7488/Quiet Please!

Quiet Please!
Date of Scene:	22 August 2021
Location:	Wade Shaw's Condo
Synopsis:	The Gentleman Ghost is no gentleman, interrupting a dinner invite. Phantasm and Shazam are not pleased.
Cast of Characters:	Michael Hannigan, Billy Batson

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Michael Hannigan has posed:
Whoever said Sundays were meant for rest did not work in the entertainment industry. Or retail. Or-

Ok not everyone gets Sundays off. And some persons are busy in their offices trying to put out work related fires. One person in particular, the owner of Shaw Studios, Wade Shaw. And being such a busy sort, he's resorting to using one of the work study persons who also chose to work that day to play gofer on their way out for the day.

"Could you run this over to Mike before heading home?" Wade states, not glancing up as he holds out the folder. "His flight got in a bit ago so he SHOULD be at the condo resting up. City Spire. Number 8."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson gave a crisp salute, pocketed the cab fare offered, and immediately turned to Shazam and flew to the condo. Turning back he entered, spent an appreciable part of a minute ogling She-Hulk's door and then used a pass key to let himself into the condo after knocking.

"Mr. Hannidrago? It's Billy Batson, sir... I hope I'm not interrupting anything or bothering you. But Mr. Shaw said to bring these papers over and that you should be resting."

Billy is pretty sure he's expected to narc on Mike if he isn't resting. If he's sleeping why send him with papers to sign? If he isn't required to rest, why mention it.

Pure of heart doesn't mean stupid. People made that mistake about paladins in D&D all the time, much to their regret. At least when Billy was running the paladin.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Billy lets himself in he ends up encountering Mike almost immediately inside the kitchen. Standing over near an open cabinet, the ponytailed musician is holding a still wrapped box of tea. Pale eyes look over to the student, glancing to the folder as the Batson presence is explained. "Oh hey Billy." Mike greets, "Yeah uh, that's probably info for the next few shows. I'll have a look in a bit."

He puts the box into the cabinet and starts to walk over to the kitchen table, grabbing a loaf of bread from one of several shopping bags. "Oh uh, you can use Hannigan here if you want. Drago's more for when I'm performing or promoting something."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson enters and sets the folder on the table as directed. "Ok Mr. Hannigan. I'll keep that in mind. Did you get some rest? I think Mr. Shaw wants a report. "

The answer is cut off by a jackhammer blasting away. Billy winces.

"I mean before this started... must be emergency work, it being Sunday all day."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike rolls his eyes at the mention of Wade maybe wanting a report. "Well, being we share the same condo, he could just ask when he gets back home. Or just call."

He sets the bread down upon the counter before heading back over to the bags, "Did he actually ask you for or a report or was he just grumbling about it around you?"

He reaches in to another bag, pulling out a bag of potatoes and a bag of carrots. "Either way, I got a couple hours of sleep on the plane."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson scuffs something and looks down at floor. Salt? Maybe it keeps ants away. "Oh hang on Mr. Hannigan I think I left my bike unlocked!" Billy hurries out of the condo building, pausing only for to check for a glimpse of She-Hulk. Finger snap! there's a burst of lightning and Shazam flies out to the jackhammer to find workers from the waterworks trying to repair a broken water main.

"Here guys let me help you out before people from their shoes at you!" He tears the street apart around where the jackhammer was digging and far more quietly. Flying back he hits a corner market for over priced string beans and wonders what Mr. Hasnnigan is cooking?

Boom!

Billy is back, with string beans.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
A bike unlocked in New York? "Best hurry before its gone." Mike comments, glancing to the student running out of the door. A brow raises to the departure before glancing over to the envelope. Maybe there's something that needs to be returned in there?

The unexpected blast of thunder causes for Mike to lose his grip on the potatoes, causing for the bag to get dropped. "OH FOR-" His hands clench as he takes a deep breath, peeking his head around the wall extension to peek towards the windows.

Huh. It doesn't look like rain. But that strike had to have been CLOSE.

Hearing the student come back in, Mike looks over towards Billy. "Hey, were there any storm clou-" He pauses, looking to the bag. "Locked up your bike and went grocery shopping?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson nods and drops the bean bag on the table. "Bike was locked. I just second guessed myself... here let me get those for you." He grabs the potatoes with the fires of youth and brings them to the sink to wash them off. "Are you making soup or... something?" He looks around for a brush to scrub them with. "All the kids in the my house pulled kitchen duty. I usually wound up doing prep because my actual cooking skill stops at grilled cheese."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Ah-" Mike looks to the bag added to the pile of groceries, looking back over to Billy who is, so helpfully cleaning the vegetables, without being asked. "Pot roast." He answers, "If I prep it now, it'll be ready for dinner."

He looks back to the envelope, "Just what DID Wade tell you?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson says, "Holy moley, just to bring the folder over and you'd be resting. He gave me a key. I left it on the peg by the door. I don't want t get myself in the middle of anything. Pot roast sounds great." Compared to ramen, almost anything does. And he had quite enough of being caught in the middle with his supposed friends.

He surprisingly hears a horse neigh outside and goes over to the window glad to escape the third degree for a minute.

Uh oh.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
To the mention of the key being put up, Mike turns his head to confirm its wherabounds. "Okay... Knowing Wade, he was probably just grumbling about that other detail so you don't have to worry about reporting about my state of rest to him. Probably just saying-"

Hearing the horse sound as well, the musician's head turns. "The f-?" He steps around the wall, looking towards the window where the sutdent's situated. But, that's not quite what has his attention. It's more what's on the other side. "Billy! Hallway! Now!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson flees down the hallway, and out the door.

No She-Hulk. He was hoping to meet her darn it! He can be a fan too.

Say the word and think of Irie!

Boom!

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Billy makes good speed running outside, he has a sufficient amount of time to confirm that yes, both he and Mike saw the source of the neighing. And from the regular behavior of those walking along the street, none of them have.

It's amazing how few people actually look at what might be going on above their heads.

Off in the sky a pale rider on a pale skeletal horse rides down from one of the other buildings traveling upon an unseen slope towards the City Spire condos.

Inside the condo, Mike frowns to the approaching figure of the Gentleman Ghost. He glances back, making sure that Billy did indeed run into the hallway. Even with the precautions, he couldn't just let a student hang back to go through this. Well, guess it's a good thing they kept the salt circle in the condo, right?

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson is transformed again. He is starting to get a headache. So many booms. People outside are checking their phones for the weather.

Shazam flies up into the air. He feels the magic of this being, and the malevolence. He gets a glimpse even of the revenant's decayed features.

Courage of Achilles, baby!

He flies into the path of the Ghost, blocking him and the Ghost whooshes right through. No slime thank the gods!

"Dang, I hate that e can do that! I'm really better with demons! Get back here!"

"Thank you kindly but f*ck off, Simply Red!"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The Gentleman Ghost has heard Shazam's request, considered it, and denied it all within a couple gallops of his ghostly horse. The path of his continues towards the City Spire and upon seeing the rocker through the window, lets off a cackle, lifting up the cane meanacingly before going through the window, horse and all.

Mike stumbles back as the ghost horse and rider break the pane, glass and horse landing onto the floor. "What the-" A glance is given to the circle. Wasn't that sup- He looks back to the doorway, catching a glimpse of a gap in the line of white. "Shi-"

"Those costumed freaks you hired may have detered my demon companion but I'm not done with you yet, you pigeon-livered whooperup!" The high-bred voice chastises. The white cane points towards Mike, skull handle opening up to release a blast.

Billy Batson has posed:
One does not tell the Champion of Life to do that. This is especially true when the Champion was quite put out by the actions of Beatriz daCosta, Crush and Virgil Hawkins. This is an even worse idea when Shazam had a big victory against giant freaking robots in Metropolis.

Many people confuse Shazam with Superman. Some people even suggest Superman file suit for copyright infringement. But that's silly. A particular difference is that Shazam is a being of magic set by the last of an ancient council of wizards to protect Life itself from evil magical creatures. Magic is not a big deal for him. He can resist it. He has powers against it.

Three strikes and you are out Mr. Not a Gentleman Ghost. That Simply Red crack was going to cost you too. As the Ghost gets to the window of the condo Shazam appears behind him out of a blur of red and lightning. He palms glow as he throws lightning from one palm to the other. Then he places his hands on either side of the Ghost's invisible head.

"You may want to shut your eyes for this, sir."

He's right.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
When the cane is pointed towards Mike, the musician has a general understanding that he did not want to be on that side of the stick. This is reinforced when the skull opens its mouth. So, running is definitely on his list of things to do. But there's not many places to run to in the floorplan of the studio. The door to the hallway's closed and the act of opening the door open involves seconds he didn't have. So run he does, arcing in a manner to try and avoid any shots the ghost may take while heading towards the opening created from the now missing window. A hand balls up, forming a fist just in case opportunity presents itself but being the guy has the added advantage of sitting on a freaking horse, not likely.

Craddock's cane moves, trying to train it upon the musician. "You don't st-"

James does not get to finish whatever ghostly pun he was planning as he realizes something in the warning being uttered. Someone's behind him.

Seeing another form inside the condo, Mike skids to a stop. Looking over towards Shazam, he looks to the flash of brightness exchanging between the hands and does take the offered advice. The brightness upon the walls and the effects of shadow are more than enough illustration.

As the stream of lightning passes through, hitting Gentleman Ghost in its path, his body ends up emulating the effects of a strobe light. His appearance rotates between two extremely contrasting forms: White no face to black attire and a rotting corpse face. The horse, bucks wild, having none of this before losing its rider and runs off, vanishing. With the sudden change in positioning, the ghost ends up looking upwards, stunned at Shazam while he smoulders.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson squints at the Ghost. The light even bothered him a little. His hair still stands up with fury of it.

"Go now or I will take my best shot at sending you back where you belong. Tell your demon friends this man... this city is protected. Philly too for that matter. If I see you again I will shoot first. Say you agree and make me believe it." He hovers somewhat wobbly. Hovering is hard.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Having been spared the remainder of the attack, the ghost has switched back to the pristine white of his preferred form. But after witnessing his darker expression, it is easy to imagine a scowl being shot at the triumphant Shazam. He staggers to his feet, monacle directed towards Billy before the hat and glass turn towards Mike. "The demon may not go after you but that does NOT mean I have forgotten the insult of your actions." He steps back, giving a snort of defision, "It's been a pleasure gentlemen, but I have pressing matters elsewhere." The ghost fades from view. Making NO promises.

"Oh for ch-" Mike grumbles, straightening himself up as he looks to where the ghost vanished, "You know, we could save a LOT of headaches if that idiot would just admit to himself that he got beat up by a preschooler."