[ THE CALL ]

[verty_events]

The inhabitants of the Temple were all assembled in the Dining Hall. It was a large room with high ceilings, warmed by the fire in the fireplace opposite the main entrance and several smaller braziers scattered between the tables. The three large tables, normally set side by side, had been pushed against the walls to clear a space at the center of

Comments

[pinkefficiency]

This...is not the subway platform. This is not Gotham. Bruce Wayne isn't beside her, but there are a lot of other people there and a couple of people who look like they've been pretty heavily spliced. The gunshots are nothing new, either, but she'd rather not be in the line of fire. Well. Not for long, at least.

And so, Maxine can only bring herself to do the first thing that comes to mind - run through all the mayhem and try to figure out what's going on. Maybe she'll be able to come up with some kind of plan after assessing who's here and what in the world is going on.

[justalilnuts]

Harley has been wandering around the gathering of strange people, eyes wide, but otherwise seeming perfectly okay with it being a bit chaotic. Although the big robot thugummy startled her at first sight, everything else was kind of run of the mill in Gotham. I mean, if she dealt with folks like Penguin, Mr. Freeze and Killer Croc, what was a seven foot tall green guy or people in full armor.

Maybe it was some weird comic convention .. thingy ..

She finally finds a tray of treats and drinks and helps herself, wandering back through the hall and mass of people and .. not people. She is sipping on whatever it is in the glass when Maxine happens to walk by. "Hey, toots," Harley calls over to her, waving as she tosses the munchies on the nearest table. "Ya got any idea'a what's goin' on? I ain't seen a shindig guest starring this many weirdos since the last breakout at Arkham!"

Weirdos? Harley .. this is Kettle calling. :|

[pinkefficiency]

Maxine pauses as she hears that high pitched voice call out to her. She looks back to see...wait, what?

The mention of Arkham is one thing, but costume is something else altogether. And what's worse is that Max knows it and the voice of the person inside it. Not from experience, but from pictures and documents and archived vids from way back when. Either this is an incredibly good impersonator, or she was drugged with something strong...because there is no way that the real Harley Quinn could be here. If she was, she'd have to be in her eighties, at least.

The recognition is obvious in her expression, but she's going to avoid calling attention to who she thinks this person is.

"No, sorry. I think it's safe to say that everyone else is as confused as we are."

[justalilnuts]

Wait a second .. Did this broad just respond as if she knew exactly what Harley was talking about?? She didn't question the mention of Arkham, which means she knew Arkham!! Harley's first reaction is one of shocked delight, a soft gasp slipping past her lips as she points at her new pink haired companion!

"HEY!! YER FROM GOTHAM, AIN'T YA?!"

Subtle is not a word that Harley is much acquainted with, I'm afraid. She is beaming now, thrilled to have found a local to prove she wasn't losing her mind. Well, not anymore than she already had, at any rate. However, finding Max really didn't mean anything at all. Finding another Gothamite did nothing to prove that they were still in Gotham; what with the random mix of the crowd and all.

"Buuuuuut .. we ain't in Gotham anymore, are we .." she voices aloud, tone colored in disappointment. She folds her arms across her chest and huffs, clearly annoyed. "Well .. at least I ain't see Bats yet .."

[pinkefficiency]

Well, the recognition that she's from Gotham is one thing - and Harley doesn't seem to be feeling anything beyond excitement and confusion. Which hopefully means that Max isn't going to end up getting hit with a giant hammer (not tonight, anyway).

"We're definitely not in Gotham, that's for sure. Even the oldest places in the city don't look this retro."

That comment about Batman? Yeah, she's just going to pretend she didn't hear it.

[justalilnuts]

Nope, Harley doesn't recognize Maxine just yet and if she does, it'll just be as 'that broad' she's seen in passing whilst terrorizing the locals. Unless she happens to get a soft spot for you, God help you if the connection is ever made, kid. Especially here in the beginning .. Hell, maybe even later. She was in for one hell of an eye opener to find that there was FAR more than one version of the Batfreak running around here. To know that you're a direct and very usable tie to (at least) one of them might be too much to NOT take advantage of

[pinkefficiency]

Yeah, and knowing Max's reckless behavior, she's bound to screw things up at some point or another. So if Harley doesn't know what the deal with her is now, she will eventually.

Maxine may be a genius, but even the smartest people can be severely lacking in common sense.

She just winces as she hears Harley shout, but quickly collects herself as soon as the other is done. She doesn't recognize the whole "Puddin'" nickname, but it isn't that hard to guess who she's referring to, what with the people Harley chose to affiliate herself with and all.

"I don't think that's going to do much good. With all the chaos around here, I'd be surprised if we managed to find anyone we're familiar with."

[justalilnuts]

When it came time for it, Harley would be waiting to pounce on the opportunity. Lord knows, Harley knows alllllll about screwing up in a variety of manners.

As for the Joker? The young hench woman hadn't really expected him to answer so much as hoped. There is no return to her yell, but the broad alongside pipes in helpfully and she nods. "Well, I suppose I'll take it one moment atta time then, ya know? Ain't nothin' I can do about it anyways so ain't nonsense in cryin' over spilt milk an' all that."

She turns abruptly on her heel and I hope you're not too fond of your personal space, Max, cause she's all up in it now.

"What's yes name, toots?"

[pinkefficiency]

Maxine...is definitely a person who values her personal space, but she also knows how to keep calm. Max doesn't hesitate to answer Harley's question, however.

"Lisa Whitman. You?"

Max may lack common sense, but she has enough to know that giving this woman her real name is a very bad idea, when she doesn't have a cape or mask to hide behind.

[justalilnuts]

"Lisa," Harley repeats and her nose wrinkles slightly. "I'd've pegged ya for a 'Roxie' or a 'Tara' .. or somethin' like that. Ya seem tough, ya know?" She gives a half shrug, "Ah well, what can ya do. Make the best with what yer parents give ya, huh?"

After a brief pause, she purses her lips and huffs. "It ain't so bad, I guess." Her frown vanishes and she beams at the girl, leaning in close. "I'm Harley! Harley Quinn! Ya prolly heard of me, but whatever ya've heard ain't half the truth." Her grin broadens widely, "I'm so much worse!!"

[pinkefficiency]

"Yeah, not the best name there is, but it's all I have to work with." Maxine eyes Harley carefully as she speaks and moves, making sure to take in everything she sees and hears. Every change of tone, every quirk, the look in her eyes, the way she moves...Maxine is a born researcher, and if this is the real Harley Quinn, then this is important to take in. Better to get to know her enemy's behavior and action before she actually realizes that 'Lisa' is a friend of Batman.

Max offers Harley a handshake, "Sorry, but the name's only vaguely familiar to me. Good to meet somebody else from Gotham, though."

[justalilnuts]

Harley gives another shrug and takes the girl's hand, giving it an almost over enthusiastic shake.. untiiiiiiiiiiiil, right about there.

Harley holds onto the girls hand and frowns, looking at her. "Only vaguely familiar? VAGUELY?!!" She tosses her hands into the air in disbelief. "Have ya been livin' under a rock, Lisa?! Harley an' the Joker???? We're a matched set!! Where he is, I am!"

She huffs, looking just a bit dejected as she sags dramatically. "Kids these days .. what ya gotta do ta keep 'em interested in the news?"

[pinkefficiency]

Oh, Max knows her. Still, Maxine is from a time where the Joker is dead and Harley Quinn is nowhere to be found - and most of the Gotham teenagers are more interested in dates and clubbing than their city's history. May as well play that up.

"Can't say we hear much about Harley Quinn or the Joker, these days. Batman's long gone, and his old enemies would be in their eighties, now. At least."

Maxine is going to just let Harley process that. If she's just an impersonator, then she'll know this. If this is the real Harley, by some freak chance, then she'll react accordingly.

Also, the whole part about there being a new Batman? Yeah, Max is going to just "forget" to mention that.

Sorry for the delay, babe .. have been hold up in bed all day. /feels miserable ;___;

[justalilnuts]

Harley is just boggling here. She can't imagine how this broad hasn't heard of her and her exploits. Sad, really.

She listens, eyes slowly widening as Max explains that Batman's been gone for years and his nemesis would be in their eighties.

"Whoa .. wait just one sec .. hold up." She makes a stopping motion with her hands, her eyes wide and clearly disbelieving. "Batman's gone?!" She looks completely and genuinely incredulous as she shakes her head. "Look here, toots, I don't know what yer tryin' ta play at here, but there just ain't no way!! NO WAY!! I WAS JUST GOIN' FIST TA FIST WITH BATBROAD BEFORE I CRASH LANDED HERE!!"

She shakes her head, pacing the small area just in front of Maxine. She Frounds on her, poking her in the chest. "What are ya?! from the future or somethi- " Cutting off abruptly, Harley's eyes begin to widen and she makes a small 'oh' with her lips. "Oh boy .. Mama ain't in Kansas anymore .. Mama ain't even close."

It's okay, Almabb. <3 /LOVES ON

[pinkefficiency]

"Yeah, and we're not in Gotham, either." It seems that Harley managed to put two and two together with the whole 'future' thing. So, Max is going to just stop with the whole explaining part and get to either asking questions or leaving.

"So, any plans on what to do?"

There. That's one way to start - it'll be interesting to see just how Harley plans without the Joker there to order her around.

<3 <3

[justalilnuts]

Harley takes this all in and finds herself frowning. Her Puddin' wasn't here? Red wasn't here? Nobody from Arkham was here at all? But most of all .. Bats wasn't here??

Now, though Harley might miss her Puddin' and will definitely welcome him in her open arms if he does show up anytime soon. But .. for now .. she was going to enjoy this!! 8D

"Ain't gotta clue, toots!" she crowed rather happily, turning to beam at max brightly. "Looks like I got some plannin' ta do, for sure an' some diggin' ta do! Cause while the Bats away, the clown will play!!"

She does a little pirouette and blows a kiss at Max, seeming to take this all in stride. "Keep in touch, huh, Lisa! Ain't gonna see too many of up Gotham broads around, so we might as well be buds, ya know? HAHAH!!"

HOW were they going to keep in touch?? Who knew, but that little detail didn't seem to be putting a damper on Harley's day out at all! With just much warning she waves and is off, darting through the crowd with happy, reckless abandon