one of my new EW Joker stories

[logan]

(in EW, the purpose is to type up a story such as this, then someone, or many people reply to it sighting things from their perspective and adding their character to the story. I'll reply later with additions when other EW characters get involved.. uh, mainly just posting this for opinions, feedback. Good or bad.)

Batman. One name still fearfully gossiped among criminals. To many, his recent absence was celebrated and praised in such a way the criminal underworld would soon think of having a toast on his death anniversary. Batman. The bright light to finally be turned off in the dark city of Gotham. Bravo says the man holding a woman at gun point seeking the funds in her purse, bravo.

This hit the off switch on a killer clown.

As rewarding as a Batman death might be to others, the Joker's drive for destruction had been forcefully thrown off course. The only person who thought purple could be redeemed fashionable to wear at any event had lost his meaning. Without an equal, without the Bat, dulling blades on purpose for the amusing ripping sound it made on flesh didn't seem quite as fun anymore. The clown only had the privilege of meeting the masked vigilant once, but that was magic. Fire works. A falling in love if you will, only in a very twisted way. So, when the obsessed clown heard news of Batman's death.. everything became empty, meaningless. He went into hiding. No longer did Gotham have their Dark Knight. No longer did Gotham have their Bastard Clown.

Any form of violence didn't provide thrill that used to make ripped open smiles spread ear to ear. A clown that once thrived on the splendid act of anarchy that would gain him media attention now degraded to a child deprived of ice cream. For better or worse, he went into hiding.

A Batarang held between two fingers suited in purple leather. The bat shaped object belonged to the Batman, it was one of his many useful resources used in his fight against crime, the weapon that the clown was observing in his hand became a memorable souvenir after their first and only encounter at the opera house. Ever since the Bat launched one of these odd weapons at Joker, he managed to hang onto it, more of a memento than anything. The bruise he received from the batarang had longed healed, so, this weapon was the only thing he had to remember the Batman by. There he stood, in an old ruined Gotham cemetery, it was night time of course, doing a ceremonial wouldn't be equally depressing in the afternoon. The clown still remained in his signature purple attire that made his appearance famous, however, the clownish face paint looked carelessly put on. Maybe he only applied it to hide his identity now of days, maybe the old war paint gimmick lost it's credit upon the death of a Bat. That was unsure, as with anything the unpredictable Ace of Knaves did. The Batarang was twiddled through his fingers, his eyes focused past the weapon to the gravestone in front of him that read an unfamiliar name. "Batman" was spray painted in red over the deceased's name. It was Joker's work, for sure, whom ever he stood over was NOT the resting place of Batman.

Closing his gloved hand around the weapon he spoke through gritted teeth, "You selfish fool." his grip increased on the batarang as if he was addressing the weapon, "J-just couldn't let me be the one to defeat you! No.. a clown can never have his day." his tongue slid out like a slug over his lips, besides this, there wasn't no real facial expression behind the white make up. His words were plain, no ecstatic structure behind them that were used to hearing from the murderous clown. He remained in the cemetery, host to his own sad obsessive remembrance of Batman.

[logan]

(response from Catwoman)

A stealthy kitten at night, Catwoman perched herself atop the edge of a guardian angel structured statue a few feet behind the only person she'd recognize with a ridiculous costume as the Joker. One leg hung out of the edge of the statue while the other hugged underneath her body watching the Joker talk to himself, as expected, but what looked to a black object that was shaped recognizably as one of Batman's trademarks. Catwoman had heard of the unfortunate loss, Batman, she sure had some history with the caped crusader and was shocked to hear his death. To some extent she had longed to believe that it wasn't true, she wasn't one to attach herself emotionally, specially to one that constantly liked to try and put the Cat away. But at the same time, her long history with the flying rodent did have it's romantic moments whether she liked it or not. As she overheard the Joker talk in such disappointment, she just stared at the object from a distance as though tranced for a few moments at remembering the Batman. Not too long after did her small cat by Ms. Kitty prop herself next to her on the statue, she rubbed her face against the Catwoman's leathery exterior, purring in comfort to Catwoman's sudden grief.

Catwoman shook her head slightly, looking at her cat and in a hushed tone thanking her for bringing her back to reality, "I know Ms. Kitty, it's all in the past now" as she turned against at the sight of what seemed like the destroyed clown. She hadn't ever seen this insane man in such a broken state, she didn't need to hear him explain himself for her to notice how stricken he was. She turned her head to one side as though curiously trying to figure out the clown and his mysterious emotional states. " Oh get over it clown boy... "she replied in the quiet darkness just a few feet behind the Joker.

" The Batman's gone and here you are broken in a million pieces?... you've got to be kidding me, what happened to the lunatic of a clown that only rampaged the city to see it burn into hell" she continued pestering on Joker's past goals and slight achievements in hopes to see a different state to the clown in disguise. Something had to give in, she didn't quite understand why the Joker would be be so attached to such a vigilante as the Batman seeing it how much he loved to exploit the man amid his colleagues. Catwoman kept an emotionless expression on her face, ignoring her attachment to the Batman only to further understand the ways of the Joker and perhaps see behind his crazed madness in such a vulnerable state.

[logan]

(response from myself)

Still strongly hooked into a twisted remembrance of his better half, the agile black creature that had made her place a top of an angel statue had yet to grab the attention needed to break this trance the Joker had soaked into to the batarang that was still being tightly held onto. Because of the Batman, there existed a sociopath who wore clown make up and dubbed himself, the Joker. It was that sadistic obsession that allowed the clown to take lives without regret. Only now, everything was a stop sign, a halt, if their was no longer fun filled nights of craving "Batsy" on homemade bombs than without a Bat.. what could possibly fuel the homicidal clown?

In the darkness behind him, a purr broke his grasp from la la land, the caped crusader crept away from thoughts inside the unpredictable mind when a voice spoke a loud following the purr that was recently heard, cocking his head, he listened to the mysterious voice. "Oh get over it clown boy... "[/b] Clown boy? The comment eased out from the dark, finding it a bit humorous the corners of his red lips twitched upwards spinning himself around to the source of this voice that managed to penetrate a small funny bone.

His racoon eyes blinked, looking through the dark to find out whom was out there exploiting the recent turn of smiles. Broken smiles. Only something the death of a loved one could truly bring. Finally, she was discovered.. propped up on statue, Catwoman. She finished with what she had to say, taking this opportunity to give a response, he did. "And here I thought no one would show.. hm." briefly humming through his tight closed cut lips, a purple gloved hand combed dirty green hair from his forehead, "Now, burning down a city wouldn't be as enjoyable without a certain, Batman! To.. burn it down with." his faded wing tips squashed through the damp cemetery mud as he approached this woman clad in black leather, "...ssssso", the heavy empathized S flickered through his lips like a snake, "Here for the ceremony?" crossing his arms, he leaned backwards against the stone statue Catwoman sat above. Dark eyes staring up at her, eyebrows raised waiting for a response.

[logan]

(from Catwoman)

Catwoman was amused to see his reaction, although he had a skeptical point behind not having Batman around she saw things far more differently ever since his departure. "Count me out red lips... I swallowed my grief seconds after the news" she lied with ease. It was her nature to make other's see outside of the framed box she always kept herself in, although Joker might have found it otherwise she wasn't one to tell so much about her life in general, it would leave a sign of vulnerability. As she leaned against the statue she extended her bent leg out and sat in a formal lady position with both legs hanging and crossed one over the other, as Miss Kitty took her spot upon her Catwoman's lap and continued to purr " On the other hand, it doesn't seem you're up for laughs in Gotham anymore... " she ascertained after hearing of his absence not too long ago. " One sacrifice brought about thousands of faces, good... bad.... foreign.... quite honestly it doesn't seem to be the same city we have nurtured after so many years, well at least the city you've wanted to claim for so long" she continued, petting her cat while slightly dangling her legs playfully like a kid on a swing. " And yet, here you are... a mess... literally" she gestured after looking at his dirty hair, messy attire, and smudged face which didn't really seem to have it's normal touch of red she had seen on him. "You don't seem to care one bit for what you've created, it looks like your hard work has gone down the drain, or has it?" she continued questioning his motives.

She strayed from getting anywhere deeper into her life and keeping an update to his plans in Gotham. After Wayne enterprises got destroyed and a new flood of 'beings' she referred to as all those good, bad and in between characters that arrived in Gotham she was quite frustrated having to pull a night of jewel hunting just to realize that her hit points were already touched by others. HER jewlery, HER city... she wanted nothing more than to get rid of the new mess that sprouted it's ugly head, and the only way she knew how was to find the person who could manipulate, kill and terrorize at will while leaving a few laughs behind, the Joker. She continued to pet her kitten longing to hear whether the Joker was definitely back, she needed to have him back.

[logan]

(from myself)

Staying leaned against the statue, he listened on to what Catwoman had to say, the scoop she provided on recent issues sounded amusing enough to touch up the old war paint and slice open new smiles. But, he had a clever feeling that might just be what she wants for her own benefit. A clown that could terrorize this city the way he could would open up many windows. He acknowledged her motives quietly to himself, smacking his lips. She couldn't really be blamed, the city had been run down now of days with new faces, it was harder to get around.. do things, people had changed the rules, broken his own beliefs of how he envisioned and killed for Gotham, that being, a city, his own atmosphere.. needed to be lived without rules. "You don't seem to care one bit for what you've created, it looks like your hard work has gone down the drain, or has it?"[/b]

"..ah.. ha.." the bone chilling laugh fell out of the clowns disfigured mouth in a slow stern fashion, it wasn't a continuous burst of laughter, the excitement level had not yet reached those lengths that would call for an uncontrollable shriek of HA! HA! HA!'s. No, the laugh was a pure sign of amusement, tickled with knowing she was only having conversation with the clown to benefit her greater good. He could see past this and though he wouldn't expose her true meaning for trying to raise the clowns spirits.. no, instead, he'd play along, or what he thought meant.. playing along. Pushing himself off the statue he stared over in the kittens direction that comfortably sat on Catwoman's lap. Observing the cat, his eyes never stayed in one set place, they'd tend to twitch around, switching glances from Catwoman to the cat. "My dentist.." pausing, he stretched his mouth open to flaunt his fabulous yellow stained teeth, "..used to have a cat in his office. Pretty, was her name. Or at least that's what I gathered, the cat was called pretty every time it came into sight of the dentist, so, I can only suspect.. Pretty. And.. this cat.." tapping a finger over his forehead he appeared to be in a troubled moment of thought, "OH!" psyching himself back into the story, where was he going with this? "This cat.. very identical to the one you're holding now. J-ust listen, see, the dentist would say this cat had nine lives." trying to reassure her to keep interest, he held his hands up producing nine fingers, "And ya' know, it's true.. the cat had nine lives. The night before every day of work, he would bury the cat in the backyard, alive, and oh, in the morning, he'd dig it up, bath it, and take it to work. It became routine. But, on the tenth time he dug the cat up to break scientific theories that cats had more than nine actual lives.. the cat was dead."

Coming to the conclusion of this story, he tried to keep a serious tone on his face that became broken with in between giggles when he spoke on, "Whadda say me and you take this, um, theory for a test run again?" throwing a sly smile in her direction before nodded to the cat and an old gravediggers shovel that propped up next to a headstone beside them.

[logan]

(and done at a subboard that ties to the story, character journal board)



here kitty kitty (click me if you disagree with catsinjars)

[logan]

(response from the Riddler)

Off in the distance, the sound of someone taking a nighttime stroll could be heard. The sound reverberated throughout the graveyard as it moved closer, the person moving through the gates of the old ruined cemetery. The patter of a nice pair of shoes could be heard, along with a distinct click of a cane hitting the ground as the incoming sound grew louder. Then, the sound was stifled, by that of the grass. In the distance, a looming figure could be seen, tall and lanky and slightly leaning forward, as he used his cane.

Before he could be seen fully, a voice spoke out, “Riddle me this, riddle me that. What kind of villain mourns the death of the big black bat?” His voice seemed to be somewhat faint, but still was distinguishable to that of the Riddler. The figure came into view, donned in his green business attire. He was adorned with his green bowler hat, and his purple domino mask matching with his purple gloves, which gripped his golden question mark-shaped cane. As he came closer it could been seen on his face, a worn out look was formed there, as his brown eyes looked over the other two figures, sitting upon the angel’s statue. “I can see that I’m not the only one who is perplexed and concerned over the demise of our good…’friend’ as one might say.”

The eyes of the Riddler wandered over the scene, the grave with the red spray paint, moving to the Catwoman and her feline companion, and to the purple clown himself. “I do hope I’m not interrupting anything.” The Riddler chuckled at his own comment, looking at the two. Deep down the Riddler himself was concealing his own grief of the loss of his nemesis, the Batman. He knew that there would never be anyone who would ever rival him in his ways, no one like him that would ever be able to solve his puzzles and riddles that he would leave him. No one would be able to match that kind of intellect, and there was a kind of cerebral connection between the two that they shared, yet in different ways. The Riddler always set on conducting and producing elaborate crimes and schemes, always leaving hints behind him, and the Bat would always pursue, the one constant he could ever count on. But that was gone. Forever.

[logan]

(response from Catwoman)

Catwoman's legs stopped swaying and her eyes widened a bit at the thought of her dear cat being buried alive. It was a horrible thought and at the same time she sneered at the dark clown for figuring her out quite quickly which was what she expected considering he wasn't his usual self. Miss Kitty had hissed at the clown, as though conscious of what plans he had in store for her, but Catwoman just stroked the cat's back as though to reassure her nothing would happen to her. Trying to set aside what looked like a comical moment for the joker, she continued, " No matter, even if it's not for my sake, what about yours?..." she argued. There was no point hiding her real motives seeing how he had discovered them out already, " I figured you wouldn't be up for the task anyhow... you've grown old clown, I doubt your comical theatrics would have sent them away. Hey, no don't worry I don't need anyone to run the kind of lifestyle I deserve, but I wonder how long you'll be able to stand before things get out of hand." she added with a small grin in return. She spoke some truth behind her psychological nonsense, she knew winning the joker over wasn't going to happen, but at least she hoped he had a good mind to look ahead instead of the past. Batman, he was gone, but unlike him, the clown was still fairly alive in hell, it was just a matter of time before he realized Catwoman's words were not just a matter of self-benifiting claims.

"I don't see why you're attacking me, when I'm just informing you of exactly everything you have been missing since you're absence. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not here to be a buddy.... but the more you knew the better you'd be. Heck if I know that the next tombstone to go up will end up being..." she continued with a sudden pause at the voice she recognized immediately could only be from the Riddler. As far as the Joker was concerned, she wasn't too far from the truth either, even though she enjoyed instilling these frames of thought into the sadistic clown to some extent she knew that if he didn't get his act together his jokes would end up being a part of the past, just as his only memoir of the Batman.

It wasn't the greatest feeling in the world, for she sure would get annoyed at the rambling riddles that the Riddler made making no sense in her mind, why make riddles when you can just beat the snot of anyone in your way she thought in respects to the Riddler's combat style. She felt she couldn't really continue seeing how their conversation was indeed interrupted, but there was no point to continue either, it was a lost cause in her point of view. As she looked over at the clad gentleman in green attire with a question mark of a cane beside him she replied, " Perplexed...no.... concerned... the least, but annoyed by the mess he left behind couldn't be more" with a hissing style tone at the end as though growing furious with her own thoughts. Even though she did feel saddened by Batman's death, she also felt infuriated by the fact that the city she had grown to do as she pleased had begun to set limits around her, along with fellow colleagues of hers. It seemed no one would get a break from the nonsense of the government's new rules.

[logan]

(response from myself)

It may have appeared the Joker wasn't taking one word of Catwoman's seriously, no, he understood, he just had a very funny way of taking things in. Everything to the bastard clown was a joke, even the death of that certain someone that made his glasgow spread in joy, everything was taken in as a big game that he desired to fiddle with, and manipulate for his liking. In between Catwoman speaking, he'd nod in sarcastic understanding, coming off to her like he was half paying attention. He did understand, though, for deep down inside he did agree with what she was trying to get across to him. This city, born and breed by criminals and heroes desperately needed to find it's roots again, it needed that treacherous death grip that made it Gotham city. Once he realized she wasn't game for burying the kitty cat, he frowned that moment in.. which didn't last very long when the voice of a third party spoke up.

“Riddle me this, riddle me that. What kind of villain mourns the death of the big black bat?” that voice belonged to none other than the Riddler, of course. The green question mark made his presence in announcement that he hoped he wasn't interrupting. Moving a short distance away from Catwoman while she acknowledged Riddler's presence, the clown laid both his hands over the top of the tombstone that had been graffiti with Batman's name. Oh, the Riddler, another grimy stain in Gotham that thrived on mind games. This could be fun. Turning to face him, the Joker's torn red lips unleashed a surprised smile. "You two coming here.." looking over both of them and nodding, ".. and to think I needed a dish of milk and crossword puzzle to bring you two together!" entertaining himself, he squealed out in laughter holding onto the tombstone momentarily to support himself from falling over. "Ahem! No, no.. no. Ahaha.. this isn't a party." looking over the tombstone that the clown proclaimed to be the resting place of Batman, the laughter died down.

[logan]

(response from the Riddler)

The Riddler’s eyes moved over the scene, looking at Catwoman, and the Joker, smiling as she acknowledged his presence. " Perplexed...no.... concerned... the least, but annoyed by the mess he left behind couldn't be more" Catwoman said to him, as the Riddler nodded in pondering the idea. “So true, such a puzzle that our friend has left us in this fateful town. It was his death that seems to be such a catastrophe for us, an influx of the intolerable kinds of new scum, that I find to be rather…shall I say…less than honorable. This vicious villainous vermin that is infesting our streets have also brought a following strand of ‘Heroes,’ and I do use that term lightly, to our humble city.” The Riddler said to the pair as he rambled slightly, his voice in a tone of slight arrogance and conceit.

The Riddler let out a sigh, then watched at the Joker stood up and said “You two coming here…and to think I needed a dish of milk and crossword puzzle to bring you two together! Ahem! No, no.. no. Ahaha.. this isn't a party.” The Riddler chuckled along with the Joker, for he found the Joker’s sense of humor to be so interesting at times, even though the fiend appeared to have no moral standard, rhyme or reason, he was a riddle in itself, and for that he respected the Joker. The Riddler took a breath as he said to the two, “Quite so…But there has been a question, playing in my mind for quite some time now. I have to ask myself, ‘Why am I still in Gotham? What good is there in being here if there’s no more Bat to solve my puzzles?’ I mean, all we have left are these kids…all wanting to take his place. This, my dear friends, is a question of which I have no answer to. For it seems that this was a better place for us when the Bat was here, but now that he has left us, well…I’m just not sure if I want to stay in this wretched city.” Again rambling as he looked at the two, his eyes moving over them, as he stood there, his one hand resting on his cane, the other hand in his pocket, leaning on his cane slightly, as they stood in the empty rundown graveyard.

[logan]

(response from Catwoman)

At the Riddler's thought Catwoman pondered for a while, but came to one realization. No matter where she'd go, nothing would be same anymore with the Batman gone, therefore there was no point to change her way of living, her lifestyle when being the 'senior villain' of the city she could just teach these rotten kids a lesson or to on who really runs the town. " For it seems that this was a better place for us when the Bat was here, but now that he has left us, well…I’m just not sure if I want to stay in this wretched city." finished the Riddler as the Catwoman followed right up, " You might not find a reason to stay but with these gullible kids going on an about I'd say we have to teach these good for nothings who really runs this joint... I'm not about to give up a life of luxury and freedom just because a few pests invaded my space, we deal with them the same way we deal with other nuisance in our way, we exterminate"she continued with a small grin growing upon her features. She sure had a sadistic mind when it came to torture and wickedness, it never defied her how crazed she could be, perhaps not to Joker's level but crazed enough to go beyond the limit of expectation for a sly and stealthy woman as herself.

Miss Kitty stretched her claws in a kneeting position upon Catwoman's lap before jumping off and landing upon the cold dirt surface. Catwoman followed behind as she landed ever so effortlessly with her whip hugging her waist and curved about her shoulder as it usually was when not in use. She composed her posture in a feminine form, holding her waist with her right hand and leaning against her right leg while the other was outstretched displaying her rather well shaped figure.

She looked across between the Riddler to the Joker and viewed his position upon the tombstone he had personalized for the dear old Bat, " Give it up red lips, you know you'll need the help anyway, we get what we want and so do you in the process"she continued making a rather interesting proposition to the freak in green hair while assuring the same idea with the Riddler. It seemed they all had the same ideas and felt the same way, but she didn't exactly see how they could all work together long enough to take back what dearly belonged to them. Each of them had different visions for Gotham as they all normally had, but Catwoman didn't desire for much more than her freedom, capable to do what she wanted as she pleased, she completely believed in the idea of not keeping cages animals for the same intentions. Even though each had their greedy sides to this ideology, she found that neither would back stab the other early enough until they got their share of the deal, therefore as long as she stayed above the status quo she'd be fine.

Glancing between the two men, she wondered if they would consider the idea, each had much to bargain, but if it meant power back into their hands, Gotham back into their grasp they would do anything.

[Corey Black]

I want to do this, as Bane, and just walk around breaking people's backs for no reason.

BACKBREAKER!

BAAANG!

[Frosty the Snowman]

Man that's a great idea. I'll join as Aquaman and just talk with fish and generally be useless.

[R. Daniels]

Feb 14, 2009 22:46:37 GMT -5 Frosty the Snowman said:

... Aquaman... just talk with fish and generally be useless.

Probably the most honest statement I've ever read... EVER!

I'm still wondering why he hasn't been killed yet.

[Torture]

However, the movie did make the most money ever.

$116, 844, 114.00? That's a lot my friend. Vincent Chase knows how to fucking act.