16116/Balm for the Soul

Balm for the Soul
Date of Scene:	19 October 2023
Location:	Queens
Synopsis:	Phoebe and Billy renew their acquaintance. Steve was there too.
Cast of Characters:	Billy Batson, Phoebe Beacon

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Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson is still amazed at the diversity in Queens. Quite apart from the melting pot mix of the neighborhood, you had a comic store, occult bookstore, and bowling alley all withing walking distance of his digs.

Then there was the Schwarma truck. Spider-Man told him about that. Sitting on a bench, Billy prepares to devour a gyro. <<Gyee-ro, not jie-ro.>> Zeus corrects. Then <<By thunder, that's good!>> Billy is very happy the voices in his head grew kinder over the years.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Queens.

    She didn't often make it out this far from Manhattan, but today she had wandered in an effort to stay outta Brooklyn. For reasons.

    So she had stumbled upon the schwarma truck, and gotten an order of falafel and fries and a sprite to go with it all, and was balancing the cardboard carton with her food, her bag, and finding a place to sit down -- and she chooses a patch right near this guy about to devour a gyro.

    "Hey, mind if I take up space near you?" the daughter of Gotham asks with a smile. Her hair was held back in a hair wrap, though it's allowed to poof up and out, with a curls-and-kinks fountain of dusky pink hair, wearing a light motorcycle shell for a jacket and a pair of designer jeans.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson has a girlfriend, and he isn't the cheating sort but, hey he isn't dead. So the friendly inquiry produces a flood of activity as he reholsters his gyro and rises with his usual good manners. Then he gets a good look at her and says in a happy sort of surprised tone, "Phoebe?"He indicates himself, "It's Billy! Oh my gods!"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Billy -- who was taking pictures of the castle?" Phoebe asks, and a grin spreads on her face as she offers him a friendly fist-bump. "Hey man. HOw'd those pictures turn out? It's been -- two years, yeah?" she asks with a smile.

    ... why does that feel like SUCH a long time. "I must have made an impression if you remember my face so easy. Or I smelled bad." she jokes.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batsonshakes his head, "No no, you smell great... I mean, I wasn't smelling you on purpose oh!" He returns the fist-bump. "No I just have a good memory for faces, I guess. And you made an impression. I mean most people I met from Gotham were more..." he does a decent job of mimicking... Damian's resting frowny face.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Yeah, Gotham has that affect on people." Phoebe gives a smile as she bites half a falaffel ball, and chews thoughtfully. "I used to keep up a blog thing called Gotham Hope. Until my house burned down. Long story, Not very much fun for interviews." she replies. "What've you been up to? Still taking photos and running the podcast?" she questions, her eyebrows rising up.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson chuffs proudly, a little. "I graduated and I now have a streaming show on Itch. It's called 'the Magic Word' after the podcast. 'Billy on the Street' was taken. Someone should have told me that. I interviewed Lightspeed and Tarot... my platform dropped me over Tarot. I bounced back and I make a good living on it now. No college yet."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Right on. I missed graduation -- was kinda living outta a friend's basement. And briefly in New York City. I'm in college. Just started sophomore year, actually." she gives a big grin. "So, The Magic Word huh? I should look into it. You're interviewing superheroes on it then?" she questions, her eyebrows rising up as she purses her lips in amusement. "Any of the Gotham heroes?" she teases. She knows they are notoriously hard to interview.

    Paranoia runs in the Bat Family.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson yups and sits down to eat. "I just finished a very viewed series of shows from Bushwick. No Bats yet but that isn't surprising. I may have a Flash soon. We're kind of a thing. Kid Flash, the girl I mean. We knew each other for a while. What about you?" He takes a guy sized bite.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    He's interviewing Irie?

    "You're dating Kid Flash?" Phoebe questions, her eyebrows rising up as she tries to think back -- did Irie mention anything the last time they hung out? ... she honestly couldn't remember. She was more excited about the Unicorn.

    "NEat. Dating a superhero can be pretty tough though -- so I hear."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson chews and swallows. "Well she is busy a lot. Some stuff she has to do slow, things with other people like school, showers... uh she said that... I... we didn't..." Billy takes a sip of soda and blushes furiously. "It helps I'm my own boss and make my own schedule. And she can show up pretty fast. She's... awesome. We work well together... as a couple I mean. I'm no superhero, hahahaha. Holy Moley."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "You know, of all the people that have ever told me that they're no superhero, they always end up being some kind of hero." Phoebe recounts, and she gives a smile over to Billy, her eyebrows rising as her lips drop into a moue.

    "That is pretty handy. I can't imagine dating someone like that." she lies, tilting her head back. She's wearing a wide, black choker on her neck, and tilting her head back does allow a line of paler skin to show. An old scar.

    "What's it like?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson sighs. "It's scary as Hell. I was in love twice before and it... stuff went wrong. Once they weren't ready, once I wasn't. This... it's like a roller coaster. You're min a ride, sitting, but there's exciting and scary things ahead."

"But for all her being a transhuman... it's so easy doing things with her, just being with her. I taught her to drive. That was hard. For her. Cars just don't stop or move the way she's used to. Oh and if I get her ticked off enough I may have to deal with G.I.R.L., the Flash Family, Justice League, and Titans. No pressure."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Yeah, no pressure. Man, GIRL, The Flashes, The Justice League and Titans though if you get her mad? BEtter bbe an absolute gentleman." Phoebe gives a bright smile. And mentally adds the Outsiders to the list, because heck, Irie was an ally there too. She noms another falafel ball thoughtfully.

    "Yeah. Dating is kinda hard even if you're not a superhero though. Superheroes just seem to come with additional complications." she remarks quietly, and she purses her lips, rubbing at her left shoulder momentarily.

    "What do you think is going to be the hardest part of your futures?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson ponders that for a bit. Well having an SO who could have a mishap with the Speed Force and wind up a baby or Madonna old is daunting but that's kind of private.

"Not screwing it up. I don't know honestly. I mean she had power complications, all kinds of super stuff. I mean being there for her through that stuff, contributing. Bu8t I mean say, Supergirl would be a lot harder. I mean... at least Irie needs help opening a jar or getting something on top shelves. If one person can't help the other, that's just awkward. I mean I guess I could help Supergirl with a podcast or streaming or a press statement..."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Irie, huh?" Phoebe gives a slight smile, and she gives a small chuckle, and rubs the back of her head.

    "I know Irie and Kara. Well. I've met Kara." Phoebe gives a small smile, and she leans her head back against the wall. She didn't want Billy to flip that he just used Kid Flash's real name. And it was a quiet, mellow way to say that she was familiar with it.

    "I think if you really like someone, you're always afraid of screwing it up. Unless you're me, then you're just always afraid of screwing up regardless."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson leans slightly against her and whispers, "All those capes gunning for me is scary too.. you know a lot of supers, Phoebe? Are you like Ninja Motorcycle Momma or something? I heard we're at the point where in a strip mall this size there's at least two superheroes." That's about the point where something in his inside jacket pocket stirs. Phoebe will definitely feel a tingle in her magic sense. Steve is awake! He senses someone kindred to him. He wants out.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I know a couple. You know, occasionally run into them at events and stuff." Phoebe replies to Billy, and she pops another falafel in her mouth, before she pauses, and seems to perk up, her eyes darting around as she feels something new. She tilts her head, and purses her lips before she reaches down and rubs at her left wrist, where a pale encircling tattoo glows briefly.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson can literally sense magic as Shazam. As Billy, not so much but he does have an eye for the stuff, A slightly glowing tattoo is still slightly magical at least. He smoothes his jacket and Steve settles down. He watches the tattoo for a moment more.

Then he smirks and says, "I get the feeling the statistics are about right. Nice ink."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Thanks. It... was a gift." Phoebe stammers a moment, and she looks over to Billy.

    "There's three types of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics." and then, giving a glance to their surroundings she turns back to him with an upnod.

    "So, who's your friend?"

Billy Batson has posed:
It being New York, no one is paying attention to them. He turns a flyer over on its blank side. He opens the jacket and Steve hops out and writes, //Hello, friend!// in his best cursive and lies down in case anyone is looking.

"Meet Steve the Stylus. He's part of my kit." He pats the stylus that wiggles under his hand annoyedly

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... that is absolutely fantastic! Hello, Steve the Stylus!" Phoebe states excitedly, and she leans over a little more. "DO you know more languages than English? How old are you? Billy, did you *make* him? Oh my gosh this is I think the second coolest magical item I've ever met but definitely one of the smartest." she whispers.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson uh ohs at the 'second coolest' crack. Steve jerks upright and block prints, //Only the second coolest??? How would you like if I said you were the second coolest mage I met, but you have pretty eyes? As for languages... all of them on Earth and some from elsewhere. You do have pretty eyes though.// 'Eyes' written in calligraphy.

"Mind that tone Steve, or I'll have you writing book reports for the sibs again," Billy cautions. "Sorry, he's a little full of himself. Been mixing with mystical people and doing their research. So I guess we both have secrets."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I'd say that you must not have met many mages if I'm the second coolest. I'm not even like, the eighth coolest mage I know." Phoebe confides in Steve, "but you are the smartest I've met." she smiles to the stylus, and then looks back up to Billy.

    "He's all right." she smiles kindly, and then she gives a small laugh "This is only the second time we've met. If Steve hadn't gotten my attention, I'd just be finishing my falafel."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson nods and says, "Magic is like that. When you start tweaking reality, it bounces back with all manner of coincidences. Needless to say I'll keep quiet about the tattoo. But If you want to do an interview sometime, maybe you can give me a Gothamite's perspective on the Bats and those supercriminals? I won't bring up magic. Promise."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Ah, you'd have to go through the Wayne publicist." Phoebe explains quietly, drawing up one knee. "I got adopted by Bruce Wayne shortly before I turned eighteen. It's been a weird two years, but yeah. Reach out to the Wayne publicist and we can work something out. I wouldn't mind giving an official interview."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson does a double take. "You were. adopted. by. Bruce. Wayne?" He does a headshake. "Let me ask you something, maybe you know... what exactly is Damian Wayne's problem? He was stalking me for a few weeks at one point. It stopped when he dated my brother Freddy. But... I was looking over my shoulder all the time."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Yeah. More like 'I'm a ward of Bruce Wayne' who has an unofficial conservatorship and makes sure I don't do anything too embarrassing. But keep my skills on the DL, please." Phoebe states gently to Billy, and she purses her lips a moment.

    "Damian had a tough upbringing. He was raised by his mother and maternal grandfather who were very strict--" understatement "and a lot of expectations were thrust onto his shoulders --" also an understatement "... so he's still kinda getting used to life on the outside." she pauses.

    "He takes a long time to warm up to someone."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson ponders that and then says, "I was given up at age 2, went through 15 foster homes. I lived on the streets for a good part of my first fifteen years. Somehow I think I had it easier... apart from the gold bathroom fixtures, you know? The parents I wound up with finally , a year or so before I met you, the other fosters, those are my family. I took a while to warm up to them. I still feel funny calling them my mom and dad because, my real parents were creeps."

Steve hops back up and writes //It all occurred for a reason! Look where you are now!//

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe looks pensive. She picks at her jeans a moment, and she gives a nod. "It's really hard being in the foster system. I can understand that. And yeah, maybe you did have it easier than Damian, but Steve's right. Look where you are now." she gives a small smile, and then hops to her feet.

    "Thanks for hanging out with me for lunch, Billy. Shoot me a text if you wanna do an interview sometime. And say 'hi' to Irie for me if you see her before I do."