[open] ring the bells that still can ring

[pipers_son]

Who: Joker and you
What: All's fun and games, but the Performers still need to work. Joker occupies himself with that, and maybe a few other things. Like cooking. Or sunbathing.
Where: The Big Tent, the cookhouse, trailers, and eventually the lake
When: Days 145 - 152
Warnings: Potential talk of trauma? But nothing more than that

A - Time to Work

[It's over the Performance Department's channel on the radio that Joker's voice buzzes through.]

While it's all well and good ta take a break, this is a reminder for folks ta get practice in. We won't be doin' real impressive shows for a while, probably, but that just means it's more important ta keep practicin' for when we move on from the Summerlands.

Any problems or questions, come find me in the Big Top. Oh, and we got some new folk in, in case ya haven't seen yet.

[Sure enough, Joker can be found in the ring, bouncing around making sure people are doing fine, practicing some tricks himself... All sorts. He'll come over the second he sees someone enter.]

B - Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

[In the cookhouse today? Well, you'll find Joker getting to work, apparently mashing up all sorts of fruits, getting their juices.... Of course, with the one arm problem, sometimes this means needing to get inventive.... Are his feet shoeless? Don't worry about it.]

[Later on, Joker is bouncing from trailer to trailer, leaving jars of jelly and jam for everyone. Why? Well, you'll have to stop him to find out.]

C - Lost in Thought

[Joker knows a lot of people in the Summerlands, what, with the carnival already having visited it once before and Joker being... himself. So it's of no surprise that throughout the carnival's stay, he's often gone into the city, chatted with just about everyone, and acted as if he's perfectly fine.]

[On occasion, however....]

[Those who go to the carnival's lake will find him trying to push what looks like a.... blow-up rubber floating thing out onto the lake's surface with his feet, Feathers the Dartix trying to help him along. Joker is notably not wearing any actual swimwear... besides, like, his usual atrocious mash up of 'modern' fashion.]

[Later on, if no one interrupts him on shore, Joker is out in the water proper, but not... really messing around. He's just sprawled along the pool float stomach-first, his wings stretched out completely and partially in the water. Occasionally the water carries him a little closer to shore- perfectly within talking distance.]

Comments

[pipers_son]

Well, it's a long bleedin' annoyin' process-

[aka Joker isn't going to talk about it, and he fakes another grin.]

But anyway! Drinkin' and eatin' blood over and over is a right nuisance, I'll tell ya! So I made some things ta get over it.

[anti_nonsense]

[Drinking blood is a hell of a thing to try to gloss over in a conversation... but Rita's got no reason to press this guy on whatever he went through, curious as she is about the carnival's history.]

Right... [Her attention returns to the jam.] What kind is it? [She only gives it a half-glance, seemingly trying not to look too interested.]

[In contrast, her Litten makes no effort to hide its interest in the food. He's been staring at them (or more specifically, at the basket) this entire time, and now, he climbs down from the roof of the trailer, hopping from surface to surface until he reaches the ground. From there, he looks up at them and meows expectantly.]

[pipers_son]

Oh, I got all sorts... Strawberry, peach, blueberry... The good thing about Summerlands is that there's no shortage of good fruits. Easy ta stock up.

[Of course, as he hefts it up, the Litten makes his attention known, and Joker laughs a little bit before he crouches down.]

What, want yer own jar?

[anti_nonsense]

[The Litten meows and nods firmly, as if understanding that to be an offer of food.]

...That's Francis. He usually just sleeps or wanders around the grounds, but he always shows up when there's food.

[Fortunately, Pokemon can eat plenty of things that would be terrible for actual cats to have, so all his food-thieving and begging hasn't gotten him sick so far.]

[pipers_son]

Well, he's welcome ta this batch. [He laughs a little.] So long as I get a pet for my troubles.

[Feeling is weird in his hand, but, still. Cat pets.]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita watches with a dispassionate look, her arms crossed. Internally, she's surprised he'd bother giving some to an animal... but that's not really a bad thing. If anything, it makes her reconsider her first impression of him. He might be weird, but someone who's kind to cats probably is probably an okay person, on some level.]

Petting is fine, but you'd better give him something first. He might scratch if he thinks you're holding out on him.

[Francis, much like his trainer, has a few behavioral issues. Rather than trying to teach him to be more sociable, Rita's pretty much accepted it as normal.

For now, he just makes another bossy-sounding meow, like he's trying to say "hand it over already!"]

[pipers_son]

Ah, business with cats~. But I guess I can't be surprised.

[Laughing a little, he starts to set out the jars.]

Put a paw on which ya like, then. We got the strawberry, some blueberry, there's orange if ya like that...

[That kitchen is going to smell like fruit for days is what he's saying here.]

[anti_nonsense]

[The Litten gives each jar a sniff, then thumps its paw over the blueberry one with a triumphant meow!]

--He actually did it!? [Rita's staring in surprise. She knew he was clever, but he never really follows specific directions like this. Turns out he listens a lot better when he's getting food out of the deal.]

[pipers_son]

[Her surprise is his delight, and Joker laughs again.]

Amazin' how much smarter animals and people get when food is involved! Well alright then, mate, it's all yers.

[A pause, and then he slowly starts to reach over. Pet time is now yes?]

[anti_nonsense]

[The Litten rubs up against the jar and raises its head to meet Joker's hand, purring.]

I don't know about 'smarter'... [Rita just gives them a sideways glance.]

You're the guy in charge of performances, right? [Rita never really talked to him, but she's seen him around while doing backstage preparations.] It was... Joker? [Maybe she should remember the supervisors' names, but Rita is terribly lazy when it comes to that kind of thing.]

[pipers_son]

[Victory. Joker takes care in how he pets the Litten. A wooden hand is handy (ha), but, with the strange gnarled and natural way his is formed unlike something manmade, it's best to make sure he doesn't leave splinters or something in people. So most of the petting he leaves to the Litten.]

[Just in case.]

[When Rita directly talks to him again, Joker glances up and grins a bit.]

Yeah, that's me~! Pleasure ta meet ya properly. Woulda done so sooner, but it's been a hell of a year.

[anti_nonsense]

I bet. [Said dryly, as Rita's only been here a few months and has already dealt with plenty of crap.]

[But now that she knows who he is...] Right, well... I guess I'll introduce myself. Rita Mordio, lighting and special effects. And, more importantly, a researcher of magic. [She doesn't place a lot of importance on her carnival work, though Joker may have noticed that some effects have been a lot more fiery and explodey since she started working. Rita doesn't half-ass things, as much as she'd like to sometimes.]

[The cat rubs his face against the offered hand a few more times, then turns his attention to the jar of jam, batting and gnawing at the lid.]

[pipers_son]

[Idly, as Rita introduces herself, Joker settle down on the ground right before the cat's jar. It always takes a bit of doing... But he's able to grip his feet around the jar well enough. (Rita might notice his feet are ale to curl far too well than what a normal pair of human feet should be able to do.) Tongue sticking out, he takes his one good hand and twists open the top.]

[Ta da. The things he does for animals.]

[Leaving Litten to its new treat, Joker grins up at her.]

So yer the one who we can thank for all the fantastic effects lately!

[anti_nonsense]

[With a short, high-pitched purr, the Litten starts digging in. He dips a paw into the jam to retrieve a glob of it, then delicately licks it off.]

[Rita looks mildly surprised at the praise.] Huh? I guess. It's nothing, really. [Making things blow up is just what Rita does on a normal day.] I'm used to working with fire and the like.

[pipers_son]

Well, it's fancy ta me, and our performers appreciate the help. [Well, probably not for some of the, but that's why Joker is here to thank all the people behind the scenes. He knows how important they are, after all.] Here's ta hopin' ta ya stay awhile. Good help is hard ta find.

[anti_nonsense]

Hmph. [Rita waves a hand dismissively.] Whether you hope or not, I'm here for a year, aren't I?

[It can't be that easy to weasel out of a faerie contract.]

[pipers_son]

Mm, true, true. But sometimes people get reasons ta take a break, or she sends 'em out on tasks... That sorta thing.

[Picking up the jam basket, he steps around the hungry Litten and holds it out to her.]

This place has all sorts of things happenin'.

[anti_nonsense]

Right... I guess I'll keep that in mind. [Actually, that's pretty useful to know.]

[Reaching into the basket, Rita picks out a jar of strawberry jam and takes it.]

...Thanks for the jam. [Said without making eye contact. Rita doesn't bother with basic politeness much, and her social inexperience sometimes shows.] I'll see you around, I guess.

[pipers_son]

[He's dealt with worse. Joker keeps smiling, waggling his fingers at her even as he starts to turn around.]

See ya around~. And keep up the good work!