Who comes knocking at my chamber door?(Open)

[The Riddler]

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In the heart of a seemingly deserted warehouse overlooking Gotham city Very little light fills the warehouse, it originates from a very small, buzzing bulb that flickers ever few seconds as it dangles helplessly from the ceiling as if it had no purpose. The room seems to be empty, expect for a large computer that and several screens above the computer and wooden boxes, and uncovered brick walls that make up the structure, stained and dirty, they seem as corrupt as he who owns it. Tools that the riddler’s uses to create his instruments of destruction , axes, hammers, chizles, very sinister, rusty elements coat them like an infectious disease, eating away at the metallic skin of each one, beside these tools the riddler stand slightly hunched over, , his arms behind his back gazing out of a large window overlooking downtown gothem deep in thought.

Bored. Bored. Bored.

As was often the case in recent weeks The Riddler was overcome with a overpowering sense of dullness. At first the riddler was overjoyed with the prospect of merging universes and the fun it could bring…on the contrary it's proven to be very irritating as the so called heroes were too pre occupied with this anarchy that followed with having two worlds merged together. The Riddler sighed, this was none more evident this very morning when he and a few goons saw fit to rob the Gotham city national bank. A feat once apon a time Nygma would consider impressive but alas it proved to be merely Child’s play. All it took was a few idle threats to a clerk and Nygma escaped with a sizable amount of money.

Dull. So very dull.

It was all too easy in the end. True Gordon, has sent a few of his trained primates looking for the puzzle king but naturally he’s intellect was far too advanced for the average ignorant officer of the law to comprehended and though he may have pulled off quite a successful heist, but where was the challenge? Where was the game? Where was the-

Suddenly the Riddler’s thoughts were interrupted by the computer and the screens whirling into life displaying the same red blip on a radar screen.

“Intruder Alert!, Intruder alert!”

What?! The riddler quickly made his way towards to super computer and saw with his own eyes that someone had indeed triggered the alarm and was rapidly approaching Nygma’s location!

How was this possible?! Who would have not only the intellect but the very gall, to approach the lair of the Quizmaster! Without wasting anytime The riddler pressed a number of key’s on the key bored putting the entire building on red alert. Activating not only several booby traps in this very room but placed a number of henchmen at alert for any sign of a intruder.

Despite the fact this was quite a unnerving situation for Nygma a part of him rejoiced! Finally a potential adversary worthy of his genius. Prepping himself The riddler grabbed his trusty cane and stood at attention at the center of the room waiting….

The games could finally begin…

[Harleen 'Harley Quinn' Quinzel]

H A R L E Y Q U I N N !

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Harley had been running around town, laughing and careless as she had been before. Through her insanity, her smarts had shown through time and time before, and it was showing now. She had had a bad feeling about the damned crystal. A very bad feeling. The Joker had been fixated on the thing, there was nothing he could do but stare at it, wonder what it could do, wonder what it could do for him. How could the insane mastermind of Gotham not see that this wasn't a good thing? She warned him, she nagged him, she reminded him day after day. That was until the world changed, forever. They now had to worry about SHIELD and those new shiny heroes. Those fucking heroes always sticking their noses in business that was not theirs.

The go-cart she had stolen turned the corner sharply, it rode on two wheels as Harley leaned herself to the left in an attempt to balance the weight. And wouldn't you know it, it managed to come back down on the road as if this little clown had a purpose to keep continuing. Who wouldn't want a mad clown to be able to continue on her merry way with the general aim of the night to take her nowhere? The clown dressed in a simple pair of red yoga pants, with a jacket similar to her trademark outfit; the clown bothered with no shirt, there was a zipper to conceal all. Harley Quinn was always dressed in some variation of her red and black, pigtails, and her little black mask.

The cold wind flushed her face, the faded white greasepaint ran in streaks though her lips were full of black. Her long blonde hair whipped in the wind, it smacked her in the face as she rode more into the packing district of Gotham. It was full of old warehouses, old butcher joints, forklifts, and boxes with a few homeless draped on the streets. She needed a new hideout anyways. A few weeks ago on the other side of town Harley was followed by one of those SHIELD things. She was blonde, curved like Harley though the clown had a much rounder bottom, and she packed a fucking wallop. Thanks to the Joker and fighting all those other little flying annoyances, Harley could take a pretty good beating. Her flesh holds the scars very well, each one of them a story that waited to be told. She jerked the steering wheel and came closer to a certain man who had taken up a nest inside one of the buildings, unknown to Harley.

She stopped the engine and reached above her head and gripped onto the bars, her left hand red leather, her right hand black leather. It was the opposite color upon her jacket's sleeve, it was how her latex outfit was decorated just as her other ones as well. It was kinda her thing. She held her body up in the air, legs flexed, toes pointed as she held herself upside down in the air before her right leg went forward and her arms pushed herself from the miniature vehicle and onto the ground. She was an excellent gymnast, you know. The lady clown pulled the hood over her head, the fuzz balls swung as she walked. Of course she did a glance around to see if anyone was watching. Harley grabbed a hold of the black bag and draped the sling across her chest. Her little bag of tricks. She walked up to the building and maneuvered herself atop the steel green dumpsters to get a look inside. The windows were boarded, duh. She furrowed her brow as she held onto the bag as she performed a little back flip off. She did love the acrobatics of the job.

Harley Quinn moved from the side of the building as she looked around cautious, she was a skillful little woman, skillful little murderer. Bright blue eyes smudged in smeared black looked around the frame before she pushed open the door, the old metal of the hinges creaked. The concrete of the floor groaned as the doors pushed open. The lights outside poured in as she stood there. Harley blinked as they adjusted quickly, her head tilted to the side as she saw who stood in the center.

"Awwwwwww, don't tell me this one's taken!" Her arms crossed against her chest.

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Outfit

[The Riddler]

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As the door slowly creaked open Riddler braced himself for any one to step through, running in his mind various suspects that’s capable of such a feat, considering A: The Method B: likelihood of them finding him. C: What they could possibly what with him…

Subsection C was the most troubling to think over. So who could it be? Bane? Joker? Perhaps Gordon? Or-
"Awwwwwww, don't tell me this one's taken!"

Well, well well. This was one of the few possibility’s he hasn't explored. (Mainly because it was too ridiculous to even consider)

Nygma was half relieved and half disappointed it wasn’t someone more fascinating, but alas here stood clad in her traditional attire Miss. Harleen Quinzel. Nygma didn't even register Quinn as any type of threat. If the Riddler was on one end of the intellectual scale than Harley Quinn was far on the other half. In all honestly the Riddler pitied Harley. So innocent, so naïve yet so willing to please her master no matter how much abuse she takes, much like a faithful lapdog…But as the Riddler looked her up and down he saw why the Joker kept her around. She’s athletic, loyal, utterly psychotic and so easy to manipulated plus despite himself he had to admit she was somewhat attractive…even though the Riddler didn’t went to delve into that particular aspect of the clowns relationship…he shuddered to think what they got up to when they were alone.

But now the more pressing question at this time was how and why she here? Perhaps to deliver some kind of message from her boss? A reasonable assumption. Yet she seemed surprise that Nygma was here. Almost as if she had no clue he was here. Was it possible she broke in here completely by accident? It was certainly a possibility…

Regardless of the reason. The Riddler considered himself in no immediate danger from the clown. This warehouse was designed for the sole purpose of protecting Nygma from the likes of the flying rodent and the rest of his motley crew. So neutralizing any threat posed by the likes of Quinn was simply Child's play. A shame really, he so longed for a challenge…

Apon observing Quinn standing in the door way, Riddler relaxed his stance and swung his cane over his shoulders.

“If you’re referring to my own personal fortress of solitude, then I’m afraid you are indeed in the affirmative…a rarity for you I would imagine, what’s the common expression? “First come, First serve” But please don’t be alarmed Miss. Quinn, being the reasonable and forgiving individual that I am…I’m willing to forgive you for your unexpected and unwanted intrusion just this once…Provided you vacant the premises and run along back to the clown of course…”

[Harleen 'Harley Quinn' Quinzel]

H A R L E Y Q U I N N !

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“If you’re referring to my own personal fortress of solitude, then I’m afraid you are indeed in the affirmative…a rarity for you I would imagine, what’s the common expression? “First come, First serve” But please don’t be alarmed Miss. Quinn, being the reasonable and forgiving individual that I am…I’m willing to forgive you for your unexpected and unwanted intrusion just this once…Provided you vacant the premises and run along back to the clown of course…” She noted as he swung his cane against his shoulders.

Here he stood, proud and arrogant. Harley's lips twitched in a sneer. It had been a while since the two had last met and the lady clown had undergone some changes. Here time spent in Arkham as well as further diving into the madness of the Joker has caused a sort of maturity to show. She is still very much the airheaded blonde but her killer instincts have gotten much more brutal, much more chaotic. She calculated important moves, she had begun to tolerate failure of her own less and less. She had to evolve to last this long, she was a creature of habit. Her arms uncrossed from her chest as she sauntered in slightly. Her hands came up to remove the hood of her sweatshirt.

"But what if I don't wanna? It's been sooo long since we've seen each other. Don't cha miss me, Riddles?"

[/color] She teased as she looked around the area.

"Besides, we should have some girl talk. There are bigger things out there than the Bat you know. And givin' how I can kick your tiny ass in a fight I wanted to know what you planned on doin' when they come kickin' down your door."[/color] She spoke with her eyes a bit wide, her thumb and head turned to the door. "Be good lackies and shut the door, hm?"[/color] She asked as she turned and looked towards the Riddler once more, her hands cupped in front of her as they fell against her thighs. Her expression was a slight mock, she herself fell victim to a SHIELD agent, Danii 'Lady Liberty' Washington not too long ago after all. She knew first hand how bad this new shark in the water was. She would get answers out of him and maybe even the warehouse, even if it meant using her womanly charm.


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Outfit

[The Riddler]

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"But what if I don't wanna? It's been sooo long since we've seen each other. Don't cha miss me, Riddles?" She teased as she looked around the area.

"Besides, we should have some girl talk. There are bigger things out there than the Bat you know. And givin' how I can kick your tiny ass in a fight I wanted to know what you planned on doin' when they come kickin' down your door." She spoke with her eyes a bit wide, her thumb and head turned to the door. "Be good lackies and shut the door, hm?

Aw, how cute the little girl thinks she can play grown-up...

First things first, the moment Harley turned his back on him The Riddler pressed a button on the base of his cane and spoke quietly into a direct line to each and every henchman

"We don't want to be rude now do we? Please honor Miss. Quinzel request and return to your posts...but stay alert. If anyone of you hear any sign of a struggle coming from this room...well, you know what to do"

With a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips he switched off the communicator and placed his cane on the ground next to him.
at any other time after hearing these threats it would only take matter of seconds and a quick activating of a number of deadly booby traps and Harley Quinn would never darken his doorstep again...However there were two factors that spared the jester this fate.

1. The very last thing Nygma wanted to do was invite the unadulterated rage of The Joker by bringing about the demise of his favorite play-thing...
2.This was the most entertaining thing that happened in quite some time

Harley actually believed she could how intimidate The most sophisticated mind in the known universe into giving information with school yard threats?!! the very idea would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

However Nygma was fully enjoying himself now at Harley antics and despite himself he was almost curious what tactic she would try next. It would be utterly fruitless of course, but enjoyable nonetheless...like watching a car crash in slow motion.

"Droll, Quinn very droll... But I think if you intend to...aha..."Kick my tiny ass" Than you'll do well to remember, this isn't some abandoned circus tent or wherever the clown hangs around these days...this is my domain, and as I'm sure you know a good general always has control of the battleground and I'm no different. Rest assure though, I'm well aware of dangers posed by this "SHIELD" To me and my endeavors and as such I've formulate quite a number of ingenious plots that I'm confident will deal with them once and for all...however I'm not in a position to discuss such matters with the likes of you, for fear that our mutual friend choices to use said information against me, but please, if you still feel the need to try and extract information out of me than by all means try...It shall be most amusing to observe"

[Harleen 'Harley Quinn' Quinzel]

H A R L E Y Q U I N N !

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"We don't want to be rude now do we? Please honor Miss. Quinzel request and return to your posts...but stay alert. If anyone of you hear any sign of a struggle coming from this room...well, you know what to do"

Harley kept her smile upon her face, a single eyebrow arched at the men within the room. They were the Riddler's own goons, lackies, body guards, heathens, whatever. What were they to do? Come in with bullets that would spray the items inside, the walls, and quite possibly Harley and Sir Riddles. In a spray of gun power Harley knew through the chances she would get hit with at least one of them due to her using the man before her as a human shield. She looked back at him with that thought in her head and let her smile shine brightly.

"Spray you in the gut with bullets while you are my shield?"

[/color] She spoke her previous thoughts aloud. It wasn't one that she thought it would come to otherwise she would have kept that bit of information within.

She liked The Riddler, in all honesty. She liked the puzzles and the color green. The Joker's eyes were green after all as well the color being present in his suits. It was the color of money, it was Poison Ivy's natural color. Green was good, she enjoyed smoking the green. Though the clown's color of choice was red she was known for dawning an outfit or two that had a splash of green in it. Granted that green was the money she had stolen from the person who managed to cross her paths. See! Colors were her thing!

"Droll, Quinn very droll... But I think if you intend to...aha..."Kick my tiny ass" Than you'll do well to remember, this isn't some abandoned circus tent or wherever the clown hangs around these days...this is my domain, Ngyma began to talk, the sophistication that he held clearly evident in his voice. She glanced to him as she walked carefully inwards, her eyes intrigued with the surroundings. Though if his voice got any more condescending she would have to fight the urge to stab him. She had been a girl raised in a part of New York that wasn't known for money, it was much like the Narrows. Her mother, god that overbearing bitch, always pushed her to things because she had been the sad sap to marry a con artist and realize her life was shit. She didn't need to hear any lip from someone who was considered a criminal, much like herself.

And as I'm sure you know a good general always has control of the battleground and I'm no different. Rest assure though, I'm well aware of dangers posed by this "SHIELD" To me and my endeavors and as such I've formulate quite a number of ingenious plots that I'm confident will deal with them once and for all...however I'm not in a position to discuss such matters with the likes of you, for fear that our mutual friend choices to use said information against me, but please, if you still feel the need to try and extract information out of me than by all means try...It shall be most amusing to observe" Her lips pursed, her eyebrows rose as if to tell him that he was full of shit. Harley picked up a trinket and tosses it up into the air as it came down to her palm, she repeated the motion.

"I ain't the bad guy here, Mr. Puzzles, we're working for the same thing. Gotham ain't as dark as it use to be and we're all still fighting each other. Joker don't know I'm here, I didn't even know you were here," She spoke as she set the object back down and flopped down on a stool. "What are you after? Money, Gotham, killin Batsy-boy and his family?"

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Outfit

[The Riddler]

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"Spray you in the gut with bullets while you are my shield?"
God bless Harley Quinn’s naivety. What other deranged individual would actually believe that the Riddler didn't consider that possibility and formulated a appropriate response?

In Nygma mind he might as well be sharing a room with a kitten, there was nothing Harley could say or do that The Riddler didn’t expect, there was no “Surprise” She could spring that would catch The Riddler off his guard. In his mind he was in total control of the situation…she just didn't know it and should she turn violent? She wouldn't even last a second.

However it didn't appear any physical harm was necessary at the moment…how long that fact would remain to be seen but for now the atmosphere in the room has cooled considerably, which for obvious suited Nygma just fine. It would be quite a nuisance to clean the blood of the clowns off his walls. Besides it wasn't as if he hated Harley, quite the contrary, he bore no ill will towards Harley…he just didn't enjoy the company that she kept. Over the last few months The Joker and The Riddler had developed an uneasy truce and Nygma couldn't deny he was an artist at his chosen occupation but personally The Ridder found the man…distasteful, and if Harley were to some how realize how The Joker truly saw her and left? She would be quite a force,

"I ain't the bad guy here, Mr. Puzzles, we're working for the same thing. Gotham ain't as dark as it use to be and we're all still fighting each other. Joker don't know I'm here, I didn't even know you were here," She spoke as she set the object back down and flopped down on a stool. "What are you after? Money, Gotham, killin Batsy-boy and his family?"

As Harley spoke Nygma raised a question inquisitively at her claims of innocent intentions. A master detective in his own right Nygma closely examined her face for any sign of sweat, rapid blinking or any other tell-tale signs of body language that indicated she was lying…Could she be telling the truth? Probable. After all he did notice the look of surprise on her face when she saw Nygma standing there. However when it came to The Joker and Harley Quinn he could never be sure…. The riddler took his time answering her question, instead choosing to swing his cane like a pendulum off his shoulders and placed it at feet before answering.

“Harleen…What “I’m after” is what I’ve always sought, simply what I am owned. Power…wealth… Gotham…But most importantly recognition as the single greatest mind in the solar system…and in regards to the bat? …Quite frankly, I’m insulted. I don’t wish to kill Batman”

as he began speaking about his mortal enemy The Riddler tone suddenly darkened

“…no… death is too good for him. I want to humiliate him. I want to expose him as the fraud that he is, I want to leave him weeping like a mere infant at my feet with his precious mask in my grasp, and than I want him to live the rest of pathetic life with the knowledge ever present in his mind that I’m BETTER than him! That the almighty savior of the human scum down below was humbled by Edward Nygma! The Riddler! The superior being…”

As if coming out of a trance looking flustered at a most uncharacteristic outburst before returning his attention back to Harley.

“My apologies…That was most unbecoming...So tell me Harley: how are you and the clown doing? I would imagine the recent mayhem across the planet would have please him to no end”

[Harleen 'Harley Quinn' Quinzel]

Each of the villains in Gotham were distinct and different. Most carried resentment towards the Bat and wanted him deader than a door nail. Did Harley? If he did anything to hurt The Joker in a terrible, non forgivable way then Batman would meet his end. In general Harley was actually quite passive about the death of Batman. She didn't care either way as her only concern is the demon in purple and green. If batsy or any of his children got in the way then Harley would naturally try to murder them. But if death is not the end result for the day then that was what the cards dealt. She is always far more concerned with getting back to the Ace of Knaves for another night. However that doesn't mean she spares lives, oh no. Harley would kill someone for their cheese sandwich. It's all on a whim, she does as she feels, when she feels. But if the Joker ordered the Bat's execution then the jester would stop at nothing until she brought his body back to her beloved.

She threw a glance at the Riddler and she wondered if he actually had it in him. Batman, and the Joker, have defeated Edward before in the sense of his Riddles, his games. To a man considered one of the brightest mind of Gotham (before his trip down the green question mark route) having his genius, his work shattered could cause some serious problems. The former doctor was able to wrap her mind around that one. She chewed on her cheek as she looked around further, at ease. She, too, bore no ill will against the man though that could change on a whim should there be something said and taken the wrong way. The woes of being female.

There werent too many other villains Quinn outright disliked, they all brought something new to the table. Riddler was a man of practice, of manners despite his wicked ways. Being around The Joker for as long as she has been caused her to not think of the other rogues unless they are needed or if they struck out against the couple. Her thoughts were Joker and what she could do next be it by actions or ideas that would gain his approval.

Harleen had always been quite desperate for the approval of others and if the clown prince wasn't in her life she would be shopping around to find someone who throw herself upon. Nothing to be ashamed about, the Joker have her purpose after all. A calling much higher than therapy sessions with nutcases for the rest of her life.

Harley had her finger almost at the tip of some menacing device, ready to prick, when she heard the Riddler's voice darken. There within in his tones did his madness leak out as he spoke of his true feelings for the Bat. She had frozen in her spot, her hand frozen in midair, her blue eyes as wide as a deer in headlights.

"Hurm." Was all she muttered as Nygma brought himself back to reality. He regained his composure quickly and even apologized for his outburst. "Eh, don't sweat it. We all got urges inside."

"Ah, Mistah J is havin' himself a field day. He spends all his time workin on things and messin with that damned crystal... HE HAS NO TIME FOR HIS HARLEY!" She cried out, pain laced in her words. This was world ending and heartbreaking!! ... For her.

[The Riddler]

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He must really learn to control himself.

He liked to think of himself as a cool collective individual that wasn’t quick to anger, but there was something about the Bat, that aroused something deep within him, an almost primal desire to best him, his obsession with winning the seemingly never-ending battle of wits with the Batman,, to prove what he already knew, that batman was a freud! That he was nothing, nothing compared Nygma! It was so clear, why couldn’t everyone else see what he saw? Why couldn’t they see through the Bat’s lies! Even the Joker himself was taken in m
By the false image of the Batman, why couldn’t he see that bat wasn’t unique in any shape or form, but a liar and a freud.

"Ah, Mistah J is havin' himself a field day. He spends all his time workin on things and messin with that damned crystal... HE HAS NO TIME FOR HIS HARLEY

Nygma inwardly rolled his eyes at this display of woe. He was afraid this would happen. He really couldn’t care less about the turbulent relationship between Harly and The Joker and even less desire to play relationship therapist. A part of him pitied Harly and wished to comfort Harly, but he knew it was a fruitless endeavour, The Joker conditioned his little play toy well, any displeasure displayed by The Joker would hit Harly hard must like a child debunked by a parent. The Riddler wondered what it was like to have someone conditioned to fawn on him night and day.

The idea was certainly tempting…

But there was something Harly said that set alarm bell ringing in Nygma’s head. Why exactly was Joker messing with crystals. The Joker had no interest whatsoever in money or pretty much anything of value. So why was he suddenly spending his time tinkering with a mysterious crystal? Unless of course this was no mere crystal, this had to have some use to the clown, ego a weapon …The Riddler had heard muttering and rumor’s that the universe merging was the Joker’s doing…and this new information that Joker may have a new weapon in his possession troubled Nygma…He needed to know more.

“Now what abilities pray tell could this crystal have to make Joker ignore you?”