Act 4 / Video / Action for Rocket Headquarters / Goldenrod

[silentscales]

[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.]

Comments

action;

[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'.

action;

[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.]

action;

[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.

action;

[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.]

Re: action;

[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.

action;

[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.]

1/2

[pipers_son]

action;

[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?

action;

[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....

action;

[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.

action;

[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.]

action;

[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.

action;

[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!

[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!

[silentscales]

[That is a lot of responsibility! Snake blushes a bit, but also seems to swell with excitement.] Goldenrod is a good place to start too, says John.

[pipers_son]

Yeah, biggest city around, right? Looked at the map too. Big an' in the center a everythin', it's perfect. I'm gonna talk ta Whitney soon, and I'll let ya know how that goes.

But all that can come later! Hungry after all the excitement?

[You know, when he told you he kind of died back home? Joker sure is. Who knew that talking about your own death could make you so hungry? Or eager to not talk about it ever again?]

[silentscales]

[Snake just nods. He agrees so much with all of these things.]

[pipers_son]

Then it's settled! [He pushes himself up onto his feet and offers his hand to Snake. Although maybe there is something else they should talk about before they go out into the open..]

Hey, ya think bein' in Rocket is gonna be any problem?

[They have been up to a lot of business lately...]

[silentscales]

[Snake is reminded of his shirt when Joker brings up Rocket again. He forgot it was an inside-out Rocket shirt. He didn't really have much else to wear when he got here and it was a good deal warmer than the footman outfit he had. He goes into the bag he has from his shopping and pulls out a v-necked long sleeve shirt and changes into it. He carefully folds up the Rocket uniform shirt and buries it in the bag before putting the sweater back on and wrapping a scarf he bought around his neck as he answers,]

We don't know anything right now, says Gaskell.

...
....

We will be glad to help them, says John.

[Well, at least John will. Snake does not seem as fond of that idea.]

[pipers_son]

[That doesn't sound too confident... But Joker will let it go for now.]

Well, feel free ta chat about it around me if ya like. I ain't exactly the type ta go mouth off ta police.

[For some strange reason... Joker goes to open the door. His Luxray slinks off the bed to sniff at Snake's legs before striding right past everyone. Make way, peasants. Joker just laughs a little.]

Sorry 'bout her. That's cats for ya, I suppose. Angel's the friendlier one.

[The Mime Jr. definitely seems in higher spirits as she clings to Joker's leg and grins up at Snake.]

[silentscales]

[Snake doesn't seem to be entirely sure what to do with the cat, but also doesn't seem to mind. All in all, it is a great deal friendlier than several of his snakes back home would treat someone they don't know if Snake were not there to tell them to behave.

If anything, John makes himself more comfortable around Snake's shoulders, looking just as smug. He gets carried.

Snake lets him and looks down to the Mime Jr. as Gaskell waves,] Hi there! says Gaskell.

[pipers_son]

[The greeting is enthusiastically returned with lots of waving and smiles. When not picking up on her trainer's emotions, Angel is clearly a cheerful kind of Pokemon. She's also small enough that she's happy to cling to Joker's leg as he walks without it being a problem.]

Ya had another friend when ya were here before, didn't ya? Crocker has her if ya ever decide ta go and ask about it.

[silentscales]

[Snake follows Joker out of the place. His head shoots up at that and he nods,] I will, thank you, says John.

[pipers_son]

Heh... [Joker shoots back a bright grin.] I knew ya would be worryin'. Ya always cared about yer friends. That's how I know I could count on ya back home to watch our backs when it came ta the circus.

[silentscales]

That won't change here, says John. [Stop complementing him, he doesn't know what to do.]