האָפענונג

This portrayal is a mixture of Harleen Quinzel from the canon initiated in Batman: The Animated Series, and later explored in the graphic novel Mad Love and The New Batman Adventures series as well as the short-lived live-action television series Birds of Prey (which was loosely based on the comic of the same name). She is a Nolanverse take on the character and interacts with many Nolanverse characters.

The original playby for this character was actress Mia Sara, who portrayed Quinzel on the live-action show. The Harleen in this RP is an older, far more calculating and thoughtful person with a latent sinister streak. She is less bubbly than her comic and cartoon personas but still enjoys jokes and puns and is socially awkward when it comes to matters of love. This character started off as Harleen as she was prior to her taking the Joker on as a patient at Arkham (for reference, the Joker for this character is under the handle of patient-4479). She has since treated the Joker; this is prior to her resigning. She is not Harley Quinn, she remains Harleen Quinzel; however, she has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and has presented with three personalities: Harleen, Harley, and a third who has not been identified by name but has been referred to as either Alichino or Arlecchino. The playby for this character is actress Marley Shelton. The majority of images featuring Marley Shelton are from the excellent marley-shelton.com.

Like her comic and cartoon counter-part, this Harleen Quinzel is trained in the field of psychoanalysis, is a talented gymnast with high human agility and strength, above average fighting skills, and proficiency in martial arts. She is also is a practitioner of capoiera and yoga and is experienced in tactical combat escrima, though she uses police-grade batons instead of yantok.

Liberties were taken with the character background by changing the name of her mother and father and in expanding on her father’s criminal history, as well as making Harleen a semi-observant member of the Jewish faith. She also has over ten years of experience in practicing psychiatry and two years experience in trauma medicine.

Her father’s name in this RP is Harold Raymond Quinzel, known as Harry or Happy Harry. He is a member of the Irish-American mob. His father, James Francis Quinzel, was a member of the Westies. Harleen’s grandfather was murdered in front of her by a rival gang. It was this event that led to the formation of her two alters. The play by for Harry Quinzel is the late John Spencer. Her mother’s name in the RP is Ruth Goldberg Quinzel. Her mother is semi-retired, sometimes working on her familiy’s jewelry business, which is run by her older brother Samuel. Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin, is still alive and lives in a retirement home. He was a jeweler and handed over the day-to-day of his business to his children. His wife, who had survived Auschwitz, passed away when Harleen was a child. The play by for Ruth Quinzel is Swoozie Kurtz. Harleen’s younger brother Barry (his canon name) lives at home with their mother. He’s a struggling musician and he and Harleen don’t get along in general since he dropped out of college and has very different ambitions than his sister. His play by is Adam Goldberg.

Harleen was involved in a relationship with Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, which ended when Steve was murdered by Norman Osborn. Steve proposed to Harleen as he was dying, giving Harleen his mother’s wedding ring. The murder occurred in retaliation against Tony Stark (Iron Man). Steve’s body was subsequently stolen from a non-publicly disclosed location and he was resurrected by unknown persons for still unknown reasons. He awoke and was discovered wandering a mountainous region by local authorities and was held in federal custody at his Red Hook, Brooklyn apartment. Interacting with Harleen’s younger brother led to the return of all of Steve’s memories, but he still does not know who brought him back to life or why.

As a result of that and the events which led up to Steve’s murder, Harleen has moved into Bruce Wayne’s penthouse in Gotham. She and Bruce have known each other for sometime, first professionally, and then personally. She considers him to be one of her best friends and sees Alfred as a fatherly figure, Lucius Fox as well. She and Bruce were seriously dating one another and had been living together most of the time. They’ve broken up and Harleen has her own townhouse in downtown Gotham now. The townhouse was a gift to her from Bruce when they parted, a way to continue to take care of her even though they’re now apart. They both still care for each other very much, with Harleen and Harley still in love with him.

Harleen and Commissioner Gordon are friends and are slowly starting to deepen their friendship. Jim recently divorced after a five-year separation from his wife. He and Harleen genuinely care for one another but are cautious not to move too quickly as he still cares for Barbara and she still cares for Bruce. Harleen and Jim have come to know one another over the course of her working with and now working at the Gotham Police Department. Harleen no longer works at the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane as a result of the events leading to and culminating in Steve’s murder. She resigned prior to his death and now works for the Gotham Police Department as a forensic psychologist. She has retained her licenses to practice medicine and psychology.

Canonically, Gotham City Sirens #7 establishes that she was born and raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn into a Jewish-Catholic family. Her unnamed father is a con artist who is still in jail. Her brother, Barry, is a slob with dreams of rock stardom, and her mother, Sharon, wants her to stop the “villain and hero stuff”. In this RP, her father’s name is Harold Quinzel, a Catholic, his wife is Ruth Quinzel, who is Jewish. Her brother’s name remains Barry. Additionally, her middle name is spelled as Francis as opposed to Frances. Harley Quinn #4 places her IQ at genius-level, contradicting earlier canon.

This RP character is pan-fandom, independent, and multiverse and will interact with most any character. Primary relationships are with the Nolanverse group. If anyone should wish to become a patient of Dr. Quinzel’s, arrangements can be made in play or via ask box or submission.