Ahead of the Curve

Associated with stringoffates

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

[nachtlieder-deactivated20140716]

clownprinceofscars:

[Be it fortunately or unfortunately (so much having been dependent on the first impressions the other himself sought to create), that smile - a display, it was interpreted, of some crude…friendliness, maybe? - didn’t come across as being a conventionally gesture of good will, but instead as one of something— quite the contrary, for want of a more specific method of phrasing. Regardless, it was - alongside that pleasant-enough greeting - appreciated modestly with a gentle flutter of his right hand; if not an attempt at a greeting in return, it could at least be passed of as a polite dismissal.]

❝Ah? I find that a touch difficult to believe, if you’ll forgive my saying so.❞

[Again, his words were far from a slight, intentionally or unintentionally: as inclined as he was by nature towards being less truthful than one may hope, he remained a decent-enough man (he would hope) as to remain capable of being honest every once in a while. Habits were hard to break, as told by the dull tone of his voice - but the moment genuinely saw an instance of…well, genuineness, at least where his words were concerned. The words that followed were no different in character, too; he even seemed wistful as he spoke, first bowing his head slightly as if in thought before allowing his gaze to flicker back towards the morbid comedian.]

❝It’s ordinarily so bustling with life here as to be borderline nauseating, though quite possibly could so much be attributed to the suggestion you’ve offered. Still, as you’ve also said, the area isn’t exactly void of life besides yourself - and on that note, I apologise if I’d interrupted some…profound train of thought of yours.❞

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The Joker was definitely curious about this man. He seemed so proper it was almost as if he was out of a storybook. And he just might be, if other things he'd seen at this place were true.  He grinned again at the man. He briefly considered attempting to intimidate this man. But he didn't really seem to see a motive for doing that.

"Well that makes a lot of sense. It is a school after all. Lots of eager to learn children~" he said with a giggle and a grin.

He found himself curious about this stranger and if  really was a character from a Charles Dickens novel, or some old forgotten gothic novel written by the likes of Edgar Allen Poe.

"Can you tell me where your accent is from? It's very interesting and I just can't place it..."

[hellipop]

Hanging Around [Intro/Open]

[hellipop]

clownprinceofscars:

Amaimon slowly walked into his classroom with the man, setting his class notes aside on the desk. He didn’t particularly like his own Father, or even talking about him, but he did know that Father liked explosions, and this man had caused plenty of them in his rich past.

“Ah, it was about the idea of corruption, yes? Your hypothesis that any city similar to your own that a population inhabited would always corrupt that population into a sort of deranged folk?” the demon questioned, turning on his heel and looking directly into the man’s eyes. “Because if that was the message, then you’re dead-on.”

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The Joker had always known that his theory that when things were down, civilized people would turn on each other. He remembered saying something similar while sitting across from a mysterious vigilante dressed as a bat. Of course, the man hadn't believed him and then proceeded to throw him around the room (that had been quite fun for him) and no one else ever listened to him, either.

"It's not so much that most people are animals and have no moral compass. It's that they'll too easily listen to the people that are that way. It's easier to to blow up the other boat than  to believe the other one won't blow you away.  The secret is, most of the time, they really just end up blowing each other up," the clown mumured, half in reference to one of his stunts in Gotham, half making a metaphor.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

[nachtlieder-deactivated20140716]

clownprinceofscars:

[Somehow, initially had the musician overlooked that unfamiliar figure as he passed - to stop to look at every passer-by, after all, would amount to nothing whatsoever. Indeed, a time during which he’d study every new face noticed in great depth seemed to have existed ages ago: even one as generally unobservant of (and indifferent to) the population of Tancho Academy as he was at least aware of the baffling fact that new students, members of staff - whatever - seemed to arrive in crowds everyday; he had time to waste, admittedly, but much would he prefer to spend this time in a way that was more worth his while. However that may be.]

[It had been that particular stranger’s aside, however, that caught his attention - even if, oddly, that murmur had been received as nothing more than an opportunity to pass one of those unwarranted, semi-sarcastic comments. And that alone, actually, would have satisfied his quota of social contact for the day, but ultimately was it this stranger’s garish, grotesque (mused the animate corpse) appearance that secured his attention for the time being. Intentionally or otherwise, his expression in tone (though not visually) mirrored the newcomer’s, if, ironically, for something of an opposite reason. Pale lips curled downwards a fraction, as if to aid the presentation of mild disappointment, almost the very moment he shifted his gaze towards the other.]

❝…There are. Simply speaking, there just doesn’t happen to be that great a number of people here at this particular moment in time.❞

[That much was genuinely a blunt stating of facts, rather than a mere attempt - again, inadvertently or not - to antagonise. Actually, already had he taken a sufficient degree of interest in this one as to avoid purposefully driving away his company. Apparently.]

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The Joker had merely been mumbling to himself. He hadn't been expecting anyone to reply. But as luck would have it, someone did. This man while not out of the ordinary as far as appearance goes, did strike up some curiosity within the clown. The Joker was, indeed, all about theatrics, but there was soemthing to admired in someone who spoke directly.

Of course, the clown knew the other man could be making fun of him or being rather impolite, but at that moment, the Joker didn't particularly care what the other man's intentions were. He'd been responsive, hadn't he? The clown was going to take advantage of that, one way or the other.

The Joker gave the other man a smile. He could already tell this was not someone who would be intimidated or be swayed easily. 

"Well hello there. There is someone out there, isn't there? I've been wandering around awhile and haven't seen anyone...but then again, it's still early, isn't it?"

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

[tricksterofasgard-blog]

clownprinceofscars:

Aside from a few issues with his pet, Loki’s stay at Tancho was going quite smoothly. His studies weren’t difficult and nobody desired to kill him. What more could he ask for?

He was on his way to class when a clown-like man suddenly stopped, temporarily blocking Loki’s path. This wasn’t the strangest-looking fellow he had ever seen but it was a little odd to find someone like him walking around a school so openly (not that the young Asgardian was a qualified expert on typical Midgardian behavior). The man appeared old enough to be a faculty member which ruled out the “alternative teen” theory. Loki guessed this was just another one of Tancho’s funny features.

“I really thought there’d be more people around…”

“Why?”

He didn’t mean to butt in but there was something about the man that sparked Loki’s curiosity and no harm ever came from asking a simple question, right?

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The clown looked over at the  boy and gave him a smile. This was just such a person the clown was looking for! A young inquisitive mind full of questions! The Joker never had kids and never had much to do with them, although he had once almost became a father before that reality had been snatched from him. In a way, you could say he liked them. It was one of the reasons he'd adopted a clown as a mask.

"Why did I think there'd be more people? Well, because I want to meet them, that's why!"

He gave the student another smile. Maybe this was one of his students? 

"You can call me Joker. I'm the new drama teacher," he replied with a wide grin, although he wasn't sure how much actual teaching he was going to get around to.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

[immaculateloadout]

clownprinceofscars:

The “odd” appearance this man held had very little effect on Sister. He’s seen— he’s experienced— far stranger in his lifetime. Recalling the tiny little community under the bridge, Sister reasoned that this man could easily fit in.

Yes, very easily. 

“The religious studies instructor. It’s nice to meet you.” The giggling didn’t rub him very well.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The clown could feel the man trying to decide what to make of him. He also sensed an uneasiness in the other man at his presence. He really was animalistic when it came to sensing fear. He grinned at the man.

"You can refer to me as the Joker...what may I call you?"

[hellipop]

Hanging Around [Intro/Open]

[hellipop]

clownprinceofscars:

Amaimon knew that the entire question as to why he was within this school would come up. After all, he had lived a rather interesting life up to this point; why shouldn’t others question his decision?

“Ah, I’m here because being a prince to Father is much more boring than you could imagine,” Amaimon stated, sitting in a chair nearby. “I was given the idea of being a teacher by my dear brother in order to solve my issue with boredom.”

Amaimon gazed over the man before smiling a bit.

“No, no, I have heard of your antics within Gotham. Father has spoken highly of you.”

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The Joker wasn't sure whether he liked the idea of Amaimon's boss thinking highly of him. After all, that wasn't what he was really after. He felt he was mentally ill,  not inherently evil. But not even he could deny he'd done a lot of bad things. 

"It wasn't really about me. It's the whole point that I was trying to make in Gotham. I could care less what people actually think about me as a person...the message I was sending was much more important..."

[hellipop]

Hanging Around [Intro/Open]

[hellipop]

“The Joker, hm? That’s quite the alias,” Amaimon pointed out, holding his card between two fingers and looking it over. He admired this man’s perfect bland of cheesy humor and apparent badassery. It reminded him a bit of his own brother.

“And… as to what I am…? Why, I’m one of the 8 Princes of Hell, as well as the King of the Earth. But as for my name…? You may call me Amaimon.”

He flashed a grin and gave the man a small bow.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

A prince of hell? Now that was interesting. Surely some of the things he'd done were bad enough to earn him a spot in Hell, if such a place existed, but were they bad enough to merit the visit of the demonic aristocracy? Or was it by chance these two met, and not about his crimes at all? He seemed friendly enough.

"And why is it a  Prince of Hell is here, talking to one of the most prolific criminals in history? I'm sure even you have heard of the great city of Gotham and the Joker's antics there? Surely your boss keeps tabs on stuff like that?"

[hellipop]

Hanging Around [Intro/Open]

[hellipop]

The green-haired demon watched as the figure with smudged makeup on his face walked through the door, squinting his eyes and looking over his features. The man donned a purple and green suit, messy, stringy hair, and wore deep eye shadow. He felt as though they would get along well.

Amaimon floated down and guided himself a few feet in front of the strange clown-like figure, resting with one knee and looking up at him, standing up straight quickly while he flashed a smile to him.

“Hello there. Your name, sir?”

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Names, names, names.

He never cared too much for them. But he had to say something, didn't he? Besideds, he had worked hard to secure the epitaph he went by, so why not use it? Besides, he liked the way this guy dressed and he didn't seem too confrontational. This could get interesting.

"Call me the Joker," he replied to floating apparition with a grin. 

From his sleeve he pulled out a played card that was indeed his namesake.

"Here's my card," he said, holding it out for the apparition with a cheesy grin.

"And who, or what, may I ask, are you?" he added, looking at the green haired other.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

[immaculateloadout]

“That’s because it’s still well before calling time.”

An authoritative voice addressed the clown-looking male. It’s hard to miss the source— the man stood tall, hulking, just about. Sister has a class to teach in a few hours, however he chose to walk around and examine the school further from the inside. He couldn’t sleep, anyways, and the time is still quite early. Too early for little students to want to get up, anyways. 

“I take it you’re one of the lately-employed staff. I admire your punctuality.”

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The Joker turned to look at the person addressing him. It was a man of quite intimidating proportions, however, the outfit he donned made him almost comical. Not that how he was dressed affected his skills. The Joker should know better; he'd once been tossed around violently in an interrogation room by a man dressed as a bat. Still he couldn't help but let out an amused giggle.

"Yes, I'm the drama teacher. And...you are?"

[hellipop]

Hanging Around [Intro/Open]

Amaimon was bored. 

Unfortunately, this seemed to be a common occurrence to Amaimon. From his life that spanned across for thousands of years, he would say that boredom had taken up at least 2/3 of that life.

For Amaimon, his brother, Mephisto, saved him from a lot of things, such as trouble, prosecution, and even from death. But most recently, his brother had saved him from his dreaded boredom. Mephisto had recommended that Amaimon go and get his degree in something that he found interesting, and try to get a teaching job at a prestigious academy in Japan. 

Amaimon figured that the easiest, and yet most interesting degree within a collegiate level would be theology. After all, he himself was one of the 8 Princes of Hell, as well as the Earth King, which made him part of the study of theology. After only a few years, he graduated with a doctoral degree in theology, graduating must faster than his peers due to taking much more classes than was needed per semester. After all, you don’t need much sleep as a demon, and Amaimon could move as freely as he liked.

Which brought him to his current position. Upside down, hanging off the edge of a glasshouse, on top of the building where he taught, and looking over his lesson notes for the day. He had arrived early in order to prepare for his class, but it seemed that Tancho Academy’s faculty doors opened a bit later than the student’s.

Amaimon focused on his notes before hearing a soft creaking sound from the glasshouse’s door underneath him. He turned his head slowly and looked for the source of the noise, curling his index and thumb fingers in circles and holding them over his eyes.

“Hello?”

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

The clown had been restless, like having mental illnesses an aware mind will make you. He had wanted some fresh air and a good view of the school so he made his way to the rooftops. He was slightly startled to see a strange apparition. A eccentrically dressed, green haired- ghost? demon? some other sentient non-human being? - floating upside down in mid air?

He'd seen other strange things in Tancho Academy, so maybe it was all real? Or could he really be crazy as all the doctors in Gotham said he was? The apparition had called out to him. In case this wasn't a schizophrenic hallucination, he decided to respond.

  "Hi..."

He smiled at the apparition. He wasn't going to be intimidated or show any kind of feeling threatened. Nothing was going to frighten him. Not even his own mind.

[clownprinceofscars-blog]

Madness Is Gravity [Intro || Open ]

Just as with everything else the clown did,  he preferred to make an anonymous entrance to the scene. He didn't really care where he was, as long as he could make a statement. And what a statement he planned to make. He was in his element, almost manic as he sauntered along the hallway of the school.

In his hand was a mid-sized coin, burnt on one side. He was not the original owner of this coin, nor did he use it in the same manner its previous and rightful owner did.  He had his own calling card. It was  merely a relic from his past, a record of achievements. He wasn't supposed to have this coin, and had gone through a lot to get it, and that made him like it more.

Pausing in the hallway a moment, the clown pulled a disappointed face.

"I really thought there'd be more people around..."