• MDNI 18+ Only • OC Friendly • Asks [Open] • Magic Anons [Allowed] • Don’t be an asshole ooc
please keep in mind that by nature of his characterization this blog will deal with themes such as drug and alcohol addiction and nsfw scenarios that may not always be tagged. Mun is over 18 and will write nsfw. Filter tw: suggestive and tw: nsfw to avoid.
this blog will borrow heavily from Hellblazer/Vertigo for its canon, (disregarding some of the horrible choices Peter Milligan made) but John is aware of the multiverse and other versions of himself existing. Anything Spurrier is canon too, but Dead In America is Schrödinger’s plot, it both did and didn’t happen so that he’s alive.
He’s not generally a nice or selfless guy, so expect him to ruin your character’s day.
Headcanons/important canonical happenstances:
-> Newcastle happened as presented in Hellblazer comics
-> Mucous Membrane happened, and he remembers it fondly as the time before it all went to shit
-> He never married Epiphany because we’re avoiding that problematic character assassination, but he’s aware of who she is
-> Rosacarnis did her thing, but he doesn’t consider those children his since they were born of his assault and more demon than human
-> Noah is canon, and John is protective of him
-> Is technically living dead/resurrected per the ambiguous ending of Dead In America
-> has had a past relationship with Zatanna/forever has a soft spot for her, but Justice League Dark never happened for him (either run,) he’s just heard about it through multiverse shenanigans
-> Knows most of the Bat family’s secret identities, but never divulges them to anyone out of respect for Bruce (and maybe a bit of a crush on the man.)
-> Looks much younger (late 30s) than he really is due to his tainted demonic blood
"Infamous? Don't know about that, but I suppose being known is it's own reward." Nightwing folds his arms, "What brings to this part of the world, Constantine?"
“Oh you've heard of me then? Suppose I should feel honored,” he chuckled. “I go where Fate takes me, and the synchronicity highway led to Gotham. Charming place.”
"Charming is a word for it, sure." The Vigilante shrugs, "Sure I have, I've heard you raise hell wherever you go, and that, according to Jason Blood, you cheat at cards."
“Blood’s just jealous of my cardistry skills,” John told him. “Far as raising Hell, it’s not necessarily that I raise it and more that it follows me.” But he was smirking just a bit too, amused by it. “You live in Blüdhaven. Are you telling me you’re afraid of some soddin’ demons with the likes of that city running around? Almost more of a hotspot for the supernatural than Gotham.”
"Afraid is the wrong word, cautious maybe..." Nightwing retorts, "And after years of experiencing things that you only read about on internet forums, I'd say not much spooks me anymore."
“You do have a reputation as the fearless boy scout,” John half teased. He paid attention so he knew Nightwing was more than that. “I’m not here to cause trouble. Was in town for an artifact, but synchronicity wants me to stay a bit. Keep running into people who need my bleedin’ help.”
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
“He says John doesn’t hate you, he’s just careful who he trusts,” John told her. “But I won’t blame you if you want to wait here either. Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
John waved his hands and a large bone appeared in them. He offered it to the hellhound. “Pure demon,” John promised. He kept them in the House of Mystery for a variety of reasons.
Zatanna properly dressed herself and got herself ready, making coffee for her and John. Once done, she laced up her boots and handed him his coffee in a to go cup.
Dex munched on it happily. While it wasn't his favorite treat ever, he liked these a lot too. He was very entertained by it until they were ready, so he just walked with it in his mouth.
Dex led them to the part and just like Constantine had thought, John was there waiting for him. He looked surprised to see Zatanna, but then he smirked and shook his head.
Good job, Dex.
He kissed the hounds head.
You moved out of the apartment I gave you rather quickly. I wonder why.
“Found a better offer,” Constantine joked, taking hold of her hand with the one he wasn't holding coffee in. Zee was his better half in most every world. “Beautiful hound by the by.”
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
“He says John doesn’t hate you, he’s just careful who he trusts,” John told her. “But I won’t blame you if you want to wait here either. Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
John waved his hands and a large bone appeared in them. He offered it to the hellhound. “Pure demon,” John promised. He kept them in the House of Mystery for a variety of reasons.
Zatanna properly dressed herself and got herself ready, making coffee for her and John. Once done, she laced up her boots and handed him his coffee in a to go cup.
Dex munched on it happily. While it wasn't his favorite treat ever, he liked these a lot too. He was very entertained by it until they were ready, so he just walked with it in his mouth.
Dex led them to the part and just like Constantine had thought, John was there waiting for him. He looked surprised to see Zatanna, but then he smirked and shook his head.
Good job, Dex.
He kissed the hounds head.
You moved out of the apartment I gave you rather quickly. I wonder why.
“Found a better offer,” Constantine joked, taking hold of her hand with the one he wasn't holding coffee in. Zee was his better half in most every world. “Beautiful hound by the by.”
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
“He says John doesn’t hate you, he’s just careful who he trusts,” John told her. “But I won’t blame you if you want to wait here either. Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
John waved his hands and a large bone appeared in them. He offered it to the hellhound. “Pure demon,” John promised. He kept them in the House of Mystery for a variety of reasons.
Zatanna properly dressed herself and got herself ready, making coffee for her and John. Once done, she laced up her boots and handed him his coffee in a to go cup.
Dex munched on it happily. While it wasn't his favorite treat ever, he liked these a lot too. He was very entertained by it until they were ready, so he just walked with it in his mouth.
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
“He says John doesn’t hate you, he’s just careful who he trusts,” John told her. “But I won’t blame you if you want to wait here either. Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
John waved his hands and a large bone appeared in them. He offered it to the hellhound. “Pure demon,” John promised. He kept them in the House of Mystery for a variety of reasons.
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
“He says John doesn’t hate you, he’s just careful who he trusts,” John told her. “But I won’t blame you if you want to wait here either. Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex sniffed her hand hesitantly and then looked at Constantine to see if it was safe. The smell of magic on her was unfamiliar, but she did smell of his Prince Roy. He licked her hand gently.
I am smoke.
Dex only respected a few locked doors. Lian's, James's and his prince's when Prince Roy was inside, if it was just Prince John, he didn't. At least while on earth, in Hell he respected them all... but John's.
There are no doors or walls, Friend Constantine.
Dex then turned to smoke slowly and disappear through the door to then come back with his leash. Hellhounds needed to be able to move easily through earth to collect souls. Nothing could keep them out aside from salt. And even then, it rarely held for long.
“He says he can be everywhere because of the neat smoke trick,” Constantine told Zee. “Wants to go to the bloody park,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bet his person is there waiting for me.”
He leaned over to kiss Zee gently before pulling away to get dressed. “She goes where I go, if she wants to come?” It was a question and an invitation to Zee, but also a declaration to Dex that she was under his protection.
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
“I do,” he replied, dropping his hand away from Dex to take hold of one of Zatanna’s. “Think you startled us a bit. I’m curious too how you got in, and what I can do for you?”
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
“Seems bonded, but accepts me…Unless he’s shielded, I should be able to understand him, much as his person probably hates the idea of us being the same,” Constantine commented as he pet Dex carefully before scratching behind one of his ears. “Isn't that so?” he asked Dex in a friendly tone.
Dex snuck into his bedroom and got on top of him, breathing right into his face, waiting for him to wake up.
@dex-thehellhound
John woke up almost immediately, a light sleeper for a lot of reasons. It took his tired eyes a moment to recognize what he was seeing, and then he smiled a bit. “You’re just a puppy, aren’t you?” he offered the animal his hand to sniff before trying to pet.
“Zee, don't panic, he would have harmed us if he meant to by now,” Constantine told her.
He didn’t particularly enjoy using magic, but he did it around her, so that she knew he respected her powers too. John pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it with a flicker of flames on his fingertip. He took a deep drag as the flame went out, breathing the smoke back out through his nostrils.
“Say I stick around,” he commented, looking at his cigarette. “What’s that mean for us?”
“If I was going to run, I would ‘ave by now,” he told her, Scouse accent thicker in his honesty. It came unnaturally to him, an uphill battle to tell the truth instead of lie. But he was trying his best.
It felt a lot like holding the book had made him feel—whole. John tentatively let his magics bleed into the seams of hers. “Then I’ll stick around for a while,” he promised quietly.
London called to him, always, but for now he was content to be here with her. Something he never thought he’d get to experience. “Thank you for making room for me in your life.”
He saw her soul almost literally, part of the side effects of the book. He saw traces of people she loved, connections she’d made, and he wouldn’t impose on that if he could help it.
He’d meant he’d be staying in town, but this was an open invitation he wouldn’t turn down either. That other version of himself would probably be glad he’d found a place that wasn’t his guest house.
John flicked some ashes onto his plate and studied her for a moment before asking, “Do you trust me?”
“Just curious. Can’t change my soddin’ nature, you see, much as I’d like.” He offered her a weak smile. “But you also don’t seem to mind the inevitable heartbreak either.”
He smiled, a genuinely relaxed look, offering her his cigarette if she wanted a drag. It was wild how young she made him feel considering they were both probably older than they looked.
Zatanna took the cigarette, and inhaled deeply, blowing out the smoke in the air. It twisted and turned into star shaped cloud smoke before dissipating.
Zatanna let out a soft moan that grew when he hit her g-spot with his dick.
Her hand moved to his back, nails biting into his skin. Her wings, which had been resting on the bed, ruffled, and poofed, showing more of what he was making her feel.
He was into her magic because it was a part of her, and every time she shared it he opened up more pieces of himself to her. Not that he’d ever admit it. Instead he focused on fucking her harder, wondering if he could get her to cum again before he did.
“There are three things I’m bloody good at,” he told her, fucking her through it and cumming himself. Once the pleasure had passed, he pulled out carefully and rolled onto his side next to her, grateful she’d taken them to the bed. “Lying, magic, and shagging.”
He didn’t really like using magic frivolously, or at all really, but his eyes glowed and he conjured up a water bottle for her anyway. “Small sips, luv.”
A sigh, tilting their head at that question. They wrinkle their nose, looking at him frankly for a moment. "I think it's probably more complicated than people make it out to be. Things usually are more complicated, more fucked up, or more ridiculous. Or some combination thereof. People aren't all just one thing, and sometimes shit happens, whether intentionally or not."
"However, I'm also pretty sure you're still the king of bullshitters and despite being pretty damn nice to me through this, I still wouldn't want to get on your bad side." A wry smile, shrugging at him. They're rambling slightly and they know it, but listen. There's no point holding their cards to their chest at the moment.
“I have enemies that regret crossing me,” he acknowledged. He had his fingers in so many pies to punish those that had wronged him. “But even if you hadn’t agreed to help, you wouldn’t make that list. Takes a cardinal sin,” he half joked.
“No, if anything you've earned a bloody favor for all your help,” he told them. “I could have done it alone, but it would have taken far longer to track the bugger down.”
"Eh... not why I helped. The being worried about you getting pissy bit, that is." A slight curve of their lips. Part of why they had helped was curiosity and stubbornness. Getting their teeth in something and not wanting to let go. Even with the potential for it getting them in trouble.
"I'm not adverse to favors within reason, though." A flash of a grin.
“No you wanted to work with the infamous John Constantine at least once too,” he figured. His arrogance wasn’t unfounded, and his owing a favor was a bigger deal than he was making it.
But anyone who knew anything about him would figure it out.
An arched brow, looking up at him. He's not totally wrong, and it would be something nice to have in their pocket. "Admittedly, part of it was that. Part of it was curiosity. Part of it was..."
A purse of their lips. "Listen, when something gets dropped on your doorstep like that, it pays to pay attention. As I'm sure you know... and once involved, might as well see where the path leads."
There's a practicality to the way they say it, as though it's not a complicated choice. Their eyes are are still sharp, despite that, though. It was something they had needed to consider, though.
“Universe was having a laugh but sent me to the right person for the job anyway,” he agreed. “I won’t use this book the way whoever stashed it here might have,” John added, a promise. He didn’t always keep his promises, but they’d earned this one so he’d do his best.
“All paths lead to power. This book would have given someone unprecedented access to the world’s magics. I’ve already got that through my various connections so I’m not bloody tempted by it.” A half truth—he had connections, but most refused to work with him anymore.
"But no promise of not using it at all." A teasing poke at a loophole there, looking slightly amused. They don't seem to hold that against him, just seeming contemplative for a moment. While John might not be the best hands to have the book, he's probably better than whoever put it in a place like this.
"We should get out of here before someone comes looking." A nod toward the door. They seem restless again, not anxious, just needing to move.
“The real bugger of it all is that no two people would use it the same anyway,” he reasoned, since they’d already called out the obvious loophole. Clever of them really. Most wouldn’t have picked up on it.
“This place is oddly lax in security tonight,” John agreed, pushing one of the fallen cabinets aside as he started for the door. “If we run into trouble you follow my lead, yeah?”
Tan tilts their head at that, and then adjusts their bag with a nod. "I can do that, yeah... and yeah, no. It's... a bit. Hm."
They touch their fingers to their forehead in a mock-salute before skirting around the cabinets with a little hop to avoid one of them. There's a lightness to their movements as they move after him.
“The Clown may be the most evil being here, but he’s not the only one,” John explained. “And in between all the chaos they escape frequently for a reason. Either this is a set up, or synchronicity really worked out for us tonight.”
He wasn’t sure which option was better. The first would be an obvious problem, but the later meant he was always meant to have the magician’s bible, and he’d never considered himself a worthy magus.
They pull the door closed behind them, and then snag their picks and quickly relock it before pausing and snagging a wider tool from the pouch and slipping it into the lock before twisting it sharply one way and then the other, shearing off the metal inside the keyhole so that the actual key wouldn't fit into it properly without dealing with what’s stuck in there. Might as well make it even more of a pain to check on the situation. They can replace the tool later.
Still listening to him speaking, they slip the pouch away again. They straighten, moving to catch up, expression completely innocent. "... Yeah, um. If it's a set up, then I admit curiosity as to why. It's not... I mean from what you said the book's legit? And i'm guessing you'd have noticed if they slipped some way of tracing it? Because that's some... interesting bait, if that's all it was."
They tucked their hands into their pockets, considering the options.
“I have made what one may consider many enemies over the years,” John reminded them. “It could be literally anyone, or…” He paused at the sound of the door opening.
The guard that stepped in drew his gun immediately. “Now you don’t want to do that, maybe,” John told him, so he aimed his gun directly at John.
Constantine glanced at Tan, seemingly unbothered by the threat. “ACAB, as the kids say.” And when he glanced back at the guard his eyes flickered for a moment with whispered Latin, and the gun turned into a water gun.
"I mean, you know, fair!" A slight snort, a hand coming up over their mouth at the acab comment as their other hand stayed nice and free for the moment.
There was a sharp-edged amusement at the guard's expression from his gun being changed into a water gun, but they snagged a page from the notebook they'd been carrying.
There's a slight flicker of movement and the paper whips over to the guard before pasting itself over his mouth so he can't call for backup. They lift one shoulder in a shrug as they glance at John sidelong with a slight grimace.
John took a step forward, placing a hand on the guard’s shoulder. He was flooded with flickers of recent memories—the gist of which was the man was only working there to pay for his mother’s medical bills. John sometimes hated his ‘intuition’ in moments like this where it could be invasive.
“We’ll show mercy today,” Constantine told him. “You came into the room and found it empty, but a few of the file cabinets were knocked over. You’ll be cleaning it up the rest of your shift.” The guard nodded.
Pulling his hand back, he gave Tan an amused grin as he told them, “Poor sod’s name is Wilfred.”
They reached over and tapped the paper 'gag' with their fingertips once John was done implanting the command to work on cleaning up the records room, letting the paper fall loosely into their hand before it got tucked away into a pocket.
They tilt their head as they scoot away from the doorway slightly. "Could definitely have gone worse... also Wilfred is... certainly a name."
A hint of a smile as they watch the guard sidelong for a moment.
John watched the guard to make sure it had worked, satisfied when he began cleaning up. “That’s our cue to get the hell out of here,” he told Tan.
He did pause in the hallway though, turned towards where the Clown was kept, tempted—as he always was—to just kill the bastard. But he didn’t want the Bats breathing down his neck either.
"That's not out, Mister Constantine. Underground is not out. It's quite the opposite, actually. " They noted it was where he had paused on the way in and pointed out not going. They had some guess as to what was giving him pause, given he had mentioned the Joker more than once, though not by name. And certainly with no love lost.
Nobody would truly miss him, in Tan's opinion, if something were to happen, except for a few fanatics. Moral or not. But Tan's opinion on the matter was neither here nor there at the moment. It would draw attention. There's a flicker of steel in their eyes as they watch John, not moving on without him.
The temptation lingered in his soul like smoke in his lungs, but eventually he did nod and turn back to face them. “I can sense true evil,” he explained as he started walking again. “Side effect of my tainted blood. Very rarely does it poison like the souls in this place.”
He’d be carrying this for days magically. A price worth paying.
They tag along after him, keeping their steps quick to keep up. The joys of beimg short. They weren't complaining about not lingering, though. They could still feel the way the place was tugging at them.
A slight hum at his words as they keep an eye out for other things that might waylay them. "Sounds a mess to deal with, honestly. No offense."
“Oh it’s a laugh,” he agreed sarcastically, cost billowing a bit as he moved through Arkham like it pained him to be there. In some ways it was starting to. The place was as alive as Gotham in other ways.
“Does make meeting new people interesting though,” he told them. The implication being they weren’t an evil person since he’d sought out their help.
They keep pace with him, fiddling with the zipper of their jacket. It's a moment of them rolling what he'd said around before they laugh quietly.
"I'll take that lack of boringness as a compliment." They skip a step slightly, walking alongside him for a moment so they can see his expression better before dropping back that half-step again.
He paused and turned down a hallway they hadn’t used before. Best to take different routes when you made an exit in a place like this, and he was following his intuition now.
“As intended,” he told them. “My thanks, for this, really. You made my job easier, and didn’t fight me for the book which I’d figured there was a 50/50 shot of.”
They placed a hand to their chest dramatically, still walking. "I believe I had very sound logic on why I didn't, personally."
A roll of their eyes. Maybe if they were better connected or had more ability to deal with that kind of thing, they would have considered it. As is, their apartment probably wouldn't have lasted a week before someone came hunting the book down. And that would put people other than themself in danger. Even if they had managed to get their hands on the thing in the first place.
"I know when to pick my battles, even if I usually pick too many of them." A lift of one shoulder, shrugging.
“Yeah fair enough,” he told them, leading the way to the basement. He descended into the darkness without hesitation or worry, just a smirk in the shadows as he walked billowing coat and all. He had a tell tale swagger the ghosts would recognize and respect.
Their expression shutters down into something calm and more closed off for a moment as they trail after him.
"Besides, I barely use what I've already got at my fingertips properly." A shrug, chewing on theor lower lip. They know there's an untapped well inside them. That they hold onto things so tightly sometimes in order to not draw attention to themself. Learned survival instincts are hard to unlearn.
He paused outside the Arkham morgue door, placing his palm against it. Constantine whispered something in an ancient language and sigils spread along the paint of the door, visible for a moment before disappearing.
“Souls that find themselves in that room rarely make it out,” John explained. “I just gave them a portal to Hell for when they finally get bored and want to move on.”
Pulling his hand back, he tilted his head just a bit as he asked them, “Is it fear that keeps you from using it? Or something else?”
They nod at that. It was a fair sight better than being stuck here, in their opinion.
"It's... complicated." Their eyes flick over the door, tracing where the sigils had been for a moment. "I doubt you want to hear my sob story."
It's not fully dismissive, but not an unreasonable assumption. They sigh, crossing their arms over their chest. "Like I told you, it's always been there. Had to learn, and had to learn to bury things when needed... it's definitely led to a few interesting developments."
“Learned half of what I know through trial and error,” he explained. “Reputation proceeds me, but it came with a lot of sacrifices to learn and grow.” A paused before he continued with a quiet, “People will get hurt. It’s inevitable with power of any kind.”
Their jaw works slightly as they glance away. A small shrug again before they look up again, their voice quieter, more serious. "... Yeah, I know."
They shake their head. "Just don't take as many risks as I could... deciding to help tonight was one of the bigger ones recently."
Bringing all the research and theory they had gathered and having the trust in themself to do more than poke at it for the workings they've managed was an ongoing process. 'Burying' it wasn't going to work forever, and they know it.
“Won’t be your fault if it happens,” he explained. No one has ever told him that in his early days of magic. “When others come for the book, and they will, it won’t be your responsibility to fight them off,” John promised.
A hum, not quite agreeing. "... Maybe. If they come to where I live, I can't exactly ignore it, though."
Not when they know their neighbors' faces and lives. Not when they care. One of the drawbacks of being a friendly sort, maybe. They sigh, tucking some loose hair behind their ear. "... From what you said, the old community center we used earlier might not be a bad place to set up a spot for working on stuff, that's less crowded than where I live? Long as I can keep people from using it for shelter."
They've already started to pick up word-of-mouth that they were good at finding things and people, even if most people didn't know how they were doing it.
“Going to get business cards made are you?” John teased. There was something fond in his expression though, a respect for them and what they’d helped him with.
“I think if you can learn to ride the waves of synchronicity like tonight, you’ll bloody well outdo me someday,” he told them. “I’m not much for a teach, but if you have questions, I’ll be around.” He glanced around them, “Gotham’s siren song drowns out London’s for now. I’m meant to be here.” Whether he liked it or not.
"Now that would definitely be something, wouldn't it? I'm not so sure about business cards, but maybe. Some day." They pause slightly and straighten, leaning forward just a bit for a moment before holding out a hand. "Hell, if you give me some warning if you decide to show up at my door again, I might even cook for you in exchange for advice or a story here and there. No offense, but you don't look like you get a home cooked meal often."
"Besides, I still owe you baked goods for us getting through tonight. Thinking... brownies." A slight smirk. They're not so sure about the 'outdoing him' part, but it's definitely an interesting thought. It'll be a project, no doubt. And having someone who does know more about things around could be useful.
His smile wavered a bit. The last time he’d had a home cooked meal had been at his sister’s house, but she’d been gone for years now. He missed it and her, though he’d never admit it.
“You do me a soddin’ favor and I still get a treat, how’s that work?” John teased. His way of saying he didn’t expect anything, but it was appreciated.
"I did you a favor, yeah." They shrug and let their hand drop, watching his expression for a moment. They didn't mean to poke at something there, but they aren't going to fall all over themself about it right yet.
Instead, they sigh and shift their weight back slightly, acknowledging that they may have overstepped. "Fair enough, I guess. Not necessarily just for you, though... but if you don't want any, more for me."
John couldn’t read minds directly without help, but he was very good at reading people. It made him an excellent conman. Right now this skill was telling him that he’d revealed more than he meant to.
He smiled to lighten the mood and told them, “I’ll bring the wine?” That was what polite people did when they were invited to dinner, right? But he didn’t know if they drank, so it was posed as a question.
A small quirk of their lips and a nod. "Wine works, yeah. Any preferences on food to suit your palate?"
They smirk slightly, relaxing again. To be fair, if they hadn't been keeping such an eye on him, they probably wouldn't have noticed the falter in his expression. As it was, they weren't going to push. They just met the guy, and while they were nosy and liked to know things, it didn't pay to pry sometimes.
"Wouldn't want to make it too spicy for you or something." An amused glance.
“I am a veteran of vindaloo. My best mate practically breathes the stuff,” John told them. “But whatever you feel like making works for me really. I don’t much hate foods, which is odd I know, I’m just indifferent to some.” He’d grown up in a household where you ate what you could find, and big sister’s cooking later on. John genuinely wasn't picky.
A slight snerk at that, smothering the laugh as they nod. Curry actually sounded good. They had the stuff for chicken korma, and it wouldn't be that much of an issue to make. "Let's get out of here then, and I'll see you... tomorrow, around the same time? Give me a chance to get some of... this place out of my system."
They can tell it's going to take more than a day to stop feeling like shit, but they would manage. Didn't really have much choice in the matter. "Few days from now also works, depending."
“Tomorrow sounds brilliant, but as for this place, some deep Vedic meditation will do wonders, even if Arkham leaves magical mark.” It was half the reason her prisoners went insane. “Think of the mediation as stitches to help it scar prettier.”
He was leading the way towards an exit, silent for a moment before he glanced back at told them, “I think I may be in Gotham for a while. Everyone knows what happens to my bloody friends, so I won’t call you that, but having an ally will be good. Thank you for tonight.”
"... Allies. I can work with that. Nice working with you, Mister Constantine. To fruitful future endeavors." A mock-salute, touching two fingers to their brow.
A small grin. "Like I said, come by my place, I'll have some stuff fixed up, and I'll probably have the wards tweaked so I don't have to fully reset them if you come inside."
A shake of their head as they stretch their arms over their head with a sigh.
“Oh I’ve been known to snake myself past wards, but it’s easier if I don’t have to,” he joked as he opened the door for them. It took them to the side of Arkham where they could escape without running into too many more guards. It wasn’t that John had been there before, he was just following his intuition.
"Less of a headache for me in the long run if I modify some shit, if you're around for a bit. Less likely for you to get something tossed at your head, for one thing." They roll their eyes as they slide past him through the door, twisting to glance back at him for a moment before they continue forward.
Braining John Constantine with a book was not on his to-do list, to be so real.
“Fair, that,” he agreed, chuckling quietly at the mental image. “I’ve had my share of things thrown at my head, it’s never a laugh.”
“All seriousness though, great thinking to have protections in place in this town,” John added. “If you want my help to strengthen them, magic always does better in numbers.” It was getting mages to work together harmoniously that was the difficult part. And he’d burned most of those bridges over the years anyway.
"My Lord of the Rings special edition thirsts for blood." A roll of their eyes. They actually had stopped a breakin attempt by using a book as a bludgeoning weapon before. It was more than a little ridiculous. But it had worked.
They paused slightly, and then let out a slight hum and nodded. "I... yeah, that'd be helpful. I mean, it's just a little studio apartment, but it's what I've got. Cozy."
A wry smile. Their living situation might change at some point, but it was a matter of affording stuff in the city.
“The extended editions are the only editions and they’d hurt,” he joked back with an amused grin.
“Cozy is good. Can be a comfort. You'll get no judgement from me, I’ve lived on the streets before,” he assured them. “Once traveled with a bus full of bleedin’ hippies too. I go where Fate takes me. For better or worse.”
He didn’t particularly enjoy using magic, but he did it around her, so that she knew he respected her powers too. John pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it with a flicker of flames on his fingertip. He took a deep drag as the flame went out, breathing the smoke back out through his nostrils.
“Say I stick around,” he commented, looking at his cigarette. “What’s that mean for us?”
“If I was going to run, I would ‘ave by now,” he told her, Scouse accent thicker in his honesty. It came unnaturally to him, an uphill battle to tell the truth instead of lie. But he was trying his best.
It felt a lot like holding the book had made him feel—whole. John tentatively let his magics bleed into the seams of hers. “Then I’ll stick around for a while,” he promised quietly.
London called to him, always, but for now he was content to be here with her. Something he never thought he’d get to experience. “Thank you for making room for me in your life.”
He saw her soul almost literally, part of the side effects of the book. He saw traces of people she loved, connections she’d made, and he wouldn’t impose on that if he could help it.
He’d meant he’d be staying in town, but this was an open invitation he wouldn’t turn down either. That other version of himself would probably be glad he’d found a place that wasn’t his guest house.
John flicked some ashes onto his plate and studied her for a moment before asking, “Do you trust me?”
“Just curious. Can’t change my soddin’ nature, you see, much as I’d like.” He offered her a weak smile. “But you also don’t seem to mind the inevitable heartbreak either.”
He smiled, a genuinely relaxed look, offering her his cigarette if she wanted a drag. It was wild how young she made him feel considering they were both probably older than they looked.
Zatanna took the cigarette, and inhaled deeply, blowing out the smoke in the air. It twisted and turned into star shaped cloud smoke before dissipating.
Zatanna let out a soft moan that grew when he hit her g-spot with his dick.
Her hand moved to his back, nails biting into his skin. Her wings, which had been resting on the bed, ruffled, and poofed, showing more of what he was making her feel.
He was into her magic because it was a part of her, and every time she shared it he opened up more pieces of himself to her. Not that he’d ever admit it. Instead he focused on fucking her harder, wondering if he could get her to cum again before he did.
“There are three things I’m bloody good at,” he told her, fucking her through it and cumming himself. Once the pleasure had passed, he pulled out carefully and rolled onto his side next to her, grateful she’d taken them to the bed. “Lying, magic, and shagging.”
He didn’t really like using magic frivolously, or at all really, but his eyes glowed and he conjured up a water bottle for her anyway. “Small sips, luv.”
A sigh, tilting their head at that question. They wrinkle their nose, looking at him frankly for a moment. "I think it's probably more complicated than people make it out to be. Things usually are more complicated, more fucked up, or more ridiculous. Or some combination thereof. People aren't all just one thing, and sometimes shit happens, whether intentionally or not."
"However, I'm also pretty sure you're still the king of bullshitters and despite being pretty damn nice to me through this, I still wouldn't want to get on your bad side." A wry smile, shrugging at him. They're rambling slightly and they know it, but listen. There's no point holding their cards to their chest at the moment.
“I have enemies that regret crossing me,” he acknowledged. He had his fingers in so many pies to punish those that had wronged him. “But even if you hadn’t agreed to help, you wouldn’t make that list. Takes a cardinal sin,” he half joked.
“No, if anything you've earned a bloody favor for all your help,” he told them. “I could have done it alone, but it would have taken far longer to track the bugger down.”
"Eh... not why I helped. The being worried about you getting pissy bit, that is." A slight curve of their lips. Part of why they had helped was curiosity and stubbornness. Getting their teeth in something and not wanting to let go. Even with the potential for it getting them in trouble.
"I'm not adverse to favors within reason, though." A flash of a grin.
“No you wanted to work with the infamous John Constantine at least once too,” he figured. His arrogance wasn’t unfounded, and his owing a favor was a bigger deal than he was making it.
But anyone who knew anything about him would figure it out.
An arched brow, looking up at him. He's not totally wrong, and it would be something nice to have in their pocket. "Admittedly, part of it was that. Part of it was curiosity. Part of it was..."
A purse of their lips. "Listen, when something gets dropped on your doorstep like that, it pays to pay attention. As I'm sure you know... and once involved, might as well see where the path leads."
There's a practicality to the way they say it, as though it's not a complicated choice. Their eyes are are still sharp, despite that, though. It was something they had needed to consider, though.
“Universe was having a laugh but sent me to the right person for the job anyway,” he agreed. “I won’t use this book the way whoever stashed it here might have,” John added, a promise. He didn’t always keep his promises, but they’d earned this one so he’d do his best.
“All paths lead to power. This book would have given someone unprecedented access to the world’s magics. I’ve already got that through my various connections so I’m not bloody tempted by it.” A half truth—he had connections, but most refused to work with him anymore.
"But no promise of not using it at all." A teasing poke at a loophole there, looking slightly amused. They don't seem to hold that against him, just seeming contemplative for a moment. While John might not be the best hands to have the book, he's probably better than whoever put it in a place like this.
"We should get out of here before someone comes looking." A nod toward the door. They seem restless again, not anxious, just needing to move.
“The real bugger of it all is that no two people would use it the same anyway,” he reasoned, since they’d already called out the obvious loophole. Clever of them really. Most wouldn’t have picked up on it.
“This place is oddly lax in security tonight,” John agreed, pushing one of the fallen cabinets aside as he started for the door. “If we run into trouble you follow my lead, yeah?”
Tan tilts their head at that, and then adjusts their bag with a nod. "I can do that, yeah... and yeah, no. It's... a bit. Hm."
They touch their fingers to their forehead in a mock-salute before skirting around the cabinets with a little hop to avoid one of them. There's a lightness to their movements as they move after him.
“The Clown may be the most evil being here, but he’s not the only one,” John explained. “And in between all the chaos they escape frequently for a reason. Either this is a set up, or synchronicity really worked out for us tonight.”
He wasn’t sure which option was better. The first would be an obvious problem, but the later meant he was always meant to have the magician’s bible, and he’d never considered himself a worthy magus.
They pull the door closed behind them, and then snag their picks and quickly relock it before pausing and snagging a wider tool from the pouch and slipping it into the lock before twisting it sharply one way and then the other, shearing off the metal inside the keyhole so that the actual key wouldn't fit into it properly without dealing with what’s stuck in there. Might as well make it even more of a pain to check on the situation. They can replace the tool later.
Still listening to him speaking, they slip the pouch away again. They straighten, moving to catch up, expression completely innocent. "... Yeah, um. If it's a set up, then I admit curiosity as to why. It's not... I mean from what you said the book's legit? And i'm guessing you'd have noticed if they slipped some way of tracing it? Because that's some... interesting bait, if that's all it was."
They tucked their hands into their pockets, considering the options.
“I have made what one may consider many enemies over the years,” John reminded them. “It could be literally anyone, or…” He paused at the sound of the door opening.
The guard that stepped in drew his gun immediately. “Now you don’t want to do that, maybe,” John told him, so he aimed his gun directly at John.
Constantine glanced at Tan, seemingly unbothered by the threat. “ACAB, as the kids say.” And when he glanced back at the guard his eyes flickered for a moment with whispered Latin, and the gun turned into a water gun.
"I mean, you know, fair!" A slight snort, a hand coming up over their mouth at the acab comment as their other hand stayed nice and free for the moment.
There was a sharp-edged amusement at the guard's expression from his gun being changed into a water gun, but they snagged a page from the notebook they'd been carrying.
There's a slight flicker of movement and the paper whips over to the guard before pasting itself over his mouth so he can't call for backup. They lift one shoulder in a shrug as they glance at John sidelong with a slight grimace.
John took a step forward, placing a hand on the guard’s shoulder. He was flooded with flickers of recent memories—the gist of which was the man was only working there to pay for his mother’s medical bills. John sometimes hated his ‘intuition’ in moments like this where it could be invasive.
“We’ll show mercy today,” Constantine told him. “You came into the room and found it empty, but a few of the file cabinets were knocked over. You’ll be cleaning it up the rest of your shift.” The guard nodded.
Pulling his hand back, he gave Tan an amused grin as he told them, “Poor sod’s name is Wilfred.”
They reached over and tapped the paper 'gag' with their fingertips once John was done implanting the command to work on cleaning up the records room, letting the paper fall loosely into their hand before it got tucked away into a pocket.
They tilt their head as they scoot away from the doorway slightly. "Could definitely have gone worse... also Wilfred is... certainly a name."
A hint of a smile as they watch the guard sidelong for a moment.
John watched the guard to make sure it had worked, satisfied when he began cleaning up. “That’s our cue to get the hell out of here,” he told Tan.
He did pause in the hallway though, turned towards where the Clown was kept, tempted—as he always was—to just kill the bastard. But he didn’t want the Bats breathing down his neck either.
"That's not out, Mister Constantine. Underground is not out. It's quite the opposite, actually. " They noted it was where he had paused on the way in and pointed out not going. They had some guess as to what was giving him pause, given he had mentioned the Joker more than once, though not by name. And certainly with no love lost.
Nobody would truly miss him, in Tan's opinion, if something were to happen, except for a few fanatics. Moral or not. But Tan's opinion on the matter was neither here nor there at the moment. It would draw attention. There's a flicker of steel in their eyes as they watch John, not moving on without him.
The temptation lingered in his soul like smoke in his lungs, but eventually he did nod and turn back to face them. “I can sense true evil,” he explained as he started walking again. “Side effect of my tainted blood. Very rarely does it poison like the souls in this place.”
He’d be carrying this for days magically. A price worth paying.
They tag along after him, keeping their steps quick to keep up. The joys of beimg short. They weren't complaining about not lingering, though. They could still feel the way the place was tugging at them.
A slight hum at his words as they keep an eye out for other things that might waylay them. "Sounds a mess to deal with, honestly. No offense."
“Oh it’s a laugh,” he agreed sarcastically, cost billowing a bit as he moved through Arkham like it pained him to be there. In some ways it was starting to. The place was as alive as Gotham in other ways.
“Does make meeting new people interesting though,” he told them. The implication being they weren’t an evil person since he’d sought out their help.
They keep pace with him, fiddling with the zipper of their jacket. It's a moment of them rolling what he'd said around before they laugh quietly.
"I'll take that lack of boringness as a compliment." They skip a step slightly, walking alongside him for a moment so they can see his expression better before dropping back that half-step again.
He paused and turned down a hallway they hadn’t used before. Best to take different routes when you made an exit in a place like this, and he was following his intuition now.
“As intended,” he told them. “My thanks, for this, really. You made my job easier, and didn’t fight me for the book which I’d figured there was a 50/50 shot of.”
They placed a hand to their chest dramatically, still walking. "I believe I had very sound logic on why I didn't, personally."
A roll of their eyes. Maybe if they were better connected or had more ability to deal with that kind of thing, they would have considered it. As is, their apartment probably wouldn't have lasted a week before someone came hunting the book down. And that would put people other than themself in danger. Even if they had managed to get their hands on the thing in the first place.
"I know when to pick my battles, even if I usually pick too many of them." A lift of one shoulder, shrugging.
“Yeah fair enough,” he told them, leading the way to the basement. He descended into the darkness without hesitation or worry, just a smirk in the shadows as he walked billowing coat and all. He had a tell tale swagger the ghosts would recognize and respect.
Their expression shutters down into something calm and more closed off for a moment as they trail after him.
"Besides, I barely use what I've already got at my fingertips properly." A shrug, chewing on theor lower lip. They know there's an untapped well inside them. That they hold onto things so tightly sometimes in order to not draw attention to themself. Learned survival instincts are hard to unlearn.
He paused outside the Arkham morgue door, placing his palm against it. Constantine whispered something in an ancient language and sigils spread along the paint of the door, visible for a moment before disappearing.
“Souls that find themselves in that room rarely make it out,” John explained. “I just gave them a portal to Hell for when they finally get bored and want to move on.”
Pulling his hand back, he tilted his head just a bit as he asked them, “Is it fear that keeps you from using it? Or something else?”
They nod at that. It was a fair sight better than being stuck here, in their opinion.
"It's... complicated." Their eyes flick over the door, tracing where the sigils had been for a moment. "I doubt you want to hear my sob story."
It's not fully dismissive, but not an unreasonable assumption. They sigh, crossing their arms over their chest. "Like I told you, it's always been there. Had to learn, and had to learn to bury things when needed... it's definitely led to a few interesting developments."
“Learned half of what I know through trial and error,” he explained. “Reputation proceeds me, but it came with a lot of sacrifices to learn and grow.” A paused before he continued with a quiet, “People will get hurt. It’s inevitable with power of any kind.”
Their jaw works slightly as they glance away. A small shrug again before they look up again, their voice quieter, more serious. "... Yeah, I know."
They shake their head. "Just don't take as many risks as I could... deciding to help tonight was one of the bigger ones recently."
Bringing all the research and theory they had gathered and having the trust in themself to do more than poke at it for the workings they've managed was an ongoing process. 'Burying' it wasn't going to work forever, and they know it.
“Won’t be your fault if it happens,” he explained. No one has ever told him that in his early days of magic. “When others come for the book, and they will, it won’t be your responsibility to fight them off,” John promised.
A hum, not quite agreeing. "... Maybe. If they come to where I live, I can't exactly ignore it, though."
Not when they know their neighbors' faces and lives. Not when they care. One of the drawbacks of being a friendly sort, maybe. They sigh, tucking some loose hair behind their ear. "... From what you said, the old community center we used earlier might not be a bad place to set up a spot for working on stuff, that's less crowded than where I live? Long as I can keep people from using it for shelter."
They've already started to pick up word-of-mouth that they were good at finding things and people, even if most people didn't know how they were doing it.
“Going to get business cards made are you?” John teased. There was something fond in his expression though, a respect for them and what they’d helped him with.
“I think if you can learn to ride the waves of synchronicity like tonight, you’ll bloody well outdo me someday,” he told them. “I’m not much for a teach, but if you have questions, I’ll be around.” He glanced around them, “Gotham’s siren song drowns out London’s for now. I’m meant to be here.” Whether he liked it or not.
"Now that would definitely be something, wouldn't it? I'm not so sure about business cards, but maybe. Some day." They pause slightly and straighten, leaning forward just a bit for a moment before holding out a hand. "Hell, if you give me some warning if you decide to show up at my door again, I might even cook for you in exchange for advice or a story here and there. No offense, but you don't look like you get a home cooked meal often."
"Besides, I still owe you baked goods for us getting through tonight. Thinking... brownies." A slight smirk. They're not so sure about the 'outdoing him' part, but it's definitely an interesting thought. It'll be a project, no doubt. And having someone who does know more about things around could be useful.
His smile wavered a bit. The last time he’d had a home cooked meal had been at his sister’s house, but she’d been gone for years now. He missed it and her, though he’d never admit it.
“You do me a soddin’ favor and I still get a treat, how’s that work?” John teased. His way of saying he didn’t expect anything, but it was appreciated.
"I did you a favor, yeah." They shrug and let their hand drop, watching his expression for a moment. They didn't mean to poke at something there, but they aren't going to fall all over themself about it right yet.
Instead, they sigh and shift their weight back slightly, acknowledging that they may have overstepped. "Fair enough, I guess. Not necessarily just for you, though... but if you don't want any, more for me."
John couldn’t read minds directly without help, but he was very good at reading people. It made him an excellent conman. Right now this skill was telling him that he’d revealed more than he meant to.
He smiled to lighten the mood and told them, “I’ll bring the wine?” That was what polite people did when they were invited to dinner, right? But he didn’t know if they drank, so it was posed as a question.
A small quirk of their lips and a nod. "Wine works, yeah. Any preferences on food to suit your palate?"
They smirk slightly, relaxing again. To be fair, if they hadn't been keeping such an eye on him, they probably wouldn't have noticed the falter in his expression. As it was, they weren't going to push. They just met the guy, and while they were nosy and liked to know things, it didn't pay to pry sometimes.
"Wouldn't want to make it too spicy for you or something." An amused glance.
“I am a veteran of vindaloo. My best mate practically breathes the stuff,” John told them. “But whatever you feel like making works for me really. I don’t much hate foods, which is odd I know, I’m just indifferent to some.” He’d grown up in a household where you ate what you could find, and big sister’s cooking later on. John genuinely wasn't picky.
A slight snerk at that, smothering the laugh as they nod. Curry actually sounded good. They had the stuff for chicken korma, and it wouldn't be that much of an issue to make. "Let's get out of here then, and I'll see you... tomorrow, around the same time? Give me a chance to get some of... this place out of my system."
They can tell it's going to take more than a day to stop feeling like shit, but they would manage. Didn't really have much choice in the matter. "Few days from now also works, depending."
“Tomorrow sounds brilliant, but as for this place, some deep Vedic meditation will do wonders, even if Arkham leaves magical mark.” It was half the reason her prisoners went insane. “Think of the mediation as stitches to help it scar prettier.”
He was leading the way towards an exit, silent for a moment before he glanced back at told them, “I think I may be in Gotham for a while. Everyone knows what happens to my bloody friends, so I won’t call you that, but having an ally will be good. Thank you for tonight.”
"... Allies. I can work with that. Nice working with you, Mister Constantine. To fruitful future endeavors." A mock-salute, touching two fingers to their brow.
A small grin. "Like I said, come by my place, I'll have some stuff fixed up, and I'll probably have the wards tweaked so I don't have to fully reset them if you come inside."
A shake of their head as they stretch their arms over their head with a sigh.
“Oh I’ve been known to snake myself past wards, but it’s easier if I don’t have to,” he joked as he opened the door for them. It took them to the side of Arkham where they could escape without running into too many more guards. It wasn’t that John had been there before, he was just following his intuition.
"Less of a headache for me in the long run if I modify some shit, if you're around for a bit. Less likely for you to get something tossed at your head, for one thing." They roll their eyes as they slide past him through the door, twisting to glance back at him for a moment before they continue forward.
Braining John Constantine with a book was not on his to-do list, to be so real.
“Fair, that,” he agreed, chuckling quietly at the mental image. “I’ve had my share of things thrown at my head, it’s never a laugh.”
“All seriousness though, great thinking to have protections in place in this town,” John added. “If you want my help to strengthen them, magic always does better in numbers.” It was getting mages to work together harmoniously that was the difficult part. And he’d burned most of those bridges over the years anyway.
He didn’t particularly enjoy using magic, but he did it around her, so that she knew he respected her powers too. John pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it with a flicker of flames on his fingertip. He took a deep drag as the flame went out, breathing the smoke back out through his nostrils.
“Say I stick around,” he commented, looking at his cigarette. “What’s that mean for us?”
“If I was going to run, I would ‘ave by now,” he told her, Scouse accent thicker in his honesty. It came unnaturally to him, an uphill battle to tell the truth instead of lie. But he was trying his best.
It felt a lot like holding the book had made him feel—whole. John tentatively let his magics bleed into the seams of hers. “Then I’ll stick around for a while,” he promised quietly.
London called to him, always, but for now he was content to be here with her. Something he never thought he’d get to experience. “Thank you for making room for me in your life.”
He saw her soul almost literally, part of the side effects of the book. He saw traces of people she loved, connections she’d made, and he wouldn’t impose on that if he could help it.
He’d meant he’d be staying in town, but this was an open invitation he wouldn’t turn down either. That other version of himself would probably be glad he’d found a place that wasn’t his guest house.
John flicked some ashes onto his plate and studied her for a moment before asking, “Do you trust me?”
“Just curious. Can’t change my soddin’ nature, you see, much as I’d like.” He offered her a weak smile. “But you also don’t seem to mind the inevitable heartbreak either.”
He smiled, a genuinely relaxed look, offering her his cigarette if she wanted a drag. It was wild how young she made him feel considering they were both probably older than they looked.
Zatanna took the cigarette, and inhaled deeply, blowing out the smoke in the air. It twisted and turned into star shaped cloud smoke before dissipating.
Zatanna let out a soft moan that grew when he hit her g-spot with his dick.
Her hand moved to his back, nails biting into his skin. Her wings, which had been resting on the bed, ruffled, and poofed, showing more of what he was making her feel.
He was into her magic because it was a part of her, and every time she shared it he opened up more pieces of himself to her. Not that he’d ever admit it. Instead he focused on fucking her harder, wondering if he could get her to cum again before he did.
“There are three things I’m bloody good at,” he told her, fucking her through it and cumming himself. Once the pleasure had passed, he pulled out carefully and rolled onto his side next to her, grateful she’d taken them to the bed. “Lying, magic, and shagging.”
He didn’t really like using magic frivolously, or at all really, but his eyes glowed and he conjured up a water bottle for her anyway. “Small sips, luv.”
