Jervis Tetch

@fallengothamstarters​

“Really, Jonathan?” Barbara muttered, more to herself than any of the frantic citizens rushing back and forth around her. “We couldn’t have one year where you just let us have Halloween?” The Shadow Man walked beside her, murmuring in his familiar voice: they won’t come for you, they left you, they don’t need you. “Yeah, I know!” she snapped, rounding on the Shadow Man, unaware that there was a man standing behind him, who was babbling incessantly and happened to be built like an industrial refrigerator. “Will you shut the hell up?” Understandably enough, the Kenmore standing next to her thought she was talking to him, and he retaliated by grabbing her around the neck and slamming her up against a wall. A fault line of pain exploded against the back of her skull, and she slid down the wall to the pavement. “Shit,” she breathed, reaching back to touch the tender back of her head to find her fingers stained red. She glanced up at the Shadow Man, standing next to her again. “You were a big help,” she snapped, again not seeing the person standing behind him. “Are you just going to stand there?” ​

“O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Callooh Callay!” Jervis prattled on, letting out a sick laugh underneath his gas mask as he jabbed another syringe into someone’s neck. They were already frantic from the gas, he just felt like giving them a little more. “It’s wonderful, wouldn’t you say?! How the city just sings!” Jervis sang as he finally picked himself off his victim. Noticing a woman who seemed not as frantic as the rest. He searched his pockets for any remaining syringes and finding none. “Oh, phooey!” Jervis exclaimed before sighing. Though, she had been taken out quite suddenly by someone else. Slammed against the wall. He felt himself jump back from just imagining how painful that might be. When she spoke to him, asking if he was just going to stand there. His eyes widened with recognition. “Oh, boy, it’s you!” He said, leaning down beside her. “Why... Barbara! You’re all red! So red... red, red...” 

       It would be beautiful. Of that Jonathan had no doubts. Fear was something that people got wrong. They didn’t understand it because they let it control them. It was instinct, something they couldn’t stop. Something so ingrained in their brains and the way it worked that it took control and resulted in fight or flight. Fear was beautiful and so his toxin would be too. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind and when it finally had at the suggestion from Jervis’ lips, he wondered why it never had. His focus had been on other things. On the chemistry, on getting the new formula perfect without the flaws of the last. “How often?” was his only question. If he was going to test his toxin he needed to know how frequently he needed to have a vile ready to make needed adjustments. Jonathan waited at the table until Jervis joined him to respond, taking the time to think of another job for the man. He came up empty handed, deciding that test subjects would be enough. “I think that job would be perfect for you.” 

Jervis paused at the question. “How often would you like? I could do it once or twice. I could get you three or four? Perhaps much more. Ten! Oh! And all of them that I lure; we could store.” He paused as he thought about how, “Like rabbits in cages. A big cage. A room with a lock would do. I could come in every day at half past two- to check on them and you. And I’ll keep them on cue. Will that do?” His hypnotism tended to last quite a long time if done right. Especially if they were wearing his hats. He hadn’t done anything like this in a while but he was always eager to please his friend, Crane. His eyes sparkled when Crane said that he thought that job would be perfect for him. Jonathan’s approval made him light up and shine, much like a Christmas tree in October. “I’m so pleased! It’s been such a long time since the two of us had done anything together! I could even bring snacks when I come over for when you take your breaks!” 

@pxisonkiss​

Hearing the great, strong voice of Pamela. Jervis jumped up from where he’d been crouching. Paintbrush in his hand and swiftly moving to hide behind himself. “Not me!” He exclaimed suddenly, “The three, the-” He glanced around. The cards had just been there. Once towering above them and now gone completely from sight as if they’d never been there and he’d just imagined them up. “What? Where? But there were just there! I swear!” 

"I was just wondering if you could help me find my way?"

"Oh, by the way, if you'd really like to know, he went that way."

"Can you stand on your head?"

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense."

"But didn't you just say - I mean - Oh, dear!"

"Oh, that's quite all right. One moment please."

"Well, I haven't had any yet, so I can't very well take more."

"Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here."

"Well, after this I should think nothing of falling down stairs."

"You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself."

"It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change."

"Who's been painting my roses red?"

"If I listened earlier, I wouldn't be here."

"If I lose my temper, you lose your head! Understand?"

"I should've known there'd be a price to pay."

"See all the trouble you started?"

"I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it."

"You? Who ARE you?"

"Will I ever learn to do the things I should?"

"Well, I must say, I've never heard it that way before."

"Ah, that's just it. If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk."

"Curiosity often leads to trouble."

"And uh, just what were you saying, my dear?"

"I'm afraid I can't explain myself, because I'm not myself, you know?"

"Just half a cup, if you don't mind."

"Huh! Seems to me they could learn a few things about manners!"

"What do you know about this unfortunate affair?"

"Why, she simply said that you're a fat, pompous, bad tempered old tyrant!"

“Oi,” It was a thick accent though Tara couldn’t quite identify it. Maybe Sokivian? He was an older man with a wrapped box under his arm. “You Tara Markov?” She frowned. The one downside of working solid at one place was that others would know where she would be. It was hard to be discreet. “Who’s asking?” “Compliments of Joseph Grey.” He said, placed the present on the table and took his leave. It was wrapped gently and with care, a light bow upon the top. Strange. Joseph Grey was the name of the private detective she’d hired, though this was hardly the way he previously contacted her. Maybe he was in a bind and had important info? Even so, it was still inexplicably odd. Tara wrapped her finger around the top bow and gently pulled. The box came undone in an instant. It’s side dropping all at once, and in it’s center was– was that a head? Yes, yes it was. She held down on the impulse to scream, she couldn’t scream. She couldn’t much breath either. “Oh my god.” Was all Tara could choke out. “Oh my god.” / @fallengothamstarters​

Jervis sat in his barstool, after he discovered that it span. He couldn’t stop spinning it. Babs Kean sure knew how to make this place fun! And she’d even said that he was allowed to come in after all the other men were told to leave. Stoping the spinning for just a moment to bask in the delightful dizziness that came with it. He noticed another man come in and give the bartender a present. Nice fellow! Giving away presents. He figured, quietly, that it was likely her UnBirthday. He watched with anticipation as she opened it and jumped with surprise at her reaction. “Curiouser, and curiouser!” Jervis chimed as he moved to peer over and have a look at it himself. A head! A head without a hat. It was a crime to his eyes! How could this happen. He understood her horror. Generously, Jervis Tetch removed his hat and placed it atop the head of this decapitated head. “There, see! I made it better! Please, there’s no need to panic any longer.”  

Zatanna frowned as she listened to him. She had him grounded in reality for a moment there. Then he was off to Wonderland again. “No one’s going to kill you Jervis. The Jabberwocky can’t hurt you here. You’re safe. ” she said comfortingly. She poured him another tea. Talking and trying to help Jervis was just one of the many distractions Zatanna had put on her plate to keep her mind busy. “I brought you a present. Would you like to see it?”

Fear twisted in his belly and he felt ill from it. “Because you’re magic?” He recalled, but he still sunk in his seat like he was trying to disappear into it. Taking off his hat and placing it in his lap to further hide. At least from the back, nothing would be able to see him. She poured him some more tea and he hadn’t even tried to reach for it. Still frozen in fear. “A present..?” He asked, his voice small. “For me?” He nodded his head becoming a bit more animated. “I want to see it!”

Oswald was taken back with the loud arrival of one of his fellow rogues, and it was, unfortunately, one of the many that he couldn’t stand. The constant, nonsensical rhyming, the overexuberant nature that bleed through in everything he did… it was quite a bit for the first day outside of jail. Jervis was truly insane, but he was also insanely powerful. Which meant that staying on his good side was imperative. 

“Mr. Tetch! What a pleasant surprise.” Oswald said with a quickly-plastered smile on his face. Oswald just had to endure months of useless talk in Blackgate, and he was not looking forward to continuing that, now he was a free man. He signaled to his driver than it was fine to drive away, as he tried to sidestep Jervis. “Well, as you can imagine, I need up on some work. My…absence wasn’t a huge hit, I hope.”

“And what a pleasant day to exchange such pleasantries?” Jervis replied with a grin. Absence? It took a moment to recall what Oswald had meant. The Bird was doing some time behind bars for his crimes. “But why work when you could play? Perhaps I can persuade you to be lead astray. After all, a little birdie told me it was someone’s unbirthday!” He said with a wide grin, taking.a step to block him from walking past. “That’s cause to celebrate! Don’t you think?” 

@ofhatters : ‘  where  do  squirrels  run  to,  when  they  want  to  hide  ?  ’

~~~

“In the ground or a tree.” The Batman answers honestly, staring at the Rogue across from him. Normally, when he went to Arkham, it stirred up chaos within the asylum, it rarely reached outwards.

Bruce could remember his mother reading that story to him as a child, but he just couldn’t possibly remember if there were any squirrels in it.

“Is this what you called me for?” He asks, dropping a paper that was asking for Batman to come join Jervis for tea. Bruce would never play into this fantasy, but he knew what Jervis was capable of, and checking in was never harmful.

“In the ground or in the tree...” He repeated, imagining tiny homes within the trees and tunnels under the ground. “I wanted to catch one but I don’t know where it lives. It keeps coming to my window and stealing the cakes I leave out for the birds. That behaviour simply will not be tolerated. That squirrel is no guest of mine!” He explained.

Batman asked if that was what he called him for and he slowly shook his head. If he was being honest, Batman always scared him. He was this great unavoidable force that always managed to ruin things for him. A dark raincloud in his otherwise clear sky. A beautiful woman lived in his Apartment Building and this time he was sure that she was Alice. He wanted to make sure that Batman didn’t ruin it before he’d even tried to take her. He’d always handled it violently, so this time he thought he’d try another approach. “I just wanted to have tea with you... and now here you are.” 

        Jonathan didn’t expect Jervis to finish his nursey rhyme, leaving it open for himself to finish when he came back. It was a compulsive tick he had, finding it easier to stay grounded when he finished them himself. It seemed like the other wasn’t going to allow for that though. It would be interesting to see how the rest of this interaction went. Narrowing his eyes at Jervis, he watched him for a moment before following after him. His thoughts stayed in the lab with the file he knew would change his formula forever, pushing it towards completion. 

        Jonathan walked with his hands in his coat pocket, keeping his limbs close to his torso and out of the way. He took up enough space as it was. His question about his role was answered as Jervis slipped into Wonderland momentarily. He waited to see if the other man would be able to pull himself from the edge or if he would have to spend this time as the March Hare. Their eyes met and he waited until Jervis corrected himself to answer his question. “I plan to make it something more. Something better than what it was.” He replied, beginning to walk again. Crane assumed that the man would follow him considering this was his idea. “What help do you want to provide?” He glanced curiously in his direction, his glasses reflecting the neon lights of the lit street. “Did you have something in mind or are you asking me to find something for you?” Reaching the diner, he pulled the door open and walked inside. The lone waitress shouted something inaudible and he waved her off, walking towards a back booth in the corner of the building. Sitting down, he pulled his jacket off and folded it neatly beside him as he waited for Jervis to join him. 

“That sounds beautiful, my friend.” Jervis replied with a toothy grin. He wanted to be involved and to help Jonathan with his plans but his reason had nothing to do with the science or the end result. It was simply the need to be beside someone. Walking step by step to the same rhythm. He spent much of his time alone recently. So much so that he wasn’t certain how much time had past. Lost to his own mind. Swimming in an endless ocean of tea. Never able to get dry. He asked what help he’d be and he paused, thinking about it before coming up with an easy solution. “Everyone needs rabbits for their research. I’d bring you test subjects!” It had been a while since he used his mind control but he was certain that he still could. For Jonathan Crane, he’d do anything. “Unless of course, you have a better idea?” He pried curiously. Reaching the door after Crane and expecting his friend to keep it open for him only for it to smack him in the nose as it flue back shut. Rubbing at his face, he opened the door himself and walked in. Sitting down across from his friend. 

“Sometimes you aren’t given much choice, if someone sets out to hurt your friend simply because they wanted to, that doesn’t make you mad, it makes you a savior.” Cleo replied back looking at the other for a moment something was wrong her words had shaking something loose within him and she hadn’t meant to cause him pain. “I never said you were Mad, you are quite brilliant you know, and look at your hat, you crafted this yourself right? No one this talented could ever be mad.”

“A savour only to some. A killer in the eyes of others. A cop carries a gun to murder but they are rewarded and revered as heroes. Another kills out of love... and he is sent to Arkham. Locked away behind a cold, steel cage. Labelled to be sick. To be mad. Those above us look down upon us. They point their fingers and judge while their own hands are dripping with blood.” He said, leaning back in his spot. “You don’t have to say it, I know that I am.” He answered her as she started talking about his hat. “It is a lovely hat, isnt it? Would you like one?”

She quirked her brow, noting the term ‘speak of death’ and not the opposition to death in itself. The rabbits, by a logical standpoint and not in any way opinion based, were cute. It was simply an observation she reminded herself. “I see.” Sylvie responded, eyes set on the man with the tea in his hands. There was something to watch for with him, she stood on her guard though wasn’t entirely wary just yet. She had no reason to assume them enemies, and she was trying to work on the whole volatile thing. She couldn’t and wouldn’t strike unless struck. “Yes, thank you.” Sylvie decided, despite the strangeness of the man his tea was superb. “So what brought you here?” She asked curiously. 

He took a long sip from his tea cup, placing it down on top of the table. He hadn’t been expecting for her to actually say yes when he offered her to come in for tea but he was glad for the company. His dark eyes looked over her. Could it be her? Her face was angelic. Cheeks rosy against her ghostly skin. Her eyes were a sea of blue- or green. What colour were Alice’s eyes? Blue? Brown? Green? Hazel? He couldn’t remember. It was all muddled in his mind. Like a painter had carelessly dipped his brush into a thousand different colours and tried to paint her portrait. Without washing the bristles once. All that was clear in the picture was her golden hair. “I like your hair. It’s yellow... like straw.” He said. “Here?” Her question was sudden, “Oh. I live here in Wonderland. And you? Did you fall down a rabbit hole?” 

@ofhatters​: “He might be dumb, but he’s kinda shagadelic.”

“Oh, yeah, he sure is dreamy,” Jerome drawled, leaning his cheek on his fist and sighing as though lovestruck. He flashed Jervis a grin, leaning forward across the table – although careful to avoid the beautifully arranged tea set between them, he wasn’t a total monster. “Nothing quite so charming as somebody using his skin as a giant memo pad. Do ya think he, ya know, he’s saving more…private areas for someone really special?” He leaned even further, his grin widening. “Like the Bat!”

“I’ve always liked memo pads.” Jervis said. “A note here and there can be quite helpful for in times your mind is full of hair. Times when you wonder: where’s my brain? Oh where, oh where? Did I leave it over there... or perhaps-” He leaned over the table and opened up the lid of a teapot to pear inside. “Not there. Oh well, I don’t think I care. What was our topic again, my friend?” He asked, leaning back in his seat and taking a moment to think but his brain was full of rabbits and it was was difficult to recall. Finally, it struck him like a bolt of lightning. “Zsasz! Yes, he told me once! He has a secret spot for the Bat!” 

        Jonathan didn’t respond to the question, waiting until Jervis caught on to what he was speaking about. He turned his head to look at the clock mounted on the wall. “Hickory, dickory, dock.” He clicked his tongue. “The mouse ran up the clock,” he spoke to himself. The time was just hitting one: the coming down hour. “The clock struck one, the mouse ran down.” There was no need to rush back. The prime hours were soon to end and his brain’s acquisition mode would be over soon. He did his best work in those hours so a break wouldn’t inconvenience him too heavily. “Hickory, dickory, dock.” His gaze finally moved from the clock back to Jervis. Watching as he made his way over to the table he had pointed out, his eyes followed the file. “Good boy.” Crane said as if talking to a patient who had a good session. Sometimes he found it hard to break out of the psychiatrist role, this being one of those times. “Exactly.” He was always disturbed by his work, his mind never staying separate from it for long. It was part of what had driven him insane, becoming deranged by his own mind and the way his thoughts chased each other round and round in circles as the outcome never changed. It was the definition of insanity. He should have seen the signs sooner but he was too busy taking care of others. Jervis called it a date and Crane paused, unsure of how he was supposed to react. As far as he was aware they were nothing more than friends. Maybe it was part of the fantasy. What could he have been in Wonderland? The March Hare perhaps or the White Rabbit? “We’re late, we’re late, we’re late for a very important date.” He played along. 

.

Jervis paused to listen to the nursery rhyme. It was something the two of them both had in common. He loved rhymes and words that held rhythm so he could hardly help himself as Jon finished and he picked it up from where he left it. “Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock!” He found himself saying before Jonathan’s voice cut off his own. Good boy. It was the praise he was searching for when he looked back to him. His heart practically sang with glee. He was glad that Crane and himself had such a good connection that his friend could read that he’d wanted it. Not a lot of people understood him, so he was always glad when someone did. The way he spoke was gentle, like he was talking to him the way a doctor might. He liked the tone of it. As Jervis moved towards the door he came in, he glanced behind himself to see if Jon was following him. He’d hate to walk out without him and get lost inside of Wonderland’s dense forest again. At Jon’s words, his lips drew into another wide smile. “No time to say 'hello,’ goodbye! We’re late, we’re late, we’re late!” Jervis replied as he waited for his friend to walk after him. 

As they began their walk to the diner, Jervie kept close to him. “So, March--” He cut himself up, glancing up at him. He’d confused himself again, forgotten that he was with Jonathan Crane and he had to take a second to re-evaluate what he was going to ask. “Jonathan, what do you plan to do with my formula?” He asked, “Perhaps I could be of some help to you. Since I have nothing left to do in my queue, and I’m sure I still know what I knew.” He didn’t actually have a concrete schedule. The only time he worried about not missing was tea time. Which was very important but it had come and gone for the day.

          Jonathan looked down at the other man through his glasses, peering down at the petite man. Turning his head to look at the hand carefully placed on his shoulder, he looked back at Jervis. Had he been anyone else the nudge to get his hand off would have been something completely different. Being touched wasn’t his favorite thing, in fact he disliked it greatly unless it was the Bat, of course. Batman was the only person who could make him feel the fear he craved so desperately. He made like worth living still. Jervis was the only Rogue Jonathan felt he could trust without a doubt. His motivations weren’t the same as the others. He wouldn’t double cross him unless it was to get to Alice and he kept no blondes around. No Alice meant no betrayal. It put him at ease. He would play the man’s game to get what he wanted. His formula was the only thing that truly mattered. “Leave the file too then. On the table.” His eyes gravitated towards a table in the corner, out of the way and lonely. It was a place that he knew the file would be left undisturbed. “There’s a diner down the street.” 

This file was one of the few things he still had of his life before his devotion to Alice took over his mind and Wonderland became his very reality. It was him before he’d fully become the Hatter and he wasn’t even sure why he’d held onto it now. At the very least his dearest friend might find some use out of it. Jon stared down at him with eyes ablaze from the light of the lab reflecting in his glasses. He could imagine a furious fire just underneath his skin. So much so that he could almost feel the heat radiating from his friend. He let go of Jon, afraid that he might burn him. “The table?” He followed Jonathan’s eyes to the table out of their way and glanced back to him. Smiling once again once he suggested the diner. “Ooh! How fun!” Jervis exclaimed before leaving Jonathan’s side to walk to the table. He placed the file down on top of it and then looked back at Crane as though he was expecting praise for following the order. “What a wonderful idea. Now it will remain safe here and we will be undisturbed by your work.” He said before fixing his coat and moving towards the door. “Let’s go, Crane. We mustn’t be late for our date.”