Darling... (Superhero Black Hole: part 19)

She stops her wicked cackling inhumanly suddenly. (It's the only way I can describe it. For visual reference and comparison, go watch any of the scenes set in the Black Lodge in _Twin Peaks_, and you'll get the gist of it. (David Lynch must have been in this Inbetween himself at some point...))

"*What's wrong?* *Aren't you happy to see me, darling?*" Her voice is still silkily smooth, but there's a tinge of insidiousness hiding underneath the verbal silk.

"_Oh, I'm thrilled_. _I'm_ ecstatic! _I'm over the fucking_ moon!"

"*Now, now.* *Let's not get snarky.* *We've not much time, my dear.*"

"_Says the fellow time traveller_."

"*Hilarious.* *But keep focus: we have only this opportunity to get some things straight.*"

"_Such as?_"

She pauses a moment, then casually seats herself beside me, out of my vision. My head, I realise, cannot move.

"*Such as: we're destined for each other.* *Such as: we've known each other longer than either of us know.* *Such as...here, Inbetween...we can see the Future...*"