thedemonconstantine

[thedemonconstantine]

“Daddy Blood like doesn’t really care as long as I do like our missions? He never said anything anyways, like whaaaat?”

Jinx had a bit of a pout when she thought about it, elbow on the table with her hand propping a cheek, pushing fruit around her plate.

“Boys are gross, so no, like duh,” She looked at him with eyes twinkling.

“You’re like the first one that isn’t.”

Jinx giggled into each kiss Roy gave her, nipping his lower lip and tugging it into her mouth for a suckle. No syrup would be left unconsumed! Yes, keep praising her, keep looking at her like that, it made her purr, it made her so very warm and fuzzy inside.

“You’re like super cute too,” She mumbled into a loose braid that she started toying with, leaning into his shoulder and then Jinx decided it wasn’t enough.

“Move, stupid!” Roy’s chest was so broad and solid like a big wall, might as well use it as a backrest! So Jinx clambered into his lap, her skatewheels leaving marks on the booth cushioning and on Roy’s pants a little.

Giggle! There! Much better! Now she sat between his legs and tilted her head upwards to look at him upside down.

“Hehe<3!” Now she can eat from both plates too! Jinx fed Roy a strawberry slice.

“Who cares about like street cred when you got cuteness on your arm?” Staggchat accepted and used to share a quick gif of her kissing his jaw.

“Eeee<3! You’re so naughty Roy<3” And so was she, squirming a little deliberately now on his lap.

“Ok fine you can have your stupid coffee and whatever, but its still grooooooss~~~” She declared with a raise of her fork. Bzzzt-zing! A zap of pink flew across the iHop and popped a light bulb.

“Do you like play video games? I wanna go to the arcade! I want like socks too. You lost my poor Kutsu-chu…you gotta like buy me new Kutsu-chu…”

She dropped a strawberry piece between her thighs.

Oops<3!

Jinx tilted her head up up up to look at Roy.

“Pick it up for meeeeeeee——-“

And if he did, she would clip her legs tightly to catch his hand right there! Giggle! Nope! Never returning his hand now!

She stole his next forkful of food. Nope! Not letting him eat either! This boyfriend was so fun to bully!

“Wanna see my room?”

Jinx pulled up her photos and smooshed her Staggberry in Roy’s face. Photos of her single bed overloaded with stuffed toys, her brand new Sailormoon blanket and her white fur rug.

“See, it’s so cute! Do you like? I like decorated it myself<3!”

Every time she did well, Brother Blood would let her have a little more in her room.

“This is my space. Nobody else gets to come into my space, not even Mammoth.” Since Roy shared with her his special place, she thought it was fair for her to do the same.

“Nobody. Not even Daddy Blood.” Said with so much conviction that her voice lowered a pitch.

"Then my princess is gonna get a IHop. Your wish is my command PinkiePie" Roy beamed his smile of not quite straight teeth to her but there was something about his smile, it touched his eyes in a way it normally did not, it was less mischievous and more warm. Something honest in the way she made him feel like he swallowed a coat hanger.

She was a girl and he was a boy, could it be anymore obvious?

He smiled like a boy in love, the way only youths could be in love, with that deep infatuation and bordering obsession for a person you barely knew but could swear was your soulmate.

"Babycake, I live on coffee,cigarettes and RedBull." Roy had an addictive personality, life was too lifey to go through without help and hey, at least caffeine and nicotine were legal. "You would have hated me a year ago then" When more illicit substances were dabbled with...well he still dabbled.

Not exactly first date conversation though, is it.

"Then how am I gonna take you on the second?And the third? And then get to third base, huh? HUH?" he asked glomping on her cheek and pretending to chew it.

While she played on her little game Roy went to her Instaggram and found the usual suspects,aka people that liked her posts consistently, Mammoth's was just food...food...food. It made him hungry.

"What ya playin?" he asked peering over to see the explosion of cutsey characters and color.

The feast of food arrived and still he kept his arm around her waist, cutting up his food with just his fork as to not forfeit Jinx's precious waist as awkward as it was to eat like that.

"You're like so super pretty" Roy could not stop looking at her. "All I wanna do is kiss ya over and over again. And again. And go down on you all the fucking time."

What!At least he was being honest.

"Imma get in real trouble but.." Roy dinged her from his personal Staggchat, his private one. What was the point of being in love if not to share it all with her.

"That's me. Now you know my government name and everything so don't say I don't like share shit and stuff" How many times had he had that thrown to his face.

"You're like the prettiest girl to ever pretty" And that mattered. A LOT. He wasn't just gonna make anyone his girlfriend, sure he messed around plenty with mediocre looking trollops but his girl? Had to be a babe. And she was absolutely a babe.

"You make me feel all giddy and shit. It's disgusting, gonna ruin my street cred and everything" He turned his cap backwards again so he could lean in and kiss kiss kiss that syrup of her saccharine soft lips.

"So like...you ever had a boyfriend before?Or does Blood not let you date"

[thedemonconstantine]

“Oh hey, our target market group just showed up. HashStagg, you’ve been Stagged.

Hello you. Thanks to you we’re trending and for once it’s not because I said something inappropriate. Ok, let’s shake for the camera. HashStagg, no shame.”

Simon flashed Mia his billionaire smile, shook her hand and somehow managed a metal handsign just for kicks.

“My goal? Honey my goal’s to get a drink in before lunch. Everything else is just the side effect. I didn’t plan it, I just left the door unlocked. HashStagg, no plan!” He winked at the reporter, and was indeed about to actually finally move off for the security checks when a very stressed woman with an EVENT ORGANISER lanyard came to harangue him.

“Measures?” He began incredulously.

“I’ve got one! Tell you what. I’ll just buy your company right now, give you the corner office and fill it with cardboard cutouts of me. Or do you prefer the moving LED kind?”

“Seriously, the cheek of some people,” He added to one of the other journalists that was there, as if the guy was his confidante.

“Fine, fine. I’ll move, just cos I spotted better lighting over there.”

Him and his group of twenty-odd toadies lined up by the security gantry to get scanned before they were finally funnelled into the venue.

"Promise I'm only dangerous in boardrooms, golf courses and bars," Simon exclaimed when he was being patted down by a burly guard, and he looked positively disappointed when his quip got no reaction.

"Meeeeh, tough crowd."

He smoothened out his jacket and disappeared into the exhibition halls.

Just before Oliver could slip away without query from the press, one from The Times came right up to him to block him from the security check line.

“Mr. Queen, given that your company is directly involved with EDF’s initiative to regenerate the UK’s national grid, could you elaborate on the strategic importance of this energy overhaul?"

"Additionally, may we have a few words regarding Project Iris, the supersonic jet development? How do you foresee its impact on both civil aviation and national security?

Does it comply to your company's eco-friendly values?”

This line of questioning attracted another sharp journalist who came right up to Oliver's face, mike and camera guy on the ready.

"Mr. Queen, James Lye from The Guardian. Your recent aggressive takeover spree has several economists predicting a monopoly in the making.

How do you justify bulldozing smaller local competitors and potentially choking innovation for your own gain?

Do you plan to address the growing concerns from regulators and the public over your expanding corporate influence?

Are you planning to become the next Stagg Enterprise?”

Some fifty meters above Oliver Queen's current spot, Jinx was seated on the roof panels watching the VIPs stream in from outside.

"Uggggggh-" Why did she have to come all the way back here again?!

"This is like, so stupid!" She whined to Gizmo who was busy tap-tapping on his various devices trying to hack into some system.

"Shut up, Jinx. I'm working!"

"You shut up, stupid! Of course I know that!"

"Oh yeah? Then what system is it am I hacking into?"

"I dunno! Like some system!!"

"You're the stupid one. Now shut up and make sure no one sees us!"

"I hate you. I hate you, I hate you. I want my boyfriend."

"It's a wonder anyone wants you."

"UGHHH! YOU MEANIE BUTT! WHATEVER! SHUT UP!"

Bzzzt-ssssrhhht-!

A bolt of pink cracked the roof panels they were perched on. Gizmo yelped as he nearly fell in along with the crack. A staff below looked upwards, then radioed their walkie-talkie for roof maintenance.

"Jinx!" He hissed and quickly closed up his various monitors to scoot to another spot before the security below noticed them.

"It's your fault! I don't care it's your fault! You're mean!" Jinx wailed and crawled after Gizmo, her mascara already running.

All this while, Chas was some twenty minutes away, having parked his car and then parked himself at a Costa's, people-watching as he had a piping hot cup of coffee.

It was a really nice day. What should he have for dinner?

"Pick up Mia for 7, I might have to make my own way. My treasure wants to see the London eye in the evening if you don't mind taking her I would be very grateful. I booked a chaperone but we've been let down" More like the woman didn't pass his scrutiny but that was not a conversation he would have with a his driver and more a conversation to have with John Diggle.

He stated earlier how Mia should be doing her own chores or she'd grow up a brat that didn't know how to fend for herself as polite as Chas was about fetching her drinks and sorting dry cleaning, Oliver had a personal assistant that was being paid to do such tasks if they needed doing. As warming as this above and beyond attitude was, don't blame a man for still expecting the sting in the tail of anyone being a little too nice.

"We have one in Star City but I've been on it like five times. Please? PLEAAAAAASE" she pleaded to a man that seemed that nothing was too much work, nothing was a hassle but she asked nicely anyway.

Mr Stagg we warned you thrice if you do not move your entourage we will have to take measures, a very stressed out woman was warning him to move his posse or get them moved. People were complaining, Avid Krishna of IBM had already left and would not return until tomorrow, what was supposed to be a pillar of STEM turned into nothing more than a media frenzy more belonging to the BAFTAS than here.

"Some people should really have been media trained" Oliver did not care about waiting if that is what it took for this media chaser to have his fill and life to return to normal.

Flick. Oliver turned around to confront whom ever thought it appropriate to touch him and was met with a grinning familiar face.

"You haven't seen my wife anywhere have you?" Hal asked and the two shared a very manly sort of embrace. "I'll never hear the end of it for losing her." Ferris Aircraft was unveiling their newest propulsion system and the denizens of London would be treated to a rare sighting of their squadron of Blackhawk127-c fighter jets launching on Wednesday. Some said it would attract the same crowds as the infamous Red Arrow displays as Carol was currently asked her feelings on the statement.

"We are glad to be welcomed back into the UK airspace and fulfilling the gap that Concord has left behind. As much as the boys over at the Thunderbirds in Nellis base might get a kick out of the comparison, it is apples and oranges. Now if you excuse me I have a husband to find."

"Oh, of course. You never seen a clear sky you didn't want to loop on" Oliver taunted him and the two would resume their conversation on the attack of S.T.A.R labs and the missing hadron collider.

Oliver was not a celebrity. Just wealthy and he was glad to keep it this way for the less people knew about him the less likely he was to be exposed for his hobby. A patron saint of Star City but...not that recognizable outside his city unless if someone was the sort of person to be really into tech and energy companies enough to be interested in it's CEO.

Is that Mia Dearden? Turn around. TV presenter and celebrity corresponder Alexa Chung nudged her camera man away from Carol spotting the young influencer.

The gaggle of men made Mia nervous, something about the huddle of middle-aged men still made her feel exposed. But it was Speedy's job to clear paths for the Arrow, it was her duty to be a distraction. And she could do it. She could do it. Big breath, big deep breath, check the teeth check the hair.

Distract, distract, distract. Every court needed a fool and she could play one pretty well.

Mia....Mia...what are you wearing? Who did your hair? Congratulations on your 5 million followers.

What was the point of three years of media training if not this.

How much was your outfit and are we to expect a post on PieceofMia.

"It's already posted, Alexa" Mia beamed a big bright smile.

Of course it is!

"If you like it then you have to put a Stagg on it. My waistcoat is Top shop,my trousers New Look, the shirt is Ralph Lauren which you can pick up at TJ Maxx. Or TK maxx here. Shoes are of course..."

River Island.

You amassed quite the following for your budget friendly outfits, what is your inspiration?

Mia kept walking making her way towards getting inside.

"If you got it, Stagg it" Wink.

See Oliver! She should be managing your social media.

"What the Hell is she doing" Right about now panic started to set.

Are we to expect a new direction in your content?

"No. I will be live blogging but I am just here to support..."

Don't. Oliver mouthed to her. Do not fucking dare.

She was so tempted to be an absolute little shit. Oh,Oliver would hate this. All she'd have to do is say his name and all these people would turn in unison to find him.

Ehhhh maybe not now.

"Women in STEM.And STEM in general, where would I be without technology, it's on Instaggram that I found a community of like minded girls and felt first like the whole wide world is only around the corner, during lockdown especially. A little less alone."

That is so beautiful. Get Stagg in shot. Mia was only down the steps he was standing, what a great Segway for their evening broadcast.

Mr Stagg how does that make you feel? Young people building communities on your platform in a post Pandemic world.Was that your goal?

"What did you do to make your daughter so spiteful? Did you take away her Nintendo?"

Oliver merely inhaled. He should never had let her start that whole Instaggraming malarkey. Stagg could be feasting on those praises right to a 3% rise in Instaggram stocks by morning if he played his cards right.

One way or another his children found new meteoric ways to humble him.

"Fifty bucks Maxwell tries to recruit her by Wednesday" The business magnate was bound to be here too. Yet another face for Oliver to avoid.

[thedemonconstantine]

“That’s Dr Aishah, our very gracious host so best if you behave, Dinah,” Sapphire replied laughing, genuinely pleased to see another friendly face in the midst of all this bullshit.

“She’s not a chick, she’s a women’s rights advocate so be nice, please. God we need all the help we can get, no in-fighting please!”

In which Sapphire’s father saw a chance and swooped right in.

“There's a fight going on? Does it include bikinis and mud pits?" Simon made himself known with a nodded greeting and raise of his latest potent potable...some kind of nonsense Cosmopolitan with a pineappley twist.

Nothing like acid to cut the taste.

"There you are Sapphie, been looking all over for you. Come, you need to know this guy who's gonna make your life a lot better than what it already is, and that's no small feat just saying," He would herd his daughter's attention towards Bruce who was oh hey, conveniently already standing right there!

"Oh? So you two already met? Good, my job's done! Time to hit the bar!"

Sapphire's smile was thin-lipped when she too took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter to down half the whole thing.

"I'm sorry for my father, he's a brilliant man but sometimes when he's in his cups he gets a bit...much," She explained to Bruce to at least allow all of them the grace to leave.

"The hell you talking about Sapphie? I'm always a bit much. In all the best ways possible. Right Bruce? Now what were we talking about again?

Yah, Twitter merger. InStaggram. StaggX. Wayne Shipping. Shopping platform via InStaggram and StaggX. Call it StaggShopp. We'll beat Bezos. Ned? Ted?" Aww crud, was it Ed?

"Ed, where's the brief, the brief," Simon gestured with a hand, after which a scurrying of flustered PAs would hand over said folder into.

"Don't hand it to me, hand it to him! You know what, I'll just savour this privately whilst our future partner here learns patience." Simon took the file, eyeballed Ned/Ted/Ed and turned to give it to Bruce.

"That's about it for my stint as the world's most overpaid courier. Can we now talk about how much fun we can have making money together?"

Yeesh!

John came running over the moment he heard his spawn yowling.

“Wohsit, woh’s goin’ on, hoo’s knickers are on fire?” He got there just in time to see Talia scoop Alexis off the floor and yet the poor girl was strangely inconsolable.

“Alrite, alrite, ‘and ‘er o’er, I’ll take ‘er,” He coaxed Talia for he knew how busy she was at events, especially when she had other motives well under way.

John took Alexis from Talia’s arms and bounced her too.

“Alrite, alrite, Da’s ‘ere. Stop snivellin’, yer gunna look weak in front o’ e’eryone. Yer kin do tha’ la’er when we ‘ome in private.”

"Tell Jimi, make plans fer revenge. I allow it," He continued to soothe and mop her face with more servettes, bringing her farther and farther away from the crowd.

John managed to look over his shoulder to mouth a 'hello' and 'catch up later' to Dinah before he left. Goody, he need not stay around to throw up over Brucey.

"Yiiiii-" Reynard hid between Jack's legs, stunned and scared and he'd scratch up that expensive Brioni tailored pants in an effort to be picked up and protected from other legs.

Jack swept Reynard -a little rougher than usual- off the floor and dumped the fox in Zatanna's arms.

"Naw don't you fret 'bout it. She's precious sunshine. Young'uns'll be young'uns. Also aahm a director these days. Been wearin' that hat a good long while now, in that raight, sugar cube?" Jack drew Zatanna in by the waist for a side hug, and kissed her cheek might as well in front of everybody. Again.

"Was talkin' to mah dog. Fox. Mah fox," Right, half the crowd here was magical or something. Talking foxes were totally legit.

"Goodness, poor darling. I'm so sorry Aishah, I should have kept a closer watch for her. Ooh, everyone is here now. How splendid. Shall we toast our beautiful, talented and very very capable hostess to thank her truly, for this wonderful night?"

The lights glittered and on Rose's cue, waiters helped by a retinue of Unseen Servants would flood the hall with even more bubblies.

"Thank you Dr Aishah, from the very bottom of my heart. To your health and happiness and success in everything that you do."

The crowd clapped and cheered!

And as if no one could be any later than Dinah Lance, a man dressed fully in black just burst in through the halls.

"Am I late?"

As all vampires go, the one known as Andrew Bennett had to wait for the sun to fully set before he could even leave his home.

"Zatanna tattling takes away from the anonymous part doesn't it" Bruce kept his eyes on the sultry woman for three more seconds and then turned his attention to Rose Occult once more taking a sip of what would look like an old fashioned but was in fact lacking alcohol. "There's no need for any of that or your thanks.I'm happy to help a friend" They weren't really friends but he was very close to Zatanna and Zatanna was very close to Rose, friends by proxy why not. He was almost trying to spool the threads in the room back up, what was Talia up to.

"EEEEE. I loves foxies I dus. Chas, me fird 'usban' 'as 'em in 'is garden. Yous so cute wiff yeh little black sockies matey" Alexis giggled happy to get a cuddle knowing that her mother would tan her hide for being so mucky and whine about...rabies or fleas or something but she felt pretty cool with a fox around her shoulders. She slowly walked to find more food to feed this new companion when she came face to face with him.

Alexis gasped. He was so beautiful, like an angel from Heaven blended with a Mills & Boon front cover. And shouty. "DUN YEH TELLS ME TA GIT MISTAH. YOU GIT." Alexis yelled back thinking Jack was shooing her and then broke in sobs of tears, ugly ugly eight year old crying uncontrollably tears making heads turn towards them. "I jus...I jus...wanted to...I jus wanted ta look at yeh..." Sniffle sniffle. She wanted her da right about now.... WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. She flopped to the floor with snot and tears pouring out of her, why couldn't he just love her back! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Sob....sniffle! AAAAAAAAAAAAA.

"Whatever is the matter with you little one" A mother could always hear the call of her little one even across vast rooms full of people, finding Alexis crying inconsolably while multiple people tried to soothe her making her cry even more overwhelmed. In that brief moment, she was a mother first. "Tsk, ooo, come here." She picked up the snotty child off the floor and wiped her face with a napkin. "You are okay, why are you crying?" she asked bouncing her.

"'e told me ta git or 'e's gun skin me 'ide" Alexis cried.

"Oh do not be so dramatic, he did not. He is an actor...I doubt he even knows how to skin someone." she sighed shaking her head. "Let us get you some air." For the sake of the crowd around them she placated the child but there was a brief second of a glance straight into Jack's eyes that would have sent lesser men running. Oh she knew Alexis had quite the para social obsession with the man, the child would say anything to gain his attention. "I am so sorry Mr Trick." she apologized just to spare the man the onlookers. Make it all about a child being dramatic even though a man swore he heard John Trick say those exact words...he did!

"You might have to fight Lancome on that, exclusivity contracts and all that shebang" Had she stood here long enough? She must have surely stood here long enough. God, of all the leering bastards why did this one have to win. Maybe she could just astral project or something.

Maybe she manifested a rescue as a roar of an engine and a woman drove her Ducatti multistrada 1260 right up to the veranda taking her helmet off and placing it on a waiter's tray, blond hair cascading out of it, the mysterious woman was very much dressed for a bike ride and not a gala.

"Oh calm your breeches, less wah wah more yeey you made it Dee-" she grabbed a glass of red off the passing waitress downing it and grabbing a second interrupting Bruce's lecture. "You're the last person on this planet that can lecture people on being tardy. I was on a date."

"What we all staring at?"

"The sudden audacity of under-dressed strumpets evidently" Aishah answered with no qualms of causing a scene if it was gonna make Bruce and the Canary uncomfortable, after the woman's dalliance with Talia's father...well let's just say there were only a few women higher on Talia's shit list, not when said strumpet interrupted her conversation with Sapphire Stagg.

"You do bring me to all the fun places" she slapped her friend's chest. "Is that little Sapphie?" Wow Sapphire had grown... a decade does that to a girl.

"A chick just called me a strumpet" she laughed to Sapphire greeting her with an air kiss. "You've grown so tall...just yesterday you were this tall" she gestured to her hip.

[thedemonconstantine]

"I do so adore your bakes, dear friend. Perhaps if I could manage, maybe a little slice?" Jason was slowly finding his feet again, and he thanked Baron with a pat to the man's arms.

Why were there petals on his bed?

"I don't recall having any sakura trees in the neighbourhood." Hmm, there was one in his hair....at which point if Etrigan were awake, he would have grumbled some.

"It's oddly quiet, perhaps we should put on some music?" How else best to nurse a warm cup of tea?

"Oh John, you let the tea steep too much again."

"Yer made it yerself? Cor fokkin' Christ woh 'ave I been missin' all these years? Would've come visit more often if yer told me yer a master bake, Winters!"

John was already scarfing down half the loaf, crumbs and all by then.

"Is shoooo guuuuud- Zhee yer shuud try schum-"

He did not look the least bit perturbed about the feather or fates or whatever. Things always worked out eventually didn't they?

"Now hold onto your horses, sugar cube. What did you just say?" Jack tried to put in a word of his own when Zee went on like that.

"Zee-" She cut his line.

"GODDANGNABBIT SONOVA TURDY ELEPHANT IN MARS!" Jack threw his cell at poor Posey, cussed and stomped a circle around his director's chair, hand to hip and the other going through his hair.

"YOU PICK THAT RAIGHT UP, YOU HEAR?" He pointed at the cell on the floor which Posey, whimpering, did pick up and with trembling hands, would hand it right back to Jack.

And Jack threw it at Posey again. What's the point of having a whipping boy when you can't lay a hand on them?

"Pick it up."

The rest of the crew gaped in silence. Some others went on with their business because it wasn't their problem.

Posey picked it up and handed it to Jack a second time.

Jack snatched it, ignored the looks and dialled for Zatanna again.

"Aiight now honey buns, don't hang up on me now. Aah don't like mah women hanging up on me. What's all this about archangels and souls?"

Jack could tell that Zatanna was serious, and he walked away from the set to have some privacy.

"Look, aah've been around some. If it's souls we're talkin', you can talk to me."

"Aww wouldje lookit tha', our very own Zee-zee testin' out a smidge o' 'onesty wiff 'er man." So they just mended bridges, so he was still a little jittery about their relationship. So he had to sprinkle some salt on the healing wound just to see if anybody would still jerk.

"Nothing. You've missed nothing. That's the point, we're in a room of ancients that survived the dawn of civilization and they just care about freaking stamps. Never mind that now I have to lot a whole bunch of people down because Xanadu sold us out to...what exactly did she do?" She was still confused on exactly how she helped and what she did that meant now her and John were in a race against time to save their very lives.

"Hey handsome. Nobu has to wait till Saturday, I'll book us the really nice table that you like. Tired of living two lives, kinda tired of pretending and hiding things so I'll cut to the chase. Some two nickel psychic took my soul as collateral and now I have to find her a freaking archangel feather willingly given. Which, huh, kinda tough cause they don't exactly moult for nesting." Zatanna was never upfront , must mean she actually cared about keeping this one.

"So I'll leave you to digest that. Call me back when you have time and I guess I'll try to explain the rest to you." She looked at the three men in the room and turned her back to them.

"I'm sorry"

She was so tired of being sorry.

Baron was mid conversation about a particular Canadian stamp when she finally hanged up the phone and John returned.

"I made that." Baron didn't know good bakers he was a good baker. "Live enough lives and you're bound to pick up a few random hobbies." And living under house arrest for all but one day of the year made a guy crave stimulation. You could afford to learn something by practising if you lived for centuries, eventually you'd get good at it. "The 70s were a weird time for me. 1770s" he sighed thinking of the fall of the Bastille...which he missed by being in Denmark.

"Fascinating" Zatanna answered glaring.

"I happen to find the little machinations of a person very fascinating. The little things that make one...tick" he was stroking Jason's back to soothe him in present company. "Have a slice of cake Zatara, you'll feel better"

She squinted her eyes. Did he spike the cake ?

"Why? Is it a fun cake ?"

"Depends how fun you find lemons." no, it wasn't. Of course it wasn't.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Fancy tha’, a wee cottage in th’ middle o’ th’ Green,” Said John as he made his way into the cabin, grateful for Roy’s slowed pace or he would have been a wheezing mess by the time he came under the roof.

“Wouldje lookit tha’!” Despite the dust, there were hardly much spider webs or any signs of animal droppings, which meant that this space was kept very clean when it was in use.

“Where does th’ pipin’ go den? Aye ’n th’ electricity?” He opened the window a crack to peer at the Green beyond, then wandered over to the bathtub to run his hand over the rim.

The copper tub was fascinating, especially with how it thrummed gently with something beneath his fingers.

“Wotcher gaffin’ at?” John snuck a peek over Roy’s shoulder at the logbook. Awww, not a nudie mag. Oh well.

He settled down on the floor cross-legged and sighed, blowing dust everywhere but it did not faze him.

“Lilliee’s gunna miss yer,” Said John after staring at the ceiling.

“Aye well if yer needs a ‘and movin’ shite, yer know where I am.” John offered to help with either the logistics of moving or the actual strategy of it. 

“Yer nah gunna burn bridges or summat innit. Write a pre’ey resignation le’er. I’ve gots gud penmanship! I’ll do it fer yer, yer can’t spell to save yer life!” Snigger, a tease of course. He wasn’t any better himself most days.

“Yer dun ‘afta remember someone ‘ta miss ‘em,” Said John after. Crap, all that talk about fathers was making him sober too.

That sucked.

“Th’ charm yer gots is from Big Bow? Is a powerful charm. Proper stuff tha’,” John had noticed the naja necklace Roy had around his neck earlier.

"Wouldje like 'ta go back?" To the native reserve, to the past, to whatever it was that could have been done or could have not done instead.

He could bring Roy back. He could. Would it make any difference though? Probably not.

No, it was just John self-projecting. If he would go back and undo some of the things he had done...

Maybe start with the Golden One. How about that.

"Yeah it was nice of Robin to put in a good word but like I think imma bow out soon. It's getting very cliquey, my heart ain't in it anymore, Johnliet. I'm more of a Act Two swift exit stage right kinda guy" People idiolized seeing things through but he was... impulsive. It's what made him him. Cyborg and Robin could strategize the day away, he worked better on his feet, in the here and now, and most of all he had to be true to himself, leave now before his growing resentment turned that joy into ash too.

Leave, before he hated them. In a year or two he would just think back at the good stuff and let the bad stuff perish...maybe.

"Meh, sounds like what she'd do. Lanterns ain't it, we have feelings ooo...look I pulled a green sailboat out of my ass woooaaah" Roy wasn't about to tell John his inner thoughts on the matter. "Big deal, I can shit out a sailboat too after a Taco Bell" "I got my own corps vow and everything.." At that point he burped right in John's face. "Exactly." He was sobering up though and that was not a good idea.

"First day, 366th day, last day" Roy explained the arrows. There wasn't a way of getting them out without chopping down the tree, for ever now part of the history of the estate. The young naive kid, Speedy, Arsenal. A story in three arrows.

"Fuck off ,ya just jealous cause my pricks bigger" Roy threw a used up tissue full of snot at him from his pocket. They walked a bit more and this time Roy was walking and not rushing off.

"See how nice i'm being traveling at the speed of John? I'm being nice" Yes, very nice!

"I don't remember my father, weird ain't it. Missing a guy I can't even remember. Can't remember shit about him, only the fire, and then suddenly it's seven years later and Big Bow is teaching me to hunt. Is what it is JayCee. Life is shit but we persist" Hey he was rhyming again!

"Tell on him if it makes ya feel better. " Roy didn't care one way or the other. Big fan of doing what made you feel better. "Tell on her, tell on me too. Just make it to tomorrow buddy.." Roy looked right and left to think of directions, got close to the ground.

"That way. It's near the highway and I can hear cars.."

It would take them twenty more minutes to find the cabin in the overgrown forest. Once upon a time it looked like it could have been a nice enough dwelling, the remnants of a kitchen and bedroom stuck in the 60s or 70s. A small living area, the big bath tub in the bathroom all of them covered in two decades of dust.

Roy made a beeline for the bedroom opening the empty wardrobe, checking under the mattress. No nudie mags....aaaw.

He found an old notebook though which upon opening it was a log book of incidents and changes to the grounds.

"This place had real shitty plumbing" Roy remarked, a lot of pipe repairs to the cabin, the usual things one expected to read about keeping the woodlands and grounds, the last reported job completed was to paint the Eastern facing tree trunks white against sunscald and pests and the tree felling of a lightning struck Cedar.

The date meant something to Roy.

One week to the day before the date on Robert's Queen's grave. It must have been the last day before Robert left on holiday and sent his staff to holiday too...what must have it been like the waiting around to find out you were no longer needed. Had Oliver just fired them? Told them to come get their stuff and go? Or simply found them new jobs....maybe logs went electronic or maybe Oliver just kept the logs elsewhere.

[thedemonconstantine]

[txt:Red 🍟] What's tarot? I like taro, that's yam! [txt:Red 🍟] Yam is yummy and pretty! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ꒳ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾ [txt:Red 🍟] It's cute purple and it's like chewy boba! [txt:Red 🍟] wwwwwwwwww [txt:Red 🍟] Ok you can draw on me there [txt:Red 🍟] Just make sure it's cute [txt:Red 🍟] wwwwww

[txt:Red 🍟] Just come during dinner-time ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ [txt:Red 🍟] Daddy Blood's always in the kitchen [txt:Red 🍟] He won't come out until he's done [txt:Red 🍟] He's so stupid (,,>ࡇ<,,)

[txt:Red 🍟] Secret<3 [txt:Red 🍟] To get you chips, stupid [txt:Red 🍟] Don't you want like UK chips [txt:Red 🍟] I WISH ( ≧ᗜ≦)

[txt:Red 🍟] Hurry up stupid (｡•̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ꐦ) !!! [txt:Red 🍟] I got something else just for you

[txt:Red 🍟] image.jpg

[txt:PinkiePie] The left titty and the right inner thigh. [txt:PinkiePie] Like some Tarot shit but I get to be close to your heart and your....well you know ;)))) [txt:PinkiePie] MMM left tittyyyyy (,,◕.◕,,)

[txt:PinkiePie] Blood is a loserrrrrrr and he won't know I'm there. I'll be real stealthy and shit (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ [txt:PinkiePie] Swearzies, just like leave a stupid door open and I'll wear some black get up and shit and pretend I belong if I get spotted （＾ｖ＾） [txt:PinkiePie] Why were you in Londonnnnn [txt:PinkiePie] Did you blow up Big Ben [txt:PinkiePie] 20 mins away (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

[thedemonconstantine]

“Eeeeee<3! SUCK ON IT, STUPID!” 

Jinx squealed when they got caught making out in the shower, she squealed when they made a run for it towards their car, she squealed when Roy drove them off and she would flash them her tits, tongue out and fingers too!

Yes they were damp but she got most of the grass stains off, her makeup was all gone now but good thing she kept a compact in her jacket pockets, using the convertible side mirror to work on her face.

“Wheeeeee-“ 

She got her braids back in order, socks and panties gone but Jinx felt like a brand new girl with brand new confidence, not that she ever lacked any of that stuff to begin with.

As Roy drove, Jinx held her hands out to feel the wind course through her fingers, she was hungry but happy!

“Oooo, an iHop? I always wanted to like try an iHop!” 

Jinx bounded out of the convertible and clung onto Roy’s arm, still on her rollerskates so as long as he walked, she rolled alongside, giggling, only stopping to let him take her hand when they had to go up the small steps into the diner.

“Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes! I want pancakes and strawberries and lots and lots of whippy cream!” 

That booth over there looked cute!

“Eeew, coffee sucks!” She made a face and pulled out her Staggberry to take more photos with Roy whilst waiting for the food to come. Jinx swiped away all the stupid notifications and missed calls from her team. They can go screw themselves. 

“Come closer, stupid!” Silly silly pup.

“I like kinda want our first date to last forever,” She decided finally whilst logging into her Sanrio game for her usual dailies, arms stretched out across the table with her chin on it too, kicking her legs back and forth because she was too tiny for big American booths.

Who knows when their second date was gonna be?

Jinx knew never to expect anything from anybody, which was why she always lived in the now.

Then the food came and she exclaimed with joy, nearly punching Roy with her hands flying off the table.

"PANCAKES<3!"

Can't expect a hot blooded 19 year old to just catch a glimpse of her pantiless state and not do anything about it, could she? Of course she wasn't wearing any, he had snapped what little fabric was holding them on his hips right off and the remnants remained in his coat coat for safe keeping for when he wanted some inspiration for Roy time.

"Lazy brat why do I brother" Roy purr purr purred with ease picking her up and pulling her into the shower...they would end up running back into the car when they got caught not exactly showering but even that was part of the fun!

"PRUDISH FUCKERS" Roy yelled flying the V over his head as they sped off for the next place, somewhere that did pancakes and waffles and ice cream. So like a diner.

Their clothes were damp, they were damp, the Californian heat and wind drying them as they drove fast, the hills turning into Jump City once more, buildings whizzing past, the hustle and bustle of this metropolis of metal and glass sprawling around them, business men, fashionistas, stall holders, by 8 o'clock the city was starting to come to life with the mundanity of the rat race and they were free of it.

Free like the wind.

"There, they look like they do good pancakes" It looked like any family diner but did it matter? No. His stomach was growling and right now he'd eat roasted road kill if that's the only thing on offer. "Does this count as a second date? Or still the first?" Roy asked taking her by the hand all but skipping down the pavement towards the diner.

He held the door open, checked out her ass.

Grinned.

She could pick where she wanted to sit he followed her like a lost puppy.

"Coffee, keep it coming , a Dr Pepper and the all day breakfast."

[thedemonconstantine]

“Cor, Boss. Tha’s a fantastic plan just aye well, only trouble I’m seein’ is yer mate’s nah quite all tha’ stable now innit.

Dun fink I’d like ‘ta ‘ave a bloke like tha’ messin’ wiff our minds. Dangerous fing, tha’.” He shrugged at Dinah’s retort.

“Ehhh, I’m nah bovahed, Boss. We’ll git all o’ dis sorted out just fine,” And possibly even before dinner!

He helped Dinah spread out the map across the floor to peer at the underground, the infrastructure of Gotham itself. He stared at it for a good five minutes then grinned.

“I know where dey are,” And John would point at a spot on the map, as random as it was, the sewers beneath Merchant’s Park station.

"Looksit, dis th' veins o' Goffam, dis Downtown line's th' spine. E'ery city's th' same when yer looks at it," Having being self-schooled in geomancy was a great help here. John pointed to Dinah the main landmarks on the map.

"See 'ere now is th' Cathedral, 'n den 'ere's th' Arkham Asylum, th' University, 'n we gots th' Wayne Tower. Dere's th' city cemetery, 'n we've gots th' antiquities museum o'er 'ere. All o' 'ese points draw leylines 'n look woh's rite in th' crossin'.

Dis spot is woh's called a lungmai, th' literal Arcane 'eart o' th' city. Any cult worff their salt would shack up 'ere."

John looked at Dinah, beaming.

"Let's just give th' gem back 'ta 'em."

"So...was kinda hoping we'd get Shade to part with it willingly,then put some sort of barriers on our minds or something and one of us kinda lets the composition take them to the hive of villainy, the other follows, wakes the other and we kick their asses. He knows were we live by the way, he's gonna come looking for it when he realizes he's got our dinner instead" Dinah should learn to adept to her sidekick, John was not a strategist, more a loose canon.

"Okay, new plan then." Whatever, head in the game, there was more than one way to build Rome and cook an egg. "Thermometer in the garden and I will grab some maps" As long as he didn't question why she had an extensive map of Gotham's electrical grid or it's sewer system they would get along just fine.

"It's a little out of date" Five years out of date. "Everything is online nowadays, oh sue me for not buying a map. Jeez" Dinah huffed but it was more agitation from the gem scratching her brain than actually being annoyed at John. That's the thing, right about now she wanted to succumb.Found herself wondering why was she fighting it....and that was not her, okay? She fought to the bitter end but if that blasted thing now held her subconscious enough to make her think these were her thoughts it was already too late to just dumb it and go wasn't it.

She was infected.The compulsion was no longer in the gem...but in her head.

"I could pretend to be the spawn and cause a distraction so you can worm your way in?" She would be over two decades too old but hey that was a problem for then. "Quite good at improv" Her plan was no longer feasible so now, it was John's plan.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Tha’ lass just did a compulsion spell on us, Royboy. Woh I’m sayin’ is yer nah trust ‘er anymore. Keep ‘er at arm’s length, best if yer ne’er see ‘er again. Hoo knows woh else she’s doin’ innit?”

John could not shake off the utter repulsion he felt from that brief encounter with Carol. Now the memories that she had brought to the surface, soft memories…innocent ones, were now tainted by disdain.

“Yer just live life as is, Royboy. Is why I luv yer mate,” John swung an arm around Roy’s shoulders and gave his temple a loud kiss MWAH. He patted that back and released Roy to the wild.

“Nah mate, tha’s nah an environment yer thrive in. Gud fing yer found th’ Titans,” John did not believe the growing resentment Roy had for his team was due to his team, more...Donna.

“Yer mean a murder cabin?” His grin was a toothy one.

“Alrite, we’ve gots all nite anyways,” John was amiable to a night under the stars, for the speckled darkness brought him a strange kind of comfort that sunlit days never could.

“I’ll leave th’ snoggin’ fer Donna,” John said albeit with some irony, after all why were they even here in the first place.

“Well I fink e’eryone starts sumplace, is just woh they make o’ their startin’ point tha’ makes th’ difference,” 

Roy’s clothes were so big on John that it hindered his movements more than it helped, and he would trip up a little from the hoodie hem around his thighs.

“Slow down yer bellend! I’m wretched dyin’ ‘ere!” He hollered after having stubbed his toes over the twentieth tree root and what not, almost at a running pace now just to keep up with Roy.

They stopped at a small clearing, a glade almost, with a tree made special from the arrowheads embedded within its bark.

“Wouldje lookit tha’,” John mused with a slow-spreading smile, touching the metal to count the spaces between them.

“Oliver did dis fer yer?” 

So maybe there was something worth saving here. John palmed the tree and found it to be warm.

“Yerknowwoh, I fink…I finks yer gots three Dads, yer does, tha’s two more den most folk now innit?”

He sat under the arrowhead tree for a much-needed breather, crossing legs and digging through his pockets for a fag.

“Yer actual Da, Big Bow, ’n den dere’s Oliver.”

John chewed on his unlit cigarette as he considered his next words.

“I’m still gunna tell on ‘im though.”

He stood up then and grabbed Roy by the arm.

"Come 'ere yer twat, lessee where yer at now," And he'd put Roy up for measure against the other arrowheads.

"Cor, fink yer shrank now didje?" Snort! John ducked because he sensed a smack coming for his head!

"What, getting involved or making us stop arguing?" Roy was not an adept, he was in fact very much unaware how persuaded he had been taking Oliver's words of 'i know what you are doing' as more to mean making them realise they loved each other past the petty arguments not the actual threat the Arrow meant it as.

"JayCee it's what friends of the family do, stick their noses and think they know best. You know me, I blow up and cool down quickly." But unlike Oliver Roy also build up resentment, he did not take slights easy. It would all boil and fester and build into a devastating tsunami leaving nothing but drowned Earth in it's path.

Roy admired Oliver once. He was struck by the man's resolve, got caught up in his vision, believed in him. Felt like he mattered because Oliver thought him worthy of his mentorship. And how that admiration turned to ash.

Roy never met a tinderbox he didn't throw a match at and he'd say it was the best thing to do, burn it and then you will never be tempted by it again.

"I think there used to be a cabin for the grounds keeper before the left wing extension, you know what I never went looking. " He normally sat in the little woodland area or used the archery range never did he bother to go to the other side of the private woods of Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and Western hemlock, the other side of the woods just lead to the highway why would he want to go see a road.

But there had been a cabin once there when Robert Queen paid someone to tend to the forest rather than let nature run wild and take its course like Oliver. Roy could swear once in a while the wind spoke as it wooshed through the trees like Big Bow told him to sit and listen for.

"Let's go find it. Maybe there's some nudie mags or something we can laugh at. " Roy would find such things amusing, how the previous generation consumed their vices.

"Thanks man, means a lot. Are we gonna make out next?" Hehehe. Roy slapped John's chest at the solidarity but Roy dealt with praises with humour, never truly knowing what to do with himself when someone paid him a compliment or praised him, the sting that he was still judged....even if positively never quite removed from his old wounds, even if it was to find him superior he was still weighed up against something or someone....and so Roy dealt with it with jokes.

"No one is better than anyone JayCee. Just different strokes for different folk. Strays will always think the pedigrees as not their own..." Roy had missed the point of John's hint so he stated a matter of fact. He was better simply because he was John's kind of people.

"I wanna show you something stupid. " Roy walked fast like a young man than had places to go and healthier lungs.

And there it was not too far from the archery range a tree with three hammered in red arrowheads ascending. Roy went through quite the growth spurt in three years from almost 15 to almost 18.

[thedemonconstantine]

“No. You like woke me up, so I have to like wake you up<3” Her phone woke her up but Roy was a better scapegoat.

Jinx giggled and pretended not to have heard Roy’s accusations at all, burying her face deeper into his chest because there was just so much of it. 

“Hehe<3” It was working though, her cuteness!

How he just touched her and held her and looked at her…it made her smile only too easily now.

“Eeeee<3 You’re stinky, my stinky stinky puppy<3” YES! HERS!

Imagine that!

Jinx could not get enough of his kisses, his hands…forty minutes later she was smothered in a fresh batch of red marks all over her neck, her chest, her thighs, and she loved it.

“Mmmm~ I want like pancakes and waffles and ice-cream.”

They eventually found a pit stop off the highway and Jinx blitzed her rollerskates to slide right into the diner to pilfer a set of keys. Granted all she needed to do was bat her eyelashes and ask, but somehow this felt naughtier.

“Hey boyfriend,” She greeted Roy again by the men’s shower stall, hanging the keys on the hook inside the cubicle.

“Guess what?”

Jinx shrugged off her oversized jacket to have them pool about her elbows, just so she could show off all the love bites and teeth marks she had on her porcelain skin.

“I’m. Not. Wearing. Any. Undies.”

Wonder why that is?

She shrugged and held her micro-skirt hems with both hands, and lifted it just a little, giggled, then tugged it back down. 

Jinx threw her arms around Roy’s neck and stared at him with those big eyes of hers.

“I’m lazy. Take it off for me.” Giggle<3!

First came the problem of would-they-ever-leave-the-shower-stall?

Who knew.

"Then go back to sleep"

Roy's eyes did not even open he was all too glad to remain slumbering sprawled on the backseat with Jinx practically on top of him on his side , the girl didn't occupy much space. He was as comfortable as one could be sleeping in a car in their little cocoon of love, it was love keeping them warm, okay ??? Love.

The beauty of youth was that their bodies were spry and nimble, was he achey? Sure but nothing a good stretch and a walk later wouldn't sort out. Her phone buzzed. His did next with his battery practically dead. He'd get a car charger later to charge during their wherever drive.

"Aou. Aou..aou. YIAAAOU" Poke poke BITE.

"What. What.What. What. Whaaaaaaat" he responded to every call of his name eyes refusing to open.

"Ain't no good pretendin' to be all cute after biting me you lunatic" Roy finally opened his eyes to look at Jinx, stroked her cheek and she had no choice but to be shifted up so she could nuzzle her nose and cover her cute little face in slobbery kisses full of morning breath. They needed water and a hearty breakfast.

"You hungry yet? Want like a McDonalds or something?" He asked still stroking her face admiring her smudged beauty. He was awake, dehydrated, hungry, and like any man that woke up with a vixen in his arms amorous. Okay, mess around first and then breakfast. If she thought she was done being devoured she had another thing coming.

So it was now forty minutes later and they would be sweaty all over again. "We need to hit one of these truck stops and have a shower." Why use McDonalds sinks when you can just sneak into a disgusting truck stop which would be full of long haul drivers eating their breakfast at this early 6.30 am hour ready for the journey ahead distracting staff. Swilling a bathroom key of someone for a bit was easy peasy lemon squeezy for them.

First one they'd come across he'd pull her into the shower with him , did it matter than they got into their clothes wet from the shower and would make them damp ? No? It was sunny and they had a convertible, by the time they got to McDs the California sun would have air dryed them.

[thedemonconstantine]

"Why thank you, my darling. How sweet," Rose stepped out of the House and into the little green Oxford mini, with Nick holding the doors for her as Colm shuffled into the driver's seat.

"Don't you worry about that. Any and all reading materials required would be made available in the library 24 hours before the sessions commence. I do understand that some reading may require longer however the House has certain restrictions and so...24 hours is what we will have to deal with...ooh, for some titles that is. Others of which I have multiple physical copies of, are readily available."

She crossed a leg over the other and turned to look outside, for when Colm drove off from the Twelvefold, the surroundings began to react.

"So, a bit of reading to prevent you from being at a loss, a bit of sleep beforehand so that you have the attention for my boring lectures, a bit of nourishment also for that boost of energy if and when we have practical exercises, of which we do have quite a bit, I might add.

Sugary drinks I'd recommend, it helps with stamina and concentration.

Everything else is up to you and how the Arcane finds you as you find it."

Colm had the radio switched off so that Rose's instructions were clear.

"Unless of course you are asking for the logistics of these things. Well, sign up for it on the notice board by the time-slot column, turn up five minutes before the class starts at the appropriate venue, and have a chat with your fellows before it begins. If appropriate attire is required for the class, it will be stated in the notes on the schedule. All other tools and props will be provided during the class, so you do not have to worry about not having the right equipment.

Unless a personal effect or a specially obtained item is needed, then it will have to be prepared by yourself before the class. Of course, this would also be stated in the notes.

Am I answering your queries in the correct fashion, dear? Do correct me if I am mistaken."

The car interior smelled like roses and honey. Colm started whistling a jaunty tune as he drove out into town.

Nick was jolting down the class times and would later on inquire on how sign ups worked in this place. Was it like a boarding school where he had to sign up for the class or should he just turn up? Did he need books? Materials? All good questions he wished he asked before now.

"I apologize for flashing. It will take a little bit of getting used to, living with so many people. I was an only child, my dorm buddy was never around and Shadowcrest...is massive compared to the inhabitants of three." Nick apologized sincerely for walking out of his room without a shirt on.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Colm" He never met a Leprechaun before, how fascinating! He realized he was gawking a little, which was probably very rude, he really ought to stop doing that.

"Doctor" Nick would insist on getting the door for her, anything to make her think him worthy of her time and attention. She was that sort of woman, the kind that made everyone feel like worshiping her for her very presence alone.

"Doctor Rose if you don't mind me asking how does one attend your classes? I..didn't bring any specific books or materials." He brought books he owned or was allowed to borrow but none were the correct ones for such classes.

[thedemonconstantine]

First of Everything

( @adventurepunks )

Jinx scrubbed at her eyes when her Staggberry started buzzing again. The sun was glaring and relentless with its heat pouring into the car she was all snuggled up in.

She groaned, reached for her phone, rejected the call and tossed it into the backseat or wherever, then proceeded to bury herself deeper into a pair of very strong, very freckled arms.

Somehow Roy managed to make a cocoon out of their clothing to shack up the night before. Her massive jacket, his hoodie and puffer, and they found some tarp too in the boot of the stolen convertible. Well, it was hers now. Theirs, decorated with an ostentatious shade of pink with red flames and an arrow shooting right through it.

"I dun wanna geddupppp---" Jinx croaked.

Her throat was sore from all the screaming the night before.

Now Roy's cellphone started buzzing and she reached for it, rejected it, and threw also wherever.

"Uggggggh!"

Why are people so annoying? It's not as if they were dead or whatever!

Bzzzt-shhrrrrk-!

A flash of pink shot at a rabbit's burrow some hundred yards away. The critter panicked and fled.

"You're like, so warm..." Prrr, prr, Jinx was happy despite being sore all over. Her hair was an absolute tangled mess, her makeup was smeared all over her face, her breath stank and she lost her socks, but she did not care.

Not one bit.

She had Roy now.

Time to whine up a storm!

"Royyyyyyyyy-"

Poke poke.

"Roy Roy Roy Roy Roy!"

SQUISH!

"ROY<3!" She bit his arm!

"Eeeee<3! Good morning<3!" Hehe<3!

She giggled and decided to hide her mischief by smooshing her face into his chest. Maybe if she pretended to be asleep, he wouldn't know it was her!

[thedemonconstantine]

Trouble x 2

( @adventurepunks )

[thedemonconstantine]

“Aye Miss Mia. Stopped countin’ years ago,” Chas replied with a smile, charmed by her antics mostly.

“Is alrite, Mr Queen Sir. Kin I ‘elpcher wiff tha’?” Offering to help load the briefcase too before they got onto the road proper.

“Suppose is a raver long flight, Miss Mia. Also it quite can’t be ‘elped tha’ Mr Queen’s a busy man,” He was so used to Gera’s word vomit that following Mia’s speech was easy, in fact it was better since she was more eloquent than his girl.

“I dun mind fetchin’ drinks at all, Sir. Anyfing fer yer convenience ’n Miss Mia’s. I kin fetch dry cleanin’ too if yer likes,” He suggested because those suits were definitely not meant for the machine.

Of course he would take those photos as asked, of course he would let Mia plug into the car stereo.

“Peninsula, 2pm. Rite den, Sir.” Chas would fall silent to give room for his passengers to converse, tuning out the content himself so as to give them some privacy. After years and years of cabbie work, he was very good at that.

Good thing that traffic was smooth and uninterrupted or Chas would have wanted to tune in to the news again…oop, Oliver just unplugged the auxiliary cable.

“Blimey dis brand’s e’erywhere now innit? Is like Virgin or summat, been startin’ ‘ta see it abar places, I fink I just drove by a ‘otel too. Spankin’ spiffy new it is, uhhh…fink is called StaggSuites or summat.”

Chas was pretty impressed when the Queen Industries advert came on.

“Sir, Sir! Is tha’ yers? Oi is boss it is! I likes it! Lookit tha’! Yer on th’ radio! ‘ow nice!”

He was the sort that would go mental upon hearing a mate showed up on tv.

“Of course, Mr Nathan, nah problem at all. Wouldje need me ‘ta pick yer up again afore meeting Mr Queen ’n Miss Mia at th’ lobby? I kin do tha’, me time’s all yers.”

Chas arrived at the lobby twenty minutes ahead of time, used the bathroom and freshened up with a mint, greeted the Queens and accepted the parking pass with both hands.

“Fanks, Sir.” So far so good!

“Alrite, let’s git us started fer th’ day. Apologies, checking fer pickup time la’er t’nite, 7pm at convention lobby B?” 

The drive to the event venue was spotty with a bit of congestion, vehicles going in and out, some exhibitors and vendors with their massive cargo trucks, others are the attendees and presentors like Oliver himself.

“Alrite, if yer need me earlier or if dere’s a delay, just drop me a text. I’ll adjust accordin’ly. ‘ave a gud day Mr Queen, Miss Mia, Mr Nathan.”

And Chas would drive off to park elsewhere fifteen minutes offsite for a cheaper rate, and have his late lunch.

Meanwhile, right at the entrance of the convention hall were the standard gaggle of press and media, flash bulbs going at insane speeds and mikes and videocams outstretched.

They were recording the bigwigs that were attending today, which to the organiser’s dismay, was creating quite a chokehold at the VIP entrance.

Of course one such VIP took this as a free marketing opportunity and went straight for it instead of arranging for more discretion.

Not even two steps in and already armed with a drink, Simon Stagg and his outfit of lackeys loitered by the entrance to greet the press (At least those that managed the pass to the VIP area) with smiles.

“Stagg that, yeah, Stagg that too. Quote me,” Simon raised his glass (Where the hell did he get that from) of gin and proceeded to make small talk with none other than Amanda Waller, who was there too, coincidentally.

“So how was your stay at Staggmont? Told concierge to pull out all the stops. Did you like the fruit basket? Flowers? Magic Mike Men?”

So perhaps he saw Oliver Queen coming through. Perhaps he didn't.

For some reason Simon Stagg's personal posse of parasitical patronisers were plugging up the entire passage...

And they haven't even gone through the security checks.

Oops<3.

"You don't look like a Francis. More like a Frank the Tank or something boxer like. You box...put em up put em up.." Mia put her fists up but didn't go anywhere near touching him. "You're like so tall. How tall are you? Wait let me guess.." she put her arm up to help try to measure him.

"Six foot ish. No you're past six foot ain't ya."

"Mia leave the man alone to do his job." Oliver warned packing his briefcase.

"I'm just making conversation. Getting to know people. I ain't annoying anyone, are you annoyed? See he ain't annoyed, he's fine. Ignore Ollie, he doesn't travel well and his client were so boringggggggggggggggggggg. Bla bla bla bla profit reports, yes such nice KPIS...my my mr Queen that's an impressive big chart you have." She mocked the business men and their boring business talk. "It's why Oliver went to pilot the plane, must get so boring listening to business talk past the first hour." She did not need to take a single breath, her entire speech a single string of words with no real stop in between.

"Oh, can I have a triple scoop matcha latte with a pump of caramel, half ice, thank you."

"Shift your butt you" Oliver warned to get her departing the plane and towards the car waiting for them. "You can get your own drink, Mia he's not your butler"

"He offered being nice." Mia countered.

"And he's paid to drive you places not fetch you coffee. You can walk to the lounge if you want a drink."

"Alright grumpy." Mia turned on her phone to check her TikTok notifications, then her instagram notifications and then with drink in hand returned to the car having brought Oliver a energising smoothie, Nathan took the passenger seat.

"Frankie the tall can you take my picture with the airport sign please?" she asked handing him her phone so she could pretend to be holding up the Stansted airport sign which she'd edit and post to Instaggram for her 5.3 million followers. Oliver in the car was already typing up an email.

Oliver leaned forward to turn off the radio. None of that ,thank you.

"Mind if I plug my AUX? I get anxious in cars" Mia asked handing Chas the end of her AUX chord for her playlist to connect to the car stereo, London needed a playlist to be enjoyed and sure enough Mia did not have a moment of stillness, even the seatbelt couldn't keep her from seat dancing to her music.

"Pick me up from the Peninsula at 2 pm. I'm not attending the morning. Thank you ,Francis" Very meticulous to check the schedule remained the same.

Instaggram, share the best of you the Spotify advert in a very Cali-girl voice prompted.

"Speaking off, you need to have a way cooler Instaggram. It's giving GQ spread, it's giving middle aged businessman" Mia suggested.

"I am a middle aged businessman" Oliver was not really into social media sharing mostly travel pictures of the occasional magazine photoshoot via his PR team.

"But like...social media is the future. In five years no one is gonna be buying billboards, it's all online."

"I have a marketing team that runs the company socials, my online presence can remain ever boring."

Instaggram, like Oh MY Stagg but first lemme take a selfie!! Every five or so songs 30 seconds of adverts played. Oliver unplugged her and let Chas resume the radio.

"Best friend to a lover to a ghost" she sung along.

...rumour has it EDF is in debt.

"More than rumor" Oliver mused continuing typing.

A peppy ringtone rung.

"What the hell? Why is she calling me" she cringed texting back to her friend to facetime instead and the two teens would chatter away about absolutely nothing.

Queen Industries, your better future our aim.

"Ew, a radio advert? Gross. So not a vibe" Mia grimaced.

"Marketing team" Oliver stated again.

"Ouh swanky!" Mia gawked at the hotel from the car window.

"Ollie wait. Let's take a selfie togetherrrrr"

"Or we can keep to our privacy and not let your 3 million followers know where you are staying, you never know who's tracking your movements Mia." As someone that tracked people via their online presence, he was all too aware how fast a trail lead somewhere and thus is very sparse online presence.

"You're so adorable" Mia gushed pinching his cheek and followed him inside and Nathan was already arranging their reservations, two separate suites.

From the airport to Belgravia it took them little over 90 minutes due to traffic congestion. Three hours of freedom for Chas before he'd have to return and pick them up again.

"Any chance you can drop me off to Holland park on your way out?" Nathan asked, it was only 10 minutes away but he'd take a taxi if Chas wasn't heading that way.

By the time Chas returned to pick them up again they were in fresh clothes and Mia had a completely different hairstyle, sleeked back ponytail and a three-piece suit and tie looking ever the facsimile of a businesswoman which of course she shared on her TikTok and Instaggram as well as her secondary account of PieceofMia of 3.7 million followers, comments already praising her look and wishing her good luck at the expo. By tomorrow the Topshop waistcoat she was wearing would have sold out in Oxford street. She loved her fashion on a budget looks even if Oliver had tons to say about fast fashion.

"You're gonna need that" Oliver gave Chas the parking pass for the expo so he could put it by the windshield and gain entrance through the back gate reserved to speakers.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Aishah my beloved sweetness, welcome back, we were missing you oh so dearly,” Rose would greet Talia when she returned, complete with Reynard in her arms.

“Our clever Dragon Detective has been very shrewd and discerning indeed. Why just two moments ago she solved a case of stolen silverware, haven’t you, my darling sweetie?”

Rose cooed as she leant over to tuck a stray lock from Alexis’ gala updo. 

“There we go, perfect and pristine as you are,” She straightened to greet Bruce after, taking the man’s shoulders and giving him an air kiss on both cheeks.

“We missed you terribly so, Richard and I. How have you been doing, my darling? I’m so happy you managed to come. We simply must name a classroom after you,” After all he had made quite the donation for the fundraiser.

“Would you prefer an alchemy laboratory, a divinations glasshouse, or an illusory observatory as your choice pick?” Rose would then hand Reynard over to Alexis, having sensed some tension between Bruce and Talia and she decided to stay as lubricant. Just in case.

Reynard clambered off Rose's arms to settle around Alexis' shoulders, having sated his hunger with parma ham, smoked salmon and a full dish of champagne from the charcuterie.

"Reyrey ees...what you call, fatigué? Somnolent...oui perhaps too much of zee eating non?"

He dozed off on her shoulders, turning into a foxtail scarf.

Jack was eyeballing Bruce and thinking of all sorts of ways to screw the billionaire over for even attempting to buy his fiefdom.

"Aiight now sugar cube, who broke bank fer you tonight? Sweet Jesus better not be that Wayne fella or aah swear aahm gunna walk raight outta here."

He drew Zatanna in by the waist and gave her a very public, very deliberate kiss for the photographs. Two can play at the jealous game, and Jack has never been camera shy.

"Sweet fuckin' snakeshit in a rainstorm, is Reyrey on mah attacker??

Hey now! Rey! Come on 'n git! Aah swear aah'll skin your dang hide if you dun git here this instant!"

"J-jack? euh, ah non pardon, John. je voulais dire John, désolé..."

"Woh's dis? Yer John too? Hah! Fancy tha'! Ello John! Always wanted 'ta meet anova John in th' open field," Said John John, who came out of the cloak room about five minutes after Talia did, still fixing his hair.

It was now back to its unruly state and would remain untameable for the rest of the gala.

"....Brucey," John greeted the Wayne billionaire with a very wide, very thin-lipped smile, and proceeded to stand next to Talia and put his arm around her waist.

Yes, he can play nice too!

"Ehhh, I figured why not just give Uncle Sam his due and Dr Rose's hers, two birds, one bid. Just investing my tax refund where it counts."

Simon was too busy sniffing the scent on the name card to notice much else.

"Now where would you get a lifetime supply of that? Damned if I could bottle this and make it Staggmont's signature scent, no one's gonna wanna leave!"

He would hand Zatanna's name card over to someone in his posse, whoever took it first, and then whoever else who replaced his now empty hand with a fresh glass of scotch.

"Should we do signature scents for StaggSuites? I'm thinking yeah maybe we should. Ted, Ted? Ned? Ned right? Yeah call someone. Yeah that broad with the suitcase of essential oils. Call her."

Ned, Ted, who cares.

Simon took another draft of scotch, which pretty much emptied the glass. He stared at it and sighed.

Where the hell was his ridiculous daughter? He brought her here because of Wayne!

"Hey, hey you, where did Sapphie go?" Useless, this lot of sycophants. At least give him the handy ones!

"I'm looking for a merger with Twitter. InStaggram and StaggX. Catchy, eh? So? Anyone wanna fund my idea?"

"And I got quite the perfomance planned for you, pookie. You've been so good for little ol' me, so patient" she purred wrapping her around around his neck to gift him a little peck on the lips, light enough to not stain them with her fresh lipstick. There was just something about a blond bad boy...and the more girls and boys fawned on him the clingier Zatanna got through out the evening. Everyone wanted to say hello to him, everyone.

The stings of jealousy were difficult to ignore but she was a practiced performer, she could smile through it all and none would be the wiser.

The moment the fox started talking Talia rolled her eyes and dumped him by Rose. "I think one of your friends is hungry" Her eyes met John's and she looked at him the same way girls on a keto diet looked at the last donut on a bakery counter, the way that John ought to know to make his excuses fast or she would have no qualms who saw. She walked backwards into the cloak room pulling him along.

"Silence." Talia didn't wanna hear anything he had to say, deft fingers worked to unzip him, there was no time for chit chat, he was summoned for a singular purpose and he better sate her.

"Well if it isn't the esteemed Mrs Blood.." Baron greeted the blonde girl offering his hand which Alexis shook hard, he turned her hand and kissed her knuckles and Alexis wiped it on her dress.

"Me das urgent business is gettin' me ma up the duff again. Swears ta baby Jesus if they 'as one more baby I is movin' ta Antarctica." she huffed exasperated.

"I is nah mrs Blood, 'e's takin' me last name. I forgots woh me last name is buh 'e's takin' it" And as John took her along she grabbed Baron by the blazer yanking him along, he had not answered where Jason was.

" 'ello me lady" Alexis greeted with an enthusiastic wave. "Da's me 'usband's bessie mate, 'is name is Baron buh 'e's nah a Baron." Winters looked at her with fondness, children were so innocent and adorable. Such a vibrant little life. "We have met before"he informed Alexis and kissed Rose's knuckles as well. In his peripheral he could see them closing the auction book, good, good. Now he could relax.

"My guest Giselle" he introduced the very tall woman with the deep Louisianna accent. "Get us some drinks will you my treasure?" and she'd gladly part, little children were not her cup of tea.

"Is 'e allowed in the council?" Alexis whispered to Rose who seemed to know this man. "Me da is mates wiff 'im woh if 'e's a spy fer me da" Alexis covertly asked.

Winters squatted down. "What if I spy on your dad instead? Any good dragon knows the use of stealth masters.." he gave her a little wink.

Alexis looked at him and then to Rose weirded out. "Good mates dun spy on mates. I is gun tell me da yeh tried ta turn coat"

At that point he lost it, he laughed and ruffled her hair which got him bitten.

"Dun touch me 'air yeh prick. Me mah is gun be so mad." His companion summoned him over.

"Ladies" he excused and Alexis took Rose's hand.

"'ang on. OI GINGER BOLLOCKS! OVER 'ERE" she waved to Roy and then pointed to the right of the room where Lian was staring at a display of rare oddities.

"Roy is me da's mate. Rose is me loyal knight an' member of me guard, 'er name is Rose Occult, the stupendous, the magnificent, the Viking Frost Giant slayer, wielder of the secret flame, sworn enemy of Princess Bumblebee an' her council, sworn by Russel the brave, first of 'er name, fird of 'er rank" Alexis introduced her. "Roy's ginger. Which means 'e's immune to demons cus 'e 'as no soul"

"That's me, Roy the Soulless." Which kind of had a ring to it, he offered a handshake to Rose. "And this is my honey bun Lian. We are honored to meet a real slayer of frost giants ain't we princess."

Lian giggled, Roy was so silly.

"Frost giants don't exist!"

"Well not anymore, she gone and slain them all. And we are all grateful. Come on bun bun, you said you needed to pee."

"Bye..."

"Bruce I'm glad you made it" Zatanna was thrilled he made it to the gala, hours late but that was Bruce all over.

"ZeeZee, beautiful as always" he praised giving her a firm hug. He'd even remain ever gracious to Jack's less than warm reception, making his excuses pretty fast to not cause one of his oldest friends...another argument. Her boyfriends never seemed to like him.

Can I have your attention please... the host summoned them all to start announcing the winners of the silent auction.

Baron was thrilled to have won the stamp. Multiple angry looks were thrown towards him but that is where a mistress of Voodoo came in useful, she better be keeping all that bad juju off him.

Jewelry, antiques, yacht trips, paintings, dinners with celebrities, a Marc Jacobs haul, all sorts had their owners announced. Item 42, a private show by the Mistress of Magic herself goes to..

...wow that's quite the bid the announcer stated seeing Simon's bid. Even Talia's and Bruce's bid combined would not have matched his bid.

Mr Stagg with a very generous bid, Dr Occult you might want to start considering a second university hall. It was quite the feat to stun a practiced auctioneer.

Just as Talia and John emerged. Ah bummer, she was hoping to have the winning bid just to put Zatanna through the torture of having to perform for her children. Oh well, she was too joyus to care right about now.

"Suppose I should go and make my booking" Not her first not her last rodeo.

"Mr Stagg..." with a dance of her fingers she summoned a card to hand to him. "Congratulations on your winning bid. Those were a lot of zeroes, it's great to see a man so passionate about education.."

Zatanna Zatara Mistress of Magic 1 201-348-6628 bookings@mistressofmagic.com Four QR codes in the shape of bunnies for her youtube, instagram,tiktok and facebook.

"Someone's looking for you by the cocktail table" Bruce came to inform her.

"I'll be right over. I was just congratulating my lucky winner" Zatanna kept her composure ever bubbly.

"Simon.." Bruce greeted just as Talia came to his view. This whole thing suddenly made more sense...of course it was one of Talia's schemes.

"Excuse me.." Only Talia al Ghul could make him part from his friend in the presence in such a shark tank of males.

"Always rushed off his feet that guy" Zatanna remarked.

"My sweet girl are you being pleasant to my friend?" Of course Talia would use Alexis and Rose as human shields almost daring Bruce to make a scene.

[thedemonconstantine]

“Cor, tha’s an awful nice ‘efty grip on yer, mate,” John exclaimed and watched Oliver turn his hand over to check his pulse.

If anything, John’s heartbeat was slower than the norm. Almost nothing made it race now except for cardio…or stairs.

“Peaches ’n cream, Royboy. We alrite,” Said John and he’d even let Oliver’s remark about his mother slide. Sticks and stones, right?

“Is an actual fing, yer know? Th’ flyin’ spaggo monstah. Just sayin’, mate,” John could sense Roy’s impulse so he played it down with a crooked grin and would keep himself between them.

“Fer woh?” What’s there to apologise for?

And was that a threat he heard? Roy’s jaw was set, but John only rolled his eyes and shrugged. Oliver Queen was such a cunt. Then Roy opened his mouth again to get one in, which made John wince. Yowwwwww-

Eh, it was to be expected. A hurt animal would bite any hand that approaches.

…and then a strange light flooded Roy’s bedroom, followed by a tingling sensation at the back of John’s mind.

“Dis boss, it is. Wouldje lookit tha’…” The soft tendrils, the warm and fuzzy glow. He could sense the emotion being coaxed out of him.

In his mind’s eye, John saw his child self watching the newly built ships leaving Liverpool harbour. He saw Beano stumbling over his drum set, he remembered the taste of the lemon pound cake that Cheryl brought back one day when she remembered to share it. There’s Marj and Mercury’s trailer and the smell of scented candles burning in the woods. Chas of course, always Chas with his simple smile and easy-going nature.

Of course.

Of course…

John hugged Roy but his heart was not in it. Zee’s face, Nick’s cold, cold hands.

The irony of suggestion and how it could backfire.

"Road 'ta 'ell is always paved wiff gud intentions," This was all he would say to Carol as the effects of her glow began to diminish.

"Do supersonic fighter jet test pilots do tha'?" He asked Roy after, somewhat feeling displaced and unwanted in such a short time.

He caught the spare clothes and wiped down quick, and in that one moment, John had a sudden understanding of why and how Roy came to be.

Maybe the Arcane had a hand in bringing them here for good reason.

"Fanks, mate. Time 'n place fer e'eryfing, yerknowwohImean?" Dirt, cleaniness, drugs, hugs. John wasn't going to apologise to Carol for shit.

She should be the one apologising for manipulating them like that. He dawdled around till Roy returned to take them elsewhere.

"Simply coz they always fink they know be'er now innit?" The forced sensation left a bad taste in John's mouth.

"Dunno woh's worse, Roy. Yer foster Da or th' kind o' friends 'e keeps. Tha' was massively out o' line, if yer ask me," John didn't retaliate for Roy was there and having a moment with Oliver.

"I'm tellin' Die." Heck.

"I'm tellin' Zee-zee too, aye 'n Lillie. I'm gunna be a rat."

He tossed his crumpled pack of smokes to Roy and lit up.

"Yer got it rough 'ere, mate. I wouldda left long time ago too." Maybe they shouldn't even stay the night. He did not feel welcome.

"Yerknowwoh? As nice as yer oul room is, mebbe let's just..." The outside looked so much more welcoming. John opened his arms to the sky.

"Dis is much, much be'er." Then he threw himself onto Roy with a laugh.

"Yer much, much be'er." Than all of that sodding crap.

He patted Roy's chest.

"Come on, lad. Just yeh 'n me, we."

Fuck this manor, fuck society. Fuck the beds.

"If Oliver Queen is gonna do one thing it's to not keep it in his pants. And the ladies love him" There was an anger to Roy's voice despite it's lack of volume. He assumed that Oliver was still desecrating his near marital bed, if not with Carol it was someone else. "You can tell her but she ain't gun do nothin' is she. If a girl's gonna leave she'll leave the first time. Maybe the second. By the 379th time she ain't gonna go." And right about now Oliver showed up to interrogate them under the guise of pizza bagels.

"Sure, sure. And then thought it a good idea to take some uppers and dabble in the arcane" Since this John Constantine wanted to defend Roy then he might as well be the one answering, Oliver held John's hand and did so firmly enough so that even with all the grime and sweat it wouldn't slip out of his grasp turning his hand to press fingers into John's pulsepoint.

"Let him go, Oliver"

His heart beat was quite steady, maybe not an upper then. "Swearing on your mother's grave only means anything if someone knows you care about your mother,for all I care you might as well be swearing to the spaghetti monster" But he let John go when Roy was just about to pounce.

"Don't pick fights you can't win my boy" he warned. "You're gonna get yourselves cleaned up and march your asses downstairs to apologize to Carol. And if I catch you two again dabbling you're gonna struggle making it into any weddings am I clear?"

Less than a year from now Roy's and Oliver's relationship would hit the breaking point...but currently Roy still sort of cared.

"Yes sir" Roy answered chewing on the inside of his cheek.

Oliver accepted his answer and just as he was about to step out of Roy's bedroom.

"Are you fucking that one too?" Roy Harper never met a tinderbox he didn't throw a match on.

Don't pick fights you can't win, Roy was not really the kind of guy to care about winning.

"Do you want to repeat that boy? I didn't quite catch that" Oliver turned around and somehow looked twice his size. Roy was about to open his mouth and repeat himself when...

Love conquers all with violet light.

Oliver and Roy might not be able to perceive it how she was emanating violet light practically radiant as she entered the room. "Enough you two, always bickering. Hug it out." She wasn't powerful enough to dominate the mind of Oliver Queen but the power of suggestion was a heck of a tool. Violet tendrils out of both the males' hearts tethered to her ring finger, their love still held true, they both loved each other truly and thus she didn't have to dominate them just push them in the right direction.

For hearts long lost and full of fright.

"I know what you're doing Carol" Oliver warned her.

"I know what you're doing Carol" she mocked. "Spare me from both of your macho bullshit." Carol grabbed Roy dragging him and all but shoved him into Oliver forcing the taller male to wrap his arms around him. "You too, give your buddy a cuddle." And in her suggestion he'd feel it, the pacification washing over him, like the whole world was soft and...full of love. Love in the smile of his friend, love in the softness of Nick's hands placing a blanket over his slumbering body, in Zatanna's hug when he was in pain from all those spells, in Chas' laugh, a veil where everything else was far away and only love was surrounding him.

"Go on" Carol was staring and awkwardly Roy hugged John in front of her. "Some chicks really dig love bro just go with it and then we can eat"

The adults left and closed the door behind them, Oliver's chastising of Carol's methods could be heard slowly fading into the distance.

Yet Roy still held John in his arms. "Sorry bro, didn't mean ta get you assaulted or no shit" he patted John's back and let him go. "So welcome to the Queen Estate. Star City" Ouh food. He took the plate from the dresser it was abandoned on and scoffed a morsel of pizza bagel.

His room could not have screamed more Roy if it tried, from the decor, to one third of a drum kit in the open wardrobe that had long lost it's door, to the posters of metal bands and hot babes and one hot dude posing on a motorbike in nothing but a jockstrap, to the pictures stuck on the wall of Dinah, Oliver, Donna, Dick, to the NFL themed alarm clock that had long stopped working.

"We might as well crash here and figure out how to get home in the morning." Roy pulled out the drawer from under his bed that revealed a second mattress. He once was a boy that had sleep overs with friends regular enough to warrant Oliver having bought him such a bed.

Roy took off his hoodie and under t-shirt, a constellation of freckles and his Naja pedant dangling into view. He had left some clothes behind, he'd toss a Whitesnake t-shirt and a Mariner's hoodie over to John. "You can have those"

"I ain't got deodorant" Roy yelled out the door.

"Third guest room.." Oliver yelled back up the two flights of stairs.

"Oliver is real funny about dirt for a guy that loves to play in bear shit" Camping, whatever. Stomp...stomp...stomp Roy went to said guest room to steal the travel size Dove deodorant spraying such a massive cloud on himself the whole room wafted of it and tossed it over to John while he dressed in a Metallica t-shirt with ripped off sleeves.

Roy chewed the inside of his cheek again. "Ain't families a ball ache of complicated" he sighed and gestured for John to come with him. "Oliver don't like people smoking in the house" Or smoking but he did allow Roy to do it outside when he lived here. How fast two years passed.

"We'll grab some bedsheets on the way up. Hi auntie Carol. Sorry I'm a prick. I'll do better to be nice" he didn't stop his stomping.

"You're alright sweetie. It's tough to be eighteen"

"Nineteen"

"Nineteen November 1st." Carol retorted.

"20 November first" Oliver and Roy spoke in unison.

"Jinx, you owe me a coke" Roy called out.

"Ollie, Ollie Olie" Cause ya know can't keep the man jinxed.

"I'm a grown man auntie Carol. No longer teen nuffin in a couple of months."

She looked at him up and down. "No. You'll always be baby Roy"

"The man took me in at fifteen I ain't no clue why she thinks I was a baby" Roy muttered to his friend as they headed outside to the vast grounds of the Queen estate.

[thedemonconstantine]

"Tha's nah dog, is a miniature lion it is," Chas insisted after prying his other eye open to peer at her screen a little longer.

"Looksit, is got e'en a mane 'n all tha', like! A wee brownish lion o' a sort! A baby lion? A cub."

His eyebrows went sky high.

"Still dun see a sun'at." The river's really strange...

"Hoo heaves in a museum anyways? Nah like is a pub or anyfing, I mean...museum bevvies are expensive!" Strewn diapers and tickets he understood, but straight up puke? Really??

Chas would reach for June's hand again but he was so stiff and reluctant from pain that he had to contend himself with just being near her.

"...Are yer sure?"

"Woh abar th' weddin'?" They started a small fund for the arrangement and things.

"And err...didje take out Reneé's 'n Gera's monffly expenses?" He was also paying for their livelihood too.

"June, we can't afford 'ta take any more loans, I'm barely eligible fer M&S, 'n th' interest is I dunno, 8%? We'll be payin' just th' interest alone fer th' first year!

Woh if...woh if it fails, 'n we lose th' 'ouse?"

Crap, his ulcer was working up again. Chas closed his eyes. Maybe if he just closed his eyes it will all go away...

Then June spoke again, which brought him back immediately to reality.

"Are yer sure?" He asked again.

This time he sounded hopeful. Optimistic.

"We'll 'ave 'ta set aside funds fer th' baby."

All the more they can't start a business right now! They just couldn't afford it!

"You are my stinky." she answered his complaint affectionately and took her place at his side on the bed to show him the painting. "It's right there...see?" She pointed out the sunhat.

"That's a dog."

"Well it started with my husband lying to me about not being hurt but my shift lacked cleaning up vomit so I can't complain" The worst part about working as a guide in the museum, having to help clean up. One day they'd hire her as a restorer, she just knew it. The market was just so competitive, she figured if she took the tour guide job at least she'd have her foot in the door, make herself known, get the people warmed up to her and when a position opened she'd have the advantage of being a friendly known entity.

"I crunched some numbers on my lunch break...about your dream cafe." It was such a big risk but Chas...Chas never asked for anything. Nothing. Always the guy to help everyone else, she struggled to say no to her knight in dented armor.

"You know, like as a joke.." Cause she'd have to warm him up to getting encouraged. "I think we can do it. With our credit scores combined we could get a small business loan...use the house as collateral." she put his hand on her stomach.

"It was positive again" Good a time as any to announce it. She knew it long before now but postponed and postponed and postponed taking that first test. Said she'd take another one in a week and just didn't until now/

"It's a sign. That you have to get your cafe. It's now or never..."

"Don't argue with me. I don't want to hear it. You have to do it, and stop wasting time humming and haying before I am too pregnant to help. Just do it, we will figure it all out."

She was so scared to lose him. He wasn't allowed to get himself killed.

"It's gonna be a boy, I know it." She knew nothing.