005 // Video (Action for Goldenrod) // Feb 14th

[pipers_son]

Y'know, I gotta say that the future sure is somethin'. All these fancy gadgets, new food, and lookit this make up.

[With an opening line like that, it's probably not surprising to see that Joker... appears to be in a cosmetics store. The 'gear is apparently propped up against a shelf while Joker casually flicks through various lipsticks and eyeliners. He's already applied something to his eyelids along with his usual make up because why not.]

[Somewhere in the background, there's... hissing? Anyone looking closely might be able to spot a Luxray on top of the shelf behind Joker, back arched and fangs bared. Joker doesn't pay her any mind.]

I've never much tried for lipstick before, but I suppose if there's ever a time ta give it a good ol' go... [Joker holds up a lavender shade of lipstick to the 'Gear, humming.] think it'd go well with my eyes?

[The Luxray hissing has finally evolved to bursts of upset yowling and Joker sighs.]

Oh, an' Rogue found a new friend. [Setting down the lipstick, he adjusts the 'Gear so that the camera is pointed towards the ground. That sure is a positively slime soaked Furret wrapped up tight around one of those... weird slime ball Pokemon. Is it a Pokemon? Joker is assuming so for the time being. Either way, both Furret and slimeball have looks of giddy bliss on their faces.] Tried ta separate 'em, but they wouldn't have none of it. Needless ta say, Lightning isn't particularly pleased. Too wet for her likin'. Oi, aren't ya supposed ta be strong against them water types?

[Just more angry electric cat yowling. Joker sighs.]

And it ain't comin' up on our little gadgets either... Ah well. I'll leave that for ya more intelligent types. Me, I'll just focus on the more mundane matters. Don't got a special someone for the romantic day myself- [And he gives a wink to the 'Gear.] -but best a luck for all of ya who do~.

[For anyone in Goldenrod, well, Joker will be in that cosmetic store for a while... angry hissing Luxray, slimy but extremely happy Furret, Bloober, and all.]

[Oh, but if you have CR with the ringleader... You might find something anyway.]

[Have CR with this loser? Well, he might have something for you, too. Thanks to Carmen's post the other day, he got an idea, hastily threw some things together and got some deliveries made. Looks like your characters will be getting flowers today!]

[Snake, you're going to have a very determined certain little Mime Jr. hunt you down. That sure is a bouquet bigger than her little body in her arms. There's a cluster of freesia flowers in the midst of some bluebells... and if he goes searching, he might find a little milkvetch flower. Huh. Mayuri will find similar waiting for her at her room window in the beak of a serious looking Tranquill. There's bluebells involved in this one, too, although narcissus flowers mix it up this time around.]

[Hey Saionji, you like flowers, right? No? Too bad, you're getting a delivery anyway. Man that sure is a freakin' ton of nasturtium flowers with specks of eupatorium flowers... Crocker will just find himself receiving a sparse few coronillas. Envy will be the recipient of some mock orange flowers, and France will get some matching orange lilies (with some spearmint flowers hidden underneath).]

[Killua, Maka Albarn, John Egbert, you three will be getting some flowers too via delivery. All three of them will be getting mixed bouquets of canterbury bells and yellow lilies. It's more as a 'thank you' for being friends with Snake- Joker likes those who look after his friends.]

[Because of course he has to be ridiculous about it, every bouquet will have a joker playing card attached to it. What.]

[I went with this site for meanings.]

Comments

[video]

[konpeitoqueen]

[She didn't get chocolates or anything, which settles pretty well with her. And hell no was she giving out presents.

Saionji manages to guess the sender soon enough- how many people are associated with a joker card more than someone literally named Joker?]

Well, Mr. Stooge, I didn't think you someone who knows how to buy flowers. It looks relatively pretty, and I'll be so kind as to accept it. [She's trying to interpret the meaning, but with her lack of knowledge involving Western flowers, all she can muster from the bouquet is 'delay hate', which... kind of makes sense, but not really.

So she's going with the assumption he just bought whatever looked pretty.] And ew, you actually got one of those? They're probably full of germs and deadly infections!

[video]

[pipers_son]

[Quick on the draw as always. That's Saionji. He's already grinning at the little nickname she's given him.]

I'm a man a many talents, Hiyo-chan~. [Oh dear, someone taught him honorifics.] I used ta do other things besides leadin' the ring, and flowers just happened ta be a part a that! They used ta be all the rage, ya know. Nobles love those hidden meanings.

[Not that he's going to explain much more on that front.]

Eh, not so much as 'got' as I let Rogue wander off and he found our new little friend. Now he's too attached... literally, I think, ain't quite sure.

[video]

[konpeitoqueen]

[...In any case, Saionji's looking at the flowers a bit more closely. Those are a breed she doesn't recognize, the orange ones... she'll need to ask around. Since it's Ecruteak, there should be someone who knows.]

You sound like a creepy old man, Mr. Stooge. Not that you aren't.

I thought those... slimy things were rare! But they're weak and only fun to step on, nothing more. It's just mindless hype, as always. Some undiscovered species that never evolved to catch up with the times.

[video]

[pipers_son]

[Aww, how cute, showing interest in the bouquet. It's lasting longer than he thought it would.]

Now now, I ain't that old.

Think they can evolve then? Maybe that's the problem. Try stickin' some a those stones about their faces.

[video]

[artfuldestruction]

[The familiar sight of the cosmetic store popping up on his feed actually manages to draw Kato's attention away from his work - particularly since the person in view is a man, albeit one with...interesting taste in colours...]

It matches your eyes nicely, but I'd consider a different shade of eyeshadow.

[Apparently he just can't get away from dudes who wear purple lipstick. He'll have to tell Dist about this.

When he opens the feed, Kato has removed his mask - primarily because he's discovered he's actually far less recognizable without it. Figures. He's taking up the entire frame, however - his location can't be seen.

The Team Rocket science department isn't all that pretty anyway, so it's not like Joker is missing much.]

[video]

[pipers_son]

[Hey, if you're going to wear makeup, you might as well go flashy! That's circus logic for you. Or maybe just Joker's logic.]

Clashes a bit with everythin' else, eh? Thought as much. Thought about goin' with some simple black ta let everythin' else stand out but what's make up for if not ta look a bit ridiculous?

[Besides, go with outrageous before you switch back to plain. Funner that way.]

[video]

[artfuldestruction]

There can be something charming about bright colours, but if you're looking to enhance your appearance, I'd try something more subtle.

[...although you don't exactly look like the subtle type, um-]

Although judging by what you're already wearing, I don't know if 'subtle' is a good word for you.

[Not that he can talk, since he's dressed up as a clown more than once in his life...]

[video]

[pipers_son]

[That earns some loud laughter from him.]

The opposite, as a matter a fact! Besides, couldn't be subtle in my line a work.

video;

[ghostytrainer]

[John's sitting outside, surrounded by a small throng of Bloobers and a single Omantye. The latter is sitting in his lap, wriggling his tentacles allover one of the Bloobers. Friend. This is his friend, he found it all by himself.]

Maybe she just doesn't want her fur to get sticky. [John chuckles.] I got your flowers, by the way! Thanks, Joker.

[They're in a vase on the table. Luckily, he has a sister who's a gardener and a fiancée who's into weird things like flower meanings, so MESSAGE RECEIVED. Unless he just went with them because he thinks they're pretty. Which is also okay, it's not like John is a mind reader.]

video;

[pipers_son]

Heard that the electric types are strong against things like water, but I guess she's more cat than lightnin', heh!

[But Joker loves her anyway. Best cat. Best angry... hissing... electric cat.]

Not a problem! Consider it a "thank you" for bein' one of those who looked after Snake before I got here.

video;

[ghostytrainer]

Hehe, yeah, they are. Since water conducts electricity and all that. But sometimes, there's more to how a Pokémon behaves than its typing.

But it's no problem, really! Like I said, he was a nice guy.

video;

[pipers_son]

That's true enough. Already crossed that out on the list a types anyway. Got our Guls in the water, and it just looked like a pancake out there. Not much a swimmer, looks like.

It's a fun guessin' game, but not sure how else ta figure everythin' else out without upsettin' her.

[Video]

[crackpotcrocker]

[Denzel is staring rather bluffed at Joker, his eyes squint.]

Why are you trying on woman's lipstick?.. Though it does look becoming on you.

[For a moment he recalls mother and the red rubber dresses and shudders before continuing on.]

Yes those Pokemon are showing up all over! And too cute if you ask me.

[That's when he really turns into a gripe and bitterness.]

Bah! Valentine's Day.

[Denzel scratches the back of his neck.]

What are these for?

[Holding up the few coronillas to be honest he wasn't sure how to feel. It was nice to be thought of on his day but if these are from who Denzel thinks, why would Joker even?]

[Video]

[pipers_son]

Because I can.

[Joker logic. Why not wear lady's lipstick?]

They're cute, but not sure how many girls would like 'em. [Saionji hates them but then that isn't surprising.] Y'know what coronillas mean?

[Video]

[crackpotcrocker]

Mmmm... Can't argue that logic.

Yes, I'm aware on how cute they are. Which is exactly why I don't like them! It burns!

[There's a brief pause.]

Can't say I do.

[It's been quite awhile Denzel has spoken the language of love and he looks at the flowers with extra long frown and starts to prick one of them of their petals as he mumbles.]

She loves. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me not...

[Video]

[pipers_son]

[Uh oh, this looks like this is getting into depressing territory. Joker decides to try and cut it off before it gets much worse.]

Back where I'm from- [When???] -they mean "success to you". Best a luck to your work and all that.

[Video]

[francia]

[France's expression is bright and enthusiastic. He's hanging around the room he's gotten at the Ecruteak Inn, and Joker should be able to see the lilies and spearmint in a vase that doesn't match the rest of the room's decor at the left hand of the screen.]

The colour combination is a bit shocking, but it all depends on how you feel and then present yourself. One has to be willing to be unconventional to make a true artistic breakthrough.

[Speaking from experience, are you, France?]

[He doesn't pause to let Joker respond, holding up the playing card between his right fore and middle fingers and wiggling it. His smile becomes a bit more of a playful smirk.]

It was you who sent the flowers?

[Video]

[pipers_son]

[Well, he was going to just agree on that little statement, but then that little card is pulled up and Joker just grins.]

Now what makes ya say that~?

[Video]

[francia]

[France makes a clicking noise with his tongue, mock-disapproving even though his eyes are clearly deeply amused.]

While there have been a couple other people to come through this place who took names of playing cards, you're the only person who has the name "Joker" with whom I've been remotely on speaking terms.

[He peers theatrically over his shoulder at the flowers as if he actually needs to consider them to make his next statement.]

The choices of colour are also deeply intriguing, especially considering when and where I know you're from.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

I don't know that shade would go very well. But lucky for you, there's just about every other color in the world to choose from.

[Envy's not holding the flowers he got, but he does hold up the playing card that came with them.]

I'm guessing this means the flowers were from you? I don't know many people who might, and you're the only one who'd have this sort of calling card.

[He snickers. He might not think highly of floriography, but he's used it in the past and he definitely knows what mock orange means. He doesn't know if Joker did that on purpose, but there's one way to find out.] So. Deceit, huh?

[video]

[pipers_son]

True enough, true enough. Like I said, the future sure is somethin'.

[And he's enjoying every minute of it.]

[The card just makes him grin, and Envy's words make him grin more.]

Didn't think a person like yerself would take offense ta that one, considerin'.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[He grins, wide and smirkish. No, he clearly didn't take the slightest bit of offense.]

I'm flattered, really. I'd say I'd send you one in return, but honestly I used to have to put together so many of those sorts of arrangements that I got sick of it.

[DANTE AND HER DECADES-LONG FASCINATION WITH SECRET FLOWER MESSAGES.]

What's the year where you're from, anyway? Don't think I ever asked.

[silentscales]

[Snake arranges the flowers in his room and gives the mime Jr. a small bag of candies. They weren't expensive candies, but Snake is very limited in his gift-buying power at the moment. There is a card in the bag with only, "Ruskin ♥" written on it. It's not like the female seviper thought that Joker is cute or anything.

Snake will later find Joker in the cosmetics shop, having been nearby to pick up a replica of his usual costume. One of the sevipers wave as he makes his way over. Guess which one.]

guess who's trying to enable a Doll on d_m ovo

[pipers_son]

[Tricky question! Joker had gotten to know Snake's friends back home but he's still new to the ones here. Still, he's always willing to make a guess! Seeing his friend approach him, Joker gives a happy wave! His Luxray is still looking unhappy on the shelves, his Furret hasn't detached itself from the little blob of goo, and Angel is nearby with the bag of candies secured in her arms.]

Snake! Aaaaand, Gaskell?

gogogogoogogo need a hand?

[silentscales]

No, I'm the one that sent you the candies says mmmph... [Well, Snake getting cut off by having one of his snake's tails cover his mouth is a new one, but apparently this one wanted more a a guess. Though. If it isn't Gaskell, Snake only does have one other Seviper who is busy investigating another of the little bloobers that is in the store. Ekans seems rather amused by all of this as he peers down from Snake's shoulders.]