NEUTRAL GROUND
"The Oblivion Bar..."
The Huntress repeats the Warlock's words, but she still can't believe it. They feel strange on her lips. Still struggling with the concept.
"THE Oblivion Bar?" She repeats once more, emphasising the word 'the'. As if there's another.
Klarion chuckles, delighted that he's left her in such a stupor.
"Yes, yes. THE Oblivion Bar." He replies, confirming her suspicions. "Located in a pocket dimension that overlaps a number of known universes. It serves as a gathering spot slash watering hole slash hangout slash secret meeting place for the magic community."
Feet stuck to their spot on the floor, Helena looks the bar over with wide and eager eyes. Her excitement returns, even more so than before.
"I thought this place was just a myth." She says in wonder. "Y'know, stuff of legend."
"As was the legend of Roanoke." Klarion returns proudly. "A whole village vanished in the dead of night. Its inhabitants never to be heard from or seen again. And yet... Here I am!"
Helena glues herself to Klarion's arm, wrapped around him so tightly. So overjoyed and enchanted. She looks up into his eyes with that of marvel and awe.
"My FATHER's never even been here."
Klarion smiles down at her, pleased with himself for pleasing her so.
"Nor is it likely that he'll ever." He replies. "The Oblivion Bar is magic persons only."
"But I'm not-"
"You're my guest. They will not bother you." Klarion cuts in, dousing her worries. "Just act like you belong here. Like you OWN the place. Shouldn't be too difficult for you. Twenty-two and you already OWN half of Gotham anyhow."
Helena catches a twinkle of mirth in the witch's eye that makes her smirk. He's teasing her. Even though it's more the truth than a joke. Between her and her father, the Wayne's both figuratively and literally OWN Gotham City. In the day AND at night.
Helena rubs her cheek against Klarion's shoulder much like a cat when it wants something. A bit flirty, even.
"Twenty-THREE in two weeks." She purrs playfully in return.
Klarion arches an eyebrow, looking down into her kitten-esque eyes.
"A birthday, then?" He exclaims. "You haven't given me much time to seek out the perfect gift."
Her eyes return to the room, still so very much enthralled with her surroundings.
"What could possibly be more perfect than this?"
His chest couldn't get any tighter. Even his butterflies have butterflies. That warm and fuzzy feeling, that happiness he hasn't known in quite some time. That sensation only she can give him. It's returned. Filling him from head to toe. Tingley all over.
Lifting a closed hand to his mouth, Klarion clears his throat. Gaining some sense of composure before pointing the way.
"Well, shall we?"
Tall and proud to have her on his arm, the Warlock directs them further inside to find a seat.
Helena's absolutely thrilled. Eyes wandering, darting left and right, back and forth between faces and people and creatures unknown. A one-eyed goblin. A green, furry monster. A swarm of faeries. A ghost. Her eyes widen further.
"THAT'S..."
Huntress stops short, stopping Klarion along with her. She points an outstretched finger forward, singling a particular patron out.
"It's not polite to stare." Klarion chides.
"But that's Nick Necro." Helena leans in to whisper, not wanting to cause a scene even though she most obviously is. She tugs on his arm, as if directing him to do something.
Klarion looks over, completely emotionless. Unimpressed. He offers the dark-haired man across the way, dressed in a white business shirt and tie, a polite wave. In return, Nick lifts his drink.
"Mmm... Yes. Cult of the Cold Flame." Klarion taunts sarcastically, leaning down to Helena's level so only she can hear. "Scaaaaaary stuff."
He laughs it off. The man obviously doesn't frighten him nor does he seem to raise any sort of concern from the Warlock. No concern other than his choice of attire.
Coincidentally, on a typical day for Klarion, the two dress quite similarly. What with their suits and ties. Though the witch knows he, himself, wears it best. There's no contest. None at all. To say so boldly, he's the cat's meow.
"But he's a villain." Helena continues in a hushed tone. "Shouldn't we like... DO something? Y'know. Take him in or something?"
Klarion shrugs indifferently.
"For what? He hasn't DONE anything, has he?" He asks. "And besides, Oblivion is a NEUTRAL zone. No lines here. And he won't start anything either. Trust me. The last person to start a brawl here... Well... Let's just say that's how the bar got its name."
They continue forward, Klarion having to drag her along as Helena wants to stop and gawk at every hero and villain they find. She's in total fan-girl glory. Blue Devil, Deadman, Raven, Detective Chimp...
"DOCTOR FATE!" She squeals in a high-pitched whisper, remembering she's not supposed to call attention.
A chill runs through the Warlock. Like ice in his veins. Now it's his turn to stop short.
"Prick." The witch grumbles low. Too low for even the Huntress to hear.
"What?"
Helena's head spins. Eyes to his to discern what it was he'd said. To this, Klarion smiles wide and pretends as if nothing even happened.
"Nothing!" He sings.
The pair find a little table at the back of the tavern, not too tucked away so Helena can continue her people watching. A barmaid approaches to fill their drink orders.
"Mead. 12th century Europe." Klarion requests.
The woman turns her attention to the Huntress, who still hasn't quite gotten her footing. She feels as if she's been thrown into a movie and she doesn't know her lines. The whole situation still doesn't feel real to her. It's all so strange and surreal.
"Butterbeer?" She squeaks, trying her hand at a joke.
"What?" The barmaid groans.
Both Klarion and the waitress stare at her. Making her even more uncomfortable than before.
"Forget it." Helena replies, face a bit red. Her joke falls flat, but she quickly recovers. "Wine? Something red?"
"What year?"
She smirks at the question, seeing it as a challenge.
"How old ya got?"
"Biblical."
Helena can't quite decipher the barmaid. All her training with her father. Learning how to read a person right down to the most miniscule traits and minute ticks and she can't tell if this woman's pulling her leg or not. Based on her facial features and tone of voice alone, it would appear she's not.
"What the hell..." The Huntress exclaims, kicking back a bit in her seat. "I'm feeling adventurous."
The woman departs, leaving the familiar, the witch, and the hunter to their own devices.
"Butterbeer?" Klarion asks, truly perplexed.
"It's from a movie." Helena sighs, embarrassed she even brought it up. "Don't ask."
They become comfortably silent. Helena scanning the crowd of curiosities and the Warlock quietly scanning her. It doesn't take long for their waitress to return with their drinks. And once more they've found themselves here. On their second NOT-a-DATE date. Complete with alcohol and a side of sexual tension.
"So what are you thinking of ordering?" Klarion asks, recapturing Helena's attention. Reeling her back in from her daze.
"There's no menus." She replies, searching the small table and wondering if the barmaid had forgotten to drop them off.
To this, the Warlock's grin widens.
"No. What are you THINKING?" He repeats, this time making himself more clear. "Anything you can think of. Even that street burger you'd wanted earlier, if you like. They have a runner. Uses doorways all across the multiverse to get around."
Helena nods, still not quite understanding the HOW, but it really doesn't matter. She'll never fully understand his world. Perhaps that's part of the allure.
"In that case, I want a-"
"Here, write it down." Klarion interrupts, pulling a small piece of paper and pen from his breast pocket to hand to her. "He may be a mage, but he's hardly the god of impeccable memory."
With a happy little dance in her seat, she obliges, writing down her order and handing it back to Klarion. He too write something down, then folds it neatly in half and feeds it to the flame, the bell jar candle at the center of their table.
In a bright flash, the paper instantly goes up in a puff of smoke and sparkling embers. Like the flash paper she'd seen stage magicians use. But Klarion's no stage magician, that's for sure. His magic is real. And all the WORLD is his stage. There is no containing him.
His audience of one, Helena watches from front row. She'd always loved watching him perform. Eyes wide with childish delight. Captivated by even the simplest of tricks and illusions. There was a time when he needn't even try hard. Just be himself to arouse her curiosity and garner her attention. Now it feels as if he must jump through hoops. But it's worth it. Her smile is rewarding enough. Knowing that she wears it just for him right now and no other. He's got her all to himself.
"So what did you order?" Klarion asks. He hadn't even looked at what she'd written.
"If I tell you, does it mean it won't come true?" She teases in return, chin resting in the palm of her hand.
"Ha ha. Very funny."
Klarion takes a sip of his mead and she, of her wine. Still not completely convinced it was made and bottled in the year of her Lord, but it's yummy to say the least. Together, they enjoy their drinks as well as each other's company. Completely relaxed, no walls or defenses. No fronts. Just being themselves, something neither have been capable of doing since coming back into each other's lives.
The Warlock scoots his chair in closer to Helena and Teekl hops from one set of shoulders to the other, draping himself across Helena like a fluffy fur collar. He purrs and nuzzles himself into her hair, making her laugh. Such a splendid sound that fills his heart with joy.
"So I wanted to ask you about Roanoke." Klarion begins.
They'd been having such a great time, she'd nearly forgotten the whole reason why she'd agreed to go out with him today in the first place.
"That's right! Roanoke." Helena replies, taking another sip. "You haven't been having any problems with Steve over at A.R.G.U.S., have you? He promised me he wouldn't try to sign you up for anything. Just document and categorize your species, take census, issue government forms and identifications. Homeland Security type stuff. That's it."
"No, no. That's all going fine. The process has been quite smooth and straightforward. Thank you again for setting up all the appropriate meetings." Klarion replies professionally. "In fact, we're scheduled to break ground within the coming month. The school house, church, homesteads... Everything will be as it was in Limbo Town. Of course with a FEW modernizations. Electricity. Heating. Plumbing... Wifi. Best we keep up with your building codes."
"They're YOUR building codes now too, y'know." Helena points out with a grin. "Welcome to Blue Rafters, neighbor."
Klarion lowers his eyes sheepishly. He hasn't refered to the topside world in that term in so long, he can't believe she rememebers. To think that both their kind will share the same blue sky. To look up and see the same shining stars in the heavens above. Blue Rafters... It seems like so very long ago. Just a dream. And now it's real.
"That's not what I had wanted to ask you." He continues softly, touching his hand to hers. "Kitty, when I first came to your... I mean this world... there was so much I didn't know, so much I had yet to learn. And you helped me. You taught me of your culture and customs, people and places. Everything! I just wanted to ask you, if it's not too much trouble, would you do the same for the Croatoan people. They'll be coming into a new world, confused and scared, and there's only so much that I can prepare them for and-"
"Yes." Helena quickly cuts in, she needn't even hear the rest.
"Really?" He asks, shocked.
"Of course! Yes! Yes, I'd love to, Blue." She continues, excitedly. "It would be such an honor."
Klarion's both overjoyed and relieved. He was sure she'd decline. Not only does she lead a very busy double life but he was sure she'd want nothing to do with him any further than necessary. That once this is over and done with and all the Croatoans are safely relocated to New Roanoke, she'll disappear from his life again. This time for good.
Perhaps it was a bit sneaky on his part. Selfish even. Some last-ditch effort to get her to stay. But not completely. In all honesty, she was a wonderful teacher to him. And he knows she'll really make a difference, do some good with his people.
As Teekl once said a whole lifetime ago. She's important. He hadn't any idea at the time just how true that would be. Not only to him, but to all of his kind as well.
He realizes that he's no longer touching her hand now but holding it. With a soft smile, he gives it a squeeze.
"Thank you, Kitty."
Helena returns his smile and raises her glass.
"No need for thanks." She happily replies, clinking glasses with his. "Come on. Shouldn't we be celebrating?"
She's right. Their earlier attempt at celebrating his success was cut short. Their sushi and sake date ruined by their own personal drama. Now's the time to make that up. And nothing's going to rain on his parade.
He too raises his stein of mead and with a full heart clinks glasses with hers once more.
"To New Roanoke." Klarion decrees.
"To new and old friends." Helena purrs in return. "Even if they're one and the same."
Together, they swig back their drinks and call for another round.
Not even an hour elapses and my how things have escalated.
Why does it always seem that wherever they go, trouble follows? Waiting in their wake. In the shadows. Ready to strike whenever the situation arises. It's always chaos at its finest with these two. Either that, or they have terrible luck with restaurants. It wouldn't be the first time they've brought the house down. And it's sure not to be the last. Things tend to go awry whenever food's involved. And quickly.
It never seems to take much, either. A bit of alcohol. A few well-timed words. A spark to get the blaze going. Like partners in crime, they roll on with the punches. Together, they could take on the world.
Klarion erupts in a marvelous inferno of hellfire. A burning red blaze of eldridge blasts tearing across the ceiling. The room shakes. The building shudders in fear and terror. And in that moment, all hell breaks loose. The lines of battle have been drawn. What once was a neutral zone, is no more.
Elves and trolls. Wizards and mages. Small time magicians and the most powerful creatures from this world to the next. They take each other on in the most glorious bar brawl the likes of them have ever seen. Or will ever see again.
Falling from her chair to the floor, Helena roars in laughter. Klarion climbs atop her, straddling her stomach as he pretends to beat the living tar out of her. Pulling his punches and laughing along with her. Play-fighting like a pair of children. It's the most fun either of them have had in a very long time. If not, ever.
"You dirty, dirty, little minx!" Klarion bellows in merriment. "You promised to never ever call me that never ever again!"
"I couldn't help it, Blue!" Helena continues to laugh, nearly to the point of tears. "The look on your face... Priceless!"
The Huntress tries in vain to escape out from under the wiry Warlock, but he's got her pinned. Or maybe she's just not really trying all too hard. She squirms and squeals as he pinches her forearms and thighs. Thrashing about and wrestling on the dirty bar floor.
"Say it again!" Klarion implores. "Say it again, I DARE you!"
His eyes burn. His teeth twist into sharp and jagged fangs, targeting her neck. With his hot breath upon her, she kicks her legs and laughs harder.
"PILGRIM!" She shrieks in glee.
Frogs begin to rain from the ceiling and that's about the time they decide its best to make their exit. Huddling under a table as a particularly large toad pelts them from above. Helena sticks out her tongue, completely grossed out by the sickening splat the thing makes.
They're about to make their mad dash for the door when Klarion spots something. Their food runner. Huddled under a table just as they are, just a couple of feet away. And with him, their lunch. Safe and sound.
Klarion shouts over to him. Trying his best to get the poor guy's attention.
"HEY! YOU! CAN WE GET THAT TO GO?"
Oh my... What did they do?! See? This is why we can't have nice things! LOL