Bang Bang!

It is a typical night at Harley's Coney Island apartment. As Harley sips margaritas on the rooftop, admiring the fair rides as the sun sets, and the lights on each ride light up the sky. One can hear the audible cheers and happy screams from amusement park attendees.

One would think that the constant fair sounds would make it harder to hear anything else. But for Harley Quinn... she knows exactly when the window on the first floor is broken. And the sound of people breaking into her house.

( NSFW (Violence Warning): Don't Touch Harley's Stuff )

It was really nice that Coney Island had appeared in the Nexus. Harley had quite a time in her element, and it was great that several other people had a chance to relax, enjoy the rides and the food, and just spend quality time with their loved ones.

And there was some cleanup required afterwards, so Harley was busy making sure that the Nexus plaza was back to normal (no garbage or debris around), and that those from Coney Island that had traveled to the Nexus were back in her home universe where they belonged.

She was cleaning up some garbage one day, when she felt that 'someone is watching me' sixth sense. When she stood and turned, she spotted an elderly man dressed in butler attire, and wearing pale white make-up with bright red lipstick over his lips, who was walking towards her. Right away, Harley knew who it was -- Jeeves, as she called him, one of Joker's loyal goons (who actually was part of Joker's gang for as long as she remembered).

Fuck fuck fuck She cursed silently, wondering if the appearance of Coney Island had accidentally brought Jeeves or other Joker goons to the Nexus. Out of caution, Harley had her bat in her hand. She knew that Jeeves himself would not attack her (he was not the type), but wanted to be prepared just in case there were other Joker goons around who would attack her.

"Miss Quinzel..." Jeeves spoke in a raspy voice, as he held out a package. Harley shook her head, refusing to take it. She did not want anything from Jeeves, especially since it meant that he was delivering a gift from Joker.

Jeeves tapped the gift-wrapped box, and held it out to her, insistent that she take it, despite her refusal. And he just stood there, holding it out for her, while she shook her head. That was the one thing about how loyal Jeeves was -- Harley knew that he would keep on trying to do his job (which was to deliver this package), and would eventually neglect himself by not eating or sleeping, if she kept on refusing to take the package from him. And dammit... Jeeves was still okay in her eyes. He never abused her, he never yelled at her, and he had taken care of her a few times. So Harley didn't want him to punish himself, just because he couldn't finish his task.

Harley took the box from him and sighed. "Fine."

Jeeves continued to stand there, and he signaled for Harley to open the box in front of him. Harley rolled her eyes at that. Of course Joker knew that she was likely to burn the stupid thing, without even seeing what was inside. Of course he told Jeeves to make sure that she opened the box, to see whatever stupid gift was inside.

"I really hate that man..." Harley put the box down, and took out her Ice Dagger to unwrap the gift with -- not daring to touch the wrapping paper or the ribbon with her hands. Sure she couldn't get poisoned, but she didn't want something nasty on her hands right now.

Inside the box was a large photo album. Harley arched an eyebrow, and stabbed the front of the album to bring the object outside, planting it on the ground too. Using the dagger to turn the pages (refusing to touch the book out of principle), Harley noticed several torn photos of her and Joker at the start of the book. It was like a very creepy montage of their lives together. He even including little newspaper clippings of their crime spree in Gotham.

Once upon a time... the old love-sick Harley would have been over the moon with the effort. But the wiser Harley Quinn of today knew that it was all part of some sick game that Joker was playing. And sure enough... near the end of the photo album, the pictures changed. There were several photos of many different Nexus locations in a stylized black-and-white tone, with splashes of red streaking across each of the photos. Harley knew enough of Joker's photography techniques to recognize that he had taken these photos himself... which meant that he had access to the Nexus.

As she turned a few more pages, where there were portrait mosaics -- of unknown faces, made from several photos of different people. And Harley started to recognize some of the pieces of photos. That was Caspar's eyebrow in one photo... and Amelia's lips in another... and Cricket's eyes in a third... She felt her heart beat fast and hard in her chest.

Jeeves walked away from her, as Harley sat down to slowly stare at the torn up photos of several of her friends, and some people that she just met (Danny), and some people she did not recognize. She knew then and there that Joker was telling her that he could get to any of these people, that he had gotten close enough to get their picture, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Joker was in the Nexus. This was serious. Harley had to make some text messages.

A very visible pink jacket moves across the winter landscape. Her legs trudge through the large snow banks. Harley moves away from the safety of the tents, and soon finds herself trudging up a slight slope of snow, where she is able to look over the snow-covered Nexus area.

( Proceed with Caution. Thread mentions torture )

Harley stared up at the empty ceiling above her. A few hours ago, she had taken down the Christmas decorations. And gave herself access to her aerial silks again. It was snowing lightly outside... but a storm was quietly brewing on the horizon. There was a chill in the air.

She turned on some music, and then with an gymnast ring secured around her waist, Harley climbed up one of the silks. She let herself go.... just moving to the music, letting her body move naturally to the beat.

Inches above the ground, Harley let herself spin and spin in the ring, her foot secured onto one silk. Her chaotic mind reflecting on everything that had happened in the past year. Thinking of the changes made in her life and the new friends that she had made. And her connections to her world, and how they still had an impact in her life.

The image of killing Edwin was still clear in her mind... her deepest desire that it had been Joker instead.

She still did not know what Joker had planned... in the twisted game where Edwin had pretended to be her ex-lover. But knew that the game was not done yet.

Her mind went to Loki... and she sat in her ring, and swung on the silks for a moment. It was just as dangerous game that she was playing right now...

Harley had promised herself when she had left Joker that she was done playing those kind of games. But here she was. Too afraid to admit what is real. Too scared that it could be fake... another fantasy that would never become true.

She can no longer take the safe way out... she was a risk taker. And this was something way too important not to take a risk on.

It was time to show all her cards and accept the fate of the deal. Harley smiled, and returned to her silks... She felt free and alive.