15767/Thunder, Moon, and Lightning

Thunder, Moon, and Lightning
Date of Scene:	31 August 2023
Location:	Candle, Booke and Belle
Synopsis:	Social: Meeting with Billy and Billy! The B-Team is (semi) officially formed. Also, moon rocks!
Cast of Characters:	Belinda Gutierrez, Nettie Crowe, Billy Batson, Billy Kaplan

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Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Evening brings a rare, at long last break from the merciless heat of the day. Quick to heat up, but just as swift to lose that aching heat-- the fans and air conditioners of the Candle, Booke, and Bell are at last given ease in their never-ending battle with the forces of the Eternal Sun!

The fans everywhere help too.

"Gracias, thank you!" Belinda Gutierrez exclaims, waving from the counter as a customer depoarts. "Give our thanks to the coven, and remember us for all your potential needs!" Waiting until said customer is well out of earshot, she sags to the counter, giggling quietly. "Powdered eye of newt *synthetic substitute*? Is that truly a thing now?"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Eye of newt is just mustard seeds. They crafted it fancy the same way people market green tea as 'unprocessed macha' to unsuspecting white girls with ugg boots." Nettie comments from atop a ladder as she straightens some of the harder-to-find folios for sale.

    "They basically purchased two ounces of dry mustard mix."

    Nettie gives a bright smile, looking down to Belinda. "But sometimes, half of magic is just directing people at what they *think* they want."

Billy Batson has posed:
The bell over the door jingles, announcing Billy Batson. "There's a lot of power in names, too. He says wiping his brow, "Good evening, ladies. Could I get a cold drink possibly? Tea of any sort will do. I'm back from pounding the streets for 'Batson on the Town'. It turns out there's already a guy doing a bit called Billy on the Street. You'd think a smarty like Freddy or Mary would know that. Anyway, I come bearing a gift!" He sets his backpack, now a sturdy new leather model, on the counter. He crooks a finger at Belinda to come closer. "C'mere chica. I had you in mind when I saw this. I have to warn you, I do have a lovely girl I'm seeing. Watch it with the gratitude." He waits for her to approach.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
A quiet giggle rises before Belinda nods thoughtfully, leaning on her arms in reverie. "Mustard seeds," she remarks, shaking her head. "But-- like slight of hand for the mind? Fulfill wants, rather than needs?" Breaking free of her wool-gathering, she turns back to what she had been doing before the customer wave had come in-- cleaning at the counter! Retrieving her towel from its hook, she fetches her lemon-juice-and-water spritz bottle, wiping down the tea bar with continued good grace. "We will need to restock on Lady Grey soon, Abuela," she remarks, humming quietly to herself. "Good call, too. I think we went through so much Earl Grey initially because of that SciFi convention a few days ago. Never seen so many red body stocking suit costumes!"

The bell chimes; Billy Batson enters! "Chamomille with honey," she announces, waving as he steps in-- setting her towel back on the hook and tucking the spray bottle away! "No caffiene in it, but it still helps keep sinuses clear and is good for hot-hot-hot days. And honey, for an edge of sweetness too." She reaches down, rummaging idly before setting out the proper tea cup-- red and gold, with vine decorations teasing around the rim in tiny sparkles of summer lightning.

"You did not have to get anything, seriously," Belinda adds, smiling as she sets the kettle to warming anew. "But because I am curious...!"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "In this case poppet, they didn't have any idea what they were looking for, so we sold them something innoculous that's not going to get them hurt. Speaking of -- we should make a note to take in the spirit boards around mid-September. Don't want any of my merchandise to be used for Halloween props and then returned after someone's spilled a soda-pop on them." Nettie counters, and gives a soft hrm. "Go ahead and put the order through for it and double up on the green varieties, there's an Anime convention in two weeks." she replies.

    And she pauses, and turns as the door opens.

    "Ah! Young Master Batson. How goes it, Billy?" she questions from atop her ladder.

    Then she snorts.

    "You're not her type anyway, young man. An' no canoodling on the clock!"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda nearly drops the saucer and cup, a *very* suspicious 'snerk!' leaping free before she drags herself back under control. "No flowers," she assures Mrs. Crowe, eyes glittering in playful mirth (and a touch of pink on her cheeks!) She coveres herself by nodding to Nettie's remarks, humming quietly as she sets up the serviceware. "Is it still super hot outside?" she adds, glancing up towards the door. "We brought in every fan we could find last night, and so mostly circulating. Mostly!"

She adds a bit of the golden honey to the bottom of the cup, setting the bottle aside before she retuns to the kettle. "What is it again? "Batson on the Town'? Newspaper or newsletter or one of those..." She waves a hand idly, helplessly. "Those caster-pod things?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson frowns at Nettie, "How do you know? My step mom is a Latina. She thinks I'm... never mind." He beams at Belinda. "So I was feeling really great and I couldn't sleep so I turned into Shazam and flew around the Moon a couple times to relax. Then I landed on it and... why isn't this coming out... ah!" He extracts a large glass container. Its screw on top has various glyphs embossed on the gold. Inside is a large rocks and some pebbles. Billy leans close to it and whispers, "They from the Sea of tranquility. I thought you'd like some because... you know." He slides it closer to her, grinning.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
There's that jingle of the bell at the door. In walks Billy Kaplan. Despite the day's heat, he's wearing jeans and his flower-painted Doc Martins and a Mets T-shirt. "Hey, Nettie," he says as he enters. His gaze also falls on Belinda and then Billy Batson. Each gets a friendly but silent nod, perhaps indicating that Kaplan is not super good with strangers.

He rubs the back of his neck and exhales. "I, uh, am I interrupting anything? I can always come back another time."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Ah, Mr. Kaplan! How good of you to stop by." Nettie gives a smile to the other Billy.

    "Billy, this is Billy. Billy, Billy. Billy, Belinda, Belinda, Billy."

    And then from above, the black corvid of Nettie's familiar swoops down and lands behind Belinda on one of the shelves, with a small brown bag in his beak. That's dropped.

    "And everyone knows Corvax." Nettie adds.

    "Billy. Billy. Miss Gutierrez." the crow gives a nod, and then hops down to the counter to help himself (with some difficulty) to a cranberry scone.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
To her credit, Belinda keeps presence of mind enough to pour the tea, move the cup over to Billy (B.!), and *then* drop her head to the counter, staring intently at the jar and its fragments of Beyond. "They--" she begins, voice hushed as she trails off, staring at the simple stone. To looks, nothing remarkable, special-- just greyish rock and a bit of pebbles and sand in a jar...

Powerful distraction: it takes a second to recognize a second customer, visitor; she draws back from the jar and its rocks, remembering after *that* to breathe again. "Welcome!" she exclaims, waving to Billy (K.!), "Please come in, settle, we have tea and biscuits or cookies or--!"

She bites back a giggle, or a squee, or-- Helped with the sudden and welcomed appearance of Corvax! She dutifully turns around (reluctantly!), removing a plastic cover from a small plate. "Hola!" she whispers in cheery welcome for the crow. She sets the lid aside, providing proper access to the heavily torn scone inside. "Your usual drink?" she begins, casting the newcomer a glance. Sniffasniff! Certain from the appearance and welcome from Mrs. Crowe-- he is Already In The Know. So!

"We have camomille tea ready!" she adds, "But can make something else, or we have sodas, or..."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson rubs his eyes at the poor timing of his presentation. Better to wait until the shop closed. He notes from Corvax and Nettie's manner this Billy is in the know as well. But, poor Belinda... so much happy. She might combust. Smiling ruefully he zips up his bag and settles it on the floor near him.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Despite Billy's awkwardness with meeting new people, he manages a broad smile when Nettie starts the introductions. He gives Belinda a friendly nod of greeting. "Billy." Then he gives Billy Batson an equally friendly nod. "Belinda." Either he's confused or just being silly. Hard to say with his deadpan expression.

"Is there any coffee?" he asks hopefully. "I can make a pot if there isn't." A small smirk, the first crack in his straight face. "I mean I can /literally/ make a pot." He glances at Nettie, then to Belinda, then to Billy Batson. Maybe that one didn't land. He runs a hand back through his hair.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    There is much happy. And that makes Nettie happy. That's the Next Generation down there. And that gives her a sense of nostalgia.

    She drops down to the floor as she rubs the back of her neck. "I can make you coffee without you Making The Coffee, Master Kaplan." she states, and then she gives a small wave.

    "Everyone is relatively in the know, by the by."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda doesn't quite get Billy K.'s remark, but she chuffs at the very idea. Making coffee! "No bueno!" she exclaims, pointing instead to the counter. "You are visitor and guest and thus it is my great pleasure to make it for you. I have it, Abuela! Let me get everything set up first." She grins cheerfully, first attending to Corvax by retrieving a small jug from below the counter. She glances up, outside, gazing carefully before she unstoppers the bottle, pouring a small amount into a saucer for the bird. Rum-- she adds a splash of water from a bottled source of the same, setting each aside before she moves back to the preparing area, delighted euphoria focused into a whirlwind of preparation. Stoneware mug with red rim-- frowned at, faint sniff-- is clean! Set aside as she checks coffee pot, steamer, brew-- pours grounds, set to active, turns back to the bar itself.

"Billy, Billy," she says, lips twitching in quiet humour. "Belinda. Pleased to meet acquaintance! Not that this will become very confusing, very quickly... Regardless, I hereby proclaim this first meeting of the B-Team in progress!" She waves her hand imperiously. "It is noted and made so."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson smiles. It's unavoidable. "Oh Belinda... I met up with Pixie and we sort of smoothed things out. Nettie yelled at us. No offense but I've had Belinda's coffee. I bet it beats any you make. She's Mexican American, there is just no comparison. It's like New York pizza or Philly pretzels. Oh Belinda, to answer your question: Batson on the Town is a segment for my streaming show where I interview people at random. Today I went to Bushwick. I wound up interviewing three pals playing handball: Rocky, Stoney, Cement Head and Steely Joe. They dubbed me Squishable Billy." He shows a picture on his phone of himself with the four Mutants who are indeed rocky, stoney, cement domed and steel skinned.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
"Thank you, Belinda," Billy Kaplan says to Belinda when she offers to make coffee. "I appreciate that. Although I could have made it." The playful tone with which he says that last sentence and the glimmer in his eye when he glances at Nettie indicates /something/ or other. Not really knowing how to fit into the conversation, Billy lets the companions talk uninterrupted. With his hands behind his back, he strolls casually around the shop looking at (but not touching) the various items and books therein.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "What's her ethnicity got to do with it. I'm British. I eat the spiciest Andhra Pradeshi food in all India. She makes me cornbread with baked Jalapenos in it. She's extraordinarily good at making Russian smoked teas and has a knack for knowing the perfect time to pull the bag and never squeezes it with the spoon." Nettie murmurs, half to herself in a good natured protective way, but does step behind to start warming up scones and cornbread for everyone.

    Corvax happily takes the rum!

    "It's true. My ilk sailed around the world for spices an' decided we didn't like none of them." the crow replies, "Except more onions. Oh, and potatoes, I liked those when I was a human." Corvax states thoughtfully, shaking himself off, a couple of black featehrs fopping off.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda puts the rum bottle away, water bottle left to the counter for herself (waste not, want not!). "I could always try to cook something up?" she suggests for Corvax, slowing as her thoughts run. "Cut to small parts, red potatoes boiled strategically, perhaps some olive oil..." She trails off, leaning over to peek at Billy (B.)'s phone with a curious expression. "'SquishaBilly'?" she remarks, lips twitching anew as she stares at the screen. "It sounds like a horrible Bluegrass band from Alabama!" She coughs briefly, eyes twinkling. "Apologies to Alabama." She looks at the photo closer, thoughts racing visibly as she considers.

"Those are very odd looks. And you know, if people made of rock and steel and stone can wander around there without a second glance, perhaps..." She trails off, looking up pointedly. "....blue hair dye, and some of those silly antennae headbands? I bet I could find some at the Convention nearby!" She grins, energy renewed. "Great Big Blue Bodyguard for Squishabilly!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson frowns an d says, "It's a cultural thing. Certain regions are known for certain things. Ros -mom takes her coffee very seriously too. I didn't mean to sound bigoted. Anyway she is a fantastic cook from what I tasted. She grows her own peppers and I helped." He turns back to Belinda and says, "Well they didn't know about the other guy. They were kind of gruff at first. Then I got them talking about an athletic league they're in. Turned out rocky is 14, the others 13. Pretty wild. So Belinda... do you like the gift?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
"Yes!" Belinda answers without restraint, quivering with delight. Ahem! Calming down with a slow, long breath. "I had hoped to go up someday and get it myself, but this works so well too!" She looks down at the jar, sighing in wistful reverence. "Am told it smells like gunpowder...." She brushes the counter a bit more, setting her cloth away before she moves to one end of the bar, ducking down beneath the counter.

"I do not mind," she promises, rising up with the clotted cream in its jar, setting it down to the counter. "I mean, noone could grow up so near the border and not hear the occasional comment about Mexicans or Latinos or worse." She smiles wryly, shrugging as she leans back to the countertop. "Flying around la Luna? Is it anything like, well, just jogging around the park, or the city, or things? Just burning off energy, excitement, getting thoughts to focus again."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson looks into his drink. "I went... Indestructibelle took me there when we wesre eeing each other. Anyway... I'm seeing Irie now and well I got to resolve what could be a major issue with her and she was still into me so I was feeling really exuberant. I mean like Belinda level exuberant and I couldn't sleep. As for what it's like... I haven't gone deep into space. When you go out to orbit and look back at Earth, you realize how it's really worth fighting for; it's all we have. So flying to the Moon,.. the quiet gets to me sometimes.It expends my energy, which seldom is the case. It requires thought, like you have to accelerate halfway and then decelerate the other half or your crash or have to fly by and try again. It's meditative I guess, like when I play my flute."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda listens raptly, biting her lip as she giggles with a grin. "I sleep sometimes!" she says, teasing gently. She pauses, turns-- scones! --not ready yet. Still warming. She sighs, turning back with a grin. "But I undestand," she adds. "When I first moved to New York, the Park was the only place close to nature, where I could run and feel... well, closer to home." She smiles ruefully, a dreamy expression on her features. "And then, just kept doing it all the time. Just that urge to get out and run around." She circles her fiunger on the counter, an idle dance along the surface. "Helped kept head screwed on, keeping focus, get thoughts to clear. And burn off energy."

She stops, thinking. "Well, not 'burn off extra', perhaps. More like, 'use what is there'. Like running old rechargable batteries low before reenergizing them again. Remembering, getting a feel for the full reach and scope of such. You know?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson nods. "It's hard... learning a new body. People kept giving me looks. I had Looker and Fire try to get me a modeling career and then they found out I was fifteen. They were nice ladies but... kept catching them looking at me -Shazam, like I was a porkchop and... they were old! Maybe thirty! Okay I was 15, thirty was old to me. I... I'm going to stop talking now before I embarrass both of us further." Oh yeah, Belinda gave Shazam that look a little. Then again he couldn't blame her.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Blushing faintly, Belinda ducks her head, nodding with a breath of rue. "Too late," she admits softly, giggling laughter as she groans. "And I apologize. I should have known better than to do such staring, but--" She coughs, ahems, tossing her hair back with a quick breath. "Am doing better now! Besides, you are very handsome. *Both* of you." She grins, offering her fist for a friendly bump. "But, only appreciate in looking sort of way. I mean, it would be... worse than embarassing if anything unexpected should occur!"

Her smile turns rueful; she glances back at the warming oven, turning back again with a sigh. "Besides, I saw the love dramas and crazy things from other people in school. No gracias, I have enough dramatic times already!" She grins, winking. "Though the Moon-- squee! Thank you, very much!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson says in a low tone, "Welcome. Would you like to meet my brother Freddy? Or my buddy Jon? Very nice guys. And thank you for the compliments. I am glad you like your rocks. If I find a way, I'll take you to the Moon, we just need a spacesuit. But I'm heading home now. I have raw footage to edit and a patrol to fly."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda nods, smiling. "Tempting," she admits, perking as the oven emits its small 'ding!' of readiness. "Here, before you go--" she exclaims, turning to take the small plate of cornbread from the warmer. Quick to catch some foiul wrapper, she folds the two servings into the folkds, handing them over with care. "See you again, soon. Be safe tonight, and careful!"