snowblindrpg | [log] seeing if you can catch the dead body in a movie breathing [closed]

THERE--!

[The shout probably comes out of nowhere, there's not been a whole lot of conversation over the last hour or so as time winds towards lockdown, but Al has suddenly seen a very distinctive shape running away.]

[Bruce goes from zero to Batman in about half a second. Even without the powered cowl, the visor, anything, and even with the distortion that is the static and breaking, Bruce would know that figure anywhere. Even here. Even like this.

Without waiting for Al, he makes a swift break for the fleeing figure. It could be an illusion--he knows this, but he wants to make sure. He wants to be positive.]

[He's immediately on Batman's heels, long legs eating up the distance, but the figure is gone by the time they get across to the other exit.]

Wait... wait, we can't go out there now.

[Even Joker is pushing it with his headstart.]

We'll never make it to shelter before lockdown.

[Before the exit, Bruce slams open every door nearby, searching quickly.] Joker! [When nothing turns up, he continues through the exit and out somewhat in the snow, hurriedly scouring the ground for footprints.

Even there, leading out, they won't last long, and Bruce knows it.] Dammit. [He knows, too, he's hindered by Al in making a chase. He thinks even if he is locked out, he could survive long enough to pursue the Joker, to find the Joker.

But not with Al, not having made promises to keep them safe.

Reluctantly, Bruce returns inside without speaking to Al for a while at first. He looks again for clues he might have missed before.] He was here. Even if it wasn't him, someone was here. They left footprints outside, but those will be gone by morning.

[He feels a sinking ache in his chest. Failed again, got away again. It makes him want to punch the wall or something equally as futile, but he won't because... because it's pointless, and because all it would do is hurt himself or damage the wall. Neither of which are good options. It doesn't chase the frustration out of his voice, though, when he sinks down against the wall.]

It was him, I'm sure of it.

[Damn. DAMN.]

We'll just have to leave the second the doors unlock and move fast, he can't be that far ahead of us if he stopped when lockdown hit.

[If he didn't, well, then pursuing his footsteps won't lead them anywhere useful anyway.]

We will. [From under the cowl, he's glaring at the direction of the door, assessing inwardly what all they will have to do in order to get from here to wherever the Joker is going.

He'll look again at House's map, just to make sure there's only a few places the Joker could go.] I'm going to check the rest of the building. A few people found a hidden room here. I'm going to investigate that as well.

I'll be back an hour or two before the doors open. Let me know if you find anything.

Let me know if you see the Joker again.

[He thinks about insisting they should stick together, but there's not much point. Batman has proven himself to be a pretty taciturn travelling partner, and he can't run off and leave Al alone while the doors are locked.]

Mm, just shout if you need me.

[He flashes Batman a thumbs up, trying to lighten the mood.]

I'll be here, and I'll be keeping watch, you can count on it.

A decently-sized pharmacy. It must have once also had a small section for food, but the shelves are empty now. Sometimes medicine can be found here. Four of the floorboards have been pulled up in a corner of the pharmacy, revealing metal beneath. The following is drawn on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 111 on the composite map. Medication sometimes available here. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a fairly accurate map showing the pharmacy in relation to the hospital and buildings 58, 125, and 126. The hospital is labeled "Hospital; hospital morgue is UNSAFE, DO NOT STAY THERE OVERNIGHT." Building 58 is labeled "Ice tunnel north entrance." Near 126 he draws an arrow pointed southeast, labeled "This way to downtown area."

[Al and Bruce agree reluctantly that the best place for the Joker to go is east, Downtown. Going south would lead the Joker back to them, and going north would lead the Joker to others, more than likely.

Bruce assures Al the Joker isn't looking to be found by the people who are angry over Fiona's death.

So, hopeful, the two of them venture east toward the post office, looking for signs of the Joker through the snow and the distortion. They don't have much to go, just the inkling they may find him this time.

And they do. The Joker quite literally slides right into their laps. The two of them tower there for a few moments, silent with displeasure.]

Shouldn't have gotten rid of the reindeer. [Then Bruce casually sucker punches the Joker out of the sled.]

[Al is slightly slower to react, just because of the absurdity of the Joker literally sledding into them. But all it takes is for Batman to be landing a punch before he's moving.

Huge metal hands slam down in an attempt to pin the Joker in place, on his back against the ice.]

Stay down!

[It wasn't hard to realize the Joker was coming.

His laughter had rebounded off the walls of the Ice Tunnels as he slid around stalagmites, clutching his feathered hat to his head.

When he sees Batman the giggling intensifies as the sled comes to a stop and abruptly ends when Batsy punches him to the side.

He barely notices Alphonse, even when the massive palm comes down on his chest. All of his attention is focused, intensely, on the man in the cowl.]

You came! I didn't have time to write you a letter so I left a corpse, I hope that the mess wasn't too bad.

[And he grins.]

[The usual anger and frustration that boils in Bruce regarding the Joker's "games" returns in full force, churning in the pit of his chest. Always, even here, even now with this Joker, even if it isn't the same one, all Bruce can think about wanting to do is destroy. The little darkness inside of him that wants to say getting rid of this permanently is okay.

Bruce steps up to them both and puts a firm palm on Al's hand to remove it, but doesn't hesitate in gathering the Joker up by the collar quickly after.

Even younger, he can lift the Joker up and off the ground, though for now he only hangs the Joker on tip-toes in front of him, close, fingers tight. His lips are pulled into a tight snarl.] Just because we're in a different time and place doesn't mean you're getting off the hook so easily.

You killed a woman who was important to a lot of people. If you wanted my attention so badly, Joker, you could have just come to me.

[He's not so easy to move out of the way, especially with how angry he is with the Joker, but he does eventually let Batman take their prisoner off him. He steps back, fumbling through his bag to produce some handcuffs.

He reaches down to try and snap one cuff on the Joker, before he hesitates and holds the other out to Batman.]

It won't fit around my wrist.

[Stupid big hands.

It's easier to offer this, to focus on something he can do rather than the horrific death he was once again helpless to stop.]

[Joker giggles as he hangs. The Bat's youthfulness is not lost on him.

Not his Batman....Or at least, not quite. He feels more like it's time, not space, that separates him from this man and he can live with that.

Well, maybe it's both... But what is important is that beautiful scowl and the barely contained fury beneath it. Nobody can fake that scowl. ]

You look good, Batsy, lose some weight?

[Without faltering, Bruce continues to level a stern, displeased gaze at the Joker, though his fingers do tighten just a bit in the clothes.

Then he lets Joker down, but doesn't slap his wrist into the handcuff when he takes it from Al. Instead, he dismantles the other quickly and easily from the Joker's wrist before locking the two of them snugly behind the joints of the elbows. He'd prefer the Joker's arms to be bound behind; however, this makes Joker less of a useless liability with mundane tasks, but keeps the Joker from being able to so freely have use of the arms.

Besides, Bruce wouldn't think to put the other handcuff on Al even if Al's wrist had been small enough.] I'm going to search you. If you resist, I'm going to hurt you, and then I'm going to search you.

Understood?

[He feels so out of place here. It's like there's nobody but the two of them involved and he's a spectator, but that makes sense with how much history they have. It's disconcerting, though, to see how much the Joker seems utterly obsessed with Batman. If that were him, he'd be pretty freaked out.]

I've got his pack.

[He's not going to tell Batman not to hit the Joker, he'll just start rummaging through the clown's backpack instead.]

I'm going to confiscate the weapons.

[The Joker doesn't move, he just giggles.]

Resist, why would I resist? I'm right where I want to be.

[His eyes roll back towards Alphonse.]

But I sense a lack of trust.

Be careful. [To Al, less concerned and more of a bit of command. Trusting a Joker pack is like trusting a great white when you're covered in blood.

His eyes never leave the Joker.] It isn't unreasonable. They don't know you like I know you. [Taking Joker by one bicep, Bruce starts patting him down. Honestly, he's not concerned about Joker having weapons necessarily. Not for himself. He's quite capable of taking down people with weapons. He's worried about the other people who don't have those skills.

The weapons easiest to find are removed and dropped on the ground out of the way so they can be gathered together.] I've heard you were "normal" after dying and being revived. Do you remember this?

[He carefully opens the pack and begins to root inside, taking out anything he finds that might be dangerous, but leaving behind food and clothing.]

Hey, I told you that!

[Rude, saying it like it's hearsay.]

And it's true, I was with him right up until after he changed back. He was guilty before, he-- you, you let me help you. Do you remember?

[Joker sneers.]

Nope, don't remember a thing other than you tackling me you big, dumb leviathan.

[But his eyes flash with anger and something else, something almost human. He remembers pain, frustration, and anxiety. He knows he felt guilty but cannot recall what guilt actually feels like, he only knows he didn't enjoy it.]

[If Bruce could sigh without giving anything away, he would. Instead, he just turns a pointed (if obscured) look at Alphonse. Don't... tell... all you know... Al.......]

Enough. [He'll just nip the argument in the bud right now before it gets out of hand. Joker's expression at least gives him a hint to the truth of the matter.] If the nanomachines are involved in restarting life sustaining protocols, then there's a chance of malfunctions.

The method of altering brain function Dr. Watson had suggested may be related to this glitch in the system.

[Al just stares right on back, unimpressed. He's not going to let Batman make him feel bad when they didn't discuss keeping this secret beforehand.]

There's always a price for trying to bring someone back from the dead.

[Trust him.]

I don't think it has anything to do with the nanomachines.

[Joker glances around at this conversation, green eyes widening. Watson suggested what?]

Brain alteration!? What the heck are you talking about!?

[He squirms and reaches up as much as he can with the cuffs around his arms to tug on Batman's ears.]

Is Watson gonna try to fry my noodle!? ANSWER ME!

[The mouth scowl returns in full force. Bruce seems strangely patient when he takes the Joker by the forearms and wrists and pulls the hands away from the spokes of his cowl. To be honest, the strength of the grip is not at all so forgiving.

And he doesn't let go.] Dr. Watson isn't going to do anything. He was making a suggestion, though it's a bad one. [Point made, Bruce releases the Joker's arms.]

Why do you believe it has nothing to do with the nanomachines?

[Whoa--! He's not expecting such a violent reaction, and it actually makes him a little concerned.]

Nobody is going to alter your mind, Joker, it was just people trying to help. The way you are now, it can't continue.

[Let's just ignore that second question, okay?]

I'LL KILL HIM!

[Joker hisses.]

If he thinks he can rewire the Joker he has another thing coming! HAH!

[He flexes his fingers but makes no attempt to pull himself from Batman's grip.]

[Batman will remember that.]

You aren't going to be "rewired." [He looks at Al, then back to the Joker.] Altering the brain, even a sick brain, isn't an ethical practice despite the regulations here saying otherwise.

You and I both know you aren't going to stop what you're doing, and that's why we're staying together. I'm not a fool. I know you're smart even when most of the others write you off as crazy.

I want you to help us get out of here.

[He turns his head towards Batman, but he doesn't say anything. Privately, though, he'll make sure to be wary of any suggestions put forth by the Joker. He's just as likely to send them all to their deaths than help them get free, if he finds it funny enough.]

I don't think there's a lot longer before lockdown, we should settle in.

[He's not awkward about there being a prisoner, he's guarded people before.]

One of us should always be awake, and by us, I mean Batman and I.

[Joker spreads his hands as much as he can.]

That sounds like a keen idea to me, Sport! Never know when some clown might try to shank you in the middle of the night, hmmm?

Doubtful. The nanomachines' effectiveness wears away over time. If you have any ailments, Joker, then you need to rest.

[He looks at Al.] How long has it been since you slept? I can take first watch.

I'm not scared of you, Joker, and definitely not of you stabbing me.

[He huffs, but turns his attention back to Bruce.]

You'll wake me up after three hours so I can take my turn?

Aw, how sweet of you to worry, Batsss...

[Joker coughs. It starts out as an act but a genuine cough takes over and he nearly collapses.]

But sleep ain't gonna fix this. Trust me, darling, I've tried.

[Surprisingly, Bruce reaches out with the palm of one hand to at least make sure the Joker doesn't go down. The man isn't lying. It's bad. Worse than Bruce had considered just by looking, by acting.

What's more worrying (and the cause of Bruce's scowl) is the fact it's going to likely kill the Joker. Then they'll have to start this entire mess all over again.]

I'll wake you up in three hours. [To Al.]

Mm.

[He will be so angry if Batman doesn't do as he says and less willing to trust him to take turns in the future, but for now he'll get the benefit of the doubt.

He clanks over to the corner, hoping no comments are made about potentially sleeping not in his armour - especially by Joker, who is likely in the know about his hollow state - and settles in to sleep.]

[ooc: feel free to continue without Al now!]

[log] seeing if you can catch the dead body in a movie breathing [closed]

D160 - 131, Hospital

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D161 - 130, Pharmacy

D164 - 141, Post Office - Evening/Night

bruce --> al --> joker

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