[12th February 2011]
[Bunker, Beneath the Temple of the Shrouded Lord, Tropico]
"Comfortable?"
Maria rolled her eyes at the stupid question as lay on her belly on the table. Ironically it was pretty comfortable, though the fact her wrists were restrained to the front sides of the weird workstation-massage table thing she lay on, ankles to the rear "Its all-roit I guess..." she deliberately rattled the cuffs "...know what be more comfy mate? Takin' these yokes off"
Her warden sighed "Sorry, not my decision I'm afraid"
The strangely melodic dual voice of her other warden echoed back, feminine version today, as Maria felt the magic circle beneath her activate "Indeed young Maria, while you have cooperated so far in the experience as a Lord of Order it was best felt to ensure you are secure while the ritual is being performed and runes added for your pact. Certain of the demon blooded have been wont to decide resistance at the last moment"
"Roit...John'boyo, will ya tell shiny helmet ah gonna decide to resist a lord a'bleedin order, ah Old God, and a wizard-priest, in a secret base fulla soldiers, an' me in 'ought but a towel over me butt now am ah?"
It was daft after all to think she was going to start fighting back now of all times, after behaving herself since they'd captured her and dragged her here. Even after Da had his little breakdown a few days ago because his girlfriend had finally cracked and fled back to Belfast because Da was hanging around with Hell's old Boss and crazy Old Hag Goddesses were trying off people. Not that he'd been much company, and hell, during the past month stuck in her boring ass prison cell and constant, miserable, interviews with interrogators and shrinks who all thought she was mental. Because she probably was as best she could tell...just like the rest of the family.
"Oh, I know, and he heard ya. All I can say is endure it, it'll be over quick enough and then we'll get you an actual nice dinner in a place with people that aren't your guards like promised"
She let out a nervous breath "Jus...best be careful roit?"
"It'll be fine, promise" Fortune replied resting a hand on her shoulder as he knelt down in front of her so he could look her in the eye. Maria nodded slowly, letting out another breath and resting her head into the head-holder-thing and gazing at the floor through the hole in the centre, the newly bought or built smell coming off the thing. Da's apprentice was weird, a bit mental in the head with being super nice to her despite everything, but...also clearly willing to horrible, terrible, things to her should she decide to get rebellious. Still, he and the Lord of the Dance were easier on her than Nabu was, or Da was when tried to act all Dad-like, so she made herself relax and stare at the floor as the faint buzzing started.
It didn't hurt like she expected, though she did gasp at the first touch of the tattoo machine-thing on her bare back and feeling of power ignite beneath, and around, her. Instead it was a strange pressure, growing slowly, as invisible chains seemed to form around her body with each movement of the prickling thing...but also strength flowing into her somehow. Or magic maybe, it was hard to tell as she shivered as if dipped in a tub of cold water, or was standing starkers in a thunderstorm. When asked she spoke the words;- binding, shivering, humming, buzzing...and feeling her warden suddenly at the corner of her mind...knowing where he was despite not being able to see him standing behind her.
[Relax, it's just about over]
"Hnnnn" she hummed back to nobody, then letting out relief sigh as the noise ended and the feeling of the ritual circle's magic came to end. Somehow she knew what drops upon her back were, of blood and binding as a hand pressed her against the centre of her back, John chanting...she was chanting with him...
...and the link just. Clicked. Humming at the corner of her soul; dark yet bright, wary yet comforting, awareness and...odd...she could...
{Hello?}
"Hello to you too my familiar"
{This is weird}
[I know, ain't it] he answered back like a whisper at the corner of her mind "But let's get you free and let you get dressed"
The cuffs clicked, and she instinctively rubbed her wrists as memories...fake ones she reminded herself...of police cars echoed in her mind. A faint stab of guilt at the thoughts of what she'd done touched her a second, but instead she pushed herself up, pulling the towel beneath her up with her as she moved. To her relief the boy had turned his back...normally they all wanted to look at her tits and arse like the bunch of wankers they were...
[Hey, come on! Basic human decency, also your projecting your thoughts at me]
{Sorry mate, still learnin' dis whole been a familiar yoke} she focused on sending back irritated Golden Helmet hadn't showed the same level of respect woman beneath that helmet of hers or not. Still...she felt strange, not bad strange but...still strange, as she slowly threw on the jeans, sneakers and t-shit over the underwear. Ah, but it was great to be in something than those good awful prisoner duds she'd largely worn the past month...or that frilly Victorian crap Mother and Grandfather had forced her wear in Hell. For the moment she ignored glancing at the likely large and intricate tattoo that hummed ever so faintly against soul from its position on her upper back.
"It has gone well it seems" leery Mcleering Helmet stated to her 'Master' as Maria found herself rolling her eyes that of course it had gone well.
[He's a she right now, and not leering] John sent back to her, glancing of his shoulder at Nabu but avoiding looking at Maria. It was odd knowing where he was...and he her too "Yes, Geass is in place, and the Familiar Bond is most certainly in place"
"Yah, so I ain't gonna go on some murderin' spree, or corruptin' an' what'not. Gonna be a good little girl from now on I am, yessiree" Maria snarked back sitting back on her former prison and tugging on the footwear "...an' we gonna try this summonin' thing now? Cuz I'm starvin' ya know, and sooner outta her the happier I'll be ya know"
--
[12th February 2011]
[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourney, County Cork, Republic of Ireland]
Gemma Masters grinned as the cluttered desk became neat and tidy with a snap of her fingers. This was one of the best spells ever invented she found as she stood up, nodding to herself at having such a spotlessly tidy room with little physical effort. Young John gave a clap as she did so, perfectly this time, and her 'cousin' gave an awkward one a moment later looking unsure how to respond. Maria was okay, but considering she was Uncle John's daughter with a demon that was probably the best outcome really after all Young John had taught her and what she'd read on demons.
"Very good, you've got it down to tee Gemma" her teacher stated happily "...and now how about Disguise Self?"
"Yep! Just a moment!" she answered back happily placing her spellbook aside and drawing upon the spell from memory instead of from the book or one of John's prepared scrolls. Carefully she visualised the image she wanted, then drew the power forth from within her and carefully spoke the needed words. Young John had been a bit wary of teaching of her illusions 'so early' as he called it, but being trapped in that secret base for seeming-ever had allowed her to wrangle extra lessons out of him when he wasn't getting beat up by Artemis and/or her sister and mom.
"Tad-da!"
"Me? Really?" he mused back as she grinned back at him looking exactly like he was dressed. Her cousin gave an odd look from her spot sitting on chair at Gemma's study desk, glancing between the two of them. Young John glanced back at Maria.
"Can you see through it?"
Her half-demon cousin flushed in seeming embarrassment "No...she looks loik you"
Gemma gave her a look "Weren't Uncle John teaching you in yer...dunno, dreamworld memory thingie?"
"Not very well apparently" her cousin muttered folding arms across her chest, glaring at Young John "Wut? Not luik I can lie ta ya. Ah can't, but I can smell magic off her that she's done something"
Young John nodded, hand on chin looking thoughtful "Okay that's something at least, we can work from that as a base..." then smiled at Gemma "...but that's a solid disguise Gemma. I'm really impressed, your picking them up quicker than I'd thought"
She grinned back triumphantly, puffing herself up and folding arms across her chest "Oight, course I'm just that awesome"
"Heh, heh, heh of course you are my wonderful apprentice" he congratulated her, his hand moving in a similar pattern to hers a few moments ago "...and let's see how long you can hold it, and if my teammate downstairs sees though it either"
'Gemma' laughed as her demon cousin groaned "You two are weird"
"Welcome to the family!" Gemma as Young John said as John as 'Gemma' rolled 'her' eyes and motioned the other girl to stand up.
"Yeah, welcome to the family cuz"
Gemma huffed "I do not sound like that!"
"Yeah you do"
Her cousin shrugged "Yah, ya kinda do an' that's only me meetin' youse a few times cuz"
"Aww"
--
[12th February 2011]
[Saint Columba's College, Ballyvourney, County Cork, Republic of Ireland]
"You tricked me!" Zatanna huffed back at John and Gemma as their spells ended and they suddenly switched places. Dad merely chuckled behind her, even when she pouted and turned her head to glare at him for joining the others in teasing her "Dad!"
Her father smiled "Now Zatanna, what have I said about watching for illusions?"
She wanted to ignore him, but instead looked at the ground to her side "To always watch for little details and you can encounter them any time so constant vigilance is needed"
"Yes my dear, it is easy to miss these things when your distracted" Dad replied in that 'teacher' way of his as he nodded at John and Gemma "...and I must complement your disguise Miss Masters, for only recently begun studying such an area as part of your studies it is most impressive display for a novice"
"Thank you Mister Zatara" Gemma replied obviously hiding a smirk at Zatanna at fooling her. John continued smiling cheerfully at his apprentice, before turning and motioning the other girl behind him forward from almost hiding behind him. She...wasn't really what Zatanna had expected for a demon from hell, dressed as she was in jeans, sneakers, and a black t-shirt with 'Keep Calm and Sloth On' emblazoned in white on it.
"Now, this is Gemma's cousin Maria Constantine. I'm current acting as her..."
"Warden, Guard, Leash holder?" the demon girl muttered giving Zatanna a glare as she tried to study her with a barely audible 'laever arua' under her breath. Dad tapped her shoulder with his wand and gave a look of mild reprimand as she looked away from the ugly dark energy flushing around the other girl before it vanished with his counter-spelling. John smiled sadly at the demon girl.
"Guardian perhaps, don't worry this won't be another interrogation I promise" he said then glancing at Dad who gave a nod of his head.
"No it shall not, I merely have some questions and if you do not wish to answer them I will understand Miss Constantine. I also apologise for my daughter's curiosity, Zatanna?"
She flushed, looking at the floor again "Yeah, sorry for snooping. It's not polite. Sorry to give offence"
"Nah, fine" the demon girl muttered back after a moment rubbing her arms in an awkward manner glancing at John who shrugged and gave her what was probably an encouraging smile "...s'alrite"
"Well, will we grab a seat and have a little chat? The place is fairly quiet since it's both Saturday and nearly eight pm, so not many about" John said motioning them forward "...and Jinx and Kid Flash are probably around somewhere so we can chat to her later about the Team"
Zatanna was a little annoyed Robin hadn't come with Kid Flash earlier today when the speedster came to visit his girlfriend. They'd kissed and made up...and then he'd gone off without a word to Gotham shortly afterwards cocky as can be. Then again...there was the fact that Daddy was around;- and it'd be impossible to have any free time away from him and that would make it really hard to hide her bit of fun and freedom that her new relationship represented. John, and Gemma, were around though so they could talk magic if she could get Dad distracted talking to Doctor Fate, or Mister Finn, or even Mister Blood if he was around about little miss demon girl here...
--