[network] @Spoiler; I know a killer joke [open] cw: Joker stuff?

[spoileralert]

[ Video ]

[ Steph is so angry she's shaking and it's obvious she's been crying, but she uses video anyway. Her personal pride is the least of her problems right now. In her hands is a notebook in which she has drawn a sketch of the Joker, done in ballpoint pen, illustrated with lime green lipstick and red acrylic paint. ]

This man, known as the Joker, is wandering Norfinbury under the name "Jack White", username "gravedigger". He is armed and incredibly dangerous, responsible for the deaths of thousands in Gotham city and elsewhere, as well as for billions of dollars in property damage and almost a decade of terrorism. He is a psycopath who tortures, maims and murders for fun.

Be aware that he is fully capable of fighting without weapons, and has improvised weaponry in the past.

Do not engage. Do not try to take him down on your own. If you see him, run. If you can't run, aim to kill. I cannot stress how serious I am about this. He will kill you. Any of you, at any time, for any reason.

Comments

[heroproceeding]

No kidding. I doubt he's happy about this. [ That grimace to his voice has far from faded. ]

But... good. If he's as dangerous as you say, they're gonna need all the help they can get. I'd be on my way, too, but I- [ He grunts to himself. ] I'll be on the look out though. Damn it, I just hope Al makes it outta there in one piece this time.

[ The antsy feeling alone has him pacing around on the other side of the line. ]

[spoileralert]

You and me both.

[heroproceeding]

You know the same goes for you, too. I know you know him from back home, but if he's as dangerous as you say, you better live by that advice.

[ He doubts he can stop her from confronting him, but if she could at least not do so alone.. Zack likes her well enough and she's a friend of Al's. That's more than enough reason for him to be concerned, right? ]

[spoileralert]

Don't worry, there's no way I'll underestimate the Joker. I've lived with his crap long enough.

[heroproceeding]

[ But all it takes is one slip. Zack shakes his head on the other end. ]

Buddy system. You hear me? You know Al'll be a wreck if anything happens to you.

[spoileralert]

That won't make much difference if Al ends up dead.

[heroproceeding]

You know what I mean.

[ Really trying not to think of that possibility right about now. Although the chances that that could happen if Joker's as bad as she says... ]

[spoileralert]

I don't plan on dying. But I don't plan on letting the Joker kill more people, either.

[heroproceeding]

I get that. I don't want him killing anyone else either. [ House didn't deserve that, no matter how much of an asshole he thinks he is. ] I'm just saying be smart about it. I'd be out there, myself, but I can't leave the others. [ Can't leave Jim as he is and he knows it. ] We're still waiting on Kain.

[ And Kunsel's still on his way. He can only hope he doesn't have a run-in with him before meeting up at that house... ]

[spoileralert]

I'm always smart when it comes to surviving. [ There's a touch of bitterness to this. She's made some choices that she maybe wishes she had been braver about. ]

I'll be okay, I promise.

[heroproceeding]

[ Bitterness comes with this kind of lifestyle. The bitterness of knowing that sometimes no matter what you choose, well.

Things don't always work out the way you'd hope.

Still. The way she talks... After what's happened to Al... ]

You need backup, you call me. [ So, perhaps in the end, he still can't let this go. Perhaps in the end, if he actually knew where Joker was... ]

[spoileralert]

I will.

[ Not that it'll do much good, in this landscape.

God, she really hates this place. ]