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

[luminous_regnant]

A few days later, there is a knock on their door.

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan's been too preoccupied to be checking his timer for things like "correct times to get dressed", so he calls, "Just a second!"

[yourheartstrings]

The Joker snaps her fingers, and they are both abruptly dressed—her in a proportions-adjusted version of the white dress that started all this, him in that blood-red shirt he looks so beautiful in and a pair of black pants she made him later.

[temporal_affairs]

"Thanks, babe," says Nathan, and he gets the door.

[luminous_regnant]

It's Bella. "Hello ag-" She stops mid-word, peering at the Joker.

[yourheartstrings]

"Hi!" she says cheerfully. "I'm pregnant."

[luminous_regnant]

"I can see that."

[temporal_affairs]

"She turned herself into a woman, we didn't think through the consequences of that, a few hours later she wanted French toast and I guessed, at this point we are pretty sure, she hasn't decided yet about having it but leaning towards yes," Nathan summarizes.

[yourheartstrings]

"What do ya think we should name the kid?"

[luminous_regnant]

"I went with a variant on a name that appears on both sides of Elspeth's family," Bella shrugs. "Edward's mother was called Elizabeth and Isabella's a variant on the same. I don't know what that would leave you with, if Nathan even remembers any family members' names."

[temporal_affairs]

"I remember my wife's name," he says. "It was Calybrid. I don't remember much else about her, though, and no other names."

[yourheartstrings]

"No part of my family is gonna touch this kid," says the Joker.

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan nods. But says, "There are some nice Manx names, if not Calybrid in particular."

[luminous_regnant]

"Well," says Bella, "insofar as congratulations are appropriate, you have mine - I assume you're keeping it quiet till you're sure if you'll be giving birth or not? Will you want any help with the delivery?"

[yourheartstrings]

"Mm, will we need it?" she asks.

[luminous_regnant]

"It's not impossible. Even with magic, you could find yourselves distracted."

[yourheartstrings]

"Then sure."

[luminous_regnant]

"The capital sites are all equipped for it, a lot of the people who come in for turning are pregnant, but we can just skip that with you. Give me a day's notice, please."

[yourheartstrings]

"Sure, okay."

[luminous_regnant]

"Have we new coins this week?"

[yourheartstrings]

"We do!" she says cheerfully, and transfers most of them. Unlike previous times, though, she keeps a few of each kind for herself.

[luminous_regnant]

Bella observes that but doesn't remark on it. "Thanks," she says. "I'll see you in a couple weeks more."

[yourheartstrings]

"See ya," she says agreeably.

[temporal_affairs]

"Bye, Bella."

[luminous_regnant]

Bella closes the door and teleports away.