they hardly touch the ground

[manofmyword]

At five minutes to five, the Joker is waiting next to a tied-up accountant on top of a large pile of money. This is going to be so much fun.

Comments

[gothamscitizens]

"Thanks for calling, Cindy. What's your question for Mr. Reese?"

[manofmyword]

(Was that a faint scream? The sound of crackling flames? Surely not.)

"I just want to know if he's really thought this through," says 'Cindy'. Confidingly: "These young fellas never think about the consequences."

[gothamscitizens]

"All right, hold please, Cindy, I'll transfer you."

Smooth jazz fills the line for a moment, then--

"Caller," says Mike Engels, "you're on the air."

[manofmyword]

He drops the old lady act.

"Hiii, Gotham. Didja miss me?"

[gothamscitizens]

In the studio, Reese looks confused.

Engels remembers that video, though. Vividly.

"Who is this?"

[manofmyword]

"I had a visionn," the Joker begins. "Of a world without a Bat. The mob ground out a little profit, and the police tried to shut them down one block at a time. And it was so..." he pauses, as though searching for the right word, "boring."

"I've had a change of heart. I don't want Mr. Reese spoiling everything – but why should I have all the fun? Let's give someone else a chance! If Coleman Reessse isn't dead in sixty minutes, then I blow up a hospital."

[gothamscitizens]

Reese goes pale.

The studio audience gasps. Engels' producer behind the cameras starts for the stage. "Someone get security, call the cops--"

"Why did you change your mind?" Engels says quickly, over the sudden clamor in the studio. This is the story of the goddamn year, if he can just keep the guy on the line before his asshole of a producer yells cut.

[manofmyword]

"Angling for an interview?" he purrs. "Be careful what you wish for."

[gothamscitizens]

"This--"

"Cut that goddamn phone line!" the producer yells. "What the fuck are you doing, Mike, trying to start a panic?"

With a sharp click, the phone line goes dead.