[RL - A little love for Jackson]

[tntandgasoline]

The Joker figured he'd get in trouble for breaking and entering one of these days. Nonetheless, here he was lounging around the apartment of one Jackson Rippner. He figured it was about time he paid a visit to the Crane look-alike, especially with how often Lisa seemed to talk about him - or more accurately, tried to not talk about him.

He took the fact that Jackson wasn't home yet as a lucky break; one of the few he had been having lately. And, even though he really had other things to be working on - well, there was always time to visit friends from out-of-town, wasn't there?

Comments

[tntandgasoline]

"That's the smart guy's guess. Amusement." He chuckled. "After all, I'm the, uh, the Joker and I do things for fun. Right?"

He finally reached for the water and idly swirled it in the glass, looking as though he were bored. "You know, I'm pretty sure I've asked Lisa a few times if I should kill you for her."

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

"Well I doubt there's anything you could need from me, and social visits or idle threats would be for amusement's sake." Jackson answered, the bored look on the other man's face feeling almost like a triumph until the words left his mouth.

The fact he kept his face merely cold was well done considering the surge of irritation. "And she vehemently said no to."

[tntandgasoline]

"Ah-hah, there's the keyword. Idle." The Joker leisurely sat up, stretching his arms. "She said no a thousand times over. It's so irritating, you'd think she'd be less..." He waved a hand, "Good. It's like she's made of sugar cookies and sunshine."

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

"No, I think the keyword is 'threat.' " Jackson answered, eyes narrowing just a touch. Oh Lisa, such a nuisance.

"I think she enjoys being a martyr." He said, a tone much like someone guessing widely at something he knew little about. "Maybe she enjoys the thrill of dangerous men such as yourself." He couldn't sound more trite.

[tntandgasoline]

"Me? I'm not dangerous." The Joker threw his arms wide, "At least, not for her. Not like you are."

He leaned forward and put his arms on his knees, raising an eyebrow at Jackson. "Why are you so interested in the gal, anyway?"

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

"Why would you think I'm dangerous for her?" Jackson asked levelly, not bothering to feign surprise.

He met the Joker's gaze with a raised eyebrow of his own. "I could ask you the same."

[tntandgasoline]

"Even I don't make her as uptight as your name does. Besides, she doesn't strike me as the kinda girl to, uh, to just stab someone without a reason."

The Joker shrugged and leaned into the couch cushions easily. "Oh, I don't know. She's cute."

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

A tight look passed his face at the words- what else had she told him? He took a moment before raising his brow. "She's a very excitable girl."

His lips nearly quirked at that. "There are plenty of cute girls in your own world, aren't there?"

[tntandgasoline]

He giggled at the change of expression, standing up and cracking his neck. "No, she's pretty level-headed, actually. She thinks things through. Like, when I first showed up? She thought ahead and tucked a corkscrew away in case I attacked her. I didn't, obviously, since I promised I wouldn't, but the thinking ahead thing was smart."

He moved towards the kitchenette, leaving his back exposed without giving any sort of indication that it actually was unguarded. "Oh, plenty of cute girls - but none of them are quite as fun."

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

"If she were levelheaded she wouldn't have let a man of your reputation into her home." Jackson answered smoothly. "No offense of course."

Jackson kept his seat, though the professional in him wanted to attack right there. He had no doubt one violent action would mean letting the proverbial cat out of the bag, and he was willing to risk inaction for the moment. "Fun? I find her to be a bit of a liar myself."

[tntandgasoline]

"Sometimes it's safer, you know? To let the lion into the den, or something." He waved a hand and began rummaging around in the kitchenette, opening and closing drawers that he had, for all Jackson knew, already gone through.

"You see, that's a problem I haven't had with her!" He looked at Jackson long enough to say, "I was honest with her from the get-go, and she's been nothing but honest in return. I expect you lied to get close to her, didn't you?" He waggled a finger, "See, that's just rude."

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

"I never heard that one before." Jackson answered, listening to the rummaging with a distinct edge to his gaze. He flexed his fingers once before calming completely.

That calm disappeared in a heartbeat at the accusation, and he didn't bother to smother the sharpness in his gaze. "I never lied to her." He said, tone just a touch lower. "She, on the other hand, is quite fond of it. I'm curious as to how many lies she spewed to you."

[tntandgasoline]

"I may have made it up, I don't remember."

He smirked at that tone - oh, had he hit a nerve? - and sauntered back towards Jackson, keeping a semi-wide berth. "Oh, she's never lied to me. You know, it's funny - she's a real honest gal. If she wants to lie to me, all she does is say something vague and change the subject. I can respect her boundaries too." Not like a stalker would understand.

[ripp-ner.livejournal.com]

Jackson forced a smile. "Funny how fear makes people tell the truth I suppose." He answered, standing up finally. "You know what they say- everyone lies. How lucky for you she decided to drop the habit for your conversations." he said with a sharp edge of sarcasm.

[tntandgasoline]

"Oh, she doesn't have anything to fear from little old me."

That standing move - that wasn't very nice. It was almost like he was trying to gain ground in this situation and that wasn't how this worked. "If she's lied to me, who am I to say anything, anyway? She must have a good reason for it." He stepped forward and put a hand on Jackson's shoulder, pushing at him, "Sit down."