296/Carnevil Carnage Pt2

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Carnevil Carnage Pt2
Date of Scene: 06 May 2017
Location: Metropolis
Synopsis: The final day of the Jokers Carnevil is at hand and what heroes will put a stop to his dastardly plan.
Cast of Characters: Joker, Batman, 253, Crusader, Aquaman




Joker has posed:
     It's a warm and welcoming day in Metropolis, the sun is shining bright the sky is clear in all directions and the flowers are in bloom. By all accounts it's a perfect day for a walk in Centennial park, with one small problem.

     Pitch black clouds hover over the park bolts of lightning occasionally crashing down to the ground thunder cracking high over head. Twenty foot tall walls surround the park itself barring entry, with large posters of a smiling clowns head plastered over and over. The top of each fence wall is a twisted contorted mess of barbed wire and spikes painted in a garish green and purple candy striped pattern, the walls themselves are made from old warn bricks 5 foot thick each brick inscribed with a lone joke written in one of countless languages.

     Arching high into the sky is the big top, painted in those same bright neon candy striped colors. The tent itself is perhaps one of the tallest on record scraping through the clouds themselves!

     The only entrance is a large wrought iron gate, with a gargantuan garishly grinning clowns head, a perfect match for a more cartooned joker. The open mouth itself provides the doors of the park swung clean open with the tongue made from similar colored bricks leading into the carnival itself.

     Within the walls of the park one would find garish and unnatural gothic architecture, a twisted sickening bastardization of the iconic carnival experience in every direction. Twisting black spires climb from the ground formed together in the shape of unsettlingly friendly stalls some holding friendly games others food stalls.

     Through the cobblestone pathways members of the freak-show wander, some standing 20 feet tall, others with 2 or even four heads, conjoined twins and feathered mutants. Every facet of the carnival present and accounted for with faces painted a pure chalky white lips of crimson, and hair of pine green.

     Eeery organ music fills the air echoing out from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, backed by a laugh that chills down to the bone itself. Fulfilling that carnival atmosphere all the time leaving behind the feeling that no one truely belongs here.

     And yet smiling people move through the pathways in almost a trance or a daze. They travel from one stall to the next playing the games, eating the food, laughing and smiling as if they see something other then the twisted non euclidean nightmare carnival that sprawls out all across the park.

     Above high in the sky is the Bat signal shining out with pride and joy in its place taunting the caped crusader to come along for the ride.

     At the front gate a woman dressed in purple and green with an all to familiar painful smile stands tears partially rolling down her eyes as she operates the ticket booth, accepting cash in exchange for little rolls of tickets with the jokers face on each and every one.

Batman has posed:
Screaming down the highway between Gotham and Metropolis is the sleek black Batmobile, its thrusters aflame. Batman steers it deftly through traffic, veering inches away from nearby cars and trucks.

Eventually, it screeches to a halt at the park's front gates, its tires leaving a ludicrously long set of skid marks across the lot.

Batman leaps out, cape trailing behind him. "I wonder what sort of /admission/ the Joker will want of me," he mutters quietly.

"Sir?" Alfred asks over the comm.

"It was nothing, Alfred," Batman replies. "Just ... just a joke."

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
Kent Shakespeare had come to the park to see the Superman statue but then he notes the new wall and the tent. "Huh." he says to himself. He checks his phone. "Nothing about a thing going on here." but he shrugs. "Eh, I'll see what I can do." He heads for the gate. "Weird. I guess the 21st is an odder place than I thought." He stops in front of the ticket lady. "Excuse me, ma'am. Are you alright? You don't need any assistance, do you?" he asks, turning a bit to show the medical cross on the trauma bag on his hip.

Crusader has posed:
When Crusader got wind that the Joker was in metropolis, he immediatly dropped everything to head over. He has learned from his pior encounters - that mad man was not someone to take lightly or as a joke ironicly enough

He however was comming in diguise today. He had shapeshifted what appeared to be an old and vulnerable old man. After all, if you can make an entire carnival appear who KNOWS what defense there are! In short the guise was so he could get close without trouble

Hobble, hobble, hobble, and closer The Crusader comes. He infact gets in line behind Kent Shapespear, noticing the lady...who was crying. But patience

None the less Batman tech and himself dosn't go unnoticed. If able to (as he isn't sure how good Batman security is), he'll send a message to Batmans comm that say "Batman, you have my help... i am around in disguise" the voice would be that of Crusader, though the oldman that the message is comming from dosn't appear to actually talk.

Aquaman has posed:
Arthur Curry, the Aquaman, is in Metropolis for any number of reasons. There are always reasons for Aquaman to be traversing the city of one of his Justice League Brethren. When word of such foolishness as giant walls in one of Metropolis' parks got to his ears, Aquaman wasted no time in his pursuit of this park.

"I will return with payment for this delicious meal." Aquaman says this to the hot dog vendor as he turns and runs off in the direction Centennial Park. The hot dog is consumed in a single bite.

Aquaman arrives not long after the Batmobile does. His Royal Highness drops down beside it with a mighty claim to making an entrance fame. His trident is held tightly and he doesn't even look in Batman's direction when he speaks, "Am I late? Don't say I'm the late one this time." Aquaman doesn't notice the mustard on the corner of his mouth. "I was busy."

Joker has posed:
     When she tries to speak the woman instead simply laughs. She laughs and laughs and laughs as she moves over pulling a roll of tickets to grab a few. "Th-the first are on the house." Something oddly twitchy about the way she moves as if she couldn't quite control herself, her speaking between fits of laughter stilted and halting regularly.

     The young boy who had been up at the ticket booth a moment prior makes a move with his new stack of tickets over to the Wack-A-Brat booth. It's a standard fair wack-a-mole with two big differences: A crowbar instead of a mallet, and the head of Jason Todd, with his domino mask instead of the moles. Passing over a single ticket to the attendant, a man whose face is completely featureless save for a black circle where his mouth should be, the kid grabs the crowbar and starts swinging.

     The cheery music plays and with each hit there's a splash of red liquid that gushes up into the air, a familiar cry of "You won't get away with this!" Pained, and worn out at the apex of each strike.

     Down the main street two giant clowns walk visibly using stilts to keep their stride going they juggle roaring chainsaws painted up in the jokers iconic colors. As they move they laugh and smile with cold dead eyes.

Batman has posed:
Gritting his teeth, Batman retrieves a syringe from his belt and uncaps it, diving at the woman to try and inject it into her neck. "It's okay," he says, gripping her arm tightly as he does so. "This is phenobarbital. I don't know the exact toxin Joker's using to cause this, but the depressant should relax your muscles and slow the effect it's having. Relax--literally."

Batman glances at the paramedic. "Do you have anything similar in your kit? I'm positive we'll need more, and immediately."

Then, he turns his head to Aquaman. "Save the child at the whack-a-mole stand. Crusader," Batman adds, still looking to his companion but speaking over his comm, "keep a close eye on the wandering freaks. I need to locate the source of that music."

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
Kent frowns and doesn't take the tickets. "Thank you, though." He tilts his head. "But, are you alright? You don't look alright. Here, I'll call rescue for you." and he draws out his phone again, shiflting his paramedic backback a bit. He is about to begin punching in the numbers when he spies Batman and Aquaman. His jaw drops for a moment. "Wow." Batman does his thing and he nods. "Some, not enough for all these people." he says, jumping to a conclusion. "IS there something I can do to help? I'm stronger than I look." he dials before Batman answers and to 911 he suggests they bring phenobarbitol. "There might be a lot of people here with some strange poisoning. Might be a supervillain."

Crusader has posed:
Crusader as that feeble old man...might come off as cantankerous and perhaps insane "Bah! You youngins holding up the line! I ya came here for the conney, now move it!" he says waving a cane! And with that weaves through them and into the carnival, grumbling. If anyone tries to grab him...they would quickly find their fingers just moving through him, like a hand in water

Crusader still in disguise broadcast back to Batman "Read you loud and clear, one will keep own eyes open for music as well" though he has no idea how the music will effect him

In the carnival, he weaves through the crowd. Keeping an eye on the mutant and performers. Trying to find if they have any areas they tend to congrate...or if they may attempt to hurt anyone. People with four heads, giants at 20ft tall, siamese twins, and so on. Alot of different freaks. He even occasionly trails one of the clowns on Stilts.

Aquaman has posed:
"Enough."

Aquaman has moved towards the child at the Whack-A-Brat booth the moment Batman gave the suggestion. He refuses to acknowledge it as an order because he's a damn king. But this is a strategic situation that involves one such mind and Batman has one of the best minds for this sort of thing. So there's no reason that Aquaman shouldn't be actively assisting with the rescuing of those that need to be rescued. Whether they understand they are in danger or not.

Aquaman's hand is right there for the crowbar to slap into instead of Jason Todd's Domino Masked Head. While that is being taken care of to ruin the child's fun, the Trident is held up and at the throat of the ticket attendant for this particular booth. Aquaman turns to glare in that direction.

"I am Arthur Curry. King of Atlantis. Your people call me Aquaman. I have bested creatures far beyond your wildest imagination without even thinking about breaking a sweat. I have squashed insects that are more important to the ecosystem than you. If you leave now, I will allow it. However, if you choose to stay and to engage me in combat, I can assure you that you will have chosen poorly. I will have no choice but to make you understand just how powerful the 'guy who talks to fish' truly is." Aquaman pauses for just a moment and narrows his eyes at the ticket taker. "I'm not Superman. I don't pull my punches."

Joker has posed:
     The woman tenses up for a moment before she finally relaxes somewhat, her facial muscles start to sag back to normal, the anti toxin not enough to stop her from smiling however perhaps now she'll be in a bit less pain WHILE she's smiling. Once she's finally able to she just breaks into tears head falling down into her hands as she's not been able to until now.

     Silent for a moment the faceless figure tilts its head for a long moment. He's clearly looking towards Arthur but he's not got any eyes to see. "You gotta problem with fun there fish-face?" When he speaks up his voice is distant from himself but has a distinct Italian accent. His words sound like they've come right from a poorly audio balanced copy of the godfather for the inflection and tone. "Don't come down to your little castle under the sea and start ruinin your work, so don't go gettin in the way of mine." A light raise of his fancy jacket to reveal what appears to be a rather large pistol, with mother marry carved into the handle.

     The Carnival is a sight to behold with arcades, food stalls and more as far as the eye can see. Just a short ways from the entrance is a large stall with a glowing ACE chemicals sign above it. Strapped to the board is an Italian man dressed in an all grey suit with matching tie, his wide brimmed trilby covering most his face in shadows. The target to hit is a large industrial lever, and instead of balls one would find batarangs. The man operating the stall is even dressed as Batman, albeit the uniform itself has massive pointed ears and a bright purple belt but it's hard to miss the resemblance, even with the glowing red eyes. Where should be water is instead a bubbling chemical mic that wafts noxious fumes up towards the air, a familiar smell to anyone that's had to work in ace chemicals.

     Right across from it is a shooting gallery... with Barbara Gordon targets splattered across it. A joker doppelganger dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and grass hat with stands to the side taking tickets with an old style camera draped around his neck.

     "Ah, at last!" A voice echoes out from everywhere and nowhere at once, the voice of the Joker. It's twisted and contorted by the sound of a 1930's microphone and speaker setup but it's a voice that's unmistakable. "The guest of honor has arrived! and just in time to!" A light pause. "I had hoped you'd arrive in time for the main event! After all I made sure to send the invitations!"

Batman has posed:
Once the woman begins to relax, Batman springs into the carnival, attempting to get above the crowds when possible by leaping to stall roofs and gain a (more) bird's-eye view. He spies the dunk tank and dives toward it, with one arm throwing a batarang-and-line at the 'Batman' there, with the other firing with his grappling gun toward a nearby lamppost--the goal to pull the man from the vat beneath him. His arms are stretched out on either side as he retracts the grappling line.

"As obvious as it sounds ... watch out for the Joker's real plan. He's not merely going to lean on 'old' material, especially not for a Metropolis audience," Batman says through his comm system to any who can hear. "Unless he's pressing to punish those who don't--who can't--get the punchline."

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
Kent has the same idea as Batman, but rather than fire a line and swing around, he zips along much faster than is humanly possible. Seeng the Bat trying to save the man, Kent intends to punch a small hole in the tank with two fingers, down low. That should provide a quick drain, but not so fast that it becomes a flood. The rescue is more important than hiding the powers, after all.

Crusader has posed:
Crusader made sure to keep an eye on the freaks for a reason. Seeing the faceless figure pull a gun on Arthur while he trying to save a kid, make him instantly react. The old man runs forward and where once there was an apprently feeble old man, there was Suddenly the Crusader tackling that man right into a one of those demented game stalls

Perhaps a bit excesive, but effective no less. "You have a terrible god father accent" he tells the faceless man before closing his hand around the man neck tight enough to cut off air supply. Once knocked out the man would of course be let go on

Aquaman has posed:
Aquaman allows the assist to happen without so much as a second thought as there are more important things to be worried about in this moment. Which is why Arthur is already turning his attention away from the madness that has just transpired between the faceless figure that he didn't have to punch and This Crusader.

There were more pressing matters like getting ready to do something about the main event. Aquaman even has time to twirl his trident.

Joker has posed:
     The moment that the faceless man hits the ground he... deflates. There's a loud POP, the sides of him just blasting out like a balloon given too much force. The only thing left is what seems to be a white laytex like substance of a balloon animal, even his clothing now little more than popped balloons.

     The kid goes to make a run for it while he can, after snagging a small toy from the prize counter. He grabs a nutcracker from the collection trying to run off with it fast as he can before it starts bleep bleep bleeping away.

     With the fast prod of the tank liquid begins to pour out from the tank hitting the ground hard. It sizzles and burns everything it touches before the break widens further and further spider-webbing along the sides of the tank. Yet once black cloth splashed with the mix seems to bleed together its color turning it into a neon shade of purple similar to that which wraps up this entire carnival. The smell itself is revolting a strange mix of various chemicals placed together in such a way to create the mix too deadly even for itself.

     The bat who's struck with the batarang falls backwards as he grabs for his own gun to shoot right back at the attacking real batman, only for it to be knocked clean out of his hand by the well timed blow. "I hope you realize, this means war bucko." A quick shake is given of his fingers as he speaks out in a confident voice. He reaches down to his utility belt. "How'd you like a taste of your own medicine hotshot?" A light tap of the utility belt bringing out a small canister of... is that.. bat repellent? Really?

     The man on the tank is yanked off from the dunk tank, send rolling back across the ground his hat goes one way and his jacket is pulled open revealing a man underneath with a very familiar face. He looks almost the spitting image of the joker of all people, minus the white skin green hair and pink lips. He looks..... normal... Strangely so. "Gratzi," He mentions as he slowly readies himself back to a stand before pulling a gun of his own and pointing it at the fake batman. "Nobody makes a fool outta Jack." Quickly pulling the trigger several times at the fake batman.

     It's about this time the voice chimes back in. "Awe batsy, that really hurts, and after all the hard work I put in to really give a city a piece of my mind." He trails off into his own echoing laughter finding great joy at a punchline of his own design.

Batman has posed:
Batman frowns, letting go of the batarang line to fling his cape up between himself and the man with the repellent. "Of course," he says. "We're in Joker's memories. I'd almost be fascinated to explore it if I weren't certain that everything here were absolutely deadly."

He attempts to make long strides to try and kick the gun out of the hand of 'Jack'. "Paramedic--you can clearly move fast. I need you to find out what's in the big top. But only to /look/. We need to know so we can face it together ... and just maybe survive it."

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
"Kent." he says to Batman. "I'm a big fan." Still, he has a task and he intends to do it. He speeds over to the big top's entrance to peer inside. "I could use Jo's eyesight right about now." he mutters to himself. If there are too many people in the entrance - well, he can put a hole in the huge tent somewhere.

Crusader has posed:
Crusader growls when he learns he is dealing with a fake. But than... he hears it, that beeping. Getting faster.... oh lord. Memories or not, he did not want to see a kid get blown up! He quickly warns Aquaman "Aquaman, the kid took a BOMB!" his voice thunders in warning! Great, fake mobster, fake voice, if that a fake bomb so help him, he give Joker his OWN punch line

Joker has posed:
     Plinket plink plink go the rounds off bats cape, rounds themselves falling down to the ground. Then just seconds later the gun goes flying up into the air from Jacks hand before detonating a short bit in the air with a light explosion of colorful lights that shine down onto their little group.

     The run up to the tent is a rather quick one for someone with superhuman speed, a quick peak through the flaps of the tent revealing a full house of unhappy and bored faces looking down towards a man in the center dressed in a spotted bowtie, pulling at the collar of his suit as his every joke seems to be falling flat. People in the audience throw tomatoes at him, and other rotten fruit as he just tries to cover himself with his hands, his face hidden behind a Red Hood.

     Yet as he looks in the lights shut off bathing the stage in darkness for a moment as the man in the center just crunches something together in his hands. A quick moment to pull the helmet off before letting it bound off onto the ground and into the shadows before walking off stage.

     As the boy runs fast as he can with his happy new thrift the beeping grows louder and louder. There's no telling how much time he has before the whole thing goes off.

Batman has posed:
Batman spins about, running toward the big top tent, albeit not as fast as Kent can get there. "Crusader, Aquaman, get that child separated from his bomb! There's no more time! The Joker's memories are too jumbled here to make sense!" he calls through his cowl's comm.

He pumps his arms and legs to try and get to the tent. "I shouldn't have let the paramedic off on his own," Batman mutters somberly under his breath. "No more time, indeed..."

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
"There was a man down there in a red hood." Kent tells the Batman as he arrives at the tent. "But I can't see in the dark - the lights went out. The audience was throwing garbage at him."

Crusader has posed:
"On it!" is all Crusader says. He takes off after the kid, but with all these people around, it was time to...get a bit more fluid in his motions
    The large man seems to melt into metalic goo and flows incredibly fast between legs and bodies in order to reach the kid. A tendrill snatches the beeping object from the child
    Reforming at the quick beeping, he looks left - more people, right - more people....all around people. Where the heck do you stick a bomb when people are everywhere

"Bah," and he well...swallows the bomb. Oh boy he really hopes the explosion is not to bad...or at the very least not to toxic.

Batman has posed:
"That's not trash," Batman says with a scowl. "It's likely meant to represent the crimes Joker's been accused of. Or his failures. Or maybe something else we can't even rationalize. In any case ... it's never just trash. Are you familiar with 'schadenfreude,' Kent? Because the Joker is the type to take pleasure in /his own/ misery."

Batman inhales deeply. "Help the police and responders. I'll take care of this. I've put you in too much danger already." With that, he slips into the tent, crouched to try and stay out of sight as best he can, knowing the Joker's aware of and waiting for him to arrive. As he does so, Batman slips a batarang from his belt into his hand.

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
"Wait! You can't put me in harm, pretty nuch nothing can." Kent calls after Batman. Well, almost nothing. And if it does, well, his healing factor patches it right up. He shrugs. "Everypme out!" he says as he steps into the tent. "Someone spilled some gasoline and we don't want the fumes to overcome anyone. Everyone out in an orderly fashion, please." He says inside, taking a step out of the way. "Please make your way out of the carnival, please."

Crusader has posed:
Crusader can hear the beeping going faster and faster. He felt it through his whole body and begin to try and move away from the crowds. What was he thinking, swalloing a bomb of all things!

As he tried to get away...the effects became obiouse. His torso began to turn red, his body expanded rapidly and quickly as light shown through...and than came the boom! Droplets and hedron crystals of metalic white blue and gold goo splatter everywhere at high speeds. It like someone throw the worlds largest waterballoon filled with paint and glitter.

While the more liquid shard didn't so any damage, the larger crystals broke various stalls and knocked out a few goons too...and a few unfortnatly citizens. And Crusader...well he seemed to be gone!

Joker has posed:
     The moment that Crusader detonates in that brilliant explosion the joker's laugh echos out through the entire big-top. The music goes dead silent for the first time since the group had arrived in this hellish festival. Lights open up from the ceiling, one, two, three, pure white hot spot lights providing the only source of illumination.

     "Welcome, Welcome!" Joker chimes out over the tents speakers, a quick KATHUNK rings out as metal doors slam up from the ground blocking the exits! "Sorry boys, but the show must go on as they say!" He pauses for a moment.

     The lights swirl round that dirt ring, before shining up towards a single raised platform holding none other then the clown prince of crime himself, with megaphone in one hand and a cane of sorts in the other.

     A purple and gold jacket over a purple and gold candy striped shirt, and a neon tophat to match. His broad twirling mustache is a new addition, but the thing that stands out most is the scepter of sorts he holds on high with his free hand. Atop it? A solid gold skull with dark green gemstone eyes that seem to glance around back and fourth as the joker spins it.

     Lights are moved by the usual helper goons the Joker tends to employ rather shockingly for such a magical fair. Dressed to kill in their own circus themed attire as the man of the hour throws his arms wide to the thunderous applause about as genuine as a 'live studio audience'.

     "Besides, our audience is absolutely in stitches from the nights activities." The writhing shadows of the audience try to move back and fourth from their seats, seemingly stuck in place. "They're just dieing to see the grand finale, and honestly I'm half tempted to let them." He lets out another rawkus bout of laughter.

     "Introducing, for the first," He holds a hand beside his mouth "And last" Light pause to talk back into the megaphone as he gesticulates with his whole body to drive the point home. "Chief editor of the Gotham branch of the D.B.C. Jaaaaacob Paaaaul!" The joker throws his arm to one side and the lights suddenly shine on a terrified overweight man in little more then a speedo with short white hair and skin gone pale with fear trying his best to balance with a large pole that's been tossed into his hands. "Careful there Paul, one wrong move and your career will really flatline." Except this time there's no net. There's a loud roar of applause but it's certainly not coming from the audience instead coming from speakers and a recording.

Batman has posed:
As soon as he sees the man on the tightrope, Batman fires his grappling hook toward one of the tent's tallest poles, swinging up toward the editor. As he reaches the apex of the swing, the dark knight releases his gun and throws himself at Paul, tackling him off the rope.

They fall, and Batman's cape becomes rigid, slowing the descent a bit--but not nearly enough to save them, and they begin to spiral from the speed. With one hand hugging Paul close to him, Batman uses the other to throw a grenade at the rapidly approaching ground beneath them. It explodes, and the draft kicks air into the cape-glider, further slowing the pair's descent enough for Batman to drop Paul only a foot or two from the ground. Batman himself lands on a shoulder, grunting in pain as he attempts to kip-up from the landing.

Crusader has posed:
One crystal within the goo pile that was Crusader wiggles and jiggles. Small thin tendrills from the puddle begin to form and reach out, much like a fungu spreading hair, which may be a bit gross to some. The 'hairs' seek out and connect various puddles and crystals. The goo flows along the tendrills to the main puddle as the Crusader begins to reform himself like a T-3000. The shape dispells and reforms several times as the Crusder quite litterly tries to put himself togeather again.

Kent Shakespeare (253) has posed:
Kent had drifted up in the air, expecting a quick exodus of the audience. No such luck. WHen the next "attraction" was revealed, Kent willed his Legion flight ring further into action, beginning to fly towards the tightrope. His flight speed is nowhere as fast as he can run, so he's only halfway to the tightrops as Batman rescues the editor. Probably Batman will notice him over the bleachers, at least. "You deal with the Joker, I'll get everyone a way out. He turns back for the tent entrance and the metal doors and turns on the speed. He doesn't have much room to accelerate, but he should hit it at a considerable velocity. 700 lbs of invulnerable quasi-Superman ought to at least dent the doors.

Batman has posed:
Once he's back on his feet, Batman fires a set of weighted bolas up at Joker--and, specifically, the odd scepter in his hand--following it by soaring upwards via grappling hook and line. As he ascends, the caped crusader pulls his legs up above him so that he's hurtling upward at Joker feet-first for a full-body kick.

"The show's been cancelled," Batman mutters as he nears, his cape hanging behind him like a stage curtain.

Crusader has posed:
Crusader manages to completly collect himself and reform...though now he has massive headache. He wasn't sure where everyone was, but for now he just makes sure the goons outside the tent do not mess with the ctizens as the police and responders arrive

Joker has posed:
     Due to kents quick thinking and fast footwork he's able to untie the majority of the people tied up in the stands in record time! From the looks there's going to be a lot of people having antitoxin applied to them, and most the crowd seem to be members of the press corps! As if Joker had gone out of his way to target them in particular!

     Batman makes contact with a mighty kick, the scepter hand looses its grasp and joker spins round falling on his stomach at the edge of the platform. His hands reach out grasping for it with both arms his own tophat falling off in the process revealing that devil may care hair of his.

     "I'm not ready for my curtain call!" He calls out as he barely manages to let it slip through his grasp, sending it tumbling down from on high. It spins end over end as if the entire world was in slow motion.

     Just as it's about to smash to the ground a grubby hand snags it in his clutches. Fingerless gloves of an elderly man caked in grime and filth, looking as if he'd been living inside of a sewer drain.

     The elderly man holds the cane up high above his head and lets out a triumphant roar his own clothing ripping off of him to reveal a red and gold ringmasters uniform beneath his mustache springing back from his face as he floats up into the air brilliant lights flowing fourth from the scepter.

     "No, no no! My Carnevil! My sweet delicious revenge! My elephant ears!" Joker says speaking that last bit as if it were the biggest injustice of it all.

     The Ringmaster's eyes glow vibrant for a moment turning from dark brown back to green as he is magically made clean once again. The dark browns and twisted spires of the tent begin to shift and brighten. The podiums returning to a cheery gold and red.

     Outside the entire park begins to shift and fade, the horrors of a corrupted mind are quickly replaced by more traditional carnival fair the Jokers horrors and freaks turning more friendly and happy as they begin to pack up buildings, acid turned to little more then water. Pitch black clouds part high over head turning to that warm spring sky that the people of metropolis had come to love!

     Massive walls slowly slide their way back into the ground, the grass sodding itself back into place as if it had never left while the entire park begins to fade slowly but surely.

     When all is said and done: The kidnap victims find themselves standing and setting in the middle of the park along with other park goers. The Batman stands on the ground beside the joker. Kent near the foot of the Superman Statue, and Bjorn at the edge of a bed of bright flowers.

     With one last clack of the cane on the ground all is returned to as it had been. The once elderly man full again with life and a bright smile from one ear to the other. An innocent smile, as he hops up onto the side of a small carnival truck, and begins to drive away.