13583/Seasonal Teas

Seasonal Teas
Date of Scene:	15 December 2022
Location:	Candle, Booke and Belle
Synopsis:	As Nettie decorates for the Holiday Season, folks stop in and take in tea and holiday cheer. Mary Jane brings a gift to Nettie from WAND, Detective Chimp does not smoke a bubble pipe, and Patience Alperen gets a lead on some old family heirlooms.
Cast of Characters:	Nettie Crowe, Mary Jane Watson, Detective Chimp, Patience Alperen

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Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Ordinarily Nettie Crow, the somewhat curmudgeonly crone in charge of the Justice League Dark may not be the one you expect to enjoy the season of light; she is well known in the magical community, at this point, for causing nightmares, associating with the creatures of death -- but today there is celebration being set up.

    The ancient record player in the corner is playing through Bing Crosby's Santa Claus is Comin' to Town with the Andrews Sisters.
    The tea bar itself has electric candles that flicker like real fire, there are pine garlands and holly boughs being hung up along the rafters.

    The mood in the shop is decidedly bright, with NEttie herself putting her white hair in a pair of pigtails, the young-appearing witch humming along, nodding witht he music, evern singing a few bars.

    There was reason to celebrate.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
She's been sent here to bring something. She doesn't know what. Just that she was told 'black harvest, blue moon, reaper of desire' by whomever in WAND had tasked her into playing courier. So a very conused Mary Jane is bringing a package with her that's got a large tome inside.. Admittedly one that's been decorated over in pastel flags of rainbows and MLP stickers.. While looking like something out of a horror movie.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp is also part of WAND, but he is not here to deliver anything, no the detective decided to come by and check in see whats going on, and if anyone is needing any help with anything. The season is soso for him, interesting to watch at least.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Everyone seems to be part of WAND. Nettie is not part of WAND. Nettie would always tell people she didn't do well in groups and instead ended up coming out of retirement to lead one.

    Life is strange.

    "Come in, come in! Be right there in a moment." Nettie states from where she stands on top of a ladder (well above the 'don't step above here' marking), and she clambers down, turning about and ... wearing a Christmas sweater. Well, it's sort of a Christmas sweater. It has "TOUCH MY EGGNOG AND YULE BE SORRY" stitched on it as she holds an unlit, handrolled cigarette in her teeth, and she gives a bright smile to Detective Chimp.

    "Hullo Detective! Pleasure to see you out and about, how're you handling the cold, dear?"

    And Mary Jane... oh, Mary Jane is an INTERESTING one.

    The dimunitive witch gives a slight smile to the redhead, and she looks up at her as she comes inside.

    "And to what do we owe the pleasure to my humble shop?" she questions, motioning a hand to the tea bar itself.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would glance over at Detective Chimp and givea wave to the passingly familiar consultant. She would enter in and put up a smile as she would be recognized. "I see that the ugly sweater competition has started early. And here I am wearing something that's socially acceptable to be out in public over with."
    Whomever it is that sent Nettie whatever it was may be doing the whole 'present exchange'. Or owe her a favor. Or has some sort of ulterior motive for mischievousness.
    Mary Jane goes to take out the package, and moves to shrug as she would pass it over. "Well, I was told there were things that I wasn't supposed to know that would break me if I was even aware of such concepts. I think that they were reading the EULA for the last music I bought."

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over and says "Well it sucks, but I have gotten used to it over the years." He is from a much naturally warmer place, but this has been his home for decades. " How are things going for you guys?" He asks both ladies. "You needing a hand hanging some things?"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Oh I'm rarely appropriate for public consumption, duckie. I'm a bit of an odd one." she gives a smile, and she accepts the package. The package deserves investigastion, her lips pursed a moment as she turns it over in her hands, chewing on the end of her unlit cig a moment before she looks to Mary Jane.

    "Well you're not wrong. Most people aren't supposed to be aware of the workings of reality beneath what we can see. Tends to drive you mad, you ken, once you see the Bigger Picture for what it is. I imagine that's partially how I came into possession of a number of things." she states, and as she turns to go behind the bar, stepping up to the raised platform that makes her tall enough to look people in the eye when they sit she chipperly adds "Helps when you're a bit mad to begin with."

    She goes to put the package to the side a moment, rummaging and placing a plain white teacup on top of it, and pouring a little hot water into the teacup.

    It'll speak to her about the intentions of the sender. Can't be too careful.

    She purses a lip then and looks up at the decorations she's gotten hung about.

    "No, Detective, I think I've got that nonsense well in-hand. Been a good while since I decorated for Christmas... or Yule. Saturnalia. Holi. ... but I felt like this year we might need the pick-me-up."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shrug over at Nettie, "Well, so long as you're a rubber one, and you're having so much fun at bathtime. Or other times." She would offer while going to fold her hands together and shrug, letting the package be taken.
    "And what sort of things doyou happen to find yourself interesting in possession of that aren't going to try and eat my face?" She would inquire while glancing at Chimp. "And things are good enough. Nearly got run over by a giant wheel with a rocket skate built in and a supervillain on a pogo stick rocket unicycle." The way she says that wiht a straight face and comes from New York makes it hard to tell whether she's completely sincere or just making it up.
    I mean, the New York supervillain community.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp pulls his flask out and takes a swig of it, before pulling a cigar out to chew lightly on but not lighting it, at least not yet. ""Well at least he was not shooting mustard and mayo at you." He offers of some of the supervillains he knows of. He does look over at the present a brow raised but quiet on that subject.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Nettie pauses, and makes a *face* at Mary Jane in regards to a pogo-stick rocket unicycle wheel.

    "Good Heavens. No accounting for taste anymore, is there?" she questions, and she takes a couple of teacups out.

    Mary Jane gets a cup that is red-to-gold ombre, ringed in gold.

    Chimp gets a teacup that is green and has tropical leaf theme to it.

    And there's a third one she pulls, which is red with spikes of black.

    Nettie has her own black and purple teacup and saucer pulled to the side, and she checks the water in the cup over the package.

    "WEll that all depends on if I'm speaking to a friend or not, doesn' it?" she gives a smile to Mary Jane. "I've not been known to eat faces, but I've been known to bite once in a while. Tea, dear?"

    "And let's leave Gotham's villianous groupings in Gotham, thank you. Proper division of evil-doers."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "Yes. I suppose that's the way of the world. I mean.. Therea re people in Gotham who will try and off your head if you do a typo while you text. I imagine sometime if they run into Spider-Man they would have a fit over about the hyphen." Then again Mary Jane has -seen- that happen.
    She goes to take the cup, "Thank you, this smells really great. I do hope that you like whatever it was you were sent." She would dip her head over. "And it's appreciated. Nice to be able to sit for a bit before I take the bus home."

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over and says "Biting faces off is not as fun as it sounds, and often leaves a bad taste in your mouth." He speaks possibly from experience. He does nod to Nettie a thanks with the cup and tastes it. "You take the bus?" He seems surprised at this from MJ.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Stay as long as you like. The New York City wind has a bitter bite. Perhaps not enough to remove faces." Nettie states, pouring tea for Chimp and then herself. The fourth cup is still overturned, upside-down and awaiting its user.

    "Never bittin faces off myself. Can't imagine... wouldn't the tough little tendons get stuck in your teeth?" she questions, pursing her lips a moment as she rolls her shoulders back a moment, and then reaches up to adjust her thin wireframed glasses.

    "And what's wrong with taking a bus? Not everyone has a car, or the funds to call a taxi willy-nilly, dear." she gives a bright smile to Chimp in defense of Mary Jane.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Well, I'll take what I can get. It's nice. I have a couple hours before the bus takes me back. That's presuming that there isn't something up and I have to take the train instead." SHe's brought enough stuff to sleep on the way back if she had to. The trip along the mega loop wasn't that bad.
    She would nod over at Chimp, "Yeah, took it in, have tickets to take it back. Given the wonderful wya the transport system works.." Translated, if it's wrecked by a supervillain before her ticket.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen had gotten a friendly, maybe motherly, invitation from Nettie to come by her shop, that it would be 'well advised'. Patience doesn't have family. She still can't get the Vatican to provide her details on her single mother let alone any other possible living extended family. Having someone actually take interest in her wellbeing and, perhaps, even looking after her was a bit of a new though also welcome thing.

Walking up to the shop, she was wearing a Christmas-Green angora turtleneck sweaper, faded jeans and canvas sneakers. A red wool beanie hat with a white pom atop it was tugged down over her brown hair.

Stepping inside, she looked around curiously.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over and says "Well my teeth are made a bit different than yours." He offers to the first part of the question and then adds "Well more often than not, when someone is having someone deliver something, they are not having them use the bus, would have expected them to pony up for a uber at least for the lady."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Oh? ANd you still haven't introduced yourself, dear. You're a curious sort. Not often I have redheads coming in bearing gifts." she gives a wry smile.

    "Nettie Crowe, and at least it looks like it's a harmless enough gift -- nothing bad in intent." the witch states.

    And as Patience steps in, Nettie overturns the fourth teacup, and pours a cup for Patience as she comes in.

    "Hullo Patience! Come, shake off the cold and warm from the inside out."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would glance overa t Patience and give a wave, "Hi. I can get out of the way if you have another customer." She would smile while glancing over at Nettie. "Fair enough. That must be useful to know in advance. IF someone's going to give you something that looks horrible so you'd know to suddenly have an emergency phone clal come up before they made you try it on and take a picture." She would shrug over at Detective Chimp, "Well, I should be glad they're paying for the bus."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks around with curious eyes as she sees Chimp and Mary Jane here. They're offered friendly smils. "Hello." Then to Nettie, "Hello Nettie. Thank you for inviting me." Moving over to where the cup of tea is being poured for her she smiles again. "Thank you."

Picking it up in both hands to leech the warmth from the cup, she sips lightly as she casts a curious glance to Mary Jane again.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp shakes his head a bit and says "I tell you folks are getting rougher and rougher, soon will be having the throwing stuff at ya to deliver it."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Plenty of room, dear heart. And you still haven't given me a name." she gives a wry smile to Mary Jane, and looks to the Chimp. "Friend of yours?" she questions good naturedly, and she gives a soft hum.

    "You don't get to be an old magician without being a little suspicious. After all, love, I've lived through two world wars. At least she's not a Greek, eh?" Nettie questions.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would look over ehr shoulder, "Well, I don't have anything up my sleeve.. I think the only sorts of magic I can do is when I try and figure out how my credit card charges got so high."

She would laugh, "And Mary Jane. Trying to get a part and said part has turne dinto an internship for someone.. By which I mean indentured servitude."

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over to Nettie and says "Not exactly a friend, but we have wander into a couple of the same messes. She got to see the cows and sea life trying to become one thing last Halloween. He comments about the last time he saw her.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen listens to the others and smiles. "Hello Mary Jane. I'm Patience, as Nettie mentioned."

She moves to take her cup and settles onto the offered stool if only because Nettie wished for it. There's no point in being rude. Not when the someone is just as likely to reach up and grab you by the ear and make you behave.

Falling quiet, she sips at her tea and listens to the conversation to get a feel for it.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    The old witch gives a small smile. "I see. Well, then you've been a witness to the weird and unusual. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mary Jane." she grins. "And how do you find yourself in such wild circles as the... oh, what did Gabby call it -- Cow-ta-maru? Cat-a-roni?" she pauses, and she narrows her eyes, getting a distant look. "Sounded Japanese." she mutters, and sips her tea, removing her poor unlit cig and stashing it behind an ear.

    She points at Patience a moment. "I've got something for you, as well, once I get a moment."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would groan, "Is it bad now that I don't think I'm phased by things anymore? And we've seen aliens, we've seen Atlanteans, there's that huge monster that occasionally goes out in the arctic and hte pacific every decade or two.." She'd seen the files of that monster.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp nods a bit more to this and says "Well it is getting odder as time goes by but people can get used to most anything it seems. "Heck your having tea with a talking Chimp.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks at Mary Jane curiously at mention of some monster in the Pacific. She can't help but grin at Chimp as he notes they're having tea with him. She nods knowingly. They're also having tea with a descentant of Jesus of Nazareth. But she doesn't tend to just spill that little detail casually. Most of the time it doesn't go over well.

Looking to Nettie she tilts her head, reaching up to pull off her beanie. It leaves her brown hair a bit mussed, which she doesn't seem to mind.

"Oh? Okay. Thank you, Nettie."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Yes, actually." Nettie states, looking to Mary Jane, and she gives a rather upset look, brows knitting, her lips pursing as she leans into regard the redhead with curiosity.

    "That's a sign of trauma, and you should probably get that looked at. You *should* be phased by things that are unusual. Even /I/ get taken by surprise by things. Like this book, for instance. And I'm always very happy to take tea with you, Detective Chimp. You're always one of my favorite customers, and you're always very polite." she gives a small grin as she turns around, and considers all those drawers in the ancient apothecary wall, and then she pulls out a slip of paper.

    "Matter of fact, an old friend of mine sent me this, thematically for the season. Seems someone came into a cache of possible birthright items, if you were interested in attending one of those awful black market relic auctions. Full of fakes." she states, sliding a folded piece of paper to Patience with a Purposeful Look

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would glance over at the others, "That sounds like you're getting a bit personal there. I can head out if it's more of a private thing so I'm not interrupting you while you talk." SHe would offer to the others, finishing up her tea. "I don't want to take up your time if you're working ons oemthing to help her." She would smile over at Patience. "No matter what, nice meeting you." To Nettie.
    "And I don't think we'll ever hit a point where we can't be astounded by things out there. I just think at some point you get rather relaxed about things. This time last year Manhattan was occupied."

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks between the others as he waits to see the answer. He lets the lady of the shop or the other answer. He is just a visitor after al. He quietly sips his tea.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks to Nettie curiously, then to the paper. Even as she accepts the folded paper, Mary Jane references the occupation of Manhattan and it makes the brunette's jaw clench a moment. "... I had just gotten back to the States before that." The fact that the Spear of Destiny was involved in that whole affair is no small thing to her. And no little bit rankling for her.

She shakes her head, "No one needs to leave because of"

She unfolds the paper and blinks. Reading it again, she looks almost agape at Nettie "... because of me.. Nettie? Did you.. read this?" Her voice is both stressed and full of hesitant wonder.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Oh no, I don't read a word of Arabic, poppet. Especially not Classical." Nettie replies, and she sips her tea.

    "I recall last year quite clearly. I lost friends in that fight. I closed down my home and made it a refuge for those in the magical community who could not... or would not... fight against the Host. I got to fortell several people that they had to die in order for the passion play to progress. It destroyed families and ripped apart friendships. There's wounds on the magical groundings of Manhattan that will take centuries to heal -- if they ever do. I got to take people to the Silver City. That, as you Yanks say, sucked." Nettie gives a small smile, and then goes to carefully open the package that Mary Jane delivered.

    "That's why I'm celebrating this year. To the friends I still have. To the new Justice League Dark, with some good heads on some strong shoulders. This year is one of hope, and rebuilding... and I think, perhaps, that is something /I/ needed."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "That sounds like a plan. And I'm sorry to have come off as cavalier and dismissive ofyour friends and their sacrifice. That was rude of me, particularly with the fine company you've given and the invitation for hospitality you gave to a stranger." SHe bows her head over ina pology. As Patience would speak Mary Jane would glance over at her confusedly, then would shrug her shoulders and not inquire further. Definitely something private. Looking over at Chimp.
    Totally imagining him with a bubble pipe.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over and says "If you need something read, I can help you out with it." He offers to both the note and the book. "If it is a language, I can read it and if it is a code I can work on breaking it." He offers, and he might do a pipe on occasion but it would be a real one not a bubble one.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks stunned for a moment. Looking from Nettie to the paper, she reads it again. "It.. whoever gave this to you.." She looks up again, "It's an invitation that shouldn't have gotten out for public consumption. Least of all, mine..." Her voice shifts with determination. Looking quickly to Chimp and Mary Jane, she offers an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. This.." she pauses a moment, casting a glance to Nettie before deciding anyone Nettie is willing to share tea with is someone Patience can speak around.

"Well. This is an announcement to a black market auction of religious and holy artifacts.." She pauses, forcing herself to take another sip of tea to collect her thoughts before she explains. Chimp might know some of it she imagines. "They all pertain to the Christ." A pause before she adds, "I am descended from a line that traces back to Mary Magdalene and Jesus of Nazareth. These... items are.." she shakes her head, reading the paper again. They're beyond relevant to her.

Looking to Nettie she adds quietly, "I.. try not to ask for much, Nettie. But I.. I'm going to need to ask for help."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Well. Luckily, Patience, you have access to a wealth of associates through the Justice League Dark that would be happy to help you, all you need do is ask." Nettie gives a small smile.

    Then adds: "Not me though, I hate commercialization of the holidays. Running a rummage sale while everyone's running around? Peh! Give 'em a right kick in the shins for me, duckie." Nettie states, sitting up very straight and she downs her tea before setting it back on the saucer, and then setting the saucer down again before continuing to open the book.

    "... ooh good heavens, look at /you/!" she states, holding up a leather-bound tome with iron bars across it, she pauses, she leans in and sniffs it, then leans back, squints and goes:

    "Who the Bloody Hell puts MY LITTLE PONY stickers on a book bound in human skin?!"

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp 's brow raises a bit first at the auction and then at the book with stickers "Someone trying to make it less creepy, but achieving the opposite result?

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen nods. "That's why I'm saying something. I'll get more information but this is to happen soon. I can't let the opportunity pass. If any of these relics are legitimate, they need to be recovered."

Then human skin bound books are brought up and Patience cannot help but look a bit ill at the very notion. "I'll.. follow up with you in a day or two?" Setting her teacup down, "But I should probably spend some time investigating this. Immediately."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Recovered and put into the hands of the people who should use it. Not that I read a lick of Arabic." Nettie reminds Patience, opening the book and giving a couple of mouthed sentences, she makes a FACE.

    "Ugh. Ionic." she states, and then closes the book. "Take a dog's age to translate THAT." she mutters, and then she turns her too-blue-to-be-human eyes to Patience, and gives a toothy grin.

    "I apologize, I spent... a long time being something less respectable than I am now." she eases her smile, and then with a turn of her hand, the book disappears and is sent Elsewhere. Mary Jane and CHimp make their exit, and Nettie digs out her own flask from beneath her skirts, and she eyeballs the redhead on the way out.

    "Something off about *that* one, jus' can't put my finger on it." she states to Patience.