Get Ready For the Show

[pipers_son]

Who: All the performers, plus any visitors
What: Time to get back into the swing of things! Nothing says "I've recovered from trauma" like learning how to plaster a smile onto your face for the crowds.
When: D1 - D5
Where: The Main Tent
Warnings: None.... Probably

As the saying goes, "All play and no work makes Jack forget how to do his job". On the bright side...

Over the radio, Joker makes a cheerful announcement for all performers to start getting back into the practice schedule with new arrivals to show up on the first day back from the moon. On the first day, he'll be lenient. No one has to be on time, but he does want them to at least make an appearance and token attempt at practice. After that, well... Show up, or you'll have an aggravatingly cheerful stage manager paying a personal visit. He bothers because he cares.

To those who have become familiar with it, the tent is outfitted with all off the usual practice equipment, and new faces will be in for a treat. There are the usual acrobatics equipment: silk ropes, the high wire, trapeze swings. Daredevils will find all sorts of things to threaten their lives with, although they'll soon find that there are magical safety precautions in place which stop the Big Tent from, say, getting set on fire. And the magician stuff? Well.... Don't hurt yourself there.

Out of the love of his heart, Joker will make sure there are bottles of water nearby, so don't be afraid to work up a sweat.

Comments

Joker (ota)

[pipers_son]

A - Training

As the stage manager, Joker doesn't technically need to practice. His role is meant to be more of a behind-the-scenes sort, supporting his performers and reining the more troublesome ones in line. If he wanted to, he could very well just sit in the stands and heckle yell encouraging things at his performers.

But that sort of thing is probably what made the last stage manager decide to go join an interstellar war with space vikings.

So Joker can be found practicing one of two things at any given time! Don't mind the oversized shirt he's wearing over his shorts today.

While it might seem like cheating, or difficult, he can be found over at the silk ropes practicing his aerial acrobatics. One would think it's a tricky job, considering both Joker's wing and antlers, but he manages quite nicely. Part of the trick is simple experience after working in the carnival for this long. Most of it is thanks to his unnatural level of flexibility (also a product of working in the carnival). Depending on personal preference, the way he twists through and around the aerial silks can be either disconcerting or impressive.

Alternatively, when he's back on ground level, it's easy to find him with some throwing knives. Well, presumably they're throwing knives, since he's definitely throwing them at a large circular target. Occasionally, however, he juggles one in his only good hand. He doesn't seem worried at the idea of potentially hurting himself.

Even as he practices, however, feel free to chat! He's always good for it.

B - Pokemon Training

...But of course, the most fun can be found with Feathers, his Dartrix. In his own little section of the tent, Joker can be found trying to help his Pokemon practice. Right now, that means getting his flying patterns just right in a spiral up to the top and...

"Alright, leaves now!" That's a Razor Leaf attack, which Joker damn well knows, but he's not bothering with titles right now. Instead, he watches carefully as a small flurry of leaves follows Feathers and taps his chin.

"Ah... Not entirely right, I think..."

C - Joker's Wild

[Joker will be in the big tent constantly, along with constantly making sure people are working as well. Feel free to make up any other sort of prompt you might want!]

Pokemon Training

[soft_focus]

Reira's at least half way familiar with odd animals that are doing things animals don't typically do. Part of the familiarity, perhaps, is entirely based in the fact that she doesn't realize it's not typical at all. As Yuuya himself discovered, Duel Monsters might as well have been as real as sparrows to her, which made working in the menagerie rather easy for her to adjust to.

She's not come in with another animal today though-unless one counts the eagle that insists on following her around like a stubborn mother hen-but rather making sure it's actually clear enough for her to do some more acclimatizing for the animals she Would bring in.

Obviously it's not, but once she does actually enter the ring, she's not too far from where Feathers is being trained with...and that does sort of catch her eye.

Considering this is the first time she's seen a pokemon move before-menagerie animals... ...well.

They don't throw leaves. "Ah..."

[pipers_son]

A good showman (and paranoid men and birds alike) always know when they have an audience watching. Joker's ears twitch at the faint sound, his earrings jangling against one another, and Feathers stops his twirling to fondly coo from high up in the air. A couple flaps of his wings has him gliding back down.

In the meanwhile, as Feathers gets back to his shoulder (that he's really getting too big for, honestly), Joker glances over his shoulder to grin brightly at their young audience.

"Hello there! Come ta watch everyone practice?"

[soft_focus]

At least one of those three things is probably an unfortunate matter, but it's hardly one that Reira could really know about, so the most response she has to Joker's question is to jump just slightly when she's spotted. Almost too quickly, she shakes her head, though she does at least calm down from the alarm enough to actually answer.

"...I'm just making sure it's empty before I bring Tektite here," she explains, nodding. "...They're not used to people yet..."

[pipers_son]

"Oh, I see~." Shifting his body a little so that Feathers' weight isn't too much of a bother, Joker turns properly on his heel so approach her. Just a bit, so that he doesn't have to yell back to her or anything like that.

"Well, we might be usin' it for most of the day, I'm afraid ta say." But he's always had a weakness for kids, he guesses. He should really know better, and yet here he is. "Tell ya what, I can call ya on yer radio when we're done. How does that sound?"

[soft_focus]

"Mnhhh....that much..." That is definitely a lot of the day, which is...a shame. She sighs. "...I definitely can't bring most of the animals in here, then... ...Ginko said it's been too long since they were here last, so it has to be 'gradual', before the shows start again..."

As it is. "Umh...if you can say when, that's really good though..!! It's important, otherwise everyone will get scared, and things bite when they're scared..."

[pipers_son]

"Mm, don't I know it." He's had to deal with a tiger, and Snake's.... many snakes. Still, she has a good point, and he thinks carefully with his fingers tapping along the side of his leg. They probably should have done this during vacation when there weren't so many people in the carnival.... but then again, he guesses that with what they'd all just gone through, it's understandable that it'd slipped everyone's mind including his.

"How about this... I can shoo most people out durin' lunch, and we can try then, too. Would that be good?"

A

[hippocarnival]

Yuya would be back to training even without Joker's direction, but he's down at the time indicated to get back into routine. Or at least, he'll get to that, but he takes pause at first to watch Joker's tricks with the silk ropes, siting back on one of the balancing balls. Yuya can appreciate watching a show as much as giving one, and there's something he can especially enjoy watching Joker. He's experienced, or he wouldn't be their stage manager, and it's something Yuya admires and wants to learn from. In some ways, it's like when he used to watch his dad.

Granted, he's not likely to be able to mimic the inhuman flexibility anytime soon. But he can appreciate watching it. If Joker makes eye contact with him, Yuya gives him a grin and a thumb's up from below.

[pipers_son]

As it turns out, Joker makes eye contact around the time he's hanging upside down, feet tangled carefully in the silks. It's a lot of work to manage, when he only has one arm, but that's alright- he has two wings to make up for it with the pair of them almost split evenly as they extend outwards. It's partially for balance as much as anything else. Realizing he has Yuya's eyes on him, he grins and winks.

"How's my form then, do ya think?" His voice carries easily through the big top.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya cups his hands around his mouth, projecting his voice whether it's necessary or not. "It looks great!"

Yuya would probably say that even if it wasn't great, but at least in this instance Joker really does seem to be pulling it off.

[pipers_son]

"Good ta hear~." Pulling himself up properly, he reaches up with his hand to hold onto the rope and make himself more comfortable if he's going to have a break for a little conversation. Just because he can't really break his neck in here doesn't mean he wants to tempt fate.

"Just got in yerself, right?" He's been faintly aware of everyone coming through, after all, although he knows he's missed a couple no doubt.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya nods. "Yeah, I heard your call." Although Yuya would have come around even if Joker wasn't gathering everyone. He's definitely enjoyed their little vacation, but it's time to get back into the swing of things.

"Were you one of the acrobats before being stage manager?"

[pipers_son]

"Yup!" The answer is accompanied by a bright laugh. "Well, I was a lotta things, actually! When I first joined, I kept bouncin' from place ta place, tryin' a little bit of everythin'~. But I settled down after a bit."

Mostly because he almost got his head chopped off, but that's fine.

"I learned how ta do this and thought it was the most fun, really."

A

[prazerbutterfly]

He believes he's practiced enough when his shirt is wet enough to become a little heavy and choosing a place outside he'll let the water flop off of him with ease with the use of his power. It's only after does he head back inside with a small dampness to his body and he'll make his way over towards Joker who seems hard at work practicing with a good set of knives. He does remember that conversation a couple of weeks ago.

Tyki, being far too mischievous, waits for Joker to throw a knife before his body moves in between him and the target. He leans back and settles himself right there in the middle of it before just casually expecting him to keep practicing. He shouldn't be grinning but he is. "So it is true. You don't just manage in the background~"

[pipers_son]

Holy-

Joker jolts, somehow a more startled and scared look flashing over his face than the time Tyki actually stuck a hand through his chest. After that split second, however, his brain processes the rest of the situation.... just not before he's jerked forward with his wings flared out.

Then everything sinks in and he nearly collapses right on his face. "I swear ta God," he breathes out, hand digging into the front of his shirt over his heart. "Tyki, ya should be lucky I don't come over there ta manage my fingers around yer neck." They both know that he's bullshitting. Joker would cut off one of his remaining limbs before harming any of his own performers, even before taking the Ringmaster into consideration.

[prazerbutterfly]

"Sorry, sorry," he genuinely apologizes. He didn't mean to startle the man so especially since Joker wasn't the type he would try to tease via scaring. He admits his timing was rather rough there and he hates to see Joker so panicked.

"But then you'd be down a magician and all you would have left is Strange~ You'd miss me too much. Even if your aim is exceptional." He says as he pokes the knife currently sticking out of his chest.

[pipers_son]

"Oh, I'm sure Strange could make up for the absence somehow." Shaking his head, Joker straightens up and flicks his wings a couple of times so that the feathers can smooth out. It's a good thing he's not a whole bird, or he'd probably be fussing over them out of nerves.

Still, if he's here anyway, Joker starts to stride over to check out the knife. "Anyway, I'm glad ya think so. My brother was the knife thrower in the family, but since he's not here... I figure I should keep my own skills up ta par. I don't think we've got any knife throwers around right now."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Oh I'm sure. He did well without me but then he had the b- err, Childermass." He almost wants to soothe those wings himself but then Tyki often invaded personal space without asking.

He doesn't move as Joker makes his way over. He trusts Joker with the full intent that he could likely betray him one day. Then again, Tyki was good at reading body language and if that poker face wasn't on point he could probably sense a good murderous intent. "Well, if you need the close practice, I am a decent target to look at." Joker will find that while he can touch the knife, he can also touch Tyki and thus pulling it free will be just as odd given he couldn't just reach into Tyki right now to take it. He could at least grab the handle and pull it free.

[pipers_son]

Now, excuse you, he's a gentleman. Or at, least, he's not such a complete bastard himself that he'll reach in and just pull a knife that's sort of just existing in a good friend. No, he'll just peer over to make sure nothing bad has happened to either knife or friend before straightening up.

"I do need ta practice with a person ta not hit, if ya can keep from jumpin' in front of it as usual." After a moment, he adds in, "Not gettin' along with Childermass?"

B.

[crimsonfallenangel]

[A certain Luzon-bleeding heart dove (just over three feet tall), is at this practice for the first time. He's also never seen Pokemon before. Unfortunately, he got a little too close to the leaves when he approached to get a closer look at the creature.]

Gyaaah!

[Anghel leaps backwards brandishing a pen. He wasn't injured, but is alarmed.]

[pipers_son]

Oh, hell-

[Trainer and pokemon react at around the same time, with Feathers immediately flapping in alarm to dispel the various leaves still in effect and Joker's wings flaring out.]

Oi, are ya alright up there?

[crimsonfallenangel]

[Slowly, he lowers the pen and nods. He sounds embarrassed when he speaks.]

I am unharmed. I had not realized how quickly the Leaves of Cutting would move.

(OOC: I forgot, could you also take a look at Anghel's permission post? Thanks.)

[pipers_son]

[Ah. A bit of a fancy talker. Well alright, Joker's worked with stranger.]

Yeah, sorry about that. We're still getting a handle on them, and tryin' ta see if we can make 'em a little duller or slower. More for show than hurtin' anyone.

[Feathers flutters over, cooing in concern.]

Yer sure yer alright?

[crimsonfallenangel]

[Anghel nods.]

There is no need to fear, Arcane Seeker.

[He turns to Feathers.] Does your magic, perhaps, come from a potion from the Purveyor? Or is it from another life?

[The translation would be, did you learn that here or were you always able to do that?]

[pipers_son]

[...Well that's a new name. But he'll accept it, he guesses.]

[Feathers seems just as bewildered by the conversation as Joker is, giving another soft coo, and Joker has to speak up since his Pokemon can't do it for himself.]

Ah... He's always been able ta do it since he was just a chick.