Father Daniel Correlli (danielcorrelli) wrote in summerview, @ 2018-11-28 21:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | daniel correlli, zcaelum oscar villanueva |
song challenge: I’m Only Joking - The Kongos
Who: Cal & Daniel
Where: underground club
When: Wednesday, November 28, 2018
What: Cal goes where he shouldn’t and doesn’t get answers
Status: complete
Rating: PG13 (minor violence and creepiness)
The club wasn’t advertised. Then again, it didn’t need to be. Those that needed it knew where it was. A cliche in many ways, it was an old speakeasy, well past its Prohibition glory days and now redone in a nouveau art-deco style reminiscent of its past. Accessed through an unmarked door at the back of a factory making lamp parts, the flickering exposed light bulbs led to an old gated elevator, complete with uniformed operator. The factory itself was not old, nor decrepit, but still in use and provided an excellent, legitimate cover and ample parking. Those that worked in the factory had no idea what went on underneath.
Daniel sat in a corner booth, dressed all in black, looking expensive and dangerous. It was all part of the game that was player here. Never assume someone was safe, never assume someone was easy, just never assume. In the grand scheme of things, he was easy in that he did not possess powers, no magic, no outwardly defenses at all. Not even a feel of other, to most. That did not mean he was powerless or unable to handle himself.
Surveying the people there, he sipped his whiskey, enjoying the smooth flavours of peaty smoke, pepper and rye as it went down. This was a good bottle. Perhaps he would purchase it for himself. He didn’t need to look at his watch to know his appointment was late. That would never do. Frowning just slightly, he made himself comfortable to see what happened.
There had been something he’d heard in the station which had caused a silent alarm to go off in his core - he had to protect something he thought was in danger. What he didn’t realize was the fact that he would be walking in a danger he hadn’t expected. His brain became sensitive when he approached someone that wasn’t human; he had no idea that this was the source of the ailment, all he was privy to was the fact that every time he was around certain people he got a whopping headache.
Gleaning the password, Caelum allowed himself to venture into the secret bar. The flickering entrance made his stomach flip and he wished he’d brought his gun with him. The uneasy feeling in his gut was doing flips, nagging that fight or flight part of the brain.
Already his head was beginning to pound.
Reaching his destination Cal made his way to the bar, catching the eyes of a pair of degenerate looking people. One of them was large, bulky, the other more slender and clearly smarter.
He turned away, trying to sever the eye contact when he felt a tap on the shoulder. A pivot and the shorter, smarter one was in his face, “I don’t like you,” the short one snarled, “He doesn’t like you either.”
Commotion near the bar caught Daniel’s attention and he turned slightly, watching it. The new guy, and he labeled him that in his mind because while Daniel might not know everyone in the bar, he could tell they weren’t new. This guy was new. Obviously so. However, commotion or not, new guy or not, Daniel wasn’t going to step in, not yet anyways. He was still waiting for his increasingly late appointment and wasn’t willing to be the knight in shining armor if he didn’t need to be. Not while risking the meeting, though it was possible the ruckus would scare his client off anyways.
Caelum couldn’t help the sense of uneasiness that swam in his stomach, but he wasn’t so easily thwarted by a few threatening words. It would take more than a couple of tough talking oddballs to scare him off. He braced himself mentally - or tried - and stood at his full height.
He was physically fit because of the requirements of his position so it wasn’t as if he had nothing to bring to the table. “How can you judge someone you don’t even know?” Came his reply to that. If he was being honest with himself he wasn’t partial to either of the people either but he was not a man of rash decisions.
The short one’s eyes widened.
Around the backside of Cal came another man, bulky and tall like the second one had been. “Maybe you should find another place to drink,” came the muffled voice from the second. The short one nodded in agreement, and the third one laughed softly as if to add something to the moment.
“Maybe you should back off,” Cal replied. He knew testing them probably wasn’t ideal but he didn’t come here to fight anyone.
Shifting closer to the edge of the booth, Daniel finished his drink and knocked the glass on the table. Pity, Ardbeg Scotch was not meant to be drank so quickly, like it was some Johnny Walker or Jim Beam. However, he couldn’t allow this to escalate either. The last thing anyone wanted or needed was a couple brutes sounding off when they shouldn’t.
Standing, he grabbed the larger one, one on his shoulder, gripping it firmly. “My, my,” my murmured, voice pitched to carry, demanding attention, “You did start young. Did you really think your parents believed that your sister ran away for no reason? Not that they have any idea that you drove her to risk the streets, but then...you aren’t quite as dumb as you look,” Daniel’s eyes glowed in the dim light as he rifled through the man’s sins, but he did not take them into himself. No, that wasn’t something he did lightly or on a whim.
Letting him go and almost pushing him into the bar as he turned, grasping the smaller man now with his other hand, “You on the other hand....you think you’re so smart, but all you are is depraved, unable to enjoy pleasure without causing someone else pain and you are very good at that...” he changed his grip, breaking the man’s fingers as he shifted, “You are the worst sort of sinner and I would kill you myself to spare the world.”
Everything had happened so quickly Cal was sent reeling into what seemed some odd slow-motion mental play-by-play. All of the sudden this gentleman had come up and there seemed to be a scatter of the men and some sense of surprise on all of their faces. His own mimicked that surprise though not because of the intrusion, Cal was grateful for that, it was what the interloper was saying, the way his eyes changed.
Up until recently Cal had gone through the motions of life believing strongly that there was nothing out in the world beyond humanity and the creatures that roamed the planet. God’s creations. Little by little, however, that faith and security was being shaken, tested.
The bigger man had swirled around and beat feet, rushing toward the doorway and out of the bar lest he get swept up in the nonsense occurring at the counter. Cal was frozen in place unable to move, eyes wide.
As the smaller one was grasped at first he struggled and then the movement ceased, almost as if he’d fallen into some sort of trance. The third one had also faded into the dimness, unwilling to challenge the one that had come upon them.
Releasing the one he held Daniel’s eyes dimmed back to their natural green and he nodded towards Cal, “Another Scotch,” he ordered politely from the bartender, who had retreated a respectable distance away, “and a double for the new guy.”
The new guy.
Cal took a breath. His head was pounding and while he wasn’t a drinker a scotch sounded like a delight in effort to combat the persistent throbbing.
“What was that?” He whispered, throwing a glance from side to side as if someone might overhear them. When his gaze returned to the stranger - the odd savior - that look of confusion returned.
“Hmm?” Daniel made a noise, raising an eyebrow, “Oh. I don’t like bullies. Especially when they think they can come in a place like this and act the fool. They needed to be put in their place,” so he had done it quickly quietly, and effectively. “This place isn’t Cheers, but that is just uncalled for.”
The bartender brought their drinks over and Daniel handed the double to Cal, “Apologies on behalf of everyone.”
“Uh, thanks,” he replied, far too shocked to press the man for more information or for a solid answer to his question. Instead he accepted the drink, took a sip, and tried his best not to make a silly face. He had come here on business, a tip that there was something awry happening, and he’d found more than he’d bargained for. That nagging was still there, it was intense but the Scotch was helping distract from the pounding.
“I’m Caelum,” he gave without being asked for it.
A glance around told him that the tenseness in the air had alleviate some and he was curious to know if the ire would’ve been less potent had this man not been there.
“Daniel,” he replied, offering his hand and checking the time. His appointment clearly wasn’t showing. With a nod of his head as invitation, he returned to his table, sliding into the booth again, this time leaving room for Caelum.
He was loathe to answer questions, especially about himself, but he had stepped in and involved himself and his powers to a man who likely had no idea about the supernatural. Therefore, he had obligated himself to answer at least some. Waiting until Caelum was seated he began, “I imagine you have a question or two. Are you a religious man, Caelum?”
Cal rubbed at a temple with his fingertips silently willing away the throb. He shook Daniel’s offered hand politely, let the man go, and then wandered after the other man with his drink in tow.
Settling into the booth, Caelum set the drink down on the table and wiped his hands on his pants to rid them of the sweat and condensation from the glass.
“What was that?” His question was inquired in a low tone, Cal leaned forward as if to keep the words between them. And then he was nodding, “Yeah, I grew up Catholic.”
That made things easier. He nodded, taking a sip of his scotch. “Then you have faith. God, his Son and the Holy Spirit,” he instinctively crossed himself as he spoke. “This place and others like it are for creatures that...you do not have faith exist, yet are more tangible. You aren’t the first human to come here, nor the last. You aren’t banned or unwelcome, mind, despite those idiots earlier, but well....idiots are idiots, that remains the same. But you rarely have reason to come here. So what is your reason?”
That motion was mimicked absently, the sign of the cross. It was an action ingrained in him since before he could speak or walk and he didn’t even realize he was doing it.
What Daniel was telling him didn’t make a lick of sense. And it didn’t answer his question either. There was no clear understanding as to what was happening other than vague answers.
“I heard that there was something odd going on that might affect someone I know,” he explained, casting a glance around. Another sip was taken of the Scotch, Caelum had no idea the liquid was eight hundred dollars a bottle. When his attention returned to the other man he tried not to show the confusion he was feeling. Or the pain.
“Such as?” Daniel prompted. He likely wouldn’t know anything about it, but information was important.
“To be honest,” he began, taking another small sip from the glass. “I’m not really sure what I was expecting. I heard that one of the relatives of one of my men was coming here, something about a business deal that might not go in that person’s favor. I guess I came to see it for myself.”
“Ah,” of course. “You are a good friend. Perhaps....you consider how good of a friend you wish to be?” It wasn’t a command or even a suggestion, just advice. And whatever Caelum decided, that was his decision. Free will and all.
It was advice and he knew it was wise. Cal knew that some were opposed to being given direction but he thrived on it. A simple nod was all he gave in response. The stranger had not had to impose such words upon him and yet he was grateful for them.
He would stay far from places like this and things that weren’t his business from now on.
Finishing his drink, he slipped out of the booth and stood, “Do you need a ride? Or to call a ride?” He could at least offer that. Catching the bartender’s eye, he nodded, settling his tab easily.
Cal shook his head.
“No, but thank you. I’ll be fine.” He was drinking but he’d come on foot and by public transit, not wanting to get his vehicle involved in case anything had gone awry.
Nodding, he gestured for Caelum to precede him to leave. “Be safe then,” he said as they reached the outside, Daniel waiting to make sure the other man left before going to his own vehicle. It was a rental and he only needed to take it to the lot to retrieve his personal truck and go back to Summerview.