[open February starters]

[keepgodwaiting]

WHO: Johanna Constantine (keepgodwaiting) & YOU
WHAT: February open starters
WHERE: The Welcome Diner, the new hotel, the haunted bowling alley ... maybe other places?
WHEN: Throughout February
WARNINGS: TBA





I lit a sage when you walked in (the hotel lobby)

There are a few advantages Johanna sees to this new hotel for the exact purposes she has in mind. First, it's a bit outside the central district of the City, so it isn't crowded. (Not that anywhere around here is crowded, especially when even more people seem to have disappeared of late. Sent back to their bodies? Back to their homes, to the moment they left? That'd be a hopeful thought.)

Two, it's spacious while still being warm and not being full of creepy pseudo-scientific displays. The convention center would probably do the trick as well, but Jo does think of herself as more of a five-star hotel girl than a booth babe.

And three: the bar, apparently, is unlimited.

And so this is the place Johanna has claimed as her own personal arena to practice the spells that Altria gave her at Christmas. The one Loki wrote down for her, a "don't notice me" variant she's never seen before, is hard to practice alone. Setting fires with her mind, though?

"Right." Johanna takes a sip of her whiskey, puts the glass down, and claps her hands as she stares at the unlit candle on the floor in front of her. She's sitting in the middle of the one of the plush lobby rugs, with her drink and several notebooks scattered around her, as well as three books that recently appeared in her room.

A bucket of ice -- also from the bar -- is slowly melting near at hand. Just in case.

"Let's have you."

Letting her eyes go a little unfocused, she starts to walk through the steps of the spell Altria wrote out. A little fire. A spark. That's all she asks.

cuz I have no idea where you've been (the Welcome Diner)

In fact, an ideal place to practice Loki's spell is the Welcome Diner. And it suits her, rather, to be unnoticed here at times. Disappearing in plain view, in an un-magically-enhanced way has been a useful skill for her more than once, and here, it lets her observe others. Pick up on the mood around here.

The mood around here is pretty dark, not gonna lie.

If you're not paying close attention, and you don't have any other abilities that would help you, you may sit down at a table by yourself and then hear from across it an amused voice: "Oh, sorry, d'you mind if I join you?" And there's a dark-haired British woman smirking at you over her coffee, apparently having been sitting there the whole time.

On the other hand, if you are paying close attention or do have abilities that would help you, you might spot Johanna sitting there with her coffee people-watching, and doing her best impression of a potted plant. If approached, she looks surprised, and then wryly amused. "Oh, hello."

I don't need a girlfriend, i got myself a magic wand (the haunted bowling alley, Feb. 14)

In the week leading up to Valentine's Day, Johanna's own mood gets progressively more dour. To be grumpy about being single in a time and place like this feels incredibly petty, but god, if there's one thing Johanna Constantine is, it's

(a selfish, ruthless coward)

the kind of person

(who ruins everything she touches)

who can cling to pettiness with the best of them.

(should never have left)

And so, a day that even in this City is dedicated to romance, love, and togetherness, Johanna Constantine is in the bowling alley, straight up hucking bowling balls down the lanes. Heavy metal is blasting over the speakers -- it took her a good hour to figure out how to get the sound system to work with one of the CDs she took from the media shop. Time well spent, honestly.

"Christ," she says, straightening up from hurling another ball down the lane. It thunders down the gutter. "If you lot could see me now."

[ooc: All starters here are OTA, old CR and new. Want something different/specific? HMU via PM or at AdivaCalandia

Comments

the hotel lobby

[strongroots]

Sometimes, you walk into a hobby lobby with a backpack and an iron bar, and someone's already got plans for the space ahead of you.

That is, if Robby was expecting anyone, it wasn't with the sight of them sitting with what his eyes adjust enough to recognise as a candle in front of them. And books, he knows those are books, but whatever plans he had-- Robby stops some way in from the doors leading in, considering the situation with a look around, then a look again at the person as he thinks he knows who that is. Right? Right. Not the first time he's caught her floor sitting.

But more pressing is the question in Robby's mind is if he wants to be caught with that bar in his hand, and he swaps it in his hands and turns from Johanna, even if she may or may not have looked over to him with the sound of the opening door. Don't mind him, he's just walking over to the reception with some semblance of acting like he always intended to go that way. Is he rushing? Well, he's trying not to.

And that leaves one last question: is Johanna already deep into focusing over there for Robby to be very inconspicuous, thank you very much, or will he be noticed? Because he's going to aim for not saying anything when he heads to that desk, don't mind him, before he pokes his nose into what she's doing.

If he can. If he's lucky that he doesn't hear Johanna speak up first.

[keepgodwaiting]

At least the vibes are better this time? Like, she's sitting on the floor with the notebooks, much like she was at the Science Center, but also, she doesn't look like death warmed over. 100% less hungover.

And she is, evidently, very focused on what she's doing. Robby technically passes by the corner of her eye, but she makes no sign of having noticed him. All her attention is on the flow of power, in patterns unfamiliar yet nostalgic, and a muttered word that she thinks she's saying right ...

"Ha!"

Her triumph as the candle flares into life is loud in the silent lobby, even with various plush furnishings absorbing some of its sharpness. "Would you look at that!"

[strongroots]

Sweet, a 'what's that you've got in your hand' vine moment has been avoided through, honestly, far more interesting things occurring in Johanna's life. Robby sets the bar--a t-post, as if it matters--against the back of the reception desk, though he is watching her. Because, you know, everything over there is set up to be far more interesting, and he's nosy.

And he made the right choice, given the set-up of seeing the light burst into life is a better thing to see than missing out. Robby stares at the scene from where he stands with some bewilderment, a dashing of awe, before asking in a voice to carry:

"Are you summoning ghosts?"

Yes, he does sound like he's asking that with sincerity. Robby knows what candles are good for.

[keepgodwaiting]

"Huh?"

Johanna turns, surprised and blinking, and then snorts when she clocks Robby.

"Nah, mate, I'm trying to cut back. I'm setting fires."

:D :D :D

[strongroots]

She could be joking, but you know, who knows in this place?

"You need bigger than that."

Still, Robby plays it for a joke, though his voice is tinged with amazement. This isn't a teen used to people even starting candle fires without a match, and it's probably clear.

[keepgodwaiting]

She chuckles, nodding for him to join her if he wants. Leaning back on one hand, she picks up her whiskey with the other and regards the burning candle with smug satisfaction.

"All starts with a spark, don't it? Anyway, I haven't practiced putting 'em out yet. Probably best to keep it small for the moment."

Then, raising her eyebrows at him: "What're you doing out here? Are you setting fires? I thought that wasn't for a few days yet."

[strongroots]

Robby does round the desk of the reception space, coming back into the open with his backpack still on him, and a copy of the now infamous diary held up.

"This place got mentioned in the newsletter. Sounds like it'll be where they'll all want us to go to. We need to find any clues we can get--it's good to be vigilant."

There's a right? in his tone, somewhat mocking, even if there's some worth to it, some honesty. He's also walking her way, if not in any rush.

"Think they'd like it if we brought this place down before it's big day?"

Okay, that's definitely not serious. (Maybe.)

diner!

[cupperty]

Jo might feel a flash of divine energy before the door to the diner jingles and Muriel steps in, perfectly dry despite the wet weather outside. Snow had been a fun experience at first, until the snow turned to hail, and then to slush, and... well, let's just say the novelty had worn off quickly. They look a little downcast (it's hard not to be, under The Current Circumstances), but their gaze quickly locks on to Jo, and Muriel's face splits into a big, genuine grin.

"Oh, hello! I almost didn't see you there!"

Sorry, it's hard to get magic past an angel!

[keepgodwaiting]

You know, Johanna has Suspected a few things about Muriel for a while. Obviously they're not human, of course. And they do have a vibe, don't they?

It's not surprising that Muriel spots her, but it is a bit startling. Her eyebrows go up, and she breaks into a wry smile of her own.

"Alright, luv?" She kicks one of the other chairs out in invitation. "You're looking dry."

[cupperty]

"Quite alright!" Muriel takes a seat, smoothing out their skirt and draping their coat over the back of the chair (they're at least dressed for the weather this time, with leggings and a winter coat in their standard colour scheme, complete with argyle). "I dried off just before I came in."

Not elaborating on how they did that!

"Are you alright? You were being quite still, there."

[keepgodwaiting]

"And you noticed," Jo points out. Maybe just a little accusatory, in a good-natured way. "Really perceptive of you. I was trying out a spell."

[cupperty]

Muriel does at least look a bit sheepish about this!

"Sorry. It would've worked on most people, it was very well done. Were you trying not to be noticed, or did you want some privacy? I can come back later!"

[keepgodwaiting]

She relents, smiling. Poor Muriel. They're hard to tease, they're so sweet!

"Ta, luv. It's fine, I just need to practice it more. I didn't know you did any magic, though."

welcome diner

[miyagimagic]

Daniel absolutely has zero ability at all to be able to notice anything other than what a regular human would.

Which means that he's totally falling for it. It's probably a little late into his usual self-imposed shift, around the time Daniel definitely starts looking a little more tired - especially lately - when he sits down with a cup of coffee for himself, intending on resting a little bit..

.. when Johanne jumpscares him. It practically is a jumpscare when you don't see it coming. Daniel pushes himself against the back of his seat, only through a small miracle managing to not spill absolutely all of the coffee right from his mug when Johanna is suddenly there out of seemingly nowhere.

"Johanna!"

Yup, someone here is sounding thoroughly startled..

"W-Where did you come from?!"

[keepgodwaiting]

Oh, the shit-eating grin she gives him. SORRY DANIEL.

"Me? I've been here the whole time. Alright, mate? Getting a break?"

[miyagimagic]

"More like getting a heart attack."

Honestly, he isn't even really sure what happened at this point. It's not like he's assuming Johanna has some sort of magical ability, so he's kind of wondering if maybe he just is getting too tired to do this.. Is he starting to see things at this point? Or maybe just not noticing other people at all?

The man groans, burying his face into his hands for a moment.

"What time is it? It can't be that late."

Is he really that tired already?

[keepgodwaiting]

On the one hand, it is mean to let a man think he's losing his mind; on the other, Johanna is mean.

"I'd say it's time for you to have a sit-down no matter what," she says, not unkindly, and smiles ruefully. "We're under a lot of stress already. You don't have to keep a schedule on top of that."

[miyagimagic]

Considering his hands are still on his face, the man takes a moment to rub his eyes before pulling them back again. Enough so he can actually look over at Johanna again, the dark circles underneath his eyes a little more noticable that way.

"Some of us are keeping a schedule to deal with said stress," he says. Not unkindly, even, if you consider the tone he's using right now. It sounds a little tired, but not annoyed at all. If anything, it sounds like a genuine explanation.

He wouldn't have said that out loud if he were a little less tired, after all.

"Providing people a place to not be alone is pretty much the only thing I can do right now." Even if it - apparently - leads to him being so tired that he doesn't even notice people are around! (No, Daniel, that particular one isn't on you..)

[keepgodwaiting]

Aw, man, now she feels bad. The helplessness of their situation weighs on her, too. She deals with it in somewhat more antisocial ways, but that's a her problem.

Wry: "So, is the schedule helping?"

diner

[excaliburden]

Oh, that's interesting. Altria steps into the diner to grab something to eat, glances around out of curiosity, and her gaze... skips off of someone sitting there.

Altria blinks.

She's so used to seeing what she shouldn't be able to see with her Fae Eyes that it takes her a moment; she looks around again, blinks, tilts her head, and then carefully squints at that spot. Hmm??? Hmmm...!!

"Oh!"

As soon as she realizes it's Johanna, she beams and approaches. "Hello! That's really good magecraft! I almost didn't notice you at all!"

[keepgodwaiting]

Johanna startles when Altria's eyes focus on her and she exclaims. Well, shit. She lets out a breath -- was she holding her breath? Christ, amateur move, that.

"Well, shit," she says, good-naturedly enough. "What gave me away? I'll have to practice more."

[excaliburden]

"Oh, no!" Altria responds quickly and cheerfully, shaking her head. "Your magecraft was perfect!"

She makes her way closer, plopping into a seat near Johanna as she explains, "But I have--um, Fae Eyes. I can usually see things that not a lot of other people can see."

[keepgodwaiting]

"Fae Eyes, huh? You're full of useful tidbits, aren't you?"

Wonder if she's met Miu. They'd have some things to talk about, Jo expects.

"Here, that's not the only thing I've been practicing." She grabs a paper napkin out of the dispenser on the table, twisting it into a cylinder like a wick.

The magecraft Altria wrote out for her is still a little foreign, like a language full of cognates with unfamiliar grammar. But with the right concentration, and the right murmured word -- the tip of the napkin slowly starts to smolder, and then flickers into flame. Johanna grins.

"There we are!"

[excaliburden]

It's funny. Altria has never once in her life considered her Fae Eyes anything but a curse--but still, hearing Jo call them "useful" is... kind of nice too. It'd be nice to think--that maybe, there's value to them beyond just making her life terrible.

Regardless, far more important is the magecraft Johanna is doing; Altria watches with wide eyes as she concentrates, and when the napkin flickers into flames, she claps enthusiastically, all sincere enthusiasm.

"Wow, wow, you picked that up so fast! You're so good at this sort of thing!"

[keepgodwaiting]

"I know," she says smugly. Modesty is for suckers. But she's not ungrateful: "I had good instructions. Still working on that one for locked doors, though."

(jo are you going to put out the napkin or just let it burn?? just burn? okay great we won't worry about it yet)