod actually attempts to check said maths (that was Riemannian Zeta-Function's idea, she put it in the the bags herself before they were fastened on)
[•One (1) Purrloin with a collection of bracelets (Aleph Null felt that if the others got jewellery/clothing so should he) riding on the Liepard's back with the PokeGear up and set to record so that Sho could go through everything later and start figuring out how much insurance they were going to need.]

[Approach at own risk.]

א‎₀, get that. [pointing at someone doing something] Riemannian Zeta-Function, circle left for as many angles as you can without getting in danger.

[pipers_son]

Well, glad ta see yer already gettin' ta business.

[That would be Joker jogging up, Angel the Mime Jr. right on his heels.]

[yoctogram]

[Sho's grin flickered out] Got to get as much footage as possible so that I can figure out how to argue the best possible rates for insurance. You...do want insurance on the performers and equipment, right?

[Don't make him sad, Joker. He's much saner than he used to be, but strangulation is still a perfectly acceptable way to express disappointment with safety regulations.]

[pipers_son]

No worries, I ain't the reckless sort! We definitely want the insurance bits. [Joker puts up his hand in defense.]

[...Well, he's sort of reckless, sometimes, on certain occasions, but not when it comes to doing his duty as a ringleader. It's why he's kept his Unown group around and has been looking into other Psychic Pokemon here and there. A little extra telekinetic back up never hurt anyone, especially when the real shows won't have the practice safety nets. (Telekinesis means being able to pretend everything is as dangerous as it looks, luckily.)]

It's a bit different than what I'm used ta back home- we'll be relyin' on ya so thanks for takin' the job!

[yoctogram]

Good. [The barely leashed violence leaked away in favour of a cheerful remarkably contained smile.]

[Then he shrugged and pointed out] Medicated or unmedicated, I like maths. This is all really basic stuff, too, so it's not like it's a hard job.

[pipers_son]

Then it works out well for the both of us! [Joker smiles right back.] And that doesn't do anythin' ta make me any less grateful.

If there's anythin' I can do ta help with what yer doin' here, lemme know.

[yoctogram]

List of performers, performances, and rehearsal schedules. [He says promptly] Personal injury insurance, property insurance, do you want accidental injury for the audience? Policy on covering the gap if someone gets killed and misses work? One week of pay? Two? No pay and an admonition to not fuck up next time? One group policy, policies on the different types of performers, separate for each performer? Are you insuring the Pokemon performers or just the human ones?

Pay scales & tables. Who is getting how much? Who is salaried rather than hourly? Overtime rates, if any? How much are you renting the grounds for? How much are you spending on food per capita? What sort of Green Room do you have set up for performances? Do you have private dressing rooms instead? What are your intended security measures to keep audiences out of places that they should not be? Are you planning on budgeting Everstone collars for the Pokemon performers to insure that they do not accidentally evolve before their trainers want them to?

[The twin Eevees sit their butts down and cheep happily at talk of collars, tilting their fuzzy little chins back so that Joker could ooh and aah over the ones they are wearing.]

[pipers_son]

...I think I'm gonna need ta write everythin' ya just asked me down. [Because wow those are a lot of questions he needs to answer.] The Everstone collars are definitely somethin' I was thinkin' about, 'tho, considerin' my own Angel has one too.

[The Mime Jr. in question comes closer, cheerily flaunting her own little necklace. Yeaaaah, bling party up in here.]

[yoctogram]

[The eevees continue to assure Angel that her necklace is gorgeous, and had Angel seen that their names were in there? Yes, yes, the funny ⊼ and ⊽ are actually how their names were spelled. Daddy is crazy.]

[Sho, meanwhile reached into the saddlebags on the Eevees and pulled out a notebook and pen so that he could rapidly write down all the information that he wanted to know. For someone as scattered as he is, his handwriting is blissfully easy to read.]

Probably want to shop for the stones in bulk, then, or get some personal ties to a seller.

[pipers_son]

[Those are names! Angel is utterly fascinated now and taking a close look. Please tell her more about these weird symbols.]

I'm gonna see which folks are interested in that and let ya know how many it looks like we'll need- although I'm definitely hopin' ta get ta know more folks throughout alla Johto.

That actually reminds me a somethin'. I've been workin' with a few a the gym leaders, but my goal is ta have the whole league involved in it one way or another. I've settled down for now after battlin' Whitney, but after our first big show, I'll probably head off again ta work on Morty and maybe the gym after that. A bit more money ain't ever hurt a business, yeah?

[yoctogram]

[Angel, please enjoy this one-part spoken (Nor) and one part interpretive dance (Nand) history of the mathematical symbols that are the names of Sho's pokemon (Riemannian Zeta-Function excluded), what they mean, and why Belphe (aka "mommy" - the Eevees have separation anxiety) gives all the ones with longer names (Z Notation Spot, Up Tack With Circle Above) nicknames ("Spot", "Tack"), and generally the crazy that is being with Sho.]

Usually not, but it can. Don't over-pay the talent. Pay well, but don't over pay or you're likely to start having people develop more ego than they ought to and that can hurt the business big-time if they start getting into ego wars about who deserves to be paid most, who deserves extra bonuses, etc.

Face it, there's only room for one given giant ego in any business, and I've got that one all tied up. [It's...about 1/64th of a joke? He's working on his ego problems, but wryly aware that it's still big enough to be called a full-on egosphere with it's own weather systems and everything.] Not being part of the talent, though, I at least don't have any reasons to demand more money for being awesome.

[He will earn any raises he gets by being just that good, thanks.]

[pipers_son]

Oh don't worry, I've had ta deal with more than my fair share in regards ta folks like that. [Circuses bring about aaall sorts.] I'll keep 'em all under control, there's no worry for that.

[As controlled as things can be in the hectic space of a circus, anyway.]

Most a the folks I've hired don't seem like they'll bring too much trouble, but I suppose we'll just have ta wait and see, won't we?

[yoctogram]

Money can do weird things to people. [Really, Sho liked money more as an abstract than anything else. Accounting? That was fun. When he got paid, he'd just shove it all at Belphe and let her deal with the boring parts. Like buying things.] Glad you're the one dealing with them instead of me. I'm a damn good leader, mostly, but I'd rather just be with the numbers.

Re: Sho Minimimoto ~ The Accountant

[crackpotcrocker]

[During break Denzel is eatting lunch, which afterwards he seeks out Sho because after nearly getting maimed in hilarious ways all day, which isn't any different from any other day.]

Mr. Minimimoto... what exactly is my insurance policy?

[The man comes up to Sho like something the cat chewed up and spat out and yet somehow he's alive.]

[yoctogram]

Right now, [the tall, lanky teen said as he turned towards Denzel...and then picked up the Purrloin from the Liepard's hat and started tilting him for better angles on the mauling. Aleph Null pretty much just dangled and worked the 'Gear like a pro.] Turn right. Again. Again.

[Yes, that is Sho making the assumption that his orders are going to be followed. Sure, he might be in the eighteen-nineteen range, but he was the youngest Game Master back in Shibuya in part because when his ego wasn't getting in the way he was just so damn competent.]

right now there aren't any active policies on anyone. Once I've found, [found, bullied, flat out threatened] a company into issuing general worker's compensation we can discuss if it will suit your needs and what, if any, additional insurance you want.

Loss of limb, maybe? I've heard that death isn't too much of a continuing concern, although gap insurance if you die and miss some paychecks might be a good idea. Turn. ...Is there something under your chin? Tilt back and let א‎₀ get a good look at it. [Man, looks superficially to him like Joker is going to eat this policy. Ouch.]

[crackpotcrocker]

[Denzel obeys the commands to turn around even if he's baffled as to why.] Is there some point to this?

Yes, loss of limb sounds like a good one. [As Crocker thinks about Joker and that stray knife. Crocker shudders about the thought of concept of Death but Death (Botan) the person gives him warm friend feelings.] Even still doesn't sound like a pleasant experience.

[The man laughs rather nervously. Tilt back? Bad choice of words because of his consent slouching Crocker's entire body tilts back to see beneath his chin and he ends up on his rear.]

OW!

[However, despite looking horrible, Denzel seems to be alright.]

What about - say the audience getting injured?

[The man thinks about his days of having tenure and how he flats out abused that.]

[yoctogram]

[Sho shrugs and flashes a smile that isn't nearly as insane as it used to be...but man, it still manages to highlight the fact that his eyes are somewhat too yellow for him to have been entirely human before he got here, and his canines are just a fraction too sharp not to be called fangs.]

It's not so bad after the first couple of times. Well, I don't have personal experience of that here, but I've died a handful of times and it barely caused hiccups in my plans.

[When the other guy falls, he sets his Purrloin down...not to help Denzel up, but rather so that Aleph Null can abuse the fact that the human is down at his level for good pictures.]

If you're a performer, you won't be covered by audience insurance. If you're not a performer... [Sho's smile turned by shades brighter and less good natured] well, then you really shouldn't be here right now and you're liable for all of your own costs.

[His Liepard sighed and lay down to put a paw over her face, while the Purrloin paused in his obsessive chronicling of Denzel's injuries so that he could dig a pill bottle out of RZF's saddle bag and then rapidly climb the lanky trainer, shake out the appropriate dose, and use some of those Purrloin quick hands to stuff pills in Sho's mouth and hold his nose closed until the human swallowed.]

Gak! Uncalled for, you little hectopascal!

Purrrrrrloin!
Liiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee.
Vee! VEEEE!

No respect.

[crackpotcrocker]

[Crud! No wonder Crocker is falling so much today between ladders and now cats. Fiddle sticking felines. Needless to say past the pain of having just fell however the insanity from Shou wasn't what was bothersome. What was bothersome where those teeth that look like VAMPIRE FANGS! As soon as that dawns on Crocker the man is shaking in spot, frozen and unable to move between the vampire and the Pokemon cats. Any color has been drained due to fear and Crocker's eyes are as wide as plates.]

...The ...first... couple... of .... times?

I'm - technical - support.

[Crocker just barely begins to shudder out before whiplashing his mood as he sees the Purrloin give the medicine to Sho.]

...What just happened?

[yoctogram]

[Eventually Sho gave up; as long as he was stuck human he could not out-stare two cats and two foxes. He looks over at Denzel again and shrugged] I was a Reaper. Died once to go from human to Reaper, and I'm not entirely sure how many times after that. At least once.

[He holds up his black hand; matte black everywhere including the nails, swirling up to near his elbow, and gestures at the delicate 'whiskers' of black on his face] When I was Taboo Noise this corruption spread, but it's pretty much back to where it was before I died to become Taboo. Mu name is Minimimoto Sho, Leo Cantus, [A name of irony; just because his name was 'singing lion' did not mean he could sing. He did used to have a half-lion, half you-really-have-to-see-it body, though.] one time a Game Master in Shibuya's Reaper Game.

[Then, with a last baleful glare for the unimpressed Pokemon] Now Trainer to a bunch of Pokemon who are in full agreement with my... [travelling partner? Obsessively stalked companion? Girlfriend? Sex partner? Friend? Some of all of the above?] with Bell that I need to be medicated for. Things.

[crackpotcrocker]

[Was that all? Denzel appears to relax and as he does relax distresses by laughing like a manic briefly. Oh, so Sho's just a reaper. That helps better than a vampire, right? Botan's a reaper so... Crocker makes his way back to his feet and still eyes the cat Pokemon rather nervously, wait Leo?]

So, what are you? Part lion?

[There's just something inhuman about those fangs after all. As for the crazy, there is nothing wrong with that. Crocker himself doesn't have all his screws tighen in either.]

[yoctogram]

[Hey, briefly is better than Sho usually manages. The Eevees did, however, give Denzel a look that said they were contemplating if he needed to be medicated too.]

Not here.

[Sho is SO reassuring.]

Also not in this vibe, even back in Shibuya. Unless you're the right kind of dead you won't see it.

[crackpotcrocker]

[Crocker catches the looks of the Eevees and turns nervous because he'd much rather not. The man rubs his rear as he thinks about the needles poked there.]


Makes PERFECT SENSE!.. Considering the others who I've spoken too lost their non-human form when arriving here.

[The end part is so reassuring! In which the man turns paler again.] I see...

[Before offering a hand for a shake.]

Denzel Crocker. I'll be your tech man.

[Isn't it the strangest thing? Crocker came in looking horrible but now he looks - just fine.]

[yoctogram]

[They don't do needles. Just pills.]
Vee eee eeeveee vee?
Eeevee eeeee veeeee eee?

[For all that Sho wore a coat without a shirt, his hand felt a little over-warm. No fever, he just ran hot.]

Minamimoto Sho. Written... [he draws the kanji in the air. If Denzel reads air-Japanese, Sho's name is apparently south expert orang-outang.] ...Minamimoto is my family name. [He doesn't let many people call him Sho.]

I am running numbers. If you need any mathematics done, rates negotiable.

[...Doesn't even hit top twenty in Sho's line of work, really. It's interesting, but not enough for Sho to want to investigate it. Which is all to the best, because things that interesting call for the scientific approach, in this case "how much damage can I do before he stops going back to pretty much okay?"]

[crackpotcrocker]

[Either or Crocker isn't fond of the idea or how those Pokemon are eyeing him.]

Oh no. [Don't get any ideas Eevees or he may just Poke-nap you. The man states to the Eevee's before looking back over at Sho and very apparently not following the kanji as he stares blankly at the air-drawing.]

I can't say I know anything about contracts outside of one's for teachers but that's besides the point!

[If anything Crocker does want all the jibberish told to him, just to find loopholes.]

I think I can handle numbers. [Sounding a bit annoyed. He is taking care and wiring all of the circularity so one does need to know math and continies on rather unenthusiastic.]

If you need something fixed... I suppose let me know - FAIRIES!

[What even with that body twitch?]

[yoctogram]

[Sho stepped between Denzel and the Eevees with an expression of mild homicide. No toucha the Eevees.]

I am learning contracts. Plugging the holes is moderately amusing. [Get people into horribly binding things with their only hope being Joker's mercy? Hell yes.]

I, [This is not an ego. This is a full-on, has it's own weather system, egosphere] am a genius, and maths are are my focus. You might be able to handle numbers, but I handle mathematics. I do, in my head and for fun, what most graduate students use calculators and sobbing to get through.