6887/Mayan Horrorscope

Mayan Horrorscope
Date of Scene:	11 July 2021
Location:	The Cauldron, Gotham City
Synopsis:	Batman, Zatanna and Phoebe attempt to gather intel on Bane's militia in the Cauldron, but an attempted assault by a local gang to get their territory thwarts the element of surprise. Jovian is an unknown factor. The gang members are stopped and the Batfamily regroups for another try later.
Cast of Characters:	Jovian Anderson, Bruce Wayne, Zatanna Zatara, Phoebe Beacon

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Jovian Anderson has posed:
Actions have consequences, and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A hundred years ago, a vigilante named Achibald Lott set a treasure up for a worthy successor, and for decades it lay buried. The clever test of 'worthiness' be devised, led to a 'controlled' organized crime ring called the Nazca Cartel held in partial check by the centuries old Nazca Brotherhood. A bizarre scavenger hunt and several deaths later, the Cartel was taken down and Jovian became Lott's successor, but the runner up in this contest got his consoluation prize; Bane. He found among the occult treasures aquired by the Nazca Cartel, several powerful occult artifacts and even more occult lore.

And so for the last two weeks in the Cauldron, several extremely powerful Militia have been carving out a territory of approximately four blocks by four blocks with magical and military firepower that has been quite a challenge for any who came calling. A few organized crime gangs hunkered down, waiting to see what they would do but the protected area has neither grown nor shrunk but it also happens to be right in the middle of a carefully negotiated truce between two of Gotham's larger crime families. As long as these militia are there, tension and threat of gang war rises throughout the entire city.

Right now, a large group of gangsters wait near this area, considering assaulting it en masse to try to take it back from Bane's militia.

Analysis of the occult devices is a similar theme to Mayan astrology, with each Militia member, in addition to their fully equipped assault rifles and grenades, affiliation with a single Mayan sign, often complimenting other signs with squad members to become greater than the sum of their parts.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
As a general rule the Dark Knight generally tries to deal with things in Gotham within his own little circle. It is not as if he does not have plenty of associates within Gotham City to deal with most incidentals. Each is extremely well trained and dedicated and they have proven themselves over and over again. To the point where he has no doubts about their competence and capability.

For the most part at least. He can be a little controlling. It's something that he is working on. Even the Dark Knight has room for improvement.

Rumors have a way of reaching him. His network of contacts is extensive and the one thing that you can count on with criminals is that once caught they are almost always eager to sell one another out. Be it for leniency, because of fear or simple spite. There are not many secrets that remain hidden for long when he goes looking for them. It's how he came to learn more about the Nazca Cartel. It's how he came to learn more about Bane's involvement.

Normally neither of those things would prompty him to change his own modus operandim but as of late Batman has dealing with a host of mystical threats of his own. And while a lot of occultism might be nonsense with no more real threat then any other urban legend he knows better then most that there is another side ti akk if that. One that needs to be taken seriously. And as such, one that requires a serious operator.

Of course, when magical assistance is required there are only a small handful of individuals that he particularly trusts...

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The dark brooder in her life, the crime fighter and man that holds sway over the good and evil in the city, consulted her. Word had come of occult and criminal doings on the part of the Bane and the remnants of the Nazca Cartel

Zatanna dresses for the hood. No top hat or fishnet tights. She opts for more sensible black tailored pants under a well-cut jacket covering a white blouse - her version of 'dressing down'.

Magic has flared repeatedly in the city, red hot spots of spells intended to protect the imaginary lines drawn up between thugs - death magic. Magic that harms. It calls to her. When that kind of sorcery exists, all is not right in the world. Mayan magic has a unique flavor to it. Zatanna smells the iron tang of blood in it. Hence, she answered Batman's call, ready to explore the boundaries of the dark magics running rampant.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe is an incidental helper. The younger magi arrived with her hood drawn up and her domino down, the Outsider having taken an interest in the sudden shift of the atmosphere around Gotham -- and as someone attuned to Light and Life, it was assuredly enough of a shift that even she noticed the tenseness in the neighborhoods she patrolled.

    The younger heroine wears armor very close to what a Bat Family member might, though in matte grays and lacking a cloak, instead there was a light pack on her back. Her job? Heal, and don't die.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson frowns as the magical door slams behind him. He got into a shouting match with the guys in bathrobes and not a one of them was willing to clean up their own mess. Four 'favors' he'd done for them now and the only one they'd returned was showing him a vision of a future that was forcing him to drug himself to sleep and have nightmares at that. This was their mess, thinking that there was some controllable version of Organized Crime for their 'test.' He was here to help retrieve the items, and while he might normally be OK with that, the fact that he was here only with some details on how they worked and how to stop them without any other magical tools, spells or magical doodads was ridiculous. What the heck did they mean "He was able to help counter them by who he was"? That was the weirdest thing they had said yet.

Looking around, he hadnt even had a chance to gear up and so he was going to have to use his powers AGAIN, in heavier amounts. There was no chance for it. So as it is, he tries a trick he has been thinking of for a while and swirls darkness around himself, creating a makeshift version of his costume and helmet out of darkness. He takes out a bolo and moves towards the blocks in question cloaking darkness around himself, unaware of the Dark Knight or his allies.

The gang members have had enough of waiting and gear up. They have rifles to bear and move in at full speed, three cars full of toughs in convertibles at top speed, with five or six guys in each car as they drive to take on the Militia. A small boy spots them and whistles, which is followed by another whistle and another whistle as militia members begin to come out of commandeered shops and buildings.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Everyone has their own sort of style. For the most part the Dark Knight does not overly dwell on such things. While the fishnets and top hat might suit Zatanna much of the time, they do attract a great deal of attention. So he certainly appreciates her discretion on this particular outting, especially until they fully understand just what they're dealing with.

Creeping around alleyways and over rooftops is not exactly exciting stuff, at least not to most people and certainly not after doing it for a few hours. While Batman's leads might not bear immediate fruit, they do put them in the ballpark. From there sheer dogged determination can make up for a great many failings in intel. So when he spots that group of men wielding weaposn begunning to converge he motions and gestures out towards the armed group of men. "Lets deal with them as quickly and quietly as possible. We want to avoid attracting any more attention then we need to," he says softly, hand already dipping into his utility belt.

Not that he's accusing anyone of anything. Some people just prefer more of an entrance then others. Though given his own tendancy to come crashing through skylights or swooping down like a giant bat, he might not be the best person to be casting aspersions.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Night creeping, rooftop peering is preferable to crashing through skylights by Zatanna's lights. Swooping through the darkness has its moments but is nerve-racking when flying into the unknown.

"Let me be your right arm of magic," she teases under her breath when they come to a stop near their targets.

"There is movement below. Hear the lowriders down there?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm gives a small nod, and there's the soft 'click' of her extending staff as she reaches into her pack, and in the dark she cracks the smallest of nervous smiles to Zatanna. The dark-hooded Outsider shifts to the side, hanging back as she tilts her head, listening to the sound of the motors making their way down the street, the whistling of the boy.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson is not here to save the life of gang members, or even fight militia members. He is going to try to figure out how to retrieve the arm bands they are wearing and has no idea how he is going to take on dozens of magically powered militia. But despite his better judgement, he knows the gang members are heading towards certain death. Sighing, he considers how to stop them. He could use a bolo, but that would just cause a car crash. If he can make a costume...maybe he can try something else...new

Jovian's darkness isnt'. Its more a gloom of shadows that happens to conceal him when he's wearing it but it still looks plenty weird as the guy in the lead car slams the breaks as a huge grey GLOOM that he can barely see the end of looms up in front of the ganster who slams on the breaks and the two cars immediately behind them slam into the first car causing a few of the gangsters inside to fall out. Meanwhile, the militia, properly alerted, begins to take defensive positions well covered and well concealed.

Waiting.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
There isn't really a 'right' side involved here, just dangerous criminals battling one another to see who can put whatever power they can scrape together to a worse use. There are some among the vigilante community who might be okay with them fighting it out, weakening one another so they they will be easier to take down eventually.

The Dark Knight does not number among them. He doesn't trade lives, even the most vile sort. But perhaps even more importantly when things go sideways and the violence begins the chances of some innocent bystander getting hurt or worse goes up exponentially. And that is something that he simply cannot abide.

"I see them," he agrees quietly, eyeing the tacticaly situation. The fact that they're outnumbered doesn't bother him. How to deal with things without anyone getting killed, that's the bigger question. "I hope both of you have a way of dealing with smoke. If not, put these one," he says, laying out two pair of goggles in front him. "They work on thermals. They'll cut through the smoke and let you pick out the live bodies so they can be incapacitates. But it will hopefully keep the two groups from killing one another. Or at least slow them down," he adds quietly.

Then that hand is dipping back down into one of the pouches at his waste before a half-dozen geleatin capsules go flying. As each hits the pavement they are crushed, billowing clouds of dark grey smoke emerges from each of them, billowing out into thick, obscuring clouds of mist.

And as soon as that cover is down? The Dark Knight is slipping from his perch, making his way out into those concealling mists to do what he does best.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Cars screech to a halt in front of shapeless shadow. The echo of angry voices and car doors slamming reach the Magician. She peers downward, sniffing magic mixed with car fumes and cigarettes.

"Thank you!" Zatanna accepts the goggles, fitting them over her dark hair and fiddling with them a moment to find a comfortable fit.

"I have an idea." Like the man she accompanied, she is not here to deal death but to prevent more. She flips a hand in the air, whispering, "!cigam sdleiw ohw em wohS"

Lights flare, unseen to everyone but herself, moving randomly, in twos or three. "Hah, well, well. Batman, they are carrying magical talismans on them, like armbands. Let me see if I can mark them for everyone. Of course, they are not going to like this."

With another flip of her wrist, "sdaeh rieht no tis ,spsiw'o lliW." Fuzzy green lights, obscured somewhat by the smoke, bob over the heads of every man wearing a talisman. She follows on a current of air like a magic carpet behind him.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian briefly looks at his hand as he is impressed at how much gloom he creates, and drops the effect. Only just a small part of the gloom vanishes as the smoke continues to spread out. He briefly looks at his hand wondering if he is losing control of his power.

It is a testament to Bane's meticulous planning that over half the gang members going to attack the militia, were, in fact, infilitrated by the militia themselves. The 18 gang members driving at full bore are in fact, infiltrated by 9 men who are just as confused as the regular gang members who suddenly have a glowing ball over their heads. For several critical moments, they are all standing around confused and looking at each other since only about half of them have the identifying mark. This doesnt last too long though as two of the militia members realize that they are the ones being identified, as one shouts, "Brujaria!" Its outrage. Its perfectly fine if they have magic helping THEM but not at all good if they are being targets of it. Instantly, the illusion covering them drops as they are revealed as Bane's militia instead of the Gang trying to retake their territory but the smoke still mostly conceals them from each other. A few shots are fired out but it comes to mostly fists punching each other though the Militia is far more coordinated than the Gang.

Unsure what the HELL is going on, Bolo leaps in to the fray and punches out a gang member and militia member.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Under most situations the Dark Knight will always prioritize the foe wielding the gun. Bringing death with a gun is far, far too easy. It does not even necessarily require a high degree of skill and far too many criminals are jumpy and careless. Not a good combination when it comes to firearms. But this isn't any old situation. Whether the magic involved here is significant or not does not really matter. Taking out anyone who might have access to it though seems like an even more important task then dealing with the guns.

How fortunate that he had the foresight to bring a magician of his own with him, hmmm?

As those mystical little globes of light settle around the militia member's heads, they shine through even the obscuring clouds of smoke that the Dark Knight has deployed. In short it makes them easy marks. "Convenient that. Nice work," he murmurs over the comms just as he vanishes into that mist, cape trailing behind him.

And then he is amongst the combatants all at once, darting and weaving and never staying still, a shadow in the darkness that strikes fast and hard and then moves on, putting foes down swiftly and quietly. A chokehold here, dragging his victim off into the shadows -- unconscious. A batarang strike to the side of the head, sending another collapsing to the pavement.

For all that he might disapprove of violence, he is an awfully good practicioner of it.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Laughter floats on the night air as Zatanna descends. "Si, soy una bruja. Ven a detener esta pelea."

Stepping lightly, she follows Batman into the fray, his cloak disappearing into the gloom. Fisticuffs come to her ears, the groans of the downed and the enraged cries of others looking for their foes.

Unsure of what magic she faces, Zatanna decides on a course that may slow the fight down. If the armbands fasten without magic, then they will be easy to remove. Lips pursed in thought, she takes a step out of the thickest part of the fight, sights the thugs with lights over their heads and makes a broad gesture encompassing them. ".sdnabmra cigam eht netsafnU" (Unfasten the magic armbands)

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm had taken oene of the goggles, but her domino is a Tim Drake make. She switches to thermal, looking through the smoke and mists.

    She moves quickly, making sure her healing aura doesn't catch those she is fighting, ducking and weaving through the crowd as she robs some of their legs with a sweep of her legs or staff, an elbow blow there to knock the wind out of someone. She hears Brujara being called -- magic! -- and she catches her breath a moment, then hops up to a handy ifre escape to keep herself out of range.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
24 hours earlier the enchanter asks the magical expert hired by Bade, "Do you want the counter charm?"

"What does that do?"

"Stops spells from-"

"Are you kidding me? These guys are fighting mafia thugs, cops and some vigilantes, what magic will they expect? No thank you."

Present day....

The shrieks of outrage and indignation as the magically strength and speed enhanced militia memebers suddenly find those armbands removed. The spec will clearly have to be upgraded but that wont do much good for these poor fellows. A full third are rapidly taken out by Batman in the gloom, between combo moves and sheer shock and awe they dont know what hit them. It is only after achingly slow movements that they begin to fight back. Bolo manages to take out just ONE militia member who is much more skilled and aware now that they are not recovering from a crash and aware of his presence, but the human 'cavalry' maneuver Balm does as she leaps in trips several and Bolo moves top zip tie two before they can get back up. As he knees quickly zip tying the gang member, a militia member kicks his head and Jovian pulls him down and zip ties him as well. Grunting Bolo mutters, "Ow."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Watching as those bracers appear to fall away from the concealled traitors in the mobster's midst, the Dark Knight does not seem particularly dismayed that the flashing light in the smoke clouds go with them. For one, just about everyone is a target given that he only needs to avoid lashing out at Zatanna and Balm -- so far as he is aware. For the other, well, those starlite lense inserts in his mask light everything up in a greenish glow, letting him easily pick out the combatants still standing, continuing to beat a methodical path through the heart of them. Closing in on them now, batarangs are no longer as effective. But he substitues elbow strikes in their place, just a shadow rising out of the smokey gloom as he takes out anyone standing in his path with a delibreate, sharp strike. He's not going for style points here, and he's not messing around. Increasingly, with their foes magically disarmed, he focuses on the armed gang members instead, more often then not going for joints. "Sonics," he murmurs over the comm in warning an instant bear he rolls something that looks to be an oversized marble into a small pack of the enemy. As it vibrates it suddenly bursts in loud barrage of white noise designed to overwhelm the senses of anybody nearby.

Anybody, that is, that does not have the appropriate earplugs that is. Where does he get all his toys?

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
All well and good that the armbands do fall to the ground. Zatanna's mouth twists to the side as she realizes that now no one will know who they are fighting. But, if the talismans are made of gold, someone will be very happy when they find them in the street. Unless, of course, a magician collects them all. Perhaps for herself, perhaps for another.

The wisps disappear when the armbands fall, rendering the fight much more even if fighting two magicians and the formidable Batman could be called fighting on an even playing field.

The goggles give her an eerie view of green figures moving through the smoke. Two of them mow down their opponents. The young magician, Balm, has moves for a healer, Zatanna notes approvingly. As for Batman? She expects nothing less of him.

"Damn," she mutters, adding on a quick spell for Balm and herself. ".srae ruo tcetorP" Just in the nick of time to save their precious hearing.

Now for those talismans lost in the scuffle...

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe is familiar with the deafening items -- she lacked an actual cowl to protect her ears, and her hands raised up to protect them, when Zantanna kindly provides cover!

    She is brought out of the fray momentarily as the whisps fade away, the younger Magi giving a flash of concern before she opts to move closer to Zatanna and Batman -- after all, anyone who's not a known friend right now is a potential foe, and she tries to tamp down on her ever-present healing aura. Won't do to have anyone wake up -- but she does mark the one ziptying others together!

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Like the shriek of a thousand angry bats the noise causes everyone in the smoke to clutch their ears. A few flat out fall to their knees, though the Militia members have stronger wills than the gang members and manage to hold on to their guns and try to point at Batman ...for about another three seconds before they have to cover their ears as well

Jovian has felt flashbangs right next to him in training, so he is more hardened than most but that training doesnt help and against his will his power causes him to shift to shadow...but in shadow form he can still SEE and HEAR and so it doesnt help...something animal in his mind claws to escape, claws to get...away...DEEPER...and suddenly Jovian is NOT THERE

The two magi can sense a ....blight...something...a gateway? A rip in creation itself unseen to all but the mystical senses it is there only for a second before Jovian returns in solid form clutching his ears just like everyone else.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
That sonic barrage is potent, there is no doubt about that. But it is also brief. The devices require small but intense batteries and the speakers generating that level and frequency of noise do not last long. They are not exactly a cheap or reuseable weapon, but they are awfully good at dealing with a crowd. Particularly when concealment has already been laid down. Having your opponet unable to either see or hear pretty much tends to end a fight rather decisively. And until it is over it certainly reduces any sort of threat that they might pose.

Bolo is an unfortunate bystander here in this case -- one of the reasons why the Dark Knight does not utilize deadly gear. It's too easy for something to go wrong. Fortunately he is also on the other side of a pack of bent over thugs -- a small host of potential combatants for Batman to deal with in the interim. Which he does. Mostly with raised knees smashing them in the face and a swift thrusts to put them down on the ground.

He doesn't play around.

As more and more of the potential combatants end up down or at least incapacitated ties appear like magic in his hand and he begins to bind both militia and mobster alike. "You going to gather up the nagical bits?" he asks quietly over the comm, taking a quick moment to assess the situation and make sure neither Zatanna nor Balm are running into any issues. "I assume we don't want these in the hands of the GCPD either?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The fighters stutter to a standstill, holding their hands to their ears. Reeling in the silence of induced deafness, guns clatter to the ground. Batman and Balm do the rest, quickly and efficiently.

"So, good of you to ask. Exactly. We want these in a safe place. I think the Mansion will be the safest place in their own safe under magical lock and key." While she speaks, Zatanna thinks furiously about how to gather the talismans to herself. Simplicity is best.

".em ot snamsilat eht gnirB" Hands held out like a catcher with his mitt, she waits to gather them to herself.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm quickly moves through the crowd, neatly sweeping, striking, and knocking out -- well practiced moves. Gotta do something while you're expelled from school, so she studied the blade! -- er.. staff!

    The Outsider then turns, bringing her staff up and looking to poor Jovian as Zatanna gathers the amulets, and she tilts her head a moment.

    "What about this one?" she asks over the coms, keeping her eye on him.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "I would appreciate you not doing that thing with the sonics again please." He slowly stands, recovering a bit more quickly than the mafia or gang members. His face mask is partially melted due to his lack of concentration but still covers his face. His normally blue eyes are odd, one eye temporily brown and swirling in a counter clockwise fashion before the full 'helmet' effect restores itself. "Name's Bolo, you definitely dont want those in the hands of the GCPD since they're made more powerful by blood sacrifice and any petty dark magician would love to swipe them from an evidence locker. Dont know where or what the mansion is but if its magically secure thats fine with me. I'm supposed to retrieve the damn things for the Nazca Brotherhood," Not the Cartel of the same name, "but to be honest they're a little bit responsible for Bane getting these things so I'm entirely fine with them not really getting them."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Of course, just because someone is wearing a mask does not mean that they are a vigilante. But the Dark Knight had a pretty good view of the fight, even through the fog, and he's fairly certain that they are dealing with someone not aligned with either faction in this case. Even still, he gives the man a once over before he inclines his head fractionally towards balm, signalling to leave the man be. For now.

He continues binding up those individuals still recovering, making sure they're in no condition to resume the fight -- not that it looks likely giving the amount of moaning and groaning going on. "That would probably be best," he agrees with Zatanna's assessment.

Why have a magical expert around if one is not going to listen to them? Especially when they give good advice.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna, not at all out of character, mind you, appoints herself The Magical Expert. Talismans twip into her hands which she deposits into a leather bag that she magics into existence.

One, two, three...one by one they arrive. Not all of them clean, some covered in the blood which gives them an ominous feeling. She will be glad to have them under incantation as well as lock and key.

"Right" she announces to Batman over coms. "I have them. Nasty little buggers if I say so myself. I believe they will be best in our hands!"

She scrutinizes the man that had been cloaked in shadows, unable to decide what side he is on. The other mage has a wholesome feel to her and a good stiff right from what she could see during the fight.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Gotta know how to fight when you patrol Gotham.

    THe younger Magi gives a warm smile to Jovian, though she backs off a little bit, minding where she might be stepping to get some distance between her and the captured and unconcious gang members.

    "Can't think of better hands to have 'em." she comments, her voice coming through with the same sort of lightness that matches her aura as she hits another button, and her staff shrinks back down -- which gets tucked to her rear pack.

    "You don't seem too worse for wear, anyway."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson checks himself since he has never done...literally whatever the hell that was with his powers. It still feels like static under his skin and he reeks even more of 'wrong' to both the magi than he otherwise might as if someone took a nice big bucket of unholy water and soaked him in it. "No I suppose not."

The militia in that area that the gang went to assault stand down, going back to their various activities inside of the buildings that the sentry pulled them from. The attack this evening at least seems to be thwarted and they have their own allies inside Gotham facilities to help their  Sirens are heard in the distance as GCPD is on the way.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
The element of surprise is gone. For now.

More problematic is the GCPD's imminent arrival on the scene. He might be able to contact Jim Gordon, might be able to delay it. But perhaps leaving them a little off balance is the way to do this. At least some of their magical arsenal is now in their hands, and leaving them alone for a few days, well, humans can only maintain vigilence for so long. And when vigilance fades, openings are created.

"I believe that is our queue to make ourselves scarce. I don't fancy trying to explain that magic is real to some overworked lieutenant," he says quietly over the comms.

It is a reprieve, not a retreat. He doesn't like chaos in his city, of any variety. But he takes a particularly dim view of magic right at the moment.

Well... most magic. He's willing to make exceptions.

"Good work both of you," the Dark Knight says quietly over the shared comm. As for the shadowy masked figure? He gets a brief nod. Judgement will be reserved. For now.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
It is indeed time for them to exit: stage right. "I'm for wrapping this up. I /don't/ want to be the one to explain magic to the GCPD, thank you. I'll meet you back at the Mansion. But first!" Zatanna walks over to the young staff wielding magi.

"We should always know one another, the good ones, at least. I'm Zatanna Zatara and am pleased to make your acquaintance." A card appears out of the air which she hands to the young woman. "If you want to talk or have need of me, please don't hesitate."

After another glance at the young man who looks somewhat shellshocked. "You walk on strange paths. Perhaps, we'll meet again."

With a nod to everyone again, she disappears into the shadows between two streetlamps.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The younger magi blinks a moment as Zatanna walks over, and she straightens up a moment -- having a powerful magi in her aura was disconcerting at first!

    But she gives a small, warm smile. "The pleasure is mine -Balm, an associate of Robin's." Phoebe introcues herself with a smile to Zantanna, and she accepts the card. She has no card to give, but she does tucket it away in her back as she turns to Jovian, and gives a nod. "Be safe on your way back to the Nazca." she states to him, and then jumps up to the fire escape again, scaling and disappearing into the Gotham night.

    "I'll be heading in, unless there's any more need of me. Thank you." she states, the last statement emphatically to the Bat.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The modicum of truth in that statement is the understatement of the century, "Strange indeed." He murmers and move moves to the shadows himself. He is reluctant to leave, frankly. The GCPD have no idea how dangerous the militia here can be, but he read the police activity in the area for the two weeks the Militia had been active and SO FAR they were keeping a low profile. Whatever they were doing, they werent going out of their way to attract the cops even if it was inevitable that they would be involved. The Marshals knew all about magic since they had to deal with magic using fugitives, but he doubted the GCPD would be any more open to it than most NYPD. He nods, "Thanks, be safe yourself" he said in reply to Phoebe.

Of course, the Nazca hardly offered him some magical door back. They only did that when they WANTED. So he walked to the subway.