1068/The Bells: A Little Magic

The Bells: A Little Magic
Date of Scene:	09 April 2020
Location:	Ace of Clubs Pub
Synopsis:	Lois enlists the help of one John Constantine to investigate the spooky shadow creatures.
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, John Constantine

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Lois Lane has posed:
Zatanna had said John was the 'expert'. Given Lois' limited magic-related connections, the contact information as well a mention that Zatanna was owed a favor anyway meant she had a good in for a meetup. It was a brief conversation, just what was needed for the meeting. Some kind of magic-related creature that could be dangerous for both Metropolis and New York both at this point.

Lois has confiscated a table near the corner. Settled into her chair, she has bottle of cider she's started on in front of her. She's dressed in business casual attire--she's likely been at work and made her way over from there. While not impatient, she does scan through her phone while she waits.

John Constantine has posed:
     The conversation was indeed brief, choosing a bar as a good neutral meeting point.

  So, in front the outside, walks in John Constantine, Master of the Dark Arts, Exorcist, and what some people would call a con man.

  "Two pints of bitter, mate!" He announces, before taking out a small wad of bills. "Oh, beg yer pardon. Ale." He adds, thumbing through a few bills with Queen Elizabeth's face, then to a proper US greenback.

  The currency is slid over to Bibbo, in exchange for the two pints. "You mind tellin' me where a Lois Lane May be parked?" He asks, taking a sip off one pint.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Over here!" Lois has no problem calling loudly from her side of the bar. It's not packed, so it's easy to be overheard. She lifts an arm, fingers wiggling in his direction. Once she's certain the proper attention has been directed towards her, she glances at her phone and tucks it away. She isn't the type to awkwardly use a phone during a conversation with someone at a table.

"Glad you could make it. Nice to actually meet you properly, that brief whirlwind of a visit to Genosha wasn't exactly much of an introduction. But at least it gave me enough context of who you were when Zatanna mentioned you."

John Constantine has posed:
     His attention is caught right before Bibbo thumbs in her direction. "Keep the change, mate." He adds with a wink, right before setting off to the table.

  Taking a seat, the man gives a hefty tug to the beer. "No problem, luv." He says, clearing his throat after the drink, very satisfied. "That...was indeed a mess. Apologies you got caught up in it just to not see a proper scry."

  "So, normally Zee wouldn't care to recommend me unless it was necessary. So, let's 'ave it. What is going bump in the night in Metropolis?"

Lois Lane has posed:
"She did say you were an 'expert', so my fingers are crossed you might have a good direction as to what it is. There was an incident in Metropolis recently, car pileup, a few people killed, at least a dozen injured. No one remembers anything. They didn't know what happened, couldn't explain a thing. One second they were driving a car and things were fine, the next they're being pulled out of a wreck."

Lois frowns at the suggestion. "Did some investigating and there's some kind of sound, more like a vibration of sorts, and when you hear it, you just blank out. Saw it for myself, I couldn't get him to snap out of it for several minutes. So there's an element of danger in that that could happen to anyone. We don't have a way to block it out yet. Going to try some earplugs but that's all we've got yet."

She taps the tabletop with a finger. "The real kicker is we saw what it is. It's... well, best as I can explain it, a ball of shadow? A lump, it's just sort of coalesced into one faceless mass. It's got teeth though, even if it doesn't have a face. Saw some tall person-like shadows nearby, but couldn't find anything casting them."

John Constantine has posed:
     John continues to pay attention as he drinks his beer. The tale of this mysterious creature definitely has him thinking. "No other features than teeth? No wings, red eyes?" The fact that he's taking her at face value instead of being skeptical should speak volumes.

  "Shadows without a source..." That too piqued his interest. "And some kind of ability to make people lose consciousness. It sounds akin to the Mothman, but some details don't line up with that."

  An empty pint was put aside as he started on the second one, and a hand slid into his trench coat pocket, pulling out a small white box with purple crest. Silk Cut cigarettes, and a zippo pulled out as well. "You mind?" He asks, though before she can answer, he's already lighting the cigarette. At least he is gentlemanly enough to not blow the smoke towards her.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois shakes her head. "No other features. We found it by following the humanoid shadow and trying to find its source. I threw a pen at it and it was entirely absorbed, I think it wanted more. Doesn't seem to like light or heat too much. We got lucky it wasn't making that noise. Just kinda melted away into the shadows. That's... about all we've got, really."

She shakes her head a bit, not minding the smoking as she takes a sip from her bottle of cider. "When I told Zatanna about the original event, the cars? She knew almost exactly when it happened, she said she'd felt something. Like a ripple or something like that?" She shakes her head. "Not exactly much I can do to investigate without knowing how to protect myself."

John Constantine has posed:
     One of his blonde brows raise at the mention of the ripple. "Interesting. Must'a been 'away' when it happened." He says behind that cigarette, taking a pill and exhaling the smoke. "So, best I can do for now, is advise you to not attempt to find it again." Another drink off his own beer before he scoffs with a laugh. "But you don't strike me as the 'let's leave a good mystery well enough alone' type." He says with an impish grin, he could recognize his own kind that way. "So, in that case, we have to provide you with somethin' a little special." He reaches into his coat again and pulls out a small pouch, made of a breathable fabric. "Keep this on ya, and it should protect you in a pinch. At least until we figure out what this bugger is, then we can figure out more...specific means to combat and protect."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Thankfully I've got someone to watch my back, but given the fact that I do tend to stumble troubleward even when he's not around... I appreciate all you can offer." Lois offers him a grin in reply. "Thanks, it's appreciated. There's a couple of people keeping an eye on things, spread out over Metropolis and New York, but I'll be sure to keep you updated on my end if anything comes up or if there's another sighting."

John Constantine has posed:
     "And if you find out more, let me know. The more information I have, the easier it will be to narrow down what it can be."

  "I'll return to the House of Mystery and take a look around the archives for something about this creature. With any luck, this won't be the first time someone's experienced it before. History is our greatest form of education after all."

  "Bucking for a Pulitzer for this one, eh? Evidence of the supernatural, by Lois Lane."

Lois Lane has posed:
"As weird as it sounds, this one's not entirely about the story? Sure, I'll print something. There'll be something about it. It's more that I'm concerned that more people are going to be hurt. I'm afraid of what will happen if that gets worse."

Lois gives him a wink. "Besides, what would I do with another Pulitzer? I'm already at the top of my field, don't need to show off twice-over." She takes a long drink from her bottle of cider. "This is more the 'investagative' and less 'journalist'."

John Constantine has posed:
     "Showin' off is all the fun." Chuckling, he finishes off the second beer. "One day you should find the House, I think you'd find it all very interesting. If not slightly horrifying."

  John's cigarette is tugged in one last time before he snuffs out the cherry on it. "Very well, on with the investigation."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Interesting if not slightly horrifying is my middle name, actually," Lois swirls what's left of the cider in her bottle before lifting it up and downing the last of it. "I'll come check it out sometime, though. You've done a good job of putting the thought in my head. Clever." She moves to get to her feet.

"I'll be in touch. And thank you for your help."

John Constantine has posed:
     John places a hand on the table, and scooches himself off of the table. "Then I will be off. As before, a pleasure." He says with a slight tip of his head to the lady. He thumbs out a card, and offers it to her. "For emergencies. Things go south, rip it in half." A parting gift, a 'summon your own wizard' card. On it reads: John Constantine, Exorcist, Demonologist, Master of the Dark Arts.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois takes a moment to examine the card before she tucks it away in her purse. "Don't worry, it will /certainly/ be an emergency." It's not unusual for her to wait until the last second to call for help. Sort of part of her playbook. She gives a simple nod to him as she heads off.