18970/Back at the Bar...

Back at the Bar...
Date of Scene:	02 September 2024
Location:	The Laughing Magician
Synopsis:	And his name wasn't Brian...
Cast of Characters:	John Constantine, Rien D'Arqueness, Cain Marko

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John Constantine has posed:
The first sign that things are not all well in the land of John Constantine is the way the college kid he has tending bar is standing way at the other end of it and casting his boss a wary side-eye from time to time. The second indication, while not so conclusive, is the bottle of scotch in front of him. He tries, really hard, to only go a glass at a time when drinking here. Black-out drunk isn't something he likes to achieve these days. He prefers to stop at gray-out.

Johnny Rotten is pelting out something on that jukebox in the corner, all the lovely sounds that come with vinyl included to soothe the soul. Vinyl, it's the way music should be played.

Honestly, the entire bar is giving him wary side eye, particularly the frequenters that are 'in the know'. An angry John Constantine is not a bear to poke.

He lights one Silkie with the burning butt of another. That's what real chain smoking is all about. Everything about him screams - approach at your own risk.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
John was going to be at the Laughing Magician, on his stool, consuming quantities of alcohol that would kill a leser being. It's actually pretty impressive what he manages to put his body through and still keep going. His staff might have some concern, but you don't cut off the owner if you want to keep your job. So the liquor keeps flowing, the ashtray is emptied on occasion, and they give each other uneasy looks.

Rien has gotten their 'guest' all settled in her ivory tower on the edge of the Void. It won't be PLEASANT for the demon, but it will survive long enough to answer their questions. Being near a source of power helps to replenish some of her magical energies, enough that she decides there's something that she needs to pick up before she checks in on one John Constantine.

When she enters the Laughing Magician, a scent accompanies her, wafting in on a breeze from the city beyond, carried oh so conveniently straight to where John is perched on his stool. Fish and chips. Not just ANY fish and chips, from that one pub on Fleet Street that uses the really good stout in their beer batter. She even has a bottle os Sarson's malt vinegar with her. The bar will have salt, and there's lemon wedges wrapped in foil in the to-go containers.

Moving through the bar, she's changed back into something more street-appropriate than the Gown of Madness from earlier, jeans, boots, a blouse, her leather jacket. Setting the bag down on the bar next to his drink, she slides smoothly on the stool next to him and looks to the bartender. "Bourbon. Top shelf. Bring the bottle, charge by the shot." Meaning, charge her what it would be if the bottle were doled out as individual shots and not as bottle service. The bar will make more money that way. Rien doesn't say anything John directly, just watching him sidelong as she pulls out the food and sets one of the containers in front of him, and the malt vinegar between them.

John Constantine has posed:
The poor kid, the bartender, looks like a dear in the headlights. That look is definitely giving off 'you want me to get close to him?' vibes. But he does as asked, he's a good employee like that. He just makes sure to stay as far back as possible when puts the bottle and shot glass down - not right in front of Rien, no that would mean getting too close. He sets them down more to the other side /just/ within her reach.

John glances at the food, side long. It's not that he isn't grateful, it's not that it's not one of his absolute favorites - it's just that he's still /seething/ and that's the only emotion he can focus on at the moment. Give him a shot or seven more. He takes care of two of those seven in one quick motion, downing the double shot he had in front of him like it's nothing but water. At this point, it might actually be water that would have ill effects on him. Scotch, it's a staple. He refills the glass.

Not the most chatty chap at the moment, is he?

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien is patient. Normally, anyways. There's times where her patience wears out, but that tends to be situations like earlier. This? She has aaaaaaaaaaall the time in the world. Forever. The stool will rot and the bar will crumble before she has to move. Leeeeeeeeeeeaning to get the glass and bottle, Rien looks at the kid, "Go on, cher. I'm sure there's other customers to take care of." She tilts her head towards the other side of the bar.

Opening up her own container, she sprinkles on some salt, squeezes on a bit of lemon, and dashes the whole thing liberally with the malt vinegar. Wiping her hands off on a napkin, Rien pours herself a shot, looks at the glass, then shakes her head and knocks back before setting it aside. She can and will drink straight from the bottle. Not her place of business!

"So. Looks like you all are having some troubles with some of the younger folk in the League? Did training classes stop after I stepped away?" Giving him a chance to let loose with some healthy ranting if he needs it. In the meantime, she starts to eat her fish and chips. It's only good while they're hot, after that they get soggy and the batter gets mushy...

John Constantine has posed:
John's hand wraps around that bottle of scotch, his grip nearly white knuckled. "He's not a member, he's a worthless little prat that came to us wanting protection from some mob that has a bounty on his head." His words are colored with more than a hint of a growl. "Had my way, that bounty would be cashed and this place would be paid for." He doesn't mean that right? Or maybe he does.

He tosses back his second double since Rien sat down. "He could have gotten us all /killed/. Except maybe you - but then you would have had to drag yourself to Hell to find me." That's mostly a joke, yes his soul is damned. But no one wants him yet, not until the Three figure out who should have them. Maybe one day they'll decide to set up a shared custody agreement?

Finally he opens the container of food. He still doesn't eat anything, not yet. He's debating - food soaks up alcohol, makes getting to gray-out drunk harder.

It's not just Caleb either, man's had a whole lot of plates in the air recently. One man can only do so much juggling before he feels the plates about to fall.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"Ah. Then.. perhaps someone needs to take him aside and make him realize that he's not just fighting on his own anymore and that he needs to consider the other people around him before he acts." Rien takes a swallow from the bottle of bourbon and picks up another chip, pointing it at John briefly, "Wouldn't recommend that. Not in Gotham. You Know Who gets testy about that shit."

She lets out a slow breath and nods, "Yeah, he could have. And you know I'd go to Hell to pull you back, John. Not even a question." She eats the chip and adds, "Still. He definitely needs some... restraint. He used holy water on the demon and just.. let loose on it. Could have killed it, could have *released* it. Neither would have been good for us. I couldn't ID the big demon before it slithered away."

Huffing out a sigh, Rien shakes her head and takes another swallow from the bottle. Still watching him from the corner of one eye. "You need help, John." This might be where someone more touchy-feely would start the 'intervention'. But Rien, she just snitches one of his Silk Cuts and lights up. Drawing deep on the smoke and letting it out before turning to look at him. "You're taking on too much by yourself. You don't have to."

Cain Marko has posed:
Angels and demons aren't allowed. Powerful wards shield the place from all manner of danger and external threats. Beings of supernatural force attempting to make their way in alert the owner of the bar to their presence if not outright refused entry by whatever sorcery lies on the place.

But what about avatars of elder primordial beings that are considered elder gods, elder demons and maybe neither and both all at the same time?

Indeed...a certain Citizen Cain Marko's arrival is like the rumble of a magnitude eight quake occurring at the bottom of the Marinas Trench when viewed through any sort of mystic lense and when wards reach out to feel him. His monstrous magical presence muffled and muted by his own being, contained in the freakishly immense body that now fills up the doorway of the bar and slowly makes its way in with heavy steps that come -just- shy of shaking the building.

He's dressed casually for the first time in months, wearing form fitting jeans and a tee shirt stretched tightly across his monstrous upper body. The visage of a cartoonish godzilla peering over Tokyo plastered across his vast pectorals and stretching impossibly wide with each breath the giant man takes. Shades rest on his broad nose and as he fully stretches into the bar he straightens up to a height of seven foot something-or-another and looks about. He's not nearly as titanic as he is in his semi truck sized 'avatar form' but the power that pulses from him is no less for that. He's a wrecking ball instead of a sherman tank in terms of size...but still all 'him'.

And looking more clean cut now - mostly. Last time any saw him his hair was long and untended to and a thick full beard has swamped his face. The beard is trimmed back now and more stylzed and his hair cut closer. The shades hide his eyes though and his face is set into a stern dispassionate look so it's any guess what mood he's in... Ideally a good one.

John Constantine has posed:
"Hey now, those aren't just some easy to snag American crap there," he grouses. They come alllll the way from London, that's just a step out his front door if he wants it to be. He takes a deep breath, then one more - he's really trying to just let it go.

But he can't.

"That little /cunt/ had the audacity to call me out in front of the entire Justice League Dark and try to tell /me/ how I should deal with a bloody vampire /and/ coach me on how to handle team itself. Little wet behind the ears bloody twat, telling /me/ how to deal with Mary Seward? Been dealing with her since before he was lucky enough to not be a cum stain in his old man's pants."

So there's obviously more to this Caleb situation than just tonight. "Nothing but backtalk from the little shite all the time. I've shriveled men's wanks for less than that."

Oh, yeah, he's /pissed/ and not in the fun drunk way, yet.

Would they keep Cain out, those wards? Perhaps, if John actually wanted them too.

He doesn't even turn around. He knew the second the man's big toe crossed the threshold who was on their way in. "Cain," he greets - tersely, but that terseness isn't really aimed at the big guy, not really. He didn't include the 'mate' though - just another indicator that he's in a Bad Mood.

He pours himself another double, but seems to be warring with himself. Smoke or drink, drink or smoke?

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"Neither are the fish and chips," Rien remarks evenly, taking a drag on the cigarette and glancing at him. "I'll get you a carton later. Still a little low on juice after the nightmare show earlier, have pity." On her. Specifically, on her theft of one of his smokes. She takes another swallow of the bourbon and waits for him to spit out what's been sticking in his craw.

Aaaaaaaaand there it is. She gives a nod, he's not wrong, the kid has a mouth on him, and has little self-control. It's dangerous when you're dealing with the types of people the JLD deal with. Hell, with the types of people the JLD *are*. "So tell him to fuck off until he's been more than twenty feet off his front porch. Cut him loose and let him see how well he hangs out on his own. He's doing stupid shit that's putting other people in danger, and he's SAYING stupid shit that's putting himself in danger. He either needs to be trained, or let go."

Rien smiles a touch at the steady vibration of the approaching footsteps. She knows those footsteps. Taking a few more bites of the fish and chips, she waits for the Big Man to enter the bar, calling out like it was Cheers or something. "Caaaaaaaaaaaain!" Turning slightly, she looks up at the monstrously sized man and offers, "First pony keg's on me, after that you're on your own."

Turning back around, she looks back to John. "Drink, then smoke."

Cain Marko has posed:
A test of John's wards vs The Juggernaut would not be a good day for anyone involved and that includes Cain. He's been teleported enough to other dimensions and hell itself without warning to not want to deal with that sort of thing when not in the right mood. When in the right mood it might prove for a good brawl with some demons but ...now's not the time.

As to John's mood - Cain didn't hear everything but he heard enough ....and it actually registers with him enough to raise an eyebrow above his dark glasses with some recognition of the context of what the fussing is all about. Even so, he allows a rumbling, quippy, "Yeah? Nice t'see you to..."

Then there's Rien and despite his dour features, the immense man begins to allow a slow lopsided smirk to pull at his broad brutal features. It seems the two know each other as well! Perhaps a surprise....and it -has- been some times since he's seen her.

"Well....hello there darlin'.." he rumbles out and then finally begins to slowly approach them both with the heavy rumbling inexorable associated with him. Only Cain Marko can make walking towards a bar an 'event' after all.

"You fussin' about that kid?" he finally says once he looms besides them both and leans forward, resting golf ball sized knuckles onto the bar top as he leans forward and then down to press his mass onto a stool.

"....I finally started catchin' up with you lot... Buncha Scooby Doo Mystery's Inc folk until you got back involved. That boy gettin' under yer skin, John? Tth... There's a reason he think's he knows so much about Seward..."

John Constantine has posed:
Between a mountain entering the room and John's palpable rage - a few of the patrons get up to leave. They do so very slowly, like maybe they're trying to back away from an angry bear that's going to maul them if they move too quickly. It's a Sunday night, the place isn't that busy and those that are here, well they're likely 'in the know'. And all of them know that they don't want to be on the receiving end of the wrath of John Constantine - or the Juggernaught for that matter. Or hell, even Rien's.

It's not a good night to risk accidentally dropping a glass and breaking it at The Laughing Magician.

"Or I could just inform Mary that he's /not/ one of mine and he's back on the bloody menu," John replies - it's actually an option he's been considering. Seriously, it is. So it seems he might know at least a little of that story. He takes Rien's advice and tosses back the drink before lighting another Silkie, third in what? Three minutes - not quite, but it seems that way.

"Right, mate, but the thing is - his dealings with Mary aren't much a bloody concern to me. She's the devil I know, so is Satana and I'd rather have them on my side than not. That little shite has no business trying to tell me otherwise."

Yeah, he's just not letting that go.

He circles back around to Rien. "He'd have been gone the second he started with his know-it-all attitude, but it's not just up to me." There's that whole triad of leadership to deal with.

Finally he further acknowledges Cain with, "Well, aren't you lookin' all chipper and sorted since the last time we met. Had me thinkin' I was going to have to have a giant straight-jacked fitted. How's the noggin'? All clear up there now?"

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien looks to Cain and gives him a wink, "Hey cher, long time no see. Heard you went native for awhile, almost went after you myself but figured that wouldn't be the best way to reconnect after some months." She still has the gall to actually reach out and touch the man's arm, "Glad you got it sorted. The beard looks good on you." Is she... FLIRTING with the JUGGERNAUT? Yes, yes she is. Rien is comfortable enough with the man to banter.

Looking back to John, she lifts a shrug, "So do that. Tell Seward he's not one of yours, withdraw the protection he's been so ballsy under. See how long he lasts when he's out there swinging in the breeze." Rien chuckles softly when he mentions that it isn't just his decisions, "Ah, yeah. I should maybe apologize for that. After all the issues we'd had with single leaders within the JLD, we thought it was best to split it between three. That way it was never just some unilateral 'because I say so', and there was always a tie-breaker around if there's a conflict. Does make things like membership an issue, though." Lifting the cigarette, she takes another drag, smoking her stolen Silkie much more slowly than John powers through his.

"And I will repeat.. knock some sense into his head if he's getting too uppity. Young people always think they know best, that they've already been there, done that, and gotten the t-shirt. Remind him that he's a little fucking fish in a big ass ocean," Rien lifts a shrug and looks at John. "Remind him that he has to RESPECT the leadership, the chain of command, especially when he wants something from you."

Cain Marko has posed:
Of course she's flirgting with him! Cain's a catch! The man is huge, brutal, and 'Terrible To Behold' when in a rage but hey - the man could be considered good looking in that sort of 'massive himbo jock' sort of way and isn't without charm. Besides, some folk like 'em big! Ahem.

"Somethin' like that.." he responds to Rien, a smile curling towards both ends of his face as his eyes narrow abit.

John gets more of his attention however and the magician gets a long look and then a shrug.

"So what? You want me t'let him fall t'his death next time or something? Or make it look like an accident? What's this about a bounty?" he rumbles, rattling off a series of questions and they're all probably at least half serious ones.

"...Look all I know is...that there was some big fuss about her and somethin' going on in Gotham. There was a big JLD meeting about it. They were planning on taking her out. It musta een pretty bad, whatever she was doin', cause they were -all- riled up, includin' the kid and some folk I knew as well were there. Didnt' really matter t'me. I dont' give a damna bout vampires. Later I found out she had some sorta arrangement with The Brotherhood of Mutants. I met 'er myself on Asteroid M and she came with us on a mission to take out a Sentinel base. Heard her name was 'The Queen of Blood'. I laughed. She didn't like it."

Cain makes an absent minded gesture at all of that, "So I get some loud mouth kid feelin' some kind of way if he was in the middle of all that. Course he's gonna think he knows better. He was in Gotham fighting 'er and 'er goons..and he doesn't know you from Jack. Yer gonna have to just shut 'im up and put 'im in his place.....or do something about Mary. I could do either for ya if you wanted."

That said, the question on his state of mind lingers and for a moment he doesn't say anything as if pondering how to answer while letting his other words settle first.

John Constantine has posed:
But if he did that at least one of the other leaders would whiiiiine about it. "He's more than typical young and mouthy, luv. He's like someone took me as a teenager and hit me upside the head with about two billion sacks of stupid." That's saying a lot, John was a rebel when he was younger without a doubt - he still is to a degree. But ... there's a limit to how far that 'young and stupid' moniker can carry a person.

Maybe he'll just make the kid live without a mouth for a few weeks.

But finally he shifts the subject toward something Rien mentioned earlier. "I got it covered, luv." All the plates in the air. A little motion of his index finger in a circle has the jukebox playing a different song - It's the End of the World as We Know it... And John feels fine. It's a little bit dark considering the end might actually be nigh. Galactus, the biggest plate of them all.

"Mary's vicious," John agrees in regards to everything Cain's saying. "I know a little somethin' about Mary," - see what he did there. "...and I know she's useful and I know she'll step into line no matter how much she claims she isn't. Truce on the table, she won't break it. Aye, some ridiculous amount of green, few mil or somesuch." Got getcha some cash there Cain, solve the entire problem!

/Again/, he changes the subject. "Right, mate, so tell it like it is, you holdin' it all together?" Is that genuine concern from John Constantine?

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"She was biting people in Gotham... I hear some of them went on the all-liquid diet. Not sure if it ever got resolved, I sort of stopped paying attention to all the whining. Grown ass adults, running around like a flock of kids, flailing hands and 'what are we going to dooooooooo'. It was boring." Rien shrugs lightly, not her circus, not her monkeys. People in Gotham want to run afoul of vampires, that they're own business. Their own mess to clean up.

Chuckling, Rien remembers young John. He was mouthy lil shit. Adorable. But still, a mouthy lil shit. But he learned. The hard way. That part she would have spared him if she could have. Sadly, while John was fucking around with occult beyond his abilities in London, Rien was dealing with an infestion of demon-ridden Yakuza in Tokyo. Plight of a demon hunter. All the fucking demons! "Then I repeat. Slap him upside the head and *show him who you are*. He's an adult by all other definitions. Treat him like one. When he acts like a fucking idiot, treat him like one." She pauses, and smiles, 'In your own inimitable way."

That said, Rien turns on her stool, leaning back, back, back... there. She leans up against Cain's arm and settles in, nice and comfy. He's big and warm and solid. Excellent place to rest. Plus, she can keep watching John this way. "You're stretching your tether, cher. I can see it, Cain can see it. I'll let it drop for now, but we're talking about that again. Soon." She gives him a Look and takes a final drag from the stolen cigarette before stubbing it out in the tray.

Tipping her head back to look up at Cain, she smiles, "Look at you, being a big sweetie and offering to remove problems for people." It isn't condescending, if anything, she's being completely genuine. She's a bitch, but even she still does things for her friends. Then she falls silent, just looking up at Cain for his response to JOhn's question.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Just sayin' John. It's easy to say 'truce' when you got a bigger perspective like yerself...but I aint tryin' to adopt the kid or something. I did a lot of idiot things when I was younger and I had to pay for it. Same as everyone else. He aint gonna learn to wise up if he just gets a slap on the wrist all the time or not even that. Just sayin'. "

The JLD may have 'leaders' but ... sometimes things just need to happen to put things in line. That's also part of leading.

That information about the bounty though? He tucks that away for now. He's trying to 'be better' at the moment. Should last a week or two or until Caleb personally offends him.

The question posed again...Cain quiets and frowns slightly. "...I guess somma you are owed an explanation.." he finally says, "....I figured I owed you some thanks for jumpin' into that mess. Was kinda outta my head there. Basically...I was on an op with The Brotherhood and after -another- stupid kid screwed up I ended up on the bottom of the ocean. Folk just assume it aint no big deal, stuff like that, but....I hate it. I hate being stuck in the dark like that. I can swim, sure and yeah I'm unstoppable but just because I'm unstoppable doesn't mean I don't feel the pressure. I have to work to march on the ocean floor like that, down where there aint no light. I got mad... -Real- mad.. and I blacked out. Checked out."

Cain drums his fingers on the bar counter, looking at them both and then says, "When I came to..I was in the middle of Downtown L.A. One of the X-Men ahd gotten into my mind after they got the helmet off, pulled my psyche back. I had messed up a chunk of the city and most of the ones that came to do something about me. It turned out that a dark spiri named Chejo-Do...slip into me. I shoulda been able to resist but in my state of mind I didn't even notice what was happening until I was out of it. That's how it all started. Chejo-Do was workin' with Malphgor...which was the other side of the equation."

Cain frowns, mood darkening and tone souring even more, "Malphegor had managed an audience with Cyttorak and thats how he learned about Chejo-Do. They made an arrangement and Cyttorak? He was allowing all of it on purpose all in an attempt to try and push me over the edge. He promised Malhpegor the power of The Juggernaut and in exchange for his help Malphegor was going to help Chejo-Do on his own goals - but it was all a lie from the beginning. It was just an attempt to push me into the brink."

John Constantine has posed:
"Well, mate," and this is where John would clap Cain on the shoulder if it didn't involve a reach around. "...that's why you got me to help pull you back from the brink, now innit?" It's simple as that with him - he doesn't need the long explanations or the hung head. "Wasn't even blip on the radar of shite lately." He means that.

He lights yet another Silkie and tucks it between his lips. It stays there as he continues, "Like that one with the green hair said, you're a better, meaner, tougher bloke than that Cyttorak any day - way I see it, he isn't shite without his avatar."

He means that too. He's just mad at himself for not saying it then - but it got said anyway.

He pushes himself up from his little pauper's throne. "Thanks for the chinwag, both of you, but I need to run. Got another lil' ole' bird what thinks her house is haunted." Man's gotta make a living - it's not like the bar's paid for or earns much of a profit and hunting monsters to save the world? Pay's not great there either.

"But really, luv, I got it covered," he reiterates, rather firmly, for Rien's benefit.

"Oy! Brian! Take care of these two!" he calls out to the bartender - his name probably is not Brian. Just like it isn't Biff or Bob or Bill.

He snatches up his glass and downs one more double before he's straight for the door. He's replenished his blood's supply of the drink for the evening - so he's off and running.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien sends another Look towards John. She's going to catch up with him sooner or later. But for now, she just chuckles, "Sounds like a perfect opportunity for you work out some aggression on a ghost. Go on with you, then. We'll talk again." There's subjects that she was going to bring up, things that just weren't as important as the ones that were up for discussion.

Looking up at Cain, she cants her head, "Have you considered going to confront Cyttorak, take the power from him? BE the Angry God instead of letting him pull shit like this. Once it's yours, you do with it what you want." Which is probably the worst idea to put into someone like Cain's head... but being set up to be a pawn sucks.

She straightens a bit and reaches for the bottle of bourbon, taking a swallow and offering it towards Cain. "So this Brotherhood mission.. didn't happen to take place in Canada, did it? Some old Cold War era bunker repurposed?" Because she absolutely caught THAT little nugget at the start of Cain's story.

And, since John has vacated without touching his fish and chips, Rien pulls it over and plops it in front of Cain. SOMEONE should enjoy it, after all! She got it all the way on Fleet Street! It took effort, dammit! Then she eats a few bites of her own, and looks towards Cain.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Venezuela." answers Cain after watching John leave.

"The jungles down there. Why? Something happen in Canada? This was awhile back to. Some group known as The Friends of Humanity were making Sentinels. It was a 'salt the earth' sort of deal..."

Cain looks away, thoughtful...which is perhaps an odd look unto itself. He then nods his head. "I've thought about confronting him in my own way yeah but..it aint that simple. It'd be like ...dammin' up the river that grants my power y'know? It's the sort of confrontation that'd have to be done right and also one that Cyttorak would welcome. He's all about force, power, destruction. Raising up an avatar strong enough to face and challenge him? It'd be the sort of thing that'd make his day and considering what type of being he is...probably get something out of it. There...might be other ways but it's too soon to try it and I might not have as much mojo as I got now if I did it. I'm gonna need what I got, maybe more. I got all I need I just....dont' really use it like I could I guess. That was part of the whole thing. I keep holdin' myself back.. That Chejo-Do spirit, Malphegor...they were claiming to want to be able to use my power in full and not the way I limit myself. THey -almost- got me at the end to be just that. Folk worryin' about Galactus - if I had of fell over the edge or one of them had of gotten the power...? It might not have been much of a planet left for Galactus to dine on."

He gives the fish and chips a glance, shrugs, and then grabs a handful.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"Hm."

Rien gives a nod and lets out a breath, "Yeah, something happened in Canada. Also a little bit ago. Also a new unauthorized Sentinel place. Same sort of situation." She glances up at Cain and gives him an inscrutable look. "Probably not just coincidence, you guys might want to keep your heads on a collective swivel."

She gives a small nod as he outlines what it would take, musing. Thinking. The fight would have to be his, but... In the end, Rien just smiles at him and gives a nod, "Well, if and when you decide you're ready to take him on.. let me know. Might be able to boost you up a little bit, give you an edge. Something Cyttorak wouldn't expect." She lifts a shrug and chuckles, "If you're interested, anyways. Offer's on the table."

Eating some more of her own dinner, she finishes it off with a swallow of the bourbon. "So. How's tricks outside of recent events? Been what.. damn near a year? I got wrapped up in a lot of demon activity, had me bouncing all over the globe."

Cain Marko has posed:
"You're talking pretty dangerous stuff.." notes Cain though he sounds more amused now then cautious. "Replacin' me with Cyttorak.. You know Cyttorak aint just some demon right? At minimum you could call him an 'elder' demon but he's also somethin' more like a cosmic magical force. An elder god. You really want me sittin' in that role?"

He seems more amused now but then to the rest he shrugs and takes a drink.

"...I'm not worried about Sentinels. I worked with The Brotherhood cause I'm on the payroll... I know what you're talking about though. The ones we took out down in South America wan't the same as the so called 'wild' Sentinels...."

He pauses for a moment and then adds, "I don't mind helpin' them out though. The Brotherhood that is. Hell....I owe some folk now.."

After another solemn pause he then shrugs, "I'm not up to anything right now. I can't even say business as usual yet. I haven't had my mind back in its right state for that long. Onna the first things I did since gettin' my self back together was help John out. Kinda funny seeing that Caleb kid get under his skin..."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien sends him a droll look, "I am 'related' and attached inexorably to a Lovecraftian Old One stuck in The Void beyond the Astral Plane. Come back to me when releasing 'grandma' would unmake the universe as we know it. After driving every living creature stark, raving mad." She lifts a small shrug, "Just *being* a cosmic force doesn't immediately mean you're going to set the world on fire. My.. patron.. for lack of a better term, is one of the 'better' Old Ones. She actually needs humanity to stay how it is to keep her peak level powers, so she helps make sure the others stay tucked away in The Void. But she's still an ancient beyond time being of such an alien and unnatural nature that The Void is the closest we can let them be to our realm without risking the universe."

Tsking lightly, she leans in, nudging his arm with her shoulder, "I don't think you have to worry about your *life*. But clearly there's things that can happen to you that aren't death." Rien glances up at him and smiles, "I happen to like you in control of your faculties."

Nodding, she looks back to her to-go container, frowning lightly. "I hear you there."

Then she's glancing back up and lifts a brow, "To be entirely fair to John. Caleb nearly killed an entire library of people, the team included, and then followed it up by almost letting loose a demon after we'd had it captured. He... did some amazingly stupid things today, and showed that he has almost no self-control.. or any real concept of team and tactics." She lifts a shrug, "I'm not surprised he's getting under John's skin. I'm more surprised by the restraing John is showing around him."

Cain Marko has posed:
"You don't wanna know what I was on the verge of bein' able to do, darlin', before John, my brother and Lorna pulled me back from the brink... But let's not try and out muscle each other eh or do braggin' rights on whose patron is potentially worse. But...I get yer meaning...."

Cain flashes a big grin at her and then pauses as he grows more serious now..

"All I'm saying is....as you know...it's complicated and probably not the sorta stuff we want to play around with. AT least yet..."

There -are- ways he knows of. A method he'd considered and the look in his eyes says as much. But he's not speaking more on it, slowly clamming up on the matter as the rest of her words settle in.

"So...I didn't know -that- part. So I was operating under limited information there. I thought he was just mad about the whole stupid Queen of Blood check but now you're telling me he actively almost wrecked a mission? That'd be twice in a row he either almost got himself killed except this time it was with everyone else? Last time he fell off a skyscraper.... -Why- is he around again? I was confsued when I saw him at that last JLD meeting. Before that...I'd seen him at a Steak and Shake where he tried to get in the middle of something there. This some sorta nepo baby thing?"

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"No, no, lets not do that particular dick-measuring contest. I don't think the world is ready for it," she winks at him and chuckles, pulling the bottle in for a swallow before thunking it back onto the car. Nodding at him, "Yeah. It's... kinda... I get where you're coming from."

The smile falls away as she looks at him, reaching out and giving a small squeeze to one giant forearm.

"When you're ready. I'll be here. And hey, it's not saying you HAVE to... but I'll be here."

That's the last she says on the matter, it's in his court now.

Rien lifts a shrug and slowly shakes her head, "I honestly don't know. At this point I'm going with he's someone's pet project and trying to cut him loose will cause more problems within the JLD than what John's willing to deal with right now." She lets out a breath, "There are days I really regret having stepped down from that job... things apparently went to shit real fast."

Cain Marko has posed:
"'Dick measurin' contest' is sure a choice of words there but yeah." snorts Cain. At least half a snort. There's a laugh in there somewhere. HE quiets when shes squueezes his arm and just studies her before nodding and looking away. "I get ya.Just....you know...Remember I aint some bargain bin 'strong guy with magic' you know? Of course y'know.." He quiets again and then says, "I'll keep yer words in mind though if I change my mind about Cyttorak. It might come up sooner then ya think based on somethings I found out..."

When the conversation turns to Caleb, Cain bluntly says, "Well I dont' give a damn about all that. This aint some tree house club. It's a collection of folk puttin' aside their differences in case there's a situation onl their talents could attend to. I like -some- of y'all but I don't like -all- of y'all and I aint gonna be associated with something that's dragging me down or getting friends killed. I'm going to do something about it. So I'll have me a little word with Caleb myself and see if he straightens up or maybe I just might see abou tthis bounty myself and call it a day. I saved the kids life so it's time for a little payback."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien flashes a grin at him and winks, "Hey, if a girl's gonna measure up to the *Juggernaut*, she better come packin'." Keeping it light-hearted enough to make the teasing fun and not antagonistic. She looks up at him and gives a solemn nod. "I know. And I would never suggest you are. I have enough faith in you that you could take down *Cyttorak*, yeah? And still be *you*." She pauses, then gives another nod, then murmurs, "I'll be here. And if you call, depend on me to be there asap."

"Hey, *I* don't even like all of us. So I get it. And trust me, if I had my way, we could have just left him in the library with the demon and seen how long he lasted once John took away the binding spell. But it's not my call anymore." Rien lifts a shrug, "I'm not even on the roster right now. I'll talk to JOhn about that, but it's just something that they have to deal with." She pauses and nods, "Or that. I'm not opposed to putting the Fear of Juggernaut into the kid. As for the bounty..." Rien gives a shrug, "You've got connections, I'm sure you can find out who has it out for the kid. I've seen enough good people buried over the stupidity of others, I'm not about to bury more because this kid can't control his temper or his mouth."

Cain Marko has posed:
"I was almost just turned into a force that coulda broke this world and the next and the nexta nd the next before Galactus arrived but now that I'm back t'normal I still gotta pay some bills.." remarks Cain with a shrug. "I'm gonna have to work to rebuild my rep a bit. My actions sent some ripples through the merc world and I gotta get back to business. Rent's high in Tribeca. If this guy aint got no real value or reasons to be here and is messin' up missions -and- has a bounty on his head then what's the problem? I sure as hell aint got one. So yeah I'll do some digging and find out and then have a word with him to 'assess' it for myself."

Cain pops another few chips into his mouth. More and more he's starting to seem more...settled. More normal.

"Old habits die hard. But besides all that.. I -am- part of the JLD and if I'm going to do something I do it carte blanche. If they got a probem with me doing it they can come ask me nicely and if it's not a stupid ass decision then I'll agree with it but if it is then oh well, sucks t'be them. I joined up on this gig cause I was trying to do a solid but I'm still gonna be me. Much like The Brotherhood and me helpin' them out - if I dont' like something I'm seeing I deal with it. You want The Juggernaut that's what part of what you get. John's got a little bit of...leeway with me. More now then b'fore. The rest of 'em? Pfft..."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien curves a smile, "How about if I pay you to go make sure the kid knows what's what? Then, if he's still being a cocky little shit, well, there's still a bounty on him." She lifts the bottle and takes a swallow, "Oh, and if you do find yourself needing work... hit me up. There are ALWAYS cartels in the south that I'm looking to defund. Heads to collect. Bounties that are put out there. I like working internationally. Makes the capes here less nervous."

She motions 'Brian' over and puts down some more cash, "Another bottle, please. And a ponykeg for my friend here. Or regular keg. His choice."

Looking back towards Cain, Rien gives a nod, "Fair enough. You know me, I'm not here to stop you from doing you. I'm not exactly the shiniest penny in the till myself. I just get away with more because I don't leave such a distinctive footprint." She winks at him. Mention of John has her chuckling, "Yeah. I've known John a long time. Since he was barely older than Caleb. I like him. There's not a lot I wouldn't do for him. Hell, I threaten him with dragging his ass out of Hell if he gets himself killed on a pretty regular basis." She glances up at him, "You too, by the way. You manage to get killed in some freak thing, I'm dragging your ass back."

Cain Marko has posed:
"John seems t'like pullin' dangerous ladies to watch his back, I noticed..." considers Cain -- clearly amused sounding now. Mary Seward, Satana and now Rien.

"Might end up needin' to figure out an escape clause t'save his hide from y'all.."

He chuckles a little and then says, "As to draggin' me back? I appreciate that but don't worry yerself to much on that. You mighta noticed but I'm kinda hard t'kill. As t'Caleb..."

Cain considers matters a moment longer and then smirks, "Why not have you pay mea nd I still go collect t'bounty anyway? No skin off my back. But naw you aint gotta send me no cash. Think of it all as a bit of an experiment is all. Like I said, I saved the guys life. He owes me a little chat..."

The keg is brought out and Cain accepts it and then slowly stands, "Got places t'be.."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien lets out a chuckle, "Hey, he likes dangerous women. And men. And sometimes the odd demon. Can't say I blame him."

She lifts a brow at Cain and grins, "You gonna save John Constantine from lil ol' me? I'm flattered."

Tsking, she shakes her head, "You're my friend. I like you. So. You get an express ticket out of Hell. Like it or not." She lifts a shrug and smiles, "I make the rules on that one, and I'm stickin' to it." He's stuck with it!

Laughing lightly, Rien shakes her head and takes her bottle when it comes out, rising up. She smiles and winks at him, "Anything for a friend. But sure. You go talk to him, I'll be interested to hear how that goes. And I'll see you soon, big man." While Cain heads out on foot, Rien opens a portal, lifting a hand to him in passing, "Go do what you do. Later." Then she's off!