Needful Things Building; Monday

[totalwildcard]

The Dream House was gone by morning, replaced again with the antique store and the apartment above it, both with all four walls intact, and the color scheme decidedly less pink.

And in said apartment, late in the morning, Harley woke up with a start. Like fully bolting upright and everything, with a gasp.

"... Barbie looks like me."

She couldn't believe it. She brought her hands up to her face, smooshing her cheeks.

"Like me."

This jaw! These cheekbones under her skin!

Something about it was making her eyes well up.

At least, until something else about the weekend came back to her. "Bruce!" Oh, God, he'd been eating something obviously plastic, all weekend long! Harley scrambled out of bed to find him - only to, yes, find him curled up in one of his usual spots, seemingly right as rain.

She still ended up taking him on a long walk around town. It took a while for her to be convinced that just as magically as he'd turned into a toy dog for the weekend, whatever the plastic stuff he'd been eating (and, to be fair, pooping out at what seemed like an alarming rate for a fully functioning gastric system) had just as magically turned into actually edible stuff in his guts when he'd turned back. He seemed fine! He was leaving behind dog shit that was the usual level of disgusting!

Still, between the long walk and then breakfast for both him and herself, the morning had already turned into the afternoon by the time something occurred to Harley, and sent her bolting down the stairs into the store.

There, she found the display of dolls of varying ages and kinds.

And there, tucked near the back, was a Barbie. Harley carefully pulled her out from between a Victorian-ish porcelain doll and a fairly creepy 1950s baby, and smiled down at her.

It was a little watery, but there was no one here to see it, was there?

"Oh, there you are."

Something in her chest ached a little.

(expecting one!)

Comments

[totalwildcard]

"Are you sure?" Harley replied, teasing tone in full force. "'Cause you were awful quick to jump to thinkin' about other mouths when mine's literally where you can see it!"

[hasaknightjob]

"I was making sure it was yours," Marc said. "We already covered that I'm picky."

[totalwildcard]

Harley shrugged. "Well, my original point still stands."

Whatever that had been.

[hasaknightjob]

"If it's you, then yeah," Marc said. "Not interested in another even if it's free."

[totalwildcard]

"Great!" Harley said.

Then scrunched up her face.

"Wait, no, I don't think that's what I was supposed to say."

Yes, well, see what happened when you forgot your own joke over getting lost in a tangent, Harley?

"I think I was supposed to be making a point about free things...?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Go right ahead," Marc said. He ran his fingers along the back of her neck in the meanwhile.

[totalwildcard]

So unhelpful, Marc. He knew Harley's concentration was a fragile thing! Neck touches screwed with that big time!

"I dunno," Harley sighed, "something about how you'll always take the free things that benefit you..."

[hasaknightjob]

"Kinda rude to refuse an offer if I wanna accept anyway," Marc pointed out.

He ran his fingers on the side of her neck to indicate she could rest her head on his shoulder if she wanted.

[totalwildcard]

Probably nothing shocking about how little encouragement Harley needed to do exactly that, just sinking against him.

"Well, that's fair," she decided, in more of a murmur. "I guess."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc moved his hand up to toy with her hair. "You know me, all about fair."

[totalwildcard]

"Sometimes you are," Harley replied, in an extremely half-hearted argument. Clearly too busy enjoying herself to put any oomph into it.

[hasaknightjob]

"You know the deal," Marc said. "No telling anybody I'm nice."

[totalwildcard]

"I dunno," Harley said, like she was really considering something, "y'might wanna think about bribes to make sure. Gimme enough nice things."

She was all curled up into him like she was a koala and he was a particularly comfortable eucalyptus tree, her head against his shoulder, arms all relaxed against him - much like the rest of her.

The impression was not one that suggested she needed more nice things than she was already getting.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc kissed the top of her head. "I'll keep it in mind. Maybe dessert with lunch sometime."

He was joking. For him.

[totalwildcard]

Harley obliged him with a soft huff. "Is that bit of extravagance your best offer? I think I may swoon."

[hasaknightjob]

"Could be a really nice dessert," Marc pointed out. "Chocolate or some shit."

[totalwildcard]

"You're so lucky I'm not making a really awful joke right now."

Just so he knew.

[hasaknightjob]

"I appreciate that," Marc said, since he could guess what it was. That earned her an extra kiss on the top of her head.

[totalwildcard]

"I like you too much to gross ya out," Harley informed him. Although not without adding, "Right now."

No promises for whatever fell out of her mouth any other times.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc brushed his fingers along the column of her neck. "Lucky me."

He might not have entirely talking about the joke she wasn't making.

[totalwildcard]

"Yeah, lucky you," Harley sighed, her eyes closing again. A pleasant shiver went down her spine.

She might not have been only talking about him, there, despite the actual word.

[hasaknightjob]

There may have been a smile playing about Marc's lips at that sigh and what it represented for Harley's overall mood. Would he have done it if her eyes were open? Well, academic question since they weren't. Besides, she was close enough she might be able to feel it.

"I know better than to argue with you, Doc," he replied, low enough it was just for her to hear.

[totalwildcard]

"Damn right you do," Harley replied in kind, almost a whisper. More soft and sweet than smug.

Content, even.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc moved his hand up to massage her head. "Sometimes I learn."

[totalwildcard]

"'Cause you're smart," Harley murmured, on another sigh. It didn't really seem possible for her to relax any more than she already was, and yet she felt like it was happening anyway.

Like even the way she was breathing was getting calmer by the moment.