[11th April 2008]

[Ferry Arrivals, Dun Laighoire]

It was funny how fate could mess with you I found as I strode across the car park at an easy pace while somewhere off unseen to me men with rifles were taking up position. What's worse the whole damned thing was my own fault really the more I thought about. I'd asked for the reports. I'd caused the subject to be researched and therefore flagged. And now I was being tasked with handling the potential giant fecking problem that could be on our hands right. What's worse I'd basically decided to not go anywhere near this problem case only a few weeks ago in the hopes of finding a more suitable person approach. Honestly this was like karma or something then, because no sooner than I decide on the sensible course of action than this bullshit gets thrown in my face. So it was with a mixture of fear and anger simmering inside me that I approached the disheveled looking man in the trench-coat with his back to me who'd stabbed a pocket knife into the tires of what I assumed was someone's car.

"You really shouldn't be doing that, it's illegal..." I stated as calmly as I could stopping about a car length away from the startled man as he started swearing and turned towards me instantly. At least he hadn't grabbed for a gun or something, though he did have a pocket knife. I focused on the fact I actually had some measure of authority here in my magical disguised form "...and you're not exactly seen in a favorable light, right now anyway, by da government here Mr. Constantine"

Evidently someone did not travel well judging from the unhealthy tinge and haggard look on his face. Still his eyes narrow dangerously and I had to hold myself still as the feeling of unease rose up. I wasn't ready for this sort of situation yet despite all the rehearsal I'd done in my head since I'd be rushed here along with a squad of the ARW when the word of this man on the watch-list was on a ferry from Holyhead. Whatever the case John Constantine was not a happy bunny at the moment.

"Who the bloody 'ell are you ya little bollocks? Why don't you fuck off and mind yer own business!" he frowned and his eyes narrow dangerous as he looked at me closely and hand gripping the pocket knife tightening as he did so. Good thing for distance I figured as I rather swiftly held my hands up in a non-threatening gesture and praying if worse came to worse the combination of mage armour and the light body armour under the illusion would handle any trouble.

"Sorry, look, didn't mean ta startle ya but ye kinda are breakin' the law and I kinda want to talk to ya without any trouble!" and I really meant that. Because this wasn't where I wanted to be on a drizzly and cold april day after being woken early and driven here from my Dublin accommodation. All to meet this bloody lunatic and whatever oncoming disaster had brought him into the county on this miserable day. What's worse I didn't remember happening in any of the past life's tales...but could have easily happened. Day off to rest and relax my arse!

"Let me ask you a question. How'd you know who I am and where to find me?"

I blink then shrug "You're on a watch-list, you bought a cheap ticket an' de computer flagged ya. And then me and some others were sent here to see why your here...aaaaannnnd that you don't cause too much damage and destruction while yer here too..." I give a helpless look as I shrug again "...so can you, like, cooperate and make this all easier for both of us maybe?"

"Your what...some kinda kiddie-copper they dredged up? Piss off kid, just because you think you know a few spells don't mean you know anything, I'll tell you to go look up a nice safe job and call it quits before ye get hurt or your soul sold or sumthin..." he muttered at me, tension easing as he closed up the flick knife and placed it into his coat. I tensed a moment till I noticed the hand came back out holding a pack of cigarettes and a lighter "...god, look...I only came here to visit an' old friend. What can I do to get rid of you?"

"Hop back on the ferry and head on back the way you came basically, otherwise you're stuck with us..." I answered back with a sigh and another shrug "...truth be told only reason their having you sent back is because you're on a list of people that...well people that might be able to help...me, basically. That and no one wants you causing a mess in trying to resist arrest if we can avoid. Soooo...maybe we step away from whoever's car you're screwing with and have a little chat about it?"

"Okay then ya little bastard let's have a chat then all friendly like..." he began as we moved away from the car towards the waist high wall of the car-park. A nice slow steady stroll in which I tried to remaining outside of easy striking range as the instructors had been showing me. My hand to hand skills were still pretty spotty and my magical buffs mightn't be as effective against this particular lunatic. Once we were a little distance away we stopped as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it with the lighter "...Kid, I'll say don't be messing around with things you don't understand. It'll only get you killed or your soul traded away and damned"

Honestly my soul was already earmarked at this stage so let's go with some small semblance of honesty here "Look I know some magic meself already, bit late to turn back let's say. You help us, we help you, and then you head on back to Liverpool with a friendly wave and nice pay-check after doing whatever business you came to do. You'll even have an official driver fer the whole thing and benefits like that!"

He rolled his eyes ever so slightly and took a deep drag on the cigarette "Ya think you magic? Okay. So who are the big players locally? If I want my wife's toy boy to start shitting razorblades, who do I go to? What about zombies? Say I want to shag one, or rent a few to work someone over. Or I'm desperate to score a pint or so of baby blood. Where's the best place to buy?"

I scratched at my head trying to think at how to reply. Nervousness and fear pushed away as I tried to draw upon what knowledge I could provide to try and get the optimum result here "Locally? Not many best I know, been looking and not many can do the razorblades thing. Zombies? Firstly...ewwww. Second...ewww...but I could probably do it if we had a couple of cadavers to work with..." that had been a fun test to run with the Army "...well...ewww...again. I wouldn't recommend as servants as tend to get all 'brains' moaning and then de murderous rampages if left unattended..."

That had been the joys of being trained by a Master Necromancer in that past really. The zombie dance troupe at the start of my training...one found out way more about shit like than one would like sadly "...as to baby blood. No. At least I'm pretty sure no. Can get regular blood though from the Health Service if you want...kinda have a deal of sorts with them for occasional special healing services on my part. Though I'd point out the razorblades thing and shagging zombies are illegal and we wouldn't tolerate within this jurisdiction. Blood rituals are fine bar no demon summoning or causing injury or death to others"

Silence greeted me beyond the sounds of the man before me taking a nice long drag of his cigarette and looking at me as I waited politely for his answer. I think this was going rather well actually since I'd answers and should indicate I knew things and the dangers of such. All really needed to was to find out what tomes worked (and therefore to be wary of when studying) and learn answers to the question of 'What Would John Constantine Do?' and then make sure not to any of that sort of thing at all. The past few months had been rather frustrating in searching out a source of information; Jason Blood was alive but had hidden himself away, and most of the local mages weren't at the needed level.

Got some pointers true, but nowhere near what I needed to even get a good start. So since this pile of trouble just got thrown in my lap I might as well make us use of it while we played defence on whatever damaged this trench-coat clad fecker was going to cause. In truth there was little point in forcing him back because he'd find a way back into the country to do whatever madness he was up to anyway. Best to try and minimise the damage in this scenario than a futile effort at trying to stop him doing him his thing entirely; reports indicated it was the best approach alongside my own memories. Still insurance companies would have to be notified of potential claims coming in the next few weeks from some anonymous source in the government...

A voice of anger echoed from across the car-park "Some feckin bastard's after slashin' me fuckin tyres!"

Yeah damage limitation was the name of the game today it seemed. Joy.

--

The talk re zombies and such is a Hellblazer quote from John Constantine talking to a woman magic user.