[17th March 2011]
[Refurbished Public House, Dimension of ????, Conemara ????, Republic of Ireland ????]
Our magical, dimensionally adjacent, bar was rather full as we went about celebrating the day of patron of a religion most of us didn't follow. Considering several of us were on lockdown from going out in public, and this was a very secure mini-dimension, it was easy to understand then...that and the drink and was free; all on SHIELD's tab of course. I certainly wasn't complaining as I took the pint, made from Holy Water as a base amusingly enough, into hand and took a sip as the music filled the air without being too loud.
The parade from Dublin was on the telly, and I got to enjoy a nice steak and chips before this place got too crazy as the drink started to flow. It was nice to see celebrations again after all the horribleness going on in the world, and had happened recently; idly I wondered if that was why so much effort was going into the parades. Hell, there was even one supposed to have gone ahead in Gotham in the 'safe' areas of that nightmare, and vampire, infested city. Then again priests going about blessing things would also serve some useful purposes as well thanks to the Holy Water going into the GCPD's water cannons.
'See people do listen' I thought digging into my meal. We'd done something similar shortly after the whole *the UK is secret run by Satanists who summon demons* thing got discovered; looked like Waller and company were copying our earlier playbook. Not that I entirely trusted the Americans, but the more organised we got as a species the better able we would be to merciless hunt down and crush our enemies, whether they be meta-humans or bloodsucking vampires.
Preparation was the key, along with having as many options as possible, regardless of the treat. I gave a snort of amusement at that, shaking my head as I cut a slice off the steak. Sure it was just water against Superman, or Random Unpowered Thief One, but it might as well be a super-acid cannon to a very hard to kill undead creature. Much like Kryptonite was a mildly radioactive glowing rock to humans, while it was some sort of death rock to said Kyrptonian...or fire was to Martians. Sometimes weaknesses were the oddest things, like iron with certain creatures of the Fey.
"Hi John! Something funny?" a voice behind startled me from my amused thoughts, as I chewed then swallowed the piece down just as M'gann appeared as if by magic at my shoulder. In her Miss Martian form and uniform, though she was chalk white rather than green as usual, with red hair; kinda ironic really on Paddy's day she'd chosen to not do so "...oh, sorry you...um, heh, hi!"
"Hey there you..." I replied back gesturing with my knife at the barstool beside me "...I didn't think you be here...I know I invited, but well didn't think you'd turn up. Is Artemis here, she said it'd be later? The others?"
"No, Artemis is on patrol..." thought so popped into my mind as the martian girl hovered off the ground to sit on the seat "...but, uh, Zatanna *really* wanted to come, and Jinx and Gemma told her...and she didn't want to go on her own..."
'Of course she did' I though with a bemused sigh "Her Da is gonna be so mad at me when he finds out"
Her hands flew up into the air with a mildly shocked expression "But it's not your fault!"
"Heh, heh, tell him that...after he grounds her again..." I chuckled back with a sigh at the end of it. Trust Zatanna to get all rebellious and find a way to escape to the magic part with all the people her Father did not want her associating with. That and they were on the 'okay to let through list' to enter our magically warded dimension so in a way it was my fault by trying to be polite. I blamed Gemma and Jinx for this since they'd brought them through apparently "...anyway, where are they since they came in? Though she'd be with Robin today? The others?"
"Oh...well, she and Robin aren't...oh I'm not supposed to say!" she replied flushing faintly purple after a moment, an embarrassed look as she rubbed her head. I shrugged. Robin was...just being Robin, and their relationship seemed to oscillate between face sucking and not talking to each other "...but they've got a table, and I have been sent to grab you and drag you back to join them"
"Well I'd rather you didn't do that literally" I answered taking a drink from my Guinness "...hey, if you wait a few minutes I'll finish this and off we go. Oh, and did Kid Flash come, I'd rather not be surrounded by a bunch of teenage superheroines talking about boys or whatever as I get drunk"
She actually wagged her finger at me "You shouldn't do that John! And Jinx's friend Tim is there..."
Oh joy, I'm at the kiddies table playing adult. Or I'm at the table with teenage rebel who'd get away with it thanks to being a quasi-legal 'it'll be fine' magical zone. Which was...kinda my fault really, but...joy "...and I wanted to Connor to come, but he's on patrol, and Artemis will be here later, and it'll..."
I sort of tuned out the next few excitable words as I ate away at my meal, nodding, and glad of my mental barriers to ensure privacy. Deciding to interrupt the stream of consciousness masking nervousness I finished off the last of the meal, washing it down with a gulp before speaking "And it's good to see you...as you are basically. Keeping up the good work, even if an odd day for it"
She flushed again, rubbing her head and looking at the floor "Heehee, Zatanna said I'd be different...my clothes and cloak are green though! Oh, and there wearing green too...she even has a green top hat and a green...Guinness?"
I took a sip and then sighed. Ah yes, it teen rebel Zatanna. Great, well not my concern till I sober up...
--
[17th March 2011]
[Abandoned Building, Gotham City, New Jersey, United States of America]
His Master would soon return in all his glory and this world would burn under the magnificence of the Sun King's splendour. Dear Strega had to died sadly to achieve such a wonder, and it had mildly disappointing having to sacrifice her in such a manner, but he had needed the power and she as a powerful sorceress had what was needed to help breach the barriers to other dimension. Of course the other dozen odd sacrifices helped with that, but without dearest Strega painting the blood all over the walls had certainly taken far longer than he'd have likely. He sighed, shaking his head at his own foolishness.
'Next time dispose of the pawns after they've prepared the sacrifices. Lesson learned' he thought to himself as he summoned the power. Today was an ideal time as this location, while perfect to provide the power to shatter barriers and summon his Master, had several problems; mostly to do with vampires and masked crazy people in spandex running about. Oh, and the Army hunting them down. Damn, but you sleep for a few centuries and the world gets all crazy and filled with lunatics.
But today was some sort of religious festival or bacchanalia and the authorities had other concerns, and the competition was laying low; when they woke from their hungover slumber then world be a flame beneath the Sun King's might. Power flowed, blood burned, and silent screams of souls filled the air around him in a melodious melody that signalled the triumph of Doctor Gotham. He smiled. He liked that name, and he'd rebuild the ruined husk of this city as the Divine Entry Point for his Master when all was said and done; hopefully a few denizens survive to bask in His glory.
Reaching out the veil, weak as it was here in this city, bent, then pieced as he shoved forward with his own augmented power as his magical sentinels stood watch. The ritual circle ignited into spectral flames, the bodies burning as shimmering yellow radiance permeated the room as outside the Door began to judder and creak its way open. Now he merely had to direct it, to reach out and guide the Master here like a beacon in the...
"WHAT?" he shouted as the world exploded around behind him, and his magical constructs surged into action to defend him...
--
[17th March 2011]
[Abandoned Building, Gotham City, New Jersey, United States of America]
Emil Velt grinned as his boys and girls burst into action and gunfire filled the blood soaked room where this crazy cultist had set up shop. Mary...and then Master Cain more importantly...wanted this one dead, and Emil had brought the best of his killers down from New York to help the others keep the authorities busy here in Gotham while they infiltrated the Christian Crusade and drew the Vampire Hunters away from more important targets. Magic lashed out...
...his first two attackers were turned to dust...
...but that was why he had two of his own wizards. Young looking ones, but a century or two old as a blessed vampire like himself, due to turning when they had been some old dudes apprentice. Emil could understand; what point being turned when you were old and haggard? Better to be young and glorious and be able to enjoy the pleasures of eternal youth, from blood to the exquisite heroin he sold. Or even better blood from a young one filled with that heroin...
He pushed away those wonderful thoughts of rewards that awaited him as the last of his killers entered the building and magic backed up by bullets drove back the cultist summoned creatures. Tried to kill this sorcerer that Master Cain wanted removed from the board as well, though some sort of invisible shell/shield/thing seemed to spoke him as the old human shouted something at them. Even with his enhanced hearing he couldn't hear it over the gunfire and heavy coverings to deal with the sun of the evening outside. Now they would...
"What's that smell?" he muttered suddenly as something came to his nose, strong and pungent...
--
[17th March 2011]
[Abandoned Building across from Abandoned Building, Gotham City, New Jersey, United States of America]
"And a Happy Paddy's Day to one an' all" Tommy Monighan sang out drinking down a swig of Jameson as the building exploded...well, more exploded in a mass of flames and the imploded...after he'd pressed his thumb down on the detonator.
"Doin' the Lord's work Tommy, doin the Lord's work.." he told himself standing up and stretching before gesturing at the shadowy figure flicking into existence and then out of it a metre or two away from him "...that right Boss?"
The thumbs up from the shadowy figure was positive answer to that as he finished off the small bottle, threw his stuff into his bad, and decided now was the time to get back home and get a drinkin' for the night...
--
[17th March 2011]
[Refurbished Public House, Dimension of ????, Conemara ????, Republic of Ireland ????]
Artemis Nyugen groaned as her boyfriend gave her a hug "Ah ish me beauuifullls gurl! Ah mished you Arty!"
Then again, as Zatanna glomped her from the other side "Heh! Heh! Noes! Shes mines! Aways Aways youse..."
Glared at her Mother as she downed another shot at the bar while dancing on said bar...
All the while resisting the urge to punch certain people...
--
[17th March 2011]
[Abandoned Building, Gotham City, New Jersey, United States of America]
Something clicked, something burned, power surged wild and untamed...
The Door swung open with no one to guide it...
--