plotting to unnerve her

[self_composed]

Bella finds Milliways in the moon palace instead of one of her balconies.

"Huh," she says aloud.

Then, to Alice, Libby, Elena, and Mary, and Lazarus except he autoreplies with a busy message, [Hey folks, Moonstone Palace grew a bar that I don't remember putting in, come check it out.]

Comments

[self_composed]

"Most recently? My alternate's bodyguard wanted his 'real' name," Bella says. "I warned him before we even walked in that I didn't want any interdimensional incidents - so he ran to the moon instead. I made up a name for them and went up after him."

[manofmyword]

"You are a sweetheart," says the Joker.

[self_composed]

"I care about him. He was hurting."

[manofmyword]

"I knoow. It's sweet," he says.

[self_composed]

"He's sweet too. He fixed me up when I got hit by a car, before I had quite as much magic to throw around."

[manofmyword]

"Awwwwww. I wanna hug him," says the Joker. "I wanna hug you too, but I bet you don't."

[self_composed]

"It's true. I do not harbor a desire to hug you."

[manofmyword]

He shrugs. "Didn't think so."

[self_composed]

"But perhaps you can get hugs from your shrink," says Bella. "If you are in need of a supply."

[manofmyword]

"Nah, she doesn't do that. And it's not the same, anyway."

[self_composed]

"Not the same how?"

[manofmyword]

"There's a difference between wanting to hug somebody in particular and wanting just any old hug. Isn't there?"

[self_composed]

"I suppose."

[manofmyword]

"Mm. So, you gonna introduce me to your boyfriend?"

[self_composed]

Alice has just about finished up his conversation with Matilda; she's on her way to the door. "Let's see," she says. [Hey Alice. Come see who I found.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[Sure,] he says, and teleports to Bella's vicinity.

And looks at the Joker.



And looks at him again.

[manofmyword]

"Hiiiii," he says, lifting a hand and wiggling his fingers in a cute little wave.

[self_composed]

"This is apparently what happens if you don't meet me and a few other things go slightly differently," Bella says. Impulsively, she loops her arm around Alice's waist and leans her head on him. He's standing right there, after all.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice snugs his arm around Bella's shoulders and kisses the top of her head, but he is still looking at the Joker.

"Wow," he murmurs.

[manofmyword]

The Joker licks his lips in that way he has, kind of like a snake tasting the air. His lipstick glistens.

[edgeofyourseat]

Well, thanks for drawing Alice's attention right back to the most fascinating thing about you, Clownface.

(Did he mean it like that, though? Or...? No, he totally meant it like that. But did he know what Alice would think of it? How could he not?)

The hell with it. He teleports directly into the Joker's lap and kisses him.

[self_composed]

Ayep. Bella rolls her eyes. She got her little bit of hug, and this or something like it was predictable.

[manofmyword]

The Joker kisses back.

For quite some time.

"You'n'me could really have some fun," he says eventually, resting his hands on Alice's shoulders and looking into his eyes with a challenging grin. "Wanna?"

[edgeofyourseat]

Instantly: "Yeah."

[self_composed]

"Does this place have hotel rooms or are you planning to scandalize the patrons?" Bella asks dryly.