Rolled 3, 4, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>42655665
Duck and slice at the legs

Rolled 6, 4, 1 = 11 (3d6)

>>42655665

Grab her arm with our free hand & try to stab.

>>42655665

You duck, and strike at her legs, catching her thigh with the butt of your knife. She falls forwards, and you grab her knife arm as you pull her towards you.

She looks surprise.

"Easy there, guys!" says Dwayne, stepping in.

"Damn," she says. "You're takin' to knife fightin' pretty quick. Sure you ain't done this before?" She smiles, and puts her knife away. "Guess that's about enough for today." You return her smile. "Guess you're just a good teacher. Knock's got me shooting later- let's hope I pick that up as fast."

"Hope so," says Dottie. She is wearing one of the shirts from your new merchandise line- a purple t-shirt, with the yellow-and-black Batman logo on the chest. The bat has a goofy grin and cartoon eyes, and beneath it, the word "SMILE!" is written in a bubbly font. Somehow she's already got it full of holes, and the sleeves have been cut off. She pulls on a green painted leather jacket, and looks at you. "Gonna be nice to have you hit somethin' for once."

The three of you return to the Funhouse. To your surprise, Holly is waiting for you, in her full clown outfit. She is carrying something in a brightly-colored gift basket.

She rushes up to you and tackles you in a hug. "Good morning, Boss!" Dottie looks disgusted.

"This is a surprise, Holly," says Dwayne. "Normally you don't show up until after dark."

>>42655829

"...Normally, you don't show up at ALL," interjects Dot. "Don't you got a TV show to be cryin' on right now?"

Holly gives her a hurt look. "I'm just always so busy, Dot. I've got the show, meetings with investors... You know, I've always been jealous of the way you're able to lie about all day. It's very... zen."

"But today, " and she looks at you, smiling broadly. "Today, I have the day off. I wanted to come by and talk to you in person, just like you asked. And I just came from a big presentation for my foundation..." She happily presents you the gift basket. "...where I got you a little something."

You take the bag to the couch, and Holly plops down beside you- as usual, much too close for comfort. From the bag, you pull a simple cardboard box, containing a pair of vials and an inhaler.

"What...is it?" you ask.

"Something your little friend from the party has been working on for the police. They're looking to distribute them to the public through the Take Back Gotham foundation. I guess you left an impression on the old lady..." She smiles, and takes the inhaler from your hand, turning it this way and that as she looks it over.

"She says it's supposed to cancel the effects of your gas once the effects start. Supposedly it works instantly. It's not unlike the capsules you used to use for the regular laughing gas... Except this is for the good stuff. And this time, the police have them."

She hands the inhaler back to you. "I told them I'd need to see a few more tests before I could justify having them given to anyone. I can't have my foundation approve of them only to find they don't work, or melt someone's throat or something." She smiles again.


"...But I thought you'd like to be aware that someone is working against you. Now, what would you like me to do about it?"

>wat do

>>42655853
>wat do

Find out who's funding and/or manufacturing these things.

Maybe get some blueprints if possible, but they're not necessary.

>>42655853
You know, if we're gonna have someone working to make a cure for the Smilex(Fuck you that's a better name than Joker Toxin or Joker Venom), we're gonna need to improve it.

We either need a full-time chemist, or we need to hit the chemistry books ourselves.


Or we could go Full-Crazy and work out a deal with Scarecrow for a Fear Gas-Smilex combo

>>42655853
>wat do
well the first real question is whether or not it actually works. next is if there are any side effects. lastly is if it works on all the varieties of joker gas we have (i dont actually know if the joker used more than one type of gas). it it turns out to work only against a single strain then the city has just lured themselves into a false sense of security. so i would think the best path forward is a false flag operation to demonstrate that 'cure' works, and prep another version of the gas for future use.

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>>42655853

You get serious. "Holly, who's manufacturing this stuff? Who's developing it?"

"It's a police program. It's being funded by the city, and they're shopping around for private donations.

I think they've got a company out of town contracted to manufacture it. Right now there's only small batches being brought in to shop around to buyers."

"As for who is formulating it..."

"Coal." you say. "I saw her on TV a while back talking about working with the police. But does it work?" you ask.

"They SAID it did. I didn't try it myself. Unless you want to find a volunteer to try it themselves...?"

"It makes sense, " says Dwayne. "We know Coal developed the new formula for us. It stands to reason she could undo it."

"Yeah, but..." Dottie interrupts. "Coal never struck me as the kind of person who..."


"...Helped people?" you say. "Yeah, me neither. Something's up. Either way, we're going to need a new formula for the gas if we expect it to keep working."

"You DO have the old stuff, you know..." suggests Holly. "The deadly gas the old boss left you."

"That's true," says Dwayne. "We've got a limited supply of it. But once it's gone, we can't get any more."


"So what's the plan, Boss?" asks Dot. "We need a new chemist or what?"

>what do

>>42656210
>what do

Find a new chemist, but start using the old stuff as well.

>>42656210
Do >>42656287
But also find a way to start learning Chemistry ourselves. And keep up on our psychology degree, both of those are incredibly useful to us.


As a Long Term Goal, find out how the fuck Joker immunized himself to the shit and do that to ourselves.

>>42656210
>what do
find out if it works, if it does then run a operation to demonstrate its effectiveness. this will be good for both coal research and hollys foundation, so our main goal should be to build up public trust in the groups we have influence over and maybe try to work it so coal gets her own (or bigger) research lab that could help our goals. latter on when we introduce another version of the gas the public will once again go to coal for a cure getting her more and better resources to create new toxins for us

>>42656333
Online degrees with an alias. Batman knows who we are, cant really use our real name anymore

>>42656431
Jack Napier for the Chemistry Degree
Melvin White for the Psychology

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>>42656210
...No Holly, that's not what we do. We start giving out our own antidote on the down low. Replace the ones handing the antidotes out with our own men and hired hands.

But the antidote isn't an antidote. It's laced with heroin.

>>42656461
HAHAHA supporting this plan.

>>42656333
This

>>42656461
>Picking up a high-school Chemistry teacher with Cancer who's desperate for money
I could get behind this.
And unlike everyone else Walter worked with, we won't try to screw him unless he starts shit first.

>>42656210
>what do
we could always, you know, actually to Coal and see what her plan is

>>42656536
>actually talk

>>42656461
Oh shit, that's pretty good.

>>42656210

"Perhaps you should look for a new chemist?" suggest Holly. "I might be able to find someone for you..."

"I really should get around to learning that stuff. If the old boss could do it himself, maybe I should too." You make a mental note to look for any notes the old Joker could have kept.

A thought hits you. "Say, the old Joker never really wore a mask with his gas, did he? Did he have his own cure?"

"For the Venom?" asks Dwayne. "Nah, Smilex just... Didn't affect him. He wore a mask sometimes, but I think it was just for theatrics. Never wore one while workin'."

"Do you know how, though?"

"No idea, Boss," he shrugs.

You think about it. "Holly, for the time being, I want you to go with Coal's plan. Give her your foundation's support."

She blinks. "But...Boss, she's working against you!"

"Holly, she's been here before. She knows where we are. If she wanted to she would have turned us in weeks ago. I think she's planning something, but I don't know what it is yet. When does this go into effect?"

"The police have the test units now. If you try to use your gas again, they'll be sure to use them."

You nod. "Then that's what we do. We see if they work. And everyone else does too. If they do, the people and the police feel more secure- and your foundation looks like heroes. If it doesn't, the police look like fools-"

"And so do I!" says Holly worriedly.

"No, Holly. You look like a victim. A victim of police incompetence and government waste. And you have a platform to tell everyone about it. We have the old gas to fall back on, so we still have a weapon they can't defend against. As long as we know they have this cure, though, we have an advantage.

Holly, once you start distributing this to the public, I want to know where you start. Our men will be there, lacing the cure with a drug. Heroine, or something. Something they'll notice."

"But boss, distributing drugs could ruin me!"

(Cont)

hahahahaha, an antidote laced with Heroin, oh anon, you're inching closer to Full Joker with every post.

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>>42656696

"How can it? The Joker attacks your people and trys to scare the public away from something that protects against his greatest weapon. It will make us look like we're scared, and they'll double down on the formula.

You can be a hero, Holly. You'll be standing up to the Joker in public, on television."

She considers this quietly.

You continue. "In the meantime, I think it's time we get in touch with the Professor... I want to know what she's up to."

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>>42656842

Using a disposable phone, you dial in to Gotham U, and ask to be connected to the Professor's extension.

"Hello?" says the woman, curtly.

"Hello Professor. I've interested in your new business venture. I might be interested in making a donation of my own..." you say.

There is a slight pause on the other line, but the woman recovers quickly. She knows exactly who you are.

"...Very well. Maybe we can meet tonight, at the usual place?"

"I'll send a cab. I'm looking forward to it..." You hang up.

"Well?" asks Dwayne.

"She seemed willing to talk. There might be more to this than we think."

"She could be playing you, you know..." says Holly.

"So could you," says Dottie.

Holly ignores her, and puts her arms around you again. "I just want you to be careful is all!"

You hear a loud noise, and someone stomps loudly down the stairs.

It is Nightjar.

"Have you heard what's going on!?" she says.

"Yeah, Holly was just telling us about the cure..."

"Not that! The docks! Mister Cobblepot wants to talk to you, now!"

She pulls out a cell phone, dials, and hands it to you.

>>42657113

"A-hoy-hoy?"

>>42657175
Yes, and then call him Watson.

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>>42657113

On the other end, you hear the Penguin shouting at some unlucky soul. He returns his attention to the phone.

"M'boy, it looks like you and I have ruffled the feathers of some of the competition. It seems our friend Harvey has made a friend of his own, and they've got their minds set on a fricassee!"

"What's going on?" you ask. "And please, Penguin... Please. No more bird jokes."

"The dockworkers. They've gone on strike. I can't move cargo, and neither can half of Gotham. He's got my business by the neck."

"That doesn't sound like Two-Face. That just sounds like bad luck."

"Two-Face IS bad luck you babbling buffoon. It looks like he's gone to the Little Wooden Boy. He's got this city's unions wrapped around his finger..."

"...Who?" you ask.

"Scarface!" snaps the bird.

>wat do

>>42657393
>wat do
dumb idea, but we could go on TV and gloat about who we manipulated events to get the docs to strike, make people think that the dock works being on strike helps us somehow.

or we go the other direction and start attacking all or as much inbound shipping to the city as we can, again to make it look like we have the city in the palms of our hands to stop the cure from getting in.

>>42657393
"How many do you want dead and how drastically?"

>>42657482
>inbound shipping
and by inbound shipping i'm meaning any and all freight that we can disrupt and destroy

>>42657393

"Hmm...who's got his hand up old Chippendale's bum these days?"

>>42657482
Or we could go and fuck up scar face's gang. and steal their resources.

>>42657113
>>42657175
"You need something Pengy?"

>>42657524


Ah, ah, more flies with honey than vinegar my friend. Or more trees with shit than termites, in this case.

>>42657524
>>42657507
Or both turn this into an advantage, alternatively we could try and sic the batman on scarface with a clever plan.

>>42657393
Who, Tony?
He's too coked up to worry about.

>>42657524
really though if we can beat our enemies by out maneuvering them, and using their plays to our advantage we can actually keep working towards our goals and not getting bogged down into a gang war.

>>42657603
I dunno bombing their HQ covertly would be pretty good. especially if we can blame it on a rival gang

>>42657524
i'm not sure this can be solved by a fight, its the union thats striking so punching the gang itself donesn't fix that, and going after the unions doesn't really open the port

>>42657647
Bombs have been kinda our thing though, they'd know it was us.

>>42657603
I'm for using their play against them, we should take credit for this if only to turn the tide of public support against the unions. We should work with coordinating this with Penguin see what he thinks abput the idea?

>>42657662

We just need to work out a deal between the dummy and ourselves. Oh, and see if Wesky can bring us some of those little sandwiches while we talk it over with his boss.

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Insert clown, receive story?

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>>42657393

"So what do you need, Penguin?"

"What do WE need, you mean. Your boys may be all petty crimes and protection schemes, but if gotham has no money, there's no purses for you to cut!"

"That may be, but there's one thing I have that you don't: visibility. If the people think the strike is something I put into place for some scheme, they'll try to stop it quickly. The police might even get involved.

I've got a situation of my own stirring, and this whole thing lines up with it nicely. I can kill two birds with one stone..."

"WAARK WAARK WAARK!" laughs the Penguin. "My cackling comrade, I knew I could count on your good humor in these dark times. I'll leave you to your work then, my boy. I'll try to handle things on my end."

The phone clicks off on the other end.

"What's going on, Boss?" asks Dwayne.

"I'll tell you what's going on!" says Nightjar. "Our friend Two-Face ran to the Ventriloquist to get the dock workers on lockdown."

"Ah hell," says Dwayne. "Lotta money's gonna be held up for a while. Back when I worked in shipping I saw how much stuff got shuffled through there, legit or not. Bet Penguin's tearing his feathers out."

"Yeah," you say. "But this works to our advantage, too. If they think we're the ones manipulating the strike, we can convince them it's because of Coal's cure. We can turn the people against them. Plus, it works towards our goal of convincing people that we're afraid of the cure."

"Nightjar," you say, turning to her. "Who's 'Scarface'? You called him the Ventriloquist?"

She scoffs. "The Ventriloquist is a Man named Arnold Wesker. Absolutely insane, even for Gotham. He runs around making everyone talk to his puppet. Some people are crazy enough to follow him."

Dottie shakes her head. "I dunno, Jarhead. Always seemed like Scarface was the brains of that operation. Wesker's just his toady."

"Scarface is MADE. OF. WOOD!" she says, incredulously.

Dwayne shrugs. "Boss always dealt with Scarface. Never bothered with Wesker."

>>42657993
We'll deal with scarface no need to upset the crazy mans delusions.

>>42657965
>>42657993
Oh shit it works. I need to beef up my clown folder

>>42658058
Bu deal with I meam sic trained circus termites on him or drop him in a wood chipper and replace him with a clowned up verson so that thinks wesker he works for us.

>>42658136
*by

>>42657993

"Doesn't take a genius to see what we do here. Gotta talk with Scarface."

>>42657993
so, lets blow up some bridges and do what we can about closing the roads, then go on TV and after that meet scarface

>>42657993
Get few guys to picket at the docks with signs supporting the strike, while we deal with other plans.

>>42657993

"And we all know your old boss was a bastion of mental health himself."

It takes a moment for it to hit you.

"Nightjar... What do you mean by "Old Boss?"

She scoffs. "Oh come off it. William ran and told us first thing. If we're going to be working together-"

"Who is 'US,' Nightjar?" you ask.

"Mister Cobblepot and myself, of course."

You are furious. "Does ANYBODY in this damn city not know by now?!"

"You can throw your tantrum later, 'Joker.' Mister Cobblepot has an interest in keeping your secret. You are more... Agreeable than your predecessor."

You look her in the eye. "And if I decide I've had enough of being 'agreeable?'" She returns your gaze unflinchingly.

"I don't think you will."

Holly interrupts. "I think it's best that we focus on more pressing matters. I'll have my people work up a story on the lazy criminals in the union.

You have a show of your own to prepare for. And You've got to get ready for your business meeting later."

Nightjar looks at you questioningly.

"What business meeting?"

"It's family matters Nightjar. And that means it's none of your business." you snap.

"As for us, if we're so 'agreeable,' let's make sure we extend the same courtesy to Scarface. Send some men down to help on the picket lines. In uniform, of course. We want them to know they have our support. I want to have a talk with Scarface myself..."

>>42658136
Or we get some Poria Incrassata, but I don't think the first thing we should resort to should be violence.
We need to talk with scarface, see what deal he's being offered. Then we can make a better one. It's simple business, see?

Let's bring the blockhead something nice, a cake or some such. Something we can pack incendiaries into in case things go south.

>>42658443
Thermite or termites would better than booms on a puppet.

>>42658463
>termites
I like you. You know how to make a proper gag gift.

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>>42658324

Holly gives you another huge hug, and heads out. A little while later, you have Spike brought over, and put on another little broadcast.

Once again, Gotham's televisions all fade out, and they all expect to see the Joker's smiling face once again.

Except this time your aren't smiling.

You look into the camera with a sour look, wiggling your finger accusingly. "Gotham, I'm disappointed in you. Having your police work on something to nullify my gas? What a pity... I just wanted to make you all smile!

But don't worry, people of Gotham! Old uncle Joker will make sure none of that awful frown gas makes it into the city! Until the police agree to back out of the deal, the docks stay CLOSED."

There is clapping from off-camera, as your people applaud.

"Now now, no need to thank me. I look out for my city! HA HA HA HA HA!"

The broadcast cuts.

"Think they'll buy it?" asks Dwayne.

"With any luck, yes. Maybe we can even sic Batman on Scarface's boys." you say.

"Now that that's over," says Dottie, "we gotta get to your next meeting. We'll head to Scarface right after."

"I'm comin' too, " says Knock. "Maybe You'll get your shooting lesson after all."

"I hope not," you say worriedly.

"Who's taking me home?" asks Spike.

Dwayne sighs. "Can't you just tell your mom you're... I don't know, sleeping over at a friend's?"

He scoffs. "Uh, I'm a LITTLE old for sleepovers, D. 'Sides, she'd want to meet their parents first."

"...Alright, Boss. Looks like I'll be taking Spike home. You guys be careful."

A few minutes later, you, Dottie, and Knock are up in the park. Sure enough, a car pulls up to the loading dock in back.

Professor Coal walks up to meet you in the light of an old, flickering lamp post beneath the creaking ferris wheel. The stern-faced, matronly woman pulls her dark grey jacket tighter around herself.

"I believe we had something to discuss."

>wat do

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>>42658335
>see?

SCARFAGS GET OUT

RRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>42658880
"I want in. You've got something specail cooking and I think we can help each other play the system. So what's gping on in that pretty head of yours Coal?"

>>42658880


"So, what's the game? Playing both sides? Or do you have a different experiment in mind...?"

Not necessarily what we should say straight away, but could we get Coal to reverse-engineer the Smilex and make more at some stage?

>>42658976
>>42659057
Straight to the point. Combine these, we don't need to get too excited before she answers some questions.

>>42659260


Yah, niceties won't throw her off her game like going for the throat will to start.

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>>42658880

"You've got something cooking in that pretty little head of yours, Collete. You're smart enough to keep yourself out of the spotlight if you you were trying to keep a secret.

But you've made yourself very visible. I want to know what you're planning. I want to know if you're trying to play both sides. And I want to know if I want to be a part of it."

She gives you a smile. "You're already a part of it. Thanks to our previous arrangements, this city recognizes me as an authority on your chemical weapons. Using the samples of your gas I took, I developed a substance to nullify the effects.

Now they all trust me to save them from you, and they are prepared to pay for it."

"And where does that leave me, Professor? If you're providing them with something that defangs me completely..."

"Of course, the police are aware that your formula may change. Which is why my committee is on retainer by the city. If you change your formula, we can have a new cure available within the week."

"...Because you'll be the one providing the new formula in the first place."

She smiles again. "Of course. Think of it this way: you control when the people get the cure. You can plan your jobs for when they are the most vulnerable.

Every day, every man, woman, and child in this city will be sure to pack their cure. Because of you. I can provide them with safety, while making sure they're scared. All the time."

"And what if I decide that I'm not interested in being a part of this little plan...?"

She looks you in the eyes, still smiling.

"You won't."

"It seems like a lot of people are telling me what I'm going to do recently..."

>wat do

>>42659519
piss

>>42659519

She has outlived her usefulness.

"Interesting point. As a counter point, allow me to retort."

Bullet to the face.

>>42659519
Stab her to death.

Getting tired of her shit.

>>42659519

Agree, but ask her what we get for all this

>>42659546
>>42659529
Not funny

What we need is to kill her with the Old Smilex.
Preferably in her office

>>42659546
What shit? She's done nothing but help us. And it's not like we can do chemistry on our own.

>>42659519

"My dear, it seems you have me by the shorts. What's to stop me from simply....?" Finger gun.

Tease it out. Let's see if she's arrogant enough to say she's got a back up, or if she wants to pretend to rely on our good graces. Either way, we get more info the on the situation. Right now, she honestly does have the keys to the city. I agree we need to find a way to get independent of her. Right now, we'll need to play along, but finding an alternative may not be the worst idea if she proves too clever by half.

>>42659579
She's playing us.

You don't use the Joker that way, mang. You can ride the waves he makes when he wades through the pool, but you don't pull on his coattails.

>>42659612

Agreed. This needs payback. But I'm not certain we've got what we need to pull off retaliation yet. I think after we've got the next formula, Doctor Coal might have to give in to some pressure....

>>42659519
>wat do
this is great for us, another one of our people in a position of power, who's influence grows with the fear we create, and with the add resources she could probably provide us and our men with some exotic mixtures for special jobs from time to time. she has no reason to turn against us and has nothing really on us if she did.

>Because of you. I can provide them with safety, while making sure they're scared. All the time.
because, in the end this is what we want. we have Holly working the same angle on the tv and this kind of stuff gives us more power over the city

>>42659639
The only problem is she isn't afraid of us. Nor does she respect us.

We can't control her should she decide to shut us down.

>>42659639

Careful. Fear's nice and all, but people being too spooked over us will definitely get Johnny's ire raised against us. And we definitely don't want a 2 or 3 front war. Pengers might even turn on us if the rest of Gotham's fringe decides we've become a liability.

>>42659653
Let's not forget who we DO have on our side, though.
With Condiment King nothing can stand in our way!

>>42659639
Na ww got one on her, record our next meeting and boom instant blackmail all we'd have to do is have holly run it as a story from an anonymous tip, just make sure she knows she's under the Sword of Damocles as she's damcing to our tune everything's fine but as soon as she tries something funny bam drop the knife and end her career.

>>42659519

"It seems you've got me by the shorts. I don't like that. What's keeping me from..."

You make a gun with your fingers, and point it at her.

She crosses her arms. "That's a funny way to treat someone who saved your life. How is your arm, anyway?"

You instinctively flex your arm, where your gunshot wound is still healing.

"...But tell me, Joker. What would I gain from turning on you? Everything I've gotten I've been able to get due to working with you. Trying to take you out would do nothing but hurt me."

"The rest of Gotham is afraid of me, but you aren't. That's a bit of a liability for me, don't you think?"

She motions to Dottie and Knock. "Do these two fear you? Does the big one? Or the Cris woman? They all get something for you.

You might rule by fear, but unlike your predecessor, you don't lead by it."

>>42659723
We should also introduce her to our new friend and get him all sorts of new goodies.

>>42659651
We need to leave a present in her office, with good old fashioned nitrous oxide, as a not so subtle reminder that Joker is playing nice but we could very easily decide to not

>>42659742
WOAH, hold on, these guys have LOYALTY.

You ain't got shit, Coal.

Don't talk shit about the crew. Who would likely kill us when the real Joker gets back. But, hey, FOR NOW they are absolutely loyal!

>>42659742
She's right, I don't think we should be threatening our friends she hasn't done anything to warrant it despite Holly's claim (which is probably a move to isolate us, drive away a possible rival, and to try and wrap us around hrr finger. We can't let her manipulate us.)

>>42659742
Until she lets us record her getting pie'd, she isn't family unlike them

>>42659742
We should bring up the idea of "Gut Buster" the new street drug we want to market, we could even use recycled cure containers that have been clowned up.

>>42659812
We should all so suggest this but make it sound lewd.

>>42659866
Just call it "getting cream pied".

>>42659798
Notice how holly suggested that she could find us a new chemist she's make a play trying ti get us more reliant on her.

>>42659890

Yah, don't trust Holly. She's useful as our propaganda arm, but that's it. Otherwise, treat her like any other part-timer until she proves otherwise.

Coal's at least talking the talk for now, but I think she does need a spring-loaded pie for her troubles.

>>42659890
I say fuck em both.

We'll find a new chemist.

We'll find a new goddamn news uh.

The fuck does she do at the station? She's not an anchor.

>>42659933
she's the hype girl, she hypes up bad news.

>>42659933
That's too much work, plus I think Cole has proven herself to us. Holly is useful but we shouldn't trust her with anything other than what she is doing now.

>>42659742

"These guys have loyalty, Coal. I don't have that from you. You know, the man who shot me didn't have loyalty. And he didn't fear me either you know. He's dead now." you say.

"Do you think he would have shot you if he wasn't afraid of something? He shot you, alone in the dark, and then ran off for help.

And now the woman who put you back together again is at your home, by herself, risking her career by talking to you. And you have the gall to talk to me about loyalty. Tell me, why do you think I specifically requested the committee petition Miss Criss's campaign for donations? Why do you think I sent her a sample? A sample that currently should be restricted to only authorized personnel?"

"She...seemed to think you were plotting against me?" you say, confused.

"Perhaps she told you what you she wanted you to think. Or she told you what she herself wanted to think. I don't know. Have you made it clear to her in the past that I am a part of this organization?"

"Whoa there, Coal. You may be an associate, but you're not one of us."

"...Then maybe I should be," she says.

"Thing is, Professor, there's an initiation. A little ritual you might say...

You gotta let us pie you. On film."

She looks at you, incredulous. Her face turns bright red. She looks positively furious, like a teacher whose about to hit you with her ruler. You slink back.

She stands as straight as a board. "Is...that what this is going to take?!" she says, angrily beggining to unbutton her blouse. "I may be working with criminals, but I didn't realize you were DEGENERATES too..."

Dottie and Knock nearly die laughing. You have a hard time keeping a straight face yourself.

>>42659978
Beautiful.

>>42659978
>angrily beggining to unbutton her blouse
Damn, she really IS dedicated to the cause.

>>42659978
Whoa she was going for it. . . Lewd professor +5 hawtness points.

>>42659978
What kind of movies do you watch lady,were not perverts, Now shutup and take our creampies

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>>42659978

"You heard her boys, let her have it!"

>>42660037
jesus that looks terrible without sound

>>42659978
>Us: Right, Dottie, grab the pie, Knock, get the camera
>Her: Wait, what? Oh! Oh...

>>42660043
>CLACKCLACK CLACKCLACK CLACKCLACK

Honestly, if she goes through with this, I'll be alright with her for quite awhile.

>>42659978
"My goodness Coal,I didn't know you had such a filthy mind."
She seemed so ready to do it to.

>>42659978
She 'MUST' really like her pie if she's getting this flustered

"While I appreciate the offer Professor, that isn't quit what I had in mind."
>the this
>>42660055

>>42660094

The most buttoned up ones are usually the sickest. Still, we're the Joker, not what we're here for. Let's get initiation done, then we'll be onto the next meeting!

>>42659978
Lets not forget to get her started on making 'Gut Buster' side effects may include mild hallucinations, hysteria, inability to frown, manic laughter, paranoia, loose bowels, incontinence, and diarrhea. We should sell the shit out of it on the street as a prank drug to slip your friends at a party.

>>42659978

After a second, she realizes what you've done, and recomposes herself. She redoes her shirt, but her sharp face is still red.

"Yes, you're VERY funny."

"No," You say with a stern look. "I'm serious. As soon as we have one made. And you have to wear the paint."

"...that's... very nearly worse."

"And you need a name," says Dottie. "We can't just call you Coal."

"And just why not? The big one uses his name."

"No he doesn't," says Dottie, confused. "Dwayne IS his nickname."

"She's right, Professor. Calling you by your name is a risk, especially if you're in such a place of influence..."

Knock, who has been quiet until now, says one word.

"Coco."

The professor nearly flies into a rage.

"ABSOLUTELY. NOT."

"Look, " you say, "we'll settle all this some other time. We have a meeting soon."

Very quickly, she returns to normal- curt, proper, and professional.

"The dock strike, yes? You should know the cure is being brought in on trucks, then. Not through the shipyards."

"It doesn't matter. That's not what we're after. We've got a little friend trying to put a stranglehold on some business with the strike. We're going to meet with him."

"...And you're taking credit for the whole thing to trick the police into getting involved."

"Or Batman," you say.

"How clever... If you're going to a meeting, take this." She hands you a small vial. "It's a new formula the cure doesn't work on. Just in case the police come by."

"Thanks."

She pats you on the face. "Of course. You're still just a kid, after all. Someone has to watch out for you." She turns, and walks away.

"...Hey, wait!" you shout to her. "You had this the whole time, didn't you?"

"Of course!" she cries back. "You didn't think I came unarmed, did you?"


The professor returns to her car, leaving the three of you standing in the lamplight.

So, why are they using cure canisters instead of pic related?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy with being able to circumvent their trump card.

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>>42660291
Fuck me like your great aunt Sally.
Forgot my pic.

>>42659978
>>42660255


Is dot the only girl not looking to jump our bones for ???

nightjar literally values money over her own life, holly gets off on scaring people, and the prof seems to get off on torture

>>42660255
She's a dirty clever little minx. You'd think she mind sharing us between her and Dottie? Also I vote we call dub her Colette as a reference to les miserab.

Does everybody know we're not the joker? Seriously,whose going around telling everyone?
>>42660255

>>42660303
that's her name though. colette coal.

>>42660314

Top Hat. Although we told Coal ourselves

Should we ever make use of our meta knowledge during this? It's not completely cheating because Joker has known things that he shouldn't because he's him.

>>42660333
were not him, were the new one.

>>42660297
Dottie is playing the long game, making the others look desperate while worming her way into our heart through loyatly.

>>42660333

We asked for Deathstroke and we got Condiment King. Meta knowledge has proven dangerous.

Well, once the real Old Uncle Joker gets back, this is going to go to shit.
Coco was a stroke of genius by the way. We need to get Knock something nice for that.

Otherwise, we getting a gift for Scarface? Or are we just bringing the chip on our shoulder?

>>42660347
Condiment King is arguably better though....

>>42660297
Dottie is a real hard-ass banger man, we earned her respect.

>>42660347
To be fair Condiment King is awesome. We just gotya hook him up with joker level chemicals colored to look like mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, and relish.>>42660347

>>42660361

Condiment King sold me on this whole gig. The only thing that would be more ridiculous is if we brought in Crazy Quilt and made him a legitimate threat.

Box ghost when?

>>42660386
We need to do this now. And Colorman.

>>42660386
>Jordy meets cyclops meets that snake from jungle book
I dunno, he seems pretty decent to me.

>>42660358
I think we should bring a jar of termites and a syringe of hydrochloric acid. We can have some fun squirting some into the termite jar. Scarface oughta get a kick out of it.

And if the meeting goes poorly, we smash the jar of acid and termites on the puppet.

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>>42660255

After a long drive down towards the docks, you arrive at an old warehouse- where you had arranged your meeting with Scarface.

"Boss," asks Knock. "What if he turns on us?"

"At this point, I'd me more surprised if he didn't." you say.

The three of you enter the warehouse. There waiting for you is a meek little man with a shock of white hair and thick glasses. On his lap sits a much smaller man in a pinstripe suit, clutching an unlit cigar in his mouth. There is a deep gash across his face. Behind the two stands a huge muscular man.

"You must be Scarface," you say. "And you must be Wesker."

"Ignore the dummy, clown." says the little man in the suit. "He's just here to look pretty, see?"

Weskers face seems frozen in a dejected look. He says nothing.

"Brought you a cake, Scarface." you say, placing a cake onto the table in front of you.

"I ain't hungry," he says. "I wanna know why you been sendin' your boys down to da docks. And takin' credit for it on TV. You tryna make us look bad?"

>wat do

>>42660475


"Nothing escapes your cunning criminal mind. Let's get to it. You stop the strike and get everyone's toys moving again, we make sure the heat to doesn't fall on you and yours. Nobody wants the docks shut down for too long. How else are you going to make cold, hard cash Scarface?"

>>42660475
"I'd never do such a thing! In fact I mean to thank you that dock thing could not have been timed any better! Oh and I brought you a gift!" take out mason jar filled with termites that has plastic wrap of the top, and the needle full of acid.
"See I'm willing to off your greatest foe!"

>>42660517

Don't point out he's a puppet. Don't want to antagonize the little figment yet. If he doesn't play ball, then start in with the termites.

>>42660540
I guess we can still needle him about wesker. "I'd rather us talk alone mono e mono. Let's hash out a deal."

>>42660568

Now see, that we can do. Let's see how talented Mr. Wesker is today.

>>42660540
It doesn't even have to be about puppets. Could just be a 'Yeah, noone likes the little fuckers. That's why I got a syringe of acid here. Wanna watch'em melt with me? Little bonding excersize, I always find it soothing.'

Also, ask why he's even blocking off the docks in the first place.

>>42660568
>>42660581
Should have brought our own puppet that looks similar to scarface only with younger and with clown make up we could call him Chipface son of scarface.
"Daddy help me, they've got momma and little jenny!"

>>42660586

Everyone involved knows he's gotten in bed with Two Face, no point in playing the fool there. Harv wants to use him as a.....puppet? We'll deal with him as an equal until he decides to behave otherwise.

>>42660612
Yes, but what does he get out of it? We get something to do on a slow teusday afternoon, after all.

>>42660605


Shit, you're right. Maybe we've got a lady stripper puppet in the cake?

Seems a bit elaborate. A hostage may not be a bad idea if things go sour.

>>42660620

It's simple insurance. Harv and Scarface have mutual interests. This alliance also lets them not get rolled by us and Penguin. We need to show Scarface that it's not our alliance with Penguin that makes us a force to be reckoned with and that he really shouldn't disrupt business.

It'll also reaffirm to Harvey that we're not screwing around. I should hope he doesn't need another lesson in that so soon after Top Hat, but it might be headed that way...

>>42660612
Though we should toss in a line about two face double crossing him and using as a patsy. "Can't you see Scar ol pal he using you like a puppet pulling your strings to get you to do what he wants. And besides everyone already knows Harvey boy is a two faced sonaofa bitch who's more likely to live ypu hanging over a wood chipper."

>>42660643
*more likely to leave you hanging over a wood chipper

>>42660643

There ya go. Introduces doubt,and gets a jab in. That's what I like to see!

>>42660643
Let's save that until after a bit of termite melting. A "Get down to nitty gritty" moment

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>>42660475

"Really, I should thank you for the thing with the docks. You couldn't have timed it better.

To celebrate, I brought you another gift..." You pull a small jar containing few termites from your pocket, taken from some of the weathered wooden buildings at the back of the park.

"How about you and me smash 'em together? Just to start things off on the right foot?"

Scarface rattles with anger. "You think you're funny clown, but I ain't laughing!"

"Alright, alright, Scarface. You caught me. You stop the strike and get things moving again, and I make sure the heat doesn't fall on you. Nobody wants the docks shut down for long. There's no money to be made."

"I make money either way, see? The unions pay me no matter what, cuz they know my boys protect them from mugs like you. I can run all the drugs I want without usin' the shipyards at all. The only one losin' money is your pal the fat bird, see?

So the rest of us been thinkin, see? You boys get together and decide you wanna step on our toes, what're we gonna do about it, see? So we figure we gotta take onea youze out of the game, real fast like."

"Two-Face is using you as a puppet, Scarface."

His cigar falls from his mouth as his snap together angrily.

"PUPPET?! ME!? You're the one sittin' here doin' birdbrain's business!"

"My dear friend, I am perfect capable of handling my own business when I wish... WAARK WAARK WAARK!"

"Hmph, the puppet line killed with the test audiences...."

>>42660748
Yeah Kermit laughed, of courae that could be explained by the joker gas we gave to the guy with his and up the frogs ass. No, pretty sure the line was definitely funny.

>>42660772
*course

>>42660723
>"And besides, what's to make you think I wouldn't pull a stunt like this anyways? It's teusday, there aren't any good cartoons on."

>>42660723
Penguin enters from behind you, with Nightjar following. A woman you don't know is on his arm- tall, shapely, and dressed in black leather that accentuates her curves.

"Oh good," you say. "Penguin'll definitely have some cake."

Scarface looks bewildered, his eyes darting between both of you.

"Tryna pull one over on Scareface, are ya?!" he shouts. The big man behind him stands ready. Penguin readies his umbrella, and the woman next to him flashes her claws.

You hear a voice from the walkway above.

"Shoulda known better than to try to double cross a professional, pal."

Two-Face points his gun at you.

>wat do

>>42660772
He even screamed that 'he was dying' and that we were 'killing him' though when he started crying for us to 'make it stop' he lost me, the joke while funny wasn't that good. Some people have wierd tastes.

>>42660801

"Oh good, we can do this face to face Two Face"

Ready to fire the cake if anybody tries to make a really dumb move. Did we invite Penguin to the party, and why in blue blazes is Catwoman here!?

>>42660801
"You guys know with this many of us in one place Bats is going to show up right?"

>>42660801
>"Oh good," you say. "Penguin'll definitely have some cake."

best Penguin joke since "shortround"

>>42660801
"Wow almost a full house of Gothams whose who! All we're missing now is Batman. . . Oh wait there he is." Point at a random spot near the ceiling and pull gasmask duck under table. Use new gas on the room. "Doc's done saved my tookie again! That makes her two for two." Then make a run for it.

>>42660835

Note any skylights in the room and take a nice healthy step away from them.

Oh, and the fact Harv's here. Either he was planning to whack us from the start, or he knew Penguin would show up. Neither of these bodes well for us.

>>42660846
Inb4 Cole is actually a disguised Ivy and the gas doesn't work.

>>42660866

Wouldn't that just be worst? I really hope that's not the case, or we may need to use Red's services a lot more in the near future....

>>42660801
>"Ya know, I'm starting to wonder if I brought enough cake. I mean, now I've gotta feed..." Count people off on fingers. Count Scarface and Wesker as two people, and Two-face as two people.

>>42660801
>"You know what'd make this whole meeting really interesting? If there were a bomb in the room." Hold up the trigger for the cake and grin nice and wide at Two-Face.

Hey guys, unrelated conjecture but listen up for a sec yeah? It was mentioned a while back that Robin flew the coop right? What if batman's the one who croaked, Robin or night wing or whoever took his place, and that's why the Joker got bored, left town and had us take his place? Plausible or too outlandish?

>>42660948
Hilarious?

>>42660801

You finger the detonator for the cake-bomb warily, and take a good hard look for any skylights.

"Looks like we've almost got a full house..." you say warily. "Hope I brought enough cake for all 13 of us. Penguin counts as two of course. And we gotta save some for once the ol' 'King of Hearts' himself shows up..."

"Ain't nobody comin' to help you, slim." says Two-Face. "Flush gang's been in prison for six months."

"No...I meant Ba... nevermind." These fucking people, man.

"Two-Face, you were planning this from the start, right?" you tell him.

"I could say da same about you and da bird!" retorts Scarface.

>wat do

>>42660963
Oh, yes, on that note, Penguin, remind me to slip an informant into your ranks as well. It's just not fair as is.

>>42660963
>"Wait, you think I actually PLANNED to get a good half of Gotham's Best and Brightest into a room that I've got a bomb in? ...actually, this is a great time for a group photo, why don't you all bunch up together right over there?"

>>42660958

Possible, but as you said, not cogent to our current predicament. I'm certain we'll have a bit of time to do some investigating after we've extracted ourselves from this fine mess.

Two-Face is just determined to be a pain isn't he? I feel like if he doesn't back off of this course of action after this tete a tete, we start going scorched earth on him. He got 2 strikes after all, 1 more than most people get.

>>42660963
Dead-man's switch on that detonator, right?

>>42660989
This, and then get ready for batman, because there's three major vilians and a puppet in this room.

>>42660997

God I hope so. Regardless. Give them one last exchange to de-escalate. If not...

>"Well.....bl-" detonate as we beat a hasty retreat and move to war footing again

>>42660963
You know what'd be a particularly Joker move?

Kill them all, disappear from the public scene for a few weeks, watch what happens from atop a skyscraper through a flatscreen TV that had the screen busted out the back.

>>42661025
"Before any get's shooty who here wants a slice of cake, the filling is sure to surprise you, I'm just going to stand here by the door and away fr any windows or skylights though so don't mind me."

>>42661088
*anyone *from

>>42655665
Is it that hard just to put quest in the title? Why do you have to be such a prick about this?

>>42660963

"Look here, Pinnochio," you shout. "You think I actually PLANNED to get a good half of Gotham's Best and Brightest here?"

"I am here on my own accord, gentlemen. I simply wish to secure my business interests..." He pulls up a chair. Both women remain standing.

You look Penguin in the eyes angrily. "Remind me to slip an informant into your ranks as well, eh?"

He gives you a genial grin, and takes a draw from his cigarette. "Share and share alike, my friend."

"Two-Face," you say. "You're determined to make yourself a pain, aren't you?"

"You're the one who threw everything out of balance, clown. Fair's fair, slim. And I always play fair."

Minutes pass in a stalemate.

Sure enough, you hear another deep voice, and s dark figure steps from the shadows...

"Look at yourselves, squabbling like a buncha kids..."

>>42661102

because you touch yourself at night

>>42661116
"Hey Bats, I brought cake, please tell me you brought more food stuffs, I think hunger is making them cranky."

Crockers? Bane? Or is that you Johnny cakes?

Whoever it is, have some cake! It's going to waste on these Philistines.

>>42661116
is why i posted >>42661000

Threaten with a bomb? Use batman's distraction to shoot Two Face and or The Ventriloquist .

>>42661116
"And on a school night too, I know were awful, I brought playing cards we could make it a game night, whose down for poker?"

>>42661129
Nope, calling it, it's NOT Batman.

>>42661116
>"Took ya long enough to show up, Bats. Oh put that damn thing away, Two-Face. You think this many swank bastards can walk into a room and not have a couple dashing rogues follow 'em? So, I think now'd be time for a group photo. If you could all just gather around the cake..." When bats points it out, "Spoil sport."

Someone will bitch at us for bringing a bomb, just go, "Well, yeah, duh. You think I'm crazy enough to just walk into a meeting like this? So, Bats, what's the plan here? You've got the attention of damn near everyone worth talking to in Gotham. Better be a grand old punchline to this one, or it won't go well for you."

>>42661116
Batman? Maybe the guy who slipped the card into our boxes of supplies?

Catwoman or Poison Ivy?

Does Harley even exist in this world?

Check the dialog clowns, Batsy doesn't talk like that. We've got a new player joining the game. We may want to deal them a hand.

>>42661163
Probably this.

>>42661116
>"Right then." Pull out a deck of cards, start shuffling. "Buy in's ten grand for the first round, doubles each round. Max bet five hundred grand."

>>42661178
Yes, but shes off doing her own think, keeping distance from us until we either convince the op to let us waifu / use her in the gang or go after her ourselves

>>42661178

Catwoman appears to have come with Penguin. Ivy doesn't do gangland (Thank fuck), and Harley's AWOL.

>>42661193
She's probably with Ivy mate, they clean eachother's carpets.

>>42661116
>>42661184
This. Suddenly, poker night.
>"Oh, before we get started, we all gotta agree that you're all obligated to kick the shit in on the people who don't pay up."

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>>42661201

Well duh, but that ain't our problem. I like Harley much as the next guy, but she ain't here. We're cultivating our own little dolls of destruction (Not that I think we should personally, but I'm not the whole crowd's opinion either)

>>42661193
I thought the girl with Penguin was the assistant he keeps around. I forget her name (or if she even has one), but she's basically Penguin's second in command.

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>>42661116

"Oh good, Batman. I hope you brought more food. They're starting to get cra..."

"Shut up, clown."

The man is tall, with broad shoulders, and wearing a grey suit. His face is a slick black skull. You hear gunfire outside.

Penguin grits his teeth. "Mask... Who invited you?"

Two-face turns his gun to him as well, but keeps one eye on you. "I'd like ta know the same thing..."

"Got a tip. Figured it'd be worth my time... Guess I was right."

"So we have a three-way standoff, gentlemen. And I have a bomb."

You hold up the detonator. Penguin spits out the cake he'd been eating.

"If I die, we all go up."

Black Mask adjust his gloves. "Then I guess I don't kill ya. I just hurt ya real bad."

From behind him, a gang of thugs in halloween masks pour in. Above on the walkways, red-and-black masked men take aim alongside a group of bikers. And from another door enter a swarm of suited men you recognize as Penguin's boys.

"Did ANYONE in this town NOT get an invitation!?" you shout.

>wat do

>>42661269
>"Okay, seriously, do you people not understand how a bomb works? You, Scarface, you're doing amazing. Two-Face...meh, alright. Mask, seriously, you're in the blast radius. By alot. Your boys can just sit the fuck down. We're all gonna sit here. Quietly. And wait for bats to show up."

>>42661269
"What's Next? Ivy? Scarecrow? FREEZE!? This was a party meant for two, now it's all crowded. The only thing missing is Batsyboy"

Cue Bats smashing from a window

>>42661269
"You know, you'd look good in red, but then Captain America would smack you with his shield."
Sidle closer to Penguin, he's still our ally right?

>>42661269
Apologize for not bringing our own goons to the Gotham's Gang Get-Together Extrazaganza.

Please tell me nobody invited Killer Moth.

Oh, and Condiment King might show up with burgers. Probably should let him in so Ozzy can get his afternoon tea in.

>>42661287
This, and then
>>42661184
>>42661211

We can have a nice talk

>>42661269
I think it's time for us to start looking at escape routes. This whole docks situation is causing everyone to get twitchy, and the moment bullets start flying, bodies are gonna start hitting the floor and things start going boom.

Though the bigger issue is who gave everyone the invite? This is starting to sound like a real good way for another criminal big-wig to move in and claim up our land, especially if we all somehow perished in a mysterious fire or explosion in the warehouse district.

My Batman lore is a bit lacking, but there has to be someone that has a penchant for spreading rumors/lies and likes explosions... Besides the original Joker I mean.

>>42661269
>"I've got fifteen hundred on Ivy showing up next. Any takers?"

>>42661308

Anyone with Firefly on their payroll.

>>42661308
>Besides the original Joker I mean
Welp, I know who's showing up at the end of this.

>>42661308
Lex might do it, mostly out of spite

Scarecrow might do it then unleash fear gas on us all

Ras-al-ghul might do it because he hates all the Villains

Also >>42661313

>>42661219
How is Carnage talking to Joker?

>>42661328
There were a couple of crossovers between the two companies

Including one where it proved that Quicksilver is faster than Flash in a world without Speed Force

>>42661313
But I mean who else would benefit from having a good third to a half of the criminal section of Gotham going up in flames? Penguin's here, the mob is (relatively) small time, Two-Face is here too, and Mask just showed up. I feel like there's another named rogue I'm forgetting that also does some organized crime stuff, and they usually butt heads with Penguin, Two-Face, and Mask.

>>42661328

I'd say reverently, but that panel's up to interpretation.

Seriously though, there were a few DC/Marvel crossovers back in the 90s of somewhat dubious quality.

>>42661335

I think you hit it on the head with the Mob. Clean the freaks out and take the underworld back. Not a bright move on their part, but I could see some bright-eyed young Don getting the idea in their head. Maybe Intergang, but they usually stick to Metropolis.

>>42661336
If my memory serves, the climactic battle involved Superman wielding Mjolnir, so the quality is a bit... lacking.

>>42661269
"Did I forget that this was poker night or something? Also I'm guessing Batman everytime a new person enters the room, seriously with this many criminals in one place how can he resist, we're like the cookie jar that was left on the table."

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>>42661269

"Just who the hell is next? Seriously people, do you not understand how a bomb works? You, Scarface, you're doing...."

The little man interrupts you, and shouts "GET EM!"

From above, the men start shooting. A swathe of the masked men are dead in an instant, before they are able to open fire on both Penguin's men and the men in the rafters. In a moment all three gangs are firing on each other, as bodies fall from the ceiling.

Two-Face flips the table, and runs for cover, firing at Mask. "Rhino, get da bird!" shouts Scarface, as Wesker pulls the little man to safety. His massive bodyguard leaps at Penguin. He opens his umbrella and holds it before him, bullets plinking off of it.

'Magpie. Would you?" he asks genially. The woman kicks off the ground and leaps at the man, clawing his face. Though the man could probably break her in half, she ducks between his blows. In a few moments, she strikes the big man in the throat and he crumples to the floor.

You know exactly what to do. You set off the bomb. Frosting and shrapnel fly everywhere, as the roof of the warehouse begins to collapse.

>wat do

>>42661378
Laugh like the Joker.

>>42661378
>Stroll at a leisurely pace outside of the building towards Penguins friends. "I dunno about you, tweety, but this night is going magically for me. What say we go wait for Bats to pop up someplace comfy?"

>>42661390
>>42661392
This

>>42661378
Stand there and laugh and laugh and laugh, then >>42661392

>>42661378

Exit, stage left! Gentemen, we would appear to have a war on our hands.

>>42661378
"Now he shows up. You're late! Hahaha!" gasmask on gas is a go leaving is main objective.

>>42661378
"Looks like the cake was quite a blast! I'll have to save that recipe for later..."

Make sure Penguin and Magpie are ok and fleeing as well, then start getting out of here before the cops and/or Batman arrive.

>>42661405
>>42661390
>>42661392
>>42661378
>All the shit we've been through
>All of the horrible shit we've done just with the hope of staying alive
>And we're fucked by bad luck
It's just too funny

>>42661407
>collapsing roof typical batman entrance.

>>42661415
More like bat luck, seriously starting to think he wants our D.

>>42661421

Oh man, if we get out of here, have Holly blame the warehouse's destruction on Batman. May not work short term. But we can start a smear campaign on how much Batman costs the city and taxpayers, turn at least a little of public opinion against him.

>>42661378

The building goes up in flames. You, Dottie, and Knock walk from the wreckage. You can't help but laugh like a madman at the sheer implausibility of it all.

Penguin, Magpie, and Nightjar soon follow. "Cake was a real blast, eh Pengy?" you ask. He seems unshaken, but very upset. "Lost a lot of men tonight. Bad for business." Nightjar lights a cigarette for him.

"What about everyone else?" you ask.

"While I wholeheartedly wish that we'd seen the last of those disfigured dunces, I'd count on them being back at it as soon as tomorrow.

Now come ladies. M'boy. We'd best clear out before..." He shakes his head and motions dismissively towards the explosion.

You part ways with Penguin and the girls, and get into the car with your friends. You look at the clock. It's past eleven, nearly midnight.

As you ride through town, still smelling of smoke and sugar, you think back to all that's happened tonight.

Two gang alliances and a third gang, all ready to go at each other's throats.

The clock strikes twelve. October 1st.

And who, you think, was Black Mask's tipster? Who set you all against each other? Who else would have known...? It couldn't have been HER, could it...?

You hear sirens, as expected. No doubt going for the warehouse. Except... These sirens are in front of you?

>>42661526
"What in the blazes is going on now. We need to lay low. . . I think we may have another traitor."

>>42661526
holy hell, traitors, traitors everywhere.

>>42661526
I think it might be time to clean house.
You know the best way to clean a house of pests?
Gas them out


Also, you know what I just remembered?
When we got shot by Toppsy, we were told "Him, his girlfriend, and the floozy ran off"

>>42661526

All over the center of Gotham, the sewers burst open. A ghostly white fog creeps over the city. The people. Strange creatures leap from every alleyway, and faces melt into skulls. Swarms of spiders pour from people's eyes and mouths. It is hell on earth.

When he sees them, Knock turns to avoid the sirens. Dottie clicks the radio on.

"All over Gotham, there are reports of hallucinations, paranoia, and hysteria. The police believe it is related to the fog spreading over the city. They advise to secure your homes and remain indoors."

You think back to school, and everything you'd heard about Gotham since you transferred. "I know about this. They talked about him all the time in the psych department. This is Scarecrow, right? Crane?"

Dottie looks troubled. "It...sounds like it. Except Crane is in Arkham. He was inside when I was. He was right next door."

You continue the ride in silence.

When you arrive at the park, you drop to the couch, exhausted. Finally you have a chance to gather your thoughts.

>what ask
>what do

holy shit what is going on

>>42661580
first of all we should figure out currently what big shot assclowns are running around out of arkham and what the shit they are up to currently.
secondly we need to figure out how to deal with said buffoons.
finally we need to do this in a way that will get batman off our ass because he already knows who we are, and hes probably gonna come gunning for us really soon.

>>42661580
Man, our lady Coal the Loco actually managed to replicate Scarecrow's hallucinogen. Give her a bonus?

>>42661580
"Think our break-in helped him break out? Also, does he run a gang or does he just act on his own??"

>>42661580
Grab a six pack, a big plate of bacon, a huge bowl of popcorn, and turn on the news. Have Knock put all of the goods on lockdown. Dwayne gives Holly a call to make sure she's not getting fucked.

>>42661585
some dickass let scarecrow out when we went to arkham i think, as well as a few others.
now gotham is quickly going the way of no man's land, which is completely fucking terrible for everybody involved.
bats might snap and murder people again pretty soon.

>>42661580
>>what ask
"I wonder if the pie is ready... We need to initiate the professor sometime tonight. Also she would have an idea about what's going on, chemicals and all that."

>>42661604
>. Dwayne gives Holly a call to make sure she's not getting fucked.
See >>42661572
Holly is a traitor

>>42661580
"Someone let slip what was happening tonight in an attempt to clear out the biggest players. I know that probably isn't Dottie, Dwayne, Knock, the twins, or spike. The professor wasn't aware of the meeting so she's out of the running too. That just leaves two suspects."

>>42661614
Leak doesn't have to be on our end
We invited Scarface, He invited Twoface, and Bird invited Peguin
The leak could be on any of their ends

>>42661580
>>42661604
Seconding this.

>>42661619
True, but I doubt it. Still let's not be rash and act without solid evidence.

So Crane or someone got into his spook gas. Or its magic we are dealing with.

Honestly, I think it's time we looked into our allies' backgrounds and their personal doings. Maybe Collette or whatever her name is. This spook gas sounds right up her alley. Lace the waterways with the stuff, then when the clock strikes 12 she sets off a chemical reaction to have it all go up onto the streets in gas form.

We still need to make sure Crane is in Arkham, not that I don't trust our ally.

>>42661641
I doubt she'd pull this without mentioning it to us, plus this doesn't feel like her style.

>>42661580

Finally, you turn to Dottie. "Could Crane have gotten out when we busted you out?"

She shrugs. "Normally they'd report it. Other than me an' Clayface wasn't any body else from the Basement got out."

"...That we know of," adds Knock. "Got knows what those types cook up in there." He glances at Dottie. "...No offense, Dot."

"Does Crane run a gang? Somebody we can track down?" you ask. She shakes her head. "Private contractor when he works with people. Boss worked with him once or twice." She smiles. "Nice guy. Real funny."

"Well, is there anybody else loose? Anybody that could be after all of us?"

"That'd work against us? Not that I can think of... Ivy's out. She gets in her head every once in a while to go rogue and smash the city up, but she's been MIA for a while now. She and Harley..." She makes a pair of scissors with each hand, and makes a very rude gesture with them. "...And probably off playin' Supergirl-Batgirl, if you get my drift. Besides, it's not her M.O."

You finally ask question that had been nagging you for a while. "Do you think it was Coal?"

There is silence for a moment, and Knock speaks up. "You told her about it right before you left. Even if she ratted on us to Mask, she couldn't have had time to set up an attack like that."

"And what if the attack was planned beforehand?" you ask.

"I guess it's possible. Just bad timin' on our part. Coulda sent Mask after us Once she found out. Not sure it's her style though."


"...And what about Holly?" you ask.

"Probably." says Dottie.

"MAYBE." says Knock. "But it might not have been one of ours. Coulda been one of Penguin, Two-Face or Scarface's men."

"That may be," you say. "But better safe than sorry..."

You hear someone coming down the stairs. When he enters, you recognize it as Dwayne, wearing normal clothes and no makeup.

"Good to see you guy's are alright. Shit got crazy out there. I got stuck at Spike's; helped 'em lock things down until the fog blew over."

>>42661760
>dwayne may very well be the traitor
well shit.

>>42661813
Please don't let him be the traitor, QM.

>>42661813
Bro, he took Spike home, he couldn't go in the onesie

>>42661760

"You've been there this whole time? Dwayne, it's been hours."

You swear you see him blush. "Karen's a swell lady. We had coffee."

Dottie sniggers.

"How'd things with Scarface go?" he asks.

"Not good," you say. "Especially when Black Mask showed up to kill the four of us."

"Damn, chief. That means we got people comin' at us from two directions." he says.

"Mask got a tipoff to our location. Might have something to do with the fog. We don't know if whoever tipped him off was on his side or not though. Either way, we have some unknown party out there."

"I think I'll call in Coal. She might be able to shed some light on the gas."

You ring up Coal's office again. She picks up.

"Hello Coal. I'm sure you've seen...."

You hear her talking to someone on the other line. A few moments later she comes back. She is talking directly into the receiver.

"The POLICE are here about the fog. Did you do this?"

>wat do

>>42661825
>implying spike ever got home
>his corpse might be found in a dumpster tomorrow.

>>42661868
>The POLICE are here about the fog. Did you do this?
Not at all, it certainly made my unexpected party a gas though. Wanted to check in to see if you know who the donator was, was thinking it was Ichabod but you never know since he's supposedly still locked up

>>42661868
Nope, it's pretty good though isn't it? I wonder how they dispersed it.

Timed release bombs is what I'm thinking, also makes me wonder how a construction crew didn't notice them."

>>42661868

dwayne confirmed spikes new dad

>>42661868

"No. But we were stabbed in the back tonight, and we think whoever it was that released the gas had something to do with it. We figured it was Crane, but Dot said he's in Arkham."

"He is, but it is him- in a way. It's his formula. Exactly the same, in fact. It matches samples from his last case perfectly- it's from the same batch. It must have been stolen."

"How'd they distribute it? Time bombs? There's been a lot of construction from our bombings recently. You'd think they would have spotted them."

"That's just it," she says. "Whoever it was was using the construction to hide the bombs. The stolen chemicals, the bombings- that's why I thought it was you. And the police seem to think so too. But you say it wasn't?"

"No. I just want to find out who it is."

You hear her sigh. "Well... alright. Now I have to make sure you're ruled out of the investigation without any facts to back it up."

>what say?

>>42661970
You're still doing the initiation tonight yeah?

>>42661988
This, tell her we'll even get her a gift.

The gift must be a red clown nose.

>>42661970
let them investigate us, its not like we care adds to our image

File: SCISSOR ME TIMBERS.jpg (1.13 MB, 2688x1520)

1.13 MB JPG

>>42661760
>She and Harley..." She makes a pair of scissors with each hand, and makes a very rude gesture with them. "...And probably off playin' Supergirl-Batgirl, if you get my drift.

jesus christ I'm dying

>>42661970

A wicked smile crosses your face. "We're still on for our initiation tonight... Right?"

"I...I don't have time for this!" she says, and hangs up.

"Some other time then..." you say to yourself.

You explain the situation to the gang.

"So Coal and the police thought it was us, then?"

"Right," you say. "Whoever it is has been using the construction from our bombings to plant bombs of their own. And you were right, Dot. It wasn't Crane. She said the gas was stolen."

"Then Holly." suggests Dottie. "Has to be. Who else knew?"

"Besides the entirety of three of the city's gangs?" says Knock.

"Think about it, Knock. Holly's got pull in this city. She's got her little foundation, yeah? Coulda slipped the bombs in that way. And since we worked with Crane, she coulda got the gas that way."

"But Holly didn't know about the dock strikes until Nightjar..." Dottie interrupts him.

"Holly probably knew about the dock strikes before we did, Knock. News station, remember?"

He is silent.

Dwayne speaks up. "Boss, Holly's a bloodsucker, but I dunno if she's a traitor. What's she got to gain from it?"

"From setting all the gangs at war?" says Dottie. "The lady that goes on TV and talks about how we're a buncha lowlife parasites every day, and you wanna know what she has to gain from settin' us to killin' each other in the streets, D?

'Look at all the crooks in this city! Ain't it a shame how alla them poor bastards are guttin' each other! Don't want them to get you and yours do ya? Better donate to my godforsaken money-sink, ya rich ignorant bastards!'

It's all a con, D. We may not be the mark but we're still gettin' played."

>wat do?

>>42662221

you gonna be okay dot?

>>42662221
Start watching the news, we're a psychologist. We'll start putting together a profile and work from there. Besides, she wants to spend more time with us.
We should let her, learn about her family and work on a profile from what both sides of the coin shows us.
And we need to start plotting our next move, if slightly wrong information to Holly trips up the other gangs all the better.

>>42662221
Invite Holly for a Talk, she's family after all and at least deserves a warning.

>I was right about the construction crews

Can we have spike take a look at the workers, see if they have connections (Past or present) to a gang?

Also why do II get the feeling it was the Condiment king.

>>42662221
"Don't take this the wrong way, but what's the deal with you and her anyway Dot?"

>>42662342
We really oughta talk to Mr. Mayo as soon as possible, he's a loose canon. Which is fine, but we need to bring him into the fold. Put those idle hands to use.

>>42662358
You know what they say about idle hands...

>>42662363
Idle hands are the Joker's playground?

>>42662467
No silly, having idle hands gets you slapped by granny.

>>42662221

The room is quiet. "...You gonna be okay, Dot?" you ask.

She turns to you. "Boss, don't let her play ya. You know how she is."

"I think I should keep an eye on Holly. She said she was willing to spend some more time with us.

I want to build a profile on her. Both what she tells me, and what she doesn't. Her family, her history...

Like it or not though, Holly's family. I won't make a move on her unless I'm certain. While we're planning our next move, though, maybe we should feed her some... skewed info. And if the other gangs follow up on it... Well, then we can think about what to do with Her."

"What about... Whatsis name, Mayor Mustard?" asks Knock. "He's an outsider. Real convenient he showed up right before all this went down."

"But he's not been around, Knock. I'm more concerned about that spot light that showed up..."

"Either way," you say. "Let's have Spike look into the construction crews. Especially if any of them have gang ties."


The group breaks for the evening, and you take Dwayne aside. "D, what's the real deal with Dottie and Holly?"

He sighs. "You wanna know the truth about Dot, chief?

>Dot was in a cell next to Scarecrow
>Access to Chem Lab
>Immediately after we get her out Fear Gas Attack
>About as much a lifer as Knock
>Violent streak
>Fear Gas Attack covered our get away
Guys! Guys!

>>42662571
Doesn't she have multiple personalities too?

>>42662506

"Dottie...Dorothy's from down towards Crime Alley. Real rough part of town. Lived with her mom and sister, both of 'em hairdressers. 'Swhy she's good with the makeup and stuff.

So Dottie falls in with the gangs, see? But there's somethin' about her. Somethin... Well..." He taps his finger to his forehead again, a gesture you'd seen Knock use before your break-in to Arkham.

"...And every time the gang start's gettin' big, they all get wiped out. Real big mess, every time. And every time Dot's the only one who walks out. Nobody cared to investigate, cuz nobody gives a shit about a buncha dead gang kids." He throws up his hands "...Now I'm not sayin'... Ya know. But I did hear a guy talkin' about the night the Old Boss recruited her, yeah? The whole gang joined up one our territory spread into theirs. Old Boss went to check 'em out, came back with Dot. Said he 'liked her attitude.' Guy found out later the whole group was dead."

"'Sall hearsay, of course. She's always been a sweet girl. Just can't get attached to people. Or gets too attached, I dunno."

"...And what's all this got to do will Holly?"

"Point is," says Dwayne, "Dot ain't had it easy. Holly grew up rich and gets to be on TV. Dot got real drunk one night 'n told me she wanted to be an actress as a kid.

That's all it is. Dottie hates her 'cause Holly gets to be a princess."

"That's it? You can't be serious."

"That's it, chief. Doesn't help that Holly does her best to antagonize her, but there you go. And ever since I been in this gang those two have been at each other's throats. And they're not gonna stop 'till one of 'em's dead."

>wat do

>>42662571
I could also be The old joker tipping the mobs and using the gas

>>42662583
That's dissociative identity. Dotty has schitzoid personality

>>42662506
Lemme guess, she had two brothers and all of them spent some time in a certain water tower?

>>42662605

Has QM confirmed Dottie is not a cat/rabbit thing?

>>42662590
Let's go talk to Dottie, ask about the old gangs.

>>42662590
that is hilariously petty

>>42662571
But she was only in arkham because she saved us from bam ham

Jesus op, i went to bed woke up, had my morning OJ and your still running?

>>42662590
>Take Dot to the back room
>Talk to her, not as the Joker, as Brock
>Offer councilling
>Point out we trust her, we're just worried about her
>Tell her not to worry about Holly
kiss the adorable psychotic on the cheek
>Try to figure out what our options when Joker comes back
Z-list villian or Joker ganger?

>>42662647

I missed a day. I have to make up for it.

>>42662590
>>42662655
"You have real talent, skills, and looks...why are you spending your time mixing it up with these guys and knocking over Gas 'n Gos? I mean I'm glad you are, but, why?"

>>42662666
We appreciate it, but don't burn yourself out.

>>42662590

You nod to Dwayne, and think about things for a bit.

Then you approach Dottie.

"Hey Dot, meet me in the office for a minute." She follows, and you shut the door behind you both.

As you talk, you stand at the mirror, scrubbing the makeup from your face with a rag. "Dottie, this thing between you and Holly..."

She protests. "Boss, you KNOW you can't trust her!"

"I know," you say. "She's used to getting her way, and she's used to having people give everything to her. Believe me, Dot. I know. But that doesn't mean she's a traitor.

Dot, you said you knew Crane. You were next door to him, and you knew everything. Somebody could say it could've been you-"

"Now wait a second, boss!"

"-but I know it wasn't. I trust you Dot, and I'm gonna need you to trust me too."

She nods, slowly.

"Dottie, remember when you told me about your old gangs?"

She looks confused. "...Yeah?"

"What REALLY happened to them?"

She starts laughing. "Did D give you the whole Slasher movie story? He's been piecin' that together since he got in. I let the boys tell that stuff to spook 'em.

Nah boss, truth is, life's hard out there. I was just one of the lucky ones. Five or six kids gettin' slashed up every once in a while isn't even enough to make most people look up from their coffee. Thing about you, Boss, is when you hurt people, you make everybody care."

"Dot, you've got talent. You got looks. Why're you spending your life mixing it up with guys like this, knocking over Gas 'n Go's? I mean, I'm glad you're here...But why?"

She looks you in the eyes. "You think I could ever do that? I had a record before I was out of Middle School, and almost finished High School up in Arkham. I've had to cut guys in half because their bodies wouldn't fit in a trunk, and ya think I could go bust tables for thirty years? Nah, boss. Gang's gonna kill me sooner or later. Somethin' we all learn to live with."

She shrugs.

"...And what about me, Dot? What if the Joker comes back?"

>>42662890

She looks you in the eyes, sadly.

"You want my advice, Boss? Get out of here. Call up the little guy who does the books, cash out, and run. And don't stop runnin'."

"And what if I don't, Dot? What if stay right here, with you? With all of you?"

"I...I don't know."


The look in her eye says otherwise.


>what do

>>42662877

I have a lot to cover and only 8 more threads to do it in.

>>42662944
"Yeah...that's what I figured, not the first guy he's done this to I'd guess. Guess he'd be uncomfortable with me trying to transfer to regular gang-member or something. Still, if it comes to that, it's been fun."
kiss the girl on the cheek
"Don't worry about Holly, yeah? She's not my type."

>>42662970
Why 8 threads?

>>42662989
i'm fine with all of this except for the kiss part

>>42663119
That's fair, there's a reason it's spoiler'd.

File: image.jpg (22 KB, 300x250)

22 KB JPG

>>42662944

"Yeah... That's about what I figured," you reply.

"Has he done this before?"

She remains quiet. Then, slowly, she says, "...Not that I know of. But... Stranger things have happened."

"And no chance of a demotion? To one of you guys? Or...I dunno, some kind of retirement package?" You try to smile.

She only looks at you, quietly. She shakes her head, very slowly.

"Well, Dot..." you say. "If it comes to that... I guess it's been fun."

You lean in, and gives her a gentle kiss on the cheek. She smells like grease paint and cigarette smoke.

She goes as rigid as a board, before standing, and wordlessly leaving the room.

>>42662970
Your not gong to kill it in 8 threads are you?

>>42663144
Not sure if disgusted or pure spaghetti.

>>42663158
Ahe pretty much just admited were dead. Might not want to get to close to us.

File: image.jpg (128 KB, 796x598)

128 KB JPG

>>42662989
>>42663119
>>42663130
>pic

>>42663145
>>42663164
>>42663087

3 volumes, 15 issues. It's a good round number that keeps things just staying stagnant for 100 threads or whatever. This way there can be a beginning and an end.

And I didn't say "dead."

>>42663200
That's respectable I guess.

>>42663200
But this quest is interesting dammit

>>42663164
Well we both knew that for a while now.
>inb4 "So, kiddos! Where's my boy? I haven't seen him in years, but I saw the news! Maybe I'm gushing, but your old uncle J isn't getting any younger, and he's just made me so proud!"
>Meanwhile Brock is hanging out in Bludhaven with Condiment King and Kite Man.
"..he's palling around with CONDIMENT KING and KITE MAN?! Dwayne! Knock! It's time for a family reunion!"

>>42663240

This way, I can be sure it stays that way.

>>42662890
is Dottie lying?

>>42663306
I'm pretty sure she's being straight with us. She has no reason to lie.

>>42663144

You are left alone with your thoughts.

Dottie confirmed what you already knew: when...IF the Joker returns, you're dead. Everything that you've done in this city will be undone. It will return to the Joker's indiscriminate killings, your friends will forget you and fight for him until they are killed or imprisoned, and you'll be just another few loose splinters of bone on the floor of the Hyena pen.

....Like Top Hat. You shudder.

It is nearly dawn when you finally lay down in the Joker's bed. You can't help but think of all the questions the night has brought up. You realize how few of these people you can actually trust... And who among those could betray you.

You fall asleep quickly, but sleep unsoundly.
Elsewhere in the city, earlier that night....


Two of the Joker's men are standing watch near the pier, waiting to call home if Scarface's boys make a move.

Their is a shrill noise, and a black shape plunges from the sky. One of the men is swept into the air and out of sight of his comrade.

His friend fires his gun into the empty air. There is a sickening crunch, as the body of the other man falls from the sky, dead.

And as the terrified man looks to the sky, the same huge black shape comes for him.


He is dead instantly.


>end of issue 7

>>42663385
>hey did you murder like a shitload of dudes
>no
>SEEMS LEGIT

also she was in arkham on the floor with the supervillians.

>>42663435
Pretty sure that she was there because Batman wanted to trap us in Arkahm. Also is the batman murdering our street thugs, I mean it isn't his style.

>>42663460
Think we might have a Red Hood thing happening?

I hope so. Red Hood was the shit.

>>42663435
Yeah, at the time it seemed like Bats had her moved there because he figured we show. If that's not the case then Dot is like 2 seconds from going full supervillian in her own right at any given time. Probably staying with the gang either out of loyalty to other members or convenience.
Which might be able to be worked to our advantage.
However, one thing is certain, if the original comes back we have to warn Coal.

>>42663460
>>42663485

Sounds like Azrael but Red Hood sounds right too. Especially since we're the Joker, plus there was that whole thing with the gangs.

>>42663240
The best quests are those who end, anon.
Either you die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain.
And trust me, there were good quests.

>>42663485
>3 way fight atop Wayne Enterprises between Red Hood, Bam Ham and not!Joker over the fate of Gotham.

>>42663407
>shrill noise
>black shape
>into the air
Man-bat confirmed. Hoooo boy.

>>42663514

>mig issue 50: "the Joker trains to get strong"
>mig issue 137: "staring longingly into dottys eye for 300 posts"
>mig 200: "holly/nightjar yuri arc"

>>42663407
The Penguin could be playing us, we are still competition, he could have easily tipped off the other gangs. He could be sending his lady friend out to the docks to make hits on strikers too. Could also be clayface or killer croc too.

>>42663542
Those all sound interesting