Check, Please! [Lola, Joker]

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Oswald was in an unusually good mood. He'd spent the day over seeing from a very safe distance the procurement of a shipment intended to go to another mob, then ensuring it would be pinned on a rival gang and for once the plan had gone off without a hitch. What better end to the day than a evening out with the lovely Lola?

He'd arranged the evening days in advance anyway, booked the restaurant and informed her since he expected she would welcome it as an excuse to go shopping. Perhaps it would also ensure she wouldn't still be getting ready when he picked her up if she had several days to prepare but in the end he was happy enough not to care much about any delays.

The restaurant was the hight of fancy with polite chatter mixing in with the sound of piano music. The glass dome in the ceiling provided some lighting though the crystal chandlers did most of the work. A musician, armed with a grand piano took centre stage in the middle of the room in a slightly raised area with ornate metal work that partially separated him from the rest of the room. The whole thing kind of reminded Oswald of a bird cage. He liked it and not for the first time considered stealing the idea for the club.

Oswald ignored the small crowd of people waiting to get in and walked straight past them, these were the foolish people who didn't book ahead or become important enough to care about. Without Oswald needing to inform anyone of who he was the maitre d' quickly greeted them "Mr Cobblepot, Miss Marks, your table is ready" There were perks to being easily recognised and known for ones temper in Gotham. Ensuring there was no wait for a table was just one of them.

Oswald took barely any notice of the rest of the room as he allowed the waiter to pull out their chairs. A brief glance among the other guests to see if anyone important was also dining was all he considered needed, he didn't pay any attention at all to the staff and after only ordering a bottle of wine dismissed the waiter with the wave of a hand so he could peruse the menu without them lurking around the table.

OOC: The restaurant setting.

[Lola Marks]

Lola had been preparing for days for this event. She was overjoyed when she was invited out to dinner by her puffin. They had been spending so much time together recently; she knew he really liked her. Her tiny little hotel room was becoming more and more luxurious each time he gave her a gift. She had jewels fit for a queen laid around the desks and gorgeous dresses that he’d let her pick out herself. She was living in the lap of luxury, from a hotel room.

She had to admit, she enjoyed the occasional alone time, but this wasn’t working out for her. Oswald must have been starting to get suspicious that she’d spent this long in one. She used the excuse that she’s just trying to find the right place. For now he was basically providing her living cost without knowing it. It was a good thing she never ate much anyway unless she was with others. But the more time she spent alone the more she realized she just really wanted to cuddle with someone at night. It had been a while since she’d been so serious with someone. At the rate that Oswald was asking her out and the number of times he’s handed her a credit card she knew he wanted something more with her.

The thought had kept her giddy all week. Regardless of how much notice she had received for the event it still took her 10 minutes before she was able to come down. It was important to do this, a woman had to look her best and making sure right before the event was key. The ride over was pleasant with him and when they walked into the restaurant she was locked to his arm.

Grace and class hit her immediately as she walked into the gorgeous establishment. What a wonderful place for him to bring her to and very expensive at that. He never spared any expense for them to have the very best and that is exactly as she liked it. Lola sat down and thanked the waiter after she scooted into her chair and picked up the menu. She took her time, glancing over all of the options. It was important to choose wisely when you were out with your date. She couldn’t pick something too heavy and she didn’t want to pick anything to light either. To heavy would be a flag to putting on the pounds and too light would be an insult to the restaurant. There was an art to eating right on a date and she expected to have three courses.

Once she had decided she set her menu down and smiled at Oswald. “I think I know what I’m going to have. But I would love to start with an appetizer for us both, maybe a side salad.” She mused in thought aloud. “This place is absolutely breathtaking Oswald.” She flushed.

[The Joker]

Joker knew about the reservation, one of his henchmen worked at the restaurant, it was his official job, the unofficial was talking to Joker about the high élite clients and working his way in the restaurant if he needed to...and this time the clown needed it. Joker already knew what he wanted to do when he heard that Ozzy booked with his lady. The clown laughed a lot knowing that Ozzy had a lady, that he had a toy to play with then he realized that he wanted the toy now because someone else was playing with it like kids did.

So, the Joker inspected his plans on the blueprints when...his gaze fell upon the tv and the realization hit him: reality show! He loved them! His own shows at least, and he had one about Candyland or something. Ozzy had to be a winner at that game...he called his henchman back laughing all the time.

The real pianista-man got a day off and Joker wore his tuxedo completed with white gloves. The clown painted his face too with pink greasepaint and colored his brows and hair in black, maybe that was even his original color of before...well...Joker said to not remember anything anyway. It wasn't the first time that he had to paint himself so it turned out pratty good, he looked like another person. So, the clown-pianista looked like the real one, with his black hair and fine good-looking. Luckily, Joker knew how to play the piano. It wasn't so hard, well, he was a mastermind evil genius, from his pov, so learning how to play the piano hadn't been so difficult, maybe he knew how to do it since before...who knows?

Joker entered in the restaurant before the arriving of the clients, however the place wasn't so quite, there were noises of the chef staff preparing the kitchen, the coming and going of the waiters to arrange the tables and co-workers greeting him, apparently his name was Jeff. Mh, Jeff the pianista...didn't sound right, but Joker played the part.

The place was fancy, but the bird-cage got all his attention "Of course he chose this place" he thought holding a laugh, but smiling widely, and the piano was exactly there, waiting for him. He sat and started playing, nice music now overwhelmed the noises. Joker's eyes kept looking at the cage, seen from inside was another thing entirely. The funny thing was that the bird in the cage was goona fly away...with its pray.

The pianist had to be already in the cage at the opening of the restaurant, instead Joker had imagined entering in the restaurant, walking on a red carpet direct to the cage-bird, eyes all over him and when he started playing people would have stopped eating to listen to him....but obviously this couldn't happen right away, he was playing the part of the piano-man in a bird-cage, so invisible but so at the center of the attention at the same time, the cage was in the center of the room and it was pretty showing off, but the clients weren't paying him any attention, too focused on their suppers, only his music was audible and only in a background mode. So on the stage and so un-showed, Joker didn't know for how much longer he could take this.

Finally, the Joker stopped struggling about the un-attention and focused on Ozzy and his pratty lady when they arrived. The clown kept playing as the pianist without looking too much at the Ozzy's table. However, he couldn't stop the smile that showed up on his painted face.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

From the very first day that he'd known her Oswald had known Lola wasn't rich by his standards. Anyone new in town who was taking sufficient interest in him was suspicious enough to run a background check on. Even without one it would have been difficult to ignore the fact that she was still living in a hotel and seemed to show no sign of attempting to move out. He liked the rich but he liked the rich who needed him even more. Lola knew how to play the part of high society, she made him look good but most importantly she needed him, in a way it was for the best that she relied on his money, he was sure she would have her pick of men otherwise.

Truthfully Oswald could easily fix her living arrangements, if he moved her into a wing of the mansion if he wanted to he could probably still only see her about as often as he does now. The thought had crossed his mind several times it was uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because the last woman to live in the mansion was his mother and that didn't go well. Uncomfortable because he would have to admit that he likes having her around and there was the chance she would say no and it would ruin a perfectly satisfactory relationship. Uncomfortable because he was still waiting for her to reveal it all as some kind of twisted joke.

The rogues of course were another concern, by now he was sure the relationship had been noted. That the most interest had been Edward inviting the both of them to dinner seemed more luck than anything. He was not however aware of the fact that might be about to change or he might have at least brought back up into the building.

The fact that Oswald seemed relaxed was proof enough that he had no idea Joker was there. He so rarely paid attention to restaurant staff that so long as the music plays he doesn't bother looking over. Instead he looked happy, he was smiling at Lola, everything was going well "I thought you might like it, I believe the fish is largely considered to be the best thing on the menu. Eventually I will have to run out of new places for us to dine out" he chuckled "Perhaps then I would have to build more"

[Lola Marks]

Lola couldn’t wipe the smile from her face if she tried. The evening was going to be perfect and she already knew it. At his joke she offered a sweet laugh in response and waggled her finger at him. She sighed and leaned onto the top of her hand staring at him. “Oswald Cobblepot you do spoil me.” She blushed and turned her face away just to see the waiter come back to their table to take their order.

Lola ordered a glass of chardonnay and their fresh catch. She waited while he took Oswalds order and took the moment to look at the scene around them. She watched a man walk to the middle of the bird cage and begin playing the piano. They even had live music, this place was wonderful. She sighed happily as the melody hit her ears. Something about tonight just made her feel perfect. All of her money trouble just seemed so far away.

But the embaressment….She looked at Oswald a little worried. It was still so unresolved and if he ever found out she just didn’t know what she’d do. He wouldn’t want anything to do with her if she wasn’t in the same social class as him, but she was! She deserved to be! She always had been! She shifted in her dress as the uncomfortable thought wouldn’t leave her head and the night was going to well too.

Instead of just letting it fester she decided to do something about it or at least attempt to get it off her mind. “I’m almost out of room for all the presents you’ve given me.” She said with a soft giggle. Her hotel room was filled with presents of all sorts. Some he would bring personally and some he would have delivered there. Each and every present she graciously accepted of course. Who minded being spoiled? Space was becoming a problem though and she was sure he’d be wondering why she hadn’t moved out yet. She would love to…but continued to give the excuse that she just hasn’t found the right place and that she’s very particular.

[The Joker]

Look at them, all happy and smiles, that reminded of the dinner that he had...dead bodies all over the place...well...that was a nice touch and because he was nice, the clown was going to give this touch to the happy couple too. He saw the woman look at him for a second, maybe appreciating the fact that there was live music and Joker was quiet good at this. Of course. The Joker was always good according to him. The word modesty didn't even exist in his vocabulary.

Joker was playing the piano, pushing all the keys but one. He looked up again at the crowd. All that people eating and the clown imagined their dead faces on the plates. He smiled without succeeding to hide it this time, so he just looked down at the piano, trying to hide his expression. It was time, Joker couldn't hold back his funny side anymore.

The pianist clown pushed the untouched key. For a while nothing happened, aside the fact that the pianist stopped playing so no more music could be heard. Then a purple smoke came out from the piano, his henchman who worked here did some modifications to the piano. The crowd's chattering stopped suddenly and everyone was looking at the piano with a confused expression...what was happening?

The clown couldn't hold it anymore...seeing all that faces...and the screams of horror when they finally understood what was happening. The Joker started laughing incessantly and at first it could sound strange hearing that unique laugh from a pianist in a suit. Happy tears cut through his make up and Joker took a handkerchief wiping them off, knowing that the make up was going away from his face too.

He kept laughing while one by one people started to fall down, but they weren't dead...just sleeping. However, Joker was going to make sure that they will rest in peace. The clown turned around where Ozzy and his lady were to see if they were already asleep or not. The room had a purple atmosphere like if there were a lot of little confettis dancing all around the place.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

"Then I shall have to gift you with more room next time" Oswald replied cheerfully with a little laugh. It was an obvious solution to the problem that only the rich would ever consider sensible. He gave his order and for a few minutes all was well until the music stopped.

It took Oswald only a moment to notice the change in the room's atmosphere as the voices began to silence. A quick glance and he saw they were focused on the pianist. His eyes narrowed on the man at the piano, trying to decide if it was pure paranoia and the pianist simply had a perfectly reasonable excuse to stop. The moment he saw smoke he knew otherwise. The screaming had no effect on him, he didn't pay attention to the panic of others or wait to see who was behind the growing purple cloud before he stood, knocking over the table in the process for some cover and pulled Lola behind it.

As he was opening his umbrella towards the threat for some additional shielding his face twisted into rage. He knew that laugh. How dare he?! "Jokaaaa!" the name turned into a screech of anger that sounded not unlike some sort of hawk. The top of his umbrella quickly began to rotate to blow the smoke back as he opened fire in a hail of bullets at the same time "What is the meaning of this?!" He yelled as he was shooting. There was no sense in getting the answer before he shot, you don't gas a room as a sign of friendship.

He had no doubt the doors would either be locked, trapped or guarded, he wanted to see what happened to the running guests trying to escape before he tried alternative methods of escape. Even with his umbrella it would be a matter of time before there was too much smoke to blow away and he didn't want to find out what the effects of the smoke would be.

Ripping his bow tie off Oswald pocketed it and in the process broke the small wire inside, sending signal for back up. He had a few more tricks up his sleeves but he held them back, he didn't want to play his entire hand at once and very few items were designed to help more than one person. He was sure he could get himself out but could he get out Lola? One voice said it didn't matter, forget the girl, get out and kill Joker on the way. Another simply pined at the idea of leaving her to the clown. The third was most compelling, save the girl and you'll look like the hero to her, if you can't then she may as well be dead. With one hand busy still shooting when he saw a target to aim for(Another thing the smoke wasn't helping with) the other hand hesitated in his pocket before he pulled out a small cylinder that looked almost like a large pen and one handed he removed the top to reveal a mouth piece "Breathe through it slowly" he mutter to Lola as he passed it to her, reassuring himself that he could steal it back from her if he had to.

While more was called into action the closest backup was Terry, who'd driven them there and then gone to find a place to park. Two blocks over his peaceful evening that he'd expected to spend watching the game on the in car tv was interrupted by security telling to get back to Cobblepot. Quickly he started the car up again and forced his way back into traffic with minor damages to the car that got in his way as he headed back to the restaurant, pushing his way between cars and taking the sidewalk as needed.

[Lola Marks]

Lola Smiled with his response, the evening was going so well. She didn’t know exactly what he meant by that but she did have a few ideas….Alright, she had a lot of ideas of her own. She was thinking a large mansion somewhere for just the two of them. They could keep Oswald’s place of course but why not expand? There would be more people in the house the only logical thing to do would be to start from scratch. To try and make everything fit together how it was would be such a mess. No, starting from a new floor plan was the only way to go and she already had it all planned out in her head.

She dreamt on this for a while as she stared back at him lovingly. She hoped that’s what he meant by those words but she might have been mistaken. She opened her mouth to speak but a shrill scream pierced her ears. She turned her head to see the commotion and only managed to catch a glimpse before their table was turned over and she found herself being drug to Oswald’s side. She ducked behind him and the table as he began shouting at whoever caused all of this mess. The evening was going so well too!

A loud crack assaulted her ears and she covered them as Ozzy unloaded something out of his umbrella. Was…That a gun? He had a gun in his umbrella?! She panicked about this only long enough to realize she was thankful at the moment that he had one. Whatever smoke was coming toward them was blow away by the twist of the umbrella, such a handy thing for something otherwise used to protect you from rain. When he turned to her she was relieved to get his attention, if only for a small moment of comfort. The small device was placed into her hands and she nodded quickly, placing it over her mouth to breathe through.

So many people were running and screaming around them. She peaked around the table to the side to see people had dropped on the ground laughing. This was no time for laughter, why were they laughing? Her eyes scanned each one, careful not to poke her head out too far until she spotted the man causing all of this commotion. His attire explained why he was laughing, but not why everyone else thought it was funny! She wanted to run, she wanted to speak but all she could do was breathe through this mouthpiece until it was okay. Lola dropped back behind the cover again and placed her back against it panting. If Ozzy got ahold of this man she was going to give him a piece of her mind.

Ruining her date….So Rude.

[The Joker]

The Joker kept wiping off the tears and finished taking off all the makeup from his face, his red lips even more emphasized now "Who is Jokaaa...?!" Joker mocked Ozzy doing his voice "My name is Joker...Jok-er" the clown did a little bow in direction of the penguin lady. He bowed his head down too, but then looked up quickly noticing Ozzy opening his umbrella to move the gas away from him and the lady "Trying to take some time...always so resourceful, I like it, it's more fun playing with him" the clown thought with a little smirk with his green eyes glued on the elder man behind the umbrella.



An ordinary reaction when hearing shooting noises was running away to safety, but instead Joker kept standing in the bird-cage. A bullet passed near one of his ears and another one near his right arm. Joker grinned, facing deathly scenarios was always funny, especially for a jester. The guests kept running away, but they all fell on the floor at some point...Joker started laughing again, but not because of the falling guests, but because of Ozzy's question.



"Why? Why? Why?" the why sounded like a hawk to imitate Ozzy's voice "People should stop asking me why...Do I look like the Question Mark Guy?" Joker rose a brow and opened his arms wide pointing the hands towards himself "The clever one..." the clown laughed again, but this time angrily because that man thought to be more clever than the Prince of Crime himself and other people started thinking that too because intelligence was the only characteristic trait of Eddie, but the Joker believed that he was smarter than him and the others crazy fellows out there. The smartest and the most famous, of course.



Joker frowned tilting his head counting how much time they still had before the gas passed the umbrella "How many bullets does he have in that James Bond's brolly?" he thought looking at it, again some bullets passed near him. Joker didn't turn when he heard a scream of pain behind him, maybe it was one of his henchmen or maybe a guest, but the clown didn't care. Joker had to admit that Oswald knew how to defend himself even in a situation like this, even when the place was filled with Joker's henchmen by now and some of them were surrounding him and his lady.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Oswald had forgotten that Lola was unaware of the many uses of his umbrella. There had been several old versions in Oswald's secret museum but Lola hadn't questioned them and he had not been inclined to explain anything that she didn't ask about. It mattered little, the rage had taken over. The Joker had dared to make a move against him and must pay!

He didn't care if he shot one of the fellow customers. There was the possibility someone of importance would be dining in the restaurant tonight but no one was so important that they were worth risking his life for, they weren't even worth missing an opportunity to shoot the Joker for and they didn't enter Oswald's mind. He would calculate the consequences later, when there was the time to calm down and think of it. He did like an excuse to try and kill the clown but he didn't appreciate the events he was having to go through to get that chance.

He could see Joker's goons starting to gather all around, it was easy to pick out the odd shape in the smoke that wasn't falling to the ground unconscious. He shot a few but it would do nothing to stop the approaching gas. He needed a way out before it was too late. He had ideas, his mind was racing through several and calculating the best options, though what he really wanted to do was shoot everyone and walk out. That wasn't about to happen but at the very least he could take out a few before blowing through the wall or something.

Then something unexpected happened. Terry arrived. The limo crashed through the front of the restaurant with complete disregard to the building's structural integrity or who might get hit in the process, he didn't even consider that his boss might be in the way. Luckily for Oswald he wasn't run over. Terry was not however the smartest cookie. Grabbing a machine gun from the passenger seat the big goon stepped from the car and opened fire wildly into the room for about two seconds...before he stumbled and fell unconscious from the gas he had failed to even take note of beside the still running, and slightly smoking from the impact, limo.

Oswald had no words. There was nothing that could express just how angry he was at the idiocy of his own staff. Strained notes of rage and disbelief was all he could manage before he started to shake with anger. He was too mad to even yell about it, if they were all alive at the end of the day he might kill the goon himself.

Shooting one of Joker's men more times than was strictly necessary was barely enough stress relief to regain his voice before he grabbed for Lola's arm, going to pull on it harshly to make her move "Get to the car and go" he snarled but made no attempt to get to the limo himself. She had the device to get through the smoke, she just had to avoid being grabbed by the Joker's men. How hard could that be? He's already had one disappointment today, surely he could rely on her to be clever...and maybe distracting so he could get something done.

[Lola Marks]

This guy was clearly insane. Lola didn’t know what to do, she’d never been in a situation like this. The only thing she could think of was staying near Oswald and leaving this place as soon as she could. She could ask questions about what was happening later. She let out a scream as the umbrella shot off and startled her. She didn’t care about the other customers, just her and Oswald getting out safely. The other people weren’t what the mad man in the center seemed to be focused on. Why he would be after Oswald was beyond her.

She knew from the things he had shown her that he kept interesting company and even stranger friends, but who was she to judge in her position. The fact was that she couldn’t and didn’t desire to. As long as he made her feel important, she was important and that’s what really mattered.

A loud crash made her scream again into her mouth piece. Someone had just driven into the building! Has the entire world gone mad outside too? Maybe there was more going on that she couldn’t see but then someone stepped out and bullets flew everywhere. She covered her ears and huddled on the floor, her head was almost touching it. She just wished she could sink into the floor and melt away from this mad house!

Lola was ripped back and she almost fell over in her heels. It was hard enough to stand in these heels let alone crouch in them behind a table. Oswald yelled and her and as soon as he shoved her forward she stumbled out and away from him. She kept her breathing steady through the machine hoping it wouldn’t fail on her. There were bullets flying everywhere and people screaming and dropping all around her. It seemed like there would never be a dull moment in this new city she lived in, especially with Oswald.

She ran away from the mad man that spoke to Oswald like he knew him. Avoiding him as best as possible she went straight for the door, trying not to trip over anyone she came across.

[The Joker]

Joker was observing everything from the bird cage and he seemed very calm while everything was into caos, he just stood there, hands behind his back in a very elegant standing position.  Suddenly, a car just crushed into the building. The clown rose his eyebrows with a wide smile, he liked that, it was something that he would do. Crushing a party. Hahhaha. The clown was curious to see the henchman who did that, but Joker's smile disappeared when the henchman fell unconcious. Oh, well, it couldn't be perfect.

The woman started running towards the car and Joker's tought to just shoot at the car's engine, but then the woman wouldn't end up well, the clown didn't want to killer her for now. However, some of his henchmen saw the woman too so they went after her "You'd better catch her or I'll catch you" the Joker thought, but then few of his henchmen got shot so Joker looked at the Penguin. The gas couldn't stay away forever, it was going to fill the room sooner or later "Mh, it's taking its time though" the clown thought rising a brow.

Joker sighed and stretched his arm with his gloved hand open, a henchman saw the gesture and remembered what it meant so it took one of his guns and gave it to his Boss, the Joker grabbed it and started shooting at Ozzy walking towards him "Guys! Shoot at the car! I want some fireworks! And take Lady Penguin! Ozzy is mine..." the henchmen followed the orders ready to shoot at the car's engine to make the limo explode and the clown kept walking towards the Penguin. Some of the henchmen threw some ammo at Joker's feet and he kicked one up grabbing it, ready to use it when needed.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Lola was practically on her own now but Oswald did try to provide cover for her, taking out one goon that was heading for her before his attention was demanded by another who'd managed to slip around beside him. His umbrella was mostly bullet proof, though a few tares had appeared as they got within closer range to shoot, it was still a better shield than the table which was now more splinters than furniture. Apparently at least one of the clown's men had considered it would be better to get around beside Oswald, close and personal. Something made Ozzy look to the side just in time to see the figure with a gun looming out of the smoke and he threw himself back against the wall to try and avoid the shot.

A small hiss of pain was all he would allow for what he hoped was just a shoulder flesh wound before he sprung forwards, his umbrella closing at the push of a button so he could swing it at the goon's shins as a blade shot out from the end. As the thug's legs collapsed in pain Oswald expertly twisted the gun from his hand and shot him in the head with it. He was just in time to hear Joker's latest order and snarl at the irritating feeling of panic it created.

Having to shut his umbrella to deal with the goon had allowed the smoke to advance, he had nowhere to back up to with the wall behind him and he could not move in to the smoke. He already felt tired and it was an effort to think. Joker wanted to take Lola, it could not be allowed. He couldn't stop it. Always the failure, why had he ever thought he could get the girl? The world didn't work that way for men like him.

He wanted to give up and sleep but something resisted and he snarled at the Joker through the thickening mist. If he can't have her no one can. It was time to stop caring about anyone in that room, the Joker wanted fireworks.

As the limo exploded Oswald reached back and hit the wall hard, hard enough to jam one of his cuff-links in to it and leave it there. He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out his lighter, took the time to in one fluid motion also remove a cigarette from another pocket and light it, before twisting the bottom off the lighter and dropping out six little marble sized balls into his hand. They started to sizzle when they touched his gloves and he quickly threw them in to the room, letting them roll away as he ducked and shield himself below his umbrella.

The cuff-link on the wall exploded first. A sizeable hole opened up into the kitchen and the second the little balls exploded too Oswald dove through while the dust threw everywhere and the smoke swirled in protest. He went no further but slumped against the wall on the other side of the hole, hiding just out of sight and clinging on to consciousness as best he could. He expected Joker to think he'd gone through to escape and he wanted to be waiting there when the clown went to look so he could stab him with his umbrella the moment he showed his freakishly white face through that hole.

There was every chance his explosions would kill more people than the Joker had but as Lola had been on his side of the room and the balls had rolled away there was a good chance that, assuming the limo explosion didn't catch her, she might also miss the other explosions. Some cloudy bit of his mind clung to that but it wasn't going to matter if the Joker killed him now anyway.

[Lola Marks]

Lola rushed toward the car hoping she could get to someone that could help her inside of it or get through the now exposed crack in the wall. She heard the bullets split and burst to her right and some went over her head making her scream. She knew Ozzy must have been keeping them busy and she was thankful for it.

Just before she could get to the gaping hole in the wall she was intercepted by a crazy man in a mask. She screamed through the mouth piece but it didn’t seem to detour him from touching her. She beat him with her bag, as small and petite as it was. It didn’t do any damage to him and in fact seemed to make him more annoyed than anything. The goon grabbed her around the waste and flipped her over his shoulder.

She screamed out Oswalds name from the gas mask in her mouth but over all of the chaos it was just muffled. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She kicked and screamed as much as she could as the goon drug her off and away from the scene. Ozzy just had to help her, he had to. Someone had to! She’d only been in Gotham a short time and she’d been going steady with Oswald an even shorter time. She hadn’t even moved out of the hotel she was held up in until her money troubles were over.

Right now money seemed to be the least of her problems. Her mind raced as she went through a hallway and the goon drug her off to wherever the other goons were grouping up. This crazy man was going to kidnap her, torture her? Maybe kill her! She lip her lip and refused to cry no matter how scared she was. If she was going to die it was going to be with dignity and a pretty face.

[The Joker]

Joker shot his own henchman "Which part of Ozzy is mine didn't ya get?" his henchmen just had to get the pretty woman. The shot henchman was running towards the hole, ready to get Ozzy, thinking that he could surely impress his Boss that way, but the clown was unpredictable after all and crazy...let's not forget that little detail. Apparently the dead henchman forgot it for just a moment or maybe killing was how Joker reacted when impressed. It could be. With him it could be anything that was why it wasn't so strange for him when he suddenly stopped walking in the middle of the smoky room. Too much smoke, he lost visual on the Penguin.

The clown took out from the inner suit jacket pocket a pair of weird glasses, the lents design was a red and white spiral that kept moving as if the glasses were trying to hypnotize whoever was looking at them. There was also some strange contour around the glasses, it was clear that the Joker had made those. He wore the glasses and the world around him changed: he could see behind walls and the smoke was not a problem for his vision anymore. Now that he could see better, Joker noticed the little marble balls on the floor too close to him.  So, the clown moved away behind a pillar just in time. There was an explosion then screams and death came upon some of the people in the room, Joker laughed, amused. 

Joker moved away from the pillar looking at the room "Hide and seek, eh?" the Joker laughed finding the Penguin behind a wall "Even your bones are fat..." the clown laughed again and started moving towards the hole in the wall, but first... "You know, I have toys too!" Joker put a hand into his pants' pocket and took out four colourful marbles that were between his fingers now then he threw them in the hole. He waited for the explosion, looking at the Penguin's silhouette behind the wall. 

The henchman who had got Lola got shot by Oswald and so he let go of Lola, the henchman pushed his hand against his stomach where he got shot but died after few seconds anyway. However, Lola didn't remain alone for long because other henchmen ran towards her. They had orders to put her into a van outside the restaurant and drive off.