Who: Zari Tarazi & John Constantine What: Ghosts and Truth Where: Constantine's house When: Late Nov. 2 into Early Nov. 3 (backdated) Warning: Low Status: Closed/Completed Gdoc
Zari had a whole mix of emotions these last few days. She never thought she would see her brother again, at least on this plane of existence. In all honesty, she wasn't sure he existed at all since her timeline had changed, producing the fancier version of herself as well as a new Behrad, one who was alive. She considered him her brother, and she loved him as such, but he wasn't exactly her Behrad.
Getting the chance to talk with him again was everything to her. Getting to make peace with that part of her life? It was something she didn't know she needed. Behrad seemed to need it, too. Maybe that's why he moved on already when others hadn't, yet, according to what she had seen on the network. She was sad he was gone, but she was content knowing he'd be in peace.
There was one person in Madison Valley she wanted to check in on during this ordeal. Now that her ghost had moved on, she could focus her concern on someone else. Knowing what Constantine’s line of work entailed, there was no telling what sort of hauntings he could be dealing with. She thought about him a lot lately, particularly since the cruise.
Concern took centerstage, and so she found herself at the front door of his house, gently knocking.
Madison Valley, as far as Constantine was concerned, could go to hell. It's not that Desmond hadn't been a welcome sight, he had been, but that wasn't the point. He'd put the past behind him a long time ago where that boy had been concerned. Someone who had held a decent sized piece of his heart. Unfortunately, the very thing he thought would happen had happened. He'd lost Desmond and now? The dome was out to rip his heart out of his chest.
Talking to Desmond had been like re-opening old wounds. Wounds that he'd rather drown in a bottle of good whiskey, or magic. Maybe he'd even venture to Training Terrain and shove what magic he had into the place, drain himself quite a bit. Even if that wasn't really the wisest thing to do.
His agitation at the dome has something in the house shattering, but it wasn't like he couldn't fix it if he wished to. He just hadn't gotten to that point yet, hadn't decided that he wanted it fixed. Besides, it wasn't like it was important or anything. He grumbles to himself before fixing the stupid vase and then he hears it. A knock soft enough that anyone could've nearly missed it.
Moving toward the door he gives the woman on the other side a soft smile," Hello, love. Fancy seeing you here."
"I was just in the neighborhood."
That wasn't entirely true, and she was sure he was aware of that. She gave a warm, assuring smile, letting him know he didn't have to be alone right now with his ghosts if he didn't want to be.
"How are you holding up?"
She knew it couldn't be easy, and that was because she, too, understood the pain of seeing a lost loved one. It was an unfortunate thing sadly shared by most people.
That? He knows good and well that was a lie. There was no way that she was just in the neighborhood and he knows it. Though, she could've been around for something else altogether other than what she'd intended to do. He does, however, give her a warm smile whenever she gives that reassuring smile. Even if his warm smile was a bit tired looking for anyone that knew him. Zari? She was someone that knew him and could probably see right through that warm smile.
He opens the door a bit more so she can come inside," Care for a glass of tea, love?" Even if he'd rather be drowning his feelings in whiskey. Tea, however, would work for the both of them. Tea was something that he didn't actively mind and they were both lucky enough on that one.
"Holding up just fine, love."
Possibly a lie, especially considering who his ghost even was.
"How're you holding up?"
Zari knew he likely was not holding up as well as he was letting on, but for now, she’d humor him. Maybe, eventually, he’d want to talk about it. But for now?
“Tea would be nice, sure,” she said, moving further into the house. “Nothing like a warm, calming drink, huh?”
Though, if he did need something stronger, she wouldn’t begrudge him that. She never minded if people drank alcohol around her.
“I’m doing okay,” she continued. “I saw my brother.”
It was a simple statement, but it was an effective way of getting to the point.
No, he really wasn't holding up as well as he said he was. That, however, wasn't something he was going to say to anyone. It wasn't something that he was going to show either. There was nothing that he'd allow to make him seem or look weak in anyone's eyes, much less someone that he cared about.
He moves into the kitchen to put the kettle on and pulls out two cups for tea. Constantine knows that she wouldn't begrudge him if he decided to go for a good glass of whiskey or something else but he was avoiding it. At least, of course, for the time being.
"How did that go, love?"
“Not as bad as I thought it could have gone,” Zari said honestly. It wasn’t that kind of haunting. It was more of a goodbye if anything.
“He’s already moved on,” she continued. “Guess he just wanted to say a proper goodbye and to tell me not to blame myself for what happened.”
She was the big sister, though. She was always going to wish she had done more to protect him. Still, hearing from him about it did give her a weird sense of closure.
“How about you?” She asked gently, knowing he may not want to say anything. “Is yours still here?”
Knowing a little about Constantine’s life, she thought there’d be no way he wasn’t haunted by someone..or something.
Not all hauntings were bad. Some of them could be the best thing to happen to a person. From the sounds of it? This was one of those things for Zari. Where her brother had given her a proper farewell. Something that the woman before him actively deserved. Her brother, after all, had been one of the good ones.
He grabs the kettle from the stove when it goes off, pouring them both a cup of tea, and then turning so he could hand Zari hers. Constantine doesn't drink his right away and simply holds the tea cup for a bit of warmth. The question, however, of how he was has him giving a bit of a laugh. "You already asked that, love."
Was his still there? "Aye, Des is still here."
A part of him wonders, almost, if more than one of his bloody ghosts would show up and not just Desmond.
"Desmond”, Zari said quietly. She'd been there for that, remembering what happened as a result.
"I seem to recall being a cat at the time," she added with a bemused grin. Even in cat form, she had been there for him. It was easy to listen when you couldn't talk back.
She'd been doing the same with her cup of tea. She had yet to sip it, just kind of taking in the warmth from it.
"I'm sorry, John." She remembered the anguish he'd gone through with Desmond, and then having to let him go at the end. With that in mind, she slowly reached for hand to provide comfort if he wanted it.
"What the bloody hell are you sorry for, love? You're not the one who broke me and Des up. That? It was my own doing," He points out. Though, he knows that Desmond hadn't been particularly happy with him, much less after banishing him to Hell. Not that there had been much of a choice. Desmond was someone that he would always love.
He keeps his hands wrapped around his tea cup before taking a sip of it. For a moment he watches her and that provided hand before reaching out, taking her hand. "Why the bloody hell do you put up with me? I'm going to get you killed one of these days, love. Just like I did him."
Zari was a little surprised that he was being so forthcoming with feelings. She wondered if this was the dome possibly at work. It wouldn't be the first time. Whatever it was, she was going with it.
"I can take care of myself," she replied. "I like spending time with you, and all those dark forces or whatever. I feel like it's worth it. You're worth putting up with."
Yeah, something was definitely going on to make them in a more sharing mood.
Normally? These were things that John would keep close to his chest. He knows that people easily got killed because of him. Look at what happened to Astra. Someone that he'd cared for and yet she'd ended up in Hell because of him. Desmond had ended up in Hell because of him. It was why the other hadn't gotten back together with him, due to him sending him back to Hell. It wasn't like he'd had a choice after all.
There's a bitter laugh out of him," You feel like I'm worth putting up with? I'm not worth putting up with, love. I killed my twin brother and sent people I cared about to Hell. Or I've gotten them killed. How is that worth it, love? You're this bright bleedin' light and I'm shrouded in darkness.”
“I don’t know what is going on. I’m sure it is some dome related nonsense, but I feel the need to be completely honest,” she began to say. Maybe it was a good thing? She wasn’t sure, but it was happening. “You’re one of my best friends in this town. I think we’re good for each other. Maybe it’s okay to have some light in your life.”
They were in Madison Valley. It didn’t seem like a place where that kind of darkness remained for too long.
“Ever since the cruise, and maybe before, I felt like there was this connection.” Frankly, she was understanding what the fancier version of herself had seen.
Constantine understood the need to be completely honest. If that weren't the case then he wouldn't have brought up the twin brother that he'd murdered in the womb. He isn't, however, used to hearing someone tell him that he was one of their best friends. Much less in Madison Valley. Not that this city had anything to do with his darkness. That? It was fully and wholly himself. Was it really okay to have some light in his life? Really have some light in his darkness?
"Aye, I felt like there was a connection too." That? He could admit too. "So what do we do now, love?"
Zari just said what she was thinking...because the dome was kind of forcing her to. Or maybe she was appreciative of the meddling assist.
"Maybe we can see where things go?" She wondered if Desmond was still there, and then she felt a little guilty for possibly getting a chance at something he didn't get at the end.
"Like I said, I think you are worth it." She wasn't afraid of the darkness.
"I'd like to see where things go, love," Constantine tells her. That? He was curious about. How would him and Zari survive together. She was, after all, the light in his darkness. A friend that he wouldn't give anything up for. So, if they decided to see where things went then he'd be grateful for something like that. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out.
Those eyes look toward where Desmond was, soft words escaping his ghost, before seeing the man disappear. Was that really all that his former love needed? To know that there was someone around who thought he was worth it? To know that someone wanted him even with all the darkness in his life.
"Then we'll see where things go."
Zari took his hand once more, silent this time. The moment was peaceful, at least it felt that way.
She'd been through a lot, they both had. Maybe this was something they both needed. If it worked out, that would be great. If not, she felt their friendship was strong enough to get through it.