An ounce of pretension

[itistolaugh]

WHO: Harley and Eddie
WHERE: Maurtia Falls, the recently-changed-ownership Iceberg Lounge
WHEN: August 24th, 11 AM
WHAT: Definitely not crime.
WARNINGS: Arguably reformed rogues, maybe a duck.


If Eddie wants to talk about Ozzie's various and sundries with the likes of Harley, she figures it has to be one of two things. There's not much in her repertoire that could be of use, and she certainly doesn't know enough about business to provide any insight. So, probably he either wants her to hit someone very hard, or he wants her to please not hit someone at all. Harley hits whoever and whatever she wants as hard as she wants, as a general rule, but Eddie's been a good friend. She'll hear him out, and even try to pay attention to most of it.

But if that son of a bitch riddles at her, she's going to punch him right in the duck.

Comments

[enigmaestro]

That son of a bitch was going to riddle at her, and he was simply waiting for the right opportunity. Always prone to showcase and showoff, Eddie ensured that Harley would be met with two tuxedoed gentlemen of the physically muscular variety upon her entrance -- the perfect set of escorts, he figured, for someone of her tendency. Not that he was going to speak much upon her tendency, after all, Eddie did indeed have the health and happiness of his duck to be concerned over.

He insisted that she be led through the newly erected labyrinth to his "throne room" -- complete with actual throne, of which Eddie sat upon. It was all part of renovation, he would argue. But every conundrum king must have some sort of gaudy golden thing to rest upon, wasn't that so?

"Harley, dear. I haven't a spare throne, I'm afraid."

[itistolaugh]

Beefcake! Yum.

The labyrinth struck her as a bit ridiculous -- what kind of bar is he setting up anyway? -- but she couldn't really claim it was surprising. Eddie is as Eddie does. She decided not to comment on it, out of appreciation for the eye candy escorts. Courtesy also kept her hands to herself.

She laughed when she saw his throne, because of course he did. It was too, too classic.

"That's alright. I can make do." And she took a seat on his knee, as if he was a particularly scrawny Santa Claus.

"So what's this all about?"

[enigmaestro]

"I -- ah -- "

He knew he should have anticipated her agile approach, he really ought to have calculated that likelihood -- after all, Harley Quinn was quintessentially herself. Quinntessentially -- he'd have to use that at some later date, perhaps. If not in his usual hands-on approach (reformation minded, our Eddie!), then perhaps through his surrogate Ramir.

Weren't moral loopholes absolutely delightful?

"Please, make yourself comfortable," he said at long last. Eddie, maximizing the awkward moment, fumbled a fond pat-pat-patting on her shoulder. "I'm sure it would make Ozzie proud."

More to the point: it would make Ozzie something, all right.

"Is this how you'd want to conduct the business end of discussion? Forgive my presumption of drinks on a table."

[itistolaugh]

Harley didn't need his invitation, obviously, but she took it as permission to settle in, shifting so she could relax against him. Snuggling isn't really a "business lunch" sort of thing, not professional in the least, but neither is she. Besides, he was a total butt over text earlier. Making him feel mildly and briefly awkward is a small revenge.

"Nah, this is fine."

[enigmaestro]

"Is it? Is it fine?"

Almost immediately, Eddie started getting hot under the collar. Harley Quinn was a devious mind, and he would never listen to anyone who dared to suggest otherwise; it was a dangerous mix, her psychological insight and whimsical impulse. Perhaps less lethal than the Joker's perspective (if one were to go solely by body count), but certainly not less dangerous.

"You're going to melt the Iceberg."

Assuming Iceberg was code for something else. Something more personal.

"And -- anyway, look -- are you going to take this seriously? I wanted to talk to you about marketing. You're so... Good. With people. It's very warm in here."

[itistolaugh]

"Yyyes? Isn't it? Yes."

Harley could see no reason why it would be a problem, and the temperature inside seemed perfectly comfortable to her. Besides, if Eddie got sick of her then he could always just push her on the floor. That's what people usually did.

"I'm listening, but I don't get it. What do I know from marketing? You saying I should go hold a sign on a street corner or something?"

No promises on taking this or any other thing seriously. He'd know she was lying anyway.

[enigmaestro]

Needless to say, the thought of shoving her away never crossed his mind -- indifferent to general human life as he had been (and still was, quite honestly, though now he framed the question differently), individuals had always kept his attention. Harley, he had long ago decided, was an individual.

"Not the sort of crowd I would want to attract," he replied. "But you're excellent with... People. You can hold the attention of the masses without resorting to -- well, a puzzling heist. Just a random example, don't read into it."

Her networking abilities were useful, and Eddie hoped that would strike the spark that he craved for this business. It was more than merely memorializing Ozzie. It was about taking the opportunity of a challenge. Business was not necessarily Eddie's strong point -- oh, innovation, sure. Easy. But the daily drilling, the mundane Mondays and late hours?

A challenge.

"Rumor has it even the devil is sweet on you. I can't be wrong about this."

[itistolaugh]

The corners of her mouth twisted down. "That's an exaggeration. We had like half a date and then he ditched me."

But that wasn't really the issue at hand here. She wasn't entirely sure what the issue was. Harley was used to being called on for an extra pair of helping hands, but usually in a more violent capacity. Punching? Yes. Business planning? Hell no. This new ground had her a little unsettled. It was so much easier when nobody expected something.

"So you want to mix your business with my pleasure? Sounds--" Ill-advised. Just asking for trouble. Potentially lethal. "Messy."

[enigmaestro]

"Ditched you?"

Well that was perplexing, wasn't it? Unless it was some sort of demonstration concerning the ultimate evil -- ditching Harley Quinn mid-date surely rated as a new breed of sin? But the fact of the matter didn't seem to bother her greatly, and he wasn't going to needle her on it; never fun, finding oneself in that situation. Even if it was, arguably, a better outcome for Harley's soul.

"Well, forget him. As for mixing business with pleasure and the alleged messiness inherent -- oh, Harley. Haven't I always mixed the two?"

A nod perhaps, to his riddling days of yonder.

"Just think about the proposition, won't you? Not like remodeling this place is moving any quicker that at a glacial pace," said Eddie, scoffing appropriately. "Which -- I guess might be suitable."