no one will ever know, flowers used to grow

[discretion]

Who: Franz d'Epinay (discretion) & the Joker (ace_of_knaves)
When: 7/25 8/6, mid-afternoon
Where: Sector 8
Summary: Franz runs into the wrong person at the wrong time.
Warnings: Clowns. French boys. Violence. Death.

[Franz isn't exactly the type to hang out in the industrial district. He has no reason to be here, typically, being mainly engaged in his occasional classes at SPU and his political duties. However, he has a bit of a hobby and a money sink in his beloved bicycle. It needed some repairs, and dud to the rarity of the parts it's become a bit of ordeal. One of the shops in the industrial district has good prices and a service to sand and re-fit things. Sadly, he'd needed to leave the bicycle behind for the job, and now he's a little lost trying to find his way back to the train station.

It's an innocent enough mistake. He's looking at the region map on his NV. While he's not completely oblivious - he knows it's not the safest place in the world to be - he's momentarily distracted when his work cell phone rings.

It's while he's fussing with shutting his book-shaed NV and retrieving his phone that he bumps into a dark-clad figure.]

Oh - sorry! Pardon me.

Comments

Sorry about the delay!

[ace_of_knaves]

[He is walking down the street with a rapid, angry stride, glaring at the cobbles and dusty walkways as they pass beneath his Cuban heels. He only looks up when someone bumps into his shoulder and he spins, snarling.]

HEY! Why don'tcha watch where I'm going!

[discretion]

Sorry, that was my bad. You okay? [Franz steps back apologetically. He recognizes the voice immediately: he couldn't forget the night he almost lost Daedalus to the Joker's freakish little prank. Franz's persistent white glow goes a little pale.

He tried to keep his expression as neutral as possible, stepping back again to give the madman his space.]

[ace_of_knaves]

Okay?

[No...he's not okay. The Bat is gone and he himself remains trapped here, unable to even die. When he turns on Franz, his grin is wide, wretched, and devoid of actual humor.]

Okay?

[He steps closer.]


I've never been okay!

[discretion]

I'm sorry. [Franz says it with a little genuine compassion. He does pity that madness, just like he pitied the Count. But while a rabid dog is pitiful it's still incredibly dangerous.] I can call someone for you. Help. A doctor, or a friend, whatever you want. [He's using his friendliest 'dealing with a delicate customer' voice, the one that assures he's a friend and just helping because helping makes him happy. He wants to call Daedalus. He wants to hear Daedalus's voice. He knows Re-l might be of more help, but in spite of the front, he's terrified.

He takes another step back, and slides a hand into his pocket. For his phone. Or his taser.]

[ace_of_knaves]

[Joker sees Franz reach into his pocket and immediately surges forward, slamming him into an alley. A passing man glances at him then hurries onwards upon seeing the clown-like face.]

Friends!? I don't have any friends, Sonny Jim!

And I got no doc either. The doc is dead.

[He leans in close. Too close.]

I killed him.

[discretion]

[The time for polite rationale flew out the window as Franz felt his shoulders slam against the rough brick wall. He's momentarily stunned. Joker is strong, Franz's resistance is hardly felt. Franz kicks himself mentally for ever allowing himself into this position. Had he honestly grown so complacent an encounter like this could turn pear-shaped so quickly? His mouth is dry, his heart his racing.

Daedalus is waiting for me.

Whoever the dead doctor was, it can't be Daedalus. Can't.]

You'd probably have more friends if you didn't kill people!

[Franz hisses out, and aims the taser at the Joker's face.

He realizes he's not sure it'll actually work.]

[ace_of_knaves]

Not killing? Where would the fun be in that?

[Despite the wretched grin, his voice lacks humor. Is there even a joke to killing anymore? With no Bat there is no punchline...he decides to experiment with the idea, reaching out to seize Franz by the throat. If he even notices the taser, it does not seem to frighten him.]

[discretion]

[The taser hits as it's supposed to, and he hears the buzz-crackle of it working but Joker goes for his throat and that's suddenly a lot more pressing. He drops it.

I won't let it end like this. Not again!

He stumbles, trying to remain standing of his own accord. He can feel the bruises blossoming beneath the Joker's fingers, and tries not to struggle. Instead of trying to wrench himself free or push at his arms, he takes a jab at Joker's eyes with his two hands pointed like an arrow, like he learned in self-defense class.

He's seriously wishing he'd practiced more. The boxing and fencing moves he knows are a lot less practical.]

[ace_of_knaves]

[Joker falls back, not because of the taser, but because of the blow to his eyes. He sees stars burst before him and staggers, screaming in rage. When he spins back towards Franz, he is brandishing a knife.]

[discretion]

[Franz tries to back away, but doesn't get totally clear of the knife. It sinks into his arm when he tries to block. He stumbles backward, trying to wrench free.]

[ace_of_knaves]

I CAN'T SEE

[Joker swings the knife around like a maniac, cackling and closing in on Franz.]

WHERE'D YA GO!?

[discretion]

[Some irrational part of Franz's brain wants to yell Over here! Can't catch me! like this is some insane game of blind man's bluff. Joker's backed him into the dead of the alley. It's a gamble, but he attempts to knock the knife out of his hands. He knows even as the blow lands it won't be enough.]

[ace_of_knaves]

[The knife pinwheels from the clown's fingers but his free hand snatches it out of the air and thrusts forward towards Franz.]

HA!

[discretion]

[Franz's heart skips a beat when he sees the knife go flying. He expects it to hit the ground and he hopes to kick it away and make a run for it.

Before he has time to react, the knife makes contact, ripping through his shirt (Shit, it's ruined!) and burying in his chest, just below his collarbone. Franz is stunned by the pain and staggers backward.]

[ace_of_knaves]

[He twists the knife about violently and watches the blood spill.... There should be humor here...

So...why...Why isn't he laughing?

Joker's expression twists into one of annoyance and anger as he wrenches the blade free.]

You're doing something wrong ya ninny! Die different! Die FUNNY!

[He takes another swing, this one aiming for the throat.]

[discretion]

[Franz grinds his teeth as Joker twists the knife.] Sorry my sense of humor doesn't improve with stabbings! [His voice raises to a hysterical shout as he tries to get away. Keep calm. People survive stabbings all the time. One of the benefits of a doctor boyfriend was the occasional horror story. I just have to get away.

If he could only knock the blade out of his hand again, maybe--

But Franz doesn't clear Joker's swing, though he makes a valiant effort. The blade sinks into his neck.

He screams in agony as he tries to wrench himself free. There's so much blood. Way too much blood.]

[ace_of_knaves]

[Joker looks down at his knife instead of at Franz, his face still a humorless mask. Blood is everywhere...The color of it against this young man's pale skin...That is art, isn't it?

No...There is no joke here. Why isn't this hilarious!? Why isn't he laughing!?

He looks Franz in the eyes and frowns.]

[discretion]

[Franz is frantically trying to apply pressure to the wound on his neck, even as his chest and arm become irreparable stains. He can't decide whether he feels better or worse knowing that he almost certainly only has a few minutes to live. It hurts, but strangely not as much as he thought it would. The benefits of having died once from nasty blade wounds, he supposes.

(This was stupid of him, ignorant even. But it's not like he can walk around with a suit of armor and a sword, he was just in this district to see about getting his bicycle fixed. This is not how things are supposed to happen.

He's worked too hard to die so senselessly. It won't accomplish anything.)

Everything is slowing down, getting cold. The soft glow he usually emits has faded almost completely. Franz has crumpled to the ground.

He really wishes he could speak to Daedalus. There's so much he has to apologize for. But that would mean really accepting he can't fix the gaping wound in his neck. He can't act out some kind of last-words melodrama.

Daedalus deserves better.

But--

He wouldn't like me thinking that.

Franz meets the Joker's gaze without flinching. He's not exactly scared of the guy right now, the damage is done. He's suddenly a bit proud of his own emotional ineptitude: he isn't crying. Can't. He's trembling, the shock is setting in big-time.

I should confess to my sins or something. Am I going in the ground?

Is Gankutsuou going to find me?

Will I see my father?

Joker is staring at him. The blood on his clothes is not pulling the outfit together. On top of it, something about his expression really suggests that Joker isn't getting out of this what he hoped.]

...You look like an idiot.

[Franz says weakly. It's a sort of delirious little criticism.]