"He loves me," Bella says. "I can make him feel better when he's upset. I go around referring to him as my pet masochist. And he's mine."

"I know he loves you. When'd you make him feel better?"

"Most recently? My alternate's bodyguard wanted his 'real' name," Bella says. "I warned him before we even walked in that I didn't want any interdimensional incidents - so he ran to the moon instead. I made up a name for them and went up after him."

"You are a sweetheart," says the Joker.

"I care about him. He was hurting."

"I knoow. It's sweet," he says.

"He's sweet too. He fixed me up when I got hit by a car, before I had quite as much magic to throw around."

"Awwwwww. I wanna hug him," says the Joker. "I wanna hug you too, but I bet you don't."

"It's true. I do not harbor a desire to hug you."

He shrugs. "Didn't think so."

"But perhaps you can get hugs from your shrink," says Bella. "If you are in need of a supply."

"Nah, she doesn't do that. And it's not the same, anyway."

"Not the same how?"

"There's a difference between wanting to hug somebody in particular and wanting just any old hug. Isn't there?"

"I suppose."

"Mm. So, you gonna introduce me to your boyfriend?"

Alice has just about finished up his conversation with Matilda; she's on her way to the door. "Let's see," she says. [Hey Alice. Come see who I found.]

"Hiiiii," he says, lifting a hand and wiggling his fingers in a cute little wave.

"This is apparently what happens if you don't meet me and a few other things go slightly differently," Bella says. Impulsively, she loops her arm around Alice's waist and leans her head on him. He's standing right there, after all.

The Joker licks his lips in that way he has, kind of like a snake tasting the air. His lipstick glistens.

Ayep. Bella rolls her eyes. She got her little bit of hug, and this or something like it was predictable.