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The clown stiffened its jaw just the slightest bit when Inigo had arrived. Well, if this wasn't just great. The grip of the Ivysaur's vines tightened, cutting off all thought of wiggling a hand free from where both were held to the clown's sides. Normally, something like this would register as little more than a slight setback. But today, there was a newcomer. Today, there was a witness. Rouge's thought process matched fairly closely with that of Inigo: this was not good at all.

"Gentlemen! Gen-tle-men," Rouge called, breaking out another disarming grin. "Surely we can talk this ou-!" The jester was cut off by the vines constricting more. Okay, now the situation was not good. But at least it had provided some sort of distraction from the oddly colored horse.

"Not interested is discussing the weather with a walking costume store, Jack."

"Ah, yes. But the Tauros are very-" A vine had been snaking its way around Rouge's neck, and stopped the gibberish short by pulling tight to just short of choking. It was hard to tell if it was still a grin on the clown's face, or a strained grimace, but talking was definitely out of the question for now. Damn it, Zero. How long did it really take to pick up another item for selling from the stash and get back?

The Ivysaur let out a cry and tried to shy away from Bonnie's attacks. The surprise distraction did cause it to lose its grip on the clown, though, and Rouge wasted no time in getting loose and dropping to a crouch on the ground.

Meanwhile, Clyde was doing a nice number on the goons. For the most part, they could only yell and swat clumsily at him before being covered in the fluff. As that happened, movement became even more difficult. Especially for a couple of the thugs, who were more bulk than anything. Rouge grinned at the mayhem. The clown was tempted to give a low, long whistle, but that would have to wait until the throat was a little less sore.

Instead, Rouge stood, put hands on hips, and turned its head to Inigo as he approached. "The pompoms have attitude!" the clown declared with an approving, delighted grin. Ooh, ow. Bad idea to raise the voice so soon after a near choking.

Rouge (completely mistaking "si" for "see") gave a thumbs up, "Heeeeee~ Peachy keen!" and turned back to watch the... battle? Seemed pretty one-sided to the clown, but even if Rouge didn't let it show, there was a concern. "Don't let them get a good look at you. Their unhappy side isn't very pleasant."

There was something Rouge had failed to notice. As the clown started to step forward, possibly to finish things with the thugs, a shot rang out. For a few long seconds, the clown stood frozen, perhaps stunned. Then, "EEAAAAH! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?!" Grin gone, Rouge bolted forward. "You think this hat was easy to make?! DO YOU?!?!"

Sure enough, as Rouge kicked and beat on the thugs (the gun having been the first thing hit and knocked into some dark corner), there was a bullet-sized hole in one of the side hat points, about an inch from the beaded tip. "You think people just leave good fabric and thread lyin' 'round?!"

The squeal got the attention of more than just Bonnie. Rouge dodged a punch and jumped back, half turning to Inigo. "Call them off!" The clown ducked just in time for a follow-up swing to miss. "What are you sticking around for- OOF!"

Okay, seriously. What was the deal with that Ivysaur cutting Rouge off so much? And this time by smacking Rouge into one of the alleyway walls! The nerve of it all!

Temporarily winded, the clown slumped halfway to the ground while loosely hugging its stomach with one arm. A vine readied to strike again, probably using vine whip, when a black and red ball of fur came down from seemingly nowhere, and chomped down on it. Rouge smirked as the Ivysaur wailed over being attacked again. Rouge pushed forward to run at Inigo and grab him by the elbow. "Time to go!"

"Twists and turns, person who follows strangers. Twists and turns!" the clown answered as if it were the most obvious thing. And that's exactly what Rouge did. At almost every possible turn, Rouge would suddenly pull at Inigo in some random direction other than straight. At last, they came to a rickety old fire escape that was lowered along the side of an equally rickety, five-floor building. "Upsadaisy!" Letting go of Inigo, Rouge vaulted over the railing instead of using the bottom steps, and moved upward to the flat roof with surprising ease. The clown had obviously done this before.

"Come to blows with some locals? Not really." Rouge shrugged, back turned to Inigo as the clown walked over to one of the boxy vents sticking up. The clown turned and eased down into the gravel to sit with back to the cool metal. It took some steadying breaths and fighting back any obvious signs of discomfort before Rouge continued. "But I hear variety is supposed to be good for ya. Besides," simple breathing, forearm casually covering abdomen, "not like anyone got hurt-- well... they may be once Z's done-- but no one important got hurt." Rouge grinned like it was the easiest thing. Like it was just another day of regular happenings.

Rouge thought a moment before nodding. Rouge also swallowed. Rouge was doing that a lot at the moment.

Rouge needed something to drink.

The clown leaned forward and climbed to its feet, muttering a small, "yup" to mostly cover a sharp intake of air. The throat was sore, the torso was sore, the back was sore, the lungs were sore... darn that Ivysaur, this clown was sore! And this clown was just going to have to chance things a bit.

Rouge stopped just next to a pile of what looked to be typical odds and ends roofing supplies. Bits of pipe, some wood boxes, extra gravel... it was all a jumbled mess barely even covered by the black tarp strapped down over it. Kneeling down, Rouge shifted through some of the gravel and tugged away the side to a bottom crate. From the hiding spot, the clown dug out two flimsy bottles of water, still sealed from the day they'd been lifted from some drink stands. Turning just enough to get a clear shot, the clown tossed one bottle to Inigo. "Heads up."