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"Just unlock it and then you can skedaddle for a few. Get yourself a hot chocolate." Jerome told the guard and waited for the door to be unlocked, while folding a piece of toilet paper he'd found on the ground. He tucked it into the guard's shirt pocket as if it was a tip and patted it gently. "Off you go. Buy yourself something pretty."
He watched the guard walk off, shaking his head. "I worry for the state of our security here, honestly. Lax. Very lax. Drives one crazy how underfunded mental healthcare is."
With that, Jerome was left alone. Alone with Jonathan Crane, that was. He walked through the door into the cell, looking around and whistling. "Spooky. Scary. Skeletons. Really does send shivers down my spine."
He shuddered in an exaggerated way and then turned his focus to the man himself. "Oi, Jonny. Is anyone home or can you at least take a message after the beep?"
He watched the guard walk off, shaking his head. "I worry for the state of our security here, honestly. Lax. Very lax. Drives one crazy how underfunded mental healthcare is."
With that, Jerome was left alone. Alone with Jonathan Crane, that was. He walked through the door into the cell, looking around and whistling. "Spooky. Scary. Skeletons. Really does send shivers down my spine."
He shuddered in an exaggerated way and then turned his focus to the man himself. "Oi, Jonny. Is anyone home or can you at least take a message after the beep?"
Jonathan looked in the direction of Jerome but he mostly just stared, his movements sluggish and slow. He had been drugged heavily for the past two weeks after his outburst during shock therapy. It was difficult to keep himself under control, not with the Scarecrow looming. It was always watching, always following, always after him.
Even now, he felt it in the room, all of his hairs were on end and his pulse was racing.
Jonathan shoved himself back against the wall and covered his head with his hands, not in the mood to talk to anyone. His brain was full of fear and cotton. He hated the sedatives - they didn't help the fear, they just ensured he couldn't fight the Scarecrow.
No message, no talking, no one else was worth it right now. He just had to keep himself still and safe from the bad things.
Even now, he felt it in the room, all of his hairs were on end and his pulse was racing.
Jonathan shoved himself back against the wall and covered his head with his hands, not in the mood to talk to anyone. His brain was full of fear and cotton. He hated the sedatives - they didn't help the fear, they just ensured he couldn't fight the Scarecrow.
No message, no talking, no one else was worth it right now. He just had to keep himself still and safe from the bad things.
"See, the thing with you... I appreciate the vision. I really like what you've done--" Jerome bent down by Jonathan and knocked on his head lightly. "--with the place. What you've had done to it, anyway. And, your interior decorating skills?"
He gestured around the place sweepingly, taking it all in again. "Top notch. A true artist. The only thing we've got to work on with you is the single-minded focus. I like the gimmick. Fear's great. Fear's versatile. We've just got to unleash it. Unleash you."
Crouching down in front of Jonathan, he put his heavy hands on his shoulders and looked at his face. "You have to diversify a little. So much more to fear. So much more to scare. Y'know?"
That said, he suddenly leaned forward and bit Jonathan's neck, hard.
He gestured around the place sweepingly, taking it all in again. "Top notch. A true artist. The only thing we've got to work on with you is the single-minded focus. I like the gimmick. Fear's great. Fear's versatile. We've just got to unleash it. Unleash you."
Crouching down in front of Jonathan, he put his heavy hands on his shoulders and looked at his face. "You have to diversify a little. So much more to fear. So much more to scare. Y'know?"
That said, he suddenly leaned forward and bit Jonathan's neck, hard.
"No, no! Please, don't!" Jonathan cried out as he jerked away from the monster invading his space. There was rambling, words and then suddenly, like a demon lurking, there was a burst of something and there was Jerome, right in his personal space. "No, no, y--y-you don't understand!"
The bite made Jonathan cry out, his body seizing and his brain went into full panic mode. It always seemed to happen. Any time he had external pressures, the internal mechanism went array.
"It's j--just m-my head. It's my head." This wasn't a monster. "It's n-not a Sc-Scarecrow. It's a b-bully-jock."
The bite made Jonathan cry out, his body seizing and his brain went into full panic mode. It always seemed to happen. Any time he had external pressures, the internal mechanism went array.
"It's j--just m-my head. It's my head." This wasn't a monster. "It's n-not a Sc-Scarecrow. It's a b-bully-jock."
"Bully jock, yeah? Has a ring to it." Jerome kissed where he'd left a bite mark, then laughed. Of course he laughed. He felt it couldn't hurt to get Jonathan used to that beautiful sound. One day, all of Gotham would be haunted by it. Seemed only right to get started early with someone this consumed by fear. "Jock, joke. There's something there, I can feel it."
He smacked his lips and petted Jonathan's head. "It is your head. But you're all alone here stuck inside your head, so what's worse than whatever's lurking in there? You've got the Scarecrow already. Add the clown. Make it a circus."
He smacked his lips and petted Jonathan's head. "It is your head. But you're all alone here stuck inside your head, so what's worse than whatever's lurking in there? You've got the Scarecrow already. Add the clown. Make it a circus."
"Clowns?" Jonathan frowned as he tried to focus himself, his eyes not wanting to but he managed to use all of his willpower to finally look at the guy who was touching him. Ginger, stupid grin, about his age, not special ... except his eyes. Maybe it was the fear toxin but his eyes were bright red. Maybe. Ha, of course it was, no one had red eyes.
"I met a c-clown once. I cried." Jonathan laughed, he had to, it seemed so silly now. To be scared of a man handing balloons out when the Scarecrow was here. He was always so scared. Stupid little Johnny. "You're one of t-them?"
"I met a c-clown once. I cried." Jonathan laughed, he had to, it seemed so silly now. To be scared of a man handing balloons out when the Scarecrow was here. He was always so scared. Stupid little Johnny. "You're one of t-them?"
"Ah, no. I'm never one of them. I am more than a clown. I'm more than a man. I'm an idea, my boy." He ruffled Jonathan's hair as he smiled at him, that smile that was a little too much of a lot of things, the eyes that held knowledge and darkness and the most terrifying mirth. "I'm a curse upon Gotham and I'll haunt that city for eternity."
With that grandiose declaration, Jerome laughed again, a sounds that went from dark to bright, until he shrugged his shoulders and continued in a much more casual tone. "I just think it'd be more fun to have some friends along for the ride. Do you wanna be my friend, kiddo?"
With that grandiose declaration, Jerome laughed again, a sounds that went from dark to bright, until he shrugged his shoulders and continued in a much more casual tone. "I just think it'd be more fun to have some friends along for the ride. Do you wanna be my friend, kiddo?"
"I don't have any friends..." Jonathan was calmer now, his heart was racing but Jerome was a distraction. He could breathe. He could control his speech and sound a bit less idiotic. All bonuses. Jonathan blinked several times to try and refocus himself and looked at Jerome. A tall, monstrous clown demon looming over him - but the laugh wasn't scary, it was a spark. A fun, little spark.
Funny. He forgot funny. That wasn't something he got much of any more. "Sure." Jon smiled wonkily at the offer. "Me, you and Scarecrow."
Funny. He forgot funny. That wasn't something he got much of any more. "Sure." Jon smiled wonkily at the offer. "Me, you and Scarecrow."
"Wow, two for the price of one? Not a bad deal, Mr Crane, I like your offer." He also liked seeing some clarity in those eyes. It was nice to know he was being recognised. As long as it stayed at just a given value of clarity, anyway. Jerome valued a good dose of insanity in any potential friends. "Now, listen. All I'm asking of my friends is that they entertain me. I know, I know, you've got your--" He vaguely wiggled his fingers in front of Jonathan's forehead. "--own stuff going on, keeps you internal. I get that. But sooner or later, Spooky, you've got to snap out of it. Join me in the waking worlds. Then we can bring your nightmares to all of Gotham, what do you say?"
"F-F-Fun but unlikely." Jonathan slipped off his bed and landed on the floor, crawling along the floor to where he had drawn the Scarecrow. He touched the picture and felt it screaming back out at him. "I'll never leave Arkham." It just didn't seem possible. He'd been here a long time now and he'd be here even longer. Forgotten entirely by anyone who could or should care.
Jonathan turned away from his Scarecrow, looking up at Jerome curiously. "Prove me wrong?" He wanted to be wrong. He wanted to go out there. He wanted everyone to suffer like he suffered.
Jonathan turned away from his Scarecrow, looking up at Jerome curiously. "Prove me wrong?" He wanted to be wrong. He wanted to go out there. He wanted everyone to suffer like he suffered.
"Oh, I will prove you wrong. Don't you worry. You think you can't leave the asylum?" Jerome grinned even wider, getting up and looking down at Jonathan. "We will turn Gotham into the asylum. We'll have the lunatics running the city. Then you'll fit in just fine, Spooky. You'll feel right at home. And we will spread fear and have so. Much. Fun."
He laughed again, then turned to walk to the door. "Don't forget me now, my boy. In those nightmares of yours. The clown can keep you company. I'll be back for you soon."
He laughed again, then turned to walk to the door. "Don't forget me now, my boy. In those nightmares of yours. The clown can keep you company. I'll be back for you soon."
Jerome rapped his fingers against the door, while the guard, clearly nervous and wearing the headphones, unlocked it for him with fumbling fingers.
"It's visiting hours, Mr Tetch!" Jerome announced it and then entered in the door. No headphones on him, just his beautiful smile and his hands in his pockets as he looked at the newcomer. What shiny hair he had! That was pretty. He ought to make sure the man got access to proper shampoo. "It's an honour to meet you. Mad Hatter, right? I love that book, with the flying monkeys? Great stuff. I tried to make some monkeys fly back in the circus. It worked all right at first, but they could never stick the landing."
He laughed and looked at Jervis, filled with mirth. "You know about me?"
"It's visiting hours, Mr Tetch!" Jerome announced it and then entered in the door. No headphones on him, just his beautiful smile and his hands in his pockets as he looked at the newcomer. What shiny hair he had! That was pretty. He ought to make sure the man got access to proper shampoo. "It's an honour to meet you. Mad Hatter, right? I love that book, with the flying monkeys? Great stuff. I tried to make some monkeys fly back in the circus. It worked all right at first, but they could never stick the landing."
He laughed and looked at Jervis, filled with mirth. "You know about me?"
Jervis was fascinated. Every visitor had headphones, they avoided him, they didn't go all the way into his cell and yet - here was a strange looking young man, happily chatting away at him. About Wizard of Oz.
"Well hello, my fascinating intruder. I have a better hat, this one is a trifle cruder. The hatter is not with the flying apes, he's from the one with the girl getting into all sort of scrapes. Down the rabbit hole, it's all very droll." Jervis explained swiftly, talking exceptionally fast in a manic sense before catching himself and trying to school it in. He had control. He had control. What he said had purpose, he had to remember that.
"You're the clown boy who lost his face." That's about all he knew. "But you can hardly notice." You could.
"Well hello, my fascinating intruder. I have a better hat, this one is a trifle cruder. The hatter is not with the flying apes, he's from the one with the girl getting into all sort of scrapes. Down the rabbit hole, it's all very droll." Jervis explained swiftly, talking exceptionally fast in a manic sense before catching himself and trying to school it in. He had control. He had control. What he said had purpose, he had to remember that.
"You're the clown boy who lost his face." That's about all he knew. "But you can hardly notice." You could.
"Really? See, I think you can see a bit of a trace here." Jerome pointed at a corner of his mouth as if he didn't have very obvious scarring all over his face. He sighed, exaggeratedly, and then simply shrugged. "I really don't mind, I think it brings out my personality. Makes me shine."
Jerome walked over to Jervis's bed and sat down himself, very readily making himself at home. "So you're a poet and you know it, huh? Good, I love freaks with self-awareness." That's what he prided himself in too. Among other things. "I don't think I ever read your book, sorry. Circus kid, you know. We don't get the best education, but we do get to see our skank mothers sucking off a ventriloquist. You don't want to imagine the moans, trust me. Harmonised with himself, that perv."
What a beautiful core memory. "Anyway, Hatter. I like you. You can really liven up a place, can't you? Love that for us."
Jerome walked over to Jervis's bed and sat down himself, very readily making himself at home. "So you're a poet and you know it, huh? Good, I love freaks with self-awareness." That's what he prided himself in too. Among other things. "I don't think I ever read your book, sorry. Circus kid, you know. We don't get the best education, but we do get to see our skank mothers sucking off a ventriloquist. You don't want to imagine the moans, trust me. Harmonised with himself, that perv."
What a beautiful core memory. "Anyway, Hatter. I like you. You can really liven up a place, can't you? Love that for us."
"Now, now, I don't like being called a freak. And honestly, friendship is not something I seek." Jervis dismissed, a little on edge, not appreciating this man sitting on his bed and talking so openly without invitation or request. This was not an open house, this was his depressing little cell and it would stay that way. "I don't believe I will be leaving this cell."
He shrugged his shoulders and shot Jerome an uneasy smile. "Up, boy - I'm asking very nice. If you don't listen, you will pay the price."
He gestured with his hand, firm and unflinching, resisting the urge to fall into any trances with him. This shouldn't be too hard. He was an idiot boy, not a man. Not worth discussing any kind of plan.
He shrugged his shoulders and shot Jerome an uneasy smile. "Up, boy - I'm asking very nice. If you don't listen, you will pay the price."
He gestured with his hand, firm and unflinching, resisting the urge to fall into any trances with him. This shouldn't be too hard. He was an idiot boy, not a man. Not worth discussing any kind of plan.
"Bossy, aren't you? That makes sense. Don't start nagging me though, that really sets me off. You never want to tug on a clown's mommy issues, you'll get a whole clown car's worth of stuff you are not prepared to deal with." Jerome obviously wasn't listening to Jervis's instructions, instead he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, legs spread. Looking at Jervis with a widening smile.
"Are you doing it yet, kiddo? Are you trying to whammy good old Jerome with those amazing powers?" He seemed almost giddy at the prospect, with pure and dark madness steady in his eyes. "Come on, little man. Do it to me. Let's see is I'll be your bitch."
"Are you doing it yet, kiddo? Are you trying to whammy good old Jerome with those amazing powers?" He seemed almost giddy at the prospect, with pure and dark madness steady in his eyes. "Come on, little man. Do it to me. Let's see is I'll be your bitch."
Well, wasn't he just repugnant? "Kiddo? Oh. You are a boy and I am a man. Whatever you're doing - it's an awful plan." Jervis smiled coldly and then stood upright, adjusting himself as he looked at Jerome and started to sync their heartbeats. There it was, the rhythm he needed. His pupils entirely disappeared from his eyes as he looked at Jerome.
"You're not a big man with a big plan. You're a little boy playing with a toy. Now spare us all a tedious time - on my word, wait for the clock to chime." Jervis meant the one in the hallway that chimed for lunch and dinner time. Of course, Jervis didn't live by that noise, of course. "When the chime comes, go to the roof across the way. Just take a jump, go on and make my day!"
Jervis giggled and threw out his arms. "See you as you're going down, my silly little clown. I have a good view, just to watch you."
He counted in his head, rocked back on forth on his feet and counted down with his fingers until the hallway chimed. Ha. Now that was funny.
"You're not a big man with a big plan. You're a little boy playing with a toy. Now spare us all a tedious time - on my word, wait for the clock to chime." Jervis meant the one in the hallway that chimed for lunch and dinner time. Of course, Jervis didn't live by that noise, of course. "When the chime comes, go to the roof across the way. Just take a jump, go on and make my day!"
Jervis giggled and threw out his arms. "See you as you're going down, my silly little clown. I have a good view, just to watch you."
He counted in his head, rocked back on forth on his feet and counted down with his fingers until the hallway chimed. Ha. Now that was funny.
Jerome shifted the weight of his head from one hand to the other, tilting it. He considered what impulse to follow, mostly because he wanted a good punchline for this bit. Jervis was an excellent scene partner so far, he'd really hate to let him down.
So he got up the way he'd been ordered to do. He headed for the door, reached out to open it. Then he paused and let out a deep sigh that ended low in his throat, where it turned into a chuckle that gradually grew. He was laughing to himself by the time he turned back around, stalking over to Jervis with big steps and setting his hands on the man's shoulders. Slender shoulders, really. His hands held on to them tightly and he met the man's eyes.
"Seems like your mojo isn't quite up to snuff, my man. Maybe you're nervous? Stressed?" He started massaging him, with enough pressure to easily cross that line into painful. "Relax a little. Come on. It's just good old Jerome here. Little boy with a toy. I'm all ears. Give it another try."
So he got up the way he'd been ordered to do. He headed for the door, reached out to open it. Then he paused and let out a deep sigh that ended low in his throat, where it turned into a chuckle that gradually grew. He was laughing to himself by the time he turned back around, stalking over to Jervis with big steps and setting his hands on the man's shoulders. Slender shoulders, really. His hands held on to them tightly and he met the man's eyes.
"Seems like your mojo isn't quite up to snuff, my man. Maybe you're nervous? Stressed?" He started massaging him, with enough pressure to easily cross that line into painful. "Relax a little. Come on. It's just good old Jerome here. Little boy with a toy. I'm all ears. Give it another try."
"... What? No." Jerome was turning away from the door. Jerome wasn't doing it and he should be doing it. He locked eyes, he -- no, he couldn't have lost it. It was in him. He could feel it, in his blood, he knew it. He stared at Jerome for a moment and then shook his head. "Get one of the books off my shelf. Go ahead and hit yourself!"
Jervis' voice went a little higher than he was happy with, anxious consuming him because this had never, ever happened to him before.
Jervis' voice went a little higher than he was happy with, anxious consuming him because this had never, ever happened to him before.
"...one of the what?" Jerome blinked, guffawed and turned to look at the shelf, casually walking over and looking at the books. "Geez Louise. You're quite the little nerd, aren't you? Jervis, you've got to get your act together before I feel the need to wedgie you."
He grabbed a random book from the shelf and tossed it in the air, where it turned once before Jerome caught it again. Holding it in hand, he stopped in front of Jervis again. "Which one of us is about to get whacked? Wanna guess?"
He grabbed a random book from the shelf and tossed it in the air, where it turned once before Jerome caught it again. Holding it in hand, he stopped in front of Jervis again. "Which one of us is about to get whacked? Wanna guess?"
Jervis had been able to get to anyone, even someone as annoyingly stubborn as Jim Gordon, so what on Earth was this. He eyed up the door that Jerome had opened. It was unlocked. If he couldn't get to Jerome, he could get to other people. "Time to learn a lesson of respect. I will do it this way if I can't do it direct!"
Jervis practically snarled at Jerome before he hurried to the door, trying to avoid any books as he pushed it open and looked at the panicked guards. He could tell over their silly music. "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!"
Jervis practically snarled at Jerome before he hurried to the door, trying to avoid any books as he pushed it open and looked at the panicked guards. He could tell over their silly music. "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!"
Edited 2024-06-30 14:25 (UTC)
"Feisty!" Jerome clapped his hands together in utter delight. "I like it." He laughed out loud and then took a few quick strides to catch up to Jervis. He had his arms around him in an instant, gloved hand clamping down over Jervis's mouth. Hell, over the entire lower half of Jervis's face, his fingers digging into his cheek as he made sure to keep his mouth shut. Not a sound out of that one.
His smile at the guards was almost serene as he reassured them. "Don't worry. We are learning a lesson of respect. No one interrupt, it really messes with the learning process."
That said, he dragged Jervis back and pulled the door shut behind them, then literally lifted Jervis off the ground to carry him over to the bed. Letting himself fall onto the mattress, he had both arms and, now, both legs wrapped around Jervis, keeping him pinned against his body. "Shh, sweet boy. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Are you ready to find out what it means to me?"
His grip was almost crushingly tight and his erection was ever so obvious with the way he held Jervis pressed against himself.
His smile at the guards was almost serene as he reassured them. "Don't worry. We are learning a lesson of respect. No one interrupt, it really messes with the learning process."
That said, he dragged Jervis back and pulled the door shut behind them, then literally lifted Jervis off the ground to carry him over to the bed. Letting himself fall onto the mattress, he had both arms and, now, both legs wrapped around Jervis, keeping him pinned against his body. "Shh, sweet boy. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Are you ready to find out what it means to me?"
His grip was almost crushingly tight and his erection was ever so obvious with the way he held Jervis pressed against himself.
What on Earth? This boy was stronger than he had expected, not that he hadn't expected him to be strong but even so. It still surprised him. It was hardly as bad as the choking grip of Nathanial Barnes but it wasn't exactly easy to get out of. He was struggling against Jerome, outraged. Who was he to call him BOY?! He was older than this little twerp.
Jervis wriggled and squirmed, relieved when his mouth was finally free and he could breathe properly. Though he had a whole new problem now.
He was trapped. Crushed. And there was something strangely hard right against his-- oh. Oh dear. "Release me at once, you idiotic dunce!"
Jervis wriggled and squirmed, relieved when his mouth was finally free and he could breathe properly. Though he had a whole new problem now.
He was trapped. Crushed. And there was something strangely hard right against his-- oh. Oh dear. "Release me at once, you idiotic dunce!"
"That's not the way to talk to Uncle Jerome, now is it?" Clearly not. "It's a shame, kiddo. I really thought we could get to an understanding easier. Alas."
He sighed and loosened his hold, but only enough to roll Jervis around so he was lying on the mattress, making it easy to press his face down into it. Which Jerome did by keeping a hand against the back of his head. He straddled Jervis from the back, sitting on his thighs and pulling his pants down. "Perky little butt, that's in your favour."
The slap he gave said butt sounded through the room in a fun way, making Jerome laugh and quickly slap him again a couple of times. "All right. Time to make you my bitch."
He sighed and loosened his hold, but only enough to roll Jervis around so he was lying on the mattress, making it easy to press his face down into it. Which Jerome did by keeping a hand against the back of his head. He straddled Jervis from the back, sitting on his thighs and pulling his pants down. "Perky little butt, that's in your favour."
The slap he gave said butt sounded through the room in a fun way, making Jerome laugh and quickly slap him again a couple of times. "All right. Time to make you my bitch."
Jervis struggled against the pillow he was being half choked against, trying to focus on the rhythm of Jerome, trying to get a handle on him but he was panicking too much to really get a handle on it. And then his pants were down and everything sort of short circuited in his head. How was he supposed to handle this?!
He tried to yell more orders but they muffled against the pillow he was half eating and every attempt to release his own head lead to that crushing grip from Jerome pushing him down harder.
His bitch?! Oh no. Bad. Very bad. Not the way he wanted to lose his -- not a thing worth thinking about. Oh dear. "Stop! Stop!" Jervis tried to yell as much as he could, just wondering if there was a chance to redo.
He tried to yell more orders but they muffled against the pillow he was half eating and every attempt to release his own head lead to that crushing grip from Jerome pushing him down harder.
His bitch?! Oh no. Bad. Very bad. Not the way he wanted to lose his -- not a thing worth thinking about. Oh dear. "Stop! Stop!" Jervis tried to yell as much as he could, just wondering if there was a chance to redo.
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