004 // Video

[pipers_son]

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hello!

[That sure is Joker, the backdrop being... somewhere near Azalea maybe? The forests look familiar enough. Anyone who hasn't seen or met him before can probably see very clearly that his right arm is completely missing and the shirt sleeve simply hangs limp. No prosthetic for him, not that he'd want that one in particular anyway... In his right hand, however, there are three brightly colored balls. He's as chipper as usual.]

I've been teachin' my Invidia a few tricks of the trade, as it were, when it occurred ta me that I could show you fine lot a thing or two. Invidia, say hello. [There's a beat, and then the hand of a Zoroark slowly comes into frame to give a quick wave before retreating. Joker chuckles.] He has a bit a stage fright, but nothin' that can't be worked on. Anyway, we've been workin' on jugglin'! I can't show the whole thing, bein' a bit impaired, but knowin' how to juggle three balls in one hand is really just somethin' ya need ta learn anyway if ya want ta juggle six with both! [He clears his throat and starts to speak a bit slower and more clearly, accent less noticeable. Thanks to one Maka Albarn, he's remembered that not everyone is from dear ol' England as he is.]

So let's get started, shall we?

For the beginners in the crowd, it's best to start off with just two. [He tosses one of the balls off-screen to Invidia before showing how he's holding the balls in his hand to the camera.] You aren't going to want to toss them up too high right now- since you only have two, it shouldn't be much of a problem. The one in your fingers is what you'll toss up first. When it's at it's highest, then you throw the second one. [He demonstrates.] Just focus on catching them, and not the juggling part just yet. When you've gotten the hang of that... [He starts to keep the pattern going, hand moving in a slight circular movement.] Just keep it going.

[Joker keeps this up for a moment, actions smooth and effortless. It feels good to know he can still do these kind of tricks even if he's a bit impaired. Soon enough, he catches both balls again.]

Really, you have the same idea with three balls. [The third is tossed back to him.] You just have to be a little faster and toss them a little higher. I shouldn't have to tell anyone that eye-hand coordination is the key here. Again, don't rush yourself. Just do the catches first and then after a bit of practice...

[He starts to juggle the three, a blur of color going about in a circle through the air. Joker seems rather happy with himself.]

So that's how you do it! It's a bit harder than it looks, I'll grant you that, but you should get the hang of it if you practice. Got that, Invidia? [There's an affirmative sound from the Zoroark. Joker finally stops juggling, hopping a little bit as he rushes to catch the balls.]

So what about the rest of you? Anyone else have fun little tricks they want to share? What kind of things did you like to do before coming here? I'm all ears!

Comments

video response

[konpeitoqueen]

[At first, Saionji wanted to have inappropriate one-arm jokes- but then he starts juggling, and Saionji remembers she's not exactly well-practiced in using ball props.

The gracefulness of turning the fan while buyo dancing is so fluid it's almost innate, but... juggling could help.

She's watching the video while trying out (and actually getting it somewhat right) with two balls. At one point, one the the balls hit the Gear and it starts recording her without notice.]

One, two, one, two- [She seems pretty concentrated.]

video

[pipers_son]

[A little Mime Jr. peers around Joker's own 'Gear- apparently the one filming this whole debacle. She seems surprised that there's a response, but something seems to make her look back at Joker who just shakes his head. He goes back to juggling his three balls himself. He understands how important it is to concentrate, after all!]

[It's only when she drops a ball again does he speak up.]

Not bad, not bad! Looks like yer used ta usin' your hands.

[konpeitoqueen]

[She makes a surprised sound when her Gear talks, but she recovers quickly.]

What?! I didn't mean record that! Stupid Gear! [He did compliment her, though... not that much. But it's more than what she's been receiving so far.]

Oh... of course I am! It's expected from me, after all. I'm SHSL Classical Japanese Dancer!

[pipers_son]

[Doo doo doo, gonna casually ignore that display of anger. He doesn't know what a 'SHSL' anything is, but that second part rings a faint bell.]

Yeah? Heard this place is a bit like Japan, 'tho I'd never know. Only ever lived in England. I suppose yer fittin' in well enough?

[konpeitoqueen]

[Oh, a Westerner. Ew.]

It's a lot like Japan! Except stinky foreigners are all over and bastardizing whatever culture this place has. But I guess I'll do fine.

[She decides to give him a look.] How did you learn to juggle with one hand, anyway? Why do you know how to juggle?

[pipers_son]

My apologies fer scummin' up the place.

[Guess who doesn't sound even remotely sincere. It doesn't help that he still hasn't lost the cheerful tone.]

Ain't it obvious? [As the balls fall through the air, he catches each one to toss over to Invidia, who's still refused to come on screen.] Practice, Invidia! Anyway, it's because I'm in the circus! Well, was, been a bit of a hiccup since I've come ta this place but I'll start up one again soon enough. I'm a Ringleader, but I know a few tricks!

[konpeitoqueen]

I guess you can't really change being born as an underling, huh? [Still an elitist asshole? Yes, yes she is.] A circus? I used to perform at circuses whenever one nearby needed dancers.

But since then, I've moved on to much higher ground. So are you a clown Ringleader? What kind of animals did you have there?

[pipers_son]

[Huh, he's getting douchey nobility flashbacks. Fortunately, Joker is the type to get more amused than angry at this sort of thing.]

Well, if ya ever care ta try performin' again sometime, maybe you'll be interested in makin' some grand appearances at the circus I plan on startin' up here.

Anyway, I can be a clown when I want ta be. Better ta make people laugh, if ya ask me. As for animals, we had all sorts- ferocious tigers and lions that could take off a man's head, and probably hundreds a snakes, all of 'em who listened ta a single man who knew their tongue. Our animal tamers couldn't be beat.

[konpeitoqueen]

Ehhh? A circus here? Oh! Oh! Are you gonna set Grass Pokémon on fire or eat Vanillites whole? [Well then.

The whole snakes things, though... that sounds cool.] Really? I want proof! Are they here? Can they perform tricks and kill animals onstage? I wanna see! [She excitedly drops questions and demands when she hears the mention of ferocious animals.]

[pipers_son]

[WELL THEN, YEAH, THAT'S A SET OF WORDS TO USE. Everything had been so nice, Joker actually hadn't been expecting anyone to remind him of the Baron. Yet here we are.]

I'll tell ya, if they were here, that'd make things a lot simpler for me. Not lookin' forward ta doing things all from scratch again. Unfortunately for yer pretty little head, I'm the only one here.

Although... I have heard that my snake charmer was here before I was, before he went missin'. He could talk with them, ya know, and they did just about anythin' he asked. I'd just need ta find him first before I could show ya any of his tricks.

[konpeitoqueen]

Missing? That's a shame. [The only good thing about greasy, sardine-packed circuses are extreme animal abuse acts!] One of those missing people, huh..

Well, if he does come back, ask me about how poisonous they all are! And if he ever needs to feed them, let me watch!

[pipers_son]

Yer a morbid kinda girl, aintcha? But fine, fine, I'll be sure ta ask him if he shows up again.

[konpeitoqueen]

There's nothing weird in looking forward to things like that! It's fun to watch anything squirm. Whenever there was a rodent infestation near my house, I just caught one of them and injected it with habu snake venom. I make sure all of them can hear it screaming- infestation gone in a heartbeat!

[pipers_son]

Hope ya don't do that sorta thing here. I imagine some folks might have some objections ta a poor little Rattata bein' in pain like that.

[konpeitoqueen]

As if I need to. Nothing dies here, anyway- beside, people regularly send their Pokémon into the jaws and claws of another one! I get my fill from Pokémon battling.

[Though...] I wish things could die here, though! It's such a different feeling, when you kill something or just watch it faint.

[pipers_son]

Really? What could be so different about it that ya like it this much?

[konpeitoqueen]

Do I really need to explain it to a commoner like you? It's obvious to anyone with half a brain!

[pipers_son]

Different people have different reasons. Ain't no mind reader.

[konpeitoqueen]

...True, true. Well, my own tastes aren't too picky. It's much more fun when you know the effect will be permanent, rather than knowing they'll just get up and fight again sooner or later.

[pipers_son]

Really? I suppose that makes a sorta sense. I think I prefer this way myself.

[konpeitoqueen]

I guess I shouldn't expect smelly Westerners and slaves to handle the finality and responsibility of death.

[pipers_son]

I'm dead myself, so I don't think that's quite it, Princess.

[konpeitoqueen]

[A bit of laughter, before it falls flat.]

Don't call me Princess. [Pause.] I definitely wouldn't advocate murder of humans, that's disgusting and unforgivable unless it's for good reason- but that shouldn't get in your way of enjoying the death of non-humans.

[pipers_son]

Aw, but it suits ya so well!

[konpeitoqueen]

Unless you want to get crushed by stones and crucified, don't call me that again!