The Universe's Mixer

Dinah hadn't been by the clock tower or by the Wayne Enterprises building since the City had started moving again. She might have been actively avoiding the two buildings. The clock tower because it was painful to think of her old team and she was still unsure if they would even accept her back, and the Wayne building because she simply wasn't quite ready to face the questions from Bruce about whether or not she had any right donning the fishnets again and getting back into things.

She probably would have avoided the two buildings a little bit longer if the City hadn't conspired against her. While riding her motorcycle on patrol, the street she was on suddenly shifted and she found herself driving by the clock tower. She caught a flash of green as she sped past. She slowed and then pulled a u-turn to park in front of the building. Once she got out, her heart twisted.

She moved closer to the green paint and put her hand on it, as if she could somehow get a sense for where it had come from. Even if there was a feeling in her gut that she knew exactly who would have painted "Tag, you're it!" in gigantic green letters on the wall of the clock tower.

Her stomach churning, she got back on her bike and sped toward the Wayne Enterprises building. There she found the second message. "Come play with me."

"Joker," she whispered, as if speaking his name any louder might make him suddenly materialize.

She didn't know how, but the Joker was back. She would have to look into things more, but she didn't see any other explanation.

For the first time, she felt a brief flash of gratitude that Jake was no longer in the City. Then the gratitude just gave way to the fear. Fear for those that she cared about that might have the Joker's attention, and fear for what he might have planned for the City.

Fred didn't exactly go into hiding. She did send out a quick email to all the members past and present of the JLC that Jake Jensen was no longer in the City. She apologized for leaving the place on autopilot, adding that if they really needed her she'd be there for them as much as she could. She knew they didn't trust her, but that didn't mean she wouldn't help out when and where she could; at the moment though, she really couldn't.

She had seen a particular image on the front page of the City newspaper, and while she was happy for the couple pictured, she hated the timing. She also hated that she hated the timing. She didn't like being angry, depressed, or frustrated, but she really didn't think too many people cared for those emotions. She disliked feeling so very conflicted, yet she was having trouble with breaking free of it.

The brainy female had taken to walking when she wasn't busy with the agency. She left her tablet at home, kept the basic phone and pager in her pocket She may be down, but she wasn't going to go for completely stupid. She also made sure when she walked at night she had a stake up her jacket sleeve.

This particular night found her walking the streets with little direction. She wondered if Castiel was okay, and if Eric had found someone new to torture. She hoped Errol was finding his way again; although, he didn't seem all that lost. She thought of Dean and Dinah; the hunter may have let it slip when he came in for his cut of a very easy job that they were living together. It was almost cute that he quickly explained what living together meant with an awkward little smile to make sure she didn't think badly of Dinah; he cared about his roommate. She thought of many things, which was what she did. She'd have to talk to Annie; perhaps she could talk to the computers and get the lost code back somehow.

For now though, she'd just walk, and stop for a coffee. The smell caught her attention, and her stomach rumbled to let her know that she hadn't fed it in a while. Coffee and danish seemed like a very good idea. Or pie - the way certain people talked about pie made it seem like true ambrosia. Even if ambrosia was already ambrosia.

Fangtasia

Once Beauty got an idea in her head, it was difficult to sway her. She went about her plans methodically, first setting up a goal, then planning each step as meticulously and carefully as she could, missing nothing. Planning had been one of her strengths at home, and it'd served her well when her father's fleet went missing. Taking care of her sisters and father required quite a bit of planning.

And planning is how she ended up in what she thought was a daring dress, hair brushed to a glossy shine, makeup darkening her eyes and paling her skin, walking straight for the neon sign and its awning beside it. She didn't know what she'd find, exactly, once she went through those doors. But she knew that this is where she needed to be to have the best chance at finding Eric.

After thorough research at the library, and not a few magazines and books, Beauty thought she knew how to achieve her goal. The first thing she did was pick a mark, someone she was sure had no intentions toward her (even though Baba seemed to think otherwise). The second was to find out what he liked. If he owned Fangtasia, then he must like it. She learned more than she cared to know about nightlife, then shopped until she found the dress she was wearing now. The third step was to find and engage Eric, then use the advice she'd learned from her research at the library.

Fangtasia.

Lestat told her once that she should never go here. She hoped that he was wrong.