Riddler's Man-Cave
Harley gets there later than she told herself she would, but she's never been much for keeping time anyway.
That's Clock King's shtick.
Gotta leave some things to the guys who're good at it. Harley, she's good at clobbering things, though she ain't done much clobbering of late. Doesn't really fit with the goody two shoes image she's gotta uphold if she wants to stay out of trouble with the law and consequently out of prison. She is trying to build a life now, you know.
In any case, she comes and goes as she pleases, free like the wind. How does on enter a man cave? Is there a place to knock? Does she stroll in?
She decides to go with the latter, looks around and hopes she isn't blown up by some freak-trap.
"Eddie, sweetie?" The blonde calls out, props a hand against her hip and looks around.
Edward Nigma was allowing himself to take a break, albeit relaxing wasn't his strong suit.
He was in the middle of preparing lobster to boil; He heard a familiar voice, feminine in tone but with just enough accent to know who it was. It was the former staff worker of Arkham Asylum (he shuddered slightly at the thought of the place), Dr. Harleen Quinzel.
He had gotten 'somewhat' used to women waltzing into his apartment at this point, the company wasn't all bad. He pokes his head out from the kitchen, looking over to the Joker's "puddin'.".
"Miss Quinzel, how..."unexpected" of you to come by.."
He spoke, placing the meal into the pot to boil, stepping out afterwards
She looks at his outfit, up and down then has to cover her mouth to hide her giggle. She's dressed casually, in a tight red shirt, dark shorts.
"Nice apron, Eddie." She coos as she comes to stand beside him, looks over whatever he's preparing.
"Need some help with that?" She questions as she sets down what seems to be a small backpack. "I was just in town and Selina wasnt at home so I figured I'd come say hi."
Bright blue eyes meet his own, almost as if she's nervous. "That's fine right?"
Ed looked at the "Doctor" that stood before him in his home. His neighbor had been attempting to "train" him into being more..."welcoming" as she puts it. He took the compliment of his attire, allowing one of his usual smirks to shine through.
He though about her request; the possibilities that the Joker has put her up to this, the possibility and probability that he's waiting for him to lower his guard and strike.
Though...
The Joyful Jester that stood before him was most probably hiding away from the Ace of Knaves herself, due to the frequent beatings that has happened during their "relationship". Bah, love. What a meaningless thing. He sighed, and agreed to let her stay for a while.
She doesn't miss out on the time he takes to think, and her lips press into a thin line as she waits for him to figure out his thoughts.
She smiles, sharp and beautiful as he agrees, flounces straight towards him to gather him into a tight hug that smells of lavender and strangely, gun power. "Thanks Eddie! You're the best!" She coos before she turns towards the lobster, questioningly.
"You expecting some date or something? Being all romantic?"
Edward wasn't the keenest on physical interaction, though he allowed it this time. Despite the fact he still wasn't fond of it. He hears the word "Date" enter his ear lobes, and he raised an eyebrow at the thought.
"Well, no. That would be silly, would it not?"
He spoke, keeping himself from any sort of fluster from showing;
He walked back into the kitchen, pulling the meal from the pot.
She smiles at him, she's known him for a bit, hasn't she?
'I don't mind it." Harley hums as she looks around. "I got wine! Was supposed to split it with Selina but-"she rummages about in her backpack, then pulls it out. "Where are your wine glasses?"
Edward placed the Lobster onto two separate plates, half for him and the other for his unexpected guest.
He answered her question by pulling out two glasses from his counter-top, as he set them down on the table.
"Riddle me this; What goes in water black and comes out red?"
He asked; It was a beyond easy riddle to answer, but it was the fun that mattered to him.
"A lobster." she quips, "Very funny, Eddie." she calls as she stares at the cork on the bottle. She doesn't bother with a bottle opener, instead pulls a blade out of her back pocket and stabs it through the cork. She presses a button, and it seems to fan out- the perfect wine opener, or a devastating weapon, really, and yanks out the cork triumphantly.
She pours the wine into their glasses and smiles at the other, plays along. "I got one too!" Harley questions as she picks up her glass. "Born in captivity, I gotta breathe but I ain't alive.I can be young or old but I can't ever die. What am I?"
Edward raised an eyebrow at the riddle, surprised that his guest knows of one; even if it's one he's heard before.
"When young, I am sweet in the sun. When middle-aged, I make you gay. When old, I am valued more than ever."
"What am I?"
He asks, knowing that the answer is the same to the one she had asked him.
"Wine."
He says, raising his glass up and taking a small sip of the beverage.
"So, Miss Quinzel, you spoke of planning to visit Catwoman before coming here; I suppose that as well was a "friendly visit"?
She pouts, but it's in good-nature, "Why is yours better than mine?" she questions, tucks a flyaway strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "No fair, Eddie."
She swishes the glass of wine in her glass around, studies her nails. "Probably. Jokers been in a mood and I haven't really seen the girls for a while." The doctor tries to smile, fails miserably. "But that ain't really a problem, honest." she hums, "I got you here, don't I Eddie?"
Edward is keen on observing the woman that sat before him.
From the look in her eyes to the very slight quiver in her lip, the Prince of Puzzlers was somewhat sympathetic to the Diamond Jester. Taking a considerable amount of abuse by the Harlequin of Hate must be leaving an effect that is in poor favor for Dr. Quinzel.
"Well, yes of course."
He replied; He knew the clown's mind was devious, and cunning to the point that even Ed was a little afraid of it. His patterns are of no trail, no reasoning.
A mind so dastardly contorted and warped that all sense of predictability is gone. Such thoughts make the Enigmatic Egotist shiver slightly. What torture methods he could have endued on the woman that stood before him was spine chilling.
"If I allowed you to know the whereabouts of my home, that says enough."
He spoke, trying to lift her spirits a tad.
"I knew you were a sweetheart!" She's beautiful, especially with the light makeup she has, the blush, the slick eyeliner that accentuates her eyes.
However, it seems to be...piled on around her neck, slightly cakey, the colour is off, perhaps to hide...bruises? Most probably.
"Come, let's eat!" she calls as she looks over the food. "And then we can get drunk and do crosswords! Which I bought!" Perhaps she wasn't meant to see Catwoman…
Ed took notice to the thick layer of makeup around her neck, deciding not to bring it up at the moment.
His mind already thought of a riddle regarding the subject; He nodded to her words, and stabbed his fork into the fresh Lobster he had prepared.
The sound of crosswords sounded somewhat enjoyable, even though he would finish them rather easily, he supposed he could "aid" his guest when needed.
The sweet, light taste of the seafood erupted into Edwards mouth, a tidal wave of flavor dancing on his taste buds. Light seasoning added some spice, but it wasn't unbearable.
She eats with the poise of a proper woman, her teeth are pearly white and striking. However, she still props her elbows on the tables, smiles thinly at the other.
"So, what have you been up to?" she hums, "Apart from making up riddles and what not?"
"I've been keeping myself here, waiting for the local police to calm down since Tetch decided to unleash hell on Old Gotham."
He responds, reminiscing on the events that have played out for the past few weeks
"Meeting long lost allies, meeting new ones."
He added.
He finally spoke up, asking another riddle to his guest.
"I cover what's real, hide what is true, but sometimes bring out the courage in you."
"What am I?"
She makes a face that hasn't really blown over well, no it hasn't. "Yeah, you and Ivy made up yet?" she questions as she sets her fork down, reaches for her glass again.
At his question, her brows furrow, her lips thin into a straight line. "Hmm...I dunno Eddie...you got me stumped." She thinks for a bit more, before she blinks, eyes lighting up as she gets it, "make up?"
Edward decided to skip her question regarding Pamela Lillian Isley.
"Correct."
The answer was makeup, as Ed was finally bringing up the unusual amount of it caked onto her collar.
He did notice her features though; her face was more noticeable to detail now that it wasn't smeared in clown-white paint.
Hm, Eddie's being shady, but she knows he gets like that sometimes. She's real pretty, now that you can see her face, sharp, prominent features, definitely easy on the eyes. Joker has good taste, maybe.
"What's the question about it? Wanna learn how to draw a cat eye or something?" she giggles, as she sips at her drink.
'She's definitely not oblivious.'
He thought to himself
"No reason, merely the first time I believe you've been here in something other than white paint covering you skin."
He played it off, finishing his portion of the meal.
"Oh pah-" she waves a hand around, "You're being dramatic. I'm sure you've just forgotten." But she knows Ed never really forgets.
"How have you been?" She asks, twirls a strand of her hair around her index finger
.-
Edward didn't pay much notice to her actions, but he proceeded to answer her question.
"Dealing with Catwoman's new pet. Little monkey named "Holly"; some kid she saved from one of Black Mask's operations."
His tone was slightly rougher speaking about the child, but he calmed himself moments later.
"Cobblepot's son paid me a visit as well, though it was short lived due to his father's strict parenting."
He spoke, taking a rather large gulp from his glass
"A kid?" She feels like everyone has been moving on without her, Ivy and Selina don't even seem to care. She's filled with a slight sense of bitterness, at this, narrows her eyes at her glass.
"Lot's of kids about.", she mutters, but she's deep in her thoughts again.
"Indeed."
He spoke, looking away slightly
"Children are strange creatures.."
"It's a strange thing all together. Having a tiny thing that eats your food and has enough energy to literally bounce off the walls, I just do not see why people aim to have them. All the while it resembles you.."
He paused in his words, looking to Harley.
"Say, how about we stray off this subject? I imagine it can be rather boring.."
He said, giving a slightly forced smile to her
"...Well...Joker and I almost had a kid once." she hums as she stares down into her glass. "He wasn't real keen on it but I was..." she pauses, "...Then we had that nasty accident."
One would wonder if it was really an accident. She looks up at the other, before smiling back. "Yeah! Crosswords! Or TV? There's this amazing show, it's called 90 Day fina-whatever I love it."
Ed was beyond shocked of the words that came out of her mouth
'Joker having a child?'
The very thought of it made his blood run cold.
He swore he felt a feeling of guilt, not for himself but for the Dr. herself.
Catwoman's methods of "training" Edward into being more "understanding" are working, and Ed hated it to an extent.
"Well..."
He wanted to say something, but no words came to mind
"Sure."
He answered, clearing the table of the plates, glasses and silverware. As he placed them into the sink, his face was flushed with worry now; luckily, his back was turned so that his guest wouldn't notice.
"Great!" she hums as she gets up, seems to have left their conversation in the dust as she heads over to his television screen, sits down childishly and flips through the channels, making herself very much at home.
"Bring the bottle!" she crows as she sits crossed legged on the floor, leaning on the couch.
Edward puts on a straight face, and finishes putting the dishes away. He grabs the bottle of wine from the table as he passes it, the cool glass lightly kissing his warm hand. He gave the bottle to Dr. Quinzel, allowing himself to relax slightly. He couldn't help but wonder what his neighbor was up to; most likely clawing her way through Black Mask's men.
He couldn't help but already feel the alcohol in his system begin it's magic. Edward wasn't a drinker, so he's not the most tolerant. He fixed his glasses, sitting down on his couch with one leg perched atop his others' knee.
It's a weird show, full of mismatched couples and cringe comedy, cameramen all but vaulting off ceilings to enjoy the drama, but Harley seems to like it. She leans her head back against the couch, sips at her bottle and watches the show in comfortable silence.
"...Hey Ed?" she questions softly.
Edward was staring off into space, not all that into the show. He snapped out of his dream like state apon hearing his guest's voice. He looked to her, raising a eyebrow
"Hm..?"
"I...think I might break things off with Joker." she mutters as she stares pointedly at the screen. "I wanted to tell Ivy and Selina, but...I can't seem to find them is all...I feel like I'm drifting away."
Edward sat up slightly at her words. Joker would most likely kill her if she tried to leave for good. That or manipulate his way back into her heart.
Edward wasn't the most empathetic person when it came to love; He's seen it as pointless and nothing else.
"Well...I'm sure they'll come around. You three make quite the trio, and I'd doubt they would let your little group fall to ruin."
He tried to reassure her, even if he had no idea what to say to that news.
She doesn't say a word, stares back at the television.
She's trapped and she knows it.
Perhaps she's outstayed her welcome. She stands up, offers Ed a thin smile, before she grabs her backpack, the wine bottle and all but disappears out the door.
What is she going to do next?
"Harleen wait-"
Before Edward could protest, she was gone.
He could follow her, but it probably wouldn't be the best idea. He decided it would be best for someone else to try and help; and he knew just who. He picked up his phone, cane and hat, and decided...
He has to find Poison Ivy.
Catwoman's Apartment
Selina stumbled back into her apartment, dropping her duffel bag on the floor and quickly going to the shower.
It was so good to be home, she couldn't stand the places she had been in before. But it had worked, she had successfully lost Mask's goons for now. They'd be chasing her trail all over Gotham.
After her shower, the cat burglar curled up in bed, quickly passing out, but shooting off a quick text to Holly beforehand, letting her know she was back.
Otisburg Streets
Selina made her way down the streets, Holly trudging by her side with noticeably less annoyance than usual. She had a small black backpack slung over her shoulders and her hair, that was normally pulled up and away from her face, hung by her shoulders.
Selina glanced at the small screen in her hand. She was getting closer to Ed, and soon she didn't need the device at all, noticing his distinctive hat in the crowd.
She moved soundlessly up beside him, tipping his hat so it hid his eyes.
"Been awhile, Ed." she said with a smirk.
"Selina."
He greeted her, readjusting his stylish headwear
He spun around to face his familiar feline "friend", noticing the small and regretfully familiar face of Catwoman's - more or less - adopted companion Holly. He noticed that Selina carried the tracker-device he so generously gave her, deducing that she most probably placed one on his person.
"How convenient to see you two here at this hour."
He commented, giving a slight hint he knew about the tracker she placed on him
"I take it this is not a social visit?"
Edward took notice of the rain that had started to trickle down upon them, as he moved to a roof-cover in front of a pastry shop so as to not get soaked.
Selina tipped her head slightly. Nigma would notice she looked tired, and her normally close-cropped hair was grown out and longer. "Not my fault you don't check for trackers."
She grimaced at the rain, moving next to him. "And a social visit...not exactly. I know I went underground without saying anything, but I figured that would be best. I had to move, and fast, Mask's goons were closing in on my location. But I left them a wild goose trail all over Gotham, so we'll be safe for a good long while."
"I'm here to ask what went down when I was gone."
She turned to her smaller companion. "And Holly had something she wanted to tell you."
Holly looked up at Nigma for a long moment, before saying, verbally, "Thanks for letting me use your tools. They were...helpful." She ear-tucked her hair, showing the hearing aids now nestled inside her ears.
Edward raised an eyebrow to the child, but simply nodded knowing if he was more kind to her the chances of him getting his tools back are greater.
"Seems Cobblepot is in a feud with Waylon Jones, as my sources tell me."
"No ear from Two-Face, Hatter, or Ivy for the time being..."
He stopped, as the drums and symbols of thunder and lightning made all aware of its presence with a ear-piercing BOOM and CRASH that lit up the sky with light and noise.
"...anyway your friend Harleen came to visit. She caught me in the middle of making dinner."
He explained
"It seems she is more troubled than previously thought."
"She talks of splitting ties with the Ace of Knaves himself."
Selina grimaced, flinching slightly at the thunder. The rain started to pour down stronger
"Another feud...that's unfortunate. And I'm guessing you're making a move on Penguin too, unless your trackers deceive me."
Holly tapped Selina's leg, and Selina nodded, not needing to look down, as the small girl slipped away into the shadows, looking intently at something in an alleyway.
"Harleen?" Selina's voice softened. "I'm glad she's doing alright...but she's going to be splitting things off with Joker?" Her expression was a mixture of relief and concern.
"It's about time, honestly. He's horrible to her. But that's going to put her under heavy fire. From him...and from anyone else who held off because of her association with him."
"More of a proposition."
Edward commented on what she said of Oswald Cobblepot. He watched as Holly disappeared into the night
"As for Miss Quinzel, her choices will most likely end up with her on many hitlists. Hence why I am looking for your other friend."
Selina raised an eyebrow. "A proposition, hmm? Have you told him that you met Martin again? We promised the kid that we'd keep quiet. And I'd rather keep the little ones out of this feud, if at all possible."
Her eyes followed Holly, who was now only slightly visible, crouching next to a street cat and feeding him small treats.
"You're looking for Ivy? Sure, I'll send her a message. She gave me a catnip plant awhile back. Partially as a joke, but I can use it to speak to her, pass along the message to her corresponding plant."
"Well, then my search is at an end."
He spoke upon hearing Selina's way of contacting Pamela Isley
"..And no, I did not speak with Oswald. You should know I would never do something so direct."
"I left him a little surprise~"
Selina gave a deep sigh. "I swear, if everyone in this city toned down the dramatics for like, five minutes, I think everything would be so much less painful."
She pulled up the hood of her coat. "I'm making dinner tonight, it's been too long since I've had anything cooked. You want in? Holly'll bring your tools that she, ah, borrowed."
"Perhaps another time."
He shook off her invitation, twirling his cane masterfully without a second thought due to the sheer muscle memory
"I have other plans for tonight."
"Likewise, Miss Kyle."
He spoke, turning away himself to tread through the rain. Stealth. HA! His brilliant mind does not need such skills when he is already two steps ahead. Such crude pedestrian thinking, he expected more from the cat burglar. Nevertheless, he twirled his cane in his palm, ready to continue his plans for the night.
"Although I am not a salad,"
"I am something that can be tossed."
"When you need to buy something cheap,
"I might be used to pay its cost."
"What am I?"
He murmured to himself, as his figure faded away into the distance