rogueinladysclothing | Lovesick fools often do foolish things [Tagging Majima and Harley]

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Lovesick fools often do foolish things [Tagging Majima and Harley]

For all the things Amelia was bad at in her life, one thing she could count on was a sense of something not being right. And the current situation with Harley? It had definitely reached that point.

Everything that had followed their Valentine's evening in together didn't make sense. Amelia had sent several text messages to Harley to see how she was doing and to ask if she might see her over the days that followed. Most of the time, she received nothing but silence in response. After a while, though, she got text messages of random words or letters, and the occasional video of a darkness with sniffing and whining sounds that reminded her very much of a dog.

Amelia's been on such a high lately from all of the wonderful things she's been feeling with Harley that this sudden drop off after promises of wanting her around set off the rogue's anxiety. Did she do something wrong? Was it awkward for her to leave at the end of their night in, instead of crashing at Harley's place? She'd had an appointment the following morning that she needed to keep, so going back to the inn had made sense. Was it wrong of her to want that kind of space? Did Harley want something more for her?

Was she doing everything wrong?

The last straw in trying to decide what to do next came in the form of a video message that sounded like the dog answering Harley's phone was chewing on it. It was time to see if the only other person who was as involved with Harley as her knew what was happening. Unfortunately for the rogue, Majima knew as little as she did. Rather than try to work it out with him, she asked him to meet her at Harley's place, to see if they couldn't get the other woman to open the door and let them in.

When Majima finally arrives at the door to Harley's apartment, Amelia's wearing a hole in the floor with her pacing. She turns to him the second he steps through the portal, her hands clenching into loose fists at her sides so she doesn't pick at the embroidery on her fine clothes.

"She won't answer the door. I've called and knocked dozens of times. What do we do?"

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The moment he could half-way see, Majima was back at the Grand. He'd excused himself to work in the back office so he could deal with a (totally legitimate) "managerial backlog." This affords him both relief from stumbling around like an idiot as well as time to exchange messages with Amelia. Once his shift is done, he wastes no time PINpointing over.

Amelia's obviously anxious posture gets an attempt at a comforting half-smile. "If it's any consolation, staff at the Sunshine said she's been in for work. Haven't seen her with my own eye, though -- been busy at my other gig. Either way, that means she's okay, at least?"

Majima tries knocking on the door himself. "Oi! Harley-chan? You in there, sweetheart?"

"It won't work, Majima," Amelia insists urgently. "I've been trying for over a half hour and she won't answer."

Dreams, she wishes she knew what was wrong. At least if Harley's ignoring Majima's messages, too, it's not something she did? That's... helpful.

"We need to get in there. I can't stand around waiting like this." A beat as she looks around cautiously, as possibly the worst thought ever comes to mind. "You don't think she'd mind if we, ah, let ourselves in, do you?"

Edited 2018-02-19 05:50 (UTC)

Majima snorts, remembering the last time he saw Harley in the flesh. "She ain't go no qualms about breakin' into my place, I can tell ya that."

He tests the doorknob. "You know how to pick locks, Amelia-chan? Or do I gotta kick this thing in?"

"I've yet to meet a door I couldn't open, magical or otherwise." Whether by her own stubborn nature or her ability to pick the lock is beside the point. "Step aside. I'll handle this."

The door isn't that difficult to open, especially given how focused Amelia is right now. She stares intently at something that isn't the door in front of her for a moment as she shifts the pick around in the lock, exhales a slow breath as she pushes, and then grins as the door gives way with a satisfying click. As she gets to her feet, she slips the pick back into one of the many pouches on her belt and tries the handle. Fully open. Perfect.

"Come on," she says softly in Majima's direction. Stepping inside, she raises her voice and calls out, "Harley? Are you in here? Please, come talk to us."

Majima gives an impressed whistle. "Are you the one to blame for teachin' Harley that trick?"

He steps in behind Amelia and squints to focus his muddy eyesight. "Sorry to barge in, but you should know we ain't the sort for half-measures."

Harley was upstairs, in her bed, wrapping in a blanket. She had only ignored the pounding at the door because she had thought it was a pounding in her head.

It had been easy to go to the club and keep her promise because she just focused on another part of her personality. But at the same time, it was draining on her. It made the night harder. The nightmares easier to get in.

And Poochyena had showed her every time a text came in, from either Amelia or Goro. But it was difficult to find the energy to respond back to either of them.

She just had to find a way out of this. Back in Arkham... the guards would have just electro-shocked her. And the pain would have been replaced by different pain. Here... Harley had nothing but the memories.

Poochyena had heard the pounding on the door. He moved downstairs, to investigate the noise. Then the door opened, and two people he didn't know, entered the premise. He growled, low in his throat.

If someone was here to hurt his person... he would defend her.

"She knew how to do that long before-- Whoa!"

The dog is a new addition to the apartment. A new pet? Hopefully? The rogue hasn't had much experience with animals on her world or here in the Nexus, but maybe if she tries not to look threatening it'll be good? Seems worth a try, anyway.

Slowly, Amelia puts her hands out as a sign of submission and drops to one knee in front of the dog. "I'm... ah, sorry?" she says uncertainly. "We just want to see Harley..."

Majima is equally put off by the "dog", especially since it's just an angry, grey blur. "Hey, calm yer hairy tits, Fido. We're the ones ya been textin' the past few days.

"Besides, would Harley have given a bad guy ... this?" he reaches into his tuxedo jacket and pulls out ... a bra? This might be a serious stretch of logic, but it definitely smells like Harley, at least? He dangles it for Poochyena's inpsection.

Poochyena tilts his head at the sign of submission from the woman. Good.

Then the man pulls out something that smells like his person. Poocyhena moves forward to smell it. And studies them both for a second.

Okay. He will trust them. For now.

But if they make one wrong move.

Poochyena heads up the stairs, looking back at the two of them. Follow him.

Is it a good thing or bad thing that Majima can't see Amelia's eyebrows reach up toward her hairline? She's certainly still giving him a long, searching look before she says, "I think it might be best I not ask what that's about." Well, she can guess, but... let's not scar the poor virgin, shall we?

Amelia's still wary of the dog, so she follows him at a comfortable distance. When they reach the top of the stairs, she cautiously makes her way to the side of the bed, dropping down to her knees next to Harley. She won't reach for the other woman's hands, instead placing her own next Harley in case she wants to comfort of physical contact.

"Hey," she says softly, "are you all right? Majima and I are here for you."

Once it's served its purpose, the bra is stuffed safely back into Majima's jacket. Giving the Poochyena wide berth, he cautiously perches on the corner of the bed. He sighs when he sees Harley's lump of blankets.

"Ya get on my case 'bout bein' secretive, figure I might as well return the favor." His tone is teasing, and he feels for the lump of her foot and gives it a comforting shake. "What's eatin' ya, cupcake?"

Poochyena sits nearby, near a dog bed that is in the corner. Keeping an eye on the two. Harley's PINpoint is actually laying near the dog bed.

It takes Harley a moment to realize that someone else is in her apartment. She sits up slightly, adjusting the blankets so she can see. And blinks softly at the sight of Amelia and Goro there.

Her mind trying to determine if this is a delusion or not. Goro giving her foot a comforting shake is the physical contact that verifies she has not lost it.

She is not wearing any make-up. Her long blond hair is down. She is not wearing her colorful hair extensions.

Harley blinks at them again. Then softly, she speaks. "The 16th of February was the 10th anniversary of the day I died."

Her lips pull into a frown as she rests a hand on Harley's shoulder. What would be the appropriate thing to say here? Amelia wants to be supportive, but the first thing that comes to mind is how glad she is that Harley is still here. She exhales a silent breath and squeezes the other woman's shoulder gently.

"Anniversaries like that are never easy to face, but you don't have to be alone if you don't want to be." She gives Harley's shoulder another small squeeze. "What can we do for you?"

Majima mirrors Amelia's frown, in large part because he's trying to parse Harley's answer. Literal death? Metaphorical death? He knows she has that fancy healing ability. Where does that fit in, if at all? Ultimately, he opts to take Harley's words at face value and mine for details later.

He pushes his hand up to clamp her ankle. "That's ... I dunno. I ain't gonna pretend I got pretty words to make you feel any less shitty. But like Amelia said, you need anything, you got it."

"I haven't eaten in a few days..." Harley frowned. Except for keeping her promise to Goro to take care of the club for him, she has hardly been out of bed.

"And then... we can just talk. If you want."

Days? Amelia knows she has terrible eating habits when things get rough, but this is far beyond what she's ever done before. Her frown deepens as she gets to her feet.

"I'll find us something. Maybe there's some fruit left from the basket I brought the other night?" It's worth a look anyway, because she sure as hell doesn't want to leave Harley right now. It helps that Majima's here, but two sources of comfort seems a better option than none.

As she descends the stairs, she calls back up to the others, "If there's nothing here, what would you like? I can get anywhere and back very quickly."

"You been hittin' the Sunshine on an empty stomach?" he clucks his tongue. "I'm surprised I didn't get a call from Youda tellin' me you'd passed out half-way tangled in those silks.

"'Majima-san, help! We can't get her down!'" He does his best impression of a panicked Youda, trying to lighten the mood.

While Amelia sees to a food solution, Majima goes for lower-hanging fruit and fetches Harley a glass of water. Hopefully she's at least had the wherewithal to drink, but better safe than sorry. He sits further up on the bed, offering her the cup. "Oi, oi. Drink up. Should help get that stomach prepped for some food."

"I have a blender. A smoothie would honestly be better." Harley calls out after Amelia, as the other woman gets up to find something in the kitchen. And luckily, the kitchen is not completely barren. There is even bread and fresh jam placed in the fridge from a recent visitor.

And it looks like Harley had at least had the presence of mind to keep up on grocery shopping, even if she has not felt like eating.

Harley blushes slightly at Goro's gentle clucking of his tongue. "I am used to a jailhouse diet. And hitting the field with little in my stomach."

When Majima returns with the cup of water, she reaches out for it. Her pale skin seems even paler today. With her other hand, she pats the bed beside her, an offer for him to sit close by. "Thanks."

A blender? Oh, right. Amelia's seen those at cafes before. It can't be that hard to use if everyone seems to have one.

The rogue takes her time cutting up some fruits and putting them into the blender the way she's seen done by baristas. She throws in a couple of ice cubes for good measure and then surveys the assembled mass. All the fruits go together, so this should be good. Hopefully Harley will like it.

With a nod to herself, she hits the on button, yelping when bits of fruit and ice start to fly everywhere. She rushes to hit the button again, but it's far too late. Most of blender's contents are now all over the kitchen counters and floors - and Amelia herself. Sighing heavily, she grabs a wash cloth and starts to clean up the mess.

"It'll be a few more minutes," she calls up to the loft. "Don't worry, I've got this."

Majima scoots in closer on the bed and loops an arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze and a teasing tap on the nose. "Well, you ain't in jail, alright? Time you upped your culinary standards, cupcake."

And then things explode downstairs. Majima steps to the edge of the loft to survey the damage. Oh wow. He gives Harley a small wave as he descends the stairs. "You sit tight. Gonna just, uh, give Amelia-chan a hand."

Down in the kitchen, he picks up a towel and helps with damage control. He leans in close to whisper conspiratorially, "Look, we already know we ain't cut out for this kitchen shit. Let's say we cut our losses here and order somethin', eh?"

He pulls out his PINpoint and hits a button. "Oi, Pippa? Yanno that one place that sends the food? ChowNow? Have 'em send a couple smoothies our way. Somethin' sweet."

"Alright! I've placed your order. Estimated delivery time to your location is ten minutes," the voice assistant chirps back.

Majima gives his device a reverent look before returning it to his pocket. He sighs. "Goddamn, I love the future."

Harley leans into Majim'a embrace when he loops his arm around her. The physical contact is very nice.

And then he goes to Amelia's rescue. Poochyena hops on the bed, curling by Harley's legs to keep her company while both of her friends are downstairs. He is glad that he let them in now.

Harley stretches out to run her fingers through the Pokémon's fur. Her drive to not let anything get to her is slowly returning. And she knows that she can survive this. She won't let her past ruin her future.

Especially with two wonderful people in her life.

The instant ordering is convenient and Amelia heaves a relieved sigh when the assistant lets them know smoothies are on the way. "I'll cut up some extra fruits, too," she murmurs in a hushed tone. "In case she feels hungry enough for it."

By the time the smoothies arrive, the kitchen is mostly clean and the rogue has prepared a decent sized plate of cut fruits. She allows Majima to lead the way up the stairs with the smoothies, setting the plate down on the bedside table. Once she's sure that the other two are settled, she takes up her place on the floor next to Harley again.

"Let us know if you need anything else," she says, smiling up at Harley. "We're not going anywhere until you want us to."

On his way back up, Majima scrutinizes the cups -- decorated in some unintelligible script, a cute creature mascot -- and gives one of the smoothies an experimental taste. He has a hard time identifying the constituent ingredients outside of "vaguely fruity." They didn't skimp on the sweet, that's for damn sure.

He distributes the cups to Harley and Amelia, keeping the last one in reserve for anyone who wants seconds. He's more about that raw fruit option, plucking up a slice of apple before resuming his seat on the bed.

"So ... ya wanna talk it out, Harley-chan?"

Harley takes the cup offered to her, and nuzzles back against Goro when he reclaimed his seat on the bed. She gets closer to him, so there is space on the bed on the other side of her for Amelia to sit, if the other woman so desires.

"When I left university, I thought I was ready to conquer the world. I was in my 20s... I was confident. Bold. And smart enough to pass the tests that played by the rules... and daring enough to break the rules when necessary."

"I was no innocent when I walked into Arkham, believing that I could solve the twisted mind of Joker. But I was still too naïve to deal with him."

Harley twirls a lock of blonde hair in her fingers. Goro and Amelia might know her well enough to realize she does this when she is upset. Or nervous.

"He pretended that he came from a broken home. Like me. He pretended that he had an abusive father. Like me. He lied to me over and over again, until I thought that we had so much in common... that it made sense to believe every word that he told me."

"And I believed him that he would only get better, if he was able to escape Arkham. I got him a gun... his Goon Squad raided the whole place. They captured me." Harley closed her eyes. "He put me on a table, and decided to see how far he would push my dedication to him... with electro-shock therapy."

"I survived that. It only made him angry. It was not what he had expected."

"He took me to his Factory, where they were making vats and vats of his infamous Joker Toxin. He took me to the catwalk, where we could see everything. And he held a gun to my head." Harley shivered. "He asked me if I would die for him. I told him yes. He said that was too easy..."

"He asked me if I would live for him. And I..." Harley shivered again. "Jumped. Into a vat of Joker Toxin."

"You have to realize the only other person who survived drowning in Joker Toxin was Joker himself..."

"And he thought for certain that I had died. For him. And I did." Harley looked up at the ceiling. "I saw my life flash before me. I felt the Joker Toxin consume me. I laughed myself to death. Glorious Glorious Death."

"The next thing I remembered was seeing a shadow come towards me... it was Joker. He had dove into the vat after me. I thought it was to save me." Harley gasped sharply, drawing in a sobbing breath. "I lived again. But I had been re-born. I was his Precious Porcelain Doll."

"And because of him... those memories haunt me every 16th of February. The moment when everything changed."

With space offered to her, Amelia climbs up next to Harley. She sets aside her smoothie so she can be ready to offer her hands to Harley if she wants or needs them. It's all she can think to do as the other woman explains how she and the Joker became so entwined.

The story itself is haunting, more terrible than she could have ever imagined it to be. To know that someone would do these things to another person, to drive them so far that they would convince another person to do such horrible things for such a stupid, selfish reason makes her angry. She already hated Joker, but now she's furious. If she could get her hands on him now, she would tear him apart limb from limb. Damn the consequences of such actions, because no one should be allowed to hurt Harley this way.

But all of those desires will have to wait. The second Harley tries to breathe through a sob, Amelia inches closer, resting a hand gently on the other woman's shoulder. She wants to say something, to comfort Harley somehow, but she just... doesn't know how.

"I'm so sorry." It doesn't feel like enough, but it's all she has. Her head bows a little under the weight of that thought and she gives Harley's shoulder a small squeeze. "I'm so sorry you went through that."

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Trigger Warnings... it's Harley's backstory. they are there

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