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Joker sat on the edge of a roof, the collar of his long trench coat swaying in the breeze. High up in the city environment. He had done everything he wanted to today, did all of the work he had to do, and now was taking the time to rest. It was quite nice out today in Ultima. Perhaps he’ll do some parkour across the rooftops again…
A bubbly and androgynous voice chirped, “Hai! Joker, Joker!” The masked thief turned, smiling up at a familiar pink puffball as they approached.
Joker was tall and thin, but Kirby was more stout. Though basically just a ball with limbs, he was around half Joker’s height. And in that little body was a fierce spirit. (And a hammer and a cutter and whatever else his moves are made up of.)
“What has you excited today?” Joker asked.
Kirby grinned, “I came up with some ideas that are loads of fun!” They said with an eagerness that meant trouble. “You wouldn’t happen to be interested in a wee bit o’ mischief would you?”
Joker smirked at this. He hummed to himself, feigning thought as he pressed a red gloved hand to his chin. After a moment of stillness, he pulled up his legs and leaped up from the edge. Spinning through the air until he twisted back onto his thick heeled boots. A perfect landing.
“Alright then.” The thief said lackadaisically. “What’s the plan, my fine pink friend?”
Kirby giggled to herself, bouncing in place. She approached him and gestured to come near, which Joker leaned down. Hearing the whispers of secret plans to unfold. As he listened to her eager words, his grin grew.
Once Kirby stepped back, Joker stood upright and straightened his jacket. Grinning as he spoke with a suave tone.
“Well then. You came to the right guy. Who am I to pass up such an opportunity?" He patted his shoulder, to which Kirby beamed. Leaping up and sitting on his shoulders.
“Let’s roll!” The pink puff cheered, to which the thief leapt away. Swiftly running along the rooftops towards their destination.
Watching from the skies above; a small, star-shaped creature noticed the two. Two small, beady eyes watching pink and black sprint along the grey roofs.
“Oh.” The star said to itself. “They seem excited. Mama will want to hear about this.” And in a flash, it vanished.
“I will admit, things have been a bit chaotic lately, but I have a good feeling about today!” Isabella said to Villager, walking together along a sidewalk in a park.
Villager turned to her, tilting their head.
“I mean, just look around! Things have been settling down finally after that cold that blew through. People have been getting back into the swing of training, the stores are getting back in order, and I feel a bit of pep after everything too!” She started skipping. “Everything’s finally getting back to normal again!”
Villager, though not one to talk, did smile and swing their arms. Beginning to skip alongside her. Passing by under a tree.
And then both were suddenly drenched in water.
“Wh-what the…!” Isabella blurted, shaking the water from her fur. Villager raised their arms against the onslaught of droplets.
“Oh! Sorry, I-” Giggles caught upon both sets of ears. They looked up, catching sight of a mischievous human and his pink companion.
Isabella huffed as she crossed her arms, “Really, Joker? It’s rude to interrupt people like that! And I thought you were better than this, Kirby.” Villager shook his head at them in disapproval.
Both only giggled again, Kirby huddling tighter to Joker’s shoulders before he leapt away. Vanishing from sight.
The two on the sidewalk let out a sigh, wringing out their clothes. As they did so, Villager turned to her.
Isabella hummed to herself, then nodded. “I suppose you’re right, Villager. It’s only water, at the end of the day…”
Fox stretched, walking up to his fighter ship. The skies were clear and he was curious how the depths of space were doing now. As he approached, he halted in surprise.
The ship was painted in graffiti! As he was looking over the unexpected paint job, a pair of mischievous chuckles reached his ear and swiveled towards the sound. Turning his head towards the sound, he found a duo of troublemakers. Joker and Kirby. The two were already sprinting away. Fox might have been able to catch them, but he figured it wasn’t worth the time. The splats of paint weren’t much of an issue. The windows weren’t covered, so it was still fit to fly. Actually, a couple of the paintings look quite cute. It was a tiny fox head, with a little heart beside it. He might keep those.
“Careful… Careful…” Kirby whispered.
“I’m going as careful as I can, now shush!” Joker sassed, carrying a plastic bucket of water. Quietly treading behind some bushes.
Their next target: Bowser. Though quite the feisty draconic turtle, fitting for a fire breather, the duo had a secret weapon that gets them out of nearly any problem.
The secret weapon being Kirby’s cute face, of course. She’s already gotten away with some wild stuff before by simply acting innocent. With Joker’s charisma, there is a good chance the both of them can talk their way out of the situation.
Joker lowered, stalking closer to his target. He was currently with King Dedede right now. Someone they can certainly persuade, being one of Kirby’s close friends. There is potential that the feathered king could influence Bowser to calm down, too. Kirby grinned to herself, giving Joker’s shoulder a squeeze.
He held the bucket of water tight. Standing up and tossing it all on Bowser. The draconic turtle flinched at the water. The bucket was made of flimsy plastic, so it bounced off his head harmlessly. He turned to them, huffing at the two with crossed arms.
“Really, Kirby?” King Dedede sighed.
And then they saw a third face. Scowling yellow eyes against a rough, purple body paired with a towering stature made for an intimidating sight. Not helped by the sharp teeth he bared, growling at the two.
The trickster duo had made a slight miscalculation. Not only was Bowser with King Dedede, he was also with Ridley.
“U-uh, sorry Ridley! Sorry guys!” Kirby said as brightly as he could, fighting the tremble in his voice.
“Yes, very sorry.” Joker was quick to join, giving a bow.
Bowser hummed, expression softening. He was quick to eye Ridley, hearing him hiss like an alligator still. Stepping towards them.
“Calm down, Ridley.” Bowser said, uncrossing his arms.
“They’re not doin’ any harm.” Dedede said with a shrug.
But in the end, it was a fruitless endeavor. Ridley continued to hiss, tail raising to point its sharp tip at them, raising his clawed hands.
Kirby was the first to react, “RUN!” Joker turned and bolted. The pink puffball clinging tight to his shoulders.
Ridley screeched, chasing after them. “GET BACK HERE YOU BRATS!”
Bowser let out a sigh, shaking his head.
Dedede face palmed, “Ah, great… Should we get him?”
“Of course we should. He’ll kill them otherwise."
“GO FASTER! HE MIGHT GAIN ON US!” Kirby cried.
“I KNOW! I’M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN!” Joker yelled back. After sprinting for so long, and with Kirby’s guidance, they wound up running down a road of stardust. Eventually, they arrived at a house on a very small planet. It was a quaint home, with flowers peppering the grassy plains that made up the planet’s surface.
Joker leaped far, landing before the house and rapidly knocking. Kirby gripped onto his shoulders, occasionally glancing back. It was only a moment before the door creaked open.
Rosaline stood at the door. Looking down at the two with a judgmental frown as she crossed her arms.
“Aunt Rosie! Thank goodness you're here! Mind if we stay over for a bit?” Kirby said with as sweet a smile as someone panicking can do. Joker gave a faltering grin, nodding silently.
The luma mother raised a brow at them.
“... Okay, we may have been causing trouble.”
“But we didn't take it too far!” Joker assured.
She narrowed her eyes at them.
Kirby and Joker both let out a sigh, the puffball speaking. “Alright… We made a bad mistake with one of them. Just please don’t let Ridley beat us up! We’ll make it up to him! Just let us survive first!”
Rosaline nodded, giving a smile as she hovered aside. Joker, with Kirby hopping off his shoulders, bolted inside. The cloaked thief ducking under a table, disappearing under the cloth. Kirby, meanwhile, took to hiding behind Rosalina and clinging to her dress. She then shut the door.
It wasn’t long before there was a knock. She hovered over to it, Kirby making sure they were right behind her, and opened it up again.
Ridley stood before the luma mother, heaving and hissing. Rosaline smiled gently at him.
“Greetings, Ridley. What brings you here?”
“I saw the two brats come this way. I got hit with a bucket.” He growled.
She frowned, “That sounds painful.”
“It was just a plastic bucket, it didn’t hurt at all. But I can’t have them thinking I’m someone to trifle with! Tell me where they are! I know you’re housing them…”
“Have patience with them. They haven’t had much time to play lately. I understand that the plastic bucket was unpleasant, but I don't think stabbing them is a very good punishment. Maybe you should cool down, first. Then we can discuss about how to handle what they’ve done. Maybe another time at Rainbow Road?”
Ridley growled, narrowing his eyes at her. She stared back, unphazed. All the while, lumas drifted up to her sides. Chirping and spinning idly.
“Fine.” He huffed. “Tomorrow at 1200, sharp.”
Rosaline nodded, giving a wave. “Alright then. See you tomorrow noon.” He nodded, turning away and spreading his wings. Taking to the depths of space. Once he left for sure, Rosalina shut the door.
“Thanks for that, Aunt Rosie.” Kirby said softly, looking up at her.
She crouched and patted him on the head, “You are welcome anytime, dear. But don’t forget, you still have Ridley to sort things out with.” He nodded, hiding his hands behind his back and lowering his head.
She turned towards the table, “The same goes for you, Joker.”
He lifted the table cloth, unveiling his face. “Is he gone?”
“Yes, Ridley has left.”
Joker then crawled out from under, brushing himself down. “Alright, thanks for letting us in.”
“Of course.” She wandered back to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves and returning to making sourdough. Kirby let go of her dress, but continued to follow her around. Almost as if they were a luma themself. They dragged a stool, hopping up to be beside her and watching her work. She grinned, focusing on the loaf and braiding it.
Joker wandered over to the sofa, having a seat. Despite Rosalina being very focused on space and the stars, much of her house was very quaint. Hardly any space theming in it. Really, it looked like the home any average mother would have, though perhaps a bit more self-sufficient with a flourishing garden outside. The walls were decorated with picture frames of friends and her luma children hung on the walls. His eyes trailed about, comfortable in the silence.
Of course, being alone in the home of the luma mother meant being the prime target of the lumas’ cuddly nature. Upon noticing Joker sitting alone, one went up to him. Squeaking with their echoing voice as they went to nuzzle him on the cheek. He chuckled, scratching the luma at the chin. They chirped in delight. Drawing in others to come close.
It wasn’t long before Joker was swarmed by the star children. His shoulders and lap were occupied by them, and a couple snuggled into his sides. He took turns giving each one some pets. At some point, Kirby took notice and trotted up to join. Hopping onto the couch and nudging aside the luma on his lap like a jealous cat to occupy it. Purring as a gloved hand stroked her head.
But the luma wasn’t intent to give up their spot so easily. They returned, gently pushing off Kirby and taking it back themself. This progressed until they were having a nudge match over who would keep it. Joker couldn’t help but laugh gently, watching the two push each other around.
Soon, Rosalina joined the rest on the couch. Sleeves rolled down and leaning into the cushions. Upon noticing their mother, some of the lumas flew to her, including the one having a light tussle with Kirby. The pink puffball took up the whole lap - to the point of making it obvious he was a bit big to be acting like a lap dog - smiling with victory. Relishing the hand that returned to stroke his back. Drawing out a purr.
Rosaline stroked the heads of the lumas beside her. Grinning at the sound of a content purr. The house quiet with the sound of an oven cooking and good friends being shown love.