[network] @jwatson; text; Morning 167 [open]

[jumpthegun]

Good morning, everyone. I told a number of people I would share the results of my conversation with the Admin, Eve, regarding her ability to correct 'mental imbalances' that might lead to violent impulses. I thought it best to provide what information I got from her with the whole group.

[This conversation is copied over for everyone.]

The upshot of that:

• Eve can 'fine tune' the nanites in our brains for a particular purpose. This will have no effect on MN poisoning symptoms except to make people not care about them.
  
• Use of the treatment requires patient consent. That's non-negotiable given the requirements for a declaration of mental incompetency under the NIMA system.
  
• While the fine tuning is considered an ethical treatment in extreme cases of violent psychopathy, it is considered unethical to try to treat MN Poisoning.
  
• We may be able to alleviate some of the worst instances of MN Poisoning with blood transfusions. I'm presently looking for the equipment I'd need to do that.
  
• Eve was born in Washington D.C. and used to work for the U.S. government.

As an additional note on medical supplies: I've informed the other doctors, but for those newly arrived and those seeking medical assistance, we are beginning to run low on certain medication types.

[Another conversation is copied over.]

The relative medical stocks stand as such:

• Low-grade Painkillers: Low
  
• Mid-grade Painkillers: Acceptable, restock requested
  
• High-grade Painkillers: Acceptable
  
• Specialized Medication: Acceptable
  
• Radiation Medication: Critically low

I've also been previously informed that the emergency medical response injections are out and will take 200 days to restock. That was at a point that would put us past the projected end of this session... or whatever we're calling out time here.

Comments

@gravedigger; voice

[harlequinofhate]

Oh, sure, let's let the Mother Machine fry our noodles, what could possibly go wrong?

[jumpthegun]

You know, I'm pretty sure my message said that's not possible, mate. But thanks for playing.

[harlequinofhate]

I'm crazy, sonny, not stupid. You wanna get folks to pressure me into agreeing with this.

It's not going to work.

[jumpthegun]

Actually, my plan is to wait for you to die, become sane again, and then ask you if you'd like to keep it that way. I'm patient like that.

[harlequinofhate]

I could come back worse.

[jumpthegun]

I'm not sure that's physically possible.

[harlequinofhate]

Oh, don't get me wrong, as far as criminal whackjobs go I'm the most dangerous of 'em all. But I'm also the Joker, a fact that seems to elude your simple little brain.

I kill people when it's funny. What if I lost my sense of humor? Then you'd just have a serial killer running around offing folks for no reason. Probably constantly. Would that be better?

[jumpthegun]

You realize anyone laughing is laughing at you, not with you? You're not funny, mate.

[It's very hard to force himself to back off the antagonism.]

Anyway, with Batman watching out for you, I don't imagine we'll know for a while, yet.

[harlequinofhate]

You people are philistines.

My art is evolved. You don't get it. But you will, you wicked little cretin. Just like him.

[jumpthegun]

I'm English, actually.

[And playing pedantic with more cultural and less metaphorical meanings.]

And there's nothing about you that's evolved. Well, except for the green hair. Don't reckon that'll be a mutation that sticks around in the gene pool, though.

[harlequinofhate]

Is it English manners, then, to want trap a fella in a state of perpetual misery because he just so happens to be a serial killer?

[jumpthegun]

Have you been to Humberside? We trap ourselves in perpetual misery for very little reason at all.

[harlequinofhate]

I don't much care for most of England, so I'll take your word for it, Doc.

My point is sanity woulda kakked me off before this snowy burg did.

cw: allusions to suicide

[jumpthegun]

[John knows what the other man is alluding to, and there's a part of him that knows how a place like this can chip away at you. Hadn't he and Bucky talked about this? He wants to feel- No. No. He refuses to feel any sort of empathy for this man, this murderous psychopath. And a remorseless one, at that.]

Sanity's not that bad, mate. It makes you think about what you're doing. And you seemed to get on all right before. I'm sure Batman would still be willing to look after you.

cw: allusions to suicide

[harlequinofhate]

It clouds your judgment.

Emotions, bah, what useless things.

[The crushing feeling of guilt is just a memory to him now and one feels dissociated from. He remembers it was unpleasant to the point that he barely was able to function. Every day was spent wandering outside in a daze.]

I don't know how being sane doesn't drive you nuts.

[jumpthegun]

You were sane before you were the Joker.

[Probably.]

And sanity clears your judgment. Emotion lets you consider how other people will be impacted, it makes you less of a selfish prick. Anyway, you have got emotions. They're just the emotions of a 3-year-old. You've got the subtlety and range of a kicking, screaming tantrum.

[harlequinofhate]

Says the fella picking fights with a known killer.

What is it with you doctors around here?

[jumpthegun]

[That actually pulls John up short. He's antagonizing again. He'd told himself to stop doing that, and here he is. Backing down now, especially after snapping at Natasha feels like losing something.]

You're the one who came into my post, Mr. Joker. I'm not afraid of you, and I don't like you. You're very aware of that, but you still chimed in.

[harlequinofhate]

I chimed in 'cause you were talking about Miss Eve correcting mental imbalances.

Don't pretend you weren't thinking about moi when you decided to share this information.

[jumpthegun]

Funny enough, I was thinking about everyone except you. Considering you're off the hook, you should be happy.

[harlequinofhate]

Don't lie to me, sweetheart, not to me.

How many of these local buffoons are you chit chatting with behind my back? Trying to convince folks to corner me into asking for a nanomachine lobotomy?

If a single one of you comes close to me I'll cut ya nose to navel then scatter the remains.

Savvy?

[jumpthegun]

None, actually. You really think Batman's going to let you off your leash to do anything, though? You were begging him for a collar. You're going to have to live with wearing it now, mate.

[harlequinofhate]

I can slip this collar as soon as it stops being funny.

[jumpthegun]

And when will that be?

[harlequinofhate]

Oh, who knows?

Not me!

Comedy's in the timing, though, Doc, I'll know the moment when I see it.