nexus_crossings | (no subject)

(no subject)

Harley is sitting cross-legged on a random Nexus couch today. She has found a pamphlet from the Pokémart and is looking through some of the Pokémon that could be adopted and trained.

She seems in a good mood today. Twirling her hair, as she reads the pamphlet. And there is a huge bag of caramel popcorn at her side.

"If you could have any kind of pet, what kind of animal or creature would you have?"

"What do you think qualifies as being a suitable pet owner?"

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Harley stands, and without even thinking about it, links her arm with his. That is just her style.

"Is that the same place I found the pamphlet?"

"Shall we go for a stroll, Miss Quinn?"

He stands slowly and offers her his hand, but he intends to tuck her hand through the loop his arm makes.

"Surviving isn't living. Not really. Surviving is like nearly drowning. You're doing one thing after another to keep your head above water, but you're not really swimming, at least not with intent beyond keeping yourself alive."

Harley stands. And lets him tuck her hand into the bend of his arm. She is content to go for a stroll.

She listens carefully to his statement. And nods. "Yeah... that sounds familiar. A lot familiar."

He likes this. It reminds him of all the people not here. The ones he will never see again, the ones only in his memories. Maybe he can still help some people, though.

"Takes one to know one. Surviving isn't living. But here, in this place, you have that chance. And maybe, if we're very lucky, we all do..."

Majima starts laughing again, then sighs. "Shit, I ain't flirted this hard in a while. Other than helpin' the girls practice for work. They usually keep their hands to themselves, though."

He throws an arm over the back of the couch behind Harley. "Seems yer taste in friends translates to pets, huh? Fuckin' ride or die."

His entire posture stiffens when she loops her arm through his. He breathes in, then out again through his nose, "Harley?" His tone is quiet. Polite. He doesn't quite look at her. "Let's not with the touching. Okay? It's not personal."

He glances again at the pamphlet. "Was it a building with a red roof and a round poké ball on it? Then yes, probably."

"I feel like I am living more these days. Just enjoying each day." Harley nods softly.

"Well, I am a different kinda' girl." Her touch is just friendly right now. If he tells her to back off, she would.

"I do better around people who have seen shit. They seem more real to me. And in a way, I feel more real."

She releases her hold without a word.

"I think I remember a red roof. And maybe a weird ball."

He gently squeezes her arm.

"You're on the right path anyway. And I've no doubt you'll get there one day."

And maybe he will to. He's better at helping others find it, though.

"Yeah. You can say that again. Girls back home ain't so forward 'bout what they want. An' when they are it's usually uh, lotsa commitment. Can't blame 'em, I guess. We harp on the ladies 'bout starting families and shit. They can't be fuckin' around." For his part, Majima seems relaxed, allowing this closeness to continue despite his earlier edict about fraternizing with co-workers.

"And yeah, I getcha. Ya been through some shit, and it just ... I dunno, makes ya feel miles away from other people?"

His shoulders relax as soon as she lets go, glad that she listened and doubly glad that she didn't make a big deal out of it. "Do you know an undead guy named Harrowheart?" he asks her. "Because I think you two would get on like a house on fire."

That's the poké mart, then. He nods once before leading her out of the Plaza. "Adia goes there a lot. Sometimes I tag along." Most of the time he doesn't, because Bucky is with her. Or finds her. That bird seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to locating Adia in the Nexus.

"Well I can never ever start a family. So I don't need the speech." She trails her fingers up his spine. Glad to see him relax under her touch.

"I can. Sometimes I see how happy other people are and just... meh..."

"I met him during Halloween. And again during the recent language confusion LOL." Harley looks at him. "And you might think that... but I think I scare him."

She can be too bubbly for some people to handle. Harley knows that.

"You don't care for the place?" Harley looks at him.

"Bulbasaur!" The Pokemon seems excited at this idea, but immediately notices the grumpy Poochyena. Being a happy little plant, the Pokemon tries to follow Harley's lead, walking over to the table, smiling at the dog.

The Poochyena growls a little bit, really not enjoying the surprise company or the fact that he was called out of his Pokeball. Bulbasaur is causing a little bit of stress and Professor Madrone catches sight of this immediately. He's already reaching down and picking Bulbasaur up and into his arms.

Even if the dog Pokemon isn't immediately moving towards Harley, he's sniffing the air around her cautiously.

"Well, he's not lashing out at you, which is a good sign."

"Thanks for caring, Bulbasaur. I think Poochyena needs a little space." Harley smiles over at the happy little plant Pokemon.

Harley sits near the Poochyena, allowing the Pokemon to sniff the air around her.

"Did something happen to him?" She asks the Professor.

Bulbasaur looks a little disappointing, but the Professor pats his head, reassuring him that everything is okay. Poochyena makes no sudden movements, choosing to lay down, licking one paw while carefully keeping an eye on Harley.

"I believe he was abandoned by his pack for not being strong enough. A common thing many wild Pokemon do."

He raises an eyebrow at her comment, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Really. I wonder why that is."

A scared Harrowheart. He's going to enjoy that mental image for a while.

"Nah, I like it fine. Pokémon are all right." He takes a sip of his coffee while they walk, the gesture seamless. "I'm not thrilled with some of the punks who hang out nearby, looking to battle."

"Then you had the wrong pack." Harley tells Poochyena.

"I sort of had a similar experience... I was in the wrong kind of gang. And I got hurt. And abandoned."

"But then..." She brightens. "I found the right people. The right friends. And they helped me get stronger."

"You just need to find the right person, Poochyena."

"Ain't it obvious?" She grins at him.

"Punks? What kind of battle?" This interests her.

Majima shivers a little at the touch. He shifts on the couch to angle himself towards her, crossing one leg over the other, almost boxing her in. "I'm kinda in the same boat. Dolly's daughter calls me 'daddy' and it gets me thinkin'. But I sure as hell ain't real dad material and I've already made my choice -- what kinda family I'm a part of."

He curls a lock of her hair between his fingers. "Happiness ain't 'one size fits all.' If you could have any kinda life ya wanted, what would it look like?"

Harley moves her caramel popcorn to the opposite side of her body, so there is nothing between them on the couch.

"I found my family with the Suicide Squad. And really think I am building a new one here in the Nexus with all the great friends I have."

She smiles at the touch of his fingers in her hair.

"I am building that life. Getting to do what I love... thanks to you..." She grins. Harley is extremely happy being a Hostess/Bouncer. It combines all of her skills into one great job. "And being with people who support me."

"I feel happier than I have ever been. No need to pretend anymore."

Caspar snorts and takes another sip of his coffee. The truth is, Harley has the power to scare him, too, or at least make him incredibly uncomfortable. He appreciates the fact that she's respecting his personal space.

"Ugh. Don't get me started," he complains, as the poké mart comes into view. "They train the pokémon to fight other pokémon. The respectable ones keep it in a gym where there are rules -- it's no worse than wrestling, so far as I can tell, and the pokémon are into it -- but these assholes, they form gangs and taunt people into battle." He shakes his head. "Why can't they be like typical humans and shoot the shit out each other instead? They have to drag their pets into it. It's disgusting."

Fortunately, the only people hanging around outside the mart today are a couple of trainers and a flock of wild pidgeys pecking at some crumbs on the ground. "The terminal's right inside the entrance," he says, holding the door open for her.

"You can train your pokemon to fight?" Harley listens carefully. "What are the advantages over being in a gym setting?"

"Why would they want to fight other people? Do they win money?"

She looks around the PokeMart as they arrive. And smiles at him when he holds the door open.

"Awww thanks. I appreciate your support."

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