Chapter 252 I, Joker (Part 1)_1

The golden liquid poured into the cup, white froth skimming the edges. Under the glow of the light, the whiskey looked like a piece of gold wrapped in ice – shimmering and gleaming.

Shiller flicked the vinyl and then switched it on. A bout of somewhat melancholic blues music sounded, and with his elbow propped on the table, a tipsy Jack remarked, "That's why I don't like going to bars, especially not the Gold Cup Bar. The bartenders there love jazz...some kind of antiquated, awful music..."

"Are you sure you're partial to the blues because it's called 'blues' and not because it sounds like Bruce?"

"Don't mention him..." Jack put down his whiskey glass, Shiller sat back down across from him, Jack leaned his cheek on two fingers and hoarsely grumbled, " The tires that Wayne's factories produce are crap... To repair these tires, I've already spent close to 60 bucks this week..."

"They won't adapt to the terrain, Gotham roads are in this bad of a shape, yet they still produce those flimsy, unendurable tires... Bruce is a fool, a monumental fool..."

Jack tilted his head to one side, fingers delving into his tousled hair. He was facing a dilemma common among those who dye their hair – green strands still lingered on his head. But the newly grown hair was black. He had neither a way to snip off the remaining green strands nor to dye the black roots back to green. Thus his hair appeared rather unkempt and ludicrous.

He seemed quite dissatisfied with the state of his hair, yet he had no other options. So he simply buried his hands into his hair, tugging at them harshly.

Jack took another gulp of whiskey. Shiller moved his chair forward a bit, picked up the whiskey bottle and poured himself a drink.

Jack reached out and clinked his glass with Shiller, with a hint of resignation in his voice, he said, "Recently, the whole world's been dreadfully boring. Where the hell is Batman? Oh... he eloped with his sweetheart!"

He lowered his head swiftly, green hair blocking those eyes sunken in their sockets. Jack's mouth turned down sharply. Anyone could tell he was mocking Batman.

"Oh, my dear lady! I've brought the world's most beautiful gem for you. Do you love me? Yes I love you! Mwah mwah mwah mwah..." He puckered his lips and mimicked a smooching sound. But it seemed he'd never kissed anyone before, and hence, the mimicry appeared terribly clumsy.

Suddenly, he hammered his glass onto the table, jerked up his head, flicked his hair back, forehead and eyes exposed. He used a high-pitched voice and exclaimed, "What does he intend to do? Does he actually want to marry her?? Even possibly have a child?? He is mad!!"

Then, he froze, his dull gaze positioned himself back in its original place, took another sip of the whiskey and said with a sorrowful tone, "But he wouldn't even invite me to his wedding..."

"He just doesn't get it. I love him more than anyone else in this world, and I ask nothing in return. I just wish he'll give me one smile."

"Maybe he does understand."

"Then tell me, why isn't he laughing?"

"If he does, will you still exist?"

Jack lowered his head, then he lifted his eyes towards Shiller. His eyes filled with anticipation and excitement, he proclaimed, "You mean, he's not laughing because he doesn't want me to disappear, and he loves me too, right?"

He began to tremble all over, more foam surfaced in the golden whiskey within his glass, a sharp snickering sound came from within him, sounded as much like metal scraping against glass.

"I always say that you guys are similar, but what if he actually turned into you? Would that make you happy?"

"He turned into me?... No, he can't, he absolutely can't, then it would be the most dull world, more boring than a Batman who never laughs. Oh god, I can't imagine it! It's disgusting!" Jack clasped his throat and began dry heaving.

A Batman who grins broadly? Good Lord, how could there possibly be such a monster in this world? If it really came to that day, you must put a bullet in me, I beg you, Professor!"

Jack's arm was shaking uncontrollably. He pointed towards the whiskey bottle with quivering fingertips, Shiller poured him another glass. Jack picked up the glass and gulped down his drink savagely, as if to drown his fears in alcohol.

He turned his mouth downwards and pulled his eyes down too, making a crying face.

"If Batman laughs louder than I do...."

Murmuring, he gradually lifted the corners of his mouth, from Batman's commonly seen indifferent and serious expression, to one of craziness and mockery. His grin widened and his mouth opened wider and wider, finally revealing his signature deranged smile, Jack said, "Like this..."

"Then I'll kill them, kill them all, let this world be destroyed, damn it, they should all die!" Jack fiercely tore at the hem of his own clothing as if he was tearing through a sheet of paper. He became agitated, sitting there shivering endlessly.

Suddenly, his body grew rigid, like an owl startled out of its wits. Holding that posture, Jack stiffened his neck and turned his head. Gazing at the entrance blankly, he said in a hushed voice, "You've come? Do you think such a day would truly come? Oh, I'm scared..."

Another Joker stood at the door. He was tall and handsome but his face was also smeared with colorful mess. His blue eyes, beautiful and striking, were now staring at Jack, telling him, "No, you don't have to be scared. You know it best..."