unreliable doorstop

[temporal_affairs]

Here they are, having a cute post-death reunion!

Comments

[temporal_affairs]

[What don't you love me for?] Timer asks rhetorically. [Is there any such thing?]

[manofmyword]

He thinks about it.

He concludes: [Nah, not really.]

[temporal_affairs]

[Didn't think so. Love-slut. And regular-slut,] he accuses affectionately.

[manofmyword]

[I am all kindsa slut,] he says happily.

[temporal_affairs]

[Are there,] Timer asks innocently, [many kinds?]

[manofmyword]

[Yep!]

[temporal_affairs]

[I bet you can't list them all while Chainsaw's getting increasingly offended by your "daydreaming",] teases Timer.

[manofmyword]

[That eager to hear me call myself a slut? 'Cause hey, if that's what you're into...]

[temporal_affairs]

[Just following the conversational thread, babe.]

[manofmyword]

He laughs.

[Love you, sweetie.]

[temporal_affairs]

[Love you too.]

[manofmyword]

[Mmmmm.]

And that's it from him, for another little while.

[temporal_affairs]

Timer goes to the restaurant for drinks with Fractal, gets slightly tipsy, timers his way home, and picks up a book.

[manofmyword]

No more word from the Joker.

[temporal_affairs]

That's curious. It's been some time now.

[Babe?]

[manofmyword]

Nothing.

In fact, nothing. Like he's not on the network at all.

[temporal_affairs]

...He would probably have said goodbye.

Is this a good time to use one of these coins to go find him?

[manofmyword]

Not especially.

On a scale of minutes, it's in about ten. On a scale of days, it's in about five. On a scale of years, it's next month. On a scale of centuries, it's... still next month.

[temporal_affairs]

Checking multiple scales is good for finding focal points like that.

But a good time to call Eights is in about thirty minutes.

Timer sits tight.

He lets half an hour go by.

And he phones her.

[lookingforwardtoit]

She answers with a cautious, "Hi?"

[temporal_affairs]

"Hi, Eights, what's up? This was a good time to call you, and, perhaps relatedly, do you know where the Joker went?"

[lookingforwardtoit]

"...Technically no," she says. "But I do know Chainsaw set him on fire and I haven't seen him since. Uh. Sorry. He seemed really happy about it, if that's any consolation."

[temporal_affairs]

"I bet he was. He's not telepathy-able right now, though, and I'm confused - he either went home without stopping in to say goodbye, or Chainsaw managed to kill him after all."

[lookingforwardtoit]

"Pretty sure it's the second one."

[temporal_affairs]

"Well, damn. Now either Bella's going to split him too, or a vampire with a missing mate is going to be looking after my kid."