The neighbors don't complain. Much. (They do occasionally ask that things be kept down, but they don't complain about there being noise at all. They understand about mates.)

The room isn't designed for long-term human occupation. There is no bathroom, no food, no bed, no climate control - though this is Florida, so climate control is not such a concern - no plumbing.

But there's lots of magic. It's such fun to make, after all.

(Nathan had been worried he'd have to ask one of the succubi, or Joham, for lessons on what might whimsically be called "safe sex". He likes not having to bother with this better.)

Author: temporal_affairs	The neighbors don't complain. Much. (They do occasionally ask that things be kept down, but they don't complain about there being noise at all. They understand about mates.) The room isn't designed for long-term human occupation. There is no bathroom, no food, no bed, no climate control - though this is Florida, so climate control is not such a concern - no plumbing. But there's lots of magic. It's such fun to make, after all. (Nathan had been worried he'd have to ask one of the succubi, or Joham, for lessons on what might whimsically be called "safe sex". He likes not having to bother with this better.)
Author: manofmyword	And it is such fun. The Joker expected he would want to get out of town within the first few days, but that has not in fact happened, and he doesn't miss it a bit. Not yet. He conjures an enormous comfy mattress to sleep on, cuddled up to Nathan, because he likes sleeping and he likes cuddles and it makes a nice occasional change from fucking on the floor. He doesn't like going to the bathroom enough to go find one, so he magics away the need whenever it comes up. Likewise he conjures things to eat or drink when he needs them, or magics himself not-hungry and not-thirsty if he's in the middle of something when his body's reuirements distract him. They're going to have to get out of here eventually, though, if only so they can go somewhere where he can make some real noise without getting on anybody's nerves.
Author: temporal_affairs	And if nothing else - "Her Majesty's gonna come looking for all the fruits of our arduous, difficult labor, soon," says Nathan, hands tickling with alternately gentle and punishing pressure up the Joker's side. "Been almost a week."
Author: manofmyword	"Mmm," he says lazily, snuggling closer. "Has it? I wasn't keeping track."
Author: temporal_affairs	"Time sense. Vampire perk, not just me. But - over the next few hours - there is a best time to get dressed, and apparently it's in a minute and a half." (Nuzzle, nuzzle.) "I can only assume between the elapsed week and that fact that Her Majesty shows up a bit after that."
Author: manofmyword	"Well, remind me to magic up some clothes, then," he says. The lace nightie he arrived wearing is in pieces around the room, and no two of the pieces are touching.
Author: temporal_affairs	"Some of my things might fit you, too," Nathan says, "but sure, babe." He picks up his mate one-armed and starts rifling through his closet.
Author: manofmyword	The Joker wraps his arms around Nathan's shoulders and kisses him lovingly on the cheek. "Wearing your clothes would be cute," he says. "Maybe I will later."
Author: temporal_affairs	"Dunno if any of it's to your taste, of course." Nathan picks a flannel and a pair of jeans, but the minute and a half hasn't fully elapsed yet, so he doesn't set the Joker down to put either on yet.
Author: manofmyword	"Most of it isn't," he says cheerfully.
Author: temporal_affairs	(Nuzzle nuzzle nibble nibble, immunity to venom and a defense against the effects of the taste having been taken care of days ago.) "I don't have strong opinions about my wardrobe. I just get simple things."
Author: manofmyword	"I'll make you pretty things," says the Joker, hugging him again. "'Cause you're pretty."
Author: temporal_affairs	"You're pretty," Nathan returns. One more squeeze, just enough to crack a rib or two, and he sets him down on the mattress and shimmies into his jeans and shrugs on the flannel.
Author: manofmyword	"You're such a sweetie," he says affectionately, and snaps his fingers for theatrics, and is abruptly dressed. It's the old Joker getup, purple suit and green vest and blue shirt. And a knife in his pocket, because really, he's hardly dressed without one.
Author: luminous_regnant	Sure enough, there is presently a knock at the door.
Author: temporal_affairs	"Come in," calls Nathan, sitting down on the mattress beside the Joker.
Author: luminous_regnant	The doors do actually lock, more to tell would-be entrants when they're welcome than to actually keep anyone determined out. But of course she's got all the keys. Bella lets herself in. "It's been a week," she says mildly to her mint.
Author: manofmyword	"Mhm," he says, and expends a square to transfer all his coins to Bella's chain. There's a lot. "We've been busy," he adds, not that she doesn't know that.
Author: luminous_regnant	"I'm sure. Well, that's all," she says, inspecting the chain. "Thank you."
Author: manofmyword	He blows her a kiss. "Toodles!"
Author: luminous_regnant	"See you in... I think a week and a half," she says. "Thereabouts." She waves and closes the door behind her.
Author: temporal_affairs	"Now what?" Nathan inquires, insinuating.
Author: manofmyword	"Now," he says, grinning, "I think we ruin these nice clothes I just made."
Author: temporal_affairs	"More squares where that came from," says Nathan, and he pounces.
Author: manofmyword	Mmmmm. Pouncings. They can't stay in this room having intermittent sex for the literal rest of forever, though. In fact, it's only the next morning that the Joker wakes up and murmurs sleepily, "I feel like getting out of here. You feel like coming with?"
Author: temporal_affairs	"Capital's not moving for another week, so if you mean now, then - well, yes. Always. Where to? Trains, planes, or automobiles?"
Author: manofmyword	"Dunno yet," he says reflectively. "Let's hit the road and then see."
Author: temporal_affairs	"You going to conjure me the Princess's golden bubbly as needed or should I fill up from the slaughterhouse before we go?"
Author: manofmyword	"The gold stuff's tastier, right?" he says. "I'll magic it up for ya."
Author: temporal_affairs	"Dramatically tastier, yeah, thanks babe. Better than human average, not better than singer," says Nathan.
Author: manofmyword	"Wonder if I could magic something better than that," he muses. And then grins. "Wonder if I could magic me better than that. Would that be fun, sweetie?"
Author: temporal_affairs	"Babe," says Nathan, "I found a singer two times in my life, and if you get even that tasty, let alone better, you will never be able to pry my teeth out of you even by asking nicely, even if I keep my air filter, without magic. That kind of thing competes on a level with mate bonds. The Empress is alive because the the Emperor was already thoroughly into self-denial when he ran into her and anyone else would've eaten his mate."
Author: manofmyword	He laughs. "So I won't be that tasty all the time," he says. "Still, would it be fun?"
Author: temporal_affairs	"Well, it'd be delicious and bitey," says Nathan.
Author: manofmyword	"I think that sounds fun," the Joker decides. "Let's keep it in mind for when we get wherever we're going." And he squares himself some clothes, and kisses Nathan, and finally gets out of bed.
Author: temporal_affairs	Nathan puts on his jeans from yesterday's brief meeting with the Empress (basically intact) and a new polo shirt (the flannel is hopeless) and cheerfully follows his mate's lead.
Author: manofmyword	And a-wandering they go.
Author: temporal_affairs	"If we're going to leave Safesun and walk to Jacksonville or wherever," says Nathan as they approach its edges, "I need daywalking clothes at a minimum - big stupid hat, sleeves past my fingertips - magic disguise barring that. This little problem being why Safesun is called that."
Author: manofmyword	"I can magic you unsparkly," shrugs the Joker. "And make it so you can turn it on and off at will. Would that be nice?"
Author: temporal_affairs	"That would be very nice," agrees Nathan.