Remembering the Dead

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley Quinn is seated on a large rock in the Nexus today. She seems to already to be in the Halloween spirit, as the colorful young woman is dressed as a circus ringmaster. But despite her colorful costume, her usual energetic spirit seems to be missing today.

She has a bouquet of flowers in her hand. And takes one of the flowers, then slowly removes the petals of the flower one-by-one, scattering them underneath her.

"This year is going to be the first time that I am not in Arkham, during a death-a-versary. And I am not really sure what I should do?" She bites her bottom lip for a moment. "How do you remember those who are gone, without letting the memories overwhelm you?"

Comments

[sweetcandygirl]

"I know you ain't..." Harley waits for a moment. Then gives him a real smile when he agrees. She moves closer to give him a warm hug. She is good at hugs.

"It was why I asked first."

[not_the_question]

It takes him a minute to wrap his arms around her. It's not quite as awkward as his first appearance made it seem it would be.

"You asking is partly why I agreed."

[sweetcandygirl]

"You do have a lot of good ideas. And I will find a way to make things better..." Harley whispers. She leans her head on his shoulder.

[not_the_question]

"Sometimes you can't make them better. You can only accept how they are."

He raises a hand to cup the back of her head. Something about her sometimes reminds him of Susan.

[sweetcandygirl]

She closes her eyes at the sensation of his hand behind her head. "I do want to move on. Move forward."

"I just have to learn how to accept what I can't change. And change what I can."

[not_the_question]

"That's one approach. It works most of the time."

Except those times when you think you've accepted something and haven't, so you turn into an idiot and change the biggest thing that must not be changed.

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley nods slightly. "Sounds like pretty good odds. I have been in worse odds and got out..."

[not_the_question]

"They are."

Which makes it harder when they falter. He sighs when she mentions worse.

"How can I help with that?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"Every time I move on from Joker... he finds me. And everything falls apart." And to truly get better, she needs to get over him.

"I just need to keep staying here. Where he can't find me."

[not_the_question]

He hums and slowly starts to let her go. Mostly so he can look at her when he asks his question.

"And what will you do if he ends up here? If you did, it is possible he could."

[sweetcandygirl]

She flinches slightly. "Geesh... Flight or Fight... and the second option doesn't work so well. So I guess I'm running."

[not_the_question]

He figured that would be her reaction, which is why he didn't let her go entirely. He offers a fond smirk.

"Me too."

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley holds him again for a moment. She bites her lip.

"You know that ol' tale, about if two people are running away from a cheetah, and the one tells the other 'I don't have to out-run it, I just have to out-run you'?" She looks up at him. "I would rather him catch me, than you."

[not_the_question]

He offers an amused sounding huff.

"That may be, but you'd have to fight me to be the one who gets caught. Like I said, I have an ability that makes me... resilient."

Just let him do it, okay? He has to be him and he can't be himself if everyone else is trying to be brave and stupid.

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley wants to protest that she can't lose him too. But he reminds her of his ability. And she knows he can be stubborn.

She blows a strand of hair out of her face. Then leans in to place a friendly kiss on his cheek. "If you do that to protect me, honey, I won't let you down. I won't get hurt by him."

[not_the_question]

The kiss catches him off-guard. Though it really shouldn't Bill did that fairly often, though usually when one or both of them were about to die. He finally gets out of himself enough to over a small nod with an even smaller smile.

"I can't ask for anything else."

It would be worth it. There's always some human around who makes it worth it.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Thanks. For all the advice. And the truth."

[not_the_question]

"Lying about this sort of thing doesn't do anyone any favours."

[sweetcandygirl]

"You are right there."

[not_the_question]

"So what are you going to do next?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"Very next? Go to a Halloween party." Harley gives him a real smile.

[not_the_question]

"I meant more in general, but that might do you some good."

That's what kids did, right? partied?

[sweetcandygirl]

"Ya wanna come with me, Doctor? It might do you some good."

[not_the_question]

"Oh, no... You don't want me around. I'm the opposite of what you call 'life of the party."

Unless he's jammin'. Then sometimes it turns out okay.

[sweetcandygirl]

She smiles again. He just gave her too good of an opening. And her Brooklyn accent drops just a little, because she is being honest from the heart.

"I always want you around. You are my 'life of the party' Doctor."

"Don't worry. I won't ask you to dance. You can just watch, if you like..."