The Games We Play: The Author's Final Words On The Subject

By

Godell

Disclaimer: I own my comments. I do not own The Dark Knight, or the songs that I used for the soundtrack.

First, let me say that I'll try to not bore you all to death. All of you lovely reviewers deserve much more than me going on and on about how this all came to be.

It may come as a surprise to you all, but when I saw The Dark Knight for the first time in July of 2009 (I was late to the party), I was utterly horrified by Joker.

I sat at my computer, hunched down in my chair, looking behind me in the near-pitch-black room every few minutes, just to be sure that he wouldn't sneak up behind me, put his knife to my throat, and whisper in my ear "Wanna know…how I got these scars?" and "put a smile on that face". I shuddered as he stalked around Rachel (the character who helped me want to write female characters again). For the first time in a long time, I was truly afraid of a fictional villain.

But somehow, in the midst of all my slack-jawed awe at everything but Batman and Joker's twisted little fandango—something I normally would have caught and ran with right away—Joker crept into my mind, and settled himself (and by association Batman/Batsy) into the "Muse Throne", if you will.

It wasn't so much that they had me at "You complete me"—instead, they had me at "Don't talk like one of them—you're not!"

But I didn't know it. I went on with my writer's block and my usual business, while internally Joker was lighting a match. While I was practically slamming my head against the keys, Joker had placed the flame on a stick of dynamite. By the time I was out vacationing with my family, that dynamite had very nearly reached the end of its fuse.

That was when The Dream happened.

They say that the Trickster archetype is the oldest in existence. Before the brave heroes and the knights and the princesses, etc., there were the Tricksters, the bringers of fire, the seducers of women (and men), the mischief-makers. It is the most identifiable of all the archetypes—the Trickster can win or lose, can do both good and evil. He or she crosses boundaries and steps over them again, and encourages us to do the same. But they also can bring about many Aesopian situations.

Of course, my subconscious just had to see that same role for Joker, and my dreams ran with it.

The Dream, in essence, was what was going to become Chapter One, and which later was spit into Chapters One to Three. The strangest thing was, that while I hadn't even thought of The Dark Knight since watching it, I could remember Joker's voice. He spoke out to "Batsy", claiming him to be "a very, ah, poor student", while Batman growled, and argued, and struggled with his own choices.

Of course, once that dream occurred I couldn't get our favorite Clown Prince of Crime (and Dark Detective) out of my head. I refused at first to write the dream down—something I'm still confused about today. Maybe I was being stubborn. Maybe I just didn't know what that simple dream could become. Maybe a bit of both.

Regardless, on August 23, 2009, I wrote what I thought was a oneshot (it may even still say so on the first Chapter!). Looking back now, it's strange to see how much my opinion of Joker and Batsy has changed since then. For example, back then I wasn't entirely sure of how Joker would "celebrate" escaping Arkham, or his "tastes" in certain things. And now, 55 Chapters later, here we are.

I say "we", because every last one of you (reviewers, visitors, etc.) have made this all worthwhile. I'm not saying that lightly, either. Without your support and expressed delight at reading each new chapter, The Games We Play would be only five chapters long (if that) and not half as entertaining for all involved. When I thought that my troubles were getting a bit too melodramatic and awful, it was you readers who cheered me up by leaving thoughtful reviews and hits.

So it is thanks to you that this happened. Particular thanks must be given to Indigo's Ocean, for sending along a few helpful criticisms, suggested mp3s and in general helping this whole "show" if you will, become a reality. Thanks also to dollhouseDISASTER for giving this fic a chance and sending along your boundless enthusiasm, thus making me enthusiastic, and so on. And thanks to Karrana for allowing me to "corrupt" you and get some of your insight in the process (and, of course, for your help with Mr. Glum and Mr. Giggles in particular!).

And:

HEATH LEDGER

(1979-2008)

An actor. A father. A lover. A brother. A son. A man. A muse. You will live on forever…in dreams, memories, film and through your daughter Matilda.

THE CAST AND CREW OF THE DARK KNIGHT

Minor or major, you changed the world on July 18th, 2008. Thanks to you, that year will never be forgotten, and the world received a classic to last forever.

…I would like to have a moment of silence to honor these people. (And a collective pat on the back/hug to all of you, whatever your current "form"!)

…

"And now for something completely different".

I would like to thank the awesome Indigo's Ocean for recommending (and sending me) numbers 5, 6 and 12 of the soundtrack listed below! Several of these songs were played multiple times as I wrote—some of them you may recognize from the fic itself—but I kept them as chronological as I could.

The Games We Play Soundtrack:

"Over and Over"—Three Days Grace

"Pierrot the Clown"—Placebo

"Time Is Running Out"—Muse

"Why So Serious?"—The Dark Knight Soundtrack

"Constellation"—Juliana Theory

"Plug In Baby"—Muse

"For Real"—Okkervil River

"You've Got A Killer Scene There, Man…"—Queens of The Stone Age

"Waste"—Phish

"Saints of Los Angeles"—Motley Crue

"If You Wanna"—Parka

"Collide"—Howie Day

"Absolutely Cuckoo"—The Magnetic Fields

"Haven't Met You Yet"—Michael Buble

"Master Plan"—Adam Lambert

"For Your Entertainment"—Adam Lambert

"Hysteria"—Muse

"It's Oh So Quiet"—Bjork

"Toothpaste Kisses"—The Maccabees

"Brighter Than Sunshine"—Aqualung

"Blood on My Hands"—The Dark Knight Soundtrack

"Just Dance"—Lady Gaga

"Sussudio"—Phil Collins

"Disturbia"—Rihanna

"My Sweet Prince"-Placebo

"I Was Born To Love You"—Queen

"Sunshine of Your Life"—Cream

"Puttin' On The Ritz"—Fred Astaire

"Sin"—Nine Inch Nails

"Bad Romance"—Lady Gaga

"Use Me"—Bill Withers

"The Night Will Go As Follows"—The Spill Canvas

"I'm Not In Love"—Tori Amos

"A Dog Chasing Cars"—The Dark Knight Soundtrack

"Blackout"—Muse

"Sexual Healing"—Marvin Gaye

"20th Century Boy"—Placebo (cover)

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"-Queen

"New York, New York"—Reel Big Phish (cover)

"Feelin' Good"—Michael Buble (cover)

"I Belong To You"—Muse

"Play The Game"—Queen

"The Dark Knight Theme (Darker Version)"—Hans Zimmer

Like the fanfic I wrote for Black Cat (Amantes sunt Amentes), this has been a great ride, and one I have found to be remarkably rewarding. I hope my writing has improved over time, and will continue to improve, and that all of you who have read through those 55 chapters will find the things I write in the future enjoyable.

Wait, wait—Joker wants to say something (Batsy's sleeping):

"Batsy's sleeping like a…well-nursed baby. Thank you all for putting up with our, ah, antics. You've made us all so…happy over here (well, 'cept for Batsy, but you know how he's been). So, ah, here we are in Wales…Cardiff, if you want to…get to the nitty-gritty.

Schiffy's being a good butler, bringing me coffee fresh from the little shop in the hotel. It's 11 p.m. here, and while I should be taking a cue from Batsy and, ah, laying my little head down to rest, I'm a bit…busy with trying to keep the boys at home from, ah, going AWOL.

…Hmmm…maybe the, ah, Commish could use a bit of a workout. Get those donuts out of his system.

Anyway, don't you fret—we'll keep you, ah, up to snuff on our dashing derring-do. And who knows? Maybe…just maybe…you'll find yourselves trying out for our team. That is, if you're game. But don't you worry—I have faith in you. (It would be a 'we' if Batsy wasn't sleeping…)

G'night, all. Sweet dreams…"

Thank you, everyone.