IC INBOX FOR VR

[quickattackjack]

Hi there! Wanna thread but don't have time/want to set up a whole post for it?
Does your character just wanna call and shoot the breeze? LET'S DO IT.

[Psst, if you need OOC contact, try here!]

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Video/Action

[thedifferencebetween]

Hey there, buddy!

[Jack hasn't forgotten about his promise to give Cancer Bag a makeover. He just needed a couple of days to make the appropriate appointments and figure out what he wanted to do with the guy. He...wow, he was a fixer upper. He looked like something you'd find screaming gibberish in a cave in the middle of nowhere.]

[So here's Jack, calling up Other Jack, all smiles and excitement. He's lounging on a bench in Goldenrod, his fat puppy sprawled in his lap. He never goes anywhere without the Houndour.]

So, you ready for your big day Gramps? Meet me in front of the Goldenrod Department Store, we'll go make you man pretty!

Or...ya'know. As much as we can. We'll do something, it'll be good, it'll be good.

Video/Action

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[As the days pass, in the very deepest spider-riddled corners of Jack's mind, he's hoped that Other Jack has forgotten about the whole thing entirely.]

[And then his Poke'Gear lights up.]

[He answers, all smiles as well. He is but a feeble old man, grateful for this very fashion forward mastermind's company!!]</sub>

Oh! How wonderful! I'll be there in about an hour.

<sub>[Because it's going to take that long for Jack to write up something like a will, gather up Edgar, his Murkrow, and finally drag himself out the door.]

[He arrives outside the Poke'Mart wearing a Houndour-inspired windbreaker suit and a knitted cap pulled down over his wild tangled hair. Edgar hops along in the snow behind him, pausing occaisonally to flail her wings in the snow and toss it onto her back.]</sub>

Good afternoon, Jack!

_{[He leaned in, pretending to be giddy and conspiratorial.]}

Or should I say boss!

[thedifferencebetween]

Hey there, Gramps!

[About time, geeze. What took so long, it's not like the guy puts much into his appearance. Clearly. If he did, this whole thing wouldn't be necessary.]

Ahhh!

[Handsome Jack shoots a pair of finger guns at the conspirator's whisper.]

Damn right. And look at this, you're getting the perks already!

[Doom Boner slides off of Jack's lap in an oozing sprawl of fur and flab, to sniff curiously at the Murkrow, tongue lolling out. Which leaves Jack free to stand up, stretching to pop his back. The cold doesn't really agree with him here.]

[Mainly because he's fifty years old and lacks access to all the advancements Hyperion had to keep him looking and feeling twenty years younger.]

[quickattackjack]

I'm so lucky!

_{[Jack is so glad he used to teach acting. He bends down to greet Doom Boner with a fond, if not wistful smile. He misses his own Houndour. Edgar doesn't greet the pup so readily. She is a stern old Murkrow and cranes her neck back from Doom Boner's sniffy nose. She lets out a low croak of warning.]}

So! What's first on the agenda?

[thedifferencebetween]

First thing is taking care of that...whatever you call that mess that's your hair. It's like something that should be hanging off a horse's ass, we gotta fix that.

[And it's probably gonna be the easiest thing to take care of.]

I made you an appointment with my girl, she's great. If she can't do anything for you, nobody can.

[D.B whines at the rebuff, flopping down on his belly and looking upwards hopefully. He's just trying to make friends... At least the other human seems to like him.]

[quickattackjack]

_{[Jack gives D.B. a few more fond pats before straightening up and looking down the lane. He wound a grey and black twist of his hair around one finger. Fare well old friend.]}

If you trust her, so do I!

_{[Edgar flutters up to Jack's shoulder and gives Other Jack a squint before distracting herself with her own preening.]}

Shall we?

[thedifferencebetween]

Oh yeah, she's the best. Hey, Boner, c'mon, the bird doesn't wanna be your friend, don't be a pain. You're not as lovable as you think you are.

[A rather ironic bit of advice, as Handsome Jack begins leading the way to his salon. It never once occurred to him to leave his puppy at home.]

Drives me crazy, but...I dunno. Be weird if I didn't have him with me, ya know? He's not even the one I started out with, but the friggin thing needs so much attention....

[The Houndour in questions waddles at Jack's feet, tongue hanging out looking up adoringly. Yeah, he knows what sort of person his Trainer is. But his Trainer's never been bad to him, so he doesn't really care.]

One time, I put him out of the bedroom for the night, he cried the whole time. You got any like that?

[quickattackjack]

_{[As they walk, Jack takes note of these words, looking between the dog and his master. The old man shakes his head.]}

I've had a few ghost-types who were anxious the last time I was here, but none that had separation anxiety. Does he not like his Poke'ball? I find when mine need a break, they're more than happy to hop inside.

[thedifferencebetween]

Dunno, never put him in it. I didn't like catch him or anything, I just...picked him up off a street corner and took him home. He was in a box with a coupla others, I think a kid was selling a clutch of hatched eggs or something...I dunno. But he was big and he had flames painted on him so I grabbed him.

[And that had been that. After a few abysmal attempts at training, Jack stopped thinking of Doom Boner as anything other than his pet. Now the houndour's just a staple of his life. Wherever he goes, the fat puppy is at his side or in his lap or waddling right behind. It's just...nice. Always having something there. Something that's not gonna screw him over or leave him, no matter what.]

I keep my battle pokes in their balls and boxed and crap, but D.B... it'd feel weird. I wouldn't be too happy if he hopped in there. He's my special little guy. I mean the only reason I put him out of the bedroom that time was 'cause my wife was here. That...he didn't need to be exposed to any of that, we're...we have our fun. In the bedroom.

But nah, he does everything with me. Hell, he gets done at the same salon we're going to.

[quickattackjack]

_{[And here Jack learns a bit about his name double--he's a bit more compassionate than Jack originally thought. He sure does love that puppy.]}

Maybe he just has a little more growing to do...but if you want my opinion, boss, you might want to officially catch him in case of an emergency. A Pokemon is safest in its Poke'ball after all!

_{[Jack paused in his Helpful Tips because THE SALON loomed and he felt his breath catch in his throat. Is this what it felt like to be afraid?]}

[thedifferencebetween]

[Compassionate....desperate for any sort of facsimile of real connection or affection...either or.]

Huh, never thought of that. Oh well, whatever, we've got way more important things to worry about now! We're here, buddy! Time to get you groomed. I got an idea, I think you'll like it. Ha, what am I saying? Of course you will!

[Handsome Jack struts ahead, yammering on about how lucky the other, much less handsome Jack was, to be treated to a salon visit like this. He flings open the doors to the salon, striding in like the place exists solely for his benefit and announcing his arrival with a hearty 'Handsome Jack, in the flesh!'. Because as far as he's concerned, this place does exist for his benefit. The money he throws at this place...they should be falling at his feet every time he comes in here.]

[But he'll take being swarmed by helpful salon assistants, plying him with the usual treats of champagne and little sandwiches. It's obvious he comes in here often. There's already a dish out for D.B. How does anybody live any other way? Talk about hell...first month here, he'd had to go to a discount barber. Never again.]

[But today he's sharing his rock star lifestyle. He remembers he's brought Cancer Bag, and for a reason.]

Hey, hey...make sure my bro here gets he same treatment! Ladies, this is Fixer Upper Jack, he's the one you're gonna be working your magic on today. I know, I know, the guy's a disaster...

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[Jack can only hang back in the doorway and watch the whole establishment turn on a dime to welcome Handsome Jack. It was incredible how much of a name he'd made for himself in the short time he'd been here.]

[And there was something else. A tiny little flickering ember deep down in the pit of his stomach. Envy. This was how the citizens of Halloween Town used to greet him. Here? He was nobody. Sure he had wonderful friends and maybe a good old fashioned enemy or two, but he was still nobody. And it had been five years. The sudden spark of self discovery actually allowed him to miss the insults the other Jack sprinkled over him like confetti.]

[Well.]

[He'd be Somebody eventually. He'd be the Jack that destroyed Team Rocket from the inside out. Cancer Bag indeed!]

[He strode ahead and greeted the assistants with a polite nod of the head, keeping his simple happy little old man smile firmly in place as though his lips had been glued shut by a master embalmer.]</sub>

[thedifferencebetween]

[Handsome Jack is unaware of the other Jack's thoughts entirely. He's just enjoying himself, being the center of attention and directing the show.]

Alright, I've got an idea for what I think we should do here...

[Now his attention is on his 'project', though he's talking over Jack Skellington to the stylist.]

I'm thinking we keep some length, he's got a face for length...but really sexify it, ya'know? Get some layers in there, some framing... Hey Old Jack, how do ya feel about a color job?

28th Jan, A Place to Stay!

[11121_assumption]

Ducking out of the Pokemon Centre as soon as possible, Walter intended to keep off the radar as much as possible. Which meant not spending the night at the Centre; while they welcomed trainers for the night, he did not want to be present when henry showed up for his shift. True to his word to Heather, he had no intention of seeing, talking to or even acknowledging Henry was in this city while he was here.

He had slept rough before but he had the money to fund a night in a hostel or some other guest house. He just needed to find such a place. His wandering through the city, re-establishing his bearings, found him walking up to the Skellington House. It seemed as good as anywhere else to stay. With Reed perched on his shoulder, constantly swiveling his head to get a good look around them, he stepped inside, looking around the entrance way.

[quickattackjack]

_{[A color job? Jack turned to the other Jack, his grin growing a little more genuine. Now that was a change that could be fun!]}

How about green?

[quickattackjack]

An older Murkrow was perched atop an old black rotary phone at the front desk and she eased open an eye when Walter's silhouette filled the door. Ah, she knew him--the one with the mouthy little featherball. She let out a croaky, "Grokk grokk!" sound and settled back down to continue her nap.

She was the desk bell, more or less.

Jack quickly appeared, though he looked...different than Walter might remember. The age lines in his face seemed to have faded mostly and the grey was gone from his hair. And somewhere just under his usual snaggle-toothed grin, he seemed to be ever so slightly in pain as he waved to Walter. Pokemon botox was fucked up. Damn it, Handsome Jack.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise! Come in, come in!"

[11121_assumption]

Walter hadn't seen much of Jack as it were, past occasionally passing him in the Rocket HQ. He seemed non-hostile enough. Better than Handsome Jack, who seemed to rub Walter the wrong way, and far, far better than Felix, who had earned the dubious honour of being Chaos' 'favourite' Rocket. Reed turned his head to the old Murkrow, taking her in, before abruptly turning his head to the man that appeared.

Walter nodded politely to Jack when he appeared. "Is this a hotel?" He asked, wanting to be sure before he started asking about a room. He'd always been confident about Room 302, but that room didn't exist here.

[quickattackjack]

"In a manner of speaking!" Jack soon met Walter, bringing his hands together, happy for both the business and the company. "This is a bed and breakfast--and haunted house. I'm afraid you'll have to book in advance for one of our haunted rooms."

Jack then turned his attention to Reed and his grin only grew. He leaned in, eyes wide. "I've never seen one of you before!"

[11121_assumption]

"I need to stay the night." He didn't really need to book a haunted room. He carried enough ghosts and had been a ghost - almost any room he stayed in was haunted just by him being in it.

Reed preened at the attention, clearly pleased. He bopped his head a little faster, spreading his wings and giving a hoot. Walter lifted a hand and absently pet Reed's chest. "He's a Rowlet, a grass-flying type. I named him Reed."

[quickattackjack]

Jack gave a sharp, yet friendly nod and managed to pull himself away from Reed long enough to move behind the desk and pencil Walter's stay in.

"Breakfast is at seven am, I hope you don't mind rising early but you know how the dead are!"

Yes he does, Jack.

The old man glanced up over the rips of his glasses, eyes suddenly curious.

"I haven't seen you around. How are things?"

Teammate talk. If he wanted to undermine Handsome Jack and ruin Team Rocket from the inside out, he needed to know what everyone was up to.

[11121_assumption]

"Restless." He nodded. If he was a less sombre man, that would've been a good joke. At the casual question, Walter drifted into his thoughts. How were things? "They're...interesting. I've been traveling. It's how I found Reed."

"Are there many ghosts here?" As in, ghost type pokemon he should know about.

[quickattackjack]

"Oh, dozens." Jack glanced up fondly.

If Walter strained his ears, he would be able to hear distant growling and chuckling and the strange tonal ring of the spiritual echoing off the old house's walls.

"Jimmy and Joker have taken such good care of them while I've been gone. I wish I was still their trainer but...that's just how things are." His smile faded.

[thedifferencebetween]

Green's a color, yeah. But not one that's going on your head. No, we're keeping the spooky thing, but we're going sexy with it. Well, as sexy as we can, anyway! I mean...

[There's only so much they've got to work with, after all. But no, they can do this. Cancer Bag's gonna come out of this looking like something out of one of those vaguely scary shows for chicks, with all the broody long haired dudes in lots of black velvet and leather.]

Anyway, I'm thinking black. Just so black. 'Cause there's nothing we can do about your skin tone, that's...wow. So we're gonna play off it, instead, go for a killer contrast. You're gonna be Corpse Chic!

[11121_assumption]

Walter listened, then caught the faded smile. "You're not their trainer anymore?" He had thought that, if wild, he would try to catch one but it seemed like they were all spoken for.

Walter tapped one of the pokeballs on his belt, Doll's, his Banette. Radio the Rotom was also with him, even if it was a troublemaker who still insisted on trying to spook him at every opportunity. He couldn't bear to leave any of his Pokemon in the PC for long. It seemed too cruel.

[quickattackjack]

Once Walter's reservation had been maid and money had been exchanged, Jack walked from around the desk, invited Edgar onto his arm, and led Walter up a tall, creaky staircase.

It had been specially built to creak especially loud.

"No...once you Go Away, it's very rare to recover your Pokemon. I was lucky enough to have left Edgar and Dennis in the care of friends...but the others have scattered to the four corners and quite possibly the attic. This is their home."