"It's in the back of the truck, your boytoy can change there. Check him out while he's at it, maybe your balls will finally drop." Jerome snapped his fingers, gesturing to Jervis. "You're my driver, I'll be Miss Daisy. Spooky and Riddles are in the back. Now off we go, boys, we don't want to leave them hanging for too long."
Edward wondered whether Jervis could drive, decided that there was nothing he could do about it either way, and then followed Jerome to the courtyard. He opened the back of the truck they were apparently taking while Jerome pulled out the very dead driver from the front, holding the door open for Jervis. "Let's get this party rolling, Hatter. Gotham's calling."
"Of course, on our way! We mustn't delay!" Jervis insisted as he clambered into the car and started it up. As the truck stuttered and stalled a bit in pulling off, Jonathan hit against the side of the truck and braced Edward.
"This will be a very bumpy ride. I would sit on the floor to change." Jonathan didn't look at Edward, he faced the window instead. He found the outside world fascinating to watch with his eyes so warped.
"Jerome, you can drop us off by Finger River. We can go on foot the rest of the way." Jonathan left his scythe on the floor of the truck, assuming someone would keep it with them. "What time do we meet up?"
"Finger River, you got it! You heard that, Jervis?" Jerome ruffled Jervis's hair, then started inspecting himself in the mirror. "Ah, what a smile. No wonder the bitches won't stop coming, gotta beat them off with a stick."
In the back of the car, Edward had already put on his shirt and discarded the Arkham uniform top, buttoning up the buttons as he sat there on the ground, glancing at the scythe. "Do you actually use that thing, Jonathan, or are you just very committed to your aesthetic? No judgement. I'm just wondering."
"We meet up at eight! You two and I, anyway. Reckon we'll catch up to Jervis en route back to the asylum."
"See you at eight and don't lose my scythe. Stash it before you ditch Jervis. I can double back tomorrow." Jonathan called out and then looked at the tool, shrugging his shoulders. "I want to use it but I haven't yet. I would like to slice some heads off." The gang that took him, they were still around somewhere. So was Jim Gordon. Always someone to slice.
He turned back to the window, frowning. "We have to get the right chemicals stocked up and then we'll reunite for whatever is next."
"A tea party! For five!" Jervis blurted out, excitedly. They were after someone, he knew that, so they had extra members.
"Do you have a plan on where to obtain your chemicals?" Because Edward could already think of several places, depending on the exact components, but he was willing to go along with Jonathan's plan. Lately he had been the one coming up with plans for everyone else, he didn't feel a need to hog the spotlight too much.
"Maybe a tea party, maybe a strip show, maybe an orgy, maybe we just butcher some people. I don't want to take all spontaneity out of this partnership, keep the romance alive," Jerome explained to Jervis, while he considered his own plan. "Just keep the GCPD busy for the next few hours. I know you'll be a good boy for me. Get it done."
"I was going to raid Ace Chemicals but I'm open to suggestions. We just have a limited walk radius. Unless you can drive." Then they could just take a care. He saw finger road coming up and banged his fist on the top of the truck roof. "That's our stop, Mr Tetch. Thanks for the ride."
"You're welcome, Mr Crane. Don't let this be in vain."
"Never." Jonathan smiled at the two J's before he pushed the doors open and hopped out of the truck, pulling Edward back with him as soon as he could because Jervis almost reversed into them both. "He's high. LSD. We partook this evening and he always takes so long to wind down."
"I can drive." Of course Jonathan wouldn't be able to, given his life story, but Edward had been a fully functioning adult out in the world for a long time. "ACE Chemicals should have all we could possibly need though, but taking a car means more volume." There was that.
For now he walked with Jonathan, adjusting his hat. "Do you truly think LSD was the wisest to dose him with when he has to stay focused?" Whatever, it would go as it would. "I assume we are still following Jerome's plan? Gotham won't know what hit it."
"Jervis is a distraction. He will get hurt. A lot. I thought it was fair. Besides, LSD actually seem to calm him." He wasn't sure what happened with Jervis and those drugs but he did almost change as a person. It seemed to help him find some kind of inner chill. In a sense. "Magic mushrooms do not. I learned that the hard way."
Jonathan walked along with Edward and nodded his head. He didn't even consider deviating from the plan. He did what Jerome said, it was how it was.
"Jerome gives me a task, I do the task. It's sort of how life is, isn't it? You get a goal and you complete it. Every day, a new task." That was living, not hiding.
"Fair enough." All of that, in all honesty. "However, my dear friend, you mustn't entirely forget that you can also set your own goals and decide your own task. Should you ever wish to. I've only just glimpsed at your mind and I can already picture your fearful creativity."
It wasn't as if Edward was opposed to following behind Jerome, for now. Ultimately though? He wanted his own act. And he thought that Jonathan deserved that too. "I want to help you find your potential out here in the world, outside the asylum."
"I want Gotham to scream in terror and hide from the Scarecrow, I want no man to live without fear. Fear is vital, important, I want it to rule above all else." Jonathan admitted but that was far as his goals went right now. "Jerome can give me that. He has already given me that. I pay him back now and down the line, he will hopefully do the same."
Whenever he knew what he wad doing and how to do it. All he had was his father's journals, some chemicals and an idea. "I suppose I have been in Arkham a while. I forget how long. I lost a year or two to the Scarecrow."
"You have been there too long, my friend. Entirely too long. Time to step out into the real world and spread your terror there. Also, live a little!" Edward felt that some exposure to the real world could only do his new friend good.
When they reached the fence surrounding ACE chemicals, Edward knelt down to try and open the padlock, using a piece of wire he had in the rim of his hat. It did make him think. "I have not yet decided what my plan should be either. But, trust me, I've no intention of going back to that asylum any time soon."
"I know what you'll do next. Money, connections, set yourself up. You won't leave the Penguin be, he'll be your next port of call." Sometimes love and hate were very similar and he knew for a fact that Edward could not let Oswald win so this was inevitably going to be their second bout. And Jon was intrigued.
The lock opened and Jonathan pushed the gate open, smirking at Edward. "I have a pitch. Revenge wise. After listening to the whole thing, I think I know how to get under his skin.
"The issue I have is that he's dismissed me. Considers me unworthy of his attention. I can't let that stand, but unless I find a good way of rectifying the situation, I risk appearing-- needy." And he hated that thought enough to barely even be able to get the word out. He hated how much he still felt a need for Oswald to have some role in his life. He hated that this hateful little man defined him to this degree.
So he shook his head and walked up to the facility next to Jonathan, hands in his pockets. "Colour me intrigued. You barely know the man, but you think you've got the riddle solved? Share your thoughts."
"It's quite simple. I don't have much experience but I watch a lot of TV with Jerome and Jervis. I hear them talk about it. Perhaps I'm wrong but then again, Jervis did describe your friend as 'gayer than a barrel full of monkeys' so..." Jonathan smiled and then reached out suddenly, taking Edward's hand in his own and holding it. He assumed that would make a point.
Heh. So funny. Edward just let him do whatever. Strange man. "Right now, you can't beat him, you can't win and you can't walk back in without looking needy. You can, however, look entirely over him by holding my hand and playing pretend. Jealousy works wonders for revenge."
Edward did simply let Jonathan hold his hand, not really considering it worthy of protest. He walked next to him, knowing his way around well enough. As did Jonathan, apparently. They knew what to get and Edward was also noting where the trucks were to be found. Should make it easier to get a few cases of the stuff they needed.
The words had him frown as he considered. "I don't know. Whatever obsession Oswald harboured and mistook as his twisted form of love, I'd assume it must have died down latest when I pulled the trigger."
He shrugged. "It makes no logical sense that he'd continue beyond that. Still, I suppose I can't entirely deny your hypothesis without testing it. However, my dear friend, I'd not want you to feel used."
"People don't get over the love of their life that quickly. Besides, he never so much as dated before, that's what you said? I bet you're special." Jonathan grabbed a couple of boxes and precariously stacked them in his hands, having let go of Ed.
"You're not using me. I suggested the idea. I'm using you." Jon hmmed at that and then looked at Edward. "You are quick to see yourself in a powerful position, as if you are always the dangerous one. It's fascinating."
"I suppose. I've often turned out to be the ultimate danger for the ones I cared about." Few and far between but Edward certainly didn't consider himself to be a good man. Moreover, he knew that he could not guarantee that he would remain in control of himself continuously, which placed anyone close to him in danger.
He walked away a few steps to grab them one of the metal carts meant for transporting these crates, stopping it in front of Jonathan so he could load it. "If it helps your fascination, I am also not good at positioning myself as the object of anyone's desire. Sounds fake, honestly. Even if it was not for Oswald's obvious flawed approach to it all."
"I assume you're very popular with men and women. You're handsome, you have a charm and you seem to care a lot when you like someone. That's what women on TV usually look for. Sometimes they look for jerks but they have Jerome for that one." Jonathan dismissed as he finished loading more chemicals to the trolley.
He paused, hands on his hips, looking at Edward curiously. "You have good facial symmetry. And nice hair. You would do well with others."
"Let's just say that luckily for the male and female population of this doomed city, there are options beside me and Jerome." Edward chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know. I concede on the facial symmetry, although I'll also point out that you are my equal there. Your cheekbones and your eyes, they'd put you far beyond average."
Granted, he supposed he had a better physique these days, if they were going by conventions. Edward turned so he could face Jonathan properly. "Let me assure you that the only time men or women have ever been interested in me, it was due to my mind for the purpose of their plans."
Barbara, Tabitha, Jim. Oswald. Only Oswald had claimed it went beyond that. "With Miss Kringle, I courted her. I tried to become the one she wanted and, to her misfortune, eventually succeeded. And then, finally, there was Isabella."
He looked away, shaking his head at the rawness of the pain. "Whatever. Point is, I'm willing to give it a try. Oswald is a man-child, I'm sure his pettiness would be awakened easily enough, jealous or not."
"I remember hearing. The file clerk and the super creepy lady." Jonathan had heard abridged version of the tale while they experimented on drugs. Kristen was the one who he choked, Isabella was the second chance that got ended by Oswald. "You may not appreciate me saying this Edward, I get that. But for all of my ... lacking social knowledge and isolation, I still would say you dodged a bullet with creepy lady."
He was just saying. Jonathan grabbed the handles to the trolley and pushed it along the aisle, pulling a face. "You also dodged one with Oswald, frankly. You seem to attract overly intense weirdos. Fascinating."
"Is that why you are shooting your shot, as it were?" Edward said it teasingly, deciding to move along with the joking tone and not linger on the topic of Isabella more than necessary. They had covered the subject before in what they called therapy sessions and it left Edward feeling unsettled and unhappy. Best to not get into it right now. He walked next to Jonathan along the aisle, looking around to try and decide whether he needed anything else.
"Love is a weakness. I've concluded that before, then I was swept off my feet. I intend to stay on the ground from here on out."
"I'm playing pretend. I couldn't date you. Or anyone." He couldn't date, it confused him. But he could be nice and play with the pretty boy. Help him get revenge on those who wronged him. It was a fun date activity, honestly. "The closest I have had to dating if a strange evening with Jerome and Jervis."
And boy was that eye-opening. "When Jerome has whatever he's after and things settle, you and I will experiment with 'dating'. I guarantee the Penguin will break."
"Fair enough, lover boy. I'll prepare to romance you." Edward laughed, just a hint of giddiness, then he leaned in and kissed Jonathan's cheek. A bit more Riddler than Edward there. "Just be careful you don't fall for me. It's worthless to one."
He turned his head to check the time at a clock on the wall, then considered. "If we nab a car and load this in, we'd have time to hit a drive-through before we meet Jerome. I need to expose you to real food."
Jonathan felt his cheek more than he ever had, it was strangely burning and it felt kind of nice, actually. Not like when Jerome kissed him and it was all wet. No, this was nice. Edward was a fascinating man.
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Edward wondered whether Jervis could drive, decided that there was nothing he could do about it either way, and then followed Jerome to the courtyard. He opened the back of the truck they were apparently taking while Jerome pulled out the very dead driver from the front, holding the door open for Jervis. "Let's get this party rolling, Hatter. Gotham's calling."
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"This will be a very bumpy ride. I would sit on the floor to change." Jonathan didn't look at Edward, he faced the window instead. He found the outside world fascinating to watch with his eyes so warped.
"Jerome, you can drop us off by Finger River. We can go on foot the rest of the way." Jonathan left his scythe on the floor of the truck, assuming someone would keep it with them. "What time do we meet up?"
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In the back of the car, Edward had already put on his shirt and discarded the Arkham uniform top, buttoning up the buttons as he sat there on the ground, glancing at the scythe. "Do you actually use that thing, Jonathan, or are you just very committed to your aesthetic? No judgement. I'm just wondering."
"We meet up at eight! You two and I, anyway. Reckon we'll catch up to Jervis en route back to the asylum."
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He turned back to the window, frowning. "We have to get the right chemicals stocked up and then we'll reunite for whatever is next."
"A tea party! For five!" Jervis blurted out, excitedly. They were after someone, he knew that, so they had extra members.
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"Maybe a tea party, maybe a strip show, maybe an orgy, maybe we just butcher some people. I don't want to take all spontaneity out of this partnership, keep the romance alive," Jerome explained to Jervis, while he considered his own plan. "Just keep the GCPD busy for the next few hours. I know you'll be a good boy for me. Get it done."
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"You're welcome, Mr Crane. Don't let this be in vain."
"Never." Jonathan smiled at the two J's before he pushed the doors open and hopped out of the truck, pulling Edward back with him as soon as he could because Jervis almost reversed into them both. "He's high. LSD. We partook this evening and he always takes so long to wind down."
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For now he walked with Jonathan, adjusting his hat. "Do you truly think LSD was the wisest to dose him with when he has to stay focused?" Whatever, it would go as it would. "I assume we are still following Jerome's plan? Gotham won't know what hit it."
Which, yes, made him laugh.
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Jonathan walked along with Edward and nodded his head. He didn't even consider deviating from the plan. He did what Jerome said, it was how it was.
"Jerome gives me a task, I do the task. It's sort of how life is, isn't it? You get a goal and you complete it. Every day, a new task." That was living, not hiding.
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It wasn't as if Edward was opposed to following behind Jerome, for now. Ultimately though? He wanted his own act. And he thought that Jonathan deserved that too. "I want to help you find your potential out here in the world, outside the asylum."
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Whenever he knew what he wad doing and how to do it. All he had was his father's journals, some chemicals and an idea. "I suppose I have been in Arkham a while. I forget how long. I lost a year or two to the Scarecrow."
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When they reached the fence surrounding ACE chemicals, Edward knelt down to try and open the padlock, using a piece of wire he had in the rim of his hat. It did make him think. "I have not yet decided what my plan should be either. But, trust me, I've no intention of going back to that asylum any time soon."
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The lock opened and Jonathan pushed the gate open, smirking at Edward. "I have a pitch. Revenge wise. After listening to the whole thing, I think I know how to get under his skin.
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So he shook his head and walked up to the facility next to Jonathan, hands in his pockets. "Colour me intrigued. You barely know the man, but you think you've got the riddle solved? Share your thoughts."
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Heh. So funny. Edward just let him do whatever. Strange man. "Right now, you can't beat him, you can't win and you can't walk back in without looking needy. You can, however, look entirely over him by holding my hand and playing pretend. Jealousy works wonders for revenge."
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The words had him frown as he considered. "I don't know. Whatever obsession Oswald harboured and mistook as his twisted form of love, I'd assume it must have died down latest when I pulled the trigger."
He shrugged. "It makes no logical sense that he'd continue beyond that. Still, I suppose I can't entirely deny your hypothesis without testing it. However, my dear friend, I'd not want you to feel used."
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"You're not using me. I suggested the idea. I'm using you." Jon hmmed at that and then looked at Edward. "You are quick to see yourself in a powerful position, as if you are always the dangerous one. It's fascinating."
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He walked away a few steps to grab them one of the metal carts meant for transporting these crates, stopping it in front of Jonathan so he could load it. "If it helps your fascination, I am also not good at positioning myself as the object of anyone's desire. Sounds fake, honestly. Even if it was not for Oswald's obvious flawed approach to it all."
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He paused, hands on his hips, looking at Edward curiously. "You have good facial symmetry. And nice hair. You would do well with others."
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Granted, he supposed he had a better physique these days, if they were going by conventions. Edward turned so he could face Jonathan properly. "Let me assure you that the only time men or women have ever been interested in me, it was due to my mind for the purpose of their plans."
Barbara, Tabitha, Jim. Oswald. Only Oswald had claimed it went beyond that. "With Miss Kringle, I courted her. I tried to become the one she wanted and, to her misfortune, eventually succeeded. And then, finally, there was Isabella."
He looked away, shaking his head at the rawness of the pain. "Whatever. Point is, I'm willing to give it a try. Oswald is a man-child, I'm sure his pettiness would be awakened easily enough, jealous or not."
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He was just saying. Jonathan grabbed the handles to the trolley and pushed it along the aisle, pulling a face. "You also dodged one with Oswald, frankly. You seem to attract overly intense weirdos. Fascinating."
Like a moth to a flame.
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"Love is a weakness. I've concluded that before, then I was swept off my feet. I intend to stay on the ground from here on out."
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And boy was that eye-opening. "When Jerome has whatever he's after and things settle, you and I will experiment with 'dating'. I guarantee the Penguin will break."
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He turned his head to check the time at a clock on the wall, then considered. "If we nab a car and load this in, we'd have time to hit a drive-through before we meet Jerome. I need to expose you to real food."
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Jonathan felt his cheek more than he ever had, it was strangely burning and it felt kind of nice, actually. Not like when Jerome kissed him and it was all wet. No, this was nice. Edward was a fascinating man.