so very dapper

[temporal_affairs]

The Joker is awfully domestic, in his way. He makes pretty clothes. Nathan's perfectly happy to be a clothes horse for his sartorially-inclined mate. Some of the clothes are distinctly feminine, and Nathan does not wear those, although the Joker could probably talk him into a kilt, even if that's not a Manx thing but only their neighbors.

Comments

[temporal_affairs]

"I wanna have weekly check-ins with Combo Platter here," says Addy. "See how he's developing, make suggestions. This is a critical period, with him so little."

Nathan looks at the Joker.

[manofmyword]

The Joker shrugs. "Your call, munchkin."

[temporal_affairs]

Addy explains directly to Kerron. "I wanna have weekly taste-tests and see if I can get you clearer pictures of the flying color-shapes," she tells him.

"Okay," says Kerron affably.

[manofmyword]

"Fine by me, then." He smiles at Addy.

[temporal_affairs]

"Splendid. Kerron, can you watch those color-shapes real close all week and then later you can tell me what you find?" she asks with a winning smile.

"Okay," says Kerron.

"Lovely." She hands him over to the Joker.

[manofmyword]

He hugs his munchkin.

[temporal_affairs]

A week later, Kerron is handed off to Addy for "magic lessons" and Nathan announces that they'll pick him up in an hour, that being the best time to do so. They go back to their room. To... test the soundproofing.

But this is not their room, this is Milliways.

"Huh," Nathan says. "...We could spend days in there and Kerron wouldn't even miss us."

[manofmyword]

"Let's do it," he says brightly. "I'll show you my old room. Did I tell you I had a room? It's cozy. I got shot there once, it was fun."

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan never quite likes hearing about other people having injured his mate - for roughly the same reason he's not thrilled when reminded that other people have had sex with his mate - but the fundamental idea is sound. In they go!

Right behind them, there is a person in a terrifying, expensive bat costume of negligible festiveness, stumbling in and clutching a gut wound!

[manofmyword]

The Joker makes a sympathetic noise and spends a pentagon.

No more gut wound.

[temporal_affairs]

The Bat is extremely surprised.

And, less distracted by pain.

"You. You're supposed to be on an asteroid."

Nathan is not so much looking daggers at her as he is looking glowing razor-sharp magical poisoned swords at her.

[manofmyword]

"I left," he says succinctly, and teleports himself and Nathan up to his room.

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan hugs his mate very, very tight.

[manofmyword]

"Love you, baby," he says, hugging back. Speech and hugs are both difficult under the amount of pressure Nathan is putting on him, but the Joker has practice. "Don't eat her, okay? I'd be sad."

[temporal_affairs]

"I hate her, I hate her, I hate her," growls Nathan.

[manofmyword]

"Oh, honey," he says, hugging Nathan tighter. "I love you. I'm sorry you hate her."

[temporal_affairs]

"I love you," sighs Nathan.

[manofmyword]

"Love you too."

Snuggle?

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan relaxes the squishing marginally.

Snuggle.

[manofmyword]

"Mmmm," says the Joker, and he pulls Nathan into bed.

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan is on board with this trajectory. Yes.

[self_composed]

Meanwhile, downstairs, who should walk in but a certain Stellar Bell?

[pythbox]

The Bat is still near the door, scowling under her mask, with blood soaking her damaged armour but no wound to show for it.

When she sees Stella walk in, she intercepts.

"We need to talk."

[self_composed]

"I believe I owe you three wishes, if that's what you have in mind," Stella says, tilting her head.

[pythbox]

The Bat growls under her breath.

"About the Joker," she clarifies.