2nd Act

[pipers_son]

Who: Joker and Saionji Hiyoko
Where: Azalea
When: January 24
Summary: He really shouldn't have called her 'Princess'.
Rating: PG for possible violence
Log:

It was actually a fairly good week, so far. Certainly Joker couldn't be happier. Facing off against Bugsy had gone rather well. He had to say, Ruby was pulling her weight in more ways than one. The warmer weather didn't stop her from being one of his best members.

It was just the two of them today, his Mime Jr. back in the hotel room keeping their latest egg additions warm. He wasn't expecting much on his one day off as he strolled through the town, the Rapidash at his side. "Now now, they'll be just fine on their own, don't you worry." Since everything had been so peaceful, he really wasn't expecting anything to really happen...

Especially not running into a certain blonde dancer he had offended (to put it lightly) some days ago.

Comments

[konpeitoqueen]

...Well then. A filthy Westerner from the period where they was basically harassing Japan and the rest of the world, it seems. "A future thing, then. But how did you survive in 1888? I mean, your arm is missing." The past is an unforgiving place, isn't it?

[pipers_son]

Oh, well, that's actually a pretty good question. He didn't really expect her to ask something like that. Not too many people have, so far, and she didn't seem the type to care. Joker nearly sings the answer out. "~Pure blind luck~!"

...What? It's honestly pretty true. Wendy, Peter, and Jumbo all had it easy, relatively speaking. Joker didn't know much about the body but he didn't think their lack of growth (or excess of it in Jumbo's case) would have killed them. But him and Beast and Dagger... Joker used to marvel back on it when he was younger.

"Besides, ended up gettin' takin' in by a swell fella who helped us find a doctor!" Just- the slightest twitch of his lip at that, at the corners. "Fitted us with some fake limbs."

[konpeitoqueen]

Joker's not the only one who's used to putting on a stage face. Saionji almost misses that, but decides not to dwell on it- the lives behind people are mostly better not known. She's had her fair share of entangled memories rooting into her brain, anyway.

"Whaaat? You got adopted? Actually, I guess that makes sense. Dumb Westerners trying to validate their own skewed morality by taking in poor children on the street, huh?" She's honestly just the tiniest bit curious, but for once, just lets it go. (She can almost hear Big Sis Koizumi congratulating her!)

...But she does... want to know one thing. "If you lose limbs, do you really still feel them there?"

[pipers_son]

"Well, I dunno if it was that..." Even if it's- actually probably true. At least in their orphanage's case. Joker doesn't really care to think on it, anymore. He tries this best to avoid it, as a matter of fact.

Oh, new question. Joker grins and gives a shrug. "The whole ghost limb thing, right? Sometimes! Sure is a pain when it's early in the mornin', I can tell ya that much." Has he fallen on his face while still groggy and thinking he has his prosthetic? Maybe. That's a possibility.

[konpeitoqueen]

"Shouldn't you get a new fake arm? Or else Pokémon in the wild are gonna think you're an easy target! And I still need to battle you, so you're not allowed to get eaten and end up in the Pokécenter for months on end." WELP.

"And don't people here give you weird stares? Even death gets restored in this world! Lost kind are replaced here! You're one of the only truly disabled people amongst the populace." Okay, getting a bit more in-your-face. She honestly doesn't give a hoot about what Joker thinks about her inquiries, just barely skidding along the decency to stay away from a different sensitive topic. But this is a legitimate query! How do you even deal?

[pipers_son]

It's actually sort of funny to have someone get so worked about his missing arm. That hasn't actually happened for a while. Not since- Doctor. Sort of something to wonder about, actually... Leaning back a little, he rests his chin in the palm of his hand. It's a bit awkward, but it shows his amusement well enough.

"Haven't had an issue with either, matter a fact!" A bright cheery grin. Sure, the questions are a biiiit invasive, but he's heard far worse. "Angel is my little leader amongst my troupe, and haven't had anyone make much fuss out of it!" He pauses in thought only for his smile to grow all the wider. "Besides you, anyway!"

[konpeitoqueen]

Missing limbs are serious business! Missing limbs mean you can't dance well! Missing limbs mean expulsion from the Saionji clan!

Uh.

"Good for you, I guess." Saionji wants to be bitter, but at the same time, she's slightly glad this place isn't so unforgiving and cruel. That's... something, right?

[pipers_son]

"I'll say." It's definitely a lot better than the streets he grew up on. Joker almost isn't sure how to react to such a nice place, actually. Sure, there's that Rocket bunch... but hey, they haven't bothered him yet. "So long as I got one arm, anyway, it ain't that bad! And Haru's been a lifesaver- Meganium, that one. Didn't think vines would have so many uses."

Seriously, Angel the Mime Jr. and Haru the Meganium... They make for whatever he's lacking.

[konpeitoqueen]

...Now that they've devolved into idle conversation, Saionji's starting to get bored. "Well, try not to die. I'll be going to Violet soon!"

And it turns out, she has Shaun's Rapidash, which rushes out from its own Pokéball when she throws it at the ground. It takes a bit of a scramble for her to climb up onto its flaming back. "Now that I don't have anything to do here, I'd rather not waste my time on you, Mr Stooge."

[pipers_son]

Hey, fine with him! It means no more attempts on his face. That helps him make his money you know. As she gets herself up onto her own Rapidash, Joker decides to be a little shit and blows a kiss to her.

"Be seein' ya when ya know what yer doin', Hiyo!"

[konpeitoqueen]

"Electro Ball."

And so she makes Farron send an attack right at his face as she dashes off and quickly returns the Ampharos before she leaves Pokéball distance. She's definitively leaving with a sour taste on her tongue, but... he stopped calling her Princess, at least.