The Killing Joke

Chapter Three: Games We Play

 (warning slight sexual content)

‘O, we'll go no more a-roving

So late into the night,

Though the heart be still as loving,

And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,

And the soul wears out the breast,

And the heart must pause to breathe,

And love itself have a rest.

Though the night was made for loving,

And the day returns too soon,

Yet we'll go no more a-roving

By the light of the moon.’ – Lord Byron “well go no more a-roving”

            Joker stood staring at his full shot glass as he waited for Harley and the others to come in unfor-tun-ately they were late. They better be dead or getting damn good footage. If he actually cared he might actually be worried. He threw back the shot and then looked toward Corcoran who was cleaning a mason jar. His curiosity got the best of him. He sidled closer to the bartender and reached behind the counter to where his hand closed around a mason jar.

“Now what is this exa-ct-ly?” he wondered curiously.

“Its white liquor, Eli very much likes the drink. It’s very strong though. It goes down very easy but as I said it gets you quicker than you realize.” The Irishman warned.

“hm...m...m” he mumbled while opening the jar and taking a gulp. A sweetness and warmth went over his tongue and down his throat before a wave of dizziness hit him.

“Tell me Corcoran my friend who was that girl and further more should I be worried about the said dame?” he breathed through the warmth in his throat.

“She is from the south, she isn’t one to trifle with and neither is her family. They are much like wolves, sticking together and preying on the weak. She isn’t as helpless as she seems.” He answered almost whispering.

“Why is she here rather than with her family and why do I get the feeling she isn’t a criminal?” he asked gazing at the older man.

“That is simply because she has chosen a different path than the one her family has chosen. So she came here to start a new and better life. Far from all the constraint her family represents to her ideals and choices.” He let his gaze meet his old friends daring him not to believe him.

“Now that is interesting to say the least. What criminal tries to live a decent life when it’s so easy to live the life of a criminal?” he wondered belatedly as he continued to take sips from his mason jar.

“A criminal that challenges themselves that isn’t interested in money and the like. It is far harder to live a good and decent life than it is a criminal life. You know that as well as anyone. You should respect her for turning her back on everything she was taught and grew up with to simply be better.” Corcoran started cleaning glasses with vigor before he paused thinking for a moment before adding softly “your men will not be returning, you should not have put her to the test because she will rise to the challenge and succeed. One may return to send you a message she wishes to send back, the others will die by her blades.”

“Blades? Not guns?” he cocked his head to the side studying his bustling friend.

“Yes that’s something you two share is your love of knives over guns, though she can use those just as proficiently as knives.” Joker’s eyes brows rose before he took another gulp of liquor.