Humphry Dumpler made his way down the long hallway, stopping along the way to peek through the small windows of certain cells. He enjoyed seeing how the other, more colorful patients spent their time. Ivy had her plants, Harvey had his coin, and Humphry? Well, he had his projects. The most recent one was an exercise given by Doctor Wilkens. He had given Humpty a small puzzle as a gift for behaving during his sessions. Humpty had made it his goal to finish it in honor of the doctor, who had been killed later that day by Zsasz.

"Harvey Dent, I've come for your rent!" He joked, tapping on Two-Face's cell door.

He chuckled and flicked his coin high in the air. Dumpler smiled and continued down the hall. Most of the inmates didn't mind talking with him. He assumed it was because there was no reason to dislike him. Even when he had confronted Zsasz about the killing of his favorite doctor, their voices stayed at conversation level. Zsasz even apologized to him, even though he still said it had to be done. This made Dumpty extremely happy. Getting the patients to admit wrong-doing was something he relished. Zsasz still believed he needed to kill Wilkens, but he made the effort to repair his relationship with Humpty, a huge step from when he first arrived at Arkham. As he entered the Recreational Room, Joker called out to him.

"Humpty! Come over here, you lovable tub of lard!" He cackled from the card table.

"Hello hello, my happy chum! What's that card beneath your thumb?" Humpty asked, sitting down and motioning to Joker's right hand.

"Oh this? Its the setup for an amazing trick!" He said, waving the ace of spades around.

Dumpty was enamored and clapped excitedly.

"But... I think I'm gonna wait until more people show up. What's the point of being amazing if no one is around to see, right?" The clown said, placing it back on the table.

Humpty thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

"This is true, inmates make haste. Without a crowd, the tricks a waste!" He chuckled with a smile.

Cash looked up from the sink into the mirror of the men's room, beads of water dripping from his chin. He grabbed a paper towel and dried his face, tossing it into the trashcan by the door. He adjusted his belt, making sure it was straight. Cash let out a groan, moving to the exits. He stopped and leaned against the door frame. He had slept well the night before. This place was killing him, mentally and physically.

"Alright Aaron... Getcha game face on" He whispered softly to himself.

The door opened into the Rec Room, where Joker and Humpty were already sitting at a table.

"Good morning, Aaron" Said Joker with a huge grin.

Cash smiled sarcastically and took a seat near the entrance.

Jonathan Crane was brought to the Recreation room. Hmph, all of these dangerous criminals in one place at one time. I have been replaced with an imbicile!

Crane made his way to the table he had been invited to the previous day, "Joker, Humpty, and Cash... what have we today? Perhaps an amusing trick from our resident clown? Or maybe a puzzle to be completed from the Storybook character?" He glaced to the others around the table with his piecing blue eyes.

"What is this 'meeting' about?"

Joker grinned at Jonathan and held up the ace.

"Doctor Crane! Just in time to see my trick! I was actually waiting on Officer Cash, hoping he would assist me... Aaron, what do you say? Give the people what they want?" He questioned, his grin uncomfortably shining at him.

Aaron stood from his chair and made his way to the trio.

"You know what, Chuckles? I'm in the mood for a good laugh..." He said, taking a seat next to Humpty.

Joker cackled excitedly.

"Wonderful! Alright... In my hand, I hold the ace of spades" He explained, flashing the card to his audience.

He pressed it between his hands, opening them again to reveal the card was missing.

"Now you see, now you don't!" He shouted.

Joker pointed at Cash, his yellow fingernail long and jagged.

"Mister Cash... Will you please check your wallet?" Joker whispered, holding back laughter.

Aaron slowly reached for his wallet, made from Croc's skin. He opened it and looked down. There, tucked away where his Master Keycard had been, was the ace. Humpty clapped with excitement and giggled. Aaron looked up at Joker.

"I'm impressed... But where's the Master Key?" He questioned, handing the clown back the ace.

Joker reached behind his ear and drew back with the key.

"My my Aaron! You should really clean your ears" He said in a low voice.

Aaron took the card from his hand and placed it back into his wallet.

"Guess I'm gonna have to let everyone know you've learned a new trick, huh?" Cash said, walking back to his seat near the entrance.

"You've got me all wrong. That isn't a new trick... I've been able to do that for years. That's how I take my day trips into Gotham. I could leave anytime I wanted, if we're being truthful... But I've grown bored with the outside world. It's far more entertaining here... Where I can slowly destroy the staff sanity" He said with a wink.

Aaron gave a slow clap and smile.

"Hell, maybe I'll even find another pearl like I did with Harley! Whatdya say, Cash? Wanna be my sidekick? Why should Bats get to have all the fun with Birdboy?" He cackled, resting his head in his hands.

"Ah yes, more rhymes... I don't know how you keep it up." A quiet, aggrivated voice piped from the corner, barely audible from behind the pages of a thick book. Edward Nygma, also reffered to asthe Riddler, was absently parused throgh the chapters of the last book on the shelf; the Encyclopedia Britanica... The boredom had become so intense that he siply flippe through the pictures and read whatever looked moderately interesting. This was the last edition out of twelve. Needless to say, he'd been there a while.

Nygma did't mind Humphry, he even found him amiable. The Joker, however, was an entirely differant story. Jokers and Riddlers don't mix well; one carries the "noble" tradition of asking complicated questions with cryptic answers, the other gives punchlines ith decent timing. He could tolerate the man, but not for long.

_______

"Mornin' Puddin'!" The blonde pushed her hair back, having been barred from having more than one hairtie in her har at once due to her incesant snapping. She came ad threw herself on the couch on the opposite side of the Riddler, who glanced up, shuddered, and returned to his book. "So," she continued. "Whacha doin? Is it a new trick?" She clapped her dainty little hands, so capable of mass distruction.

Dr. Crane began a soft and slow clap, as if he were humoring a slower than normal child.

"Quite some 'magic' trick Joker. And did you not think to shwre it with the rest of the class until now? For shame. And what would you want a sidekick for, do you not have your minion, the one who use to work here? O, what was her name..." He drawled in his normal, lazy voice. The forever present shadow of a smug smirk on his face.

He leaned back in his chair once more and looked expectantly at the Joker, waiting for the inevitable display that he was sure would follow. It would be interesting, at least.

"Oh, I'm sure you'd love for me to say her name, wouldn't you Crane..." He mumbled bitterly.

He never cared for Crane. All talk, no action. The fact that he hid behind his gas really bugged Joker. He was part of "The Twinks", a name given to the inmates Joker found too dainty to get their hands dirty. People he really admired were Croc, Zsasz and Clayface. Humpty was alright too, just because he laughed at every joke and could assemble a key for household objects in minutes. A regular MacGyver, except 200 pounds heavier. He glanced over at Harley, who was sitting next to Nygma.

"Sugarlumps? Would you mind telling Mean Ole Doctor Dumbass what your name is?" He asked sweetly.

"Doctor Dumbass, hn, such imagination I see. No wonder you couldn't kill the bat man, you lack the imagination it takes. He doesn't 'complete you' you just can't do it. You couldn't get him vunerable enough to get close enough to kill him. Ha, such mediocrity..." During this short monolouge Crane's voice grew somewhat deeper and noticeably rougher. The Scarecrow has come out to play.

"Jonny-boy doesn't take kindly to you insulting him clown." He practically spat the last word.

"In fact, that's why he let me out this time..." A sickeningly devious smirk made its way onto Scarecrow's face.

"And I know the puppet's name, I simply do not care to bother with it."

Aaron watched Crane shift to Scarecrow, trying to keep calm. If he kept his cool, so did the inmates.

"Hey! Crane! Cool it, alright? We all hate the fucking clown. Just ignore him and he'll go away. He wants attention, that's all. You're a shrink. You should know that" He called from his chair.

"Oh, you're too kind Aaron!" Joker barked without looking at him.

His eyes never shifted from Scarecrow. Crane was a Twink, but Scarecrow was different. He smiled at him, his yellow teeth shining brightly in the florescent lights.

"You heard him... I just want attention. Don't pour gas on the fire" He said softly.

He leaned forward across the table, still looking Scarecrow in the eyes.

"And as I recall, straw is very flammable... Now, why don't you go find some other brain to pick, before I return the favor" He said, mimicking a lobotomy. "The Wizards too busy running Oz and it would be rude if you had to ask for another one" He laughed.

"Yeah, yeah. None of you are fun to mess with anyway... Too bad they put us altogether at one time. I prefer to 'pick the brain' as you so crudely put it, of patients who are more ... frightened, of me." Scarecrow's voice slowly moved back to Crane's. The transition made easy by way of a deal between the two egos.

"Clown, what was your plan anyway?" He leaned closer minimally and lowered his his voice after a quick flick of his eyes to the guard next to the door, "If it involves a mass breakout I will help, though Scarecrow and I both despise you greatly..."

He leaned back in his chair, adopting a nonchalant and relaxed air once more. Though he remained ready to move quickly at any moment aware of the Joker's volatile, at times, temper. Crane did not like to get his hads dirty, usually prefering to use his gas, but that did not mean he was incapable of doing so, after all, years and years of stilling patients completely who were inhumanly strong due to psychotic rages long enough for the nurses and orderlies to help and sedate did tend build and enhance muscle tone...

"Plan? Why would I have a plan, Jonathan? I mean, we're in here for a reason... We need help, and I think we should behave until they deem us fit for society again" Joker said, fluttering his eyes at him.

He burst into wild laughter, which in turn caused Humpty to laugh.

"Oh Mister Jay, as Quinn would say, you have made my day today" He chuckled warmly.

When Joker was able to calm himself, he wiped a tear from his eye and returned focus to Crane.

"I'm just fuckin with ya, Doc!" He explained, trying to be as apologetic as possible.

He leaned closer to Crane, making sure Cash wasn't able to hear.

"I'm working on something, but its in the beginning stages... But, I will keep you in the know. I might need you help making some of that wonderful gas. That's if the other piece of the puzzle fall into place" He whispered.

Dumpty, overhearing him, leaned forward.

"If escape is your plan, I want no part, but puzzles my good man, to me are like an art" He whispered to them with a childlike smile.

Joker put his arm around Humpty's neck and pulled him close.

"I know they are, pal. That's why I have a special job for you" Joker said excitedly.

Humpty giggled quietly, and leaned back. Joker looked at Crane again.

"So... Would you want to play a part in this little... Operation?" He questioned.

O, Jonny-boy! We shall make that wonderful toxin again! But you have to make changes, the bat man is immune to the current toxin now... We'll have to test it again, such glorious testing. Jonathan could almost physically feel the Scarecrow grin. You are quite humane, no? You do not test on animals after all... Scarecrow laughed in Crane's mind, his voice echoing and lingering in his thoughts. A shiver of excitement and anticipation ran down Cran's spine.

"If it means getting out of this mad-house, then we have an accord." Crane inwardly chuckled at his aweful pun, not quite expecting even the Joker to think it humorous.

"Crane told a funny!" Joker exclaimed with a grin. "It does my heart good to see you cut loose. All that serious business all the time can be unhealthy" He said, pointing a finger at him. "Now when you make the "cookies", you'll have to change the recipe, right?" Said the clown, making quote marks in the air with his fingers

It was all Crane could do to hold back a grimace and keep his face neutral. However, he was unable to keep all traces of scorn from his voice, "Of course. The bat man is immune to the current formula, of course it must change." He paused, Scarecrow wanted to say something.

The voice from Crane raspy and low once again, "If you go back on your word clown, it is not the bat man you will need to worry about..." He leered for a second or two until the good doctor was back in charge.

"I would listen to him if I were you," Crane told the Joker in an out-of-place way, "He gives very good advice I find, even if it is seldom followed..."

A smirk was present of Joker's face.

"I always keep my word, Jon. If the time comes, and you assist me with the gas..." He paused, making sure his voice wasn't too loud. "When I set foot in Gotham, you'll be right there with me" Joker finished in a low raspy growl.

He turned to Humpty, who was still listening.

"And this is isn't something you'd interested in, Tons of Fun?" He questioned.

"I'm here because the tell me I'm not fit for normal life. To disobey the doctors is to stab them with a knife. They've worked so hard to help me heal, I do not want to leave and disregard the time they spent. They would surely grieve" Humpty explained.

He didn't want to leave Arkham, but he didn't mind helping his friends, even if it was a poor decision on their part. When they made the mistake, they'd suffer the consequence and in turn, learn a lesson.

"Yes, quite. And I assume you will have somewhere for me to create my toxin perchance?" Crane raised a condasending eyebrow. Not that he really ment it, just that it was how he is.

Crane turned his eyes on Humpty, "Wouldn't you like to be out, though? No more doctors who think you are simply a puzzle, something to fix? Broken like the things they humor you with. They only thing they would grieve would perhaps be the loss of revenue that might take place." He paused and turned his face so that his glasses gave off a glare from the sun, eyes obstructed from view. "But the Joker and I, we know you. We know that you are more than that, you aren't broken, simply wired differently. But they don't get that. Those hack-jobs that replaced the real psychiatrists years ago still have no idea what they could do. To help people. Of course..."

Scarecrow took control once more, "Yeah, Dumpty. If you came with us we would sure have a lot of fun. In fact, Jonny-boy could teach you how to help fix people instead of just your broken toys. People are more fun to fix, and it means more to them too..." Scarecrow faded out, an almost malicious, but not quite, grin on his face.

Crane adjusted his glasses, pushing them up his nose to a more comfortable position. "All that's needed is to come with us. The clown, Scarecrow and I; we wouldn't lead you wrong. In fact, you would have much more to puzzle over than now. You could choose your own puzzles and things to fix, no more waiting on the Asylum staff to give you what you want for'good behavior'. Think about it..." Crane's voice got softer and more alluring as he went on, almost hypnotizing. He was fully confident in his ability to sway someone, after all, it's not like he hadn't before...

A black silhouette entered the Recreational Room. The shadow seemed to tower over everyone. No one could make out who the mysterious person as a ray of brighten lights blinded them. They shielded their eyes to get a better view. They started to sniff a peculiar smell. The scent of garlic surrounded the room causing some people to tighten their noses.


"Move it along!" A angered person could be heard through the other side of the door way. The lights grew closer becoming more of an annoyance. Then the slightest turn of direction shown that beastly men were engulfed in armour, protected by garlic necklaces and flash helmets. One soilder scanned the whole room leaving the shadow unfinished. Everyone in the room drew a shocked expression as they targeted the evil grin that stared upon them. "What a surprise! Where was my invitation?" Dracula smirked.

Humpty stared at Crane, captivated by every word spoken. It made sense to him, something that Humpty thought was impossible. For so long, the doctors had told him he was "below average" and "simple". Once he had overheard one of the guards talking to a doctor, and was surprised to hear someone he thought was a friend refer to him as "not the sharpest tool in the shed". Humpty had assumed it was either just a mistake, or a goof they were playing on him, but it wasn't. In that moment, a light bulb had flickered on inside Humphry Dumpler, and Jonathan Crane was the alternating current that made it all possible. Humpty could help Crane repair the human mind, the greatest puzzle of all. He smiled at him and wiped a tear from his eye.

"You make sense, Doctor Crane. There's nothing wrong with Humpty's brain. I'll help my friend escape this place and we'll wipe the grin right off the face of Gotham City. They will see... I'll teach them not to toy with me! As long as I can help you mend, I will do as you recommend" Said Humpty softly.

"Thank you Humpty. I am sure your brilliant mind will benefit my work greatly." Crane gave an almost-smile that had a trace of real almost-fondness for the large man.

The smell of garlic suddenly pervaded the room. He knew who it was, he had been Head of Arkham Asylum when this man was first admitted. Scarecrow had liked him, Crane tolerated him- after all, he was almost as devious and cruel as they were, even if his methods were a bit fantastical and archaic...

That man, or creature rather, is Dracula. One of the more, shall we say, physically powerful patients here at the Asylum. Crane turned calmly and relaxed to the legend and replied nonchalantly, "It must have been lost in the mail, I suppose. Either way you are late for the clown's little card trick. Take your seat and the clown can fill you in."

Cadence sighed as she walked into the doors of Arkham Asylum, such a dark and depressing place. Odd how at home she felt when in her work environment with some of the worst forms of life on the face of this Earth, at least that's what everyone else called them. She almost didn't realize she was halfway through the daily security check she was so lost in her thoughts. She really needed to get a life outside of this place before she became absorbed. Now though, you must clear your head Cadence and be watchful, ever aware. She smiled at Aaron as she approached his post. "Has everything gone well today?" It was a ritual now to stop by and say hello to Mr. Cash before trudging down the halls to prepare for the patients.

It was a quiet night in Gotham. The streets where still, and the only other sound you could hear, besides the soft rumbling of cars on the roads, was the rain. The storm was calm, there was little thunder or lightning, and the roar of the thunder came in soft muffled bursts. Despite the peaceful appearance of the city, something bothered Bruce. There had been no crime in Gotham for weeks. He hadnt seen any of his usual foes roaming through the night, hoping to finally kill "the Bat". That wasn't what worried him though, there where times in which he wouldn't see any of them for months. What bothered him was that there was no crime. No robberies, no assaults, no muggings, break ins, nothing. Could it be that Gotham no longer needed him? Had Gotham finally reached a point of prosperity? Only a fool would actually believe such delusions. This came too easily, there was nothing natural or prosperous about it.

He stood atop a skyscraper. His attention focused on the sky where the bat signal would normally be seen. Bruce had things to attend to, business meetings, grand openings, women. This was no time for that he had to find a reason for this sudden calm. He was heading to Arkham.

(geeze guys, way to give me some room to jump in. :D I like everything so far though... although I'm not sure of the time period we're in now, considering it was morning two minutes ago and now it's night... so snce I'm a pair of inmates, I'll just go with the rest of them.)

Harley leaned close to the Riddler's ear, who was still reading the encyclopedia. "Gee, and Crane calls me a puppet..." she mused. "At least neither of us has to share our body with somebody."

"Well," The Riddler left his finger in the book to mark his place. "One could say that you share your body quite often Miss Quinn." There was a light smile before Harley took her knuckles accross the back of his head.

"And what's that supposed to mean Quesion-boy?" She asked indignantly.

Nygma, with his hand against the left temple of his head, weakly maintaied the smile and kept his voice low. "You know exactly what I mean... We all see it, I think even the guards see it; then when it's over, you separate and continue with life as thugh nothing happened."

"Oh! Is that all?" She smiled and laughed roundly. "I thought you were sayi' I got around. Oh, yeah..." she leaned in quietly. "All those little randevous with Mr. Jay... yeah, right under the night guard's noses. Cash'd never let it happen, but those guys they get here at night-" She made a dismissive gesture with her hand and resumed her position on the other side of the couch.

Aaron smiled at Cadence and shrugged.

"About as good as it can be" He laughed. "You know how Joker can be" He said gesturing to the clown.

"Fuck you, Cash!" Joker squawked.

Joker had lost most of his humorous behavior, leaving him violent mood swings. The doctors weren't sure what the cause of it had been, but one thing was certain... The last time he was captured, something had snapped inside his already twisted mind.

"Crane, why don't you fill Nosferatu in on our plan. I haven't even said good morning to my babycakes yet" He said, standing and walking towards Quinn and Edward.

Aaron watched him ramble over to Harley and grinned.

"How she puts up with that fool, I'll never understand" He said to Cadence. "How you doing today? Sleep well?" He questioned.

Joker reached the couch and leaned over the arm, kissing Harley on the cheek.

"Hello my dear" He whispered in her ear.

Harley looked asthough she'd just seen James Dean slide off a motorcycle. She leaned her head onher hand and smiled. "Hey Applepie- how're things on your side of the room?" Harley had no real grasp on smll talk, which just made it more easy to fill space with bad puns and jokes, which usually seemed to gear the Joker up. She'd kind of noticed how he'd altered in the few moments preceeding, but love is so blind...

Edward just watched mmoentarily, finally taking the hint that he was being removed from the couch. He tossed the book off to one side and skirted around the couch to sit in the seat next to where the Joker had been originally, next to Humpty. He sighed and tried to smile, barely. "Hello my good fellow, and how are you this morning?"

Joker waited on Edward to leave and then flopped down on the couch next to Harley.

"I thought he'd never leave!" He exclaimed and mocked spitting on him as he crossed the room. "I was beginning to think you had a thing for Ole Captain Conundrum. I'm still your number one squeeze, right babe?" He asked, fluttering his eyes at her.

Humpty looked up when he noticed Riddler take a seat. He had been locked away in his own mind, dreaming about life on the outside with Joker and Crane. Playing jokes on the city with The Clown Prince of Crime and repairing damaged minds with The Good Doctor. He couldn't wait. He beamed at Nygma, who was making an effort to smile.

"Hello there, Ed! I'm doing swell! I hope you're doing grand as well!" He exclaimed cheerfully.