"Well, maybe she can get the other half down to reasonable levels while you're put away, and then when you escape she'll have the leeway to retire-slash-fake-her-death," shrugs Bella.

"And once she's done that, whos gonna keep 'em down? Besides, she's not the only hot prospect in town. I could have some fun with our shiny new police commissioner, I bet."

"Fair enough."

"What's it like?" he wonders idly. "Dating mini-me."

"I like it," says Bella. "He sews me dresses. He's snuggly. He makes fascinating faces when in pain."

"I'll bet he does."

"Took some getting used to, but I'm pretty adaptable in some respects."

"Do you ever set him on fire?"

"I have a more all-purpose, sanitary tool for the job."

Inquisitively: "Mm?"

"Magic," says Bella. "Obviously."

"Well aren't you sweet."

"One could say that."

"You don't think so?"

"Well, I do, but most people find the whole thing a little disturbing."

"Does that," he inquires, "bother you?"

"So far it hasn't caused me any problems. It'll probably present a challenge for my future PR person if the details get out, though."

"See, this is why empires are bad," he teases. "Who wants to be beholden to all those opinions?"

"I said I was a space Empress, not a space President. I don't want people to be uncomfortable with me; that doesn't mean I can't live with it and get on with my business if they are."

"You want my advice?"

"I might ignore you, but sure."

"Of course you're gonna ignore me, who takes advice from the Joker? No, no. All I'm saying is, if you wanna keep the people comfortable, never let your boy get in front of a camera."

"I had no plans to do so," Bella says.

"That," he says, "is 'cause you're a smart cookie."

"There's no real reason to," Bella says. "He doesn't even seem particularly interested in being a public figure. If interviewers want to know about my personal life they're going to be politely told it's none of their business, regardless."