We're not stoppin! Listening to Joker's Song by Miracle of Sound. Simply brilliant!
Harleen couldn't stop smiling! While she did receive a confused look or two from other staff members about her ear-to-ear grin, she could care less. She was the doctor to the most infamous patient in this asylum, and he trusted her! Heading back to her office for a few things resulted in her feet and ankles getting damp from the dewy grass across the grounds. The sky surrounding Arkham Island had its usual depressing gray clouds swirling with lighter shades. Very fitting for Gotham City, hopefulness overwhelmed with darker reality. Darker reality or not, she felt better than earlier. Carol's words, Boles' helpful understanding and seeing Joker in a good mood made her feel lighter inside. As long as her patient was happy, she was happy. Like any good doctor should be, right? Her head had never held higher.
The winds kicked up sending her loose hair around the crown of her head in every direction. Combing her fingers through her hair was useless as her attempts to tame the golden fly aways were sent airborne regardless. Getting inside the Mansion allowed her to pat down her frizzy hair and smooth her white coat. Not wanting to look disheveled, she made her way to her office with quickened steps. What was once just a short stop to her office now turned into an urge to check her hair and makeup before her session with Joker.
After all, she thought, he always likes to look his best, he'd notice my efforts.
She wanted to look as confident as she felt. Like no one could dampen her mood. She started to turn her doorknob when a voice came from a few paces down the hall.
"Dr. Quinzel?"
Almost no one. She desperately wanted to jump into her office and avoid the voice of Dr. Leland, but she knew she couldn't.
"Hello Dr. Leland, what can I do for you? I have a session to prepare for, if this could wait." She didn't quite smile at Joan, but it'd have to do. Dr. Leland caught up to her looking less than happy.
"I had just received a notice that you want all of Joker's prescriptions to go through your approval?" Nope, Joan did not look happy about this.
"Yes, I would. I was disappointed that I wasn't informed about the medications my patient is taking. It would have given me a bit more insight and responsibility to his care." Harleen tried to keep her face as indifferent and calm as possible.
Joan nodded and said, "Of course. I'm glad you want to make informed decisions about your patients. However, since you are still an intern, you are not authorized to change prescriptions for your patients. I can give you a list of Joker's medications with a full description about how they will help you. I'm sure you understand, dear." Dr. Leland folded both hands in front of her lab coat with a 'discussion closed' expression.
Oh, Harleen understood alright. She was jealous! That had to be it. Joker was trusted into her care and she's making progress with him. Harleen wanted to grab Dr. Leland's librarian-looking hair bun and yank her down with it.
"Absolutely. I just want to show that I am competent and care about my patient's needs." Harleen responded while she boiled inside. Joan simply nodded and with a "Very well and good luck," leaving Harleen stewing in her own wrathful aura.
She threw open her office door and slammed it shut behind her. She tore off her lab coat, balled it up and screamed, the fabric muffling her shriek. "Aaaargh!" sounding more like "rrrrmmph."
She threw it hard at the wall, not doing any damage she felt the need to inflict. Pulling out her desk drawer she grabbed a small hand mirror and look at her reflection. The red in her face was fading as she breathed deeply and her hair was still frizzy in places. Her mouth turned down upon further inspection. She had a similar hair bun to Dr. Leland. Her hand pulled at the elastic band, spilling her hair everywhere. A curtain of hair now in front of her face moved out when she sighed heavily. She didn't know what to do with it.
After half an hour of playing with her hair left her arms sore, she ended up braiding her hair off to the side. She tucked the same recorder from their first session in her coat pocket along with her notepad. She re-applied black eyeliner, rubbed berry-tinted lip balm on her lips and set out for the penitentiary once more.
She was lost in thought again as she went over the recent encounters with her patient. She was beginning to feel more comfortable with him and less with others around her. He had a depth to him she wanted to explore. I you saw past the madness he was very intelligent. She could ask him about any studying he did, get a better look at who he is when he's alone by himself. Or would that upset him?
She glanced at the medical facility, snorting under her breath as she remembered Dr. Calman's half-hearted advances. The clanging and grinding of the metal doors opening to the penitentiary made her relax more as she knew she was drawing closer to the Joker. Swipe after swipe she shut off electrical currents, navigating her way through the building. The little pink flashing lights of the 3-D scanner lightened her mood a bit more. Thankfully no one was on the elevator when she stepped on. The Warden's voice brought her attention to the screen playing the Arkham Asylum Introductory video. As many times as she had heard it, it still distracted her.
The elevator began to move down. Ding... Ding... That got her attention. She didn't hit the second floor's button and the elevator descended lower. She had never gone to the first floor and it seemed someone from there just called the elevator. She leaned forward hearing muffled noises but she couldn't tell what made them. It was when the doors opened that she jumped back into the corner. Shrieks, screams, howls, and the most disturbing sounds came roaring into the small elevator making it feel very cramped very quickly.
Ready to step into the elevator with her was an older man, bald with round framed glasses on his face and a cynical but calm expression.
"Good afternoon, doctor," he politely acknowledged. Once he entered he turned around to face the doors again and hit the (2) button.
"Hello," Harleen replied. She had never met this doctor before. How many other doctors were there in this place? As if feeling Harleen's uncertainty he spoke.
"I am Professor Hugo Strange. I do not believe we have been introduced," he said turning and bowing his head a little. He clearly wasn't a hand-shake sort of fellow.
"No, I don't think so. Dr. Quinzel, nice to meet you," she briefly smiled and looked forward again. This man was as stiff as a board. And a weird accent to boot.
"Dr. Quinzel? Yes, I heard you have the Joker to study. Fascinating creature. Quite the specimen, I think." His expression wasn't the cynical as before, but cold and inquisitive. Like a scientist looking through a microscope and pleased with their findings.
"Yes, I look forward to helping him." She wanted out of that elevator fast. Thankfully, the doors opened then and she ducked out first. "Have a nice day," she threw over her shoulder and headed for the nurse station.
"Indeed," Strange commented as he stepped out and went down another corridor.
Harleen gave her body and mind a shake. That guy gave her the heebes! Carol wasn't at the station as before, so Harleen waited for Officer Cash to escort Joker to the session. Her smile returned when Officer Boles came her way.
"Hey, doc, Cash is busy with Cobblepot today. Got him in interrogation with the Commissioner, so I'll handlin' Joker for the rest of today."
"Oh that's great," she squeaked happily, "He seems to like you better than Cash anyway. Well, let's go see Mr. J."
She and Boles made their way down Maximum Security. Harleen gratefully noticed that Edward Nigma wasn't in his cell. Although she had no issues with him, she didn't think he liked her much. Or anyone else for that matter. Most of the cells were full and had patients looking out at unsuspecting passers-by but as Harleen and Boles made their way, cell by cell, the patients looked out at Harleen with curious eyes.
One of the patients that caught her eye was Dr. Crane. He was pacing his cell with his hands in his pocket, seeming to ponder something. Glancing up he saw Harleen nod her head at him with a polite "Doctor." Crane stopped, tilting his head a bit, to acknowledge her with his usual "Hello there, dear child" and began pacing again. Ivy was also in her cell across from Joker, but Harleen couldn't tell where. Yellowish-orange spores formed a thick cloud-like fog and made it hard to see into her cell. She almost moved closer when a dark shadow moved through the mist. On second thought, maybe she wants some 'me time'.
The familiar low, cheerful hum sent electricity down her spine in anticipation to see the clown face smiling back at her. Her and boles stood in front of his cell, looking into the dimmed room that gave his chalk-white skin the same eerie glow she'd scene before. He was standing on the back wall, leaning against it with his arms crossed and his head tilted back. She could make out that his mouth although shut, still had his trademark grin. His eyes opened the second after they stopped in front of his cell. As Boles swiped his card, activating the glass cell door to open, Joker's lips separated to show a jester smile at Harleen. She realized only then that she had been holding her breath. Inhaling air once more she smiled back as Boles cuffed Joker, and walked him out without a word. Joker continued to gaze at her making her skin feel hot.
Feeling she couldn't take his direct stare any longer she blinked and addressed him as calmly as she could muster. Which ended up coming out excited.
"Are you ready for your second session, Mr. J?" she squeaked out again. She had been letting her accent slip more lately, her high-pitched voice felt more natural. She was tired of hiding it.
Joker simply leaned in, taking in all her expression's worth, and rumbled out, "I can not wait."
Now what had gotten into his little harlequin? He observed her obvious enthusiasm to see him, and who wouldn't be excited?! But what stimulated her from the time he last saw her til now? He'd have his answers soon.
Frankie and his harlequin escorted him to the same interrogation room as before, but found a guard already outside.
"What's goin' on here? I got a patient and a doc scheduled for this room right now," Boles inquired annoyingly, his head motioning toward the other two since he had his weapon aimed at Joker.
"Sorry man, Warden and the Commissioner have this room for Penguin. They're trying to see if they can break him about what happened at Blackgate."
Joker piped up, his eyes delighted."Nothing short of a pretty penny will get Fishboy to talk. OOoooh, have you tried torturing his girlfriend? Or him? I'd imagine directing torturing him would get the right effect, don't you? And if not, it'd still be fun to do both anyway! Hahaha ha ha ha haa!"
"Shut it clown!" Boles ordered. He barely winced, probably hoping Joker wouldn't kill him for that.
"Please, Officer Boles, that's not necessary." The harlequin now spoke, getting Joker's attention again. She implored to the guard on duty as she spoke, "Is there anywhere else I could hold a session with my patient?"
"Uhh, not sure, really. Lemme ask," the guard shrugged. With a light tap on the door, Cash came out, his frown deepening upon seeing Joker.
"What's he done now?" Cash said, crossing his arms and staring down the madman. Joker returned the stare, looking pleased with Cash's response.
"Oh nothing yet, homes, but don't worry, you'll see my next performance, I promise ya that! Hee hee he haha ha!" Joker laughed gleefully.
"Really, Officer Cash, we're just trying to find a place to conduct our second session. Is there another area we can go to?" The blonde doc really knew how to make people drop their guard. Cash looked at the harlequin and nodded once then went back inside for a minute.
"I don't like waiting," Joker mumbled darkly under his breath. Blue eyes whipped in his direction looking concerned, at first. She must have read his displeasure because she quickly mirrored it.
Cash came out again, followed by Warden Sharp.
"Ya don't look happy to see me, Sharpie. Come on, you should smile more! Everybody's doin' it..." Joker taunted, wiggling his curled fingers at the scowling bald man.
"Dr. Quinzel," Sharp said, ignoring him, "Due to these events, you have the option to reschedule your patient session today."
Before Joker could comment, his harlequin spoke up. "Actually, Warden, I would like to request I conduct the interview in my office, under supervision of Officer Boles, since our regular session area is currently occupied."
Joker just stared down at his new toy, giggling lightly. "She sure has spunk, eh Sharpie? He he he." Sharp grimaced at Joker's comment, but continued to ignore him best he could.
"I don't feel that is wise, doctor. You've only had one session with.. your patient. And Boles, do you feel you could handle this?"
Apparently that hit Boles' man-pride button because he stood straighter and cocked his weapon once. "I got this, sir. Don't worry 'bout a thing."
"Very well. Boles will report to you Cash," he said turning to the one-armed guard, "directly after he returns the patient to his cell. Dr. Quinzel you will report to either Joan or myself in the same way." Sharp nodded once and went back inside, his crane clinking with him.
Cash kept his eyes on Joker, untrusting of this news. "Are you sure 'bout this, Doc? You don't have to.." He glanced at her once, imploring eyes to dissuade her. But he was raising his harlequin well. She would do this is if meant earning his approval.
"We'll be fine, Cash, I promise," she assured him.
"Fine. But I'll have three more guards meet you at the entrance to escort you to and from the penitentiary," Cash said, brokering no argument. He radioed in and a few minutes later there were the guards, looking a bit pale. All three had their weapons trained on Joker, one of them slightly shaking, with Boles bringing up the rear. The doc tried to reassure the others that it was alright, but they ignored her. She may be new, but they weren't. They knew what he was capable of.
One of the guards shackled both Joker's ankles together to prevent him from running. Once he had weighted constraints on and double checked, they made their way out of Maximum Security. As Joker passed Ivy's cell, he could see her looking out at them, her predator eyes watching with wariness. But she wasn't looking at him, but at his toy. Catching his gaze, she shot him a look of venom making him cross his eyes, stick out his tongue, mimed antler fingers over his head and cackled in delight. As the harlequin was followed by the gleeful psychopath and the corrupt guard toward the end of Maximum Security, Joker called out:
"Oh what fun we'll have kiddies!"