7992/Seemed Like a Good Excuse at the Time

Seemed Like a Good Excuse at the Time
Date of Scene:	22 June 2019
Location:	House of Mystery, Avalon Heights
Synopsis:	John texts Kate to hang out, and really means it this time; only minor drinking and shenanigans ensue.
Cast of Characters:	Constantine, Hawkeye (Bishop)

---

Constantine has posed:
John had saved bloody Superman. Or well, he'd helped. Then there'd been helping Asa and then well there'd been a whole lot of nothing.

Back to the usual routine.

Which of course involved a whole lot of drinking, along with the magic and the exorcisms for hire. Oh and there were messages from the Justice League on his phone, but he deleted them out of hand.

Stepping out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, he deleted another of those messages, and with a slip of wet fingers accidentally opened his last texts with Kate. Something about being at Josie's with a hunky guy and some whiskey. He'd invited them both over of course, and disapointingly got no reply.

John closed the message thread, tossing the phone on his bed as he got dressed. He didn't miss Katie. Nope. Not the snark. Not the arguments. Not any of it.

Nope not at all.

Which of course is why he re-opens the thread and types into the long dormant exchange:

John >> So whatever happened with the hunk and the whiskey?

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Katie had been busy? Well, what passed for busy. The usual PI work. Picking up some extra shifts so that she didn't have to think about how mundane and boring her life was. Also so that she didn't have to think about John. At least three times a day her fingers hovered over the text icon on her phone before she'd snatch them back and chide herself about the matter. Even telling herself she wasn't drunk /now/ so what was the harm did no good.

"He's no good for you Katie," she told herself, putting Lucky's leash on the hook by the door before grabbing a random book off of the shelf and throwing herself onto her bed with a sigh.

The thing was, this would all be easier if she had some other distraction in her life. The other thing was, looking for that very sort of distraction had led to John.

Catch-22 Katie girl. Catch-22.

She'd cracked open the spine on her book, moving her phone aside to settle even further, when the phone lit up. A text from John. And despite her misgivings, she opens it. Reads. Finds herself answering...

Hawkeye >> Oh god. I sent that, didn't I? Nothing, and a hangover. Happy?

Constantine has posed:
John flopped down on his bed after the reply came, reading it over he snorted, typing out:

John >> You did. I was all excited there for a moment. Shame about the guy though. How you been?

"Heh. How you been?" he said shaking his head against the pillow. "Bloody lame."

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Hawkeye >> Excited? Why were you excited?

Kate reads the text that started it all and shakes her head at herself. What was she thinking.. oh, that's right. She was showing Bucky. Something about Karen's text to Matt. Jungle gym was it? Climbing some guy like a jungle gym at her birthday party?

Yet another evening Kate didn't remember very well. Another reason she'd stopped drinking. It wasn't just ending up in bed with John every time, but Kate was not remembering details she'd later been appalled by. Well, some of them anyway.

Hawkeye >> Busy. You know how it is. JJ runs a tight ship.

As Kate hits enter she winces. Yay, Katie. That's as bad as how's the weather. He doesn't care about yoru job. It's just a thing people ask.

Constantine has posed:
John >> You, a hunky guy and whiskey. What's not to be excited about?

See? That was a bit better. As to the reply about Kate's work, John replies:

John >> More regulars at the Motel 6 looking for a peep show? Things are about the same here too. So, don't got a hunky guy, but I've got whiskey, want to come over?

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Hawkeye >> Pretty sure hunky guy is in love with his friend and doesn't know it yet. He went home with is dog.

Adding:

Hawkeye >> I was drunk.

Another groan at herself. He knew that idiot. You never text him unless you're drunk. You didn't need to tell him that.

Hawkeye >> Sorry about that. Been trying to cut down on my drunk texting. Ha Ha. Wait.. you're inviting me over?

That.. required some thought.

Hawkeye >> Are you drunk? Thought you didn't do this, John.

Constantine has posed:
John >> Do what? Invite people over? Of course I do.

He knew what she meant though.

John >> And I'm sober as a priest. Or well, a good priest, knew some real pisshead priests in my day. Point is, I'm looking to hang about. Not scheming to get in your pants. Don't even have to be here, we could go to a bar.

John sent the message before he adds:

John >> So what do you say?

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Hawkeye >> Who are you and what have you done with John? John, if you're in there, send a winkie.

Well, that was different. John wanting to.. just hang out? Did she trust him on that one? Or was it just another story. More to the point, did she actually care?

Hawkeye >> Hang out, like.. watch a movie or something? Should I bring anything with me?

Lucky, lying on the floor at the foot of her bed, lifts his head, somehow aware he was about to be abandoned for at least part of the evening.

Constantine has posed:
Damn that was a good question. What should she bring? He had no idea what he was doing here, if he was putting her on about haning out, or hell, if he was putting himself on about just wanting to hang out, so, he just went with her suggestion:

John >> Sure, yeah a movie's good. Got one you like?

There's a smile as he circles back to the other question:

John >> Not sending anything called a bloody winkie, but it's me.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
"What do you think, boy, should I?"Kate looked over at Lucky, who thumped his tail in what she took to be a disproving manner. "Hey, don't look at me like that. He says it's just to hang out. And so what if it isn't? I'm grown up. I'm allowed. Right?"

Lucky just continues to give her that baleful stare of 'you're going out again tonight, aren't you?' -- but to be fair Kate went out every night between her job at the agency, and her rooftop forays. Being home tonight was an anomally.

Hawkeye >> Don't judge me, but I kinda like romcoms. And a winkie ;) <- see? Winkie. What are you and do you live under a rock? Ask your apprentice to get you up to date. I have a couple beer? Half a day old pizza. Oh, and one bag of microwave popcorn.

Kate made a mental note that she needed to grocery shop.

Constantine has posed:
John had no one to bounce his bad ideas off of, so he simply sat up, flinging his legs over the side of his bed and padded out to the kitchen, his mind going to supplies like Kate's was.

John >> You're going to make me watch a Rom Com?

There was some grumbling at that as he reached the kitchen and he did an inventory.

John >> Got plenty of beer. You want to pick up a pizza on the way over and I'll pay you back? Got plenty of money, just buggered if I can get a delivery bloke to find my door.

Those that did usually just slide the thing under the front gate and drove away.

He closed the fridge door.

John >> And I know what one is, just damned if I am going to use one. <Devil emoji>

Satanic emojis were about as far as he was willing to go down that road.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Hawkeye >> I like Dramas too? And what is wrong with Rom Coms? they're fun.

"What kind of man doesn't know that rom coms are fun? You'd think I'd asked him to propose or something."

Lucky, wisely, stays out of this.

Hawekey >> I might have enough change for a pizza. And I bet I can find us a Rom Com you'll like. Seriously. If I'm wrong, you get to pick the next movie. Deal?

Kate rolls her eyes at the devil emoji. "Figures you'd know that one." But she resists retorting 'a little true to form, don't you think, John?'. Just barely though.

Constantine has posed:
John >> Who says there will be a next time? Heck, this time could all be some ruse on my part.

The amused raising of eyebrows can almost be seen through the phone screen.

John >> Fine. Rom Com it is. You get pizza, I provide the beer and sparkling personality. Deal?

He helps himself to one of those beers while he waits for her reply.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Hawkeye >> Your loss. I'm a cheap date, John. And cute. You could do worse.

Oh god, Katie, what are you doing? Flirting? Is that really where you want to go? And Date? do we not remember how he freaked out the last time you uttered that word?

Still, she rolls off her bed and tries to decide if she should pretty up for him, or go as she is, considering the message either would send and having no clue which message she actually wanted to give him. "Augh. Why is this so hard?"

Hawkeye >> Deal. But where are you getting a sparkling personality with this short of notice?

Kate decides for a swipe of neutral lipstick and go as she is, that way he'll have no reason to accuse her of any ulterior motives. "Hope you like sweats and a tee, John, cause that's what you're getting."

Constantine has posed:
John chuckles at Kate's reply.

John >> No comment.

Then as he finishes his beer and bins the can, he picks up his phone again to type:

John >> Ha bloody, ha. Just get here with whatever dreck you pick out for us.

As for John's attire, it's basically what he always wears, minus his tie and shoes. He flumps down on the sofa in the sitting room to wate for Katie.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Kate's reply is to send a winkie. Next stop, to beg an advance on a pizza at Gino's next door - she'd lied to John about having spare change. Well, she had spare change, but not quite enough for a pizza, and she still had a week to get through before her next installment of trustfund monthly.

It's not too terribly long before she's knocking at his door. Thankfully, she remembers where he lives... Okay, she may have stalked the place after the night she threw stones at his front door.

Constantine has posed:
At the sound of the knock, John is on his feet, crossing the hall to let Kate in. Even in the tee and sweats he looks her up and down. "You were right about the cute," he said pushing the door open for her to let her inside.

"So, shall we?" he asks gesturing inside the House.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Poof. There went Kate's bravado, and she flusters a it, "Really? Cute?" Totally looking down at herself in her 'I wore these to walk the dog' sweatpants, and faded tee that she'd swiped from Clint however many years ago that boldly stated 'My Other Shirt is Purple Too'. He'd never noticed she'd taken it.

Belatedly realizing she was letting the bugs in and standing there like some teen with her first crush instead of heading on in. No wonder Clint hadn't seen anything but a younger sister in her.

"Pepperoni, double cheese? Hope you like." And she holds up a movie. "As promised, a Rom Com I think you'll like." Stepping inside so that he could shut the door.

Constantine has posed:
"Yeah," John says brows raising, lettting the door close once Kate had finally stepped inside.

For all that she had been standing there staring, John suddenly found he wished this had been a ruse to get in her pants all along. Even if they /were/ ratty sweatpants.

"Yeah," he says of the pizza and movie distractedly. "Sounds good."

Leading the way into the sitting room, he says, "So, shall we get the movie on or... oh bugger this," he says as he reaches for Kate to kiss her.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Okay, she'd come in good faith, giving herself the 'behave yourself, Katie' lecture all the way over. No jumping the man. No sending hints. No bemoaning what might have been, or asking about his current love life, or..

But gosh darn, that kiss was like falling into a familiar outfit at the end of the day. Or the way your bum fit into your favourite chair. Or your favourite book opened to your most favourite pages like it knew you were wanting to read them again.

"Dammit, John," she whispers, but it isn't an admonishment. It's invitation.

Constantine has posed:
John felt the same familiarty with the kiss, he'd been wanting it, needing it really, since he'd walked out of her new appartment that night... god knew how long ago...

Point was, it felt familiar, and good and when Kate curses him, he doesn't resist the urge, only smiling against her lips to murmur, "I know, I'm a right bastard."

Afterwards, John sits up on the couch, smiling, "In my defense, I didn't plan that," he offers as excuse as he rights himself, then offers a hand up to Katie. "Shame though, would have made a bloody good plan."

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
"Likely story," Kate says softly with a content sigh. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope that would happen. But you?" She sits up some. "Not even drunk. Who are you, and what have you done with John Constantine?"

Because John didn't make sober invites, or passes.

Constantine has posed:
John grins, "The one time I'm tellin' the truth and still nobody believes me. Guess that little shepherd boy was right," he chuckles finding his shirt and pulling it on. Once it's settled about his torso he looks down at the garment and explains, "Not that I'm opposed to another round, but figured since I'm famished, I should cover up the stunning view so you can keep yer hands off me long enough to eat."

He winks as he says that, ready to duck if needs be. "Want your clothes too?"

The bit about him being sober gets a laugh, "I had a beer before you came over that's gotta count for something?" Not likely, for a man who lived three sheets to the wind like John, a single beer was barely a gentle breeze.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
"Oh, I believed you," Kate is quick to correct. "Even wore my ratty clothes so you wouldn't think I was trying to send any messages." She makes a face and shrugs. " I kinda hoped you'd make the first move. I'm really not good at this seduction thing."

When he offers her her clothing she laughs, blushing. "How do you do that? Make me forget I'm naked.. on your couch I might add. You did.. you know.. what we talked about?" She wriggles her fingers like she didn't dutifully take a pill every day - for what she often asked herself when considering the lack of action she was getting. "Yes please. Unless you think they might just get in the way again?"

Oh god, why couldn't she stop blushing? Kate could feel the colour rising in her cheeks.

"I really did bring a movie to watch. After you said you didn't like RomComs I searched for one I think you'll like."

Okay, she found one that had a snarky message she was sure he was going to twit her about later, but she did hope he'd like it just the same.

Constantine has posed:
"Well guess you need to go a few shades rattier, to chase me off," John says without a hint of shame. "And well, guess I did make the first move, so, that worked out."

He laughs as he goes about the room pulling on his clothing and finding Kate's all of thrown to her when she points out she's naked on his couch.

"Well I am a Warlock," he grins about how he managed it, laughing as the red in her cheeks keeps spreading. "Better get the clothes on, we'll worry about them later, if we're feeling another round," he says matter of factly. As to the other matter, he nods, "Yeah, I took care of that."

He goes to where the movie and pizza had been tossed, picking both up and looking at the box, "What'd you get us then?"

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
As each piece is tossed to her, Kate pulls it on. Well, in whatever semblance of order that she can. Her bra is left off in favour of the tee mostly because she forgot and had pulled it on before John found the other garment. A garment she didn't even have a pocket to put it in. Shrugging, Kate stuffs it down the side of the couch where she's sitting.

"Oh, this movie. Kinda old now, but it's held up well enough. I watch it when I'm feeling sorry for myself."

Which is all she says before she hands him the bluray of 'When Harry Met Sally', grinning secretively as she does so.

Constantine has posed:
For all of John's master of pop culture over other wizard types of his acquaintance, he is lost when it comes to Rom Coms.

"Yeah?" he asks looking down at the box. "Seems alright, loved Crystal in the Princess Bride," says seeing Billy Crystal on the box. He pops the case and slips the BluRay in his player and starts the movie as he retreats back to the couch.

"So, why this one?" he asks her, reaching for the pizza box to liberate a slice.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
"Oh, you'll see," Kate says enigmatically, then bossily tells him, "Woah, popcorn, buddy. You can't watch one of these without popcorn, and I believe that I was promised beer?"

Shaking her head, she talks to the walls as though she expects they're listening. "Sheesh, let a guy into your pants before the movie and he forgets the deal."

Constantine has posed:
John scowls around his bite of pizza. He'd just gotten comfy damn it.

"Fine," he mumbles as he swallows, chucking the slice into the box. "A deal is a deal."

He wanders off, mumbling something about Kate being worse than demon lords with their deals but he does return a short time later with a bowl of popcorn and four beer, two in the other hand, the other two stuck in pockets, he offers the two in his hand to Kate.

"There we go? Can I sit now?" he asks with mostly put on annoyance.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
Kate takes her beer and saucily considers John longer than is rightly necessary, waggling a finger in the air in a circle to say he should rotate himself in display for her.

"I guess," she relents with a put upon sigh. "Go ahead sit down and start the movie."

When he's settled, she curls up with him. A beer in one hand, a slice in the other. The bowl of popcorn sat between her knees. "This is nice."

Constantine has posed:
John scoffs, "Don't start that or we'll never see this movie of yours," though he does give a small twirl as he plops down on the sofa to start the movie.

"Yeah, s'alright," John allows, which is about a high a rating as he'll give most things. "Maybe this part of things can be alright, once in a while."

He gives a glance to Katie at that, guaging her reaction.

Hawkeye (Bishop) has posed:
"It better be okay," Kate says, elbowing John lightly. "You realize men and women can be friends without sleeping with one another right?"

Right on cue, Billy Crystal launches into a refute of that statement, much to Meg Ryan's disgust.

"I mean, I've been friends with Clint for years and we've never slept together." But she'd very much wanted to - shut up brain, thank-you very much for nothing. "Connection isn't just about rubbing naughty bits." Even if John was an expert at that. Leaving Kate to quickly rein in her naughtily wandering mind before it went places she didn't want it to until later in the evening, if at all. (Most definitely later, her inner self informed helpfully. But finishing the movie first would be nice).