nexus_crossings | Enjoying the Feeling of Freedom

Enjoying the Feeling of Freedom

For the past couple of weeks or so, Harley Quinn has been exploring the vastness of the Nexus. She has not really returned to her door (and might have forgotten where she had left it). Instead, she has been enjoying the freedom of being able to go anywhere, and just living her life to the fullest. It is a nice break from reality... and perhaps the main reason why she has not tried to go back home.

And she has been surviving on her pure wits. It is nice to fend for herself.

Right now, she is leaned on a bench, watching people come and go. Inspiration hits and she gets an idea for a question. "Okay! You are stuck in the Nexus, and can only have three objects with you. What would you want to have?"

Does the question have to do the fact that she only has three objects on her person right now (besides her clothing)? Possibly...

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She gives her an encouraging smile before looking away self-consciously. "Yeah. Although that luck may last you a while. It was a long time before any sort of trouble found me in the Nexus."

"I ain't no stranger to trouble." In fact, most people consider Harley herself to be trouble.

"You need a bodyguard or something. Sounds like you had a bad deal..."

"I guess not." She doesn't mean it to sound flippant. It's easy for her to feel sympathetic to Harley's past. "But trouble in the Nexus can be pretty unusual..."

For someone who gets distracted easily, Harley is surprisingly perceptive. "I, um... I have a stalker. In the Nexus." She twists the strap of her messenger bag before elaborating. "I don't know who he is, or why he's stalking me, but a few months ago, the anti-violence field fell and he took advantage of it to kill two people and stage a scene for me to find them."

It probably sounds like child's play compared to one of Joker's schemes, but it's clearly had a profound impact on Adia. She shrinks in on herself, looking around nervously. "I probably could use a bodyguard, especially if the AV field falls again, but I can't afford one. I have some friends looking out for me... it's the best I can do, for now."

"Tell you what... you can add me to your list of people who will watch your back." Harley smiles. "You helped me. So I will help you!"

Harley's offer eases some of the nervousness out of her posture. She smiles gratefully. "I appreciate it, Harley. Thank you." She'd appreciate it from anyone, but it's obvious that Harley could hold her own against her stalker.

If anything, the stalker should worry about Harley.

"No problems! It will give me something to do!"

In this particular case, yes, he should. He is sick and twisted, but he isn't superhuman.

Yeah, if she is stuck in the Nexus, that does give her a lot of free time. "What did you do before the, um... did you have a profession? With the anti-violence field working, there isn't really a need to fight bad guys, but maybe you could find something else to do here."

"Before I got locked up for being a little cra-cra?" Harley grinned. It is okay, Adia, she is okay with her situation.

"I was a shrink. A psychiatrist."

She nods shyly. Harley may be comfortable with her situation, but Adia is still getting used to it.

"Oh." There's a look of surprise before Adia mentally chastises herself. This colorful woman with a checkered past can't have a degree in medicine? "That's a good career. You can help a lot of people with that. Um. I'm a microbiologist, but I've been getting some medical training."

"I was a shrink at Arkham, working to help the insane minds of those jailed there. Then I met this insane prisoner... he seduced me... yadda yadda yadda... and I ended up being his blind little follower for a little while." Harley explains how she got locked up in the same place where she used to work.

That makes sense, oddly enough. Although usually it's the other way around, isn't it? He must have been quite the charmer.

She's not sure what to say in response. She'd like to express her sympathies, but Harley doesn't seem too broken up about it. Or maybe she just hides it really well. "I met a bad ex at work, too," she confesses. She and Harley would both be good poster children for why you should keep romance out of the office.

One thing a person learns quickly in Arkham is to hide their emotions. And Harley has adapted to the fact that there is no one who wants to comfort her. So she still puts on the brave face. With lipstick.

"So microbiologist, huh? I know a thing or two about microbiology."

Adia hasn't had to learn that skill. Or maybe she wouldn't be able to, even if she tried. She's easy to read, even for someone who doesn't have a background in psychiatry.

"You do?" Her expression brightens. Work is always a good topic. "From your own research, or elsewhere? I study infectious diseases."

"My best girlfriend is a microbiologist." Harley explains. "And Ivy is the best of the best, in my world. She studies primarily plant toxins. And uses her knowledge to protect endangered species and the natural environment."

It's nice to hear that Harley has a best friend. "That's neat. I'm glad she's putting her research to good use." Oh, Adia. If you only knew. "Has she been teaching you at all?"

"Oh sure. Tons of stuff. They might have taken away my doctorate certificate, but I still got the brains..."

That's an awful thought, to have one's professional degree taken away, but Adia supposes that's what happens when you're a convicted criminal. It doesn't stop her from wincing in sympathy. "Maybe you can earn it back somehow? Or take up a practice, elsewhere." She smiles self-consciously. "I know that we could certainly use more mental health professionals where I'm from."

"Ya' think that my doctorate might allow me to help in other worlds? Or here in the Nexus?" Harley doubts that there would be a lot of people coming to her for advice. But then again, that is the whole point of this place. To ask for advice.

"Ya' think I could pull a Lucy, and put up a little stand that says Psychiatric Help?"

She doesn't get the Peanuts reference, but she understands the gist of what Harley's asking. "You can certainly try. A lot of people come here for advice, anyway."

It's true that Harley does not have the conventional appearance of a therapist, but if she knows her stuff, then what should that matter? "The only other psychiatrist in the Nexus is Doctor Hill, and... um, I've heard that he curses people more than he helps them."

"Well I don't have that ability..." Harley notes the name, just in case.

"You've got at least one point in your favor then," she notes, before adding quickly, "I've never met him, though. I've only been warned about him. He's a middle-aged man who likes to wear sweater vests."

"Sweater vests are a popular cliché in the psychiatrist gig."

Harley assess her own clothing (or more appropriately how she has more skin showing). "I ain't going to look the part. Oh well..."

"That might work out for you here," Adia says encouragingly. "People are used to, um... less conventional modes of dress in the Nexus." She pauses, and adds shyly, "I think you look nice."

"Good. Cause what I am wearing is what I got!"

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Enjoying the Feeling of Freedom

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