The Joker And The Fool

1.(1) The rainy days of Gotham city

It was a rainy day in the month of September. One could argue that every day was a rainy day during that September of that year. But it was a particularly rainy day that day. The streets seemed flooded, the potholes had turned to large lakes on the road. And cars that drove slowly through the streets created large waves on the roads that clattered on the sidewalks. Later was discovered that this particular day was the rainiest day of the year, and that not very later during the day most of the sewers in the Narrows, one of the poor quarters of Gotham City, had flooded.

There had to be a reason for Diana Jane Watson to make use of any sort of public transport; today it being the rain. She had foreseen that the traffic would be slow that day, and via metro she would be able to travel faster. If she took the metro towards the university of Gotham, she could then travel by bus to Arkham Island. This morning, she had set her alarm at half past four o'clock; it was currently half past eight; she was late.

Diana Watson worked as a Psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum. Beside Arkham prison, this was the only facility on Arkham Island. Its official name should have been Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Diana had been working in the Asylum for two years, before that she had worked there as an intern for the duration of her studies. She had been a graduate of Gotham University. Beside the fact that she was one of the brightest students of her class, she came from a rich family. Her Father, Thomas Watson was an old friend to one of the executive officers of Arkham Asylum who was now Diana's supervisor. There are not many first-class students who are given the opportunity to work in the asylum. Diana was always aware of her privilege; but she believed that her academic prestige was a principal cause for her successful career.

During her internship she worked with the Doctor Randolph Carter. Doctor Carter was one of the Head Psychiatrists in the Asylum. He worked mostly with clients who were also delinquents. it was he who suggested that Diana would be an ideal successor. For Carter was an old man, who had hoped to resign within the following years of Diana's study. When Diana eventually received her advanced professional degree, she would relieve Doctor Carter of his position that very same year. Diana did not have an authorial position within the institute, like Doctor Carter had. Another colleague of hers, Doctor Leslie Thompson was given that title. She was much older and much more experienced than Diana was. Diana would not have wanted her role, she was content. Diana delivered wonderful results according to her superiors, however, that was all she did. Diana did that what was mandatory, but she never did more than she was asked to do. She was never present during any office parties, and she never conversated much with her colleagues. Diana had a different life beside her work, one that not many people knew of. During her spare time, she was often found at parties and within the company of rich men. Her father had many connections in Gotham City, which is why she was acquainted to his associates.

Men had always liked Diana. The reason for this was because she was beautiful; beside that she was nothing to them. Diana had a gift of letting other speak, while she listened. Such as she spoke not of her private life at work; she did not speak of her profession to her affaires. She knew exactly what to say, when to say it, and when to be silent. Often she had multiple affairs at once; but never of any consequence. Diana had only had one serious relationship in her life, this was with one of the professors and researchers of Gotham University. She had been his assistant researcher during her studies. However, when she started working at Arkham their relationship had weathered away. This, she did not care much about at the time. She did not see a future for their relationship; he was married and he had two children with his wife. These past few years she had occasional romances with a certain Bruce Wayne. He was a billionaire with a good taste for depressive disorders. She had helped him as his unofficial psychiatrist when she was still enrolled in her studies. She had not treated him; for she was legally impaired to do so. However, they had discussed many matters which indicated that he struggled with both depression as drug abuse. Her involvement with Bruce at the time was at request of an old friend of her father: Alfred Pennyworth. Diana knew not exactly from where they knew each other; but she had seen Alfred before when she was but a child.