005. [Video]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[For what is possibly the FIRST TIME since this kid figured out how to hit the 'post' button, the video is actually STILL.]

[That's because he's set it down on a fence post. The pale, mystical feathers that have been coating every surface like magical dandelion fluff are drifting past on the breeze, but they're not the focus of the video. Instead, the 'Gear's camera seems to be pointed directly into someone's yard, although it's from a little bit of a distance.]

[The place is kind of a dump, with junk littering the corners and lots of weeds. A ramshackle doghouse is erected in the middle, with an upturned waterbowl that doesn't appear to have been filled in some time.]

[A coil of old, frayed rope is tied around one of the boards of the 'house' and at the end of it is a snoozing blue Vaporeon, ear-fins twitching lightly.]

[The view isn't especially zoomed in, but it's still obvious what the Pokemon is.]

[For a time, that's all the video shows.]

[But then Wrath speaks, his voice hushed.]</sub>


... I saw the man in that house come home and he didn't even PET her.

Or give her any food.

She looks sad.



[Half an hour later...]



_{[Now the feed shows HIM, and there's part of a rotten board stuck in his hair. And rope twines in his teeth. And he is cradling something blue that kind of overflows out of his arms in a pile of contented paws and fins.]}

This is Sleepy.

She's blue and I love her.

Comments

[pipers_son]

Yep~.

[Reaching over to ruffle the horrifying mess that is Wrath's hair just to make it worse, Joker starts to lead him into the big top. From behind, Invidia follows.]

The entire troupe! They'll love ta meet ya in person, I know it. Cor, I think there's around a hundred now in here.

[And a good chunk of them are Litleo, but hey.]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Hopefully Joker doesn't mind getting a bit of static shock, because that's the inevitable result of touching Wrath's hair disaster. Oblivious, the boy just laughs at the ruffle and bounces along after the Ringmaster.]

[Sleepy remains clinging to Invidia's mane for the moment-- her legs are short and (at least right now) wobbly, so she'll just... ride for now.]</sub>

A hundred?!

I don't think I've ever seen a whole hundred things in one place before!

[pipers_son]

Well, ya will soon!

[Because they're stepping through the audience stands right now. There, in the ring, is Joker's entire roster. It's a bit of a chaotic scene, which is just what happens when you shove that many Pokemon into one space, but fortunately it's both large enough and everyone seems used to the routine that it's a kind of organized chaos.]

[Almost immediately, swirling in from the air, are a series of Unown to investigate Wrath.]

Ah, there's our safety team~. No one gets hurt with them around.

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath lets out an audible GASP at the sight of so many Pokemon frolicking in one place-- and then another, slightly-more-alarmed one as the Unown come whirring in circles around him.]}

W-whoa!

_{[He turns in place, trying to keep up with them.]}

[pipers_son]

Don't worry about 'em! They help keep everyone safe, don't ya, everyone?

[The reply is just a weird chorus of noises from the Unown, and Joker pats Wrath's hair again.]

They'll help look after ya.

[garbagechild]

They look like scribbles!

_{[Despite the pat, he continues to turn-- at least until he starts to get dizzy, at which point he stops, swaying slightly.]}

Do they all have names?

[pipers_son]

[Chuckling, Joker grips Wrath's shoulder to help steady him.]

Lessee... There's Ratna, Kelly, Jia, Olie.... And there's Esme, c'mon now, don't be shy.

[A little 'E' Unown burbles a bit from behind the rest.]

[garbagechild]

There's so many!

_{[He wrings his hands for a moment, steadied by Joker's grip, before shyly reaching out to touch the Unown closest to him.]}

[pipers_son]

[That would be Olie, who seems just a bit reluctant to let itself be touched before giving in and bumping itself against Wrath's fingertips. Joker chuckles.]

If you think this is a lot, then you shoulda seen the ruins they came from. There's even more a them than this, in all sortsa letters.

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath has only ever interacted with Pokemon that have at least LOOKED like animals of some kind-- the cryptic Unowns are totally new to him. He gasps when Olie bumps his fingers, but doesn't yank his hand back.]}

Wow!

Letters like writing?

[pipers_son]

That's right~. ACtually, I've taught mine a trick!

Wanna see?

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath stands to attention immediately.]}

Oh! Oh, yes! Yes, I wanna see!

_{[WRATH IS AN ENORMOUS FAN OF JOKER'S TRICKS!]}

[pipers_son]

Alright then! Everyone, c'mon now, in order- Jia, y'bleedin' hellion, order I said-

[It takes a little bit of herding, but eventually Joker is proudly standig beneath a group of Unown that spell out his own name over his head.]

[Because he's honestly five years old at heart. The loser.]

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath smiles appreciatively up at the display, even nodding as the Unown assemble themselves in what is obviously a significant pattern.]}

Oh! That's very nice.

<sub>[And then there's a very long silence.]

[At least until Wrath realizes he should probably mention:]</sub>

I can't read.

[pipers_son]

[Without missing a beat, Joker just gives a flourish of a gesture.]

It's my name! [Looking up to the Unown, he nods them off.] Good job, everyone~.

[As the Unown float off, Joker crouches down in front of Wrath.]

If ya can't read, would ya like me ta teach ya how?

[garbagechild]

You'd teach me?

I don't know, it looks pretty hard...

[pipers_son]

It can be a bit! But I'm real good at teachin' things. [Comes as part of that 'big brother' package.] And it's real useful, too.