8522/A Little Shop Talk.

From Heroes Assemble MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
A Little Shop Talk.
Date of Scene: 02 November 2021
Location: Back Room - The Laughing Magician
Synopsis: John fills Chas in on a few things. Including the plan to Break the Deal.
Cast of Characters: John Constantine, Chas Chandler




John Constantine has posed:
    After John left the party, he came straight back to the Laughing Magician and the backroom and to the books for a few final touches on his new Master Plan. Once he had it all figured out, or so he believed, all that was left was to tell Chas via those little mystical linked lighters they use, <I think I got it, backroom in a bit? Unless you're going for the shag, then it can wait until morning.>

    Leave it to John to take it there.

    Of course, while he's waiting, he has all the creature comforts he'd have if he was sitting at the bar and the room's filled with smoke already.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas returns to the Laughing Magician about an hour later and comes into the backroom. He slips off the greatsword and the cloak before grabbing a teeshirt and tugging it over his torso. He walks over to the man at the table.

     "Geraldine's back with her mom. How're things going with you?" he asks. He still seems in high spirits, but his best mate would be able to tell that things didn't go the whole way that night, at least. "Working on our little smoke screen?" he says looking over the man's shoulder at the books he is perusing.

John Constantine has posed:
    "I modified... a... well, I think it'll work, mate." John pulls a piece of paper out from between the pages of a book he'd set aside and hands it off to Chas. It's written in English, probably not the language he intends to use when the time comes, but easier for Chas to read and understand than lower Enochian.

    It's a binding spell, that's obviously a rework of a banishing spell and from the looks of it a powerful one. "I'm going to bind a demon to myself... and kill you myself," he states in a tone someone might use when explaining lunch specials because detachment is the only way he can talk about killing his best mate, even temporarily.

    "He'd have to kill me to stop me and he won't do that. None of them can kill me themselves, that's instant break a deal. He does that and he breaks *both* of my contracts with him."

    John squints one eye shut, maybe against the smoke from the Silk between his lips, or more likely against the protests he's expecting from Chas.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas looks at the sheet and then looks at John. "It's a sound plan but..." He shakes the paper. "Is there a reason you have to bind a demon to yourself to do that?" he asks sounding more curious than concerned.

    "I mean, if you're off limits to them why can't you get one of the guns and blow me away right here and now?" he asks. "Plenty of weaponry to do it. Hell, you could just slip something into a drink and that'll do the trick too, wouldn't it? I go to sleep for a while and then wake up, vomit it all up and your free and clear, right as..." He pauses. "Well, maybe not rain, but the water is less swamp muck and more Loch Ness in their cloudiness."

John Constantine has posed:
    "Because," he begins, opening that one eye. "...the deal is that he protects the people on the list from attacks from *his* ilk. Has to be a demon involved. I knew there wouldn't be any way he'd go for a blanket protection so I went for what I thought would be the biggest threat in the world that might be left after the demogorge."

    He plucks that cigarette between his lips and lights a fresh one with the burning butt before stubbing it out in the ashtray. "So, even with me being semi in control of the one I bind... spells 'demonic involvement'. It's easier to predict than a random demon. I can... make the death quick and easy so the coming back isn't so hard. I just have to find the right demon to bind. One I know Annie or someone will be able to expel if I can't." Just a beat and he adds, "But I do plan on being able to." Hopefully, maybe, he thinks... possibly, probably... Demon possession is tricksy business sometimes, even for a world class expert on such.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas nods. "That... makes sense, actually" he says, clapping his mate on the shoulder. "And between Annie, myself, and Phoebs getting the damned--literally--thing off of you should be pretty small potatoes."

    He smiles. "Yeah... yeah this might work well, actually." He looks up and hands the paper back to John. "When you thinking of tackling this? After we deal with Leksandria and this arsehole who's after Geraldine's mum?" he suggests.

John Constantine has posed:
    "Yeah, after, all it," John murmurs quietly before shoving the spell back into the book where he had it and closing the thing. He downs the glass of scotch he had sitting table and downs it. ...and completely changes the subject.

    "...so, this girl. I did a little cursory digging first thing. She was kidnapped as a child, by a cult. Her mum was some sort of ... an obsessive expert on demons and angels. I have a call in to the Vatican, mum was working with them when the kidnapping happened, gonna see if I can find out more about the cult... the mum... the kidnapping."

    There's nothing about John that's saying 'stay away from her', it's just the way he is. They can't protect from what they don't know, they can't prepare for what they don't know. The little bit of magic that pinged from Las was enough to set him down the path of making sure they have all the information.

    The change of subject was a little abrupt though and seemed intentionally tuned to one that would distract Chas, turn his attention away from the rest of it. It's a tactic he uses often that works on most.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas has seen the tactic enough times to see throough it, but he lets it go in the immediate. "Poor girl..." he says. "She's great, even having been through so much." He gives his mate a grin and a light shove. "Not like we've never seen any like that before, eh?" he replies. He laughs a bit and then looks down at John. "Anything else you want to talk to me about, John?"
    He's fishing for whatever the intentional turn is for, giving his best friend a chance to come clean without having to push on it too hard.

John Constantine has posed:
    "No, not really, mate." John really does seem sincere with that. It's not so much a sense that there's more to be said. But there's definitely a sense of ... well, John being worried or afraid?

    "So, I contacted a few of my old sources in Liverpool. Seems there was a John Doe brought into a hospital, comatose, with markings that match the fucker we're looking for in regards to Renee. I have another name. I'm gonna try the scrying again after the possible haunting side gig I have in about an hour."

    He stands and pats Chas on the shoulder, "We'll get that set to rights, send Leksandria to fucking Hell where she belongs and then get this deal broken. Then maybe get a fuckin' break, aye? I should go, don't want to be late. Could be a high pay gig this one."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas lingers for a moment and then nods. "Alright, mate. Keep me posted on what you find and--get some good money out of this one." He thumbs back to the bar. "I'm going to clean up and send out next week's supply order. Since it's on my mind." He pauses.

    "Oh... if you're going back to the House. Probably should take that with you" he says, gesturing to the sheathed Zweihander resting against the table. "Nothing good could come of leaving it hanging around in here, right?" he says as he starts back out to the main portion of the bar.

John Constantine has posed:
    "Yup, got it." John shoves his Silks in his pocket and snatches the sword along with the book holding the modified spell. The portal to the House opens with no more than a thought from this room, basically an extension of the thing and he vanishes through it.