[c] When Opposites Attract

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

Gokuto had walked his usual route into the Percussion district and ended up in Smashing Dynamics, the tell-all see-all square for all of your entertainment needs. He hadn't made any really close friends yet, which depressed him dearly. It's been a whole month since that awkward day, and even still he has no idea what happened, or why it happened. He looked amonst the shows going on around him and the eccentricity is what draws him here frequently. Looking upon the acrobats and juggling, all of the events going on at once. Maybe there was at least ONE person that would mak him feel more at home. Home? G thought as he gazed upon some of the amazing feats and productions going on. As sad as he was and lonely, he had to face that this was his new home. He had no way of return, that he knew of at least, which made him even more depressed. G then scowled his face and looked around at the events taking place, hearing some passertones say between themselves, "What's that guy's deal?" as they passed by him. He hated that this was a common remark. Why couldn't he express happiness? He knew what it was, he's feeling it right now! All this excitement, this vigorous rush of interesting characters? Who COULDN'T be happy here? He felt it... But could not express it, which in turn, depressed him even more... He walked around the plaza with his serious face on, because that's all he could muster up. At least it wasn't a frown.

G passed by a group of musicians, and looked at them and their guitar case open on the floor. He threw what spare change he could and some citizens around him looked at him even still with confusion. After the musicians thanked him, he kept walking. Turn around! Right now! SAY YOU'RE WELCOME!!!, but nothing happened no matter how hard he tried. He simply kept walking. He physically tested himself on several accounts to push himself into a situation where he HAD to express some sort of positive feedback, but nothing ever came. I'm tired of this. I can't be happy... I mean I can, but I can't show it. I might as well go crawl up back home and stay in bed for the rest of my life away from civilization. Sounds about right, G thought to himself as he plopped down on a bench on the far side of the plaza. Next to him was a lifeless rose, withered and grey in color. He placed his left hand over it, instantaneously perking it back up as if it had never passed in the first place. He loved his ability. It made him feel somewhat special, despite his lonliness. Flowers were the only REAL friends he had. From the rose, he then looked at the musicians he donated his money to, who were playing with such skill. G can't play an instrument at all. His mother wanted him to learn, but he was more into sports and action, not sitting at a piano all day. Oh how he wished he had followed his mother's wishes back home. That image of her, the last time he ever saw his mother, lifeless on the floor lying in her own blood. It haunts him to this day. So he then promised himself something: Looking up, still his seriousness showing on his face despite the slight glint of hope he just felt, he said to himself, "I promise, mother, I will learn an instrument for you. If it's the last thing I do." He then sank back down into a slump again. The only place to learn instuments is in the String District. He didn't have THAT much money, and he didn't want to go to the Sanctuary. He was done with school. No matter how well he was at it, he still hated it.

G started to mull things over to himself thinking on what instrument he could play. He wanted something portable, because with all the monsters attacking, he needed to be ready. Who's gonna roll a grand piano out here for him to play when by the time they're out here, everyone's dead. It didn't matter to him. He was still depressed. So G just sat there drudging from subject to subject in his mind, sometimes being distracted by the acts being performed before him.

[/size][/justify]

[Joker]

The birds were singing, the sun was shining, teenagers were chatting and shopping, and a nice cool breeze blew through the autumn air, carrying multicolored leaves to new locations that their home trees would never see. In short, it was disgustingly cheerful. Joker would have liked nothing better than to have crashed all the felicity with some happy gas or maybe a bomb or two but he needed to get some shopping done. His supplies were running low and what better place to go than the shopping center of Symphony?

Wearing a dark coat and hat to keep his identity a secret to any wandering eyes, Joker crept through the crowds toward his destination when he heard music playing. Dreadful music… How on earth could these people think that this was any sort of entertainment?! Well there was no need to worry… Joker reached into his coat to remove his gun when he spotted something odd. There was a young man sitting on one of the benches in the square all by himself. It wasn’t the being by himself that was odd, but rather the fact that he wore no form of merry expression like every single person around him. Why so serious? Perhaps he could put a permanent smile on the kid’s face. After all… he could use a sidekick… Joker strolled up to the boy and plopped down beside him putting an arm around the teenager’s shoulder.

“Well hello there young man! Why the long face? You look like someone backed over your mother with steamroller. If that is what happened, I have a good explanation for doing it. Ahahahahaaa!”

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

G watched the crowds sway to and fro hypnotically when from what seemed no where a tall man in a very shady outfit sat down next to him. G caught the glimpse of an odd smile underneath the large hat and it felt... Awkward, for this man to be around. Awkward as it may seem, G was known to keep his cool under many circumstances. Simply nudging to the right, away from the mysterious man as he plopped down, G went ahead and just ignored him for now. Before too long the man spoke a few words.

“Well hello there young man! Why the long face? You look like someone backed over your mother with steamroller. If that is what happened, I have a good explanation for doing it. Ahahahahaaa!”

Gokuto simply grunted and became slightly infuriated at this man for referencing his mother. How dare he bring up a seubject to touchy to him. It wa scruel and unsual. His laughter sent an odd chill down G's spine however, which somehow prevented him from responding right away. And what did he mean by "I have a good explanation for doing it."? G knew well enough how his mother died, so why would this man have a completely different explaination to a truth that was only known to G. This is what intruigued him the most. Mulling over what to say for a few seconds, G simply replied with "No. My mother was not rolled under a steam roller..." then let there be silence for about half a minute before turning to the man saying. "...her throat was slit three times and was then shot in the forehead by my drunken useless father. He then slit my throat and shot me in the face as well." It felt weird telling this story to someone he hardly knew. Hardly knew? G didn't know this man at all! What was he thinking talking to this man like that? G knew better than that, his mother taught him well! However... It felt good expressing some sort of relief. Well... Not expressing it physically, but more internally. Basically it felt good to get that off of his own chest.

Gokuto then turned back to the eventful crowd then started wondering who this man was, and why he was dressed up the way he was and... where was his instrument. If he was a normal citizen, wouldnt he be out there playing some music? Things started cranking his gears as he, again, hypnotically viewed the bustle that was before him.

[Joker]

What was up with this kid? He was as bland as a piece of white bread and water. He didn’t smile, he didn’t laugh, hell even an awkward glance would have meant he had reached him. But the boy remained stoic simply gazing at the Joker. Perhaps he needed to take a different approach to reaching the inner insanity of the lad. After all, there was only so much the mind could take before it snapped in two, causing G to become just like him. All he needed was the right topic. Though the tidbit about his parents was extremely interesting... His father sounded like an admirable fellow to him, granted he wasn’t the best judge of… well anything. The clown then reared a hand back and happily slapped Gokuto’s back.

"Geeze, kid! No need to be such a downer, I was only kidding with yah... I wonder whose mother it was I did run over with that steamroller then... Could have been a sister. Hehehehe.... How about we see if a little joke won’t lighten your spirits, hmm? Alright! Here's one! After hearing that one of the patients in a mental hospital had saved another from a suicide attempt by pulling him out of a bathtub, the warden reviewed the rescuer's file and called him into his office.

"Joker, your records and your heroic behavior indicate that you're ready to go home. I'm only sorry that the man you saved later killed himself with a rope around the neck."

"Oh, he didn't kill himself," I told him. "I hung him up to dry." AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!"

The Joker cackled and guffawed, his laughter ringing through the air, some pedestrians, looking around in fear, searching for the source, yet none was found. The area cleared very quickly and the Joker stood and strolled to the center of the square, turning toward Gokuto and removing the hat. Giving the young man a lunatic smile, Joker then threw away the coat and crossed his arms before him and watched him with neon green eyes. He wondered how he would react to Joker’s appearance. Most recoiled in disgust while others shied away in fear. It would be curious to see how this seemingly emotionless boy’s face would change at seeing his full profile.

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

What the hell? Gokuto thought when the man exclimed it wasn't his mother he steamrolled, but someone else. Who the hell is this guy?

[/color] Gokuto listened while not looking at the man once. The man went on with his "joke" where G seemed somewhat uninterested, but one word caught his ears "Joker". Gokuto straightened up instantly.

He had not heard much about hte Joker, just a few rumors around the districts. Most people cringed when they heard his name, much like he did just now. The only thing he knew about Joker was his ghastly smile and his trinkets and toys that he uses to get back at people. He knew not his motive. Some rumors exclaim that he wants to wipe all the smiles off of Symphony's face because that's all he can do is smile. Another report states that him killing is the REASON why he smiles, because he loves it so much. Gokuto mulled all the information he had about Joker and came to a unanimous solution: He knew absolutely nothing about Joker. No facts, no truths, nothing. He snapped to finally and came in on his random companion's last bit of his "joke".

The man cackled a horrid cackle and Gokuto immediately turned to him in disgust at his joke's finale. Renowned panic crosses the plaza and the tones ran around frantically gathering their things and making off for their lives. Gokuto was frozen in fear. He had only heard the laugh once before and it was very very distant, but now... It was right there next to him. He knew immediately who this man was, but still watched in drop-jaw awe as he walked to the center and ripped his coat off revealing his identity. At the sight, Gokuto fell back over the bench in fear, but quickly caught himself and backed up to a hedge behind him. He was shaking in fear and clinched on to the hedge. Oh my god. What do I do? I can't fight that well. I'm cornered. Oh my god. Oh my god. What do I do?[/color]

Gokuto finally snapped. He shouldnt be scared. He knew he would make it. Scratch that, he didn't know he would make it, but he kept telling himself that as inspiration to keep him focused. His tight grasp on the hedge loosened and his voice came about with "What do you want from me?" Here he thought the man was just another tone out ot make his day, though he can't show it, but people still tried all the time. He was THAT close to Symphony's number one maniacal killer. Why didn't he attack the whole plaza? Why did he just talk to me? He could have easily taken the whole plaza down, but now he just scared everyone out but me? He could have easily taken me out! No one would have noticed in the hustle and bustle. Quick stab to the back and a brisk walk away, he would have been done. Why me??[/color] Gokuto again found his grasp tightening on the hedge behind him. He felt more at ease with plants around, since that was his main offense, and not just because they give him the ability to fight, it's just something about plants, he just loves. No wonder he's a Soprano. Nonetheless there was the matter of the task at hand. "Well? Answer me!"
[/size][/justify][/blockquote]

[Joker]

The boy flipped over the back of the bench and collapsed onto the ground in a rather ungraceful manner. It seemed that the Joker had scared him.... Good. As the boy backed up into the shrubbery it seemed he was contemplating something. Perhaps how he could escape from this predicament? Sadly for him, there was no and would never be any escape from him. For the Joker had taken an interest to the young man. All of Symphony knew his face, and even slightly hidden beneath his disguise, up close the boy should have known who he was… had he been from Symphony.

Whispers had gone around the city of the mages summoning new heroes who had fallen in alternate dimensions to save them from the monsters that are attacking the city as well as discovering what to do about the miasma. As if it would be that easy to get rid of... He doubted this child even knew the dangers of the miasma. Might as well teach him now. An who knows? Gokuto could actually crack a smile... The Joker held his arms widely, as if to accept a friendly embrace and spoke once more to the boy.

"Y'know kid. I like you. You put a smile on my face. Like a baby getting dropped off of an office building! Ahahahahahaaaaa! But you're still so serious! Why not crack a smile? Tell you what..."

Joker slid his hand into his pocket and took out an alarm clock. It seemed perfectly normal to the naked eye. But anyone who knew the Joker knew that there was obviously going to be something very wrong with it. He began turning the key in the back of it, the clock clicking until, with one last turn, Joker stopped. The clock then began to tick away... Whatever it was, Gokuto sure wasn't going to like it.

"If you manage to beat me before this clock starts ringing, I'll let you off scott free and won't hurt one hair on your pretty little head. If you don't, the explosives inside the clock will go off, dousing you and me in something I like to call "Joker Venom". Funny thing about the stuff. It has absolutely no effect... on me. For you though... Well... Let's just say you'll end up like my father... Ehehehehe...."

He placed the clock onto the ground and got into an offensive position, his hands balled into fists and his arms curled into a pretty odd fighting stance. He then loosened his stance for a second before saying one more thing.

"Oh and if I were you, I wouldn't try to tinker with the clock. You do that and the explosives go off automatically. Only way for you to stop it is you stopping me. Hahahaha! Let's get ready to rumble!"

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

What the hell was happening? Gokuto was terrified up against the shrubbery. The first thing he thought of was that he needed to survive, in any way shape or form. That sick and twisted grin on the Joker's face was horrid. Gokuto was literally stunned from his fear. He started mulling through all the things he might be able to do to save his life, but sadly, nothing came forth as fast as he wanted them to.

The Joker wanted Gokuto to smile. As if that could happen right now under these circumstances. As if it could happen AT ALL. Gokuto wanted to smile in this instance, for maybe it could ease his worries, but no. Nothing would come forth. A slant smile would not even dare attempt crossing his face. Gokuto disregarded the Joker's wish and restricted himself to focus on his adversary.

If what the Joker said was true, and there was no way to escape, then Gokuto would fight, evem to his death. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, but if it did, if it WAS his time, Gokuto would take it like a man and accept his defeat. This was something he prided himself on, not being afraid of death. Partly it was because he was already "dead" but still, having your throat slit and shot in the face sure does give you a different sense in the fact, that you're not scared anymore.

Regarding offense, Gokuto was out of luck. Back home he learned before his incident of winding up in Symphony. He had control over plants and the fight he had gotten into with the Mosh Grizzly in Shibuya proved this. Lucky for him he was at the flower shop and could defend himself before the Noise backed him into the decal and radically adjusting makeup of them both, ultimately ending up in Symphony. Nonetheless, he knew he could fight, but knew it was pointless to use the Flora Whirl. It had hardly any power than keeping flowers alive in this world. Sadly, G had learned that the hard way when he was roaming about and was attacked on the edge of the Soprano District. He had to run, which depressed him ever so much. Gokuto now has to resort to physically fighting, which being a mentally focused Tonic who helps people did not help at all. Physically, Gokuto could hold his own, but in a more defensive form through dodging, and evasion. He wondered how offensively he would fare, for this was practically his first fight without assistance from anything else.

Then there was the clock. This must be one of his "pranks" that G had heard so much about. He remarked it had "Joker Venom" in it, which rang a small bell. Somehting about dying with a smile on your face? Gokuto thought this was humorous, for he can't smile. He wondered if it had an effect on himself as well, for that reason, but Gokuto was far from wanting to test it out. To Gokuto, the alarm clock was priority. He had to find a way to get it out of the way and behind him before it was too late.

The Joker took a slightly less than normal pose for fighting. Who was Gokuto kidding, he's a FREAK and even his fighting stance proved that. Everything up to this point had proven to him that the Joker was abnormal. Nonetheless, he was a force to be reckoned with. Obviously, if laughter can clear out the whole plaza, then there was no telling what he could do with more than a laugh.

Following suit, Gokuto called upon his confidence and focus, then assumed his fighting stance. Gokuto's was a normal stance with his fists balled much like the Joker's however his arms were not fashioned how his were. They were placed normally around his waist, and his knees were slightly bent while his head was tilted slightly forward so his eyes rose over the top of his glasses. Gokuto fights with his lower body, not upper. He kicks and flips and kicks again harder, and thus was his fighting style. Grace and force with poise and edge. Gokuto waited silently for hte Joker to make his move, as was also his style. He considered it courteous, to let his opponent make the first move, then use themselves against themselves.

[Joker]

Joker watched the boy's reaction to the clock as utter fear... He seemed to be sinking into fear faster than many of the others had. Bah. No bother. He would just need to get the child's mind off of the clock. Perhaps some of his toys could help? Ehehehe... But he needed to figure out how strong his opponent was. See, just because everyone thought he was insane... well... it's not like he WASN'T. But that didn't mean he couldn't think through many thingss logically. He just chose not to. Unless it was a situation like this, the analytical mind made everything so tedious and dreadfully dull. He wondered how this boy would fight. Judging by the way his hands lay slumped at his sides, it meant he didn't plan to use them... But not to hold them up for a guard? That seemed odd even to the Joker...

The clown sprang at the boy, his arms flailing as he sent out wild yet precise strikes with his fists. But the boy raised his arms and with what seemed to be little to no effort, he blocked the Joker's blows. Hm... The kid wasn't a total wuss. But it was time to see what kind of power the kid was holding back. Stopping his attacks, he left an opening for Gokuto to get in a counter and as Joker expected, the boy did. He did not use a fist to strike at the Joker though, but his legs. A flurry of rapid kicks came at him and it took the Joker quite a bit of concentration to even see the blows coming at him.

"Ahahahahaaa! Not bad kid! Looks like you aren't a total pushover!"

Joker back flipped a few times and with one powerful leap, did a couple of spins in the air before landing on his feet and bowing to Gokuto giggling. He bent one arm and placed his forearm at his waist as the other whipped out horizontally and stayed erect. But what Gokuto hadn't noticed was the razor sharp cards that slipped into the outstretched hand. After righting himself, Joker turned his back to the boy.

"And it seems you've got a few fancy tricks "up your sleeves". Funny thing is, I have some as well... AND THEY'RE MY ACE IN THE HOLE! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

With the maniacal laughter, Joker spun around and began whipping out a barrage of razor sharp playing cards and sent them hurtling toward the young man. Sure the boy had been adept at hand to hand combat, but how about when faced with a long ranged assault? Now it was either dodge these and die or get cut to ribbons and die. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

Gokuto had his work cut out for him, for sure. This crazed maniac knew how to fight despite his wacky movements, and G had to focus quite hard to get his guard up in the right places and once the Joker seemingly allowed him to counter, another great deal of focus was needed to swiftly blow a few kicks here and there. All the while, that maniac laughed and giggled and it was one of the most intimidating things G had ever heard. Was this all really just a game to him? Was he just toying around? G refused to let him win his game. It's time someone put this childish adult in time out.

The Joker demonstrated his acrobatic abilities and blatanly showed he was more adept than Gokuto. Simultaneously, as a reflex, Gokuto did a couple back hand springs, not back flips and as Gokuto landed on his feet he looked up quickly and watched as the Joker nimbly did a few more backflips, then spinning in the air and landing gracefully. It was somewhat admirable. Gokuto had always wished he was great at gymnastics, but ending up being school smart and athletic in sports didn't give him much free time to actually get into gymnastics. But this Joker character was doing it all as if he was born to be able to. Gokuto snapped to when Joker remarked about something about sleeves.

Before he knew anything else, Joker was spinning frantically. Glistening in the sun were flat cards. They seemed harmless, but that was not the case. G knew better than that to assume that these were normal playing cards. Even after knowing the Joker for hardly any time at all, he just knew these were bad. They were coming in pretty fast, but thankfully Gokuto was a fast thinker and had an even faster eye. Each shine that the cards reflected gave their position away even though it was hard to see them as they were flat. He used this to his advantage and projected where they would fly. Gracefully he turned to the left, fell to his knees, jumped up and spun around, landed on his hands, spun on his hands, cartwheeled more to the left, slid on his knees again and continued this stunt for what seemed to him to be a long long time, when in actuality it was only a few mere seconds.

Not long afterwards, he felt a nick. One of the cards got his shoulder. It hurt. Alot. He tumbled over grasping his shoulder and another card nicked him near the same spot. Gokuto screamed in pain. He laid down on the ground quickly then rolled to avoid any oncoming cards. Now he crossed the line. It was time for business. Still rolling, Gokuto eventually sprung back up. It was time to show Joker how he faught, and that was by using his enemies against themselves.

Gokuto began to spin like Joker did moving slightly to dodge some cards. Blood was thrown from his shoulder as he span, and his jacket was getting ruined from the stains. He kept spinning, then moved a little to the left, a step to the right, then once Gokuto managed to clear his movements, he began a game of HIS own. When a card came close enough within grasp and was at an allowable angle, G would spin with it, grab it with his hands and throw it back at Joker, like a boomerang returning to it's owner. He first only threw one at a time, but became comfortable enough calculating the whereabouts of each card. He was soon reflecting many cards back at his supressor. Too fast was he spinning though, to focus on Joker himself, but more was focusing on not getting hit by the cards and timing their placement right to reflect them back. This started to worry G since he had no idea what or where the Joker was up to.

[Joker]

The Joker grinned as the boy had been hit by one of the lethal playing cards and shouted in pain. Ahhh... Music to a madman's ears... Unfortunately the boy cut it short so Joker continued to toss the blades at Gokuto, hoping to get an encore performance. But the boy began to do something else… A card that he had thrown suddenly sliced into the Joker’s left forearm. The cards that had flown toward the boy began to come back at the Joker himself. Well well well… He had not seen anyone do this before. The kid must’ve had a good eye and a great amount of speed to be able to pull off such a stunt. The Joker decided to not allow him to get hit by anymore cards, so he halted his attack and cartwheeled to one of the guitars the street performers had been playing and held it like a baseball bat.

“Batter up! Hahahaha!”

The Joker swung the guitar at the cards, having them get embedded into the plastic. He continued this, switching up hands and postures on the fly until each of the cards had been halted. The freak dropped his “bat” causing it to crack and snap the metallic cords as it hit the pavement. He then yanked the card out of his forearm, causing a spurt of blood to shoot out. But unlike the shout of pain Gokuto had released, the Joker did what he usually did in these situations. He giggled and raised the blade to his lips, wiping the blood off of the blade with his tongue before tossing it to the ground beside the broken guitar. But instead of attacking the young man again, Joker made an inquiry.

“Hey kid. Tell me something. Have you ever killed someone? Cause really, I don’t think you have it in you. I know, I know. “Wahhhh! I saw my mommy die and it was my daddy’s fault. Why would I kill someone else?” Lemme tell you what you’re missing by being a killing virgin. My first time, it’s just as great as everyone said it would be! Y’see I took a knife from their kitchen, slit their throats and carved smiles right on their faces! A work of art if I ever saw one… And of course, after that, I kept trying to top myself! I found that there are so many varieties from which you can choose for them to die! There’s strangling, bleeding, electrocuting, stabbing, shooting, burning, drowning, freezing, falling and, my personal favorite, laughing! Mix these up and it’s fun each and every time! But nothin’ ever compares to your first time.”

He then moseyed on up closer to Gokuto with his hands in his pockets. He slipped on one of the joy buzzers he had in there and switched it on. One was the joy buzzer that would give the boy a lethal jolt of electricity, shutting down his bodily systems and killing him almost instantly, decorated with a black button. The second would only give the boy enough of a shock to knock him off his feet and most likely numb him right up, giving him momentary paralysis and had a red button on it. The Joker was hoping that it was the non lethal buzzer because he was having way too much fun with this kid to stop now! But it was up to fate to decide what this boy’s would be…

“I gotta say though, that’s very respectable you being a killing virgin. Though you don’t know what you’re missing, I guess that stops you from getting a KTD. Killing Related Death. Hehehehehe… You know what you deserve…? A NICE, BIG PAT ON THE BACK!”

The Joker leapt at Gokuto, whipping his right hand out of his pocket and raising it behind him, palm open. Any onlooker would have thought Joker was trying to give him an epic high five. The hand came down on Gokuto’s back, putting a shock to his system and after a second or two, Joker pulled his hand back, laughing loudly and dancing away. Looking down at his right hand, he saw that it was indeed the red joy buzzer that Gokuto had gotten hit by. Jackpot!

“Well! Lucky you! Looks like you aren’t going to die… yet! Better shake off that numbness you’re feeling because in case you forgot, the clock is still ticking! How long have you got? Well how the hell would I know?! Hahahaha!”

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

The flying razor cards ceased their oncoming assault and when Gokuto slowed his spinning down, the Joker had thrown a guitar with most of the cards he had retaliated with stuck in it, down on the ground. Joker reached for his forearm and pulled one connected hit out of his arm and released a surge of crimson blood, then cackled. Gokuto winced. What the hell is this guy's problem? Did that not hurt him at all?

[/color] He stepped back a few steps, slowly as the Joker made his interesting inquiry. But as he stepped back, it was proven that Gokuto's steps were shorter than Joker's and soon Joker was up close and near him.

Joker had a slight point, even though Gokuto didn't want to admit it. If ANYTHING he would go after his father in retribution but Gokuto didn't want to think of harming anyone else but his father... and Joker, in the present circumstances. G shook all of what joker said to him in a means to focus on the fight. He was right near him but once he took that last step, he jumped in the air. Gokuto had seen this before, back at home, and it was when he doubles partner and him would win. This is how his doubles partner gave highfives, since she was little, Gokuto would just catch her. Ahhh the memories--

BZZT!

A surge of electricity had gone through Gokuto's body and crubled him to the floor. "Dammit," escaped his mouth as he slammed up against the floor. The Joker cackled and lauhjed his creepy laugh. The scariest part of the laugh though, was that Gokuto couldn't see him. He was down on the ground, and Joker was somewhere behind and above him, which the suspense made it all the more terrifying. Then he commented on something that Gokuto had completely forgotten about: The Clock.

Gokuto struggled as hard as he could to get free from the numbing shock, but nothing would happen. He would squirm a bit forward but there was no way he could function properly enough in this state. He felt tears swelling up in his eyes. It was his time. It was inevitable. He was going to die again and this time there was no coming back. No resurrection with that creepy pin or the Floral Whirl--

The Floral Whirl! Gokuto had completely forgotten that he had his pin on him. Well, he had it on him at all times, but still, he forgot there was still a way to fight. He looked up and saw the rose he had brought back to life from earlier a little to the left and a tad further away than he thought. Gokut closed his eyes and placed his nose on the ground. Just because he can't fight physically doesn't mean he can't fight mentally, and thank God that Floral Whirl is controlled through the mind.

The Red Rose began to grow, not in size, but length as the petals of the rose stayed the same size. It seemed to become alive as it snaked its way higher in the air to around a zenith of ten feet. It looked down at Joker and if it were to give a certain look, it would be angry and staring down Joker with intimidation. The rose bent back like a dragon rearing it's head before it unleashed its breath of fire, then snapped forward unleashing a storm of razor sharp petals at Joker AND Gokuto. Thankfully though, Gokuto knows where they will hit and can steer them away from him staying unharmed. These were his playing cards. They weren't as fast, or as dangerous, but it would definitely keep Joker occupied until Gokuto came to from his numbing.

The rose kept flinging petals at Joker in what seemed like an endless supply of them. The rose, no matter how many petals were flung, stayed the same in size and fully in bloom. Gokuto was thankful that there was a rose, and he felt this was the rose thanking him for a second chance. Not all of the plants he used would cooperate, since he was still new at this whole "plant control" thing, but again, G was overwhelmingly thankful that this rose proposed no problems. If G made it out alive, he would be sure to visit this rose each and every day as thanks.

Back to the fight. Thankfully the rose kept going and going and Gokuto could feel some of his body coming back. Mainly just his right arm, so he used this free arm to start crawling towards the clock, one scoot at a time. Hopefully the rose was enough of a distraction to give Gokuto some time to heal and get to that clock.

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[Joker]

The Joker smiled as he watched Gokuto flop around like a fish out of water. Funny how it reminded him of that crazy dance move from the 80's.... Oh well. Back to business. Perhaps he should simply crack the clock open... With the kid turning into a limp noodle, this fight was getting oh so dull... Then Joker noticed something. A rose had begun to rise, slowly at first but hen more rapidly, staring down at Joker like a hungry predator about to snack on a tasty morsel. And if Joker hadn't known any better, he would say that the fancy flora looked downright pissed.

"Well well! What have we here? Aren't you a pretty little flower? Sorry to burst your bubble kiddo, but you really think your extendable daisy here has somethin' on me? I mean I know every rose has it's thorn but come ON! What you just expect me to trip into it or something?"

As soon as Joker said that, petals flew toward him so quickly, he had barely enough time to cartwheel out of the way. That was something unexpected... A flower that not only was versatile but tossed flower petals that were as sharp as knives... Where could he get one? The Little Shop of Horrors? The rose suddenly regrew its petal and tossed them toward the Joker and the clown kept trying to dodge the attack. But eventually, two petals smacked into his bicep, one sliced across his face, and one even got stuck in his left butt cheek! Now this flower was jut playing dirty! Had he been facing the other way, his Joker Juice would have stopped flowing permanently!

"Oh that's it, you overgrown daffodil! I may not have any weed killer but this spray'll keep ya down! And who knows? There may be some left over for your friend over there..."

Dodge rolling toward the mutating rose to keep from being hit my more petal projectiles, the Joker whipped his hand to his dead looking carnation and gave it a yank. A green viscous liquid shot out and drenched the lower stem of the plant. A searing his began to sound and smoke began to float up from it as the acid ate though the plant's stem like Queen Brahne at a buffet. Soon after, the rose simply fell limp and wilted and Joker clicked his tongue pitifully.

"Aww... Poor thing... Had so much potential... Shame it couldn't have been working for the winning team... So! Before I was interrupted!"

Joker turned to see that Gokuto had already gotten over his paralysis... He frowned slightly at this fact and placed a hand to his temple and closing his eyes.

"Note to self... Up the ampage on the paralysis buzzer.... So! It seems out game is drawing to a close... Are you victorious or are you not... Shall we let the clock decide?"

Joker snatched up the alarm clock and tossed it to Gokuto. As soon as the boy caught it, the clock began ringing and Joker let out a scream of wild laughter! Confetti and silly string shot out of the clock, covering the boy as Joker continued to laugh as he threw an arm around the young man's shoulder.

"Looks like you got what it takes kid! Uncle J's taken a shine to you really. What do you say about joining me eh? You get to travel around Symphony, meet many people, kill all of them, AND IT COMES WITH DENTAL! Ahahahahahaaaaa!"

[Gokuto Kanashimi]

Thank the heavens that his plan worked... Mostly worked. He began his way towards the clock but not too long after a sharp hissing noise was heard behind him. Gokuto quickly turned around and watched as his flower fell to the ground. Immediately, with anger, Gokuto jumped up cured of his paralysis and raging with adrenaline.

Too fast though, were the Joker's movements and before Gokuto had known the same clock that he was trying to obtain earlier was flying towards him. Gokuto easily caught it, but knew nothing of what it would do. It began to ring like any normal clock. Gokuto jumped immediately and frantically as he did not know what to do before...

BOOM!

Confetti and silly string. All over. Gokuto looked down in horror. Was this death? He felt alive. He could still see everything. He was fine. He looked down in disbelief, however inside he was overly joyed that he had lived with only minor damages. All too soon though, his anger and frustration settled in as he looked up and gazed at the Joker. He had the nerve to ask him to turn evil. Gokuto could only reply one way:

"Hell no!"

(ooc= yeah I'm really sorry this is short. I'm getting sick and my brain is not properly functioning. Please accept my apologies)

[Joker]

"Hell no!"

Wow... Not even just a normal no. It was a hell no. That pretty much dictated with absolute certainty that the boy would not change his mind. But... perhaps if he greased the wheels just the right way, he could show the young man the beauty of lunacy and needless slaughter. But that would come later. For now, the Joker put on a face of mock insult.

"Well... THAT was rather rude. A "No thank you, Mister Joker." would have sufficed..."

The clown shuffled away from the young man, showing disappointment on his ghost white face. He really could have used a lackey for his next heist... For some reason he goes through henchman faster than cheerleaders go through men. Sure he dunked one in acid here, shot another in the head there, but work conditions weren't that bad, were they? Oh well.

Noticing that it was beginning to get late and that he still hadn't gotten his supplies, the Joker gave a sigh and turned toward Gokuto, wearing a smile once more. After all he had to keep up appearances. Psychotic or otherwise.

"Well kid, it's been a real treat but I gotta get going. I really have to get my shopping list done. Milk, eggs, rope, knives, poison. The usual. And if it's not today, it's tomorrow and it all just a pain in my side, really. I just want you to know that my offer still stands. There's a whole 'nother side to this city you don't know about... Perhaps I can even give you an answer to the question of why you're here in the first place... If you change your mind or just want to know more..."

The Joker reached into a sleeve and yanked out another playing card. If anyone had a previous encounter with Joker's "playing" cards, they would undoubtedly go on guard. But when he tossed it down, it danced along the air, showing it was pure paper and landed at Gokuto's feet. When he picked it up, he would see it was a joker card.

"Take my card. Hahahahahahaaaaaa!"

With that, the Joker whipped out a pair of chattering teeth connected to a launcher and a handle. A slight squeeze of the handled launched the teeth toward a nearby building, the mouth biting effortlessly at the air. When it came into contact with the solid stone, the teeth clenched shut and another squeeze later, the Joker zipped through the air after it. Noticing an old man hobbling down the street, the Joker smirked and snatched a branch from a tree. Reaching his arm back, he flung the spinning stick toward the old man's legs, catching them from behind and causing him to fall over like London Bridge.

"Hahaha! Strike!"

With that, the freak leapt across the rooftops and out of sight. [exit Joker]