[18th December 2009]

[City Centre, Liverpool]

It really said alot about the family dynamics of the Constantine-Masters relationship when the visiting stranger, rather than the uncle or his girlfriend, was sent off with the young daughter to talk about her choices in life. Of course with most families the 'talk' wasn't about magic, nor the uncle being John Constantine, and me being seemingly the only sane person amongst them all. Or at least I liked to think I was considering everything that occurred, and the outcome of the long talk the previous night. The battle between me, the voice of reason, in her learning magic safely and the forces of stick your fingers in your ears and pretend magic doesn't exist. Perhaps foolish I had managed to convince the Master's household of my point of view being correct after all.

So I was the one who got to go shopping with an unhappy and still somewhat upset Gemma Masters, after some vague threats from her uncle, whining from Ms. Ryan about dark paths, and pleading from his mother to find 'a solution' to the problem. All of which meant I got to walk the chilly streets of Liverpool's shopping district with a grumpy teenage girl as a light dusting of snowflakes fluttered from the sky. I'd much rather be minding the walking disaster zone, or fighting creatures from beyond right now than enduring the awkward silence that had persisted since we'd left the Master's household. Sticking my hands in my jacket pockets I breathed out and watch it steam on the cold air in front of me, before glancing at the girl beside me.

"So where do you wanna go first?"

Silence as cold as the air around me greeted my friendly inquiry as she looked straight ahead. Ah the silent treatment still it seemed. All the girl wanted was to talk to her 'Uncle John' about magic instead of this strange Irish boy only a little older than her wasn't up there on her list of 'authority figures' on the subject unsurprisingly. Which was sad really because 'Uncle John' was very much against teaching her magic, her learning it in general, and had largely said as much to her yesterday evidently – a significant problem for a girl who seemed to idolize the walking disaster zone. Evidently I was in bizzaro world now where people respected John for his deeds and actions in life...then again it was two children just turned teenagers who were in that category so maybe common sense just hadn't set in yet, if ever. I sighed after a few moments as we walked along and the silence continued.

"You really goin' to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the evening? Because that'll be kind of a waste of a day iff' its just me talkin' don't you think?"

She said nothing a moment as we walked, avoiding the other foot traffic on the icy street, before glaring at me a little "Maybe I don't want to talk you don't you think that? Why you have to come...what do you know? Nothing! Not like Uncle John, he could tell me all about magic and your...just...just...some stupid paddy who he's trying to teach and don't know anything like he does because your too stupid!"

Huh? Oh...

Don't respond. Be the Adult here. Don't say it. Don't say it...

"Wow...you really inherited the Constantine Charm didn' ya? I didn't know it came in little girl format too!"

Ah fuck, can't keep my mouth shut now can I. Her head jerks back a moment and the glare, if I could have figured possible, intensifies just look like it does with her I've noticed at times. Damn it really did run in the family it seemed!

"Fuck you! And who are you callin' a little girl you...you..."

"You super awesome Irish Magician you?" I supplied helpfully as she turned towards me as we stopped our walk. Okay I'll admit this whole situation was getting on my nerves...from start to finish...and having to waste more time wandering around in the cold of a foreign country "...anyway, you are a little girl...you're like...wha..eleven, twelve, ain't ya?"

I really should shut up now. This isn't the supportive nature I was aiming to bring to this mission. Need coffee soon my brain reminded me as my stupid mouth got ahead of me and dug the hole further. Evidenced by the grumpy girl getting grumpier; arms folded across chest and an angry flush on the pale skin framed between untidy black hair. Shy girl my ass; she looked like she was going to start punching me then and there. She even half-growled, half-hissed at me "I'm just turning thirteen you...you...asshole! Actin' all high and mighty! You're not much older than me so stop treating me like a child. Everyone's treating me like a child. It's not fair, Sandy steals Robbie from me, and I try get him back with magic...and Mom gets upset and Uncle John is mad and me and your mean...and it's not...not...not...fairrrr..."

She sniffled now as the glare seemed to melt off her face like a glacier crumbling before my eyes. Tears looked like they threatened to flow once again as they had yesterday.

Oh shit. Oh shit. No...nooooo...don't do that.

Don't start crying! I'm bad with crying! Hey stop!

'Do something you imbecile before the waterworks really start!' my brain commanded imperiously and my body awkwardly responded by raising my arms towards her, then dropping them after a second thought before raising again and patting her shoulders with my hands.

"Hey...hey, its okay, s'okay, I'm sorry...hey don't...it's okay...oh gods above your hugging me..."

Arms wrapped around me...followed by a faint sob and sniffling, as my own arms remained in the air resisting the urge to gesticulate wildly at the sudden attack. People shouldn't go from being angry at me to hugging me for emotional support in the space of a sentence or two. All around on the crowd Christmas shopping filled street people were giving some faint glances in our direction I noticed as the time seemed to extend seemingly forever and I brought hands back down in a 'there, there, it'll be okay' motion' as I patted her shoulders awkwardly. Fucking John Constantine; I just knew this was all his fault...someway, somehow!

I sighed after a few confused moments and took a carefully friendly tone with her "Hey...eh, well...look lets go get out of this cold and coffee eh? We can talk about you and magic and what you can do with it..."

Sniffle, Sniffle, Sniffle, all followed as she pulled away just as suddenly as she'd glomped me, and started to rub at her eyes with the sleeve of her winter jumper as she nodded silently in the affirmative. Oh thank the Gods; the awkward silent treatment was back instead of the current emotionality!

With that decision reached we strolled along together along the street past all the hectic seeming Christmas shoppers. I really should have gone for the intimidation of this 'Robbie' fellow instead of 'advising' Gemma here, but it seemed so much easier in my head than letting 'Uncle John' turn up and try to place his own mixed feelings unto his niece. John Constantine could be counted on to go at 'warning off' someone, but for giving positive career advice...not so much I found. As best I could tell he blamed magic somewhat for poor decisions taken in life and viewed it as 'Constantine Curse' for anyone of the family other than him to continue at the Art of Magic.

Personally I suspected there likely was a curse upon him or the family...but I was pretty confident that given time curses could be broken. I was good at them in a past life, in breaking them as well as using them as a Slave-Legion foundation had shown. If Gemma here was cursed then we'd find a way to break by teacing her proper magical pro's and con's rather 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil' approaches. So we, The Amazingly Silent Duo, walked along the street as the snow started to get heavier and I adjust the baseball cap on my head to keep the cold chill wind off my face. I kinda felt bringing my combat gear with me for a friendly chat with a girl who may or may not be able to see through illusions was a bad idea.

Right now it felt like a bad idea, one that decided us upon our entry into the gaudily decorated place evidently called the Mocha Latte La La Cafe. It was a large place, half empty, and had comfy seats at a spot I guided her to near the back due to them and the lack of people immediately around it. Best not to talk about magic too loudly in public after all; so after ordering us a nice, wonderful, strong coffee for myself and a hot chocolate for little miss grumpy I relaxed back into the comfy chair. I liked comfy chairs; comfy chairs were awesome I found because I could do just that and relax into them. Sadly I wasn't allowed to enjoy the glory of this comfy chair as Sad Eyes started at my from across the small round table. Ah blessed awkward silence...sadly I most break thee once again.

"Sooo..." I started picking up my coffee and enjoying the warmth and aroma "...that didn't go as I planned earlier I'll be honest. Um...sorry?"

She nodded and seemed to huddle into the chair, along with a sniffle "What makes you so special? It's not fair!"

"Huh?" was all I could mutter as I welcomed confusion back into my life once again. Wait...she wasn't some super powerful secret Seer or something, or even a...

Sniffle "Uncle John won't teach me...and he's teaching you! Robbie in my class learned magic but I can't! It's not right! He's my Uncle, but he and Mom do nothing but get angry at me for wanting to learn! Why?"

...or it could be simply anger and jealousy instead. Well that's a relief mostly. I sighed "Threats and bribery in technical terms but...mostly...because people pay him money to teach me and I have my own magic that he can learn. Otherwise he wouldn't, mainly due to his messed up set of priorities and set of bad life choices I think. You...heard what we were talking about after you went to bed I guess?"

Sniffle. Sniffle. Nod as she seemed to hug herself "You can hear people talkin' in the kitchen...and after earlier I wanted to know why they all think I'm maybe going to go bad now. I just...want the boy I like to love me. Why is that so bad?"

Oh wasn't that just fucking peachy. Not only had the girl blundered into the shouting match between myself and the others first, she'd then probably heard a good chunk of the conversation (blazing argument!) about magic being a tool versus magic makes you evil and gives you a terrible life. I knew we should have gone somewhere not that house for said conversation...but like in many things nobody would listen to me on that. Still the whole 'make him love me' was a bad idea to let gestate in a potential magi user; magic was a tool yes but using them for those sorta petty goals tended to have nothing but bad results. I hummed in thought and place the coffee back down on the table and kept a gentle tone. Not fighting this time. I could do that.

"Ah...well that last part is easy to answer I'm afraid. You're a pretty girl, now what if I cast a spell like that on you right now and made you like me like that? That'd be bad...wrong and illegal wouldn't it?"

She seemed to take fright for a moment, narrowing her eyes in thought or concern maybe...then nodding slowly with a long sigh and voice low and miserable "Yeah, that'd be wrong...that'd be wrong, and...snif...even if she stole him it'd be wrong?"

I nodded sadly "Yeah it would same as if you used drugs or a gun Gemma. Your Mom and Uncle John are worried about you doing that and that's just them worried for you okay? So don't think their mad at you, just worried and seem mad about it ya know? But they are willing to let you learn magic responsibly as well you know, you heard that too I guess?"

She nodded but still didn't seem happy as she gazed at the table speculatively "Yeah...but Uncle John still doesn't want to teach me..."

I couldn't help but snort at that even if it was a bad idea "Your Uncle John's a terrible teacher anyway, I should know...it's like pulling teeth from an angry badger at times. But he will teach you a little if you agree...I'll make him if I have to honest. Even if he wasn't I'll teach you if you want, you can be my apprentice of sorts and aid me in my rise to power and such. Look I ain't going have you charming that dumbass boy Robbie with magic, but together we can rise to heights unknown till now upon this world so that a few years from now that boy will see your face on the TV and cry himself to sleep that he could have been yours once upon a time! Why the best way is to show him what he's missing out on isn't it?"

Ah motivational speeches! See that cheered her up! Ah-ha I still got it! I was totally a good influence on prospective young magicians. She was already cheering up as I spoke, nodding slowly as I spoke about healthy ways to deal with her negative feelings. I held out the plate of cookies I'd ordered to go with the drinks and offered them to her.

"So come to Ireland for a little while and see how you like it, and the learning magic. If you don't that's fine stay here at home, no one will be angry, and I'll do my best to show you bits and pieces whenever I visit with your Uncle. But I say come over, we'll have a right auld time...and we've cookies too! Here have some!"

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