Untitled

[jokerdotexe-blog]

✿ - DECAY

An old memory

The night of Mega Man’s rebellion.

Brown hair tickled his nose as the girl leaned back, grinning at him. His lips were still slightly wet. She shook her head. “Still in shock, huh Joker?”

He said nothing.

She patted his face. “Don’t you ever change. After tonight’s run, we’ll talk about this okay?”

Joker managed to nod. 

She grinned again, running out into the night.

He still carried that remembrance with him. It fueled his will to protect. To make sure that night would never happen again.

[jokerdotexe-blog]

♦ - HOARD - something that is precious to them

There were two things precious to Joker. One was framed on the wall of his workshop. His first ever disciplinary action from the Huntress for unnecessary robotics experimentation. Sure it had filled half a workshop with thick black smoke and almost blew up his work bench, but he had found a new accelerant for the Masters. It had been revoked by Dr. Wily himself, and of course, Joker being Joker, had it framed and mounted.

The second was a few photographs, from before the purge, hidden behind it. 

[jokerdotexe-blog]

♥ - STAKED

Plaster fell from the ceiling as the building rocked. Shattered glass crunched underneath his feet. Tears fell from his eyes, washing the blood off of his hands. He propped the first body against a wall, before leaning the second against it. Standing up, he bit his bottom lip. “Mom… Dad… I…”

The sound of Snipers marching outside the street stopped him. Shaking, he kissed both of his parents on the forehead, before running for the back exit.

Joker looked down from the top of the building, swallowing hard. A buster shot made the decision for him. Sprinting, he jumped, his arms flailing wildly. He landed on the top of the next building, hard. Ignoring the pain, he continued to run, as more shots flew past him.

The screens across the city were like billboards, with the phrase “We Keep You Safe. We Are Your Hope. We Are In Control” blazing across them, all in front of a silhouette of Doctor Wily.

He had been following the rebellion. A new robot marching on the Tower. And he just... stopped. And then the order from Wily. The order to kill them all. 

Radio still in hand, he slid down the fire escape, a shot slamming into his leg. He screamed as he fell to the street, hitting hard. He could feel the blood in his mouth but he had to get up. He had to move. Feeling his damaged leg protest, he pushed onward.

 A crowd of people ran around the corner, hitting Joker and knocking the radio out of his hand. He heard it get smashed under foot as the sound of robotic marching approached. 

Swallowing, he ran towards the junkyard he had raided for materials. The Snipers wouldn’t search there. He could hide out. Try to get in contact with anyone else. They couldn’t all be dead. 

They couldn’t.

[jokerdotexe-blog]

⚔ - DUEL

Duel - A Meeting that is important to them

Meeting the Brigadier.

“Eyes up recruits!”

Joker looked up, squinting amidst the bright lights. He could hear those along side him do the same as the Sergeant stalked through the room. Yes, stalked was the right word. She moved fluidly, and even though the lights obscured her face, you could feel the look she was giving you.

How she would eat you alive if you slipped up even a bit.

His chest was already heavy from the physical fitness exam they were undergoing. His leg felt like it was on fire, and his slight limp was becoming more and more pronounced. He hadn’t come in last, but close to it.

The Sergeant looked at her clipboard, then walked up to Joker. “For a gimp, you’re keeping up aren’t you....” she eyed the paper one more time and raised a brow. “Joker. Really.”

He cracked a grin. “It’s due to my positive attitude.”

The brow raised higher. His grin increased in return.

Next thing he knew, he was on the ground, his mouth open as he gasped for breath. All he felt was the pain shooting through his bad leg. Above him, the Sergeant tucked her baton under her arm. She cocked her head at him, waiting.

He slowly pushed himself up, forcing another grin as his leg screamed in protest.

She frowned, turning away from him. “You all have two minutes before the next exam.”

Joker’s face fell as his ‘classmates’ bumped past him. At least none had hit his leg again. But that wasn’t what surprised him. Instead, it was the small, blonde girl who slipped into the room behind the Sergeant. 

“Who let in this small... lost child?” he said before he could stop himself. 

It was like someone had shattered the Mantra as everyone stopped moving. Even the Sergeant went white. 

“What?” he asked, confused.

The girl walked up to him, eyes way too intelligent for their own good looking him up and down. “I’m supposed to be here,” she said simply. “Possibly unlike you.”

He laughed. “Oh honey, I think it’s a bit early for you to be out of bed. Come back in a couple of years for this type of abuse.”

The Sergeant looked at him like he had grown a third head. She began to march over, her gloved hand tight on the baton. How was that any worse than anything else he said?

She stopped however, when the little girl laughed. “Oh, I like you. I think we will be friends.” She paused, looking him up and down before nodding. “Oh yes. I do believe it will be quite fun.”

She held out a small hand. Joker looked at it, then her, then to the Sergeant, then back to her hand. Shrugging, he shook it. “Name’s... Joker,” he said. The little girl beamed at him. But he barely noticed.

After all, it looked like the Sergeant had just eaten her own shoe. And wasn’t that satisfying.

[exorcist-on-paws-blog]

Reblog if I'm allowed to send you in character asks even if we have never talked before.

[brigadierinwaiting]

Behind Enemy Lines

[jokerdotexe-blog]

brigadierinwaiting:

A hum of agreement escaped the Brigadier as she finished her drink, the glass struck down a tad too enthusiastically against the counter, a soft sigh following. “Not a single death. One suffered burns from the explosion, but they’re undergoing treatment as we speak. I plan to pay them a visit later, actually” she continued, setting aside the glass to let one hand sit neatly in her lap, the other raised in dramatic flair.

“But, back to the point. We both know the Lyons are brutalistic. Certainly, they are some kind of banner to raise to, but those British turncoats are quick to slash themselves for insubordination. Which means a new faction on the rise is far from impossible.”

That smile returned again, bright and perfect as ever. “So. Budget increase is our next agenda, yes? It sounds as though you’ve already got most the planning sorted.”

At the news, Joker did indeed down the rest of his drink. A new faction? One that had subverted their security with no loss of life? He frowned. That was... interesting. The Lyons were known for their brutality. They didn’t care about who got in the way, as long as their goals were accomplished.

Sure it sounded familiar, but at least the Loyalists could claim that it was in the name of safety, security. The Lyons were just... terrorists. 

He shook his head when she spoke again. “Yes, I do. Instead of wasting times on fool’s errands, I decided to focus more on what could actually be improved. Some of my more important mechanics are working on the older Snipers. They know how ridiculous it is, but they’re happy I trust them with something so important.”

[monstrousthingsrp]

Monstrous Headcanons:

Because we can’t all just put brains in jars to see how they tick.

♦ - HOARD - something that is precious to them ✿ - DECAY - an old memory, from childhood perhaps ⚔ - DUEL - a meeting or relationship that was important to them ♥ - STAKED - a jarring event, something that changed their life/outlook ∇ - TOMBSTONE - who they are versus who they appear to be ☼ - DAYSTAR - a secret they don’t want coming to light ☂ - THUNDERSTORM - a difficult or miserable time in their life ⚖ - SCALES - how well they balance their good and bad impulses ϟ - LIGHTNING - something they thought they’d left in the past, returned ☢ - BIOHAZARD - the most dangerous thing about them to others ♬ - DIRGE - a habit, hobby, or obsession they can’t seem to shake ■ - LAIR - where they live, work, or spend most of their time ☠ - DEATH - the closest it’s come to touching their life

Ask on-anon or off!

[brigadierinwaiting]

Behind Enemy Lines

[jokerdotexe-blog]

brigadierinwaiting:

His sips were met with a slight raising of her brow, but she didn’t raise anything of it. A series of understanding nods as he talked, one hand drifting below her chin in thoughtful expression. “I’d argue the point at the next Cabinet meeting if you did, you know” she spoke jovially, with a wink. “But best keep them happy for now on this. The other brass are itching for a fight, and for once their hands are tied externally so internals are going to take a bashing." 

There was a sense of excitement in how she aired that thought, some of that underlying aggression that she oft held back from sight. "Good oppourtunities to take advantage of the chaos, right? Perhaps we can even get you that budget increase to justify the…ahem…upgrades to antiquated tech. Or to authorise the rollout of that body armour for my lot.” Her grip tightened on the glass, the only sign of stress.

Another pause, and a heftier draw of the drink. “Slightly, less, but not so much when you consider the demands to lessen guards on the broadcast centres. Remember that meeting two months back? Remember who said this exact case would rise?” A flash of annoyance in her eyes, quickly covered.

“Whoever they were, they either have blindingly good luck, or have been waiting a long time. Intel division thinks it’s a Lyons diversion…I beg to differ. After all, sans the Sniper Units, those operating under Fourth brigade were only knocked out, not killed, that…” A swirl of the liquid in the glass, and a pursing of her lips. “That doesn’t fit Lyons modus operandi, now does it? Especially with the imitation.”

“That would be appreciated,” he said, raising his glass in her direction. “There’s a lot we could improve without having to stick to an outdated system.”

When she mentioned the budget, he looked at her over the brim of his glasses. “If you could do that, there would be a lot of improvements we could roll out. Updated Sniper systems, improved suits for your lot...” his glasses flashed as he looked to a computer screen and the various schematics on it. 

His attention was snapped back to her when she spoke. “Wait. No one died?” He put his glass down in surprise. “I understood that the speech was far different from what they used to do but....” Joker ran a hand through his hair. “Who would rebel but... not join with the Lyons?”

[brigadierinwaiting]

Behind Enemy Lines

[jokerdotexe-blog]

brigadierinwaiting:

 That grin grew wider with amusement, and a chuckle escaped as she leant against the counter, propping her head against her hand. “Oh, that mess? Yes yes, classic diversion though, maybe the Huntress is finally listening to me about not just running her mouth about murder and slaughter and all that grisly business.” Her eyes rolled, head shook slightly in disapproval, but it didn’t linger.

Instead, she moved to pour them each a glass, ensuring his was heftier than her own. “Ah, that old can of worms? Utter fool’s errand. Can’t you set one of your other engineers to the task, or would that…” She let the sentence drop, deciding it better unaired, setting the bottle back on the side, squarely pushed towards him as she raised her own glass in a cheers.

“But, semantics.” A sip, and a small sigh of contentment. “The other broadcast was what I meant. With that Kilroy.” The word was stretched out, a mimic of their pronunciation. “Now the broadcast relays aren’t your exact area, but…I’m curious of your opinion.”

He nodded. Perhaps she was getting through to the old bird. At least slightly. To the point the Huntress wasn’t outright screaming for death, but he doubted it. She just had to counter this Kilroy’s message.

Raising his glass in return, he brought the glass to his lips, smelling the aroma. He wanted to down it as if it was a shot, but that was not how you drank a gift. Not one of this quality. Instead he took a series of small sips, savoring the flavor as his friend spoke.

“I tried, but with this new broadcast, they want “top men” on it. I was almost tempted to do that literally. Almost,” he said with a grin. “But now they want my full attention on it. Why they just don’t let me start from scratch is beyond me...”

His eyebrows raised when she brought up Kilroy. “Do you mean the way they got in? Or their message? Either way, you have to admit it’s slightly impressive. One still of the presumed trespasser. And the speech? Well, sounds like they had tried to mimic a certain someone.” 

[brigadierinwaiting]

Behind Enemy Lines

[jokerdotexe-blog]

brigadierinwaiting:

Her step paused briefly to let her give a small nod to the camera, a courtesy not given to many others. Then, it continued as she whisked through the doors, barely opening wide enough in time. She had her patience, but not for the mechanics of doors. The bag in her hands was opened when they closed behind them, gloved fingers producing the bottle full sans her prior tasting. 

The Brigadier had an odd habit of bringing gifts. For many it was a morale thing, or to win over someone who may otherwise be difficult. Or, even to get otherwise quiet sorts talking. Alcohol had its perks, after all.

For Joker, however, it was a more genuine show. A small thanks for the work he’d done. She set it down on his workbench, and pulled over a spare chair with practiced ease, setting down on it in one fluid motion. 

“See the broadcast, Joker?” she asked cheerily, sharp eyes glancing the earplugs with a raised eyebrow. “Or were you…otherwise engaged?”

As the Brigadier approached, Joker slid his chair across to a different section of the workbench, this one with enough room for two. With practiced ease, he reached under the bench as he slid and produced two glasses, putting them on the table. Another practiced motion, and the door locked behind her.

Not to keep her in, but to keep others out. His door was allowed locks for a multitude of reasons, but most of all, to keep others out when ‘delicate procedures’ were underway. It was to keep them safe, of course.

When she asked, he waved a hand in front of his face. “I heard it. The usual. It was surprising there was no promises of outright violence this time,” he said, eyeing the bottle. 

“Besides, there are more inquiries into the Sniper units and how to better them without ‘tarnishing a legacy’.” The sarcasm was evident. Here was one of the few places he could voice his displeasure.”You know, the usual questions of how to better them but not actually change anything under the hood.” He lowered his glasses ever so slightly so that she could see his eyes rolling.  

“But enough about that. What brings you down here today?”

[brigadierinwaiting]

Behind Enemy Lines

[jokerdotexe-blog]

brigadierinwaiting:

Sitting in her office, the Brigadier watched the broadcast as it went loud wide across the cityscape. On her desk, a small glass of something strong, rich in colour and scent. Technically speaking, it was a violation of protocol to have such vices in official space, but the Brigadier was oft found untouchable by those who would criticize her for such things.

A grin adorned her features as she watched the Huntress spew her words. An eyebrow raised at the eloquence. For once, it was not an all out call for blood. Interesting, that, she mused, sipping her drink. Perhaps the old dog can learn. Oh, that was a funny thought. A temporary means to ensure no further loss of control, a calming voice rather than a fuming rant. The second it ended, she couldn’t hold back the chuckle rumbling through her chest.

“Ahhh…Well…Credit where it’s due, that wasn’t entirely awful” spoken in a sharp, upbeat tone, the glass set down as she leant back in her chair for a few moments, before standing. One more swig, draining the glass, and then the bottle was tucked into a nearby bag as she marched out. She was keen to discuss the coming days with a close friend, someone else who’d allow her the freedom to speak her mind.

A few eyes met hers en route. Heels clicked together, salutes, returned with her firm smile and a nod. She’d earnt her place in those halls. Earnt her respect. And they knew it. None asked her intent as she made her way away from the Military halls, firmly towards R&D.

The drink? A gift. She had to ensure it was good quality first. Of course.

The broadcast could not be heard in this office. Not due to the sound of welding, of metal scrapping across metal or any of the other busy work. No, it was due to the noise canceling earplugs worn by the head of R&D that he put on once the broadcast had started. 

Sure, he got up and started to work on another project, but that was merely an excuse. He wasn’t one for the announcements and the flowery language the higher ups thought masked their blood lust and frustration. No, he had a job and he was good at it.

It’s why he rose so high. And why they left him alone.

Not many came by here without business. He knew how many felt about him and he didn’t care. He took their mocking and their nicknames to heart. It was, after all, why he had chosen his official title as Joker. 

A light flashed on a monitor near his workbench, grabbing his attention. The man slid across the floor on his swivel chair to see who was approaching his workshop. Seeing her, he nodded and took off the earplugs. He had wondered when she would arrive. 

And what was that in her hands?