[28th August 2010]
[Wizards Sanctum, Off the Quays, Dublin]
"Wake up John, I know you're in there! Stop lazing around all day!" she shouted banging on the magically locked door. With her other hand she thumbed at her mobile phone and rang a number therein, nodding to herself as she heard the buzzing on the other end, followed by the muffled thud of something off of the door before her. She guessed a pillow or item of clothing as the sound was too weak to be the phone...which was still buzzing away cheerfully on the other side of the door. At least for a few moments before it cut off and she heard someone stomping around...
"Its eight o'clock on a Saturday morning Gemma! What the fuck do you want?" the grumpy face boy, rubbing at tired eyes as he greeted her snappily when the door swung open suddenly before her. She'd expected that, though some part of her mind was mildly disappointed he'd got on a t-shirt and boxers, and folded her arms across her chest indignantly while ignoring the grumpiness displayed. Uncle John was just as bad she found, and you didn't grow up in her neighbourhood of Liverpool without getting used to grumpy idiots and them mouthing nonsense.
Shout back at them "Don't be snappin' at me you! You promised to teach me magic today, from the morning, after all your prancin' about the past few weeks not helping me!"
He grunted back at her, muttering something incomprehensible, and rested against the doorframe rubbing at his face a moment before replying in a calmer, but tired, tone "Yeah...but not now! Don't you know how tiring my week has been..."
"You promised!"
He waved a hand at her "Letting you have access to my sanctum...ahhh..." he puffed up his chest, standing up straight and gesticulating with both arms "...don't you I'm a Dread Sorcerer, and could set you aflame with my dark mystic powers by uttering a few mere words! A supervillian with his own army! Begone or face my terrible wrath!"
She rolled her eyes and poked him in the chest with a finger "Yeah, yeah, sure...oh mighty and glorious wizard. Now Master are you gonna get dressed and teach me, or do I need ta keep reminding you?"
Gemma was impressed with herself for standing up for herself like this. Of course it was with John, so it wasn't exactly all that impressive really she knew from having got to know him over the past year. But still she was rather pleased with herself despite feeling really nervous inside about barging into the apartment and demanding attention. The past few weeks had been really frustrating without John to teach her; Uncle John wouldn't teach her anything beyond 'magic is bad love' and his friend Mr. Finn followed her Uncle's led.
Now with school starting again, and a new one at that, the lack of proper magical lessons had been driving her crazy the past week in particular. No way was she letting her new friend and magic teacher get off lazing around all weekend, and then vanish off again to his mates who pranced about in spandex. And he did so now, well after a few moments of glaring at her, then grunting and motioning at her in annoyance "Right, of course you will. Chip off the auld Constantine block you are, bleedin mini oggy...okay, right, I need coffee, and a shower, and food first. So shoo over to the living or kitchen for a few minutes! Shoo! Shoo!"
"Fine, be liuk that then!" Gemma huffed at him and the dismissal as he vanished back into the room, closing the door behind him. Still her own stomach rumbled a little at the reminder of needing food, in her excitement at getting proper magic lessons she'd skipped out on her own breakfast before heading through the portal doorway here. Trying to ignore the rumbling, and forced to wait for her lazy teacher, she strolled out where he'd indicated, plopping unto the sofa and turning on the television.
"...whatever shall we do flutterbug, the evil moonsto..."
Flick
"Ughh. No" she muttered immediately changing the channel almost the moment the horribly cheerful and colourful images popped up alongside the saccharine sweet voices. The next up was some sort of morning show, a man and a woman cooking and talking inanely, and that a few moments later as it merely made her think how lovely that food would be right now. Flicking through the channels revealed so little of interest she almost left the news on when it flicked through the various channels!
"...and arrests relating to drug running and money launder continue across Europe and United States in the aftermath of the great wave of a month ago. Officials from the US Drug Enforcement Agency have stated that this indicates..."
Flick.
"...Zesti! Zesti Cola! Come along, show your zest for life! With Zesti Cola!..."
Flick.
"...stocks on the ISEQ Index rose sharply over the week in the wake of the announcement. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment has welcomed the acquiring of the multi-billion development by the British-Irish consortium of construction firms from the newly installed government of Santa Prisca. Human rights groups have..."
Flick.
"...of course it was something to do with the Justice League. Mysterious towers appear and disappear overnight alongside a destroyed carpark...it seems all rather apparent doesn't it? Menaces are what they are! A menace to right thinking people everywhere..."
Flick.
"...tonight after Winning Streak here on RTE. Magic a Fact; Dispelling the Myths on Saturday Night with Linda Pender! An investigation into the realities and myths surrounding what has been deemed 'magic' by the public reveals that many of these mysterious abilities have solid statistical evidence behind them. Should the Government invest into this..."
Flick.
"Are you actually watching anything? Or just...I dunno...soaking it up via osmosis somehow?" John's voice reached her ears from behind the sofa after a few minutes of random nonsense popping up on the screen before her. Glancing behind her she saw the older boy enter the room dressed casually in jeans, jumper and runners yawning a moment after he'd finished speaking.
"There isn't anything interesting on, and I was only waiting for you so no point watching anything serious anyway!" she announced...somewhat...honestly turning and resting her arms on the sofa and facing the still tired John Fortune. Still she got a little embarrassed now as she asked "...ummm...are you...maybe going to...umm...cook breakfast? And...err...could I have some too?"
He just gave her a look, then sighed rubbing at his face, muttering softly before speaking again "What kind of pretty little freeloader are you turning into Gemma? Demand I get up, teach you magic, and now that I cook you breakfast as well! Nine Hells girl would you like to give you a foot rub too? Bake you a cake as well?"
She flushed at that "Sorry...uhhh...sorry, maybe I should..."
John gave his head a shake as if too wake himself, then rubbing the back of his head after seeing her sudden nervousness perhaps "Look sorry, not a morning person. Right your hungry, I'm hungry, and getting caffeine is up there on my priorities list after the week I've just had. Training is not fun let's say. Since I'm too lazy to cook right now we'll head down the Quays and get something to eat. I'll buy..." he gave a mock bow to her "...unless her Majesty has any objection to that?"
All Gemma could do was shake her head that she didn't as her confidence fled. Planning into all this hadn't really gone beyond 'get him to teach her magic!' and now she was a bit lost about what to do next. Her would be teacher though, seemingly ignorant of her confusion, just grumbled to himself as he grabbed his jacket from a stand nearby. It still amazed her that she'd walked through a doorway in Kildare into the apartment, and now they were walking out into almost into Dublin City centre – from a cloudy but still bright morning, to one where dizzily rain was falling. Amazing, and something she hoped she would be one day able to do as well. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
"I'm surprised your Uncle hasn't rang me yet actually?"
She blinked as they emerged out into the rain "Oh, Uncle John and Mr. Finn said they were going to be 'drinking holy water' yesterday after your training and..."
"Ughh...of course they were, and they're both probably sleeping of a hangover right now most likely, great!" John grumbled back as they as she followed him out onto the street "...anyway, yeah your right. Sorry I've been all caught up with this team building nonsense, and my...other...job in the sun, and haven't had time to teach you as I promised. Once I get the blasted teleportation sorted from my room there to my sanctum then I'll be easier I guess. Time zone difference makes me feel bit wonky though...anywho, you've done really well with the Shield spell and I was going teach you Protection from Evil, and the Chaos, today"
Gemma gave him an unhappy look "Awww...when are going to start on the fun stuff? Like setting stuff on fire and that jedi mind thing you do to bad guys!"
He snorted in what seemed like amusement, patting her on the shoulder as they walked "Hmmph...No, not yet anyway. Least till you get a few defensive spells and rituals down first. Anyway I've given you magic mace didn't I to spray in enemies faces?"
She huffed out in annoyance "What next? A water gun filled with holy water? That's not proper magic!"
"Heh, yes it is. As your uncle'll tell ya, holy water burns demons as much as magic fire. Any Gemma, didn't dead gran visit you or something?"
Gemma shivered at that memory "My granddad, he turned in me room liuk, and...ugh...Uncle John came and sorted out everything..." she shifted uncomfortably "...weren't too long ago. Have bad dreams about it, and...another thing...from when I younger sometimes. Was creepy out"
A squeeze to the shoulder "Hey, things'll be grand. I just meant getting wards and protections is important too, especially with your bloodline, and don't worry; I'll teach you some of the other stuff as well once you get these lesson down. Promise. Maybe Colour Spray, or Sleep, sound good?"
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