[Thread] Law and Order

[payitgladly]

Characters: OU Harvey Dent, OU John Preston
Where: empty lot northern end
When: noon, tomorrow day after this post
Summary: Harvey and Preston meet to discuss the options between their two exclusive groups--on how to deal with villains.
Warnings: None?

Comments

[dualfaced]

It was nearly noon by the time Harvey had glanced at a nearby clock, cursing under his breath as he grabbed his coat and dashed to the predetermined location. Alright, so maybe punctuality wasn't his strongest point, in his defense things had been... hectic seemed almost too tame to describe it. Between the recovery of the missing, the Joker- and whoever else was involved time wasn't too abundant. Funny how just a few days ago he had been frustrated over the lack of work. Fate, chance, she was really a fickle bitch.

He made it with decent time, slowing down near the lot so not to look like too much of a mess just rushing in. Stepping in Harvey swore for a moment he was in the MCU, even glanced for a one way window before he let his eyes fall on Preston, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Very homey." He commented, walking over and shrugging his coat off to place on the back of the unoccupied chair. "Good to see you again, how are things?" he asked as he sat down, even though the question seemed pointless. It wasn't like Preston had many great or terrible crisis considering his apparent lack of emotions. It was instinct though, a polite inquiry drilled into him from years of well... being human.

[payitgladly]

Preston nodded in acknowledgement and waited a precise amount of time before answering. "I would be pushing it to say 'well,'" the Cleric replied dryly. He waited for Harvey to seat himself before continuing. "As you well know, they are anything but."

The stiff, straight backed manner in which he sat did not change. However, there was a distinct aura to the air that shifted slightly as if the Cleric were leaning forward into a better--aggressive--position to speak to his guest. "Excuse me if I skip the pleasantries, Mr. Dent. But now is not the time. I will get straight to it: I have been 'ordered' to ask you about you and yours; the people of your world, and certain ways in which to deal with them. I am hoping you will cooperate for the sake of... justice."

[dualfaced]

"Very true." Harvey answered with a smile, tired but at least things were winding down somewhat. A small period to catch their breath, though Preston's invitation for this visit and the room itself was offputting. Just the way Preston was, it made him feel like he was being interrogated.

Preston's next words didn't help the feeling but Harvey listened, expression bordering on thoughtful as he nodded along. "Ordered?" He asked, eyebrows raising before he sighed and folded his hands on the table in front of him. "I'm more than willing to cooperate but there's something you have to undestand first. A lot of the people from my world enjoy and need a certain amount of secrecy, and my loyalties at the moment lie with them."

Harvey sat back, eyes still on Preston. "I can give you information but don't expect the full report. The important things, the things you need to know- fine, not a problem. But before I do tell you anything I'd like to know, who 'ordered' this?" he asked. He certainly wouldn't be throwing information and alliance's around without some names, a name if that's what it was.

[payitgladly]

"A small group of residents with an as of yet unnamed organization. We will be in cooperation with the Alliance for the most part, I assure you," the Cleric responded in what could almost pass for a soothing tone. "The Master Chief, myself, and a few others are amongst the group; most have military backgrounds, or equivalent thereof. We are interested in providing order to the compound and enforcing a simple set of paradigms. It is for the safety of those unable to protect themselves.

"Our current interest is with the Joker; hence bringing you into the equation. We would like information about this particular individual and cooperation from your world's residents in allowing us to properly 'handle' him."

[dualfaced]

"Sounds innocent enough." Harvey said, though any opinion he had on the matter would wait until he knew more about who was involved in this group. From the looks of it Preston was going along for the ride so to speak, whoever came up with this seemed to know what he was doing at the very least.

"I can give you information but I'll warn you it's in extensive. I'm from a time earlier than the Joker - by a few months I believe, so there are developments I'm not fully aware of. Also we have very little about him to begin with, he came out of nowhere it seems. I'll talk to more of the people from after my time and the different Gothams and get you a more complete report. Until then I can only offer what I have." Harvey explained.

"As for cooperation I'm willing to help. Some of the-" he paused, tone turning wry, "-the individuals from Gotham are a bit on the stubborn side. Just be careful when you're dealing with them directly, they have... curt ways." One at least did. He offered a half smile to Preston. "I'll taalk to them otherwise. There are certain moral codes that may differ from other worlds involved in your alliance, I'm sure you understand that."

[payitgladly]

Preston nodded. "Very well. Whatever you can provide is sufficient enough for now. At the moment I am more interested in creating an alliance between our two forces, and asking you to be our liaison." He paused only briefly. "However, personally I would be very interested to hear what you have to say. On my own I have tried to gather various information for use here; the Joker is a point of interest. I would appreciate anything you can tell me about his usual behavior and operational actions."

[dualfaced]

"I think that can be assumed." Harvey answered with a smile before settling on the question of the Joker. Hell, he'd need to make a file about the madman sooner or later with all the interest he was getting. Somehow he felt the clown would love that attention, or at least bask in it.

"Chaos." Harvey said after a moment, glancing beyond Preston in thought. "He... everything he does seems to not have any point. In Gotham it was one blow after another, barely enough time to think let alone get some grasp of what was happening. I don't know if he really does everything for no real reason at all or he makes it look that way." he looked back to Preston. "I suppose that means his pattern is not having a pattern to trace."

[payitgladly]

Preston considered this for a moment thoughtfully. Having no recognizable MO could give the criminal a huge advantage in the world. But most criminals did have one, even if it wasn't entirely obvious to the average person. Preston wondered if this Joker figure could truly have a mind capable of expressing true chaos, or if it was simply a fixation with something no human mind could truly possess. Humans were methodical creatures after all; that's what separated them from the other species.

He shook his head lightly. "He'll slip one day," he said half to himself, half to Dent. "What do you know of his first act of crime?"

[dualfaced]

"I certainly hope he does." Harvey answered with the same distance. "His first act-" he trailed off, considering. "Robbery, of mob banks at that. He did a lot of bizarre things before he hit the radars as well." he answered. "Strange internet campaigns, nonsensical things that only add to that whole anarchy factor we can't quite put a finger on. I've scoured the records at Arkham - our city's asylum - and none of the prisoners records match his actions."

[payitgladly]

"None?" Preston asked. This new vein of information intriguing him even more. "What sort of people does this asylum hold if you considered him a previous resident there?"

[dualfaced]

"A man who ran around in a burlap sack calling himself the 'Scarecrow.'" Harvey answered dryly, tone easily indicating his feelings towards the man and what he had done. "Gotham is... it's considered the least moral city in our world. The types we get- even the Joker isn't so surprising considering."

[payitgladly]

Preston stared at Harvey for a silent, contemplating moment. The lawyer's words most certainly did not inspire a lot of confidence to anyone hearing them. It begged the question: could anyone from such a city--world--be trusted?

But all man was this way; some you could trust unerringly, others you could count upon to never do what was right.

"My condolences," was all Preston could think to say in response to that. It was not heartfelt, nor was any attempt made to make it sound such. "Between the crazies and masked vigilantes, Harvey Dent, your world does not sound very stable. That said--why should I trust you?"

[dualfaced]

Harvey couldn't help but smile as Preston spoke, sitting back and watching the man with an almost resigned amusement. "Because John Preston, while others here lived their lives peacefully, with a bump here and there, the people from our city struggled and survived. We're a stubborn bunch you'll find, but we have been tested in ways others here will hopefully never know."

He placed his hands folded in front of him. "I don't expect your trust Preston, that comes with experience."

[payitgladly]

Preston considered Dent's words for a grand total of two seconds. "Indeed." The words might have been moving to any other living being who heard them, but of course Preston was a somewhat unique case. On the other hand, his intuitive senses told him Dent truly meant what he said and that was no little thing considering what was said.

The Cleric, therefor, decided to leave things there. "Very well. You're right; I will not trust you until experience proves it worth my time. No matter what you say. But I do hope that we can attempt to make this relation work. It could, I think, be a very strong influence upon things."

[dualfaced]

"Well, that's nothing if not fair." Harvey shrugged as he stood, holding his hand out to shake. "I hope I manage to earn that trust." he said, sincerely. There were one too many things he learned about his possible self that made his confidence falter.

[payitgladly]

Preston nodded once solemnly as he stood. He shook Dent's hand briefly, firmly, then stood back a bit in not-quite preparation to leave. "It will be hard-earned," he said, equally as truthful. "But possible."

If asked if he trusted those that he worked with--absolutely?--the answer would be "no." Was that wrong?