The maintenance of psychopaths and their house pets

[ha_in_havoc]

For a dangerous killer, the Joker has taken very good care of his captives. There's been occasional shouting, he's stormed out, meals have been delayed or missed after disagreements or fights... but never more than one. Aside from those instances, both of his house guests are fed three times daily. Mostly fast food, microwaveable fare, pizza, or

Comments

[ha_in_havoc]

"Probably." His smirk says 'definitely'. His staff are his to do with as he pleases. If the Joker wants to order them to fight him and watch them struggle with whether or not to let him win, well..that's his own business.
He tenses a little at the touching, but he's gotten better about it...if only marginally. There are spots that still get a sharp breath in response, but for the most part his ribs have reached a point that is 'tolerable' for him.

The clown scowls at Luke a moment, as if the man's prying and he hadn't brought it up himself. This 'talking to someone else about his problems' business is still not something he's really good about or comfortable with. It can be useful, though.
"I've treated her well. Like I do with you, Doc...but with..ah..more gifts. Before, well, we had our...disagreements. She seems to be all worked up about me deciding to...split up...while breaking from Arkham."
He shrugs. Pfft. Women. Holding grudges about being left for dead or actively threatened.
"Before she was loyal. She'd do anything. ... Clearly a very damaged young woman. Tsk."

[notatvcharacter]

"Define disagreements." Or don't. Luke's read the files. "Even the best dog, you kick it enough times, it's gonna run off."

Poke. Prod. Watching Mr. Doe's face as he does. Knowing that his typical reactions to pain are extremely atypical, but he's gotten enough of a fell for his baseline by now, and it's been enough time... "Mmm. I think you're alright to take these off." He'll get right to that, in fact, fetching the small pair of bandage scissors his captor kindly let him have from his mismatched collection of medical supplies.

"Any other problems? Anything strange or unusual?"

[ha_in_havoc]

"She thinks Isley is likable and should be allowed to live. I disagree. ... The two of them were already..ah..against me when I used Harley as a hostage. She was available."
He shrugs. Was he expected to be 'sweet'? The girl is more delusional than he knows if she was expecting that.

The clown makes no effort at all to give helpful responses to pain in check ups. He'll answer --to the best of his ability-- whether or not something hurts, when asked, but even that's not entirely useful. For now, though, he's thrilled to have the bandages off and wouldn't dare say anything to stop that. He imagines he's 'healed enough'.

"My left side. I'm still not responsive enough." Yes, he does expect to be back at 100% already after being shot. It's fortunate for Luke that he hasn't taken up blaming the doctor for this...not completely. Not yet. "And...sensation is too dull in my left hand. It hurts my accuracy..." At what? He isn't saying. A lot of things.

[notatvcharacter]

"Rome wasn't built in a day. You got shot in the head. It's a miracle you're still breathing, must less walking around and able to complain that your reflexes aren't up to par." He may be pushing, here, or about to. But it needs to be said. "You may never be back to one hundred percent. And I'll cry you a river if you don't like it, but that's the way it is. You damage the body, it doesn't always bounce back."

And as for Quinzel and Isley... "The girl's got a severe case of dependent personality disorder. She wants someone to pay attention to her, to rely on, to tell her what to do. You didn't give her what she needed, she found another target. Threatening Isley's just going to upset her more."

[ha_in_havoc]

The words may well be true, but it isn't pleasant and it's the furthest thing from being what the clown wants to hear. He will get back up to peak condition. He has to. Otherwise, the game might be over. The Bat won't want to play with him if he can't keep up. If he can't pose an adequate challenge in all areas.
"I didn't do this." And that's the part that bothers him. He hadn't really expected this injury, so he can't accept it as well. "I'll get better. Like you said, doc. I..ah..shouldn't even be mobile."
It's a lot of confidence from a man who doesn't believe in things like hope and faith. Right now, though, he's yet to come up with a working alternative to getting himself back together.

The Joker frowns. He is, in all likelihood, incapable of giving Harley what she needs. His attention and care for any one thing are fleeting, even when sincere.
"I'm giving her attention now." He went to the effort to kidnap her, didn't he?

[notatvcharacter]

All Luke has to contribute in reply to that is a sigh. As much as he wants to, he's not going to argue, for his own sake. God help them all, if Johnny turns out to be right.

"You are. You're also threatening to rub out the girl she's sweet on on. One's gonna cancel out the other. I can tell you wanna figure this out, or you would've taken care of her already. You want to hear my suggestion?"

[ha_in_havoc]

It's best to just let it go and keep his own hopes in the matter to himself. Pushing it any more is likely to result in a very unpleasant moodswing and subsequent outburst.

"...Sure...What do you think I should do, Doc?" He laughs under his breath. Less than confident that Luke will help much. He scratches idly at his chest, enjoying being able to after a long time under bandages.
The Joker picks up his shirt.
"First..ah...are we done here?"

[notatvcharacter]

"For now. You take another tumble down those stairs, and you might have to get wrapped up again." He puts the medical equipment away, and shoves the bandages into the old grocery bag he's using as a trash can.

"My advice..." God forgive him for this. But alive, and regressed, is better than dead and making progress. It's potentially reversible. And if he keeps threatening Ivy, and Harley reacts predictably... "You don't look like you're going after Isley. In any sense. Don't threaten her, don't insult her. If you want to get her back from the doc, you've got to make her think that you're the better option."

[ha_in_havoc]

He sighs, but nods. Maybe he'll just tell the 'stairs' not to work over his ribs so much or he'll snap their neck.

"Isley started it." Even he is thoroughly aware at how childish that sounds. He huffs and narrows his eyes at Luke as he pulls his suspenders back up onto his shoulders. "I've given her gifts." He knows how to make regular crazies believe they need him, but making a girl like him? Is it really worth the trouble? "I won't threaten the redhead. Not in front of Harley. If she's still skittish, though...." Well, she'll have to go, one way or another.

[notatvcharacter]

"Well, if you think you can't pull it off, that's your business." He doesn't shrug, sure the false casualness would fail if pushed that far. The implication, the challenge, is still there. God willing, he'll take the bait.

[ha_in_havoc]

Oh, Dr. McCoy, you are sly. The Joker narrows his eyes in a way that suggests he knows the good doctor is up to something. Still, he doesn't want it doubted that he can win her back. He just doesn't want to put in the effort. He totally can, though.

"It is my business. Careful not to think otherwise, doc. Could go badly. As much as I enjoy our time together."
Maybe, just maybe, he likes having someone to talk to who treats him just like anybody else.

[notatvcharacter]

"Well, I certainly wouldn't want that." They've gotten to threats. Time to stop pushing, and just cross his fingers and hope that it worked. "Anything else you need me for?"

[ha_in_havoc]

"Of course not. Me either." He smiles for Luke. He does really enjoy their little talks. As much as they trouble him too. He stands up and stretches.
"Nothing for now. I'll..ah..let you know if I take another tumble, hmm?" All work and no play, as it goes...

[notatvcharacter]

All work and no play make Joker... wait, too late.

"You do that. You know where to find me." Hah.

[ha_in_havoc]

He does know where to find Luke. That's the nice part about this arrangement. No questions about it.

"Enjoy your day, doc."
As for the clown, he's got a lady to talk to.