The Laughing Clown. [Open to all]

[joker]

'click....click.....click....'. OVer and over, the sound rattedl through the air, bouncing off walls and landing straight back on the table to, start it's journey all over again. For the center of his sound was the tinted yellow, rugged and broken nails that connected to the pale white frame of 'The Harlequin of Hate'. The other's in the bar inched farther and farther away with every passing minute. Afraid, of what might happen.

The clown slowly craned his neck and stared out, into the bar. His face void of all care or expression...He looked pissed...He stared at all of them, for approximately half a minute. Though that half a minute, to all the others in the bar...Felt like years. His pissed off expression soon became a grin, in which was just a start up for the sickening laughter that followed. The people in the bar awkwardly, and scared began to chuckle. Forcefully. Though Joker knew, and it was this chuckling...This sick, forced and terrified chuckling that made him continue laughing.

Joker wiped a tear from his eye and downed his drink. looking back at the people again. He lifted his hands and straightened his purple waistcoat before standing, he began to walk out of the bar as a large man stepped in front of him.

'LISTEN PAL! You think yer' the deadliest criminal in this town!? Well you haven't met me yet!' The man hollered before Joker smirked, a green fluid dispersed from the flower that was situated on the clowns waistcoat. The fluid hit the man directly in the face, it was only a moment before the huge behemoth fell to his knees screaming like a little girl. His face began to legitimately melt, kis skin sliding off his face though the spectacle was hard to see, seeing as though the man was covering his face with his hands. The rest of the criminals began to gag or even puke. The Joker simply stepping over the man and exiting the bar. He looked up into Gotham's night sky and saw the rain begin to fall. Joker, not worried of anything turned and began to walk down the sidewalk. His Italian made purple shoes click clacking against the pavement.

[Deleted]

Iris hurries down the sidewalk, being careful not to make eye contact with anyone. This is definitely not a good part of town to be in, especially at night, but since she's not remarkable looking in any way she's pretty ignored by the various people she passes along the way. That, plus she knows how to project and air of 'I'm nobody worth paying any attention to' when she wants to. Still, she keeps her pace quick so that she'll be on her way sooner rather than later.

And her reason for hurrying gets even stronger when the sky opens up and decides to provide the city with a little bit of spring rain. This causes her to pause for a moment to fish a compact umbrella out of her purse. It's a flimsy little thing, but it works and is small enough for her to carry with her all the time just in case she happens to need one. Gotham's weather isn't nearly as sunny as Arizona's after all.

Ah, Arizona! How she misses the place! It was so warm and bright instead of dreary and dull like Gotham. Sure, it got rather hot there over the summer, but it was a dry heat and if it got too bad you could just go hop in the swimming pool. But the thought of such pleasant surroundings helps keep the spring in her step in spite of her current situation. However, it also distracts her from paying any particular attention to the man who just came out of the bar a little further up the sidewalk.

[joker]

The soft sound of raindrops hitting Iris's umbrella hit his ears. He stopped, dead in his tracks. Strands of slicked back green hair began to fray and pop upwards out of the usual spot in which they are placed. The clown leaned back slightly, balancing on the sole of his shoe and turned slowly, his colorful ensemble accenting the colors that stained his face. Like a scar.

"Helloooo there." He said to himself, though just loud enough for her to hear. He took a multitude of steps on the sidewalk, inching closer to the woman. The Joker was being forgotten in his own city, and it was time he make an example....

[Deleted]

When a voice is heard above the sound of the rain, Iris glances over at the man who spoke. Her eyes widen instantly in recognition and she immediately stops - she may be new to Gotham, but everyone has heard of the Joker. But beyond that, her reaction to him is probably less expected. Her mouth immediately stretches into a wide grin - certainly not as wide as his, and with a distinctly friendly slant to it.

"Good evening, Mr. Joker," she says with a polite nod, proving that she indeed is not mistaking him for some other clown to whom a large, friendly grin might be a more appropriate response. Then again, whatever is happening outside of her relatively calm and friendly exterior is none of his business whatsoever. Nothing about her is any of his business, really - he's a patient after all. True, he's not her patient and they're not in the asylum, but that doesn't make in any less true.

[joker]

Joker stopped, inches away from her and looked her over. Carefully before reaching into his bright purple waistcoat. He slowly pulled out a silver, long barreled magnum. The grin inching even farther up his face. He had to admit, he was surprised about the grin. But he kenw what kind of people grin at him.....Doctors.....

"Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time, eh!?" The clown hollered. Burting into a fit of maniacal laughter. The rain falling over the city even harder. Soaking his bright green hair.

[Deleted]

When he approaches, Iris doesn't move a muscle. There wouldn't be any point to it, after all, since she hardly has the amount of skill it would take to get away from someone like the Joker who didn't want her to. She figures that she could put up a decent fight even if she'd lose, but exactly what would she stand to gain from that? She'll readily admit that she's probably at the clown's mercy, and as twisted as the man is she has to figure that if there's any actual mercy to be won here then she won't win it with resistance.

So she doesn't even move when the gun comes out, though she has to admit that the situation is rapidly getting ugly. When he hollers, practically in her face, she does cringe a little simply due to the volume, though her smile widens in humor at his words. "Yeah, I can't imagine a worse time or place, right off hand," she admits with a sudden laugh, shaking her head a little; her laugh is light and feminine, close to a giggle. Figures that the one night she happens to need to walk down this road it would have to be when the Joker of all people is here. And she definitely can appreciate the humor in that, even if she could very well be inches and seconds away from death. And here she always figured that if she was going to be killed by a rogue it would be at the asylum.

[joker]

Joker stared at her somewhat blankly. His eyes, void of love, light or warmth just stares. She is obviously playing along with his little ruse, so, should he kill her, mess with her or just let her go? The clown had to admit, the decision was a hard one. But something finally came to mind.

The Harlequin of hate slowly tucked the gun back into his waistcoat and pulled out a small device. Black. A blade suddenly popped out of it. Revealing the object to be a common switchblade.

" Tell me, doctor, I'm assuming you're a doctor. Do you value life?" He asked. Supressing an outburst of laughter. He was attempting to be serious, though in the situation and under these circumstances. Being serious was going to be quite hard.

[Deleted]

Quick to observe the way that he's reacting to her, Iris gathers that the Joker is somewhat intrigued by her. That's either a very, very good thing or a very, very bad thing. And when he switches from a gun to a switchblade, she decides that it's most likely a bad thing. Well doesn't this situation just keep going downhill? Which wouldn't be so bad if she couldn't think of a thing to do about it. Or at least, nothing that would be effective.

Well, except talking, possibly, but she knows that's a bit of a crap-shoot. Still, any chance is better than no chance, she supposes. She nods when he calls her a doctor. "Dr. Ledford, psychologist," she supplies, retaining her smile but suppressing her own humor since she can sense that he's becoming more serious, at least for him. Is it wise giving the Joker your name? Perhaps not, but then again if she survives this he'll probably find it out anyway next time he ends up at the asylum, so why not? "And that would depend on the life," she adds, answering the question posed honestly. She can hardly claim that there aren't a few people on the planet who she doesn't think would be better off not on it.

[joker]

Joker continued to stare her down before examining the blade thoroughly. He runs his completely white index finger along it's side, staring at his own reflection before speaking. In a somewhat dull and unamused voice.

"Telling a whackjob you're a psychologist is like telling a satanic cult that you're a virgin!" He said, the unamused voice quickly turned into a high pitched chuckle, though it sounded more like a giggle. He quickly made eye contact with her again.

"You know that, don't you?"He asked. Leaning towards her.

[Deleted]

In spite of the Joker's stares and over-dramatic examination of his weapon, Iris to all appearances remains unaffected by it. It's not that she isn't horribly intimidated - she most certainly is - but she's already showing him the maximum amount of that emotion that she'll allow to show on the surface: none. At least, not on this occasion anyway.

His comment causes her to laugh lightly again, if only for a moment. She can't help it really, it's such a good analogy! On the other hand, once she suppresses her laugh she has a different reaction to the statement. Her eyebrow raises as she asks, "Are you a 'whackjob', Mr. Joker?" She really can't help but ask him that - just because her job puts her in the chair opposite from compulsive people all the time doesn't mean that she isn't free from compulsions of her own.

[joker]

Joker smirked, spinning around on his heel.

"Oh, how you'd like to know!" The Joker yelled. Stopping and pointing the knife dirently between her eyes quickly, holding it not even an inch away from her face.

"A good psychiatrist in his hellhole of a town works at one place. And that place is Arkham Asylum! And, since you weren't there last time I checked in to the five star resort you weren't there! Which means that you, my darling, are new. And how you'd like to get some credit among the doctors! 'OH! I got a hands on interview with The Joker!'" He screamed. Obviously angered.

Joker was sick and tired of doctors and other 'high up' people trying to capitalize on his name and his success! He should kill her! Right now! But something was stopping him. And he couldn't quite place his finger on it...

[Deleted]

Iris flinches again, but not because of the proximity of the knife. Again it's the problem of volume - the Joker certainly has a healthy set of lungs. But aside from that she's silent as she absorbs his ranting.

Silent, but there's a change in her expression. The smile disappears an a little fire sparks in her eyes as he continues. Sure she's standing here, so uncomfortably close to a twisted serial killer, but that doesn't make her immune to getting somewhat ticked off. She waits until he's finished to speak, and though there's anger in her voice she keeps her tone level.

"First of all, I'm a psychologist, not a psychiatrist - thank God! Second, I don't give a damn what the other doctors in that 'institution' think of me - half of them are crazier than the patients! I only took a job there because it would look good on my resume. Third, I asked because I was curious. No other reason," she replies, too upset by his accusations to even care if she's making the hole she's fallen into even deeper. Though once she gets it out of her system, she more calmly adds, "I'm flattered that you assume that I'm good though."

[joker]

His expression completely changed. To that of a sneer. A disgusted, sneer.

"Did you just...Raise your voice to me?..... The clown's nostrils flared and a vein in his eyes suddenly went noticably red. He tightened his grip on the handle of the switchblade and thought about sending it directly into her skull. Then he could go home.

"....I LOVE IT!" He yelled, once again. His expression once again turning into a grin. He was impressed. He didn't think she would yell, or even start talking in full sentences with the ' silent act' she was putting on.

"IRis...Iris Ledford....I'll remember that. Do you have Facebook? I could add you." He stated before chuckling once again. This whole situation was just to comedic!

[Deleted]

Wulfen was on patrol nearby when it started to rain. It wasn't the first time he had been caught out in the rain while on patrol... But he still hadn't found a way to keep dry while in costume.

'Why does it have to be raining.' Wulfen asked the mental wolf that was his closest friend.

'Well maybe you should have listened to the weatherman.' Lupin replied.

'What listen to the weatherman?' Wulfen asked in disbelief. 'Where I'm from they're always wrong.'

'Well this is Gotham. Not Texas.' Lupin said.

'Right and aren't weathermen universal.' Wulfen replied trying to shake some of the rain off.

'Well maybe you should find a weatherwoman, by your logic wouldn't she be correct?' Lupin commented.

Instead of replied Wulfen cut him off. They both heard it, two voices. A woman's voice and a somewhat manic sounding voice.
Wulfen moved over to the edge of the roof where he could see the source of the two voices.

He saw a woman he didn't recognize and a strange man. Who fit the profile of the man known as the Joker. He didn't know much about the Joker, only that he was dangerous.

Normally he would have tried to run, he had learned that lesson after his run in with Scarecrow. But in this case he couldn't do that. A person was in danger. He silently maneuvered his way down a fire escape to a point where he could react quickly if things got rough.

After watching silently for a few minutes he saw the knife come dangerously close to the woman's face.

He moved to a place where he could remain hidden and looked to see if he could say or do something without putting the woman in anymore danger then she already was. He got ready and then said the first thing that came to mind.

Still being hidden in the shadows he called out. "Your on Facebook? What's your username? Maybe I could friend you?" He hoped that would get Joker to look away from the woman and try to find him. After all if Scarecrow taught him anything. He's alot more fun then a non-powered civilian.

[joker]

Joker craned his neck. And looked about in the darkness. He knew what was going on, he wasn't dumb. The clown reached out with his free hand and closed his palm around the shoulder of her jacket and pulled her body in close to his. With her back firmly on his frontside, he held her tight with his free hand and moved the knife to her throat. Touching it against her skin ever so lightly.

"Yooooohoooo! Come one out!" The clown called. Ready for a confrontation.