1844/Harley Sessions: Ella Normandy

Harley Sessions: Ella Normandy
Date of Scene:	25 May 2020
Location:	April O'Neils Apartment
Synopsis:	Ella comes for therapy and doesn't get exactly what she was expecting from Harley.
Cast of Characters:	Harley Quinn, Ella Normandy

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Harley Quinn has posed:
Whenever Harley gets a message that someone wants therapy sessions, it's a days worth of work to get the apartment ready. Have to rearrange furniture for something calming, add a warm glow to the room by blocking some of the light with a sheet over lamps, and lay out some finger foods. Always a little different, this time it's homemade cucumber sandwiches, unaware that the visitor is Undead.

Should have known when they asked to come at night right?

Whatever, April is almost always at her Truthseeker podcast studio anyways, so Harley has free run of the apartment. With Bud and Lou with Ape where they can lounge in the backyard, she pads around in entirely too short shorts, a shirt that barely covers her chest, and pigtails high up on eitherside of her head.

A big ass mallet leans up against one wall with a genuine handcanon in a shoulder holster. Decorative, with a jester carved into the handle that matches the one tattooed on her thigh. Harley is a work of art in homemade tattooes. Humming to herself while she waits for Ella, watching Air Bud for the two hundredth time.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Twenty years isn't very long to mope when you're an immortal undead creature, but it's not only getting worse, it's getting tedious. No one likes a girl who's bored with life because she's bored with herself; even looking and dressing like Vampirella only gets you so many invitations to hang out when you're despondent. So, it's time for a change, and that means making a plan, and THAT means speaking with someone who knows how to make proper plans. Vampirella is fiercely intelligent, but her life's training has not instilled in her the kinds of skills that create things rather than kill things.

    Therefore, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which is a joke Vampirella is old enough to make so don't judge her okay?

    She strolls in dressed in the same clothes she wore last week in New York, her boots under black leather pants with a scarlet, button-down blouse whose sleeves are rolled up to the elbow to make sure people notice the fingerless lace gloves she's rather proud of. Gold glitters on her fingers and earlobes, and her makeup looks like she's ready for a date, crimson of lips and nails, though she's not actually wearing makeup.

    Vampirella spares the apartment a glance, then offers Dr. Quinn her hand to shake. "Dr. Quinn? Ella Normandy," she greets in her thick, almost Sesame Street accent, green eyes flicking up and down Harley, possibly checking her out but there's a hint of stern calculation in her face that might suggest she's reading the human for threats, evaluating her.

    "I like your tattoo."

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley is good at plannin'? That's a new one.

Well, she does do a lot of plans, but most of the time someone else takes credit for them. Not often is she praised for her long term decision making skills and not her short term killing people in cold blood skills! This is going to be a new experience indeed!

The arrival pops up on the television, window within a window, security system because this isn't the best part of town and Harley has a lot of enemies. Up and att'em to the door, "Hai! I'm Ha'lee Quinn! Come in, come in!" Waving invitation to the warm glow of the rather sparce apartment, but there's some interesting plants on the shelves and table, one of which, one might swear, is looking at them... or mumbling.. or maybe just checking Ella out when her back is turned.

Frank is definitely doing that.

"Oh, thanks..." Beaming a smile at Ella, "I done them mahself... uhhh, I didn't know if ya like't cucumber sammiches, but I like ta have fingah foods.. so help yaself, an' theahs some lemonade oah whatevah.. Have a seat, get comfohtable."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella spares Frank not a glance. Plants have never interested her. She plops down in the middle of the sofa, arms spread wide along its back, leather pants creaking slightly as she crosses her legs. The posture is so carefree, cavalier, and dominant there's basically no way it isn't a front, though there's something sincere about the confidence of the eye contact she holds. "No thank you, Doctor. I don't eat. We may have to circle back to that, but for now, please tell me how we begin. I've never done this before."

Harley Quinn has posed:
With Ella taking the couch, Harley steps up into one of the armchairs and drops down onto her legs folded beneath her, hands down in her lap, and attention fixed upon the carfree patient come calling for her services. Scrutinizing, honestly, but not in a judgemental way. Just sizing up the prey in her apartment/office. "Howevah ya want. It's fifty bucks regahdless. Ya can jus' talk to me bout things if ya wanna, oah ya can watch television, I don't cahe, ya payin' foah my time." Motioning to the remote, "We got all the pay channels, includin' the dirty ones. So feel free." That being said, "Still, I don't suppose ya hunt't down an unlicensed therapist foah the purposes of watchin' Disney plus, sos why dont ya pick somethin' ta tell me bout?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella's smile conceals a calculating mind. Is all this banter legitimate, or an attempt to build a bond of some kind? It's hard for her to tell. Harley's smell is off; like she's both--

    Never mind. She's not here to analyze anyone. She's here to be analyzed.

    "Alright," she agrees as she lounges back, her body language unconcerned and inviting. "I need help connecting with humanity. It's been a long time since I was close with anyone. Even my job requires me to keep a professional distance from students. I have short relationships based on mutual advantage and the occasional sexual fling, but I have forgotten how to make friends. I need help."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"An' ya figgah't tha I'd be able to give ya professional friend makin' advice?" Harley wonders with a furrowed brow and a glance around the apartment, "Do ya know what it is I do heah, toots?" Motioning with a turn of her wirst, pointing in a half circle. "I'm moah oah less a squatah heah, who jus' move't inta a persons apahtment witout them givin' permissions foah it. I'm about as good at makin' friends as a cougar is at bein' a duck."

That said... she sighs quietly and rubs the back of her neck, "Alright, well.. What paht of bein human is ya havin' troubles wit? Just interactin' wit peoples oah.. payin' ya taxes? Ya gonna have to be moah specific, give me examples.. cus lahgely bein' isolate't sept foah the occational sexual trist is moah oah less jus' bein' a Millennial. Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, and tinder.. that's the millennial stahtah pack."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella lets the 'toots' pass and shakes her head. "I don't use those things. Maybe that's part of the problem. I don't care about technology, it's all just silly toys to me. Tricks people play on themselves to not pay attention to the world around them while pretending they're still connected because they can see so many people who've carefully staged their profiles to be the best, least real versions of themselves." She can't really shrug with her arms still spread wide across the back of the couch, but she twitches in the general direction of a shrug. "Maybe my values don't align with other people's."

Harley Quinn has posed:
'Imma go out on a limb an' say tha's a definite.. since tha values of this generation clearly aliegn wit a dedicated social media presence..." Harley points out, settling her hands back down in her lap. "I think paht' ya prollem is ya don't really wanna change, ya want tha wohld to change aroun' ya an', I'm sorry ta say, it wont. Ya aint that impohtant. Nobody is." Whether it sounds harsh, it certainly wasn't meant to be, just matter of fact.

"So if ya really wanna be paht of tha world, ya bettah figah out how much ya willin' ta bend wit it, then get comfohtable bein' only that amount accept't by peoples. Cus people don't wanna try an' be someones frien', tha's just the truth of things. They wanna meet people they got shit in common wit, then let the friendship grow outta it." A sardonic little frown curls across ruby red lips on an entirely too pale face.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella cocks an eyebrow, smiling a little. She could say a lot about the idea of wanting to change the world, but she can return to those thoughts later, if she must. For now, there's far too much to mine in that sardonic frown. "Oh? Please, explain."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Explain wha? Ya strike me as tha kinna lady who figgahs she's moah impohtant than tha room ya in... sat down in tha middle uh tha couch, spread ya ahms out across the back cushio.." Harley points out, both verbally and physically pointing out where Ella's arms are. "Said ya want't people ta be ya frien', but immediately talk't about how flawed everyone else is.. I aint judgin' ya, though.." Those same hands go up, "If tha's who ya wanna be, ya be the best 'that person' ya can be, but if ya goal is ta grow as a human, an' undahstand'em, ya gonna have ta do a lil changin' yaself, cus bein' human /definitely/ aint bein' stagnant.. I mean it is, but generally they'ah pretty fuckin' lonely."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella shakes her head. "Not that. I want to know more about the people who want to meet others, then let friendship grow."

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley opens her mouth, then closes it, "And ya wanna stay exactly tha same while doin it? I'm givin' ya gold heah, I aint a book on people, lady.. If ya wanna jus' chat about some friends I got, that's fine too, but this is..." Motioning back and forth, one hand forward, the other back, alternating. "Is a give an' take. Not a me talkin' an you learnin' situation."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella regards Harley a moment, then says patiently, "Yes. I am attempting to learn more about a thing you said so I may comment on it, thus participating in a give and take. Are you trying to tell me there's some conversational buy-in you need me to engage in before you're willing to explain what you said?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"I jus' don't know wha' ya askin' about is all." Harley points out with a shrug, "Who ah ya tryin' to learn about? Ya bein' vague an mysterious, an' tha aint condusive to communication."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella is flummoxed for a moment. "I don't understand how to be more clear. You said the words, 'People want to meet people they got shit in common with, then let the friendship grow outta it.' I am asking you to please elaborate on those words so I can understand the thing you think that was meant to tell me."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"... They was difficult wohds?" Harley wonders, but dismisses it with a wave of her hand, "Okay. I can elaborate. If ya got two people who both like ta play rollah derby an' ya put them in a room togethah... they talk about rollah derby. That convahsation spurs up othah convahsations, about whatevah, I unno, othah shit.. then they ring each othah up to go watch rollah derby sometime. Ping, bow, bobs ya uncle, friendship."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella nods. "But you frowned when you said it, as if you had an opinion about the idea."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Tha was a general expression of bein' unsuhe if tha' was somethin' ya want outta life." Harley points out, "Tha smile I mean, we can go aroun' in circulah logic all day long. Ya fix'n on tha wrong pahts of things. I'll ask it simple, do ya want frien's?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella leans back into the couch again, nodding. "I see. I can't read you, doctor. Your s--" She almost says 'scent,' but rolls past it. "--ignals are confusing to me, so I'm trying to understand you. I feel a little like I'm having to learn a new language to talk to you." She regards Harley thoughtfully. "But your conclusions are wrong. Everyone is flawed, but that's not a cause for judgment, that's a fact. I'm flawed, or I wouldn't be here."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Tha's what I been sayin'!" Harley stresses, she's yet to raise her voice. It's a hard day that gets the Clown Princess of stoicism and psychosis to get flustered, "We'ah all flaw't, but some of us is flaw't in ways tha' make us hahdah to be friends wit. So ya gotta soht out which of ya flaws ya can leave witout an' change'em... unless ya fine wit who ya ah..." She adds at the end, shrugging indifferent. "Don't mattah to me if ya become happy wit ya existance. I aint gonna cure ya in a single day, anyhow.. an' cure is a perspective kinna thing." Wiggling her hand.

Beaming a smile at the complement. "Thanks!" For calling her difficult, maybe? Who knows.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella nods. "What I am can't be changed." She doesn't notice that's not quite the W-word Harley chose. "But my problems can be identified, and I can learn new ways to avoid making the mistakes I had been. I believe you call that change," she notes wryly.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"That is literally change." Harley says with a nod, "Like almost a definition of tha wohd. Analyse thing ya don't like, oah doesn't wohk.. stop doin' that... staht doin' othah thing that ya do like, oah does wohk..." Chop pointing at each individual point as if they're sitting right there in front of them. "Voila... change. So ya do tha', ya learn ta love again, an' ya make frien's. I'd strongly suggest not gettin' inta a circulah logic argument wit them in tha hopes of soundin' mysterious, but tha's just a personal pet peeve of mine, specifically."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella takes a moment to breathe. She sounds very calm when she asks, "What circular logic, and in what way am I mysterious?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley waves a hand, "Not mah circus, not mah monkeys." Leaning forward to grab a cucumber sandwich from the platter, "Ya sure ya don't want onna these? I had'em catah'd from a lil shop down ovah Mahket square.. best lil sandwich shop in all of tha borough..." Munching, then sucking mayo from her thumb. "So, is ya goin' to a pahty aftah this oah what?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella closes her eyes, breathes deeply, doesn't bite Harley, and lets it go. "No. I was attempting to dress in a way I hoped would not attract male attention I don't want to deal with right now. To use my wardrobe to send a signal."

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley considers Ella's wardrobe, not really checking her out so much as checking out what she's wearing, "Interestin' decision.. I do tha' sometimes too, I'll jus' throw on whatevah's layin on tha floah. Usually some sweat pants an' a t-shirt." Leaning forward for another little sandwich, holding it out for Ella, "Try one at least?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella shakes her head. "I told you, I don't eat. I kind of want to tell you why," she says, that sentence beginning flat and factual but becoming softer with surprise as she realizes it's true, "but I'd need your word no one else ever learns of it, because if they did, I'd have to kill you." The last is flat and factual again. "I wouldn't do it to punish you, but to make sure everyone who saw your example knows that people who betray me die, so they'll be too afraid to attack me. Does that make you understand how important it is to me? That it's a matter of my survival?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"I feel like ya blowin' yah eatin' disordah a lil out of proporition heah, but if ya don't want people knowin' ya anorexic, tha's whatevah.. I'm bulimic.." Eating the sandwich she'd been holding out for Ella, sucking mayo from her index finger and thumb. "Honestly, if ya was gonna be seekin' therapy foah /anythin'/ maybe not eatin would be the best thing? I unno, I lost my license cus I turn't into a serial killah, so..." big shrug.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella shakes her head, sighs, and stands up. "Never mind. Thank you for your time, Dr. Quinn. You have my address for billing." She runs a hand over her scalp and through her hair as if to pet the stress away, and makes her way to the door."