thedemonconstantine

[thedemonconstantine]

It was the fire in Zatanna’s eyes that had Etrigan respond, stirring Jason to speak in the coarser tongue of his bodymate.

‘Five years well spent, now a crown I bear

The climb was a jest but the summit lays bare

Too oft do paperwork and council talk me tire

The joy was in the strife, not this lofty spire

Now here we stand on the Prime Material Plane

No thoughts of returning ever to the Nine again’

Jason shook his head.

“I’m terribly sorry, may I beg your pardon? Could you repeat what you said please? I must have missed it.”

“Nah, nah! Yer missed nuhfing at all, mate! Spiffy are we! Come, come, ‘ave some tea. Look, a scrummy bikkie! Bikkie wiff tea, yer favo!”

John soothed like how one would a disoriented doddering old fool, which was what poor Jason looked to be like, now.

No wonder Winters was so worried.

“A spot o’ milk, I’ll stir it fer yeh just ‘ow yer likes it aye? Is alrite, mate. We’re ‘ere fer a visit! So nice ‘ta see yer again innit? Didje miss me? Yer missed me didn’tje?

I’m so missable I am, me!”

And to Zatanna, John would hide his mouth with the biscuit tin lid to ask her in the softest of whispers, “Should we call a doc proper?”

"You as well Etrigan.Five years! No call. No note! Don't think because you're hiding in there you're not in the shit as well" She clearly had not taken the very long absence very well and had been worried sick over the pair.

How was she to know that Etrigan hijacked him and waged civil war in Hell.

He was now a ruling Demon but...that sounded really boring. The politics of the feudal system of Hell was...well a Hell of it's own kind. Bla bla bla. He craved BATTLE! Not performance reviews and KPI reports, not one to be entairtained by the torture of mortals In Hell.No thank you Hell he had an Earth to enjoy and the more they stayed in Hell the more Jason deteriorated. If he lost this mortal vessel from degradation he too would be bound to Jason's fate.

Blergh.

[thedemonconstantine]

Smelly Smoke Man gone now

Yoyo confuse

Why Gotham Gordon have so much in bag

Magic bag Timmy?

Smelly Smoke Man hide in magic bag?

“Yoyo thinks you’re hiding the trenchcoat creepo in your bag,” Tim said past the grimace he was making at Barbara’s criticism.

“The last I checked I was completely normal, thank you,” He accepted her notes and compared them with his own…

…and the words on Barbara’s notes started to jumble on their own accord.

“…huh?”

Tim dropped the papers.

“I did not do that! I wasn’t- not me. No, stop it. Stop!”

Timmy in trouble Timmy

Yoyo sleepy

“……err….”

What the heck, he couldn’t change it back!!

“I don’t know what I don’t understand anymore…”

"Of course I do. All non lethal I assure you, Hunter"

Babs overturned her bag and three black pens, multiple hair ties, a set of keys, a notepad and pen, a taser gun and a long forgotten bar of Snickers fell out. "I forgot about that." She checked it and it was still in date, a little squashed but it would be alright. "Alarm, pepper spray" Her keyring was not just a fuzzy ball, if you were to pull it 120 decibels would assault your eardrums, a good enough distraction to run away. And if not, the little vial that looked like breath spray, straight into the eyes of her attacker.

"Oh I will be fine" She absolutely would be. "But I can walk Yoyo and you home if it gets dark. Not that it will, we will be gone long before evening comes. Mom is making pot roast for dinner, it's gonna be bland as dad is on low sodium with his new meds but there can be a bowl for you if you wanna join." Her mother liked Tim well enough, he was a non-offensive sort of young boy.

"Your notes don't make sense. You might have ADHD you know-" Babs remarked on his....jumbled notes. She sighed dramatically...no theatrically and opened her notepad where everything was bullet pointed, neat and even color co-ordinated for important notes and footnotes.

"What would you do without me saving your ass, Hunter. Just read mine. See here..."

"The rate of a chemical reaction can be found by measuring the quantity of a reactant used or the quantity of product formed over time:

mean rate of reaction = quantity of reactant used/time taken

mean rate of reaction = quantity of product formed/time taken

The quantity of reactant or product can be measured by the mass in grams or by a volume in cm3 . What of that don't you understand and I will explain"

[thedemonconstantine]

Giovanni has and always will be the star, and Rose was only too happy to let her old friend delight the lost souls that now lived in the House of Mystery. They were so very young after all.

So it was no surprise that the youths would quarrel over the seating arrangements at dinner. Everyone wanted to be near Giovanni.

“Come sit next to me, dear Nicholas. Gio has his very deft hands frightfully full now,” She would tease gently with affection for the man.

“Don’t worry, you are just in time. We barely settled down.” Rose’s Unseen Servants glided in with trays of boneware. The first course was blue mushroom soup.

“Did you have a good rest? Oh dear, have we forgotten a hairdryer? I’ll tell Marie to fetch one for you later, but for now let’s not have you catch a cold,” Saying so, she coaxed a warm breeze over to comb through Nick’s hair, drying it easily in two seconds.

“There. And not a strand out of place. Would you require anything else in your room? I’d like you to treat the House as your home now, and would like you to be comfortable.”

“This is Ray, he’s your next-door neighbour. That is Joanie, well it’s Joaxantqæfë but Joanie for short. She’s opposite you. This is Firdaus, and Minnow you’ve met, and Goldie, who will not be having any soup please and thank you, just his usual shrimp pellets.”

Blue mushroom soup came with garlic breadsticks and the table was full of happy chatter.

“Pertaining to your earlier remark, my dear, I would like to let you know that no problem is too small for my attention. If it is an issue, it’s an issue, and I will try my best to help you.

This is what we do in the House, Nicholas. We are family now and family means nobody gets left behind.”

An Unseen Servant came in the shape of floating white butler’s gloves, and sprinkled shrimp pellets into the levitating goldfish’s bowl.

Next dish was served in shallow plates, cold pasta tossed with pesto and cherry tomatoes. The pasta was shaped like the moon and stars.

“Unfortunately I have news for you, Nicholas,” At this point, Rose ignored her plate to lean over a little to look at Nick straight in the eye.

“Those voices that you hear will never stop. They will be like the air that flows around you. Like the grass that would keep growing and the tides that ebb and flood.

But! You can learn how to live with it and eventually, tap into the meaning that these voices bring you and you alone. Because that is the gift and the burden of a Necromancer.”

She placed her hand over his, and suddenly the ruckus at the dinner table ceased into a muted silence. Everyone was still talking. Gio was gesturing, the young elemental was pointing with his leftover breadstick. The goldfish had bubbles leaving its pouty lips. Joanie was laughing at something someone else said.

“I will teach you how.”

Rose smiled, and then lifted her hand away.

Immediately the noise flooded in again.

“—-HAHA that is so SO stupid!!”

“No it’s not!”

“Dydw i ddim yn deall…”

(I don’t understand….)

"You're right I hate being stared at. I am sincerely sorry, I am still getting used to the idea of the wider cosmos out there" And he meant it too, he hated being perceived too much and there he was practically gawking.

Nick sat down and when she sat down next to her his cheekbones flushed just because he could smell her sweet perfume. He'd drink the offered tea though, he was surprised she sat down next to him and not Giovanni.

"It was meant to be your husband...it's gonna be Phillip so at least we can count on good cheese platters. After last year they really are trying to put their best foot forward but...and you didn't hear it from me...it's going downhill and it might just be the last one" Giovanni did love to gossip with her, he might as well been a teenager all over again listening to Rose and her gaggle of hens gossip the day away.

But they were here for another purpose and on top of it noticed how the housemates crowded to take a look at the new resident, he knew Nick found crowds awful, poor thing must hate every bit of this.

"If Rosie says I am invited to dinner then I will have dinner. Why don't you guys show me to the veranda, I will take these...and I teach you how to dazzle a crowd" he pointed to the girl with the long rabbit ears.

He adored his young adoring crowd and he shifted them all away for Nick and Rose to be able to have a conversation in private.

"It doesn't stop" Nick spoke defeated. "They never stop...Not when I am awake, not when I am asleep, not when I take a bath..." he was exhausted beyond measure.

"Giovanni saved my life I'm pretty sure. He said I was having a seizure, felt like a seizure. He helped, he did a thing and it helped but like drywall getting pummeled it didn't last...Shadowcrest silences the ones outside but-" Shadowcrest was a very very old house full of those that wanted to tell thing to Gio but were never heard.

Even the coos of adoration for Zatanna's twirl in her dress felt like a stab in his eyeball.

Giovanni thought him very talented, to be able to learn his tutored lessons despite the white noise in his head...if Nick could stop them he'd be magnificent.

"I'm sure you have bigger problems to solve than one necromancers folly" Gods he could cry right about now.

"As you wish" Nick would excuse himself and find a room, a random door opened at the very very end of the second floor hallway and he simply was too tired to question it. This must be his room.

It was tidy. Cozy. Not big but not a rat's nest either, just big enough to fit his things, just small enough to be a nest. He should bathe...but he led down on the bed on top of the covers and the cool fabric of the bedding just....felt so nice.

The mattress was so comfortable...his body was sinking....sinking....sinking....

The world became nothing but blurred darkness.

It's in the forest

Nick jolted awake and looked around. His wrist watch still showed the same time it did when they entered the House.

There was noise outside of people getting ready to head to dinner.

Nick would rush through a wash, opting to just take that hot shower and if he had to attend dinner with wet hair so be it.

He stood outside the door of the room next to his.

He could do this.

Knock knock.

"Do you have a hairdryer?" he asked.

"What's hair." the young elemental questioned.

"This?" Nick wagged his wet hair.

"Oh we call it Terran fur."

"Do you have a hairdryer?"

"No I don't have hair. Or need drying"

"Nevermind" Wet hair at dinner it was.

"Sorry if I'm late. My watch stopped" Nick apologized and found that there was no seat empty next to Giovanni.

He'd just sit there at the end of the table out of the way.

[thedemonconstantine]

SHOCK! SMELLY SMOKE MAN?!

YOYO KILL!

“What?” Tim looked more puzzled about the pop overs than he did about some creepo in a coat.

“Wait, is that a weapon? Why do you have a weapon in your bag-“

Too late, Barbara was already off and yelling at trees.

Yoyo wasn’t faring any better either, which meant only one thing.

“Oh. That’s probably John. It’s alright, I suppose you can ignore him. He’s harmless. I think.” Of the Trenchcoat Brigade, Tim found John to be the friendliest one.

“As long as it’s not the one in white with a walking cane, we’re good. That one tried to kill me.”

Indeed it was John popping in on Gotham city for a quick catch-up with the JDL, only to find that a certain Tim Hunter so happened to be here, too.

What would it take for a man to just bloody smoke in peace?

He saw the redhead make for his direction and quickly slipped into the shade of a tree. From one shade to another and then another, which would bring him to the other end of the park in the blink of an eye.

WHERE SMELLY SMOKE MAN GO?!

“Home, Yoyo, he went home. Now have some chicken.”

Tim looked at his chemistry notes and sighed. Absolutely nothing made sense.

“Do you actually have a taser, Gordon?”

He wouldn’t be surprised.

“Gotham is that kind of city. I should walk you home later especially if it gets dark.”

"It's not pudding it's a quiche. If you want dessert I only have the fruit kabobs." Pudding meant a different thing this side of the ocean. She looked at him curiously a little bit. "I'll bite what's a Yorkshire pudding." And when he explained them she went oh. "Well call those pop overs."

"You made me a quill? That's really sweet Hunter" she shoved his arm as thanks and opened her map of Gotham's sewers to keep it safe in her bag.

"He's there again" she just said and grabbed her fold up baton from her bag. She thought she just saw wrong earlier but no the figure in the trench coat was there again.

"Stay here-" she warned and headed off to find out who was spying on her but when she reached the destination it was as if he vanished in thin air. "AND YOU BETTER NOT COME BACK I HAVE A TASER!" she yelled at no one and returned to Tim, no one around to hear her threat and even the jogger running past them had only just gotten to their section of the park when she started walking back.

"Some creep in a trench coat was staring right at us. I swear he was just there" she pointed to the hill not 100 meters away. He was gone as if he evaporated with no trace left behind....well she could investigate the site and find a trace but she was more worried about Tim and his science exam.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Ello Mr G! Is Johnny ‘ere, reportin’ live from New York City! Yer lass is doin’ brill, we ‘avin’ lots o’ fun! ‘Appy New Year ‘ta yeh too!!” John hollered into Zatanna’s phone just because he could, grinning despite her annoyance and he’d elbow her for a bit.

“Muaks muaks<3! Heh!”

“Nav Varsh ki Shubhkamnayein, have a Happy New Year, to you and your loved ones,” Ash greeted with a lift of his empty lemonade cup.

“Happy Ugadi. May the coming year bring you joy and countless blessings.”

“Thank you again for having me Mr Nick. This has been one of the most pleasant and restful stops I have made.”

Ash took Nick’s hands in his and brought it to his forehead in a gesture of respect and reverence.

“As is custom, I shall be leaving soon. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation.” He gave Nick a small gem, a Chandra-Kānta.

“This is the congealed rays of a full moon. A mani-chaka moonstone. May it guide you in times of darkness.”

“Wot, ‘n none fer me? Awwwww!”

John teased after squinting at the little stone.

“Happy New Year, Chief! Happy New Year, Zee-zee. May we bring more adventure into our lives! Heh!”

"Dan. Dan Morris. The Dan. The guy that organized the party?" she looked at the group whom seemed to have no idea who she was talking about. "Kay,uh, massive New York socialite. Not into the rave scene, kay" It didn't matter, as long as they were having fun. How had they even ended up here.

"I have no idea what you're talking about hun" Lilith was blinking but with a big bright smile that as long as whatever John was saying made sense to someone it was fine. "What's a leyline"

Op they were now talking about walking while being nautical. Sure.

"I think we ought to see out the New Year with New York but.." Nick gestured to John and Zatanna to get ready to leave. "Mayhaps our guest's comfort ought to be considered, we know a fantastic spot by the end of the promenade were we can see the fireworks." It was only an hour to midnight.

"Dinah is in Star city probably having a great time with Ollie" They were right this instant having another argument, her mascara was smudged and he was feeling pretty humiliated over her freak out.

"I think our little bench is a great idea" The Promenade would be heaving with others that wanted to see the fireworks set off from the bridge but it was still worth going.

Ten to midnight and they somehow squeezed their way through and evicted the current inhabitants of their favorite bench.

Someone was handing out glasses of cheap sparkling wine.

Ten!

How that year had started and how it was ending.

Seven!

John belonged with them.

THREE!

A little coven of three and their guest.

"Happy new year!" Fireworks erupted and their glasses clinked.

Nick and Zatanna air kissed very appropriately. She'd air kiss John and then Ash too.

"Come here kid" Nick put an arm around John to give him a hug and a pat on the back.

"Happy new year kid...it's gonna be a good one for you I can feel it" he smiled a rare little smile all for him full of pride for his new apprentice and ruffled John's hair as Zee hugged John from the back and rested her chin on his shoulder nodding in agreement.

"May we live as long as we want and want nothing for as long as we live" Nick toasted backlit by the fireworks.

Happy new year!

Happy New Year.

Random people became one crowd in the glow of the fireworks.

"Happy New Year daddy" she wished Giovanni on the phone. "I miss you too"

Happy New Year rabbit. Are you having fun? I miss you bunches.

[thedemonconstantine]

“It’s quite nice here actually, so yes good choice, Gordon.”

Barbara was right that Tim preferred less bustle and more nature where he could simply take in the Green. And so the Green responded in kind, offering them thicker shade and sweeter air perfumed by wildflowers that suddenly bloomed.

“Your basket is rather quite fancy,” Tim mused, looking at a quiche at eye level.

“You make Yorkshire pudding?” Mary Hunter made it once a month on Sundays, when she was still alive.

“Right,” Said Tim when the Chemistry textbook made its appearance. Of course it would be the subject he struggled with most. He’d do the same and swallow a sigh, turning to the page where they last stopped, indicated by an owl’s flight feather.

Timmy keep Yoyo feather

Why Timmy

Timmy want to make nest in book?

“No, Yoyo, I’m using your moulting as bookmarks. The one you dropped yesterday I’ve turned into a quill because it’s big enough. Which reminds me,”

Tim would rummage through his tatty backpack and pull out an encyclopaedia of birds he borrowed from the school library, and opened to the middle where he kept a quill he made from Yoyo’s primaries.

“This is for you. Thank you for taking care of Yoyo and me.” Tim handed the quill over to Barbara and flushed a hint.

“I know I can be a little difficult sometimes. I hope you can bear with me.”

The grass around their picnic mat grew a centimetre taller. A mushroom sprouted near their shoes.

Chicken now?

Yoyo want chicken!

"Everyone goes to Gotham park...Gotham Central Park if you want to be specific and I know you like specifics. I don't know, I kinda like this one better." Sure it was too close to Park Row and it's equipment was older and needed a bit more maintenance than budget would allow but it was still a good park! "It's not the sort of park you wanna walk through at night but in the day time..well I'll be fine and you don't have anything to rob."

"It's fancier than dad gets but I am very good at negotiating" Babs was worth the extra $2.75 thank you!

"I thought you'd like Robinson park too, less crowds less polish." He came across as someone that appreciated nature when it was like this, allowed to be a little wilder.

Is that a barn owl in the day time? Two mother's strolled past pushing their baby strollers.

We are really messing with the ecosystem. It's Ace chemicals, too much carbon dioxide in the air it wakes them up the other claimed.

She brought mini quiches, fruit kabobs and sausage rolls cut up into squares. A pack of baby wipes and a pack of serviettes too that Mrs Gordon bought during groceries specifically for her daughter's Sunday picnic. Barbara spent too much time in front of her computer she should be touching some grass she thought encouraging this recent behavior of sitting outdoors more.

Out came the chemistry book, Tim could only avoid facing her in tutor mode for so long. "Peanut butter and jelly is my second favorite." She'd take the first one and chew on it letting Tim find the correct page on the book for studying, she'd mimic Yoyo's head tilt instead.

Cutie!

[thedemonconstantine]

“Nonsense darling, you deserve everything Gio can spare you. For our paths to cross like this means that you are special. Out of 7 billion people in this world, the Arcane has chosen you, and the House of Mystery has taken you in.

You are meant for things, my dear.” Rose soothed Nick gently when she sat next to him, her Unseen Servant fetching over a pot of freshly brewed lavender tea. Fine Wedgewood teacups and saucers floated over and presented themselves in neat fashion.

“Jam?” She asked Giovanni as the Unseen Servant poured tea for three. Rose’s hand lifted a hint, and a tin of shortbread biscuits floated over to the table, with serving plates and a tiny jug of cream.

“You can have it with the tea as well.”

“Didn’t your mother ever tell you that staring is rude?” The goldfish somehow could talk beyond its floating glass bowl!

“You wouldn’t like me staring at you like you’ve got six hands and no feet!”

“Hey, I resent that!” The boy in the wheelchair piped up finally. “Also you can’t help but stare, Goldie! You have no eyelids!!”

“Not my fault I was born this way!”

“Hahaha!”

Nick’s new House-mates were young and amicable.

“Now now boys, girls. I’m trying to get to know our dear new friend better. After he’s settled in his room, you can have your turn and only if he’s amenable. We do not impose ourselves on others. Understand?” Rose had to remind the lot that the adults were talking.

“Yes Rose!”

“Sorry Rose!”

“B-but-“

“Can we sit next to him at dinner?”

“Is Mr Zatara staying for dinner? Can Mr Zatara please stay for dinner? We can share plates!”

“Yes! We’ll make space! I’ll bring up the extra chair from the reading lounge!”

“Well well, why not ask him yourselves, darlings?”

“Mr Zatara please can you please stay for dinner please?”

“Yes please Mr Zatara!”

One of the young ones already had their face smudged brown with chocolate coin. Minnow was tutting when she helped to clean it up with a washcloth larger than she was.

“My schedule is always open for your beautiful little girl, my darling. Also speaking of which, the Gala’s around the corner. I haven’t gotten my dress ready. Are you performing this year? Last year’s menu was ghastly…!” It had been a while since Rose last saw Giovanni, and so she had to grasp his wrist in excitement to upend the latest gossip.

“Who’s in charge this time?”

Then to Nicholas, she would hide a chuckle and apologise for her girlish display.

“I’m sorry my darling. Your Giovanni is also a very very dear friend of mine and I have not seen his precious face in ages. But we shall leave the catchup for later. How is your tea?

About the headaches and the voices you have been experiencing, is this related to your link with the Dead? We can harness and control the flow of information coming from the ether, perhaps that would ease your pain.”

Rose did notice how exhausted Nick looked.

“We can pick this up tomorrow, my dear. How about I bring you upstairs to your room so that you can wash up and rest for now?”

"Rose is very busy and I am sure that she would not approve of me stealing your...time" A hair bow taken now a pocket watch swinging left and right with a whip of hand a chocolate coin offered to a silver haired girl how fun to offer food and mischief to a youth, no real magic merely skilled deft hands and Giovanni loved nothing more than children mesmerized by trickery. Grown ups tried to pull apart the mystery, children just enjoyed it.

He adored youth, when the world seemed too massive and a good day was just a chocolate coin away.

Nick hated the adoring crowds that always gathered around him. He was not a big fan of large crowds but he would push through the discomfort for the sake of the massive opportunity at his feet. An awkward wave of hand was all he could muster for the friendly greeters.

Taking his long strand back and not knowing what to do with it he just put it in his pocket staring menacingly at the fae creature. Oh if they were anywhere else....But anger got no one nothing. "And how do you know I ain't doling anything with it? Maybe I promised it to someone, maybe I have a very jealous partner that would not approve of their possession being snatched away for all you know. If you want my hair so bad find something worthwhile to trade for it" Not above haggling for sure one ought to not end up in bargains with the fae but...the fae other than being notorious tricksters were very resourceful. And it was best to be perceived by Rose as an achiever than spiteful. He even flicked his ponytail over his other shoulder just to rub it in that she could not have any of it. None at all <3

"Oh I would love a tea if it's not too much bother...Nick why don't you tell your new housemates a little bit about yourself and let them get to know you" Pure mischief in Giovanni's eyes as Nick turned to stare at him wide eyed being subjected to shenanigans and his truest nightmare.

"I'm kidding kid, come on let's have some tea. You need to learn to relax" Giovanni grabbed Nick by the arms to shake him as if it would loosen him up but all it did was made Nick made a funny noise while being rattled.

"Little Zee keeps asking when she can see you my darling friend" Gio followed Rose for some much promised tea so they could discuss his apprentice, Nick was watching that goldfish mesmerized as if it was both the oddest and most beautiful thing he ever seen.

"Excuse me..." Nick pardoned himself glad to be walking away from the crowd, they all looked a fair bit younger, looked being the imperative word. How many of them cast offs from their homes?

Nick rubbed his eyes and then his forehead. Everything was quieter here at least but the after affects were still giving him a migraine. "I apologize if I am being rude but is it possible to dim the light just a little" he felt as if his brain was going to pound right out of his head and now he wasn't kept alert by his anxiety it all became twice as bright and colorful.

"Poor boy" Gio's hand rubbed the top of his head and he seemed okay with being soothed by his mentor.

Now away from the sensory overload it was getting better.

"Nicholas is a very talented young necromancer. I can't recall the last time I met someone practicing the art under the age of 40" he thought to start regaling Rose the issue. "Very talented..too talented. Poor young man has been unwillingly turned into the Unseen world's agony aunt. Any chance for some of those shortbread biscuits..?" Giovanni and Rose were clearly long time friends for him to make himself so at home at her parlor.

Now the world and noise were away exhaustion got the better of Nick' the weight of his head right against Gio's arm, his warm arm was very soothing maybe he could just listen with his eyes closed.

"I don't deserve your high praises sir" he spoke softly and it was true he did not feel worthy of Gio's high esteem.

"Sush, I have no respect for humility." he argued and Nick was too tired to get into a verbal spar with him. Whatever, sure, he was amazing, that's why he couldn't sleep or think. Go him!

[thedemonconstantine]

"Easy, easy, luv! I bruise like a berry, me-" John whined as he stumbled in after Talia. He winced too at the harshness of her demands. Too used was he to her dulcet tones. Talia never needed to raise her voice to get John to do what she wanted.

"Nah, nah, none o' tha' now lass. Dun fret. Sound as a pound," Anything to ease the tension in the room. Good thing he told Chas to stay outside. The cabbie was downstairs chowing on chinese takeout.

"...your Francis...?" John pouted.

"Soz, lass. I'm nah fer touching a lady's personal effects buh me Missus is me command," He was very much her gofer now after getting his ears chewed out for nothing.

Welp, might as well use a simple levitating cantrip to move Nyssa's things from one end to the other...and then Talia slapped her.

John grimaced. How much worse could this get?

"We just wanted yer at our weddin', Nyssa." He stared pointedly at her with hands held out. "Simple as tha'!"

If Nyssa really wanted to put a wrench in Talia's plans, wouldn't then be the best time to do so?

"I guess we'll save th' spot fer June or summat..."

Back to levitating the luggages out the door. Damned things were so heavy, what the heck did the woman pack, her kitchen sink??

"...eugh...al ghuls..." Muttered really softly under his breath for fear of turning Talia's wrath towards him.

Nyssa could not help but to wonder what Talia saw in him. In his humble little flat, in his unkept hair, living in the squalor of a council estate high rise when she was owed all the luxury and comfort in the world. Talia was not a modest humble woman, but if she was merely pretending to find John appealing then consider Nyssa too fooled for she could see love in her eyes. Talia looked happy in her dingy little flat in Twickenham with him.

Why. Sure he had talent and no doubt potential but he was so beneath her. And could not even be counted on to stop her from making the worst mistake of her life...whatever her choice he won't stand in her way. What was he even good for if not correcting her course.

"Nyssa-" Since no one introduced her she thought to introduce herself. "I am far far more beautiful than my half sister so do not insult me twice. And 2 centimeters taller" Talia wore ankle breaking heels so who would have even noticed those 2 important centimeters.

Suppose she'd have to host two louts instead of the planned one.

The door to her suite closed behind her...

Exactly 11 hours later it opened again as Talia shoved her husband inside.

"You dare come to my home ever the stormcrow and attempt to pull my husband into your little conspiracy?" she shouted dragging John by the arm as she confronted a Nyssa who did not seem surprised but was stunned at the volume of Talia's voice. Very unlike her to cause a scene like this.

"And you dare to insult my Francis.." hers not John's take note. "...with your veiled attempts at making yourself appear every the better, ever the more gracious...I have wanted nothing but your love but it is clear that you have no interest in being my sister. Pack your bags, you are to leave London within the three hours and not set foot in my city again. I will know if you do" she threatened.

She was a tempest, the Wrath of a forgotten God, the Viper coiled and striking with precision.

Nyssa simply stood up and nodded. "As you wish, you will regret it but as you wish Talia. Whatever you wish, as always" She had been the one to desert the League but it still clearly bothered her how much Talia had achieved and given at her feet.

She was never that favored.

"Apologize to my husband for darkening his step with your perilous whisperings"

Nyssa weighed her options.

"If I caused you offense I do apologize" It was as mocking and fake as it could be and then...

Talia struck her. Back of the hand right across the cheek.

"Next time I will draw blood."

"Help her pack her bags please habibi. And make sure she does not miss her limo to the airport." A warning that should Nyssa not make the first flight out of London it would have dire consequences for her.

[thedemonconstantine]

Winters’ fading astral projection seemed to have taken a little something away from Jason. He watched his forever friend dissipate, not even registering the three apprentices that stepped away along with it.

“Visit soon…” He repeated dully for a slight headache started to form.

Baron Winters immortal, has vanished once more

And his trio of goons rolled out the door

You're left to surrender, yield to my tone—

The rush of blood, the crack of bone

The sting of brimstone and kiss of the flame

The taste of marrow, shattered and raw

For triumph now bears my name!

Jason shook his head, grunting.

Etrigan’s voice was much louder now.

“Aye, look woh th’ cat brought in!” John’s happy voice cut through the prose, along with his twirling to present himself, grubby coat and all, to the old knight.

“I brung bikkies, yew pour tea. We ‘ave a party!”

Perhaps he was a little too happy. Anything to work off the sting of the long and tedious arguments he had with Talia back home. It was ridiculous, how possessive she was to the point of yelling him into the corner. He was on the brink of just walking out again.

Did she not trust him at all??

Eh whatever.

“Come come, let’s put on th’ kettle ‘n ‘ave a coven in yer wee cosy kitchun. I wants stories! Where yer been, Jase?”

John knew. The moment he came into the shop, he caught the lingering whiff of sulphur.

“What?” Jason blinked at his two guests. Who were they?

“Alrite, alrite, ne’er yew mind. Come come, let’s all ‘ave a seat now aye?” John ushered both Zatanna and Jason towards the kitchen and shuttered the shop.

Perhaps this time, Jason’s mind was more addled than he thought.

“Sit, sit! Imma make some tea.”

From her bag a dark blue with silver stars paper diary floated branded with her TV show's logo, the TV show was a bit niche but the merchandising deals that came out of it were a franchise of their own.

Jason had not been around for five years but she stifled her protest of did you not hear what I said for John somehow always ended up where he was needed and maybe John could find Jason.

"I can move some things around and do Thursday?" Her schedule was pretty busy but this was deemed in her mind a priority. "I'm having early dinner with a friend but I will move it to le milieu, pick me up at 7 and we walk the two blocks?" she suggested for it was preferable not to cancel on her friend and the French bistro was only two blocks away from Jason's antique shop.

Zatanna would probably never know how many hours of arguments him meeting her caused back home. Talia was furious, it was different going to a public gala meeting her ex but this was intimate and personal...she argued and argued, they argued, they fought, they made amends and reluctantly Talia allowed him to go.

They'd find Jason had guests already, three of Winters' apprentice's and Baron himself...well his Astral projection that was fussing over him. Maybe Jason reached out to him upon his return, maybe Baron was always keeping an eye on Jason, Zatanna could have sworn she had seen people wait by the shutters for hours unend some nights.

"I'll leave you to your guests. Visit soon my friend-anything you need" his astral held Jason by the shoulders and his forehead rested against Jason's. Centuries of love and friendship between them that Zatanna could see it even in the mundane gesture that Baron worried and he was not a man easily worried.

His three apprentices would simply in unison give John and Zatanna a look to be careful with him.

"Be kind and gentle to my dear friend" the astral projection both pleaded and warned that should they not...he'd be having words...and fizzled out of existence.

"Five years, no call, no note" Zatanna chastised, so much for being gentle.

[thedemonconstantine]

Bug for Yoyo? Yoyo love bug! Crunchy crunchy!

“Yoyo says thank you, Gordon,” Greeted Tim despite his owl saying nothing of the sort.

“It’s not much. Just peanut butter and jelly. This is cheese and pickles. There's not much in my fridge except for TV dinners."

Tim looked at the four-pack and squinted as he set his containers down on the picnic mat. The sandwiches were simple but neatly wrapped in aluminium foil and cut diagonally. There was a tub of washed cherry tomatoes and another of sliced apples…and a smaller one of boiled chicken strips for Yoyo.

“No…it looks fancy.” They hardly had soda at home, mostly beer. Bill Hunter wasn’t much of a grocery man.

“I’m sorry it’s really simple fare. I don’t know how to fry chicken or make pizza.” He could make the instant mac and cheese but that didn’t seem like proper picnic food.

“I’ve not been to this park before either. It’s quite deserted for a weekend.” Tim was still new to the ongoings of Gotham.

Chicken?

@thedemonconstantine for Tim & Babs + Yoyo from the IM plot

Studies in the sun

"You didn't have to go through all this effort" Babs beamed arriving in Robinson park, the less popular park of Gotham as it bordered the skid row and Gotham's most impoverished neighbourhoods but it was the better park in Barbara Gordon's idea compared to Gotham Park because it was less popular. The trees were still green with plenty of shade, still lots of pretty flowers that deserved to be admired, and most importantly it was quiet enough to be able to help Tim study. She would have been happy with a bench but the picknick blanket was a cute idea.

"Hello to you too Yoyo. You look very dapper" she set her satchel down and took off her trainers to be on the blanket in her socks alone. Tim probably wanted to give a little more effort in return for her patience in trying to tutor him, didn't make it any less sweet.

"I brought San Pellegrino, have you had it before? It's very swiss lemonade" she beamed a smile and rummaged in her satchel to get the four pack out. "And I brought you a cricket" She had been reading about owls and found a dead one in her garden just twenty minutes ago being batted around by one of the neighborhood cats that could not be bothered to actually eat it.

"I'm glad you picked a shady spot. Gingers...we don't do well in the sunlight" she laughed but it was true, she'd be lobster red within twenty minutes had he picked the sunny spot and she would have had to be awkward and ask him to move to the shadier spots.

[thedemonconstantine]

“There you are, darling! There you are!” Rose greeted with open arms, giving Giovanni’s cheeks one kiss each before letting him bestow the same upon her knuckles.

The House sang with falling petals and a crisp spring breeze upon the pair’s arrival, parroting Rose’s warm enthusiasm for when she opened the doors.

“And how do you do. Just Rose, my dear. We don’t mind ceremony so much here. Welcome to the House of Mystery. She will care for you if you care for her too.”

Dressed impeccably was the mistress of the House, but what was more distinct was the way she carried herself.

“Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe?” Rose kept a little tease in the fold of her compliments, studying the young man’s icy blues before retracting her hand.

“Gio told me all about you. Come, come. Let’s get you settled in and then we can have a cup of tea.”

A curious head poked out from behind Rose to stare, a translucent humanoid creature of bubbles and water. It dug its nose for a bit and lost interest, then drifted back into the House.

“Guys, guys, we got a new one!”

There was the sound of feet pattering down the stairs inside the House, a rush of feathers. Something tumbled and something else cracked.

“Oooo! Is it a he? Is it a she? Or an it? Please can we have an it? I’m tired of being the only it!”

“Now now, everyone. Say hello to our new resident and friend.”

Rose would wave the front doors open to reveal the inside of the House, which was currently styled as a beautiful mansion, stately with old wood and crystal flower lamps, cream curtains and bay windows that looked out to different landscapes across the worlds. One window had an active volcano spurting fumes and molten rock, another window showed a sandstorm across a desert plain. Another was the epitome of spring trees and lush overgrown grass. The one next to it was a scene of a tranquil night captured in the reflection of a lake.

The other inhabitants were as curious as these windows. A girl with rabbit ears down to her knees. A floating goldfish in its bowl. A boy in a wheelchair with skin the colour of the milky way. A pair of twins with wings upon their back. There were more mundane-looking residents but even those were peculiar, like the young woman with a witch’s hat and the one next to her with long silver hair.

"Hello!" "Hi" "Mae govannen, sweet water and light laughter, new friend." "Helô, bore da--"

"I call dibs on the hair~"

A little fey creature went straight for Nick's hair, plucking one with mischievous glee.

"No, we do not do anything without consent here, Minnow. Give that strand back to dear Nicholas please. And apologise." Rose had her hands clasped together expectantly whilst looking at the offending sprite, who deflated immediately under her gaze.

"B-but-"

"Mae hi'n gwneud hynny drwy'r amser!" (She does that all the time!)

"...ok fiiiiiineeeeeeee- sowwy...." And Minnow thrust the stolen hair back in Nicholas' face.

"Not as if he's going to be doing ANYTHING with it anyways..."

"No, but we still do not condone thieving or banditry here. Would you like your wings stolen, Minnow?" Asked Rose.

"....No."

A few of the residents laughed.

"Hello Nicholas!" "Hello Mr Zatara!" "We love your show!" "Are you here to do magic tricks again?" "OOOH DO THAT THING WITH THE HAND AND THE THING!"

Doors to the mind

Finding the Occult house was the hardest and easiest thing an adept in need could do, had one visited before and one needed them they would find that no matter what street they walked, no matter which plain, their path would turn winding, the air would smell of roses and juniper and their Door would be at the end of their path. The House knew when She needed to host someone but that someone had to want above everything else to be found, many stood at that door having nowhere else to turn. When all else fails, they were there.

It was the first thing Nick noticed, the smell of roses and juniper in the air that turned very comfortably balmy.

Giovanni knocked twice. "You don't have to be so nervous" he rubbed Nick's arm to soothe him, poor thing looked as stiff as a board and like he was going to collapse of exhaustion...or shame. "The Occults have always been there for any wayward adept that had no one and nowhere to turn to. She's a very dear friend and a gem of a person. It will do you good to get out of your comfort zone" he was actually very pleased to have a challenge for Rose. It would do Nick good, it would do Rose good to have someone to fuss over like a mother hen.

"If you say so sir" Nick was picking on his sleeve and just then the door would open.

"We're here to see Doctor Rose." Giovanni announced and would have to actually pull Nick gently by the arm to enter. Nick wondered who Giovanni was talking to.

The House would change just a little, just in the form of softer light and a smell of old library to make her new guest feel more at ease.

"Rose!" Giovanni greeted and took both her hands to kiss her knuckles. "My delightful apprentice Nicholas, goes by Nick. Does not like Nickie.." With a head nudge he tried to get Nick to speak.

Nick was too busy being mesmerized by the woman that would make pin up models look like fat garden gnomes.

"Doctor" he greeted and not knowing how to greet her took her hand to kiss it cold blue eyes staring into her warm ones. "Honored to make your acquaintance"

"Isn't he delightful. An 18th century soul in such a young body" he slapped Nick's back and the young man nearly tripped. "You will adore him just like I do, one moment he's like a gothic poet the next he will tell you all about Fields of the Nephelim. Have you heard of them?" Giovanni found Nick's personality fascinating, Nick felt like a stick insect being observed by a scientist he found far too jolly.

"I won't waste your precious time talking about bands you have my promise madam. Doctor" he corrected himself. He should have worn nicer clothes, he felt so out of place in her house in skinny jeans and black Reebok pumps. Maybe he shouldn't have worn eyeliner, maybe he should have washed his long hair that was three days greasy and pinned in a ponytail.

What would she think of him.

@thedemonconstantine

[thedemonconstantine]

“I’m soz, Zee-zee, I really am-“ Her gentle beckoning was the last straw. John sniffled into her hands and reached for her warmth.

“I dun…I just dunno woh else ‘ta do-“ What could he do, for the mere mention of this man’s name made him feel so small…so ridiculously helpless.

He nodded silently because words choked him up. He gripped onto her coat for fear of her slipping away again. What if one day she truly did disappear, what then?

“One step at a time,” This was said to himself more than to her, with hands shaking from nicotine. John released her and tugged at his rumpled coat. All of a sudden he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

“I’m soz abar yer Da too. If is worff anyfing at all. Dere was nah ova way.”

Giovanni up in flames at their seance table, giving himself up in order to save his beautiful daughter. Whenever John thought of Zatanna, this was the very next thing that haunted his vision whether he liked it or not.

Hate him, why not. It made little difference now.

“…I’m soz.”

But the heart wanted what the mind always thought to be frivolous and stupid.

John sought Zee’s hands to hold them tight.

“…wotcher doin’ next week? Fancy a spot o’ tea at Blood’s?”

“Wait-!” John grabbed her hand.

“…wait,” From a demand to a plea, his grasp loosened though he kept his fingers on hers.

“Soz, Zee. It’s just…aww Christ, yer know ‘ow it is…”

All confidence drained away to reveal a very defeated John. Nick had always been his most difficult subject, perhaps even more so than the Newcastle incident.

“E’en now it ‘urts just finkin’ o’ ‘im. Cor, Zee, ‘e was me first…” His fingers went limp against hers.

“Is best if I just nah go dere. I can’t deal wiff it nah so much, me,” How pathetic was he now, wrapping Nick’s coat tighter around himself.

It was the only thing he kept.

“I dun wants yer ‘ta go at it alone, is nah woh I’m sayin’ alrite, just…I dunno. I dun…”

John scrubbed at his eyes. Every single time, the mere thought of Nick would make him feel so small.

Why were they not enough??

[thedemonconstantine]

"LILIEEEEEE-" John greeted tossing both arms around the redhead. He saved the biggest squeeze for her!

"Wouldn'tje knows it! Small world innit, fancy seein' yer 'ere! Is Die about now? Been meanin' 'ta ask 'er uh--" Wait, maybe Dinah's wedding details weren't meant for public ears.

"Hoo's Dan? Yer new squeeze? Ehhh, wouldje go 'ome now tha' we're 'ere?" John snorted at Nick's attempt to be funny and hooked arms with Lilith. Being chummy with her never pissed Zee off. Yet.

"Nah I'll pass on th' white stuff. Nobody offers yer shite coz yeh looks like yer gots yer own fing goin', Chief. Yer dun need anyfing else. Or anybody else, fer tha' ma'er," John mused after giving his mentor a once-over.

Nick looked too put-together to do mundane nonsense like drugs.

"Ash Walker is our resident leyline expert. 'e mends threads, just like a tailor. Cool innit?"

"A seamster would be a better analogy, John. I cannot make leylines just like how tailors make clothes. Only repair-"

"I'm afraid I don't do very well on the water, Miss- Lily-ji. I would have to pass. There are nautical Walkers but they tend to submerge. I am mostly of the land variety."

"Dere's nautical Walkers?? Do they gots fins or some shite? Tha's bloody boss tha' is! Fink theys gots aerial Walkers 'n I dunno, space Walkers 'n all tha', like?"

"The aerial Walkers are sylvan, those that I know of. I'm not sure if there are any in space. Leylines seem to be gravity-logged to an extent," Ash replied in all seriousness as he looked to be genuinely considering having a go at the party yacht.

"Cor, wouldn'tje know! Ye learn sumfing new e'ery ding dong day, amirite, Chief?"

"Please go ahead, don't miss out on the fireworks on account of me. I can make my own way back, if Mr Nick allows it."

"Oop, I kin walk yeh back, mate. Nah problem at all."

Maybe Zee just wanted to spend a bit of alone time with Nick? Was that it?

"I can teach you a lot of things kid but understanding the intricacies of a woman's mind ain't one of them, specially Zatanna's. In all my expertise and wisdom beyond compare.." he was putting on a tone of an elderly scholar just to amuse John and the eavesdroppers as he leaned his cigarette closer to John's to help him light it. "...I have yet to unravel the inner machinations of a woman's mind when she both thinks herself better than all her peers and yet a piece of worthless garbage the moment your attention is taken up by anything else. A woman, a street cat, a book. I think it's only child syndrome-" Nick tried to be helpful but he too was baffled by Zatanna's lack of confidence specially when she was so self assured ten seconds before.

That was rude. We're not an alien species mister some random chick right behind them piped up. She probably just wants you to remind her she's your princess.

"She's my girlfriend why is John meant to make her feel special?" Nick tried to defend John, tried being the key word.

Then it's your fault.

"I know that. Everything everywhere is my fault and I have accepted that this is my duty to the great city of New York"

He raised his spiked drink in a toast to their city and looped his arm to John to find a spot a little further down the pavement for privacy.

"Girls are just jealous even if they have no right to be. She will get over it John, you're not Zatanna's pet poodle owing her explanations for every boy and girl that flirts with you" He patted John's shoulder in support.

Indoors Zatanna had jumped ten paces when someone poked her in the butt and when she turned to confront them found a giggling Lilith.

"Oh come on Zee why are you so sour." she teased pinching Zatanna's cheek. "There he is! HEY HUN!" she greeted John throwing her arms around him and air kissing his right cheek. "Glitter make up let's not get that on ya hun."

"You all but steal my butt virginity but John doesn't even get a face-full of glitter, who's friend are you Lils"

"And mister Nolan? I never thought i'd see the day"

"I need more alcohol" Nick was in a particularly good mood. "Still not a huge hugger" he complained as Lilith hugged him, the girl would squeeze him even harder and try to pick him up but found Nick far harder to lift than John.

"Zee help me, the man needs booze...woah who's your friend?" Ash had been so quiet that she barely noticed him.

"Lilith..." she introduced herself. "Aw- you guys going?"

"It's looking like we're staying for a bit. That's Ash he is a guest of Nick's for a couple of days."

"I wanted to go home too if it makes you feel better Ash" she consoled Ash.

"We were gonna go on Dan's rented yacht, the DJs here are kinda meh. Deep dish is playing a set, it's gonna be real class, select people, finger food. Fireworks from the pier. I can get you guys in if you wanna Zee-Zee" Lilith offered.

"Not the pizza they're a duo.." she went to explain.

"I for one am very dissapointed it's not a sentient pizza spinning the decks." Nick's attempt of humor seemed to not have found it's crowd. "Screw the bunch of you, I am funny" he tried to argue.

"Ha-" Zatanna gave a pitty laugh.

"Are we staying or...?" she asked.

"I kinda think the party boat might be a better choice to continue merry making before you strangle the next girl that cuddles our John with her own necklace" He noticed, he noticed everything. "If our guest is up for it." he tried to give Ash some support but it was a losing vote, really.

"You should come Ash, it's gonna be less cocaine in the bathroom and more dancing under the stars on a yacht!"

"Did anyone offer you cocaine? I feel discriminated upon" Nick whispered to John just to defuse...whatever Zee's issue was from his mind. "I never get offered shit."

[thedemonconstantine]

Yes Lady Talia Yoyo talk to finger Lady Talia funny Timmy First no talk then yes talk now

"Yes, she is, isn't she?" A rare smile appeared on Tim's face when he watched Yoyo's gaze follow Talia's fingers.

"He is going to want a treat, which I don't think he deserves because he wasn't that quiet after all."

He was pleased by Talia's praise, perhaps it had just been too long since he received any, acknowledgement even. Tim would help her with their bags.

"I learnt from the best."

"There are no rivers in Monaco but the beach front is a mere kilometer north Ea...that way" she even courteously opened the veranda doors for the easier disposal of their guests. No matter how much either of them thrashed and tried to stop Tim's spell, every counter spell of Richard's would not only fizzle but merely not come to be.

Talia put her hand on Tim's shoulder and to add insult to injury blew an air kiss with red pursed lips and a wink. Good bye morons, contemplate your failure while you dried off.

It felt like vindication, she exhaled a breath she knew not she was holding, deep down having feared that Tim might be tempted to leave. She had so far failed to find him an arcane tutor after all and magic was by definition alluring.

"We ought to take lunch and make our way out of Monaco, it has suddenly lost it's appeal" she mused stroking Yoyo's chin down to his chest.

"Go on beautiful boy give me a nice hoot." she demanded so much silence out of him that she felt like breaking the static of the aftermath with a cheerful owl's noise.

"Hoot" she demanded as index and middle finger met with thumb and threaded together rised upwards in her command.

"You handled yourself with great dignity" It was as affectionate as she would get as she packed what little gear they needed to keep eyes on the duo.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Dere yer are, ‘n ‘ere I am finkin’ aye, yer ne’er show up,” John was in the middle of having a light as he shuffled down the stairs of his little flat in Twickenham.

“Yeh kin just come on in, yer know? Door’s nah locked. Freezin’ bollocks out ‘ere I tell yer, why do tha’ ‘ta yerself, waitin’ outside fer ages- beyond me I swear.”

He shrugged whilst going down past her, snorting and spitting phlegm which would always come with his first smoke of the day…well it was evening now, his workday.

“Room 509, th’ King suite, I know,” John chewed through his cigarette, shoving both hands into his coat pockets. It really was a bloody cold night.

“A wee bug told me.”

Oh it was easier to find Nyssa now that John saw her proper…all the more that she stayed within the range of London City’s scampers and itty gritty critters.

“I ‘aven’t told ‘er buh I shall ‘ave ‘ta now, innit?”

And before he could say more, Chas showed up jangling keys.

“Alrite, John? Talia,” Chas greeted, having mistaken Nyssa for her sister in the poorly-lit neighbourhood.

“Eh?” Why were kids still playing ball at this time of the night?

“Is too late fer muckin’ about youse lot! Go ‘ome! Off wiff yer! Now, I say!” He picked up the ball and made to look as if he would hurl it straight at the face of the leader, holding up his fist to double the threat.

“None o’ tha’ lip now or I’ll smack it rite off yer gobs! GO!” Last warning, and then he lopped the ball gently at the smallest one, which had everyone scatter.

Good.

“Soz lads, Uncle Chas gots ‘ta it first. Heh.”

Of course Chas would mistake Nyssa for Talia. John did not bother to correct his best mate either.

“Mebbe try nah ‘ta ‘ave th’ ‘otel fall down around our ears if yeh kin ‘elp it, when yer meet ‘er tha’ is,” John knew he was persuading the wrong sister about this but hey, at least he tried.

“Rest assured I won’t let any ‘arm befall me wife, wohe’er ‘er choice, is nah me ‘ta stand in ‘er way,” Although if push comes to shove, he would turn her around somehow. Eh, he’ll get to it when it comes.

“Oi mate, yer left yer license back ‘ome or summat?” John greeted Chas after with a slap on the back.

“Bloody kids…dun e’er respect suppertime-“ Chas grumbled over the rearrangement of his cap.

“Wot, nah a cabby nite fer us now innit John? Didn’tje need sumfing else? Eh…? Where’s Talia? I thought I just saw ‘er-“

Chas smacked John’s hands away from his flask.

“Gitcher own!” He wasn’t sharing his coffee tonight! John didn’t leave him a drop the last time!

“So where we goin’? Is it somewhere indoors might be? Proper freezin’ me arse off sweet fanny adams!”

“Cor I’d ne’er thought yer asked. We gunna be proper boss t’nite mate, we are! Fancy a cuppa at th’ Savoy?”

"I fret I do not know for certain, Nyssa and I have not spoken for years. We haven't had a chance to just talk. I only know that she does not wish for me to claim my birthright, a birth right that she forfeited" she wanted so much to believe that Nyssa showed up just to see her. Maybe even hoped that Nyssa would leave her luggage behind just to have an excuse to come back.

"I would like nothing more than for you to be right my midnight sun, that she is concerned of consequences or matters going awry" Ra's' indoctrination twisted deep, blinded her even to consider that words could be genuine and it wasn't all some facade. Their evening walk would last for hours, it was dawn by the time they came home.

It would be three more days before further news would come.

"John may we speak" She seen Talia leave hours ago and yet John had not left the apartment until almost evening, how late did the bloke sleep in?

She half expected him to keep walking or chastise her for ambushing him outside his home but he seemed on the surface far too calm.

"You don't have to believe me but I do care what happens to her. I merely ask to confide in you, if you choose to not take heed of my warning I won't blame you." He seemed the more reasonable of the two really.

"Could you tell her I am staying at the Savoy when you do tell her I ambushed you." She sort of knew he might just tattle of her actions but so be it. It was a very windy evening despite the clear sky making Londoners everywhere try to cling to their coats and take away containers as workers made their way back home.

John can you get our ball please? One of the neighborhood children ran up to him to ask him to retrieve their ball from the garden across the road, the third time today their ball ended up in a different highrise's building and sort of annoying everyone involved.

Please uncle John she was proper mad last time ....ten minutes ago.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Wait-!” John grabbed her hand.

“…wait,” From a demand to a plea, his grasp loosened though he kept his fingers on hers.

“Soz, Zee. It’s just…aww Christ, yer know ‘ow it is…”

All confidence drained away to reveal a very defeated John. Nick had always been his most difficult subject, perhaps even more so than the Newcastle incident.

“E’en now it ‘urts just finkin’ o’ ‘im. Cor, Zee, ‘e was me first…” His fingers went limp against hers.

“Is best if I just nah go dere. I can’t deal wiff it nah so much, me,” How pathetic was he now, wrapping Nick’s coat tighter around himself.

It was the only thing he kept.

“I dun wants yer ‘ta go at it alone, is nah woh I’m sayin’ alrite, just…I dunno. I dun…”

John scrubbed at his eyes. Every single time, the mere thought of Nick would make him feel so small.

Why were they not enough??

"You're confident that she can handle herself against a practiced sorcerer with a grudge?" she questioned his non-chalantness on the matter and wanted to just remind him what usually happened to the people close to him,to wedge that knife right in the spot she'd knew would hurt but she kept that last thought to herself. From her perspective no matter how easily Talia got the upper hand against her during that gala she was just some woman.

"Then go! Go watch football and muck about in pubs and sewers I will just handle him myself. Like I've always done" Always having to be the sensible one, always the one clearing up his shit. And now he stood up agitated.

"Then just go John. I mean it, go live in blissful ignorance and I really do hope it works out for you. You deserve to be happy for once.But do warn your girlfriend to watch her back, Nick holds on to his grudges." As if John needed reminding.

Fuck it, she'd take the choice of walking away, away from John and she'd walk off.

"It was good to see you. I meant it" Would be her parting words.

Some wounds ran too deep to be healed fast.

[thedemonconstantine]

"DA! DA! WAKE UP!" Alexis had climbed and was actively trying to shake the poor man awake determined to be the first to give him his father's day present and card. "DAAAAAAAAA!" and when he did finally relent and open his eyes she'd shove a card full of glitter right in his face reading TO ME FAVO DA, LOVES YEH LOTS AND LOTS. And as for a present? A zippo lighter she most definitely stole of a shop with a frog and mushroom decal. "Does yeh like it? Then yeh kin fink of me when yous awaaaaaay"

“Unnngh- Wohsit yer wee lil’ rascal!”

John was barely functioning, the sun just rolled in and so did a big blonde nest of hair, followed by something flat and shiny repeatedly smacking into his face.

“Alrite alrite dat’s it, Da needs a breaffer, arm, arm, yer squishin’ me arm, Christ!”

After sliding his limb away from his daughter’s knee, John let out a long drawn groan and dropped his head back onto the pillows. Ah…the soft soft pillows….

“Where’s me mornin’ kissy? Come ‘ere ‘n gimme yer Da a squeeze. Alrite now wossat yer gots aye? Will yer read it out fer Da now?”

“Alrite ducky, alrite, now git.”