4964/An Evening with Bellatrix

An Evening with Bellatrix
Date of Scene:	01 February 2021
Location:	Algernon's Alehouse - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Jovian goes to the Hellfire Club in search of information, and winds up spending some time with the recluse member Bellatrix.
Cast of Characters:	Jovian Anderson, Bella

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Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian has been at his wits end for a few weeks. Aside from his usual level of low key secrecy, he simply isnt used to being on anyone's profile much less an evil version of him from another dimension. He's considered going to larger organizations, SHIELD, the JLA, etc but those organizations might eventually cause his status as a meta human to leak. And he can't have that. As it is, he is tapping his own limited network to learn things, and while he initially made queries about libraries of rare odd tomes about other dimensions, the actual suggestion he got for the Hellfire club was...intruiging.

Jovian's bitcoin account has been growing far more rapidly than many others in his profession, since he is good at what he does and a certain subset of the hellfire club, anxious to promote the currency tapped one of his law enfocerment contacts on the shoulder and the invitation was extended. He has heard rumors of all kinds of things, so has splurged for nicer clothing and wanders in to the tavern, not quite knowing what to expect. How does one strike up a conversation that says, "Excuse me, I'm being hunted by my evil self who has access to a shadow hell dimension, any thoughts?"

Bella has posed:
One of the more recluse members of the Hellfire Club, and not well known by most members, although it's quite possible those who do know her make sure to keep their distance. Dressed in a distinct Goth getup, and looking quite young, in her early twenties, Bella is sitting by her lonesome in a corner round booth. Infront of her is a wine glass with what appears to be red wine, she takes her time drinking, a sip at the time, and otherwise occupies herself by surveying the room.

Naturally she takes notice of Bolo walking in, and as he is unfamiliar to her, she pretty much stares daggers into him. Her crystal blue eyes quite mesmerizing.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian is a bit taken aback by someone staring at him. He is not exactly someone who attracts a lot of attention but given that no one is dressed in wizard robes or monk's habit, he also assumes that Bella might be the person here who has some idea what he is dealing with. Maybe? Because Goth is totally a reason to understand the occult...assuming that is even what he is dealing with. Either way, blunt curiosity at her reaction causes him to move to her booth, "Is something bothering you?

Bella has posed:
"What is it to you, if something is bothering me or not...?" Bella asks while looking curiously at Jovian. She then raises her glass, and quips, "you're new here...and without a drink...what is it you're here for if not to drink? This is Algernon's Alehouse after all..."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian looks around, a bit non plussed but not pithed like a frog and smiles "Well, true that. A moment." He goes and orders a whiskey straight, one of the nicer ones and returns. "And while at a certain level I dont care if I offend a person that is worth offending, I would definitely not want to do it to someone who I hadnt even been introduced to. Jovian Anderson, and yes, I am new. A contact of a contact recommended the place for information. I'm not entirely sure where to begin on that subject, but as an alehouse its lovely.

Bella has posed:
Bella keeps her gaze on Jovian, and when he returns with a drink, she quips, "amusing hair color you have...any reason for it?"

Bella appears pleased at the suggestion she might be someone he would not like to offend, and having another sip of her glass, she extends her black gloved hand towards him, "Bellatrix Lestrange, enchante," she greets in a weird sounding French accent of some sort. "...what information do you seek?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian finds himself repeatedly drawn to the eyes. He has an eye for the strange at this point, but is hardly an expert on the occult. He is trying to determine if he did offend her or she simply has a powerful gase. He reaches up to his hair and grunts, "I sometimes go to...more exotic areas. I used to be law enforcment so a friend thought it would help me 'fit in' and to be hoenst, I'm not sure it hasnt. He seems to like the accent but isnt sure why.

He shrugs, "I am being hunted by a being that might have a connection to me, but the nature of the power might be the darkness dimension or a very odd manifestation of it. He has taken a singular interest in me, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can about why and who and what he is.

Bella has posed:
Bella for her part is rather difficult to read, she doesn't seem specifically vexed or annoyed or offended, and yet she doesn't seem altogether pleased either. "Please, have a sit, you look silly standing about idlly..." Bella invites him to sit across from her with a gesture of her hand.

"Darkness dimension...?" Bella asks with a stiffled laughter, "you deal with interesting foes...I take it you dabble in magic?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian sits, non plussed a bit. "I do not. I ....dont think so." He considers this, if he tells people about his powers, he is just asking for the wrong people finding out. If he doesnt, he is risking more. "He....is me. Rather, there are rumors that there are lots of duplicates from another world running around but this version of me, has abilities far beyond anything I possess and might be magic. I dont know. I certainly never thought of it as magic before. I am a bounty hunter by trade, though I have faced a few beings who use magic. Certainly nothing on the avengers or justice league ability.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian leans back, fiddling with the highlight in his hair of all things, shrugging. It sounds ridiculous when he says it, though he abstractly knows this is the life he lives now, and that the more he puts on a costume and goes and does the things he does the crazier it will be, but that doesnt stop him from still finding the whole thing a little ridiculous when he says it like that and takes a nice gulp of the whiskey.

Bella has posed:
Bella nods as she looks at Jovian in silence, letting him say more, as she seems to still be fascinated by his hair color. "Ah...one's self is one's own worst enemy, that has been well known through the ages...I'm sure you were already aware, what a predicament indeed!" She drums her fingernails over the table's surface, blood red nail polish decorating them, and eventually asks, "so what is it you are looking for? Protection against yourself? Tracking of your other you? Something else...?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian considers this several moments and the lack of outright dismissal tells him that she might know something. "At the end of the day, any knowledge more than I have is useful. I know the term 'darkness dimension' from some dossiers I've read on darkness powers. But if this nightmare is something I'm destined to become, or at least destined to become if I dont have an understanding, I would know more about the nature of these powers....tracking him would help keep me alive and others safe so I will hardly complain about that." He watches her nails as she moves them, odd at the magnetic mien about her, wondering if she does in fact possess some form of magic, but trying not to be ...gawkish.

He sips the ale now and finally says, "I think that what I really want is a way to get an edge over 'me'...

Bella has posed:
"Alas...but it seems it takes an expert on 'you', which by all accounts, should be you, otherwise you're in trouble..." Bella chuckles quietly, arching a fascinated brow, before asking, "what is a nightmare...? I would posit you are simply unaware of what the other you is going through, calling him a nightmare is so lazy..."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian arches an eyebrow in turn and totally not mirroring her. "Aside from the fact that this dopple attacked a bus full of children and turned it on its side, the whispers and madness inducing aspect of the shadows I can cast myself is....lovecraftian. I dont know if you've read the authors works but I'd rather not lose my sanity. You are right, in that, knowing more about what he has gone through would tell me why he has mastery of abilities I am not sure I want, but its not exactly like I can go and ask him," he smiles and shakes his head, "Moreover, its my understanding that these dopples have ill intent of anyone from this world. If we meet, he will be anything but obliging of polite conversation, though there is a grain in your words that sounds like an excellent lead, not sure what.

Bella has posed:
"I've heard of this Lovecraft, fascinating author indeed," Bella muses, as if she's not quite aware Jovian was talking about actual real life manifestations. "I have a feeling if I should meet another me, we shall have a fun time sharing stories over drinks." At that she raises her glass, "a toast to your success. May the best one win."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian is a bit non plussed by this attitude but shrugs and nods raising his glass, "Well I'm rather opinionated about which one of us is better so I'll take that toast." He shrugs, "I would normally not think I'd hunt me down and throw busses at me, but at the least conversation is worth a try I suppose. He tends to show up when and where he wants, but you do have a point that just assuming they're crazy without an agenda is foolish." Except, of course, he is crazy though the dopple definitely has an agenda.

Bella has posed:
"That's the spirit, if you're the one doubting yourself, you've already lost...no matter the challenge at hand. Good spirit, Jovian, I may just like you...granted you survive and win, of course."

"He threw a bus at you...?" Bella considers it again, apparently not quite having paid full attention earlier, "ugh, who throws a bus?" She almost seems disgusted by the crude approach. "Oh, not just foolish, deathly foolish. As in courting death."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian says, "Aside from the whisper inducing madness, the whole shadow tentacles were why I was refering to lovecraftian. My abilites are...I make shadow bolos. Its not anywhere near the same. I can draw shadows around myself but he's like some kind of...blight that people dont notice until they do. Do these abilities sound like anything you've heard of?" Am I cursed? He doesnt so much as ask about that but is definitley subtexting it. "And yes, he isnt subtle at all. I am. I wont claim to be that powerful but keeping to the shadows and getting the job done is my forte. But you are right about confidence. He is me, just....crazier."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian says, "And I do aim to survive," he takes a swallow of whiskey,"That I can do for sure."

Bella has posed:
"Shadow tentacles...?" It seems Bella now has her full attention on Jovian, "and that is something done by your other you while you yourself have yet to Master?" If anything, it seems like she has some form of understanding of the ability mentioned by the sudden spike in interest. "Darkforce some call it, Shadow control others might, but yes, there are individuals with gifts...to be sure."

When asked if Jovian is cursed, Bella tilts her head slightly, and muses, "that depends, have you been bitten? By a wet ugly dog, for instance? That would be a curse."

She laughs at Jovian's delcared intention, "very well, that is all any of us can truly strive for."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian chuckles, "No, I wasn't." He sips his whiskey and thinks, "Until now I just assumed I was...born with powers. I've read that some with such powers do have the ability to make them solid, but this was....they seemed alive, like the dnd spell intelligent on their own and eagerly doing his bidding. And I definitely havent read of anyone causing madness by the Darkforce dimension, that's why I wanted to see if there was some occult dimension that I might be tapping into that isnt Darkforce. Its hard for me to tell. And no, I can't do tentacles, I can barely do bolos or fade from reality for a few moments.

Bella has posed:
"I will tell you this much...anyone can attain power, it's all about the sacrifice you're willing to make," and that's pretty much all Bella says as she empties her drink and leaves her glass on the table. There's some odd residue along the rim that doesn't normally form with wine, but she wipes it clean with a napkin soon enough. "I'm not familiar with DND, but perhaps you should look for their assistance, it sounds useful."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian is combat experienced enough to recognize blood when he sees it and while the hairs on his neck dont stand on end he wonders. "Yeah....thats a point that is." Is he going to try for powers that he never knew he could have? It might be the answer. Leveling up, ironically, is the best thing he could do. "This was helpful, thank you." He nodded.

Bella has posed:
"Glad I could be of some assistance, good luck in your quest, Jovian...I like your name, it is proper," Bella remarks, and offers an inclination of her head as she raises, and turns to live. "We should chat some more, if you wind up being the best one..."