16572/Welcome to the Hotel Lux

Welcome to the Hotel Lux
Date of Scene:	15 October 2024
Location:	Club Lux, Melville
Synopsis:	Nick makes his way up to the hotel with the intention of getting in a nap. What he instead gets is a series of questions from Constantine.
Cast of Characters:	Phantasm (Drago), Constantine

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Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the brief negotiations concluded and Logan parting ways one Canadian beer richer, there wasn't much left in terms of highlights down in the Lux. Monday nights tend to be slow ones to be honest and being Nick wasn't booked to perform, he was mainly down there to get something to eat.

With the sandwich, soup, and drink consumed, there was little reason for Nick to stick around amongst the beating music. So, up the elevator he goes. But unlike the building's owner, Nick's ride in the elevator is not as long. As the elevator doors part open at the hotel level, there's the slightest glimpse of Nick just leaning against the elevator wall. Possibly ill advised with most elevators but the musician is aware of how often this one gets cleaned.

A hand lifts up, stifling a yawn as Nick steps out into the quiet hallway.

Constantine has posed:
A flash of flame gives away John Constantine's position to the left of the elevator, then the scent of fresh lit tobacco. The magician is in one of the hotel's bathrobes and slippers combo, his hair half dryed off in a new, unkempt configuration.

"Kid, gotta minute? I know we've met but not really, once or twice and... how's tricks?" he says after a short drag from his Silk Cut. As an extra punctuation, he takes another, longer drag then he shakes the ash wherever, on the carpet why not. "You can't hide behind your grilled cheese and play it normal. I've questions for you."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Ah quiet hallways. A time of relaxation a time of-

Well...

The light coming up in Nick's peripheral makes any sense of peaceful contentment fade away as he wheels around facing the source of the light as he backs up in the opposite direction. The hands start to lift up, hands slightly curled before they pause.

"...Constantine." Nick replies, repeating the name the man was identified with downstairs, "-Right? ...I'm sorry but I don't remember meeting you before."

Constantine has posed:
John nods and... smiles. Not a large smile, a tiny one. He doesn't pull it off though, mostly to lack of practice. "Good. Last time, I was kickin' one of yous out. Bye bye, back to his home dimension." He takes a sip from a glass of bourbon on the rocks that wasn't in his left a moment before.

"Surprise surprise, I find you here, dining at Luci and Nate's table like you're family. Are you family, Nick? Or is it... Mike?" Gone is the smile now that John is squinting at Nick. Very intently.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The musician's hands start to lower but to the mention of kicking someone out to a home dimension, they pause in the descent. Nick's brows furrow "...What?"

The presence of the suddenly appearing drink isn't really focused on too much. Considering the people he's hung out with and the general reputation of this person. Ok yes. Very plausible.

The general state of confusion doesn't go away for a bit as John continues, leading into questions about sharing the table. Sure that's a fair inquiry. But the name thing gets a blink. "Well they both technically work but I prefer Nick." Nick replies, "...but yes. Distantly related, we're kind of figuring out the general details so if you want more information on that topic, you'll have to wait."

One of the hands lifts up, diverting to pinch the bridge of his nose as he sighs, "...Listen. I'm pretty much done with people expecting me to apologize for even existing and I'm not doing that. So if that's where you're taking this conversation, you can just stop."

Constantine has posed:
John mellows down a bit, breaking eye contact when almost apologetic grin twists his face. "I had to ask, kid, you're fiiiine. I'm not here to, y'know, tweak your sorry fate so to speak. Multidimensional, y'know? Like... fuck. That's harsh. And I'm on /your/ side. This..." John has a half-pause to do a circle motion with his cigarette, "is your world, that I'm sure of. What we don't know is how multiyou's goin' to end. I hope for everyone's sake it's white picket fence, 'cause I'm close to retirement." He stifles a dry cough.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
To the assurance that's not the intent, Nick glances back over to John. After a few more moments the hand lowers. "...I hate to say it but you might have to be more specific about what you're talking about. Because I've had a LOT of shit happen to me before I even made it here."

He pauses, considering the mention of multidimensional. "...Oh- was the dimensional thing stemming from something Nathaniel did?"

Constantine has posed:
John finishes his cigarette and flicks it down the hallway. Tpt! It lands in that standing ashtray-trashcan combo. Three points. "Nah. I don't need Nate to... notice you. As for specifics, at least one of yous, the one I kicked out, is aware that there's many of you. Not everyone's like that. I'm not multiple. Doc Strange is, bastard. So... what if one of you fancies rounding up his copies for shits and giggles? That kind of stuff wakes me up on wrong foot. I like my cosmos in balance. Can we do that, Nick? Balance?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's mouth parts slightly as John suggests an odd scenario. "...uh. I don't know. Tell that one not to unless all of existence is at risk?" Nick sort of suggests, sort of asks. "...Although, to do that it'd probably involve doing what you apparently DON'T want to happen so- not sure what you expect me to do."

Constantine has posed:
The quasi-smile is back. "We're off to a good start, Nick." Cough. "Don't let the weird stuff slip. Like, if you can't line up your ducks 'cause shit keeps happening, you come to me." With a flick of the wrist, a calling card appears. Dogheard, with a curved yellowed shadow from the butt of a glass. "You need to reach me, read the card like you mean it." John pushes the card against Nick shoulder and let it go, giving Nick no choice.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Pale eyes look over to the card as it pops up in Constantine's hand. When the card is shoved over towards him, Nick's left hand shoots up, grabbing at the card as his shoulder turns away from it to avoid contact with it.

"I'll keep that in mind." He assures, putting the card into his pocket without looking at it.

It almost seems like the end of a conversation with the quiet glance the musician fixes on the other magic user. But, a slight tick of rememberance comes across his face. "Come to think of it, I can come up with two instances already that you might be of help with. I think that might have been what Lucifer was trying to bring up with you before you brushed it off. Well, for one of the instances."

Constantine has posed:
John seems to age a year a second as he considers the news. Absent-mindedly, he brings a lit up cigarette to his lips. "Tell me, Nick... do you believe in magic?" The tip of the Silk Cut goes almost white, for John is pumping at it for a long, long time while watching Nick. As he breathes out the smoke, he brings the glass to his lips for the chaser, filling the top of the glass with a mist that lazes around the rim.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
To the question Nick gives Constantine a LOOK. "John..." Nick starts, switching over to which name to use. "I have been stalked by vampires. Killed them, had to fight alongside Loki against some undead creatures, gotten grocery suggestions from Strange, had Fate swing by to give a holler, and you're swinging by talking about multi-dimensional mes and my general relation to angels and their spouses. And not once did I freak out during said conversation."

"To add to that I apparently can travel through dreams and have need to pre-test any songs I write in the equivalent of a musical blast chamber they created at Strange's Academy JUST to make sure there's no unforseen consequences of performing it live."

Nick stops, taking a breath. "...Add all that in with apparently HYDRA having a bit of a boner for my birth father and consequently his offspring leading to me getting firearms training from the Winter Soldier and having to register with SHIELD to get those guys off my ass- Hell. I'm pretty open to believing in a lot of stuff. Also Magic's more the one size fits all term to describe 'new shit' the scientists can't explain. Also factor in that I've apparently heard your name enough to actually be able to recall that name. Because I didn't just memorize that from tonight."

Constantine has posed:
"So you kind of believe in magic..." John arbitrarily concludes. "Had to ask, it's part of my huh," John sighs away some reluctance, "duties. You hangin' out with Luci ain't enough to buy me vacations. The dream stuff, that's concerning. Maybe we oughta call on an old friend about that. Maybe he sees us, maybe he won't but the trip'll be worth it for you no matter what. Someone or somethin' always happen. Then you can decide if magic's for you."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Yeah..." Nick agrees to John's summation. "Oh the phantasm stuff is apparently passed down sporadically from my mom's side of the family. I've already talked to my uncle about about that one." Nick shakes his head, "Either way, I'm making do. Things have actually calmed down since I came to the Lux. And the academy's got some pretty good materials for self study."

Constantine has posed:
"Strange? A start I guess. He's into travels and conduits but that's more like science." John finishes his drink like a man straight out of the desert. "The ghosts are waking up, kid. We'll pick this up after the party. Make sure to tell Luci I took the bloody shower but I'm not letting the coat outta my sights."

That's when John realizes he did let his coat out of his sight. "DAMN!" He runs back deeper in the hotel like a man possessed.