18812/Bloody Mary in Tights.

Bloody Mary in Tights.
Date of Scene:	11 August 2024
Location:	The Laughing Magician
Synopsis:	Mary Seward decides it's best not to let Constantine bumble through saving the world on his own. Is she off to the tailor to have her Super Hero suit fitted?
Cast of Characters:	John Constantine, Mary Seward

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John Constantine has posed:
Maybe he could have just picked up the phone or maybe he doesn't have Mary's number? Even if the former is true, that's just not John Constantine's style when dealing with those he sometimes hates, other times tolerates and other /other/ times might actually like. He has to be a little more flashy than that. That's why John chose to send a message through the aether, along the wires of the mystical and magical. The message took the form of a small origami bat once it reached its intended.

Meet me at The Laughing Magician in the Kitchen. - Date and time were written above the signature and it was signed simply, JC.

It might be important to note that he didn't mean the kitchen of the Laughing Magician.

So, as the time drew nearer, not certain if she would show up or not, John took his place on his pauper's throne of a barstool situated so that he could see any and all that walk through the door.

It's an unnecessary precaution, the wards tell him when something 'other' enters anyway. A half empty glass of scotch and an ashtray already filled to near full with the butts of Silk Cuts, he waits - fingers drumming out the beat of whatever Johnny Rotten is pelting out on that old jukebox in the corner.

Mary Seward has posed:
Here she was, the Queen of Blood arriving at some know-nothing dive bar she has never been to before, at the invitation of a man she could hardly really say that she stands. Last time she checked, she was meant to be above this sort of thing...

Yet, who would she be to say no?

Of course, Mary being Mary, she'd leave John sitting on that barstool, waiting for her to come through that door...Only for her to rather spontaneously already be sitting next to him, sipping from a glass she didn't even order, adorning a rather wide black overcoat. One would assume this was out of a desire to not be recognized as ever patronizing this place, but that would imply that Mary cared about the opinions of humans. No, she just likes how it looks on her.

"John Constantine, as I live and breathe...and I do neither." She sets her empty wine glass down, stained with a red much too deep to be actual wine. "...You know, I ought to kill you on the spot for having the gall to call me over here, if it weren't for the fact that the demons of whatever corner of hell your soul would pop up in would no doubt send me complaints..."

She's joking...mostly.

John Constantine has posed:
"More apt to be the other two havin' a fuss," John points out. To his credit, the fact that Mary wasn't, and then was, there in a blink, didn't seem to phase him. Then again not much to do with anything or anyone supernatural does anymore. He does cast a glance down at her drink and adds, "And here I had one all fixed up for you already, luv. Pity." The Bloody Mary he had hidden behind a curtain of illusion suddenly shows itself next to her on the bar.

John is nothing if not good host!

Normally he would likely engage in chitchat, perhaps a few traded barbs back and forth - a little catchup on who ate who or who summoned what demon recently. But not this time. This time he jumps straight to it.

"What do you know about this giant planet eating shite potentially coming our way? Galactus?" He's done a little poking about, trying to sus what could be sussed. But he's always been a man that holds his cards close and only shows them after everyone has checked.

Mary Seward has posed:
Mary's not one to turn down an extra drink, whether it's alcohol or blood. Thus, the drink that bares her namesake quickly finds itself in her hand. "Oh, look at you being nice...You DEFINITELY need something from me then." She puts the glass to her lips.

Then, the talk of planet eaters gives her pause. "...Can't say I'm all that well versed on it. I've been busy with my own little conundrums to even get word on such big things. That being said, I've gotten pretty well acquainted with the Brotherhood of Mutants, and their little asteroid hangout spot has given me quite the good view of space...and that sounds like something that would be particularly easy to notice."

John Constantine has posed:
"This time I think it would be beneficial to us both if we played nice, luv," John offers. His tone is much more serious than most ever hear out of him. "I really don't figure the thing is close enough to be seen as yet. Not even sure if its in our galaxy - but something is heading this way and fast. All the space monkeys are jawin' about it. Justice League had a big shindig to talk about it."

He picks up his glass of scotch and polishes it off in one swift motion before continuing...

"I've done a wee bit of diggin' on my own. A lot of it's just cryptic but they point to something above scale of even the multiverse." Does he sound a little, no it can't be, but does John sound a touch scared by what he's found out, what he's 'seen' in his own way? John Constantine stops the end of the world every other Tuesday, why is this different?

"Thing what's supposed to stop it is something call The Ultimate Nullifier - sounds like a bad WWF matchup if you ask me. Galactus vs. The Ultimate Nullifier!" He barks out a laugh but there's not much humor to it. "But this nullifier thing, prophecies say it's every bit as destructive as the thing it's meant to stop."

Ominous.

"Essentially, I just need eyes and ears open. Everyone from friends to lovers to whatever it is we are. This is big Mary, truly big. I plan on seeking out Man-Thing to sus more on the situation."

The Bloody Mary? It's mixed with dragon's blood.

Mary Seward has posed:
That particularly distinct aftertaste hits Mary hard. Hard enough that she doesn't even notice John's little wrestling related crack. Saves him whatever dismissive retort she could've readied otherwise. Of course, she eventually starts focusing again when he gets more of a point.

"...Man-Thing. As in THAT Man-Thing? Nexus of All Realities, Burns you with a touch if you have fear in your heart Man-Thing." She swirls the glass in her hand. Now, he REALLY has her attention.

"You're really serious about this, huh?...Well, I must say, as someone who also lives on this planet and is thus advised to keep it in one piece, I'm not just about to let you potentially bumble about with it's fate....I'm in Constantine, and if you're going to find that Man-Thing, then let's find that Man-Thing..."

John Constantine has posed:
"Is there any other?" Because if there's anyone or anything else out there that is ridiculous enough to be called Man-Thing, he certainly hasn't heard anything about it.

But when Mary asks if John's really serious about it all, he turns to really face her for the first time, one eyebrow climbing. "If I wasn't, do you really think I would have called you here?" He has a point, it's not like either of them really call on the other for anything unless it's 'Really Serious'.

"I need a little time to get ready for that trip, luv. Wouldn't want to bumble about in the swamps, get lost and really bumble the world's fate rather than just potentially." This isn't one he's willing to leave up to Synchronicity alone, although it'll likely still play a part, doesn't it always?

"I'll let you know when we're leaving, pack light." John pauses a beat just to study her before, "But listen, when it comes right down to the nitty gritty, steer clear. I mean, if the thing what's supposed to defeat the thing that eats planets is just as destructive, fewer lost in that crossfire the better."

Huh, was that actually a hint of concern?

Mary Seward has posed:
If it is, Mary sure doesn't buy it. "...I've been around for centuries, and I've done a pretty decent job of not being killed up to now. Don't worry about me, John. Worry about the world we're going to save if this goes right."

Saving the world. Something about that feels strange out of her lips. Her ambitions always lied towards saving vampires, and she's even humored saving the occasional mutant here and there thanks to the Brotherhood. But, now here she is, technically volunteering herself to protect the Earth from a darker force...Like those people in the capes and tights she wasn't very fond of.

There's a humor in that.

"...So...If that's all, then...I suppose you'll know how to find me..." She rises from her stool.

John Constantine has posed:
"Just one more thing, luv. Mine are off limits." He tempers the warning with a wink, but he means what he says. No feeding on his people. Well, at least until the end of the world has come and gone without ever really happening in the first place.

John returns his attention to his drink and the pack of Silk Cuts at his elbow. First, he lights the latter. It dangles from his lips when he says, "Tata, for now."

As Mary walks out the door, the jukebox in the corner is belting out REM's - It's the End of the World as We Know it. Coincidence or something else?

After all, Mary Seward signing on to be a Super Hero really could be the end of the world as we know it.

Mary Seward has posed:
Mary sighs, "You always find a way to remind me why we can never really be friends." But, of course, she'll cooperate. The Dragon's Blood was more than enough to sate her palate for the night. Barfly blood would only serve to dilute the flavor.

She waves John off and just sits around, enjoying the music.