capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO: Harley Quinn and Lua Klein.
WHERE: A small coffeeshop.
WHEN: Backdated to Saturday afternoon (July 9th).
WARNINGS: Discussions about seriously, seriously wrong relationships.
SUMMARY: Harley wanted a chance to talk to Lua without Ladd. Because seeing your own issues in someone else is kind of unsettling.
FORMAT: Paragraph to start, but either is fine.

Harley had been unsure of what to make of Lua's relationship since Ladd had first broadcasted his eventual plans to kill his fiancée over the Network. Choosing to die at the hands of your loved one... She could understand the romanticization of it better than most. There had been a time, early on in her devotion to the Joker, where Harley would have treasured the gesture herself.

But things were different now. She had survived a few of the Joker's attempts to be rid of her. They were grand acts that his case file in Arkham could have never prepared her for. And sure, they were all about her. It showed that she was able to spark that much inside of him. It also showed that he could stand to live without her, though. And after everything they had been through together, she wasn't sure if she would be able to forgive him for that. Hadn't she earned her place with him?

It was a horrible conflicting mess inside her tummy that she had been trying to repress. She and the Joker should have been ancient history, anyway. She was dating Andy. Selina had taken Ivy's role in not-so-subtly urging Harley away from her ex. She wasn't supposed to be wondering if her old flame really cared about her.

And yet there she was, pulled towards Lua Klein and attempting to come to a conclusion about both of their love lives. Harley sat across from the other woman at a small table in a nice little cafe. She paired an easy smile with troubled eyes as she stirred more sugar into her coffee than seemed fit for human consumption.

"Glad ya could make it, girl. Y'know, you seem like the type that use a few more friendly outings."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lua quickly glanced around the coffee shop to see where anyone else was. She was a little weary of public places thanks to the way Ladd constantly worried about her. Once she was satisfied that no one in the little café was going to try anything she let her eyes fall to the cup in her hands. She hadn't touched the coffee yet.

When she heard Harley speak she looked up and smiled, "Thanks for inviting me." She did have to admit it was nice to be out of the apartment. In the three weeks since Ladd had been locked up she had only went outside twice and one of those times was just to go visit him.

"Hey, fuhgeddaboudit. I figure we could both use the company."

She knew what it was like to have a partner locked away. Heck, even now she couldn't see her boyfriend as much as she'd like for fear that her ex might catch them and eviscerate him. She brought her cup to her mouth to take a long sip before asking, "So how ya holdin' up?"

Lua just stared into her coffee, "Alright."

There was no reason the worry someone she hardly knew. But her answer wasn't really a lie it was just a matter of getting used to things. While she'd always prefer it if they could be together but she could survive for a while on her own. Ladd would be proud of her when he got out.

It wasn't going unnoticed that the other woman wasn't touching her coffee.

"Sugar?" Harley asked, offering the shaker. The word felt a little more than ironic on her tongue. It happened to double as the name of the last woman whose relationship she identified with. She couldn't help but feel that it actually wasn't the lack of sweetener that made Lua leave her drink alone.

"'Course it's alright to miss your man, too. How long you two been together?"

It's only polite to accept what you're offered so Lua nodded and took the sugar. She slowly stirred some into her coffee as she thought back to when she met Ladd. That day she'd tried to die. Still she smiled at the thought.

"It's been... a few years."

It didn't feel like it had been quite that long, though.

"How did you two crazy kids hook up?" she asked, curiously, leaning her cheek upon her hand. She thought it might help shed some light.

And even if it didn't, Harley always loved a good romance story.

Lua finally takes a long sip of coffee. She takes her time to set the cup back down. "I'm sorry," and then she's back to staring at the cup.
"That's... not something I talk about."

Harley was quick to offer the reassurance, "Hey, no pressure here, honey."

Not that she could stop herself from trying to get Lua to open up.

"Between us girls though... you always been this happy with 'im?"