Both The Joker and The Queen

[sweetcandygirl]

One definitely can say that when Harley Quinn has a mission in mind, she puts all her passion and dedication into it, and gets things achieved that seemed impossible.

Take today for example. In the last few hours, in the middle of the plaza, Harley has been setting up several different poles, and securing them. She whistles to herself as she sets up a mini stage underneath where the poles sit. And then even climbs the poles to secure aerial silks to the top of each one.

There is a moment of connecting a sturdy interconnecting chain link between the poles, that might attract people to what is about to happen on the stage before.

For those who have never seen her do one before -- Harley Quinn is going to perform an aerial silk dance.

Right in the middle of the plaza.

Once everything is set up and secured, and a safety check is done. Harley sets up some lights, and some music, to attract even more people to the mini stage.

And then after a quick little costume change, into a silky white garment, Harley takes to the center of the stage. And for the next 30 minutes performs a breath-taking aerial piece, with plenty of twists and turns in the silks, with jumps that send her across from one silk to another, and drops that have her so close to the stage itself that people gasp with wonder if she would catch herself in time.

Harley always does. Each graceful move, every twist and turn on the silks, is done with purpose. It is poetic and speaks to an emotional state of Harley's mind that some might never see again.

And when she is done, she sits on the stage, wiping her sweat away, with another little happy whistle.

She glances up over the structure, that she will soon tear down, and glances over to someone close by.

"You would think as a hired mercenary one gets used to death. I never think about it myself, when I am on a mission. Until I get home and I realize who didn't make it back. Ya' think my tribute to the fallen is a little over the top?"

"Do you think they would appreciate it?"

[OOC: musical inspiration -- "The Joker and The Queen"]

Comments

[ayatantreasure]

Instead of answering with projected words, their hand instead wiggles back and forth in a very humanlike so-so gesture. New enough, perhaps, but not freshly initiated.

There's a curious feel to their step as they venture closer to the stage, reaching out to touch one of the poles that holds the aerial silks up high. With an effortless hop, they find a perch halfway up, both feet planted against the pole with one hand to hold themselves secure, as securely as one of the resident Spiders-man might.

[sweetcandygirl]

“Nice start…” Harley watches the creature climb up the pole.

“If you want to try just relying on the silks… wrap one of your wrist or ankles in the silks and then move your body to the silk.” She moves to a position where she can catch the creature, if it is necessary.

“Then you can try a slide down the silk, move slowly, if you choose to wrap your ankle, move one hand at a time. If you went with your wrist, reach down with your feet and wrap the loose end around your ankle to give you your next secure point.”

“I will catch you.. if you fall. Don’t be afraid.”

[ayatantreasure]

Their head turns in her direction, and while there's no sound coming from their throat, Harley might get the impression that Volt is amused.

There's no unease in their movements, only the slow motion of someone trying something new as they attempt to follow her instructions. The gold protrusions on their arms and knees might risk getting caught up on some of the silks, but their body awareness is such that it never quite happens.

They end up hanging upside down, looking quite at ease with it, and when they spread their fingers to project another word, the glowing letters flip over as well. Dance?

[sweetcandygirl]

"If you feel up to it, go right for it. I would love to see you dance." Harley grins. She hits a button on her PINpoint, to get music going over the sound system again.

[ayatantreasure]

Volt's legs barely hesitate to unlatch themselves from the silks, their hands reaching out instead to swing around the side of the pole like a gymnast on parallel bars. They twist, vaulting to the top of one of the poles, balancing on the tips of their toes in a crouch. Though they're high up, they hope that the text projected from their palm is large enough for Harley to read from below.

Faster beat!

[sweetcandygirl]

"Um.... I mostly brought soft and soulful music.... but let's see..." Harley had not expected someone else to want to dance on her stage, after all.

She hooks up her PINpoint to the stereo system, and finds a song with a faster beat for the creature.

[ayatantreasure]

Whatever she finds will suit Volt just fine. The music itself is unfamiliar and sounds ancient to their ear, but a good beat is universal. Their dancing is fluid and graceful, but not overly complicated - more like what could be expected at a middle school dance from a teenager who's perfected a few very specific dances.

The ribbon attached to their back swirls around them as they move, an additional flourish of shimmering blue to complement their moves. Their balance atop the tip of the pole is perfect, never wavering too much one way or the other, as much at ease as a trapeze artist at the circus would be. At one point, they fluidly draw their sword, incorporating fluid martial movements into the dance, blade flashing in the sun.

As the last beats come, they drop gracefully from the top of the pole, somersaulting on the way down and landing lightly on both feet, sword back in its sheath. Their arms open wide, and they bow.

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley watches Volt in the performance and just rests against a pole to stay in a good place to watch the whole thing. When the creature lands, and bows, Harley claps with a smile.

"Nicely done."

[ayatantreasure]

They put their hand over their heart, and sweep that hand out toward Harley, a silent thank you for her praise.

There's not much to clean up, but they do their best to help put things back in order, the silks waiting for their next dancer to come along. Probably Harley, since they are hers, after all. But it's a show of respect for her, as well as a thanks for letting them give it a try.

I know I've lost people too. I don't remember them very well.

[sweetcandygirl]

The fact that the creature puts the silks back into their proper spot, does make Harley smile. They get it. A proper thank you to the silks, after all.

"It happens a lot. When you run with a group called the Suicide Squad."

[ayatantreasure]

They tilt their head a little, looking at her. A vague memory tickles in the back of their mind, and they mull it over, before finally latching onto the phrase they want.

Nominative determinism? Or was your squad sent to die?

[sweetcandygirl]

"Both. For a few of us, who make it make on a constant basis, it is a nominative determinism. Proving ourselves to be more than our name."

"But the government does sent us into missions that should kill us." She shrugs.

[ayatantreasure]

Did you choose this life?

A deceptively simple question, but Volt has a feeling that Harley will understand it's deeper than that. Anyone who fights any kind of battle would, after all.

[sweetcandygirl]

"That is another yes and no answer. At first, I didn't choose the fact I was chosen for the Suicide Squad." Harley pauses, and grabs a piece of gum.

"But fighting for those who need me... and using my skills to protect other people... it has become what I have wanted for myself."

"I adore my team mates. And mourn them when they do not make it back."

"But I know the sacrifices we make... do keep the world safe."

[ayatantreasure]

This time their commentary is more immediate, the words scrolling as fast as Harley can read them. Fighting with honor, instead of what your masters wanted. It's not phrased as a question.

[sweetcandygirl]

"It is honor for us. But also we are a selfish bunch." Harley admits.

"Most of the crew just want to be done with being their contract killers."

[ayatantreasure]

It's not selfish to want to be free. This answer comes quickly too, and they wiggle their fingers a little as they think about how to best get their thoughts across, with this limited way to communicate.

I fought a war against golden masters once. They enslaved others and took away their free will.

[sweetcandygirl]

"And you freed yourself?"

[ayatantreasure]

Their head jerks back in obvious surprise, forgetting for a moment to use their words. Their crested head shakes vehemently.

The Tenno were bound by honor, not by force. The Orokin couldn't control us like they did the Dax, or abuse us like they did the Ostrons. They feared us. We proved they were right to be afraid.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Now there is a story to be proud of. Proving that someone should be afraid of you..." Harley winks.

[ayatantreasure]

Volt nods in emphatic agreement. We toppled an empire. It didn't solve all the system's problems, but it let people have a say in their own fates.

[sweetcandygirl]

"That is what we need to do... topple the government that put us in these missions."

[ayatantreasure]

Volt thinks about then, then draws their sword again with a flourish, laying it across their palms as they hold it out to her in a ceremonial offering. With their hands occupied, they can't speak to her as they have been, but this is clearly an offer of some importance to them.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Are you offering your assistance? Your blade?" Harley guesses by the gesture. She does not want to take the sword from him, until clarifying that this is what they meant.

[ayatantreasure]

Volt nods to both, keeping their arms extended to her patiently. Whichever she accepts, they're willing to offer. If she only wants the sword, they're willing to part with it. If she wants a Tenno to come with it, all the better.