8433/For Rent.

For Rent.
Date of Scene:	25 October 2021
Location:	The Laughing Magician
Synopsis:	Bart Allen rents an apartment at the Curio from John. Poor kid.
Cast of Characters:	John Constantine, Bart Allen, Phoebe Beacon

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John Constantine has posed:
    It's a typical day at the Laughing Magician other than the banner over the bar that reads 'Happy Birthday Jon' - no H... so they either spelled it wrong or it's not John Constantine's birthday.

    He's seated on his Pauper's Throne with all his usual stuff around him, Silk Cuts, ashtray, scotch and a glass. It might be noted that each item is almost always in the exact same spot. Today, however, a book's been added to the mix. It's pulled near the edge of the bar and John's deep into reading it.

    Chas isn't present today though, behind the bar is a nerdy looking goth sort, mid-twenties probably? He's side eyeing John Constantine like the man might be a bomb about to explode as he goes about setting up for the evening crowd.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen saw the add, and wondered which one of John's customers might own the building. So into the bar walks Bart into the bar looking around. Seeing John he will nod to him, but walks towards the bartender asking "Hey you know I would talk to about an apartment next door?" He seems at least semi relaxed today.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The bartender's smart. He might even make it two weeks. Especially if he regards John as a possible bomb.

    Phoebe was upstairs, and had been taking things back and forth from the little room (which was now slightly overcrowded with books, notebooks, and mandala posters with notes scribbled on them in ever-improving handwriting), and gives a soft huff at the growing box of clothign that she's going to have to sort and put away a whole hundred and fifty feet away from where she had been sleeping -- but for the life of her couldn't find something. So she's heading down to the bar to see if John's seen it.

John Constantine has posed:
    The new bartender, Nigel... William really, but John insists on calling him Nigel and he's not about to correct the man, points toward that Pauper's Throne of a bar stool and says, "That would be him." One can almost hear the 'good luck' in the end of that statement.

    John, who obviously heard all of that, doesn't raise his gaze from the book he's reading. He does, however, take a drag from the lit Silk in the ashtray and let the smoke soft of drift on the exhale of its own accord rather than properly just blowing it out. It creates a sort of lazy, hazy cloud of the stuff around his head.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen looks over and sighs softly but he walks over to the other man. "So, you own the apartment building next door?" He asks as he walks over towards it. " He will wait for the other man to at least give a bit of acknowledgement that he hears him. "I was wondering what the rent is, been looking for a place here in New York," He admits.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe comes around, coming down the stairs that lead into the bar "Hey D- oh hey Ni- William! Shoot, sorry!" she states, using the poor guy's real name as she makes her way down the bar to the haze at the end of the way "Hey Dad, have you seen my--" she begins, and she pauses. Of course she recognizes Bart. One of her best friends, sitting and talking with John who she just addressed as Dad.

    Hooboy.

    "Hey Bart!" she greets him cheerily, and then with a bit of nervousness "What's up?"

John Constantine has posed:
    With no 'be nice' filter here in the form of Chas Chandler, John continues to just page through that book, it's a small thing, but the pictures in it are more than disturbing, ninth level of Hell sort of demons. It's bound in goat skin at least. Better than human skin, that.

    He waits, turning about five more pages and drawing from the Silk Cut about as many more times before he looks up. That cloud of smoke is thick as thieves by then.

    "We're you talking to me, mate?" he asks, droll and 'oh so serious'. Anyone that knows him, knows him well enough to know that he absolutely heard Bart. He heard Bart ask Nigel. He's just being a dick.

    "You're what, love?" John asks.

    Nigel mouths, 'He's *cranky*,' for Phoebe's benefit. "Nigel's... it's... it works," he stammers out loud.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen If this was anime Bart's brow may jump off his forehead at hearing Phoebe call John dad, but as is, it just raises decently high on his forehead. You would think someone who can move as quick as he can would be able to hide his surprise better, but not one of the things he is really good at. It gives him pause not to be pissy back at John, and looks over to Phoebe a moment, and back to John "I was wondering about what the rent on your apartments was." He says while running things over his thoughts in his head.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe doesn't care that John is cranky. She cares that there is a superhero in the bar talking about moving into the apartments, and that superhero was a speedster friend of hers and that can't possibly be planning on the behalf of a certain Gothamite to keep an eye on her, because he trusts her.

    Phoebe hops into one of the barstools.

    "I'll explain in a moment," she states quiet to Bart, "I can't remember if I left a folder down here when I was checking something in the back room." she explains, "A blue folder with concentric circles on it -- but ah... if Bart's askingimportant questions, it can wait."

John Constantine has posed:
    "Behind the bar, front side, second shelf, under the box of artificial sweetener," John replies to Phoebe, absently even. The man *really* doesn't miss anything... anything.

    He finally turns his attention to Bart. "Fifteen Hundred, same for a deposit, for a one bedroom, a grand for a studio." Even in Hell's Kitchen, it's not bad pricing.

    "Less if you're willing to work for it."

    Nigel's head snaps up and he almost blurts out, 'Take the bottom line cash, man, just...' But in the end he just goes back to marrying the ketchups.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen 's brow raises a bit and says "What type of work? I got a job already, and no not the one your thinking about. I work at Gotham Zoo at nights." He tells John." He looks over to Nigel and nods as if he understands where he is coming from "Any special rules?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    No he doesn't miss anything, which is why Phoebe operates under the same assumption that she did with Batman:

    Assume he knows and just tell the truth if asked. She's allowed behind the counter when john or Chas are in -- who's going to tell her any differently? -- and she ducks down to grab up the folder, and pours herself a sprite while she's at it. No reason to bother Ni-William. Nigel.

    Thoughs he does look over, a little side-eyed at JOhn and at Bart.

    She touches her pendant a moment, that sapphire one with the pretty copper coil on it absently as she thinks, and then comes back around the counter with a bottle of water for Bart.

John Constantine has posed:
    "No, not really, the building will let you know if you break a big one," John replies as if it's the most normal thing in the world for a building to enforce the rules... the actual building

    "Just an odd job here or there, knock a bit off depending on the job." King of Vague, innit so? What's he *supposed* to say? I might knock a few hundred off if you assist me in a particularly difficult exorcism? Actually he could just say that, but he doesn't... man of mystery or some shite like that.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen hmms and looks over at the others and says "Well lets start with the studio, and see how it goes. If it is odd jobs and such, I can possibly help if you need it, stuff like at the mall?" He will ask about it. He then looks over towards the bar. "You going to be ok, if I have apartment here Phoeb? You know I have been looking for somewhere semi close to school." He actually does not want to invade her space if she does not want him to it seems.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Nah, nah, if you're helping out with stuff, I mean, you might end up cleaning the bar after a time or two, but nothing you can't handle." Phoebe gives Bart a bright smile to Bart, and rubs the back of her head. "You'll be up on the fourth floor, that's where the studios are. I'm on the third. My place has my name on it. Kinda."

    She gives a small smile. "Also, you gotta watch out. Some of the neighbors are a bit weird. Like that girl in 3A." she shakes her head "Undoubtably strange."

John Constantine has posed:
    "Nigel, rental agreement," John all but barks. Poor little Goth Nerd nearly jumps out of his skin before digging around behind the bar for *that* folder. He comes up with it a little too late to avoid the put upon, impatient sound from his boss.

    He delivers it with a, "Here ya go, Mister Cons... uh... Joh... um... boss?" All who know John KNOW he hates to be called Mister Constantine, but what then is a man to do when he hasn't quite made up to 'John' levels of familiarity? ... and knows the man can probably turn him into a toad.

    Does John take pleasure at Nigel's obvious discomfort. Hell's yeah he does, how better to teach the puppies the cruel ways of the world than let them experience it?

    "Sign this.." John tells Bart. It's pretty standard fare of a rental agreement if one skips over the bit about management not being responsible for hair or eyebrows singed off in the event the tenant does something to trigger the wards.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen will actually read it, while it may look to Nigel as the young man just gives it a scan through the pages, Bart reads every line, and will remember it. He reaches into hic pockets and says "Got a pen I can borrow?" Yea not the brightest move but he knows little of magic. He looks over to Phoebe and says "Weirder than my other apartment neighbors? I just helped one of them turn her room into a jungle gym." He looks back to John and says "Any thing about loud noises I need to know?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Dad..." Phoebe trails off. The 'Be Nice' is implied. She gets that from the other dad.

    Can throw a mean right hook too if needed.

    "Don't investigate them without knocking or checking for a tie or a sock first." Phoebe quips, and she pulls a pen out of her pocket and offers it to Bart.

    And she has to think a moment.

    "I think I know which one that is, too." she murmurs.

John Constantine has posed:
    "No... you can scream to the deity of your choosing during a good shag at the top of your lungs if you'd like, rooms are sound proofed." A beat and he adds, "Except for Phoebe's... and rule number one, she is not allowed in your apartment without the door open."

    Dad's aren't supposed to *be nice*, love.

    Business finished other than collecting the cash, John opens his book back up again. Is that... does that demon have a human head in one hand and leg in its mouth as if it's gnawing a dog bone? It does, yes it does.

    "Mmmmm, not quite... nasty enough," John murmurs as he studies the picture and turns the page.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen 's brow raises at John, not quite catching the whole door open part, but then that is Bart. He looks over and says "The first quiet one." He tells Phoebe in a way of telling her which person it is." He signs the paper, and says "So, I will be right back with the money." He will walk towards the door, and step out and once outside kicks the speed in goes and gets the money and is back walking back inside just a moment later. "So, can I move stuff in today? What room number and the key?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well, that makes sen-- wait... *what*?" Phoebe blinks upon the news that her room isn't soundproofed, and at the idea that she and Bart have a no-closed doors rule.

    "How come I'm the one with no sound proo--" she begins, and she narrows her eyes at John, expecting a slight smirk. Instead she gives a huff of breath as Bart goes to get the funding, and as he comes back she raises her eyebrows at the book.

    "Who're you looking up?"

John Constantine has posed:
    John takes the money and counts every bit of it before he stuffs it into a pocket of his trenchcoat, an inside one, a deep one. ... it might even be deeper than it could possibly be by just looking.

    He turns the page in that little goat skinned covered book and those faded denim blues of his go wide. He's got something on something. The 'demon' in question looks like just a man in the picture - but with what looks like some sort of weird sucker fish mouth thing coming from the middle of his forehead.

    "Mum murderin' scum," he mutters before he slides off the stool and snatches up his Silks and his Zippo. "Get him a key? Show him the place?" It's not so much a request though, it's a 'Dad Telling His Kid This Is What She Needs To Do Right Now' thing.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen does not pay attention to the book, for one he is facing John so mainly sees the outside luckily. He nods a bit and says "Ok, so I should have my stuff in by this afternoon. " He blinks having not thought about it till now and says "Whats the pet policy?" He will ask, thinking more about his snails, not thinking that might not have been a question he wanted to ask in front of Phoebe.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "-- sure." Phoebe Phoebe replies, her eyebrows drawing up at John, and she rbeathes out in a soft sound, rubbing at the back of her braids.

    And she breathes out "Be safe." to John.

    Phoebe grabs up her folder, and she gives a smile to Bart. "Your snails are fine, Bart. They're not going to mess up the carpeting." she states to Bart, and motions. "Do you want a front-facing or a back-facing apartment? I think we still have two front studios and three back studios."

    She does rub at the leather strap around her left wrist though.

John Constantine has posed:
    "It'll explode when you walk through the front door if it's demon possessed!" John calls back over his shoulder on his way to the back room and ... probably to the House of Mystery after to check and double check that he's right.

    He's in a hurry, that much is clear... and it might be a 'throw caution to the wind' sort of hurry. That's never good.

    "Don't forget to tell Chas to look at the jukebox, Phoebe!" Then he's gone.