Needful Things; Friday

[totalwildcard]

Harley shoved her sunglasses up to her forehead. "Wait, I missed it?"

Bruce, sniffing around the door, offered no answer.

"How do you miss New Year's Eve?!"

No, not to that, either.

But the narrative would wager a guess that the answer would've had something to do with a very complicated string of events that boiled down to running into some gal who knew a guy, who knew another guy, and then completely losing track of time in Atlantic City for several days.

However, the facts were that Harley was home now, as of about five minutes ago, and the store was technically open.

"Geez," she huffed, to Bruce, but really mostly just herself. "Turn your back for two seconds and the world sneaks all kindsa stuff right on past ya."

(open!)

Comments

[suitably_heroic]

Jack-- had finally managed to force himself to face the world again by that morning. Mainly because he had to work that day, but still, he felt he deserved a medal or something.

... He should also probably. Check in on other people he cared about that weren't presently in New York.

happy new year or at least one that's less miserable than whatever your 2025 was.

[totalwildcard]

I MISSED NYE

Yes, it was the headline news for the day, Atton.

Is that a good omen?
BAD OMEN??

And then it was just a string of emoji and a shit ton more question marks.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack eyed his phone in confusion. what did u get blackout drunk or somethin.

Details, Quinn.

[totalwildcard]

Atlantic city EATS TIME!!!

This was the best theory she'd come up with so far.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack pinched his brow for a long moment.

no its just full of distractions and illicit substances

[totalwildcard]

Yeah!
Like I said!
EATS
TIME

[suitably_heroic]

Forehead-rub.

are you still there?

Please don't make him leave the house sooner just to come save you from Atlantic City, Harley.

[totalwildcard]

No I'm in Fandom at my store home and if there was any fun here over new year's I MISSED IT

She'd get over it eventually.

Here and ANYWHERE

[suitably_heroic]

well the upside of this kind of thing is that you'll get a do-over in twelve months.

Thanks, Jack, you smartass.

[totalwildcard]

THAT DOESN'T HELP

[suitably_heroic]

well i cant help unless we find you a time machine, can i? Jack texted. therell be other parties.

[totalwildcard]

Not a party that's all TRANSFORMATIVE

There were several fireworks emoji.

And look I am aware its probly silly to put so much pressure and meaning on one evening bc one lone evening can N E V E R actually hold so much responsibility all on its lone lonesome
But that said I MEANT TO MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG

And more fireworks emoji.

FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY!!!

[suitably_heroic]

Jack tilted his head, then realized she wouldn't be able to see it.

u couldnt get laid in ATLANTIC CITY? ur hot and its ATLANTIC CITY

[totalwildcard]

He couldn't hear Harley's affronted gasp, either.

I WASN'T TRYIN TO BC I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS NYE!!!

[suitably_heroic]

ok but how do they not have ridic gold-plated nye parties in ATLANTIC CITY.

He did not have to keep all-capsing that, but he was going to anyway.

[totalwildcard]

It happened a lot around Harley, it was fine.

Maybe??
But they got gold plated EVERYTHING!

In her memories, anyway. Which were unorganized and mostly just vibes.

How was I supposed to tell the DIFFERENCE??

[suitably_heroic]

She did bring out the comic relief side of his personality.

a big banner that says 'happy new year'? 2026 balloons? just spitballing here

[totalwildcard]

Well I ain't seen anything like that! IT'S A SHINY PLACE

[suitably_heroic]

Jack let out a sigh. well let that be a teachable moment for next time or something, he texted. though i think youre technically allowed to have the new year bang anytime in the week of nye.

[totalwildcard]

It's not the same
Also everyones hungover and no fun

This had been her experience in her circles back in Gotham, anyway. The severity of parties and their aftermath was likely to vary.

[suitably_heroic]

try fucking a sober guy.

Well, technically she already had at least at one point, since she'd fucked him, but...

[totalwildcard]

If you asked Harley, even sober people had pseudo hangovers if they did NYE right.

But that wasn't what she felt the most pressing need to grab onto.

Heteronormativity?
From YOU??
FOR SHAME

[suitably_heroic]

Jack refrained from pointing out he'd cosplayed a sleazy straight guy for over a decade. sometimes i like to keep people on their toes, he responded instead.

[totalwildcard]

Well knock it off
I'm open to ALL genders!!
DRUNK OR SOBER

[suitably_heroic]

then go fuck one! sheesh, Jack texted. i promise you there are plenty of people out there who do not have hangovers right now.

[totalwildcard]

But they also ain't got the new years *spark*

Hopefully he could guess just how much pouting was happening right now.

Until it wasn't.

UNLESS
You think I could find someone ELSE that ALSO missed NYE??

[suitably_heroic]

definitely have to be more of those in ATLantic City, right?

He managed to catch himself before he went full italics.

or hell, baltimore.

[totalwildcard]

LOTS
I should go look RIGHT NOW

The odds of her even making it off the island again were... not great.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack, obligingly, waited ten minutes before texting back, so are you?

[totalwildcard]

It took over an hour and a half before a reply came.

bhuh?
Am I what?

Spoiler: in search of just a quick power nap, Harley had conked out on an antique sofa. Atlantic City had not involved a lot of rest.

[suitably_heroic]

gone looking for people to bang off-island.

Yeah, that was texted exactly as dryly as you thought it was.

[totalwildcard]

But im sleeoy

That was texted as whiny as it sounded.

[suitably_heroic]

well then go to sleep and stop whining about not getting laid.

Easy for you to say, Rand.

[totalwildcard]

nhhggfghgj

She was absolutely going to pass out again very soon.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack just shook his head. sleep well quinn

[totalwildcard]

There were no further messages. Because Harley was fully unconscious, and would probably remain that way until...

Who knows when.