5444/Boilermakers

Boilermakers
Date of Scene:	26 September 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Drinks at McAnally's. Plays on words abound!
Cast of Characters:	Castiel, Constantine, Ekaterina Vespucci, Black Queen

---

Castiel has posed:
Castiel was becoming a known entity at way too many bars. And, as it happens, one of his favourites was McAnally's. Not that their beer was better than anyone else's, or even their service (it sucked, lets be honest), but he didn't have to pretend to fit in so much with this crowd. And while Cas might not be a magic user, he was still mostly an angel, and by virtue of that fact, was still finding his feet in a world full of the pathos of humanity.

Besides, magic users tended to be crass. They were amusing. And sometimes he picked up useful information.

"Another," he tells the bartender, pointing at his empty glasses.

Constantine has posed:
John is another frequent denizen the bars of the Tri-State area, this time he's occupying McAnally's, slouching through the door in his trenchcoat a cigarette burning between his lips he makes his way over to the bar and slaps his hand down on it. "Landlord, fix me up with a pint," he says to Mac, the owner, and gets a grunt in return.

Spotting Castiel, John grins, "Still stealing my style I see," he remarks of the Angel's trenchoat. "Whatcha been up to? I've put my crew of kiddies on that book you're looking for, nothing yet, but I've still got hopes."

He takes a long drag off of his smoke and then lets it out through his nose. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out some bills, "For me and my mate here, Boilermaker right?" The angel had habits.

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
Into McAnally's walks the Contessa Ekaterina Vespucci. Usually she dresses down in baggy winter clothing with a beanie but tonight the small girl is dressed up in a single piece black number that shows off ample cleavage and her nice derrier. She's even wearing makeup. She's never been to this bar before and she also is not a magic user but an immortal mutant. She thinks the latter qualifies her for entry into the bar. Large cornflower blue eyes surveil the room and walk up to order a bourbon from Mac. She turns and smiles at the other patrons.

Black Queen has posed:
It's one of those evenings. You go out looking for something and then... there's a sparkle of the right kind of energies in all the wrong ways... and it draws you in. Getting closer, and closer, until finally. A pub door. Selene opens the door and walks in, curiously looking about. The energy is at the bar, and a bemused smirk is on the plush wonderfully crafted lips that are attached to the youthful presence Selene carries with her.

Oh, but on another plane. The 'other' plane. Something psychics and mages who are looking might just notice, or anyone sensitive to the astral or spiritual worlds... there's a darkness that comes with her. The screams and torments of millions, if not more, of people stuck. Lingering about her, a dark shadow that if made tangible would take up the entire city block. All in the physical presence of an attractive pleated skirt wearing woman.

Once at the bar, Selene chuckles a little bit, "Cannot just go out for one, now can you? Must go out for two, or three, why the very nature of the thing begets itself." Though she glances for a moment to Constantine, she doesn't quite say anything just yet.

Castiel has posed:
Castiel shrugs at John, his trenchcoat tightening across his shoulders with a casual grace, and tehn falling back into its usual rumpled state. "Same as always. Trying to keep a couple of idiots out of hell."

He almost smirks as he says it. One might wonder if he's joking. ...Do angels joke?

He nods absently as others wander in and out, though Selene's question has him peering at her. Her darkness is noted, but she doesn't have the acrid stink of fire and brimstone that would mark her as worthy of more pointed attention. Instead, he just grunts at her. "Might need a few more now."

Constantine has posed:
"Sounds like my line of work," John says, "Sure deep down, you don't want to be me?" he asks with a cheeky grin and another exhale of smoke.

The Contessa's arrival's not missed, but he's surprised when she's given a drink. "Mac? You stop carding here, mate?" he asks more impressed than perplexed.

He doesn't wait for an answer, the darkness that enters is hard to miss. John's nose twitches and he turns away slightly, his sight, giving him a more detailed look at that darkness than he'd like.

"Talkin' to me, luv?" he asks Selene. "Putting it that way makes me sound like I've got a problem."

His beer arrives taking his smoke out of his mouth, he has a drink.

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
The small girl who looks like a college freshman disappears and reappears behind Selene (ostensibly teleporting) as soon as she enters the bar and approaches Castiel. "Hey big sister!" she says in her outdoors voice. If Castiel attempts to read this girls aura she's anything but dark in fact she radiates a sort of pathological altruism that curdles into Selene's aura like milk poured into coke.

The woman is carded by Mac and passes the test. She doesn't shoot Constantine a filthy look but instead shakes her head at him and shoots him a sweet smile of forgiveness. Her large cornflower blue eyes lit up by the presence of her 'big sister' at the bar.

Black Queen has posed:
When the angel turns in her direction, Selene sort of faux seems shocked, she puts a hand up on her chest and gives a slight tilt of her head, "A few more, I hope not because of me." And then her eyes glance up toward Constantine, she takes him in a moment. Looking him over, "There was... some kind of... was there not a Detective tv show where a man with a similarly fitting to this era couture as you traveled about saving the day. What was that name..." She thinks about it a moment, squinting bit, "Columbus, no... Columbine... hmm. Well, it has left me, you should watch it sometime a rather mirror image. But, no, I was talking to the an-"

Selene stops as she was about to look back to Kat and sighs a little, her shoulders minorly slump a bit as she turns to the bartender, "Please, something old. Whatever it is..." And then she puts on a smile and turns toward Kat more directly, "And... Contessa, how -did- your art auction go? I hope you still have most of those paintings left. It fit your bar's style so... perfectly, it was uncanny."

Castiel has posed:
Castiel's drinks have arrived, and he lifts his beer to John. "You're doing a lousy job if I have to pick up your pieces. Damned Winchester boys. No sense of keeping their asses out of trouble. Almost think they believe they have a guardian angel or something."

That one comes without a smirk, but to those familiar with the man, and his self-appointed charges, there can be no doubt he's cracked a funny. Or tried.

Ekaterina is regarded as something of an anomally. Youthful and light. But not. However, he's familiar enough with those who aren't what they seem, and other than a non-committal grunt at her ID passing scrutiny, he keeps his thoughts to himself on the 'girl'.

Selene, however, he rumbles at, hunching over his drink a little more directly, "Because of? I doubt you'd lose sleep over it."

Which isn't an answer at all.

Constantine has posed:
"They're not my responsibility, mate," John says to Castiel with a grin. "And mine do alright."

He takes another drink of his beer and when the Contessa gives him that smile, he lifts his drink. Barely, blinking when she does her little trick with Selene. It was the kind of place where that sort of thing was almost normal.

"Columbo?" John supplies with a shake of his head. "Nah, hair's all wrong, but people tell me I look like Sting."

He drinks then looking over at the Contessa and Selene, says, "Seems like you ladies know each other, how's about us four grab a table make this a proper party?"

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
To Selene Kat cants her head - "My big Auction is yet to happen and has works from all of my galleries from all over the country," Kat continues looking at Selene with her large eyes suffuse with the utterly unrequited love she feels for her 'big sister'. "Of course you are invited as well as anyone who can rent a tux or dress up and feels like coming". After a pause, "Oh and Selene please call me Kat - all this Contessa stuiff is way to anachronistically formal. I mean I don't roam areound calling you Black Queen." She leans over ands whispers in Selene's ear, "I spoke to Crule recently and I'm certain you have paid him a visit. What are you up to you minx?"

Ekaterina smiles at Castiel looking past Selene for once she curtseys to the Angel giving him and perhaps the onlooking Constantine - she furnishes him with an unsolicitred introduction, "Sonno la Contessa Ekaterina Vespucci - but please call me Kat and you are?"

To John Constantine she says, "What a capital idea - I love meeting new people. What do you say sister?" she asks Selene.

Black Queen has posed:
The comment from Castiel is certainly an answer, and Selene is eyeing Castiel with a sideways glance, but at first John gets a quick smile and a point, "That -is- the one. Well, you certainly have a Sting esque vibe to you as well." And then she smiles more, "Though your friend is clearly the brighter of you two. Very witty, to say the least."

To Kat she raises a brow, and then offers, "Well, now. Kat. There would not exactly be reasons to call me anything but Selene." And she moves from the bar, ignoring entirely the whispered comment as she heads to a table. "That one should do if you wish to sit around and speak." Taking her own seat, and waiting for the others to join.

Castiel has posed:
Castiel regards the petite little Contessa with a calm blue gaze, and an arch of brow, and rumbles at her, "Se la contessa sta dormendo, dovrebbe essere a casa a letto, no?"

The very edges of his lips curl up into something of an amused smirk. "Castiel, once of The Choir. Guardian. Warrior. But you may call me Castiel."

He gives a low little chuckle, and picks up his whiskey, downing it, and tapping the bar for another.

"I'm afraid my sense of humour was left with my other trenchcoat," he tells Selene. "You dabble in things you shouldn't. Columbo over there could tell you tales."

Yes, he's heard of John's problems.

Constantine has posed:
too.""What's all that then?" John asks Kat and Cas. "Bulgarian?" he asks. He knows Italian when he hears it, he just likes pushing buttons.

He makes his way over to the table Selene picks out and sinks into a seat. "Name's Constantine, for those that don't know," he reaches into a pocket to produce a couple of business cards and slide them in Kat and Selene's direction, they read:

John Constantine
Exorcist, Demonologist, and Master of the Dark Arts
201-555-7182

"And then some, but something tells me, you'd have tales to match," he says to Selene. If her aura is any sort of prologue, they wouldn't likely be happy stories.

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
Kat sidles up next to Selene and takes her seat. "You said anything old for a drink Selene? How about the top shelf bourbon. I always fancy the smoother spirits. Whisky is a bit rough for me." She waves to Mac making the choice for Selene without her full consent. "I wonder what you'd be like drunk?" she asks Selene. "I mean would things go all 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' around you?"

To Cas she says, "Sono più vecchio di quanto sembri Angel. Molto più vecchio Ma penso che tu lo sappia." but she smiles sweetly no offence taken. It was hard to get under Kat's skin. "My big sister is scarier than anything you might fashion out of the things she is 'meddling' with Castiel," it's framed as a joke but there is a firm grounding in reality of what Kat says. It would be profoundly stupid to call Selene a dabbler. "Castiel? You are named after the municipality in Switzerland?" Now it's Kat's turn to make a joke.

"Italian sweetheart," Kat says smiling at John with the same sweetness. "Ooo dark arts. Hear that Selene? Best not anger this warlock'" she jokes. "What are you drinking John? A pint is a pretty generic term - what is your favorite brew?"

Black Queen has posed:
There's a soft chuckle that leaves Selene's lips as she responds to Castiel, "Oh I think your humor is as present as the trench coat. Though far more fashionable." And she smiles as Constantine comes over to sit at the table as well. "Selene." And she pulls up the business card to take a look at it, "Ooooh, Exorcist, Demonlogist AND Master of the Dark Arts?" She hmmms and tilts her head a bit, "Now that is rather interesting."

Waving her hand about the stories she could tell, "You would not wish to hear my stories, they are so boring and rather tame. Why your friend and I are probably in a similar line of work..." And then there's Kat rattling on.

First about drinks and then in Italian. "Drunk? It has been what feels like ages since I was drunk." And then there's a drink being ordered, and Selene sighs, "Dear child, as far as my drinks go it is not simply because of 'quality' but age. Aged things are far better in their consumption than the babe of spirits. For the youngest spirits are simply just... well, so lacking in character, their flavor not quite so divine." She shakes her head a little bit, even though there's a drink coming her way.

Castiel has posed:
Kat's rejoinder, leaves Castiel uttering a gravelly laugh. He picks up his drinks and moves to join the trio at the table Selene has chosen. "Not bad," he tells her. "Not stupid, either. You're old, but not ancient, Contessa. There are rocks and trees would call you young."

He grunts. "Switzerland. As annoying as purgatory, with less saving graces." It would seem he doesn't appreciate their homage to his name.

He drops his drinks down beside Selene, taking his seat there. "Divinity shouldn't be wasted on spirits."

His blue eyes twinkle at the woman. If there was doubt before, there isn't now. He is most definitely making plays on words. What he might lack in social graces, and total understanding of the nuances of human behaviour, it would seem he does have his moments, and tonight he's having one of them.

Constantine has posed:
John lifts up his glass, sloshing the liquid. "My favourite's whatever's good, but tonight I'm drinking Mac's home brewed dark ale. Good stuff this, but if we're all looking to move the hard stuff, whiskey's my poison."

John smiles gamely as Selene studies his card. "Should really change that, bought my way into master's rank. Gave old Agatha Harkness the best foot massage she'd gotten in 14,000 years," he lies with ease. "Really more of a dabbler in the dark arts. The other bits, demonoligist, exoricst, that's all true.

As for his original drinking partner, he gives Cas a grin. "Who knew you had the soul of a poet? Should have met you back when I was writing songs for the Membrane."

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
Kat looks lovingly at Selene, "I think I have a few bottles that would meet your standards in my palace of a studio apartment where I keep my little private army," again another joke that is mirrored in reality. Kat did in fact have a private army. "You really need to swing by Selene. We can go on a massive bender together. Bet you'd do some crazy shit."

To Castiel, "Some trees definitely some rocks. What do you have against the Swiss? I love their chocolate. Mind you I have a friend that lives there and apparently there isn't even 1 Thai eatery in the capital or elsewhere."

"Yeah I love me a homebrew. How's that Selene? A drink you can't effectively age - now would you ever consider that as a beveredge worthy to make an evening?" Looking at John, "Now you are a dapper English gent," she says flirting as badly as Selene has witnessed in the past. "I detect an element of punk about you? Were you ever a rocker?"

Black Queen has posed:
"Oh, I completely agree. Divinity should not be wasted on spirits, but it does not stop divinity from meddling." And Selene is standing up as her drink basically arrives. "Someone, -anyone- feel free to drown just a bit more in the glass reserved for me." There's a bit of a tilt of her head, "Unfortunately for you all, however, I must get going. There is no rest for the wicked, after all. Perhaps at a time we can swap Agatha stories for years I am sure. Though I genuinely believed it was always Ebony that was the true witch."

With that though she takes a few steps toward the door, and gives a small farewell nod to everyone present at the table. She smiles to Kat, and then to the other two, "I do hope you the bravest of evenings."

Castiel has posed:
Castiel lifts his glass to the departing Selene, and downs it. He's quite happy to down a few in her honour.

Kat gets a muttered, "Neutrality makes pawns."

Of course, this is coming from an angel who has lost the better part of his Grace for choosing a most unlikely side in a war that's been teetering back and forth since all the milenia of Creation.

Constantine has posed:
"Can't say dapper's the right word," John smiles remembering the smoke in his hand when it's burnt down to near his fingers. He takes a final drag before with a tiny effort of will it's bunrt to vapor. "No bloody ashtrays," he remarks.

The questions are met with a smile, "Yeah, once upon a time I was singer for the band Mucous Membrane, we were a thing for a moment back in the early aughts." He shakes his head at the memories. "Didn't take you for the rock and roll sort," he remarks.

Selene is given a nod goodbye.

"Seems to me it depends on what you're being neutral about. Sometimes it's best not to get involved." Not that that's stopped John before.

Ekaterina Vespucci has posed:
Kat waves to Selene. "Watch that one. She is twenty times what I am and I am more thanm I seem," she offers very vague advice to the Angel and the magician.

"Oh be nice to the Swiss," she tells Castiel. "I get the feeling Angel that there is something personal behind your opinion? Were you over neutral in the past? I certainly ahve been."

To John, "No I like the whole post punk rocker thing it works for a few English gents I know. Adds a bit of a fashionably unshaven aspect to them. It's good - bet you are a wiz with the ladies," Kat says. Flirting again. "I have been a fan of alot of things believe it or not."

Castiel has posed:
Castiel swirls the remainder of the beer in his glass.

"Over neutral? Maybe. Maybe I decided souls weren't pieces on a game board to be tallied at the end of the day." The rest of his drink is downed, and the angel hunches up from his seat at the table. "Maybe I got tired of sacrificing what we said we were saving. If you'll both excuse me, I've an idiot to check in on."

He nods to Kat first, and then John.

"A poet, huh? You're a romantic, John. Don't change."

And with that, the angel makes his exit.

Constantine has posed:
John watches Selene go and downs his dark ale. "Don't doubt that, her aura's darker than my future," he remarks dryly. He sets down the glass.

"First time someone's called me that," John says to Cas before lifting his head in a nod to the angel. "See you around, mate."

"Well, you're definitely full of surprises then," the flirting is noticed, but so too is John's watch. "Bugger," he mutters noting the time. He had things to attend to. "Wouldn't say I'm a wiz, but, I do all right. Got to take care of something important, fate of the world type stuff, but, keep my card, eh? An' give me a ring sometime."