22 ⚜ Video

[restingstitchface]

This is a world where nobody can be certain what is real. Tabloid scandal and tittle-tattle surround our mad lives. Journalists take shots at clearing the superstition enveloping those who choose to wear a mask, and like most they do it for the money, selfishly exposing the names of heroes and villains alike.

[His right hand hoists up a headline, framed at the bottom with his left palm. The accompanying photograph is of a blonde propping up a bar, split with a shot of her professionally dressed in a skirt and doctor's jacket. Hair up, round glasses. A girl so neat you can take her home to meet the family.]

Party Girl Harley Quinn Goes Profesh: Can It Last?

What trenchant contempt. Such grubby hands, tearing off flesh to show the bones beneath! Masks contain a definite meaning, an intellectual formula, are expressions of human feeling for the surrounding world. They are creations of the human mind and, as such, deserve respect. No matter whether they're an identity behind which one reconstructs their self or a shield that protects loved ones.

We understand how dangerous they can be. Do they think they can hide before facing the consequences of this drivel?

[Blech! He lays down the page.]

Guess it all boils down to one question for me, anyway. One more important than Harleen Quinzel's metamorphosis.

[He refuses to call her a doctor.]

What's Batman's deal?

Comments

[restingstitchface]

I'll take that on notice.

[Except not. Cause you're not qualified in medicine.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ He doesn't need to be a detective to call out crazy. ]

You don't need to be that sarcastic with me.

[restingstitchface]

I can be quite sarcastic when I'm in the mood.

Haven't you realized that?

[sleight_of_hand]

Kinda hard to miss, really.

[restingstitchface]

So it seems.

Do you have anything else to ask of me, detective?

[sleight_of_hand]

No, you've just got me really curious what your beef with this guy is now.

Maybe I'll just ask Harley.

[restingstitchface]

Ask away.

I want you to expand your understanding. But try not to embarrass yourself with her this time.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi let out a disgruntled noise at that. ]

I-I'm trying! I'm trying! Relationships are hard!

[restingstitchface]

Well, so's life. But it's how you respond to it that matters. Although Harleen gave me the impression there's no relationship there at all. Strange, that.

[sleight_of_hand]

F-friendships are still relationships!

...b-besides, it doesn't mean I can't try for more than that.

[restingstitchface]

No it doesn't, but I feel as though she's lost interest. Shouldn't you be giving up and directing your attentions elsewhere?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi let out another awkward noise, reaching to rub at the back of his neck. ]

...haven't really met someone as interesting...

[restingstitchface]

In that case, you should attempt to be more fascinating.

[He speaks with a cold, dry tone. A backhanded comment about him finding Adachi's lovelife boring? Yes. With an expression showing he doesn't give a fuck.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ ...did he just get told by a nerd that probably never had a girlfriend? ...well, another nerd that never had a girlfriend. Fellow nerd that never had a girlfriend. Ouch; Adachi let out the most awkward of noises, practically backing all the way from the phone. ]

W-well what would you do to be more fascinating?!

[restingstitchface]

[He wants to start laughing.

But he doesn't, obviously. He gives Adachi an inscrutible look.]

Good question. I would ask the wider community and draw on their experience.

[If he cared. Which he doesn't.]

[sleight_of_hand]

S-seriously...?

[ Ugh, airing out how pathetic he was with this sort of thing right there on the public network...? Bad enough they were talking about it in a public post, but to actually ask everyone. ]

That's... a little much...

[restingstitchface]

Oh, you'll be fine.

You're not as pathetic as some of the sorts I've encountered here, honestly.

[Except you are. But point is you'll survive.]

[sleight_of_hand]

...are you actually trying to be encouraging, or are you just trying to get me to go away?

[restingstitchface]

Neither. I'm encouraging you to accept that the only way you'll get help is if you stand alone and help yourself.

[sleight_of_hand]

Ah...

[ Adachi stopped dead, blinking in utter surprise. ]

...r-right.