[02nd February 2011]
[Lux Nightclub, Los Angeles, California, United States of America]
Dinah Lance felt uncomfortable, for a variety of reasons, as she found herself being led a large, expensively decorated, private room at the back of the piano bar owned by Actually Satan. That was one reason of course, with Wonder Woman's barely concealed distress and simmering anger being another...though the fact there were actual physical Gods coming into the room and could start a war certainly didn't help. Or maybe it was the fact she was largely powerless to do anything should this come to blows, or Actually Satan decided to step in, and the League knew it.
Curiously it was the relief warring with anger and concern at seeing John Fortune alive after she'd been so sure he'd died before her eyes...and now he was seemingly possessed when she did see him that was momentarily at the forefront of her mind. Easy to see, the eerie golden eyes and faint shimmer around his body, as when he and Doctor Fate had explained the nature of the inter-dimensional brain eating squid-people threat, in place. What if the possession didn't end? What if he came back wrong if the so-called Gods were seemingly as irrational as she'd just seen of late?
Diana of course had it worse, being forced to straddle responsibilities to the Justice League and to her, ungrateful in Dinah's opinion, Gods. It was cruel really, forcing her to negotiate against the person harmed, for the person who'd harmed them and tried to kill a child, and apparently being inappropriate about 'instructions' in some way according to Zatara. She still wasn't sure on what exactly, but Diana had wrecked the training area after informing them of her Gods suddenly appearing on the Watchtower and saying they were willing to talk peace...all evidence of drunken rampages aside. Crimes should be punished, and here they were trying to wiggle out of them.
"You. Too weak to form your own body?" the armoured woman, Goddesses, hissed out in greeting to the possessed Fortune who folded 'his' arms across his chest and glared back.
"Well hello you too Athena, wasteful with your worshippers prayer as ever I see, Or maybe just that nobody was willing to put up with you in their heads?"
"Now, now, patrons..." the white suited and far too cheerful form of Lucifer fucking Morningstar chuckled clapping his hands together "...remember the house rules, no destruction of property or attempting to harm each other"
Not-Fortune nodded politely "Of course, my apologies, we are here discuss peace after all"
After a look the other Gods, supposedly Hermes and Hestia, the Goddess in archaic armour almost pouted as she bowed her head, arms across her chest "Same, my apologies Lord Morningstar"
"Very good my friends, drinks shall be served momentarily. Mazie here shall take good care of you I'm sure" the Devil in the white suit smiled back with a wave to the young dark skinned woman "...while I attend to other business. All I'll say is please behave and treat my establishment with respect"
'Okay this is all too weird' Dinah thought to herself as sat beside John Stewart as 'observers' to this giant fiasco, watching as the forms of Not-Fortune, Doctor Fate, a burly man/god known only as the Lord of the Dance on the files, and the cleaner than most pictures John Constantine. Not surprising, being Fortune's mentor and supposedly used to dealing with supernatural entities...and likely trying to redeem himself after being kidnapped and assaulted by demons she guessed.
Pretty damned horrifying really, she'd had a damned horrible nightmare about such a thing happening to her afterwards when it'd been revealed that he'd suddenly had a demonic daughter in tow. Personally she wouldn't have put him in such a roll so soon after a violation such as that, but it seemed they wanted at least one fully mortal person sitting at the negating table. Or something like that, Dinah watched as Diana sat uncomfortably between her Gods in her full Wonder Woman armour with Constantine opposite; thankfully Not-Fortune and the armoured Goddess sat away from each other, she facing Nabu and he the Goddess Hestia.
"Hey Hestia"
"Hey Shroudy"
"Hestia, stop being friendly to the enemy!" Athena grated with a snort from the other Olympian and a frown from Diana. Doctor Fate glance at Not-Fortune who shrugged as the Lord of the Dance and Hermes seemed to chuckle at the situation.
"Oh, shush, we all know Hestia is Bestia after all" Not-Fortune muttered giving a, and receiving back, a thumbs up gesture from supposed Goddess across from him as he continued"...and we're all here to sort this mess out, so let's not get caught up in hating each other for now. Look, Hera went off and near killed my priest here..."
"Who still yet lives I see"
"Not for lack of efforts otherwise and trying to kill a child protected by three sitting here..." Not-Fortune continued over the interruption of the Greek Goddess "...so let's be pragmatic about all this. We aren't letting her, you, kill her, and also need recompense for the attack, as do the Justice League as Wonder Woman is no doubt aware"
"Yes, I am" she watched as Diana gave a stiff nod, glancing over to where Dinah sat beside the standing form of Red Tornado "...and Great Zeus and his wife regret the event occurring"
"Uh-huh, sure she does luv, sure she does. Not truly Mighty Zeus's fault the wife can get a bit of ah temper after a few glasses ah wine...but he be head of the household now inn'he? Has'ta keep all ye lot in line, and pick up the pieces when one ah'ye screws up...so fraid got say there that'll need some sorta compensation as me magical godly mate here says. It be his Duty now don't it? And he be too honourable a fella to try welchin' on such things now?"
"Indeed, Father is God of Honour"
"See, we're all on the same wavelength now as Athena here says. An' it's his daughter me friend John were tryin' to save, why he be doin' a favour to yer family I'd reckon. Near dyin' an' all"
Not-Fortune snorted "Also shouting for vengeance at back of my head right now"
Dinah frowned, not entirely happy with the sounds of that. It really wasn't pleasant to see one of her charges being used as some possessed puppet, though the demanding vengeance probably wasn't for the best. She watched as Constantine shrugged "Ye know how's he is, same as me, ah'm mad me cute little niece coulda been harmed to ya know"
She watched as Diana took a calming breath, hands coming together before on the table "True, and what would it take to...end these cries for vengeance"
"Well, I think we need to start with the whole tryin' ta kill our cute little Cassie and her Mom, stormin' in ta other people's houses, and tryin' also kill other divine fellas priests. Mostly with the part with it not happenin' again, and certain folks giving Oaths on their Nature about tryin' or carryin' out such things again. Case someone gets hurt...and Mighty Zeus gotta waste more of his precious time with all the fightin' and violence that'd result"
Dinah watched as the armoured Goddess frowned, then sighed almost sympathetically as the male one shrugged and the last one nodded sadly. Athena then glanced at Diana nodding, before speaking in agreement "That...should not be a problem. Lord Zeus has expressed the desire to see his child protected, as others have been in the past, so would raise no objection to ensuring such"
"Indeed, and to that purpose an Oath...to prevent such rash actions in the future would be start..." Doctor Fate agreed in that odd melody of Kent Nelson and the Helmet's spirit "...but it would be best if Zeus was to unlock his child's heritage so that as she grows she would be best able to protect herself when she reaches the age maturity"
"That...would dangerous without one to teach her"
Constantine glanced at Not-Fortune, the burly bearded man, and the helmeted man sitting beside him with a raised eyebrow before back at Diana "Think we gots that covered luv"
"You know what she means..." Athena snapped "...the child would need training, and Themyscira..."
"Could prove rather fatal to her" Not-Fortune interrupted coldly "We both know that, and your too smart to think otherwise. The child is under my protection, and my Herald can teach her how to defend herself, and your pantheon's ways if needed. I do know them, as do those of many other foes"
"As do I..." the burly bearded God grinned and agreed "...though without the foes part. Dionysus and me used have great fun and talk of how to do things"
Dinah almost laughed as the goddess Hestia gave a pained look, first at her companions then at Not-Fortune and Doctor Fate "Please, No...Not like Dio, Zeus...WE would much appreciate her NOT behaving in the manner of that particular brother of hers"
"But he's such fun at parties!"
"Don't worry, she'll get a sensible education and choose her path when she is of age, and I'll say I'll do my best to ensure it is not as a drunken stripper at parties" Not-Fortune stated after the Lord of the Dance's objection "...but if one insists upon a 'proper' education then one cannot see any better teacher, and guardian by Oath against all foes, as the Amazon Princess here"
Dinah blinked, just as Diana seemed to startle in surprise. Not-Fortune shrugged "My Herald respects you, and I your skill as a warrior and leader alongside your honour. But no other, bar perhaps your current apprentice of course, as they are not known to our eyes"
"That...would be acceptable"
"Thought it would luv, now unto certain things needin' paying. Damages caused an' whot not" Constantine hummed "...isn't that the way with your lot? Take a hit, give a gift. Blind a fella, then give'em prophesy, eh? Now, we don't want that, so wot about some magical knowledge from the fine and lovely Hecate to...gift us, yeah. Make up fer lost trainin' time that ya busted up?"
"Father would never allow it, much as Hecate would desire such I expect" Athena muttered arms folded across her armoured chest "Can't have Gods teaching mortals after all, or YOU and your lot either. Would a sorceress of Themsycira do as a fair exchange? We make swear to teach her all her skills?"
"Blessed Athena to send one to Mans World would be..."
"Oh you did fine, any we send will have to put on her big girl girdle and smile for all the evil men" Athena waved off Wonder Woman with a disinterested expression "...that all?"
"No, we want ground rules so this doesn't happen again, or direct attack upon SHIELD, the Justice League, or mortal governments. We've had them in other realities between us, we need them here with the magic coming back"
Hestia nodded, a sad smile "We can agree that in general, but that is for Zeus to decide upon what would be acceptable"
Dinah sighed in relief as the general conversation turned now to the details of not sparking a war as she took a mineral water into hand and merely followed the strange, less formal than she'd expected, peace treaty being hashed out. Then with relief as Not-Fortune returned back to John Fortune, an exhausted one, and they all began to head out of the Devil's Piano Bar mission successful.
It would be good to bring him back before the rest of the Team and relieve their fears, especially now what to exactly with the Team and Mount Justice after it being attacked again. The only dampener on her improved mood was the yawning Fortune, as ever, as they exited out into the brightly lit by lamps Los Angeles night, the small crowd of protestors against The Lux staying careful behind the barriers distant. Fortune just snorted as she and Red Tornado called it a success, muttering unhappily to himself under his breath before replying.
"War over? No. It's just gone from a Hot War to a Cold One. And where's my vengeance! Vengeance! But nnooo, off scott free. Bloody damned Olympians and their..."
--