* J *

Part Eight: Chapter 44: Plotting

"No. They caught me trying to break in here," she rolls her eyes, seemingly annoyed.

The Joker can't help but be curious as to what would motivate her to break into Arkham. What could this place possibly have worth breaking in for? He raises an invisible brow, "Why would you break in?"

She lays her plastic spork down and smirks at him, "I was trying to break you out." She's aware of the big head that information was going to give him. But he could use a little flattery, he'd been locked up in this place for weeks now.

The Joker can't help a small smile. Flattery fills him and He does his best to not appear or sound too cocky. He couldn't believe she did that for him. He's both honored and humbled. "Well, I appreciate the effort," he simply nods at her. "I need to find a way to reach Frost. Any ideas on how I could do that?" He quietly asks her.

Ivy looks up to make sure no one was watching them. "It's not impossible, but it's not going to be easy either," she says in a hushed tone.

"Can't you like call on some plants or blow that gas shit of yours? Maybe set up a kissing booth?" The Joker asks poking at his food with his spork. What in the hell was that stuff?

"No, the guards that come in contact with me have masks," she shakes her head, her eyes constantly observing their surroundings, not wanting anyone to know they were conspiring together.

The Joker casually glances at the guards. "What about them? They're not in masks."

Ivy gives him a droll look. "Do you have any idea what kind of riot would start in this room? They'd sound the alarms and then here comes heavy artillery and tear gas. They have too many guards for just the two of us J."

She was most likely right. The Joker glances around at the other inmates sitting and eating. Most of them hes never seen before in his life, but he notices who two are right off, the Riddler, and Scarecrow. He's had business dealings with both. The Riddler, or Ed Nygma, was quite intelligent, but the stupid riddles got on the Joker's nerves. And Scarecrow, aka Dr. Jonathan Crane, former psychiatrist at this very asylum, was quite the chemest as well. He's crafted several gases for the Joker.

The Joker seems to be firing on all eight cylinders at the moment because his brain is starting to formulate a plan. "Ivy? How can I get a note to Crane and Nygma?"

"You gotta bribe a guard, trustee, or maybe a patient that passes by their cell," she tells him lowly.

The Joker nods. He knew just what to do. "So uh, what do you think the going rate for buying a guard around here is?" He asks as he picks up a scoop of the mystery breakfast and puts it in his mouth. He chews once and quickly spits it out onto his napkin. "What the hell is that?" He asks with a scowl on his face and trying to wipe his tounge off.

"Powdered eggs, fake bacon bits, and bread crumbs," Ivy says curling up her nose at her tray. She hates the food at Arkham as well.

"Ugh, don't try it," he says and gulps down his milk, desperately trying to elevate the fowl taste in his mouth.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to," Ivy says watching him with a bemused look.

"Where is your cell? Which ward?" The Joker asks. "I'm in 0803," he says. "Ivy, how many times have you been here?" He's curious because of the fact that he's only been here once and has forgotten many things about this place.

"Four," she sighs and opens her milk.

"Do you know your way around the building and grounds?" He asks her.

"Better than I'd like to," she rolls her eyes.

The Joker looks at her as a great big smile formulates on his face. He slightly cocks his head at her. His eyes start to twinkle.