* J *

Part Eight: Chapter 41: Evaluation

The first year of being the Joker flew by in the blink of an eye. It was as if since the accident that everything was moving faster. As if there just weren't enough hours in a day. He went through several changes that first year. He tattooed his body with numerous tattoos.

The Joker found that he liked the pain. He got a dragon on his entire back. On his chest a skeleton jester head. Crossing the left side was a series of 'Ha Ha's that also ran down his left forearm. On his stomach was JOKER in old English letters. On his lower stomach he had a smile, one also graced his right inner forearm all the way around, and the back of his left hand. On the left side of his neck was cards with the words 'All In' beneath them. On his right ribcage was 'Gods Only Child'. On his left bicep was a jester from a joker card. Beneath his left eye was the letter J. On his right temple was a blue star. And his favorite was a bat and a robin with knives in them on the front if each bicep.

(And no I'm not forgetting damaged on his forehead. He does not have it at this point in the story. Nor has he yet obtained his silver teeth. Stay tuned.)

The Joker was learning how to become a better criminal. First by exercising his patience. He had noticed that things definitely worked better with patience. Impatience just created trouble and failure. That was two things the Joker preferred not doing. His status as the top villain in Gotham depended on things working his way. And the Joker took his status and reputation quite seriously.