023 // Video

[pipers_son]

Alright, Torch! Got it set?

[Now that the weather has cleared up a bit, Joker is beaming into the camera. Besides him is a bike and, for once, the ringleader is wearing a helmet. That's one worry taken care of. Practically bouncing on his heels, Joker grins.]

Alright, everyone, I know the last time I rode on a bike, it went a tad wrong. But I think I've finally got it down. Watch!

[Getting into position, he grips the handle with his one good hand and kicks out the brake. A little bit of wobbling as he pushes off, a clear sign of his imbalance with no other arm to help steady him, but soon enough he's riding around smoothly in the street. A whoop echoes out.]

[VICTORY. Joker - 1. Bike - ....way too many, but that doesn't matter.]

[Another wobble as he draws the bike to a stop, and he grins.]

And now that we've got this biking business all figured out, me and Jimmy are movin' onta other things! Torch, go on-

[The Gear is moved around to focus on Jimmy.

Jimmy is also wearing a helmet, but instead of standing next to a bike, he’s got a bright green skateboard propped up against the ground in one hand with a scyther emblazoned on the bottom. He honestly looks like he’s ready to explode with excitement himself as he spins the skateboard around before pushing it over, stepping one foot up onto it.]

We got skateboards while we were in Kanto! I haven’t gotten to ride one since I got here, and I’m gonna teach Joker how to ride, too!

[Joker pops back into the frame for a moment.]

We'll probably be okay and not die this time around.

Comments

[garbagechild]

_{[He BEAMS as Joker picks twigs out of the disaster that is his hair.]}

I took a shortcut through LOTS of parks!!

Very small ones!

_{[Yards. He went through a lot of peoples' yards.]}

[pipers_son]

[The life and times of a half-feral child...]

Well, why don't we get all the leaves and wood outta your hair first, and then we'll practice skateboardin', alright?

[garbagechild]

Oh, I was just gonna leave them there!

Mama usually eats them when she grooms me.

I wanna skate the board!

_{[He clenches his fists and beams up at Joker expectantly.]}

[pipers_son]

Well, wouldn't want ta ruin a mother's nutrition.

[Or something. Giving up on the mess that is Wrath's hair, Joker straightens up again and gestures off to where Angel is to the side. Proudly, she comes trotting over with a child's skateboard held over her head. Joker and Jimmy are tall ones, so it felt only proper to get a smaller one.]

So, s'far as I can tell, a lot of it is about balancin'. Good at that, Wrath?

[garbagechild]

Oh, yes! VERY!

One time, the lower half of my body got exploded off, so I had to finish the fight with only my hands to run on, and I still won!

Only a very good balancer could do that.

_{[IF HE DOES SAY SO, HIMSELF!]}

[pipers_son]

[...Wrath, the shit that comes out of your mouth.]

Ya don't say! Then yer gonna be great at this. So what ya do is that ya stand on the board like this. [Using his own skateboard, Joker demonstrates.] Get yer feet just like that, got it? Then ya push off with the back leg, and ya turn by leanin' yer body just so.

[garbagechild]

<sub>[JOKER YOU HAVE NO IDEA]

[Wrath observes with the intensity that only a very young monster with a second chance at life can.]</sub>

... Okay.

That looks easy!

I can do that.

[pipers_son]

There's harder bits, but this is the basics.

[Also Joker doesn't want to break his arm again or something, so he's been avoiding the tricks for now.]

Give it a go then!

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Wrath wastes no time.]

[This board is an ACTUAL one and not some janky home-made thing like Wrath had found earlier, so when he hops onto it, he has no trouble at all staying balanced, little monkey that he is.]

[He shoots off at a speed that's... probably not ideal for beginners, but well, he's not falling.]</sub>

[pipers_son]

[He hasn't cracked his head, so Joker thinks this is all fine. He gives an impressed whistle for lack of clapping.]

There ya go, good job~. Think ya can turn back around?

[garbagechild]

_{[He's still going.]}

Um...


--no!

_{[There he goes.]}

[pipers_son]

[WELP]

[Joker immediately starts chasing after the runaway garbage child, thanking God that he was born with long legs as if to make up for his lack of arm.]

Wrath! Ya can put a foot down ta stop!

[garbagechild]

--I don't want it to break off!

Human bodies are so stupid and fragile!

<sub>[WHY HAD HE EVER WANTED ONE TO BEGIN WITH?]

[also he's still going]</sub>

[pipers_son]

Yup!

[HE CAN'T EVEN ARGUE WITH THAT ONE]

Then try hoppin' off! Ya probably won't break anythin' off that way!

[Probably??]

[garbagechild]

Okay! Here I go!!

<sub>[HE LEAPS]

[And hits the ground rolling.]

[The skateboard whizzes off across the lot.]</sub>

[pipers_son]

[WELP AT LEAST HE'S OFF THE SKATEBOARD]

[Joker jogs to a stop besides Wrath, leaning over to see how he is.]

Still alive, right, Wrath?

[They can get the board later. It's not like it'll eternally keep going.... probably]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[For a second, he just lies there. RECALIBRATING....]

[Then he slowly lifts a scrawny little arm and gives Joker a bit of a wave, as if to say 'I'm all right!']</sub>

[pipers_son]

[Crouching down besides him, Joker holds three fingers in front of his eyes.]

How many fingers are there, Wrath?

[garbagechild]

<sub>[He lifts his head, slowly. There's a scrape on his nose.]

[He squints.]</sub>

... Less than five.

Three.

[pipers_son]

[Honestly, he would have accepted the 'less than five' option. There are reasons he's not a doctor.]

Good, no brain damage. [Probably.] Need help gettin' up ta yer feet?