12462/Doing a Little Research

Doing a Little Research
Date of Scene:	17 November 2020
Location:	NYU Library
Synopsis:	Athena seeks out Constantine and strikes a bargain
Cast of Characters:	Constantine, Athena

---

Constantine has posed:
Constantine is strolling along the upper floors of the NYU library. The folklore section was a bit obscure but surprisingly thorough, with a few artifacts on display along with a wide selection of books on various subjects. Most of it was scholarly dribble, of course, of no interest to a practical sorceror unless he was of a particularly boring temperament.

Constantine was resisting the urge to smoke at the moment as he thumbed through a volume of collated spellbooks from the 16th century. Nothing he needed, but there might be refrences to a creature he'd been tracking down near Yonkers, a particularly vicious creature poised to take flesh if John couldn't stop it.

"Come on, one o' ye ol' minges must've scribbled sommat down 'bout 'im."

Athena has posed:
John isn't alone in the library, but it's not by coincidence that this particular woman is here. The goddess Athena has a regular list of people that she keeps track of on Earth, most of the warriors but a few are those who dabble in the more esoteric arts.

So as Constantine flips through the 16th century tome a round-faced woman with dirty blonde hair and large spectacles wanders into the same row of shelves. "Oh!" she exclaims, one hand raising to her chest in surprise. "Beg your pardon. I'm not used to seeing anyone in this section."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine doesn't look up immediately, not because he doesn't notice her, but because he's still reading what he's reading and you have to keep focus as a magician. Can't let somebody bumping into you ruin your recitation of words and bust your spell into smithereens.

He looks up at the woman, "'allo, luv, sorry 'bout that, didn't mean to..." he says and then he looks again and his magesight pierces through the simple veils of illusion that hide her identity from mortal men, "I mean...beggin' pardon, your...highness? Dammit, I never know what the right clature is wit' you divinity types."

Athena has posed:
Athena tilts her head a little, leaning a shoulder against one of the shelves and folding her arms over her chest. She chuckles softly as well. "You aren't as clever as you think you are either, John Constantine." the goddess declares. No, she doesn't trouble to deny it.

"But I'm not here to spy on you. This time. Is this guise suitable, or would you prefer something more impressive and awe-inspiring? I do have an opportunity for you, after all."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine shakes his head, "Even half as clever as I think I is has a few heads above the average bloke, but I take yer meanin'. An' I didn't figure you for spyin', somebody o' your particular pedigree'd have some poor little fucker with goatie legs or a pair o' little cherub wings doin' your dirty work. You ain't the kind to get your hands sootie with the likes o' me," he says.

He looks her up and down, "I like the look plenty, don't get me wrong. Beauty ain't hard for you types, but that don't mean it ain't appreciated. Could do wit' a bit more aesthetic in the world. Now, tell me 'bout this opportunity..."

Athena has posed:
Athena lifts a blonde brow a bit higher than the overlarge spectacles. "Good. Very good. I'm particularly fond of this guise. But I -do- like to do my own spying sometimes. Read up on the Trojan War, sometime. I spent most of it invisible on the sidelines..."

Easing away from the shelves with a light shrug, the professor-type takes a step closer and peers at Constantine. "I have need of someone with your knowledge and skill, John." she declares. "Not for myself, but for another mortal. He wishes to communicate with someone who is dead, preferably without the use of a Ouija board or a Magic 8-Ball."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine snorts, "You'd be surprised how useful them things can be, in the hands of a proper practicioner as opposed to the rip-off artists you find along the boardwalks," he says. "But boards are a proper mess for communication. One letter at a time ain't that fast, especially wit' 'em always betterin' away at the limits and tryin' to pass over. Kinda ghosts you get on those things is just hungry for attention or likes scarin' teenage girls in their bloomers," he says, drawing out a cigarette and lighting it.

"So why me an' not Persephone or Orpheus or one o' your pantheon types? Wanna keep this mortal off the radar o' your friends an' family? Or just a personal stake."

Athena has posed:
Athena wrinkles her nose, reaching up to adjust the spectacles. "Keep your tarot cards and trinkets to yourself; this is serious and has to be treated that way." the goddess replies. The cigarette doesn't phase her, and she shakes her head slowly.

"Oh, there have already been offers from certain divine channels on this one, actually. But external influence is never free. That's always bothered me about divinities who -offer- their help to mortals, by the way. Feels too much like tampering to me."

She takes another step closer, head tilting the other way. "Speaking of which, I don't want -your- assistance to be free, either. Help should be earned."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine grins, "I ain't afraid o' chargin', no worries there. You won't catch me offerin' worship, except maybe to the occasional backside."

"People bidding to help is interesting. Just who is this mortal anyway? And I don't mess with the Tarot, I leave that stuff to Madame Xanadu. Anybody else dealing you cards is just playing guesswork. I got my own methods."

Athena has posed:
Athena shakes her head slowly, raising a finger to wag it as well. "He will come to you." she declares, almost playfully. "This is a personal quest for redemption, so it would be fitting that your price is in the form of deeds rather than monetary compensation."

"If that is amenable to you, then I can arrange for introductions. Otherwise, we can discuss alternatives." And here, Professor/Athena's smile turns wry. "It's been quite a while since I've had my backside worshiped, after all."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine smiles, "I bet it ain't been that long. But I'd make it worth your while," he says with a waggle of eyebrows.

"Yeah, arrange fer the introductions. I'll get my CV all typed up for 'em. You can send me an e-mail, I'm nofuckingway@blahblahblah.com," he teases, 'I figure you can always find me anytime you want. Part o' the whole goddess routine. I'll be sure to leave my blinds open in case ya peek in."

Athena has posed:
Athena actually chuckles softly at that, nodding. "I do have a couple of provisos, John." she adds. "First, this mortal is a skeptic. He doesn't trust the usual methods; seances, cards, and the like. He won't trust you and he definitely won't trust a goddess. Which brings up my second point."

Athena takes up a more casual stance, then, feet planted and one hand on her hip. "He doesn't know who I am, and he *can't* know who I am. Not unless he asks me directly or figures it out on his own."

"And third, this is a quest for redemption. You can't send him down to the corner liquor store for a bottle of tequila, or off to retrieve some stripper's garter. If you need help to work out the terms, I can work with you."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine ponders, "I can work around that easy enough. Skeptics seem a little stupid in the day an' age when you got gods on the Avengers an' demon invasions of the occasional public park, but s'okay, he wants to play Harry Houdini and not believe anything he can't see, we dcan do somethin' with that. I won't spill your secret and I won't use him as a menial. Although that stripper thing does have some merit...lotta juju in those thighs."

Athena has posed:
Athena's smirk returns, then, and she chuckles. "This one actually knows Thor fairly well." she replies. "Which is part of my interest in him. I have my reasons for wanting to aid him, but I do not necessarily expect to turn him into a believer. He knows me as Professor Mildred Minerva, as you see before you, and he has accepted my counsel. That is enough, for the moment."

Constantine has posed:
Constantine almost chokes on his cigarette, "Mildred Minerva, huh? Oh, that's a game one, that. I guess it's better than Greek McGoddessheim or Dallas Mathena," he says with a wry grin.

"Accepted your counsel is an interestin' way to put it. I'm mighty curious about this fella. Look forward to seein' exactly what you've got up your sleeve..."

Athena has posed:
"There have been some who appreciate the irony of my alter-ego's name, thank you very much." Athena replies. "I will send him to you with my token. And if the quest is half-assed I -will- step in." The goddess turns, then, to leave him to his reading. "Also, no smoking in the library, John. It's bad for the books." And with that, she rounds the corner.