9017/When the past catches up with you

When the past catches up with you
Date of Scene:	09 December 2021
Location:	Evergreen Arbor, Outdoor Market in Westchester
Synopsis:	Harley gets a free Christmas tree for April's household while Jimmy talks about his job as teacher of defense against the dark arts.
Cast of Characters:	Jimmy Hudson, Harley Quinn

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Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    It's the first snow, the first solid snow since Old Man Winter had made his appearance in New York and now the locals were getting used to the changes he brought with him. Cars rolled slower through the slush, people were more huddled up in heavy clothes, but with Christmas around the corner the atmosphere at the least was warm and friendly. The sidewalks were cleared, though at each corner there were small piles of snow where the excess was shoveled, and now the out door displays along the street market had impromptu shelters over their goods.
    Yet one place seemed to more fully embrace the weather, further along into the town and on the same street people are strolling up and down is Evergreen Arbor, normally for floral arrangements and selling of garden supplies and live plants, this last week and some they've had to make room in part of their parking lot for all the Christmas trees.
    So many trees set aside and on display. There were rows and rows of small three foot living trees, six foot fresh trees, and stacked against the wall nearest the door inside? Wreaths upon wreaths.
    It was here that James Hudson found himself, handing over three twenties to the man selling the fresh tree that's tied to he top of the SUV parked nearby. Sure the school already had a few trees, but there had been some noise that a few of the students would like to have one on their floor... if only for parity.
    "Keep the change, fella." James gives a nod as he turns back toward his parked vehicle.
    "Thanks, man."

Harley Quinn has posed:
Winter time! That means an update to the clownette's wardrobe. Earmuffs, gloves, actual pants instead of fishnet stockings and a nice warm long coat. Such style! But then again she always dresses well no matter what she has on. Baby blue eyes are trailing here and there as she goes through the rows of shops down the street, a small handbag on her hand already. Which means she has bought up stuff by now!

Because Gertie needs her things. With Gertie being the turkey Harley brought home, much to April's chagrin, on Thanksgiving Day. A live one, that is. Which is surprisingly still alive a few days of hanging around her hyenas. Maybe there was a future to Gertie in April and Harley's household!

"OOoooh, what a nice little blankie for kids. That will fit Gertie perfectly!" she has her face plastered to the cold window of a shop, looking inside with a grin before noting some familiar voice and face...

"Hey Honky Tonk!" she says in greeting to Jimmy.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    It had almost been a year ago. A year ago to the day that Jimmy had made the Clown Princess' acquaintance. A year ago since he heard that high-pitched accented voice when she assailed him for free booze at Harry's. And, to be fair, she got the free booze. Since Jimmy is such a nice guy. But it's definitely a voice one doesn't forget easily as the tall man turns slowly toward her.
    His brow furrows, those stern handsome features at first a little sharp. Maybe a little severe. But then they ease as the corner of his lip twitches half a second before the smile becomes more evident.
    "Harleen, was it?" All the emphasis placed on her name in that sentence, even as he pauses with a hand on the roof of his car, that Christmas tree hanging over the side slightly to let pine needles come close to poking him in the face.
    "Are you some sorta spirit of the holidays you only come out a few weeks a year to hassle folk?" Any insult in those words are softened by that half-smile, though.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"More like Hahrl-eeeeyyy." Same emphasis on the name Harley has chosen for herself. Or was it the public in general who chose it for her? Who knows! But now it has stuck and no more Harleen Quinzel. "But close enough." a brow is quirked up at Jimmy and she makes her way over, the bag around a shoulder and her hands rubbing together for warmth. "Moouh like the ghost of Christmas past! Heah ta know about all the misdeeds of the last year." she tells the man, "I hope you have been a good boy. Behavin' and all that."

"That is if you want ta get a Christmas present." A look over behind Jimmy towards the tree and the truck. "Mmm, I should get one of those for us to put up on the roof of the apartment..." fingertips rubbing at her chin in thought.

"Do you do deliveries in Brooklyn?" Damn it, is Harley now thinking Jimmy is working as a tree-deliver guy for this tree shop here? After thinking he was working on that honky tonk bar near a year ago?

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    She rolls on up and his smile remains, "Harrrrl-eeey." He shifts the emphasis a touch, but does not quibble about the name. Instead he watches as she strolls closer, rubbing those hands together. Perhaps for warmth. Perhaps for malevolent plottings. His smile remains, however, even as she accosts him about his behaviour of the last year.
    "Not a whit," He answers her, smiling still, "It's gonna be coal in my stocking this year almost entirely. But hey, still a fun year." He shifts a little to the side and she'll probably get a better eyeball of the man. He's wearing a black wool trench coat that seems tailored to his form. It looks almost too good for casual wear but those blue jeans he wears as well brings the ensemble back toward the easy-going aspect of the man. A grey beanie hat covers his head and gives a good bit of warmth while a burgundy scarf is over his neck and with the tails tucked into part of his jacket.
    Catching Harley's confusion a little earlier this time, James smirks and shakes his head, "Nah, this is fer some of the kids at the school where I /work/." Just a little extra emphasis there, correcting her for that tiny tiny error.
    "And you? Heading over to Harry's? He's got some sorta peppermint schnapps concoction he's been crowin' about."

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley wrinkles her nose briefly at that butchering of her name and shakes her head, "Now you are making it sound as if it's a pirate name." beat, "It's not Harrrrl-eeeey." she admonishes, a finger up. "It's Hahrl-eeeey." which really. Almost sounds the same. Maybe she's just as uppity like Hermione with her wingardium leviosa thing.

As Jimmy states he doesn't work here it makes Harley exhale out, "Well, damn it. Here I was thinkin' I'd surprise April with a christmas tree. And no, not really goin' drinkin', I was doing some christmas buyings. You know, foh my turkey, and the hyenas. And April." by that order of priority apparently!

"But what do you mean about pepperming schnapps?" She sounds curious about that one, a brow quirking in question. The clownette is easy to stray from her chosen path!

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    Making sure the tree is secure on the roof of his car, Jimmy steps towards Harley and past, making for the parking meter and feeds it with a few coins, plinking them in and twisting the knob until he's got another few hours set. Then he looks back to her and says in that accent, "Harl."
    As if that was the best middle of the road option.
    But then he gestures with a lift of one shoulder. "He's got a whole mess of holiday drinks. Some sort of mulled cider mix with a stick of cinnamon and somethin' else I can't rightly recall." He stuffs his hands back into the pockets of his trench and lifts his chin, "There's a gingerbread hot chocolate thing, and the peppermint schnapps. He even puts it all on lil snowman napkins." Because that's class.
    A glance to the side, then back to her. "But if you're deadset on shoppin' for a tree, that'll take some doin'. You got a car?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Harl's good." The clownette replies in acceptance of the middle ground. Or does she? "I mean, it's not like a name is hard!" says the one that speaks with that heavy brooklyn accent all the time.

Yet she *does* leave all that about names and pronunciation and focuses on what's important. Harry's new drinks! "Well, I hate peppermint schnapps." she says back to Jimmeh, "Or anythin' with mint really." she turns her nose at it some, "BUT..." and she now raises a finger, "Could do with some cidah. And aftah you'd bring my tree on that truck o' yours back to Brooklyn! I'd even pay you for the gas." she suggests.

Harley Quinn. Businesswoman.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "You hate it?" He replies as she states how she feels about one of Harry's drinks, "That's too bad, I mean I don't wanna drink schnapps every week or so, but once a year mebbe." That said he looks momentarily thoughtful then nodded, "Though cider is definitely better." Especially for the holidays.
    But then she starts trying to game him and the tall man heaves a small laugh even as he jangles his keys in his pocket for a moment. Then he eyeballs the tree on the roof of that SUV and shakes his head. "You know they probably have Christmas trees in Brooklyn, ya know." But perhaps Harley wants /this/ Christmas tree.
    "But alright, I'm a sucker for a pretty face. We can take this tree back, I can grab another, then Harry's?"
    He looks back over at the Clown Princess then points at her, his handsome half-smirk settled there on his lips, "Yer buyin' the drinks though. And the gas. Deal?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"With a vengeance.." Harley assures ominously about peppermint schnapps. There might be a story there. But she doesn't get into it because it seems Jimmeh has accepted it! "Well, I wasn't going to say *that* tree, but since you insist." he hasn't insisted, but that's just details.

"Off to Harry's then! Now. You can tell me all about what you been up to? A teacher then? It's good, goin' up on life aftah that stint on that Honky Tonk bar?" a smile up at Jimmy.

But then a fingertip comes to her lips and she taps on it in thought. "Though now I need to figure out *What* you teach.." she takes a good look at him, "Maths teacher?" she wrinkles her nose, "Nah, missing the glasses.."

"Ooo, I know! Defense against the dark arts?" She smirks.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "Uh huh," Is his answer as Harley oh so casually makes that tree claim, yet for Jimmy's part he seems somewhat at ease about it, considering all it costs him is some time, and weirdly enough Harls... she doesn't exactly smell like she's running a scam, more like she's just legitimately this way. Goofiness and all.
    Back to the SUV he strolls, pulling out those keys and hitting one of the buttons to make its alarm squawk to life. Then he's strolling back with his boots scuffing in the snowy gravel, hands slipping into the pockets of that well-tailored trench.
    "Nope. And nope." He starts that leisurely stroll in Harrys' direction, smirking back at her sidelong as he knows she's giving him guff. "You wanna really know, or you wanna take a few more runs at it?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Man, you sorta look like a Snape. I mean, you don't have the bad hair though. Nor the accent. Perhaps not the acting chops either." Woah, so judgey. Harley rubs at her chin as if considering a few moments longer, "But no, I will get theah..." a beat, "Physical Ed? That's a good bet. You are sorta well built so that's a good one!" she grins triumphantly.

"Am I right? I am suwah I am right..." she says, full of herself. Arriving at Harry's she opens the door and wanders in.

"Just as I remember it." she takes in a deep breath. "Smells good too!"

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    Behind her, Jimmy catches the door and holds it open as she precedes him on in, and there's something so damn nice about that lovely wave of warmth that hits you in Winter when you wander into a public house. Then there's the tang of the cider on the air and it feels like home. Even if home never was like this.
    "Yer part right, Phys Ed is one thing I teach." He answers as he pauses there at the door starting to take his coat off as he stands beside that large rack and the hooks on the wall. Off comes the trench coat and... she wasn't kidding when she mentioned he was well built, something about those arms might put one in mind of a man who lifts heavy hammers for a living or swings an axe into a tree for his livelihood. Especially considering how that black t-shirt hugs the contours of his broad shoulders and chest.
    "My degree though, is in Literature." As he says that he turns away fully and hangs up his coat, then offers to hang up hers too when she gets free of it if she likes.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Oooh, literature eh?" A nod of approval from Harley while she swings out of her coat to hang it on the wall, "Let me guess, they push you into doin' phys Ed too because of the build? Or what's the deal?"

The clownette scampers over to the counter, "Heya, Harry!" She greets the bartender then points with a thumb behind her to Jimmy. "Heah's your old tendah.., and he tells me you got a good mulled cidah? Well, get me a mug!" she settles on a stool while Harry looks a touch confused, looking at Jimmy, then back to Harley. Though with a shrug he goes to start preparing her drink while waiting for what Jimmy wants.

"Why literature?" She then asks.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    Rolling on up in Harley's wake, Jimmy gives a nod to Harry, "Make that two, Harry. And she's payin'." Which is said as he looks at her with an oh so intimidating look as if to tell her she best not welch on their deal, though something in his eyes might seem to steal it of its oh so grim sincerity.
    Once the tender smirks back at them he gives a nod, "Two ciders, comin' up. Cinnamon sticks?" He waits long enough to get a yes from James and a whichever from Harls before he steps away and starts putting their order together. Which leaves Jimmy enough time to answer her.
    "Mainly," About Phys Ed. "I think it's because not too many other people wanted to do it?" He crawls on up onto a stool next to Harley, then reaches a rough hand over to grab the peanuts and pull them close. He pops a small handful into his mouth and starts crunching away.
    "Literature, because ages ago when I was a kid I fancied I'd wanna be a writer. I'd go off in my teens, out into the wilderness by myself, and I'd sit down... and write."
    A pause as he looks a little past Harley's shoulder, then adds. "Not so much these days."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"No cinnamon foh me. I will take it raw.." Elbow on the counter, eyebrow waggling at Harry. Harley is living dangerously drinking it without the cinnamon! Or something... She reaches to take a few peanuts to start getting through them as well, chewing away at 'em.

"I wanted ta be a strippah. And an astronaut. I dreamt of installin' a pole in the middle of the spaceship foh it too." she making a point of explaining it too. "Though I have at *least* fulfilled one of those dreams!" beamy smile, even if what she says next may not be the expected answer, "Becoming an astronaut. I have been on some alien dimension! One of my best friends took me theah once, real fun." the casual way in which she says that it's almost as if ..., she's telling the truth? She may have been hallucinating too. Who knows!

"But so, you wanted ta be a writer..." That makes her consider, "Why not anymoouh? Other interests or....?" she arches a brow.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    Jimmy, he does a good job of following along with Harley's words, though his expression shifts as she tells him. At points there's a hint of suspicion, others... there's some incredulity. At the end though when she's mentioning being in another dimension his nostrils flare slightly and...
    This girl believes what she's selling. Still it does make him laugh and shake his head, "That's a story." He offers, giving her a side-eyed glance as he takes up his cider and has a sip once the drinks come on by.
    "You're gonna have to elaborate on that." He offers, since he does want to hear about the alternate dimension.
    But then he seems to accept that that topic is shelved as she pushes on about his own interests. To which he answers, "I don't know." He says at first. "It got away from me. Time slipped from one moment to the next. Somethin' always seemed to come up. Never got a chance to get away. Maybe I should sometime."
    A beat, then he says, "Maybe sometime over the holidays."
    That said he then lifts up his glass and offers to clink it against hers, "Here's to Christmas and cider and trees and astronauts and friends."
    /Clink./