[He hasn't yet gotten to those at present, but he has plenty of time on his hands. He is also otherwise occupied with his own matters between these replies.]
So thus proving his mental instability, or the idea that he already has everything that he wants and he's currently just exploiting it as he sees fit.
Then, Doctor, it is up to you to convince him that your professional services and medication will assist him in his goals rather than be a detriment. However, knowing a few individuals with extremes in mental illness, your limitations are well-founded at this point. I suggest sedatives to calm, if you have them or allowed them.
[This is actually somewhat useful. John hadn't really thought of the idea of using some of their Fentora or the other narcotics on hand--thank you, Sherlock Holmes, drug addict--to help sedate the man.]
I think it might be challenging for me to convince him of anything. We've come to blows, sir. More than once. He also recently murdered someone very dear to me. Strong words were exchanged. ['I'll murder you,' words on John's part. As you do. Not that he seems to be able to do it now.]
We can try sedatives for now, but I'm not sure about that as a long-term solution. I know this is asking a hell of a lot, Mr. Pierce, but do you think you might be able to get a better read on him and be able to do anything to convince him if you spoke with him, in-person? I'd be there along with others to keep him physically under control, of course.
I'm not sure what I could do to compensate you for the trouble and the danger, but I'd be willing to do just about anything to stop this madman.
[Edging closer to the real question he wants to ask...]
So the real question I have for you then, is why are you putting up with this behaviour at all? If it can't be controlled, it can't be corrected, and it can't allow him to live cohesively with others, why do so at all? I suppose it is a moral obligation of a doctor, but there is a concept in herd health I'm sure you're aware of.
I can look back through any public posts that he has made and begin to get a read on him, but it seems as if you have an assessment will in hand at this point. You're dealing with a man with severe mental illness; that is closer to your field than my own.
Death isn't a permanent solution here, Mr. Pierce. And it just might end up with him out of our custody once more. Not to mention, he's a person, not a cow. I'm not going to murder someone unless they're an immediate and imminent threat to the life or well-being of another person. While he's locked up in my custody, he doesn't meet that criteria.
[Where to go from here, though?]
And we've reached past the point where my expertise could be of help. I'm a trauma surgeon, not a psychiatrist. I know the basic idea of what to do, but that's with a compliant patient in a setting where I can control things. Not the middle of a wasteland where no one has time to be playing guard.
What we need is him on a mental leash, not a physical one. I know my own limitations and I'm not emotionally capable of building a bond with him to wrangle him properly. I don't know who could be, really.
[And this might be showing his hand a little too much, but it's the natural progression for this conversation. John hopes.]
I understand that death is not permanent here in multiple cases, but haven't what you have just described to me earlier is the fact that he is a constant and imminent threat to you and those around you? And if you don't believe he is, and so be it, you had best keep him in custody or hope that someone else can.
Are there any psychiatrists in this place?
The only mental leash it seems you might have at your disposal is sedatives, which I suggest you employ until a more permanent solution can be found. Does his obsession, this Bat-man, have the emotional capability to wrangle him?
[This really isn't helping his personal goal not to commit cold-blooded murder tonight. John grits his teeth.]
He's sitting in a pair of handcuffs not doing anything. I can't justify pulling a trigger on a man like that. It's not right.
[As satisfying as it would be. As many good reasons as he has to do it. If the Joker would just try to break out and try to kill one of them in the attempt...]
We don't have any psychiatrists, no. Where's Hannibal Lector when you need him?
Batman has the ability to control him to an extent. Joker was in his custody for about two weeks, but it's a cat-and-mouse game for Joker. He wants Batman to come after him, and Batman's not inclined to just ignore him. Like I said, though, I haven't been able to raise Batman on the communications devices.
[He's not exactly here to help to a degree; he's here to be reasonable and lend that support to others who might be struggling with their own conflict.]
I do hope you will have a rotating watch on him at all times because idle hands have plenty of opportunity to find a way to cause trouble. That said, do what you feel is best for everyone.
[Everyone had to take responsibility for something after all. Whatever decisions are made, the one in question has to own it.]
I believe that individual would create a different kind of problem to our situation which might not entirely be much better.
Do you know where Bat-man's last known location was? If close, it may be worthwhile to check it in case he require a doctor himself.
[Yes, good. There's the opening he can take. He doesn't know Batman's actual location, but he can make it up.]
It was Downtown, actually. The last place I know where he was is the building just south of the post office. It's #127 on Dr. House's map. That was four days ago. Are you near that one? I'm up in the north-central residential area.
I know he wasn't planning to head out of Downtown. He was mostly just circling that area with the Joker in tow.
[Pierce peered at the map, having no idea the current location of the Joker now. He figured that four days ago meant that the group could easily move in his direction. Bringing the madman with them, which was not an individual he wanted so close to him just yet.
Of course, he was also smart enough to do a mental calculation on how long it would take him fighting through the weather and look upon the map to see the distance between 127 and where John is saying. It could work. Perhaps he was slower than other.]
That is quite the distance in this atrocious weather for the Joker to travel in four days. He must not have stopped for any supplies in that time.
Looking at the map, 127 is quite the distance from my present location. It would take me a few days to trek there, but I can if you like?
[Is that too far? It's probably too far. He should have said it was five or six days. Damn. There's no real way around it now.]
Travel is a bit faster in the ice tunnels. Helps when you're out of the wind and snow. But if he's on the run from Batman, I'm not surprised he was going at a clip. I have messaged him to let him know where we have the Joker at the moment. The patient I was intending to meet is nearby, too, so we can keep him corralled in this area for now.
I would also really appreciate it if you could just check that building. I'm not sure Batman will still be there, but it wouldn't hurt to search for clues, and it is on the way out of Downtown.
Unless he's not on the run from Bat-man because Bat-man is indisposed for one reason or another. Surely the man can't be dead, can he? All the more reason the Joker has no reason to run away and less reason for you to have no contact with Bat-Man.
[Now he might be a touch suspicious. The logic isn't adding up now that's reviewed the details, but he was planning on looking in that building anyway. Just tomorrow and not a few days off.]
I will investigate once I have traveled that distance. I am in search of supplies for myself, so each building along the way may cause me to pause while I search.
If he's killed Batman, there's a chance he'll revive. No telling where, but if I were on the run from someone, I'd get out of the place that's a dead end, too. And it might be he just left the man tied up.
[John pulls a bit of a face to himself. He is not the best liar, and this fabrication is getting away from him a bit. Better to cut off the conversation before the whole thing unravels.]
I understand you've got your own survival to look after, of course. I'll check to see if anyone else is in the area who might be able to get there a little faster. But if not, just a look-in would be helpful. Thank you, Mr. Pierce, and I really am sorry to put so much on your straight out the gate. I'm just not sure who else I could really talk to about this, though.
How long does it take for a revival to occur in general, assuming that one is going to happen in the first place? You may run, but he's insane and they don't always follow a logical track, especially if he's been held against his will for two weeks.
[Then again, he could just tell John to ask the Joker were Batman was, but it seemed pointless at present. He wasn't there to discern the answer himself to be able to tell if it was an excellent lie or not.]
No worries, doctor. I'm glad I could be of what little service that I was, and I will be certain to check in on that building as soon as I can reasonably get there. I will always offer what advice I can on such difficult matters to you or anyone else.
It varies considerably. When I died a little while back, it took a day. Others can take a week or more. The longest revival time I know of was 52 days.
So the body, assuming there is one, could still be there by the time I arrive. I will do what I can to hurry through the downtown area. I will let you know what I find, if anything.
[No, there's not the slightest chance a body would be there. John wonders if he should risk lying about that. No, better to not. That's something he can check easily enough.]
That would be unlikely, sir. Unattended bodies have a way of going missing very quickly. It's more likely he'd be in a morgue by now. But anything he left in a drawer or a cupboard would still be there. Enclosed areas. Never leave anything you want to keep out.
[Well, he is getting into the swing of this place with all this information sharing. Yet another interesting fact. He would be up to speed faster than even he would admit.]
Isn't that just an interesting point of fact? Then I will be certain to do a very thorough search of the place when I arrive, assuming you find no one closer before then.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 02:13 am (UTC)So thus proving his mental instability, or the idea that he already has everything that he wants and he's currently just exploiting it as he sees fit.
Then, Doctor, it is up to you to convince him that your professional services and medication will assist him in his goals rather than be a detriment. However, knowing a few individuals with extremes in mental illness, your limitations are well-founded at this point. I suggest sedatives to calm, if you have them or allowed them.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 02:22 am (UTC)I think it might be challenging for me to convince him of anything. We've come to blows, sir. More than once. He also recently murdered someone very dear to me. Strong words were exchanged. ['I'll murder you,' words on John's part. As you do. Not that he seems to be able to do it now.]
We can try sedatives for now, but I'm not sure about that as a long-term solution. I know this is asking a hell of a lot, Mr. Pierce, but do you think you might be able to get a better read on him and be able to do anything to convince him if you spoke with him, in-person? I'd be there along with others to keep him physically under control, of course.
I'm not sure what I could do to compensate you for the trouble and the danger, but I'd be willing to do just about anything to stop this madman.
[Edging closer to the real question he wants to ask...]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 02:28 am (UTC)I can look back through any public posts that he has made and begin to get a read on him, but it seems as if you have an assessment will in hand at this point. You're dealing with a man with severe mental illness; that is closer to your field than my own.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 02:53 am (UTC)Death isn't a permanent solution here, Mr. Pierce. And it just might end up with him out of our custody once more. Not to mention, he's a person, not a cow. I'm not going to murder someone unless they're an immediate and imminent threat to the life or well-being of another person. While he's locked up in my custody, he doesn't meet that criteria.
[Where to go from here, though?]
And we've reached past the point where my expertise could be of help. I'm a trauma surgeon, not a psychiatrist. I know the basic idea of what to do, but that's with a compliant patient in a setting where I can control things. Not the middle of a wasteland where no one has time to be playing guard.
What we need is him on a mental leash, not a physical one. I know my own limitations and I'm not emotionally capable of building a bond with him to wrangle him properly. I don't know who could be, really.
[And this might be showing his hand a little too much, but it's the natural progression for this conversation. John hopes.]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:01 am (UTC)Are there any psychiatrists in this place?
The only mental leash it seems you might have at your disposal is sedatives, which I suggest you employ until a more permanent solution can be found. Does his obsession, this Bat-man, have the emotional capability to wrangle him?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:14 am (UTC)He's sitting in a pair of handcuffs not doing anything. I can't justify pulling a trigger on a man like that. It's not right.
[As satisfying as it would be. As many good reasons as he has to do it. If the Joker would just try to break out and try to kill one of them in the attempt...]
We don't have any psychiatrists, no. Where's Hannibal Lector when you need him?
Batman has the ability to control him to an extent. Joker was in his custody for about two weeks, but it's a cat-and-mouse game for Joker. He wants Batman to come after him, and Batman's not inclined to just ignore him. Like I said, though, I haven't been able to raise Batman on the communications devices.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:24 am (UTC)I do hope you will have a rotating watch on him at all times because idle hands have plenty of opportunity to find a way to cause trouble. That said, do what you feel is best for everyone.
[Everyone had to take responsibility for something after all. Whatever decisions are made, the one in question has to own it.]
I believe that individual would create a different kind of problem to our situation which might not entirely be much better.
Do you know where Bat-man's last known location was? If close, it may be worthwhile to check it in case he require a doctor himself.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:30 am (UTC)It was Downtown, actually. The last place I know where he was is the building just south of the post office. It's #127 on Dr. House's map. That was four days ago. Are you near that one? I'm up in the north-central residential area.
I know he wasn't planning to head out of Downtown. He was mostly just circling that area with the Joker in tow.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:42 am (UTC)Of course, he was also smart enough to do a mental calculation on how long it would take him fighting through the weather and look upon the map to see the distance between 127 and where John is saying. It could work. Perhaps he was slower than other.]
That is quite the distance in this atrocious weather for the Joker to travel in four days. He must not have stopped for any supplies in that time.
Looking at the map, 127 is quite the distance from my present location. It would take me a few days to trek there, but I can if you like?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:53 am (UTC)Travel is a bit faster in the ice tunnels. Helps when you're out of the wind and snow. But if he's on the run from Batman, I'm not surprised he was going at a clip. I have messaged him to let him know where we have the Joker at the moment. The patient I was intending to meet is nearby, too, so we can keep him corralled in this area for now.
I would also really appreciate it if you could just check that building. I'm not sure Batman will still be there, but it wouldn't hurt to search for clues, and it is on the way out of Downtown.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 03:57 am (UTC)[Now he might be a touch suspicious. The logic isn't adding up now that's reviewed the details, but he was planning on looking in that building anyway. Just tomorrow and not a few days off.]
I will investigate once I have traveled that distance. I am in search of supplies for myself, so each building along the way may cause me to pause while I search.
[That should buy him some time, logically.]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:12 am (UTC)[John pulls a bit of a face to himself. He is not the best liar, and this fabrication is getting away from him a bit. Better to cut off the conversation before the whole thing unravels.]
I understand you've got your own survival to look after, of course. I'll check to see if anyone else is in the area who might be able to get there a little faster. But if not, just a look-in would be helpful. Thank you, Mr. Pierce, and I really am sorry to put so much on your straight out the gate. I'm just not sure who else I could really talk to about this, though.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:17 am (UTC)[Then again, he could just tell John to ask the Joker were Batman was, but it seemed pointless at present. He wasn't there to discern the answer himself to be able to tell if it was an excellent lie or not.]
No worries, doctor. I'm glad I could be of what little service that I was, and I will be certain to check in on that building as soon as I can reasonably get there. I will always offer what advice I can on such difficult matters to you or anyone else.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:28 am (UTC)That would be unlikely, sir. Unattended bodies have a way of going missing very quickly. It's more likely he'd be in a morgue by now. But anything he left in a drawer or a cupboard would still be there. Enclosed areas. Never leave anything you want to keep out.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 04:31 am (UTC)Isn't that just an interesting point of fact? Then I will be certain to do a very thorough search of the place when I arrive, assuming you find no one closer before then.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-12 05:17 am (UTC)