FOURTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Well! That's sure something, isn't it? There may or may not be a lot of you excited to get down to business, but Jones does eventually move to collect you all and bring you to the theatre. It's a familiar routine by now, perhaps even comfortingly so given the irregularities of this particular killing.

Two of you gone this week. The elevator is started to feel downright spacious, don't you think?

A shanty, as usual, echoes from the crew of the Dutchman as you enter. The room is the same as it has ever been before you as the elevator settles into position. ]

To yer positions, passengers. Chins up.

[ Three more podiums claimed by the rust and wear.

You have your evidence, and you're going to need it before long. The music outside dies down.

Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[scouserer]

Then if you're gonna leave her body, at least possess me. I'll be able to offer you more souls than you've ever been able to devour in your life.

[In all honesty, he has no idea what he's doing. He's hoping this flagrant overconfidence will at least work in his favor.]

[ltcommandroid]

[hey buddy, what the fuck?]

[scouserer]

[Data, your roomie is a known dumbass.]

[jibunwo]

Don't do something that stupid. Do you really want to kill one of us next when this thing gets bored?

...I might be able to get rid of it if my power worked, even for just a second. But it doesn't, and I have doubts the Captain would be willing to flip that switch for our convenience.

[scouserer]

Mate, I've dealt with these things before. Spirits, demons--trust that I know what I'm doing.

[jibunwo]

Do you, because we're both painfully mundane and average people here while you're about to make a bargain with a bloodthirsty specter.

[scouserer]

[Constantine scowls towards Zero.]

I've played with worse stakes.

[jibunwo]

I don't care, you're not gambling everyone's lives including your own just because you think you can handle it!

[sivard]

I'm siding with Zero on this.

[ltcommandroid]

It would be singularly unwise.

[scouserer]

[Zero seems to have touched a nerve with Constantine, because he instinctively freezes. A severe scowl appears on his face.]

Then what's the other option, then?! Stand here trying to goad a name out of a spirit that we hardly know the identity of? What else do you have to offer, huh?

[queceracera]

...... Hey! Hey, who knows what she's been regaining from the machine? If she's not regularly going all [He makes a noise that's suitably demonic.] then there must be something that keeps it in check.

[scouserer]

[Scott's words suddenly cause Constantine to pause. Some synapses firing, give him a second....]

Filbo, you said you got a book that belonged to her? Did you happen to read it? Any names that stuck out?

[Wait, no--]

The bell. The bell with the skull on it.

[sivard]

[Erm.]

[scouserer]

[Look..........he's John Constantine.]

[magycks]

Nope.

[deathmagnetic]

[ .... ]

If you're going to say idiotic things like that, I believe you should keep your mouth shut for awhile.

[scouserer]

I'll keep talking as I please, thank you very much.

[deathmagnetic]

You don't have access to your powers here. What guarantee do you have that acting like a fool is going to work out for you?

[scouserer]

I'm John bloody Constantine--I do stupid in style.

[He crosses his arms.]

And I've done without fancy magic in the past. It's worked out for me plenty.

[Just don't mind the damage left in his wake.]

[deathmagnetic]

[ ...Constantine, why are you like this? ]

You're ridiculous. [ ... ] I understand you're used to taking risks, but offering yourself to be possessed by an evil spirit...do you even have a plan for what will happen after?

[scouserer]

I certainly wouldn't say it out loud, within earshot of the very spirit I'm dealing with.

[deathmagnetic]

You're assuming that you can even trust the spirit to begin with!

[bonesorter]

[That actually does give the spirit pause to consider.]

That is... tempting. But how do you plan on keeping that promise, when you have lost your abilities here?

[scouserer]

Simple. I've got connections.

[He's thinking just as fast as he's speaking--never say Constantine isn't prepared to bullshit his way through a situation.]

See, when we get out of here--and we will get out of here--we'll be going back to our respective worlds. Now, I've got plenty of enemies back home who send their goons after me on the regular--people and entities that'd love to see me dead. It ensures that you have a steady supply of souls to consume, and I remain alive. Win-win, see?

[He crosses his arms.]

All you have to do is enter my body, and let the girl go. And leave everyone else alive--because a feast awaits you if you cooperate.