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Today's lens of choice was a manual focus Pentax-M 50mm 1:7 took a visit to Rougham Sunflower fields to play with it
A quarter pounder mealworm please!....A McMaggot and a medium fries for me please dad! :-)))))
Digital Painting, Watercolour effect.
This Great Tit brought five of his youngsters and single-handedly fed them in our garden.
As we approach the end of 2022, one of the biggest piece of long rumoured news to come out within commercial aviation was United Airlines announcing on 13th December 2022 that they would be placing one of the largest orders in United States commercial aviation history. The order was jointly announced by United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby and Boeing Commercial Airplane's President and CEO, Stan Deal at Boeing's Charleston assembly line.
United Airlines placed its biggest order in their operating history, confirming the order for 100 Boeing 787s alongside a further 100 Boeing 737 MAXs which are expected to be delivered at the end of the current decade. The order was long speculated following initial rumours circulating earlier in 2022; the carrier and manufacturer have not confirmed how the order for both the Boeing 737 MAXs and Boeing 787s will be split; but further to this, the order for 100 Boeing 787s also includes 100 options.
The order for 100 Boeing 787s will enable not only to expand the carrier's expanding international network, but also to enable the Boeing 767s and eldest Boeing 777s. What is particularly interesting is their existing order for 45 Airbus A350s remain on the books, having been consistently delayed and altered.
As for the exercising of a further 100 Boeing 737 MAX, the order is a combination of 44 options being exercised as orders whilst 56 are brand new purchases. Finally, United Airlines confirmed that the refurbishment of their existing narrow-body fleet will be complete by 2025.
Currently, United Airlines operates 67 Boeing 787s, which includes 12 Boeing 787-8s, 38 Boeing 787-9s and 17 Boeing 787-10s. United have 4 Boeing 787-10s on-order.
November Two Seven Nine Five Seven is one of 38 Boeing 787-9s operated by United Airlines, delivered new to the carrier on 31st August 2015 and she is powered by 2 General Electric GEnx-1B74 engines.
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N27957 on short finals into Runway 27L at London Heathrow (LHR) on UA923 from Los Angeles (LAX), California.
NW3: "....pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man, bake me a cake as fast as you can!"
C: "Pat it and shape it and mark it with a 'B' ."
NW3: "And bake it in the over for baby and me!"
NW2: "Tards, the both of you."
NW3: "Fuck off, Chip."
NW2: "Don't call me that in front of the civvie!"
NW3: "Oh c'mon, Cory's the homie! Right, Cory?"
C: "Uhh, yeah...."
NW1: "Listen up! Got some bad news, the commander just---what and why?"
NW3: "What?"
NW1: "Why's that civvie out? They should all be locked in the storage room!"
NW2: "I got sick of his bullshit, uncle. I pulled one of the civvies out to keep him occupied."
NW1: "You endangered a civvie just to quell this shithead's boredom?!"
NW3: "Hey, fuck you! Cory's mah boi."
NW1: " 'Ya boi' is in deep shit. Every civvie still trapped in this mall is!"
NW2: "Well duh, uncle. They're trapped in a big mall with a bunch of trigger-happy mercs with the Bloodfalls on their way."
NW1: "The Bloodfalls ARE here, and the commander just ordered that we start offing the civvies here!"
NW2: "Seriously, uncle?"
C: "ah-offing?...."
NW3: "I-it's alright, Cory, just be cool, homeslice. Offing civvies!? are you shitting me?!"
NW2: Uncle, the reason we're in the forces is to monitor and keep civvie casualties at an absolute low, not cause more. We already fucked up hard not being at the art auction."
NW3: "Yeah! Our targets are the Bloodfalls!"
NW1: "I KNOW!!...I know!....look, as the second-in-command to this whole op, the commander trusts me to direct the forces, that's why he ordered me to give the order to start wasting the civvies."
NW3: "Aaaaaand?"
NW1: "I have the choice to disobey. We're not killing anyone except our original targets."
C: "Oh thank god...."
NW3: "See Cory? We're cool!"
NW2: "Are we? If that robotic asshole knows you disobeyed his orders, we're all gonna get our shit slapped. To death."
NW1: "Well aware. Look, the Bloodfalls just got here. The big one's taking on the drone tank outside, and his girl is in the mall."
NW3: "Great, so it's either a cyborg lunatic we gotta call commander wringing us like wet towels for disobeying orders, or an armored crazy-ass bitch with a grudge."
NW1: "Grudge?"
NW2: "You tased her into unconsciousness, remember, uncle?"
NW1: "Oh. Well, not like she'll recognize me."
NW3: "But she'll still murder the shit outta us."
NW1: "Not if all our men are hunting for her. I just sent out the order to search for her. We capture her, bring her to the commander, maybe he won't care that we didn't go ISIS on the civvies."
NW2: "But we gotta look for her, too? Uncle, she's ready this time, she'll end us!"
NW1: "We just gotta be careful. I'm more scared of what the commander will do to us, and you should too."
NW3: "Man, who put that titanium plated, 'rioded out shitbagel in charge? It was SO much better when you were at the top of the totem poll! And that's something I'd normally eat my gentleman's veggies before even thinking about saying!"
NW1: "I never was in charge....let's roll, get this over with."
NW2: "Roger roger, uncle!"
NW1: "Stop. Fucking. CALLING ME THAT!!!!"
NW3: ".......hey uh, bro?"
C: "Y-yeah."
NW3: "....here."
C: "...a gun?"
NW3: "It's just a shitty sidearm, I won't miss it. They hand these out like candy back a base."
C: "...why?"
NW3: "Look, you just heard everything, shit hit the fan. So here's what's gonna happen; you gotta get the rest of the people in the storage room out of here."
C: "Me? Why me?"
NW3: " 'cause Homie, you got the touch, you got the power. Try to escape out a side exit somewhere on this part of the mall, I'm gonna try to direct our boy's search to another part."
C: "...o-okay."
NW3: "Stay out of the front parking lot, shit's going down out there, too. Just get out and fucking run, make sure everyone's with you. I'm counting on you, brah."
C: "R-right. I'll try."
NW3: "Good. Now I know you're the guy who'd never own a gun, so if you get caught with this, just uhhh.....say you're a Trump supporter. Sick of them dirty mexicans matin' with your women and taking your jerbs."
C: "Uhh.....sure....."
NW3: "Great. When you get out of this, are we still on for Saturday?"
C: "We're there, dude."
NW3: "Sweet. See you on the other side, homie. I love you...."
I am thinking of doing a small round of pre-order for blythe sheep and goat hats while I wait for my commission person to get back to me (I usually give the person up to a week to reply before jumping to next one in line).
I will give a little heads up notice here for the pre-order but all detail information will be posted on my blog. You can visit my blog for previous pre-order detail as example. Some rules might change and the price (the one here is just an example of how it was done before): www.lalatroop.blogspot.com/2012/09/info-regarding-pre-ord...
Please do not send me messages regarding this. I will post pre-order info up when they are ready...hopefully in a day or two.
I love to see bluebells but they are getting past their best. I thought I would grab a photograph before I missed the opportunity.
October2024.Abandoned Garage in downtown Malvern, Arkansas.Foma100at50.PentaxZ1p.SMC Pentax-FA 100mm F3.5 Macro.CafenolCL@1hr+Scanned:FujifilmXH2
On the night Boris closed the pubs, 73965 leads 73961 through Altrincham on the 19:10 Derby RTC to Derby RTC, via Stoke, Crewe, Altrincham, Buxton, Manchester Piccadilly, Crewe, Chinley and Sheffield.
Sneaked off to Venice for a few days! Contrary to appearances it didn't rain on me but it was only flooded which I thought was a huge photographic bonus and great fun!
Will be moving house in a few weeks, still don't know the date but life continues to be hectic...
While the company’s other assets get more use in the Twin Ports, Heritage Marine keeps a third tugboat in Two Harbors in the event of a tug assist being needed at this busy port. For this standby job, it’s up to the Nels J to hold down the fort within sight of a previous holder of this duty with the nearby museum tugboat Edna G.
From a site of two derelict buildings in the dOKUMENTA city of Kassel that over 40 years ago housed BIER GROSSHANDLUNG NEUENHAGEN, a wholesale German beer company.
A dear flickr contact who runs a construction company in the process of clearing out and renovating this site generously provided me access to photograph on August 16, 2012.
"Last Orders" is what pub owners call out to their customers, a few minutes before closing time.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/about.aspx
Minsmere offers families and keen birdwatchers a great day out. Nature trails take you through a variety of habitats to excellent birdwatching hides. In spring, you can watch avocets and marsh harriers, or hear booming bitterns. On the beach, a special area is cordoned off to protect nesting little terns. In autumn and winter, many wading birds and swans, ducks and geese visit the reserve. There is a visitor centre where you can find out more about the wildlife, browse in the shop or enjoy a meal in the tearoom. There are events all year and family explorer backpacks and trail booklets are available.
Opening times
The reserve is open daily during daylight hours. Visitor centre open daily: 9 am - 5 pm (closes 4 pm from 1 November - 31 January). Shop open: 10 am - 5 pm (closes 4 pm from 1 November to 31 January). Tearoom open: 10 am - 4.30 pm (closes 4 pm from 1 November to 31 January); last orders 15 minutes before closing. Hot food served 11.30 am - 2.30 pm. Reserve and visitor centre closed 25 and 26 December.
Entrance charges
RSPB members free. Non members: adults £5, children £1.50, concessions £3, family £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
There is an extensive programme of guided walks, many of them aimed at beginners. Our guides may be on hand at other times to help visitors in the hides. The birdwatching hides provide excellent opportunities to see birds at close range throughout the year.
Information for families
There are Wildlife Explorer back packs that can be borrowed, free of charge (deposit required). These include an activity booklet, binoculars, bug box, identification charts and books, colouring pencils and much more. There are also free seasonal Discovery Trail guides for families. During the school holidays there are several family activites on the events programme.
Information for dog owners
We are sorry, but no dogs are allowed on the nature trails or in hides, except assistance dogs. There are a limited number of shaded car parking places available for dog owners on a first come, first served basis - please ask at reception on arrival. Dogs are allowed around the visitor centre and car park only. Dogs cannot be taken on guided walks. Dogs are, however, welcome on public rights of way that cross the reserve, including a five mile circuit around the reserve perimeter, but these are not accessible from the main car park. Dogs are also welcome on Open Access land on Westleton Heath, if kept on a lead. A leaflet of walks at Westleton Heath is available from reception.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Avocet
The famous scrape hosts a large colony of avocets and these can be seen at close quarters from the hides overlooking this impressive man-made wetland from early spring to autumn.
Bearded tit
Bearded tits can be seen flitting over the reeds as you walk along the North Wall, the path along the west side of the scrape and from Island Mere and Bittern Hides all year-round.
Bittern
Minsmere holds a sizeable proportion of the UK population of bitterns. Visit in spring to hear them 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights. Bittern Hide and Island Mere Hide offer a great chance of a sighting.
Marsh harrier
The extensive reedbeds play host to several breeding marsh harriers. The elevated Island Mere and Bittern Hides will reward you with excellent views. They can now be seen here throughout the year.
Nightingale
Nightingales can be heard singing in the deciduous woodland in spring. Their performance is best early in the morning or in the evenings - but they do of course sing through the night!
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Avocets return to breed on the Scrape - about 100 pairs nest annually. From mid-April see returning common terns, while wildfowl start to leave in March, and migrant wading birds pass through. Look for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds. Minsmere is the best place in Britain to hear booming bitterns. Listen for nightingales singing in the scrub from mid-April, and listen for various other warblers around the reserve. Look for Dartford warblers on the heath, and listen for great spotted woodpeckers drumming. Sand martins return to nest outside the tearoom. Bluebells are in flower in May. Adders emerge from hibernation.
Summer
Look for young avocets, common terns and gulls on the Scrape. The first spotted redshanks, ruffs and other wading birds return from late June. Little terns nest in a specially fenced area on the beach. Young marsh harriers will be flying from late June. Bitterns are easier to see on feeding flights. Look for family parties of bearded tits in the reedbeds. Listen for nightjars and look for glow-worms on the heath at dusk in June and July. Dragonflies and butterflies are easy to see, and the former may attract hunting hobbies. Rare flowers include yellow-horned poppy and sea kale on the beach and marsh mallow around the Scrape. Heather is in full flower on the heath. This is the best time of year to see water voles.
Autumn
Migrant wading birds continue to pass through, including curlew sandpipers, little stints and ruffs. Winter wildfowl return, with teal numbers increasing rapidly. Brent geese move south from late September. The first Bewick's swans arrive in late October. Large starling flocks gather to roost in the reedbeds. Swallows and house martins flock together before departing. Look for bearded tits on calm mornings. The red deer will be rutting on the heath in October. Redwings and fieldfares return and will be feeding on hawthorn berries. Look out for rarities.
Winter
Several hundred wigeons, teals and lapwings will be joined by other wildfowl and wading birds on the Scrape. Look for Bewick's swans and goldeneyes on Island Mere, and white-fronted geese on the Levels. Look for hunting hen and marsh harriers, barn and short-eared owls and peregrines. There's a chance seeing of otters on Island Mere. Look for tit and finch flocks in the woods. Great spotted woodpeckers start drumming on mild days. Red-throated divers and great crested grebes gather offshore. The former can sometimes be well out to sea.
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Large car park on site. No overnight parking. Parking for two coaches by advance booking only. Bicycle racks outside visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Baby-changing facilities
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Seven birdwatching hides and a public viewing platform. Four hides and the viewing platform overlook the Scrape. Three of these hides are wheelchair accessible. Two hides overlook the reedbed. One of these is on stilts and accessed via steps. The final hide is in the woodland, and accessed via steps.
Nature trails
Two circular trails, each about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, from the visitor centre. Allow about two hours for each trail. The circuit of the Scrape takes you through scrub, reedbeds, and along the beach. North, West and South Hides and the North Wall viewing platform are fully accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs, but East Hide and the public viewing platform are accessed via the beach. The Island Mere circuit takes you through woodland and reedbeds. This route is not wheelchair accessible, although access to Island Mere Hide is possible by parking in a small layby (blue badge holders only) and walking about 300 m to the hide. This path is accessible for wheelchairs with difficulty, except after wet weather.
Tearoom
The tearoom also sells light meals.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Hot meals
•Cold meals
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
Large selection of books, optics, outdoor clothing, bird food and gifts.
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Bird feeders
•Nestboxes
•Outdoor clothing
•Gifts
Educational facilities
Minsmere is an exciting place for young people to learn. We offer a varied programme of educational visits led by experienced field teachers. All activities are linked to the National Curriculum and are fully risk-assessed. Activities for Key Stages 1 and 2 include bird adaptations, food chains, birdwatching, minibeast safari, pond dipping and seaside habitat. Programmes can be tailored to suit particular requirements. Educational visits cost £3 per pupil for a half-day visit (10 am-12.30 pm) or £4 per pupil for a full day (10 am-2.30 pm), and accompanying adults are free. Special programmes can be arranged for secondary schools, including behind the scenes tours with an RSPB warden to look at how the reserve is managed. For further details and booking arrangements, please contact the visitor centre.
Accessibility
Car parking
The car park is accessed via an entrance from Westleton (brown tourist signs from A12). The entrance road is 2 km (1.5 miles) and has several 'sleeping policemen'. The car park is surfaced with rolled limestone and is rough in places. There are six allocated parking spaces on the right. An 80 m sloping path on rolled gravel leads from the allocated parking bays to the visitor centre. Wheelchair users can be dropped off and collected from outside the visitor centre, although caution is needed as delivery vehicles and pedestrians use this area.
Access to visitor centre
An 80 m sloping path on rolled gravel leads from the allocated parking bays to the visitor centre. Alternatively, there are steps from the nearest parking bays, which are 30 m from the visitor centre.
The visitor centre is accessed via double doors into a reception area, which has information and displays about the reserve and is staffed by friendly RSPB volunteers. Chairs are available in the reception area.
Access to the shop is via double doors from reception. Space is limited in places within the shop, light levels are poor in some areas, and some goods are on high shelves. Please ask the staff for assistance if required.
The tearoom is accessed via double doors from the shop. Space is limited within the tearoom, making it difficult to manoeuvre a wheelchair. Staff are available to help if required. Additional seating is available outside, including two tables that are fully accessible to wheelchair users. There is a bird feeding station outside the tearoom.
Access from the tearoom to the nature trails is via a short series of steps, or back through the shop and down a gentle ramp.
Toilets
There are unisex adapted toilets and baby changing facilities within the main toilet block and in the shop. The main toilet block is open at all times.
Access to the hides and nature trails
Some nature trails and hides are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and work is continuing to upgrade many of the surfaces. Recent flooding has caused deterioration in the surface of some paths, making wheelchair access more difficult. We are working to improve these routes. There are regular benches on many parts of the trails.
The path from the visitor centre to North Hide is 320 m with a mixture of surfaces including tarmac, boardwalk, rolled gravel and 'natural' surface. This route is level apart from one gentle ramp.There are two benches. North Hide is wheelchair accessible.
North Hide to the beach viewpoint is 660 m of rolled gravel and is fully wheelchair accessible. There are two benches, plus two at the viewpoint.The path from this viewpoint to the sluice, via East Hide and the Public Viewpoint is 965 m along sand and shingle through the dunes so is inaccessible to wheelchair users. There are steps into both East Hide and the Public Viewpoint.
The path from the Visitor Centre to West Hide is 405 m of tarmac and rolled gravel on a level surface. This route is fully wheelchair accessible, although can be muddy after heavy rain. There is one bench on route. South Hide is a further 415 m along this path, with one bench on this section. West and South Hides are both wheelchair accessible via a dog-leg concrete ramp. The path continues to the Sluice (490 m), where there is a bench. This section is a gravel surface, which is accessible with difficulty.
The Visitor Centre to Bittern Hide is 485 m, with a mixture of rolled gravel and a natural surface. There are two benches. There is a slope down to Bittern Hide, which is accessible only via steps.
The path from Bittern Hide to Island Mere is 675 m on a natural surface, including a steep incline, making access for wheelchair users inadvisable. There are two benches.
Island Mere is accessible for wheelchair users from a lay-by opposite Scotts Hall Holiday Cottage. This path is 325 m on rolled gravel, with a gentle incline on boardwalk to the hide. The hide has wheelchair accessible viewing slots, but restricted visibility at times.
Scotts Hall Cottage to the Visitor Centre is 975 m on tarmac, along the reserve entrance road. This includes a steep slope. Canopy Hide, which is 600 m from the Visitor Centre, is accessible only via wooden steps.
Wheelchair loan
A Batricar is available to borrow, free of charge. This is popular, so advance booking is highly recommended, by telephoning 01728 648281. A Remploy wheelchair is also available for loan. These can be used during the visitor centre opening hours. Visitors are welcome to use their own wheelchair and mobility vehicles.
Guided walks for wheelchair users
We regret that many guided walks are unsuitable for wheelchair users as they take in sections of the beach or hides that are accessible only via steps. However, we will try to cater for requests for guided walks, if booked in advance, through our Hire-a-guide programme. Please phone 01728 648281 for details.
G523 sits alone in Dimboola yard, awaiting its next turn of service.
G523 had recently been transferred via various intermodal trains from Port Kembla in NSW where it had been stored from service for several years. Recently it had been re-activated and shipped off to Victoria for work with Pacific National's Rural & Bulk division.
G523 two days later led 8155 to Geelong as 7720V loaded grain train from Dimboola GrainFlow. This was G523's first revenue service since it had been reactivated.
Friday 24th March 2017
Day 9: A trip to my dentist today revealed that business has not been too good for him.
He wrote me a prescription for M&M's then looked straight into my eyes and said "See you soon!"
D49 Morayshire sits on the turntable at Barrow Hill Roundhouse during a Timeline Events photo charter.
===GCPD===
A pale man sat in the lock-up; his dark, chestnut-coloured hair thinning; his cheeks hollow. He watched as the policemen paced outside, barking out indecipherable orders at one another. Kept in a cage, isolated, and ignored, it was the only thing he could do. Watch. With glossy, glass-like round eyes, like an owl's. His fingers fidgeted, but his gaze never left the officers. "Gotham's Finest." His jailors. His captors. He'd been caged before. In Blackgate. In Arkham.
But that suited him just fine. He liked watching.
The door to the interrogation room swung open; Batman stormed into the room, his black cape billowing behind him, and without a spoken word to his green-haired prisoner, he slammed a tray of gingerbread men onto the metal table.
Joker eyed them up, a fleeting hunger in his eyes, then he slouched back in his chair. "No, thank you, I already ate,” he smiled. “But by all means, you go ahead! They’re homemade! Well, not my home, but that Swedish couple were very gracious hosts! Oh, you’ll like this; I used melted dark chocolate to make your little boots and cowl, thought it matched your inherent bitterness! I have got to give you the recipe!” he resolved, with all the enthusiasm of a mid-western house-wife.
“Why Walker?” Batman cut him off, his white eyes narrowing, his closed fists resting on the table.
Joker’s green eyes contracted slightly. “Why, Batsy, are you jealous?” he pried. "Should I be jealous?"
“He's been through enough,” Batman warned.
“Oh, I know. Dreadful stuff. And just think, you could've stopped Ra's years ago if you weren't so busy sleeping around with his daughter. You old fox, you! Always the ones in leather catsuits, Mrrrrrw!"
Batman’s jaw clenched, an instinctive response to Joker’s taunts.
"Yes, I know- The ol' 'Broke-Bat Mountain-Man' told me all about that nasty business between you two, in graphic detail actually... and there I was, wondering where the latest brat had come from! The sword should've been the giveaway, I suppose... When's his birthday, again? He must be 14, 15 now? Maybe I'll send him a card! Ooh! Maybe I'll send him Roger! Maybe I already did!"
“Enough. My people can take care of themselves.”
“All evidence to the contrary… Or are we side-stepping that little playdate in Ethiopia? Heh. Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A robin walks into a bar… A- heh. A crowbar- Ahahahaha-"
POW. A sudden blow to the face knocked Joker off his seat and he landed on the cold concrete floor face first. Before he had a chance to turn around, the door was already closing. Joker rolled onto his back, clutching his bloody nose and cackled: "When you change your mind, come find me! I'm not exactly going anywhere! Heh. Heheh. Ahahahaha!”
~-~
Just a few doors down from the interrogation room, a supply closet had been converted into a makeshift war room; Drury was sat behind a folding table, his butt planted on a plastic chair, reading through the GCPD records on the Outcasts Case; Batman now stood in the corner, his arms folded, his black cape draped over his shoulders; Gordon was chewing on a stick of nicotine gum and Chase was pacing back and forth around the room, a task made difficult by the room's narrow footprint; a fact that clearly added to his irritation.
"So, it was all a set-up?" he asked, running his hand through his dark hair.
"Appears so," Batman said stiffly, hiding his bloodied fist inside his cape.
"So, what do we do now?" Gordon pondered.
"Nothing," Chase answered. "He has no bargaining power, not without his bomb. We keep him in a secure wing, then we wait until we get the all-clear to send him to Slabside."
"And the hostages?" Batman disapproved.
"If we're lucky, we can negotiate with his partners. The Scarecrow's a smart man with a broken body, he'll surrender. He doesn't have a choice," Chase replied, an implied forcefulness behind his suggestion.
"Nuh-uh. We follow through."
The trio looked at Drury; he had finished reading and had now pushed a neatly stacked pile of police records to one side.
"He kept his end. Let's keep ours."
"Drury, with all due respect-" Chase attempted to dissuade his client.
"Look, the bomb was a fake. But we don't know if the next one'll be. Or the one after that. Or the one after- He's not going to stop until he gets what he wants: Me. And Zoom, Pirate, the rest... They'll tear Gotham apart. You know they will," he added, locking eyes with Batman. "Unless we comply."
“So I'm doing this. Not for me, but for the people he'll harm if I don't hand myself over. You of all people should understand that.”
A thin, involuntary smile broke across the Batman’s lip. It could have almost been mistaken for pride.
The Interrogation Room
Drury sat at the end of the table. He was shaking slightly, and against his wishes, his foot kept tapping the ground. He thought of the Misfits, his kids, Gaige… And though he was certain they could take care of themselves… He remembered that he had thought the same thing about Len.
Len.
He had been imprisoned in Arkham for over a month now, and Drury hadn’t even realised. ‘Stupid. You unperceptive, stupid ass!’ Yet through all his anxiety and stress, through his self-doubt and self-loathing, one thought repeated itself over and over; a stupid, frankly immature thought he seemed unable to get rid of:
‘This is one rotten Christmas.’
Behind the glass, in a utilitarian observation room, the Lawyer, the Cop and the Bat watched with bated breath, as the clown was escorted in on a metal gurney; the blood had been washed off his face now, but his nose jutted to the right at an unnatural angle. “This is a bad idea," Chase chastised Gordon, his arms folded in disapproval. Gordon smiled grimly and Batman immediately understood why; it had been a while since they had a DA in their ranks.
Joker took his place at the opposite end of the table, his pupils dilating as they locked with Drury’s.
And then he started talking.
“So! How's the wife?”
Silence. All remaining colour drained from Drury’s face, and he stared back blankly.
“Funny. That killed at the country club! No, sorry, I killed at the country club,” Joker explained. He scanned Drury’s face for the slightest hint of a smile, of amusement, of anger at the very least, and sighed disappointedly at his complete lack of engagement.
"Oh, come on,” he protested. “Don’t go all pouty on me now, we moved past pouty! Character development! Completed arcs! Doesn't any of that matter? I gave you time to eat away your sad, teary-eyed problems, even laid back while you sought out Fu Manchu! Where is Ming by the way, he stole my favourite tea pot!"
Drury exhaled sharply. "I'm just a game to you, aren't I?"
"No! No, not at all!” Joker promised with false sincerity. “Well, yes, I mean, I suppose you are. The truth is, you're one of my favourite hobbies. Putting on my slippers, falling into my armchair, pressing play on the DVD player, a plate of Kit-Kats by my side.
Love Arkham's new filing system, I have to say! All digital! I bought myself a new laptop as an early Christmas prezzie, and I've been having a lot of fun burning as many interviews as I can find. I call them my Moth Stories!"
"Don’t. You sent Julian and King of Cats and Zoom. You kidnapped Len, threatened my friends, and- And I know you bought Krill. You pay him to bring back Carson too?" Drury demanded answers.
Joker smirked at the accusation. "Actually no, that was pure happenstance. I really thought he was gone for good. But, when life gives you lemons, you have to squeeze the juice into your enemies' eyes... That’s the funny thing about all this, our dear little Arkham-Lite really did just want her daddy back. Of course, I poked the hornet’s nest a little, you set him up with the Calendar Man, and well, sparks are gonna fly!”
Again, nothing from his scene partner. This was not quite the reunion Joker had hoped for. "Oh, come on, give me something to work with, I get enough angst from that one, give me something fun!" The clown hissed.
"Fun? Fun?! My- My wife's dead," Drury said, aghast.
"Oho, and don't I know it," The clown whistled, turning to an imaginary camera, and adding under his breath, "Tch, doesn't everyone."
"You know, so is mine," he continued, "But I've never let it interfere with my social life. Mind, that may be less to do with the grief counselling, more to do with the very real possibility she was a figment of my imagination.... You'd be surprised how often that happens! Well, maybe not that surprised," he said, clicking his tongue loudly. "Bonkers."
~-~
“This isn’t working,” Chase murmured into Gordon’s ear. “We’re getting nowhere.”
“Batman?” Gordon waited for the Caped Crusader’s viewpoint.
Batman didn’t turn around, his eyes still fixed on Joker. “He’s stalling…” he murmured.
~-~
“Why me?” Drury asked bluntly, his fists clenching and unclenching in quick succession.
“Why not?” Joker shrugged. “You’re what he’s not.”
“And what the hell does that mean?”
Joker scoffed. The World’s Greatest Detective, he was not. Oh, well, he always knew Drury was a bit of a ‘fixer upper.’ “It means it’s time to up the ‘anti,’ my little profiterole.” Joker bared his teeth, casting his eyes upwards at the clock. “What do you think? Four seconds?”
"What?"
Joker leaned forwards, and winked, mouthing a countdown. And then it struck Drury.
"WE NEED TO EVACUATE RIGHT NOW-"
Batman, Chase and Gordon spun around: Standing behind them, Hunter Zolomon raised a hand in the air, and with a single snap of his fingers, it was all over.
The resulting shockwave reverberated across the precinct: Gordon and Chase were thrown backwards; Gordon struck the side of the wall and was knocked unconscious; Chase rolled over the table and smacked the floor. Batman got it the worst though; he went flying through the glass screen; if not for his armour, he’d have been torn to shreds. Before losing consciousness, he tapped a dial on the side of his gauntlet, then collapsed to the ground. Drury was thrown off his seat, as his ears started ringing, he scanned the room for any sign of movement. Nothing. Then he looked over at the other end of the table and his heart stopped: the gurney had fallen over, and it was empty.
~-~
“Krill. Krill, what’s going on?”
Abner Krill rose from his bed, nursing a heavy headache, and walked over to the right side of his cell, peering through the bars; between the klaxons and the screaming of soon-to-be dead police officers, he figured it was futile to try going back to sleep. Next door, Carson was whispering at him frantically, demanding an explanation. Krill elected to ignore him, instead casting his eyes to the man standing before him, dressed in a yellow suit adorned with red highlights. The cell door whirred open, and Zoom dropped a parcel at Krill's feet. The man smirked as he strapped the red belt around his waist, once again imbued with inter-dimensional power. "Fuckin' took you long enough,” he muttered, swallowing once he realised Zoom cared alarmingly little for his commentary.
"Which is not to say I'm not grateful."
~-~
Drury looked up; Joker was digging out a shard of glass that was two inches deep in his knee. He had an expression that seemed more inconvenienced than pained.
"And they say shiv-arly is dead!" he chuckled to no one in particular, waving the shard around like a knife. “Quickest DoorDash I’ve ever had! Impeccable service! Five stars!” he clapped patronisingly. A sudden flash of lightning signified Zoom’s return, and Drury instinctively ducked behind the table, an admittedly futile effort.
Zoom, cocked his head to one side. "Druryyyyyyyy. Isee you Druryyyyyyyy."
"You don't... You don't scare me," Drury lied, crawling over broken glass and splattered blood. “Either of you.”
Zoom shook his head, taking slow but purposeful steps forward. "Iamnot heeeeeeeeere to scaaaaaaare you Druryyyyyyyy. Iam hereto teaaaaaaaaach yooooooou,” he pledged, placing an assertive hand around the shoulder of Drury’s tattered orange jumpsuit. With all eyes on Drury, no one noticed Adrian Chase slip away.
~-~
Now fully suited up, Krill punched through a vending machine, and started helping himself to the contents. Then, a gunshot rang out.
A man in black, with white boots, red goggles and a blue "v" on his chest, was pointing a pistol at him. Krill frowned. ‘The fuckin’ audacity.’
"Can't get a moment's rest, can I? Which one are you, then?" he yawned with complete indifference.
"Vigilante,” the man warned. The gun stayed aimed at Krill’s polka-dotted forehead.
"Fuck off," Krill chortled. "You lot run out of names?"
The gun went off; but Krill was quick; a portal came between him and the bullet, and a second one redirected it into the Vigilante’s side. Krill smirked, hopped over the incapacitated vigilante, and continued on his way.
~-~
Zoom sped on ahead while Joker pushed Drury along in his own gurney, stopping to point at the occasional dead body or to sing a limerick. As they approached the cell block, Joker propped Drury up against the wall, picked up a flashlight, and ran it across the bars of Carson’s cell. Carson, leapt to his feet, snarling.
"Kill you! I'll fucking kill you!" he swore, sticking his hands through the bars and swiping at the clown.
"Mm. Who are you again? Kidding! Kidding, it begins with a B, doesn't it?" Joker smirked.
At this, Carson let out an animalistic, guttural roar. “YOU’RE ALL FUCKING DEAD!”
Joker stuck out his bottom lip in a show of false despondency. "Oh, dear Theodosia, what to say to you... You know what it's like, it's like missing out a season or two of your favourite TV show. You say "Oh, it's dragging on a bit, I'll just skip forward until it picks up again," Then suddenly, bam! The wife's dead, there's a dozen new characters, the city has a crater in it- and they didn't invite you to the musical- even though you killed Hamilton. And also killed Hamilton. Hill, that is. It was one of my campaign promises; I ran for president. You remember that don't you, Drury. Course you do; you endorsed me.”
"I didn't endorse you,” Drury said emotionlessly.
"But you didn't not endorse me either!" Joker giggled, squeezing his cheek playfully
A green portal opened, and Krill stepped through, his arms full of various oddities. “Believe these are yours,” he stated, handing Joker a large crate of confiscated goods.
“Wonderful!” he chirped, as he began filling his pockets with knives, playing cards and chewing gum. As he did so, Carson yelled out once more.
“Dead! You’re a fucking dead man! You and Krill and Walker, and-"
“Halibut you keep your hands to yourself, kiddo!” Joker warned, waving his fish around like a pistol. “Your father and I are talking!”
Carson flinched for a second, then stepped back from the door.
“Whaaaat about hiiiiiiiiiim?” Zoom asked, gesturing to the final occupied cell on this block. A bald man was stood by the bars, peering over at them.
“I don’t think he wants to play with us anymore, dear. Ah, kids today...” Joker sighed regretfully. “But don’t you worry, I’ve already found the perfect understudy!”
~-~
A pale man sat in the lock-up; his dark, chestnut-coloured hair thinning; his cheeks hollow. He watched as an orange portal opened, and four men emerged from the amber light; as the Joker stepped forward and sprayed acid across the lock of his cell door.
Joker held up a boxy, black mask, a circular lens affixed to the front, and smiled broadly. "I spy with my little eye..."
As Drury lay in the gurney, surrounded by monsters and madmen, one thought came to the surface:
'This is one rotten Christmas.'