7615/Curiouser and curiouser

Curiouser and curiouser
Date of Scene:	31 August 2021
Location:	Wade Shaw's Condo
Synopsis:	Mike is making dinner. But no one got invited. :(
Cast of Characters:	Michael Hannigan, Billy Batson, Damian Wayne

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Michael Hannigan has posed:
With leg three of the tour completed, Mike is left to a rather generous amount of time off. But, just because Mike is not touring doesn't mean he's not working. As the crockpot does its work making another dish, Mike is sprawled out on the sofa looking through a bound packet.

Being a weekday, Wade is currently at the studio. Being the only one here, this gives the musician the quiet needed to read through the papers in his hand. Curtains opened just enough, Mike's using the ample daylight coming through the newly replaced window to see the thin black font.

Billy Batson has posed:
Did you ever have the feeling you were being watched? In the early years of the 21st century an intellect cast and cool began scrutinizing Billy Batson.

Or did it? A wisp of movement. A stirring of air.

That itching at the base of his neck. That didn't lie.

And having a super alter-ego didn't help not when you couldn't call him up. Not when you were sure, or even not sure you were being watched.

And Shazam had to return a blasted tupperware container to Mr. Hannigan. Not Billy. Shazam.

There are reasons for secret identities. Billy sat in his room, staring at the four walls. Finally he stuffed the stupid container into his Phillies book bag and opened the window. He jumped out three stories up, and was gone in a burst of light and sound. Shazam cut the air to mid-town. Speed of Mercury was great for losing a tail. Unless they were Kryptonian or a Flash.

Okay of it was Irie he was going to have words with her. Especially over that someone handed him that bar of soap in the shower after swimming class. In any case it was Billy who went up to the condo,container in hand and knocked on the door.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian Wayne was undercover. Ray-Bans and a hoodie conceal his true identity. He'd had his suspicions about one Billy Batson, moving from Pennsylvania to Happy Harbor, and suddenly Shazam had made it also to this part of the Tri-state area.

  Maintaining a distance behind Billy, the young Wayne observes and follows. It was until arriving at Wade Shaw's Condo that he looked up and connected those dots. "Shit." He cursed, before approaching the doorman. "Damian Wayne to see Mike Hannigan." He knew this was a bad idea. But he had to be sure of his hypothesis.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the knock upon the door, the packet tilts forward. Chin angling over the top of the papers, Mike eyes the door for a few moments before he rolls to his feet. Packet closing, he shoves it under the sofa cushion before heading to the door quietly. It's a bit early for Wade to be coming home from work. Thumbing the cover to the peephole aside, he glances through to see the top of a Billy.

"One second." He advises through the door.

It takes more than a second. There's more than one lock on the door but Billy should know this by now.

The door opens, allowing for the rocker to look to the student. "Billy." He greets, giving a smile, "Did Wade send you again?" A glance to the container in hand does cause for Mike to raise a brow. Is th-

His phone rings. He glances over towards Billy once more. "Uh come in. One sec."

He shifts to the side, answering the phone. The brow raises once more to the announcement.

What in the hell is going on?

"Uh sure, send him on up."

Phone clicking off, Mike looks over to Billy, "So you left one of your classmates in the lobby?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson comes in and hands the container. "This yours? It was left out in the hall in front of your door. I thought maybe She-Hulk made you something but it's empty and washed. That Ghost guy didn't come back did he?" He looks around suspiciously, sees nothing, doesn't seem satisfied.

"I came by to see if you needed me this weekend for anything. I was considering going to a movie with someone."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     The doorman lets the young man in, in return, a $50 bill is tipped to the man. Even though he was just doing his job, the Wayne's had a reputation to uphold.

  The elevator lets the boy in, and he approaches, pulling his glasses off and placing them in his hoody pocket.

  "Mike." He offers, sounding very public-facing. He scurries up to the door, and smiles a little to Billy. "Hey, you're Billy, right?" As much as Damian isn't in many normal classes for his age, he does get placed in many electives so that he is exposed to his age-peers.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike looks to the tupperware container and nods, "Looks like mine." He says, taking the container. "I had a few guests for dinner after the ghost thing." He pauses, "Shame you couldn't stick around... I'm sure you'd have liked meeting them."

Fingers tap on the lid of the container before looking to the door that was left open for the incoming classmate of Billy's. But when Damian tries to confirm Billy's name, he looks back over to Billy. So much for the two of them being together. "Ah Damian, come on in." Mike greets, walking over to close the door to grant the three of them some privacy from anyone wandering the halls.

"So, what brings you over?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson raises an eyebrow at Damian. "Oh yeah. We met at the pool. You were giving Irie tips on swimming. Thanks for that! We had a fun lesson. I'm taking swimming for gym now. It's great exercise, not that I ever seem to put on muscle."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "Yeah, I remember that!" Damian comments, before he enters the condo. "You're from Philadelphia, right? You ever see that Shazam guy? Seems like he's pretty cool."

  "Anyway, I wanted to apologize for the other night, Mike. My -brother- didn't know what was going on and made an ass of himself..." He floats that up there, half an apology for himself, and half cover story for being there.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson shrugs. "Uhm Mike do you need me this weekend? Like I said I may get a chance to go out."

To Damian he replies, "I mean I heard of him and saw the videos. He seems okay. Philly is a pretty big place and I'm not from there originally. You're from Gotham right? Not like you see Batman or Nightwing everyday, right?" He chuckles.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Considering matters prior to Damian's entrance. Hearing the name of Shazam coming from the assassin's lips is... different. He turns, carrying the tupperware container over to the sink. Treating it like it was dirty.

Mike steps away from the potential conversation piece as he leans against the counter, looking over to Damian as he issues his apology from the brother. The arms cross. "That's putting it mildly." He replies, "He made a big ass of himself. But- I'm not the one he should be sending apologies to. My friend wasn't feeling well and the things said to him was... very unprofessional. Unspoken for. And just flat out rude."

He glances over to Billy. "I should be good Billy. The only studio work I got this weekend is not of the music variety." He gives a slighs smile to Billy's observation, looking over to Damian, "He does have a point. I've spent my share of time in Gotham and it's not every day you see one. If at all."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "Fair enough. Though Shazam seems more of a public facing hero than Batman. And I don't go out in the city at night."

  Damian offers a fist to dap at Billy. "Good luck on that date."

  As the thinly veiled comments about the older brother continue, Damian starts to look a little irritated. "Yes, he was, but he thought the worst had happened and...he isn't used to...people." Trying to soften the blow as it were. "There's a history there you don't see. But that's for another time."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson daps Damian cautiously. There's a little suspicion there. Then he shrugs and says, "Older sibs are like that. I got an older sister thinks she's got the Wisdom of the Ages. They just want to be our heroes, and they almost always fall on their faces and, I try not to laugh because she's a girl, and she means really well. Mine is her own worst critic. She's smart, she's beautiful, she's really nice. Let her bring home one 'B' or have one idiot throw shade at her and she'd die."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike glances over to Damian, frowning slightly, "...Noted. Everyone's got their problem spot." Following with the suggestion for that topic to be shelved for a later point, the musician looks over towards Billy as he describes his sister. He doesn't offer much for the topic at hand and instead turns his head to check on the crockpot's contents.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "Our family is...weird." Yeah, no kidding. One dad, three adopted brothers, and a butler that's much more a grandfather than he admits. "But they mean well. For the most part...I guess." The young man from Gotham lets the awkwardness linger a bit more than needed. Mainly because he doesnt see it.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson rubs his hands together and admits, "Yeah butlers are like that, I hear. Sounds awful. Well It was nice seeing you again, Damian. Mr. Hannigan, I'll touch base with Mr. Shaw Sunday and see what you want me to do next week. I better scoot to catch the Hyper back to Happy Harbor."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike nods, lowering the lid back down, hearing Billy's reason for heading out. He glances to the window in consideration, "Fair enough. Safe travels Billy."

He glances over to Damian, "Do you have to head back to the school to?"

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "He's...probably the closest thing to a real grandfather I have." Damian admits, before looking to Mike and shrugging. "I can go back whenever. I'm in Gotham tonight." He takes out his phone, and looks at the screen a moment. "Why?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson takes his own battered phone out and flips it open to check for messages. Nope. He flips it closed and pockets it. Is he going to get that movie date? Is he going to get it without Mads coming along? A little Wisdom trickles in from Solomon? Maybe getting Mads a date...

Solomon -what the hell are you trying to do to me? Wisdom is one thing but, street smarts are good too. Something about Damian Wayne does not add up.

In fact Shazam might look into him before long.

"Well enjoy your dinner, Mr. Hannigan. Safe journey, Damian." He hoists his Phillies bag and turns to leave.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Well, you guys showed up about the same time and go to the same school, seemed possible you two were traveling together." Mike answers, "There was the matter of your brother. But that can be brought up another time."

Mike turns to the departing Billy to the comments regarding dinner. "Oh Dinner's not going to be ready for a few more hours." Hence. SLOW cooker, "But thanks." He gives a slight frown, glancing over to the cooker.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "Okay...well..." Damian pulls back slowly, before entering the hallway again. "I should head out then."

  The app on his phone is pressed, and a car is on its way to pick him up to go across the bridge to Gotham. He will have to keep following Billy another night.