silentscales | Act 4 / Video / Action for Rocket Headquarters / Goldenrod

[A man appears on screen with a seviper poking his head in and an ekans around his shoulders. He is wearing a plain black long sleeved shirt, looking through some warm clothes in a store.]

I was gone for a while, but I am glad to be back. We lost the things we had saved up until now, says Gaskell.

I miss Ruskin, says John.

[OOC: Snake can also be found in Rocket headquarters later in the day, checking out the TVs and video games and trying to figure out how they work.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

pipers_son

[Thaaat is not a good reaction. Leaving Angel under Lightning's care, Joker gets up to tentatively approach his friend.]

...Do ya mean what he told ya, or what happened ta me?

From:

silentscales

[Snake won't stop Joker. Even after hearing that he is a kidnapper, he still wanted to find him after all.] You can't be dead, says John.

From:

pipers_son

Snake..

[It's difficult, but he leans in for a sort of hug, his one hand coming up from behind to pat the back of Snake's head.]

Sorry. I was losin' an awful lotta blood. Everythin' was on fire, too... I got tricks up my sleeve most a the time, but nothin' that could help me in that sorta situation.

From:

silentscales

[Snake looks up to Joker. He doesn't really respond to the touch, but it doesn't mean he didn't appreciate it at a time like this. His two pokèmon are at a loss, though they hiss softly and move as they can to try to comfort their trainer.] What about everyone else, asks John?

[He's grasping at straws for some kind of hope. Some light to the situation.]

From:

pipers_son

[It's something he figured would come up sooner or later, but it still doesn't soften the blow of having to hear it. Joker gives a grimace, and he has to pull his hand back just a little to curl it into a fist before forcing himself to relax.]

...They were supposed ta go to the Phantomhive place.

From:

silentscales

[Snake tries to calm his breathing,] Something must have happened on the way, says John!

From:

pipers_son

[A pained smile passes over his face.]

I'd like ta believe that more than anythin'. But ya know Jumbo and Beast and all the rest. Anythin' that could stop that lot...

[He shakes his head. He has to focus. He shifts his hand, gripping Snake's shoulder tightly.]

Try not ta focus on that, alright? Because we'll get ta see them again, won't we? No matter what's gone on back home... This place is different, right?

From:

silentscales

[Snake's head drops. If this was the only place he could see everyone again... It hurt to think about. He's already disappeared from this place once, and for months. How could he know if he was going to leave again?

Joker is right though. Anything that could stop them....

A moment of realization crosses his expression, and then he looks up to Joker again. If they went to the Phantomhive Estate, then the butler....] Black....

[He balls up his fists and clenches his teeth. How could he? But it made the most sense! Black hadn't been bothered by any of his snake's venom, he didn't have any problem fooling everyone into thinking he was dead and still managing the estate. He didn't sleep as far as his snakes knew.] No! I can't believe it! He killed them! says John.

From:

pipers_son

[Joker rocks back onto his heels, a look of disgust passing over his face.]

Black, yeah, he's a dangerous one... Not half sure he's human with all he can do. But- don't think he coulda done it, Snake.

[He hisses in a breath between his teeth.]

He was a bit occupied with myself.

From:

silentscales

Ekans![John knows enough about the situations from Snake that he gets as upset as Snake when he hears that. Gaskell just draws back with an angry hiss, still unhappy that his trainer is angry.

If that was true... then it means that Joker could really be dead back home. He butler did manage to catch Snake and tie him up.

But if not Black, then who? Ciel couldn't, and he couldn't imagine anyone else in the house doing something like that. But knowing alone that Black and Smile betrayed him hits him hard.]

We'll all stay here, says Gaskell....

From:

pipers_son

[In contrast, Joker isn't surprised. Ciel had already told him plenty enough, and after seeing what kind of monster that butler of his could be... It hurts to admit he sent his family to their deaths.]

[He heaves out a sigh, resting his knuckles against the side of his face.]

Ain't in any rush ta go back... Aaah, and I'd been hopin' this would be a happier reunion. Sorry I had ta be the one ta tell you all this, Snake.

[A pause as he shifts a little awkwardly.]

And- that we weren't straight with ya from the beginnin'.

From:

silentscales

[Snake takes a long, quiet moment to take everything in. It is a lot to wrap his head around. His friends are dead, he was lied to, everything he knew basically crumbled around his ears again and in a much quicker manner than when they just didn't come back.] You will be from now on? asks Gaskell?

[Snake's ekans starts to get jittery though, not really liking where this conversation is going. Rocket wouldn't like where this conversation is going.]

From:

pipers_son

[Joker doesn't answer right away, hand smoothing out until its cupping the side of his face. Finally, a sigh.]

Ain't got much ta hide these days that ya don't know now. Besides... S'just the two of us for now. Y'deserve it.

From:

silentscales

[Snake takes out one of his pokèballs and has his ekans return to it, and the snake pokèmon does not look in the least bit happy. Snake sighs and his seviper nods to him.]

Will you promise you won't repeat any of this, says Gaskell.

[He knows Joker won't, but he wants a promise. A promise from Joker is one he still trusts. Joker is family, so even if his ekans is upset and going to cause problems then he wanted to be open with Joker too.]

From:

pipers_son

[Joker's eyebrows go up as the snake type is recalled. It's obvious to anyone who knows Snake just how he feels about his scaled friends. For him to put one of 'em away... Well, his attention is definitely on this now, and even Angel is blearily raising her head and blinking.]

'Course. Cross my heart and- [ER] Well, I swear I won't say a word if it's that important ta ya.

From:

silentscales

[Still Snake doesn't want to put it into words. It's not exactly something he had hoped for or wanted. And he knows he can get in a lot of trouble for it. Gaskell hisses gently and Snake sighs,] We are in Team Rocket, says Gaskell.

[Now just to wait to see Joker's reaction.]

From:

pipers_son

From:

pipers_son

Well, bugger all. [It's actually a pretty tame reaction, all things considering. Honestly? Better Team Rocket than Ciel Phantomhive.] Yer the second person ta tell me that, matter a fact. Explains how Crocker knows ya.

[A breath.]

Just how'd ya get mixed up in their lot?

From:

silentscales

We arrived at their headquarters, says Gaskell. [Snake seems pretty relieved that's the only reaction. That isn't bad at all.

John's pokèball shakes, and Snake lets him out again. As he translates he looks away from Joker. He doesn't exactly agree with John on these points, but he won't deny his eager friend a voice,]

You should join too, it's a path to success! says John....

From:

pipers_son

[Well, when you're the reason why dozens of English children end up missing from their homes, it becomes a little hard to judge the illegal activities of others... He's well aware he can't exactly take the moral high ground here. No interest in it, either.]

[Joker gives a thoughtful rub of his chin, humming a little.]

So that explains why ya were here instead of over in New Bark... [He perks up a little as the conversation shifts a bit and can't help but chuckling.] It's actually kinda funny ya would say that. S'matter a fact, Snake, I was gonna ask if you and yer friends were interested in joinin' somethin' of mine.

From:

silentscales

... Is it an act? asks John? [Who honestly seems eager for that. He and a seviper named Ruskin had been practicing one with Snake before he left. Working with such large snakes proved a challenge, but one the trio were getting better with.]

From:

pipers_son

Ta da~! [He snaps his fingers and gives a thumbs up to John.] Right in one!

I have plans ta start up a new circus here! Not like I know much else, heh. [He starts to ease up again. They're back in familiar territory, less morbid territory.] Just need ta get the folks willin' ta back it up.

Besides... Then they'll know where ta find us- Beast, Doll, Dagger... all of 'em.

From:

silentscales

[Snake is looking content again, sitting up and relaxing. His pokèmon immediately catch on and relax as well.] You can definitely do it! We can ask everyone on the pokègear if they are interested, says Gaskell.

They'll be able to find us right away, says John!

From:

pipers_son

[That's a much better look and he can nearly feel the air clearing up.]

I'll definitely be countin' on all yer help~! Especially since ya know what it means with you bein' the only member of the troupe here, don't ya? [Joker gives a friendly wink.] Yer my right hand man!