"He’d miss the makeup, though. And he couldn’t just go rubbing it into his tendons and such; that would lead to infection." LOL!

Wow. WOW. I honestly had no idea that this would be the chapter in which Batman would finally see the Joker in his most vulnerable of states. Your description of his terror, knowing that his defenses would be stripped, was spot on, right down to the description of the agonizing shriek. It was also a good twist to show Jonny's reaction and assessment of the scream. Will he be helping the Joker because he's his only ticket out of there? Or does he still harbor feelings for him? Hm...

Batman's ambivalence was well-detailed, as his mind tried to reconcile the relatively innocent countenance with the violence he knew him to be capable of. And that last word - whoa! Seems the Joker, once again, is the one with the trump card. Great suspense and twists in this chapter!

I liked the reference the Scarecrow makes to x-ray vision... could you imagine the horror the Joker could unleash if he had THAT capability? Oh, the comments he would make, and the embarrassment Jonny would suffer... I feel for Jonny, and the fear he must feel at the Scarecrow suggesting that the Joker may have forgotten he was there, meaning an interminable incarceration with no one to see him but the Batman. That would be hell for someone with such heightened senses, to be confined for so long and not know when freedom was coming.

Thirst is a very intriguing weakness that I hadn't thought to attribute to the Joker, but it absolutely makes sense. For all the physical pain he's capable of swallowing, not having the basics would shut down even a man as in control of his faculties as he normally is. So Batman couldn't bring himself to deprive the Joker of water any longer than he did... very true to the philanthropy of his drive, even though he's all-too aware it will prolong his dealing with the Joker. Can't wait to read next what Batman was thinking as the Joker downed the water...

The idea that the Batman would even consider making the Joker drink out of a toilet tank, should desperation overcome him, was wickedly amusing. Jokeresque, if I do say so. The idea of his shuddering at the idea of listening to the Joker "service" himself was also pretty funny.

The idea of the Joker conversing with a lightbulb was fantastic... especially the name. I was trying to figure out where the conversation was going, and what it pertained to, and then when he revealed "who" he was talking to it was a very humorous scenario.

I could absolutely see the Joker having the intellectual capacity of a savant, to memorize that which seems to have no pattern. The nod to "A Clockwork Orange" was a clever insertion, not only lending texture to the Joker's background by revealing his choice of reading, but I read that Heath Ledger actually watched bits of the movie and took some influence from it when crafting the Joker.

Looks like the Joker's not going anywhere against his will. He's got Batman right where he wants him. What a master manipulator! I liked this chapter's insight into the Batman's unease with his houseguest! You've nailed Bruce's wry sense of humor in his musings.

I can't get the picture of Crane with a teddy bear out of my head. Especially as the last comic I read with him in had him as an "old" man in a straitjacket. It's all like, woah. O_O

Great fic, and I'm really glad you've started another one already. Do you never stop writing? :D

Alfred moment! :D Alfred's awesome - you write him really well. _

LOL, I love Alfred. Inestimable snark. _

I just thought you should know that I am STILL hung up on the image of the Joker playing D&D. He'd have to be the Dungeon Master, because he wouldn't take orders from anyone else, but who in their right mind could possibly follow any narrative he tried to give the story?

Anyway, I can't believe I missed the end of this fic for so many days... it must have gotten lost in my inbox. I'm going to mosey on over to your next installment now... but let me say how THRILLED I am at the premise? (And that Jonathan still has Bruce's bear...)

That was so fantastic. The whole entire thing. Joker's escape in chapter 54 was epic, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next story! Bruce has his hands full, it seems.

Ah, so sad to see another story end. :( But it was a very interesting ending! I'm curious as to what will become of Jonathan, and I'm really looking forward to the new story!

On a completely unrelated note, I just got home from the midnight showing of Terminator: Salvation. If you loves you some Christian Bale, it's a must see. So good. :)

You knew l'esprit d'escalier - do you know sprezzatura? It's a rather difficult to define Italian word; it means being able to do anything you set your mind to, and do it well, but more than that. It's the art of making whatever you're doing look effortless, and looking good while you do it, no matter what. It's a strange word, but dead useful. And Joker's got it. Hell, the man practically embodies the definition. Pure, utter style. The kind of style that makes the mice nod appreciatively at the cat's grace.

Isn't there a Scooby Doo cartoon where Batman meets the gang?

No, I don't think Bruce would be Willy Wonka, I think Joker would be. He's got the coat.

Pepper spray? Oh god. Poor Bruce. That stuff is just awful, I caught just a little of the sprayback once. Pure hell. I don't mind pain, to the point of being borderline masochistic, but I can't even begin to describe how painful it was. Took the better part of a week to fade too, so you don't even have the consolation of intense but fleeting.

Depraved gazelle? XD

I think he really has lost it now. Pacing on a balcony rail and spouting random nonsense? And Bruce isn't helping matters, acting like an irate parent.

LOVE their discussion. Much as they each try to deny it, they are alike, and they are human, and something beyond human, all at once. It put me in mind of the final scene from Killing Joke.

Run Joker, run! You can't keep clowns in cages. It just doesn't work.

Oh, forgot to put this at the top - congratulations on the kitten. He sounds like a sweetie. What's his name?

This first scene is really quite adorably bizarre, part little kid in a fort, part overstressed and reluctant therapist. I'm not sure who needs a hug and a mug of hot chocolate more.

Woot, Summer Gleeson!

Why do I find it so bloody amusing that Joker is rating news anchors on how they react when taken hostage?

Let me guess - his unlicensed doctor is Abigail and Anika's brother? Forgot his name.

Joker's random innuendo-laced speeches are bad enough for someone who already knows what's going on. For someone who doesn't...poor Summer.

Well, even homicidal lunatics need vacation time, I suppose.

Cheers,

~Liz

I swear Batman has endured so much crap during this fic - i don't think anything else in his entire career as Batman compares to having two crazy villains running amok in his mansion.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the next sequel :)

Bruce gives Jonny too little credit. Sure the drugs might make him blurt it out without thinking, but in a sober state wouldn't he be more likely to keep the information to himself and just blackmail Bruce with it? What could someone else give him that Bruce Wayne couldn't?

Great story! Sort of disappointed it's over. Congrats on the cat!

Oh, how I have feared this moment -the ending of The Knight and The Prince- but luckily it doesn't feel so bad right now because I know there is a sequel coming :) Omg, this is my last review on this fic. What can I say, except thank you! Thanks for writing these characters so incredibly well. And.. uhm.. thanks for getting me to love dr. Jonathan Crane forever :D You are a very talented writer. This fic has given me so much and it has brightened up my rather dull life _ I will most certainly be reading your upcoming fic!

PS. Jonny and Bruce's teddybear cute overload!

Oh no! Cliffy! I'm so sad it ended but it's good to know that there's a sequel coming. Thanks for this epic.

I can't wait for the sequel!

This chapter was great

XD