Karma pushes the tasteless food around her tray moodily. Her appetite had all but vanished in the past few days. She sculpts the questionable looking mush that is supposed to be potatoes into a likeness of Dr. Strange's face before stabbing it angrily with a fork.
She looks up from the mess to see Dr. Quinzel sit down across from her, which is odd because doctors never eat in the cafeteria.
"Hello, Karma. How have you been?" the older woman asks, not sounding very interested.
"Well the showers are disgusting, this food is clearly in violation of multiple health codes, oh and I'm here illegally. But ya know, just peachy."
The Doctor's face becomes flustered, but she manages to change the subject while keeping her tone level. "If you think I enjoy indulging a juvenile adolescent, you are wrong. I have more important things to do, such as cure severely, mentally ill patients like the man you talked to last week. Which, is why I'm here."
"And what exactly does the Joker have to do with me?" Karma asks irritably.
"We call him J here. It's not healthy to indulge his mind with connections to his criminal persona and he is relevant to you because you were able to initiate a conversation with him."
Karma shakes her head. "I didn't do anything, he came up to me."
"He approached you?" The doctor sputters in disbelief, as if Karma isn't even worthy of the psychopath's attention.
Karma fights to keep the growl from her voice. "Yes, he came up to me, but I fail to see how that's important. He was obviously just trying to intimidate me. Twisted fuck probably gets off on that shit."
Doctor Quinzel ignores the rebuff and continues as if she'd never heard Karma speak. "J is an unusual case, he suffers from multiple disorders, but I am unable to properly diagnose him because he is practically sedated all the time. However, I am not allowed to reduce J's medications until he shows progress and you are the first patient he's interacted with peacefully. Of course, that could simply be because you are a young female." There is definitely a jealous tone in the Doctor's voice.
Karma regards the other woman wearily, if this bitch could have any sort of attraction towards the Joker then she has to be a little crazy herself. But seeing as she worked in Arkham everyday and Karma felt a pull on the edges of her own sanity, it was understandable that Quinzel had become a little strange. The Joker had even said this place does things to people. Crazy is as crazy does.
"But whatever the reason, I want you to have some one on one time with him as an experiment."
Karma's mouth practically drops at the suggestion. "Sorry to disappoint Doctor, but I'd rather be in solitary confinement than around J." Is she the only one between them who hasn't forgotten the man is a homicidal maniac?
"Well," the older woman purrs. "I'm not really asking. See, if you don't do this for me, I'll have to report your disobedience to Dr. Strange, and I know you two already have a strained relationship."
The blonde snarls in frustration. She could see Strange enjoying a chance to further ruin her life, especially considering the fact she'd assaulted him.
"Fine," Karma snaps
20 minutes later, Karma is sitting across from the Joker in a tiny room with no cameras or supervision aside from Doctor Quinzel watching them through the door's glass window.
The man looked in far worse shape than when Karma had first seen him. His eyes have a slight glazed over look from the meds and his curly hair is grungy like he hasn't showered in days.
"So Karmaa," he tests the name out on his tongue, deciding he liked the flavor it leaves. "Just couldn't stay away couldya?"
Karma nearly snorts in an unimpressed manner, she was still angry at him for the other day.
Joker tilts his head to the side, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek in satisfaction. Defiance always sent a euphoric chill through him because it usually lead to the pleasurable feeling that came from killing someone veryyy slowly. This hot tempered girl was going to be especially fun to toy with, he loved when his little pawns had a fire to fuel.
"I uh dig the name toots. Gonna give me a little dance? Put a smile on my face." He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
"A stripper joke? Haven't heard one of those before. I'd think a clown like you could be a little more original, but then again you're not nearly as funny as you think. Crazy. But, not funny." Karma immediately regrets the words as soon as they come out of her mouth.
The Joker's smile instantly falls off his face, replaced by a blood chilling glare.
"You know, Karma," he growls angrily. "You've got a fresh mouth on ya that I'd jusstt lovee to carve up."
Then just as soon as it came, his anger is gone as he drums his fingers in a bored manner, leaving Karma to wonder if being bi-polar is a side effect of all the drugs or just another part of his deranged personality.
"I uh happen to know where they keep my knives so I wouldn't test my patience doll." Even when threatening people, the Joker could speak as calmly as if he were discussing the weather.
A chill goes up Karma's spine and she decides to be civil just in case he did have access to weapons.
"Look Joke-" She stops herself from finishing that thought remembering Quinzel's words. "I mean J."
Immediately, anger swells inside Joker. This girl actually knew who he was and still had the balls to insult him? He'd assumed she just didn't recognize him without the makeup or that she was ignorant to his criminal persona all together, but this was an insult to his pride.
He slowly reaches for the sharpened file concealed in the back of his straight jacket, his subtle movement goes unnoticed by the girl. So, people thought his time in Arkham had made him soft, docile even? A wild beast turned house cat, was that it? Well, apparently everyone needed a reminder just how unpredictable and dangerous he was, starting with this girl. Her mutilated corpse would show everyone this tiger still indeed had claws.
"Look, Quinzel said if you want to be off the medications then we're going to have to do this thing regularly."
The Joker processes Karma's words and slowly releases his grip on the file. If this girl was his meal ticket to mental clarity then killing her now would only complicate things. Besides, he'd be able to devise better ways to make her scream when he was back to his usual self.
"Well, well looks like good old Strange has you on his uh naughty list." The Joker cackles at his bad joke much to Karma's annoyance. "So you want out, is that it? Not enjoying the lovely scenery and peace of mind Arkham has to offer?"
Karma scoffs, "and you are?"
The Joker leans back in his chair lazily. "I'm just along for the ride toots. I do enjoy Ms. Harleen's attention, she thinks I'm juuust fascinating."
"I hadn't noticed," the blonde says dryly.
"Well, aren't I a lucky fellah? She's rooting for me too, she doesn't completely know it yet, but uh she will. She wants me to succeed." The last part comes out a triumphant growl.
Karma's eyebrows knit in confusion. "Succeed at what?"
The Joker's delighted smile widens. "Having my encore. See, if you keep this little uh act up while my Harleen works her magic, I can get us both out of here."
Karma's eyes narrow in suspicion. If there was one beneficial thing Richard Westing had done, it was teach her that nothing in this world comes without a cost.
"Us both, what's the catch?"
The Joker can't stop himself from smirking. This was all so easy.
"From here on out-ah. You do ex-ac-tly as I say. Think of it as a henchman position, minus the pay. Boy, I could get used to that," he cackles to himself. "When I don't need your help anymore, I'll uh let you know. Until then, you work for me."
Karma doesn't trust him, but she's backed into a corner. On one hand she could stay and be complacent until Arkham drove her completely insane. Or, she could side with a criminal mastermind and risk being caught or worst case scenario, end up dead. But Karma knew she'd rather die trying to escape than be at Dr. Strange's mercy.
Against her better judgment she agrees. "Deal," she says irritably. She knew she'd have to keep her wits about her with him, there was no telling what he'd actually do when freedom was in his sights.
"Why soo serious?" He asks mockingly. "I'm not a uh bad guy, I'm just unique-ah."
The door interrupts his maniacal laughter, revealing a relieved looking Dr. Quinzel.
"Hiya Harley," the Joker gives her what would have been a charming smile before his face was cut. But Karma can see the other woman is pleased with the attention.
"I take it everything went well?" she asks perkily. So, the indifferent bitch act was just for Karma.
"Smoooth sailin' Doc. I'd love to spend more time with my Karma."
Though Quinzel is put off by the term of endearment, she manages a smile. This was after all, the progress she'd been hoping for, even if she had to share him. For now.
"Well that's great. Maybe next time you won't mind if I record the session? Just to show Dr. Strange your progress, of course." And find out why you're so interested in this girl, the Doctor thinks darkly.
The Joker's eyebrows knit slightly, which Karma can tell is a suppressed frown. Yet, he gives the doctor a lazy shrug. "Why not?"
Karma wonders how he'd be able to communicate his plans to her now that Quinzel would be monitoring their conversations. However, that question is answered later that evening when Karma is resting in her cell.
She hears the sound of the security gates opening, but it's too early for the change to the night shift guard. The blonde sits up in curiosity, peaking out of the bars to catch a glimpse of Lyle escorting a new patient down the hall. The man has pasty white skin, long dark hair, and wide eyes that become wild with fear when the other celled patients begin jeering and howling at his arrival.
The newcomer's back slams against Karma's cell as Lyle tries to restrain his thrashing limbs. Steve comes running down the hallway, tackling the crazed man to the floor. A crumbled up piece of paper lands in Karma's cell, unnoticed by the two guards. The pale man gives her a meaningful look before he is pressed face down as Steve and Lyle force him into restraints.
Karma snatches up the paper and retreats to her cot, hidden from view behind a solid wall. The page is from the Gotham times and is covered in hurried jagged scribbling that reads:
Helllooo Karma. Your first job is to cozy on up to our dear friend Lyle so you can grab his spare cell keys. Now I'm not sayin' you have to jump the guy's bones, but do what ya gotta do to "start some sparks".
Shock from the Joker's ability to deliver her a message with outside help is overcome with disgust and self-loathing for what Karma has to do. The blonde runs a few fingers through her hair giving it the intentionally wild look before strutting back to the cell bars. She watches Steve haul the pale man to his feet while Lyle catches his breath.
Karma bats her eyelashes in an impressed manner. "Wow," she says, her voice low and seductive. "I didn't realize how strong you are. Taking that psycho down sooo easily, you could definitely be a cop."
It was no secret that security guards were often police academy dropouts and men like Lyle just loved having their egos stroked.
In response, the guard visibly huffs in pride, doing his best to suck in his gut as he leans suggestively against the wall beside Karma's cell.
"Yeah I guess, but I like helping people so I think this job better suits me, you know?"
Such noble words for someone who physically abused patients. It wasn't spoken about out loud, but everyone, including the staff knew Lyle took pleasure in hurting his least favorite wards.
"Well, I am definitely glad I can rest easy knowing I'm in such capable hands." She lets the double meaning sink in.
A lecherous grin finally spreads across Lyle's features as he leans in close. "When I have the chance I can show you just how capable I am." The feeling of his hot breath in her face makes Karma shudder in disgust, but he mistakes her reaction for longing.
"I look forward to it,"she lies, trying to sound as sincere and turned on as she can manage while looking at his chubby, all too eager face.
Much to her relief, Steve comes around the corner, interrupting their conversation. Lyle gives her a sly wink then turns away, leaving Karma to sink to the floor of her cell in utter shame.
In solitary confinement the Joker sits; listening, waiting. Finally he hears what he's been waiting for, the sound of a shrill deranged laugh signalling his guy had succeeded in playing his part. The Joker's shoulders shake in barely contained mirth, Arkham was about to know the true meaning of insanity. The sound of his own sadistic glee mingles with the other man's laughter in the night.