COMMENCE VOYAGE

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know the Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 41.1 million square miles? No reason.

...

There's something uneasy in the air as you come to.

Well, "come to" is an interesting word in this case. It implies waking up, which is not exactly what happens. None of you are in beds, nor are you really asleep in the traditional sense. One moment you're somewhere else, doing something else with your time, and the next? You're somewhere on board a massive cruise ship - maybe lounging on a deck chair by the pool, maybe getting some Gains in the exercise room, maybe enjoying the tasteful décor in the buffet - and you have no idea how you got here or how you might get back. This is not your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she isn't here.

What you do have, apart from 25 other unlucky souls, is a small smartphone-like device in your pocket with only a handful of things on it: a clock reading 11PM, a pdf of a ticket in your name on a special Atlantic Liners New Year's Eve Cruise, an app labeled Passenger Profiles with some basic information on your traveling companions, and a message:

Welcome aboard, passenger! Please feel free to partake of any of the facilities while you wait for the big event! Remember: when midnight comes, you better make your way to the theatre at the back of Level 1 for the main event! The Captain and the First Mate will be there to take care of you all personally, and to help you ring in the new year in style!

Well, that's a start. But what you do until then, it seems, is up to you!

Comments

[deathmagnetic]

[ An interesting sense of humor, he noted with that little sarcastic comment. At the inquiry, he's not entirely surprised.

Someone was bound to ask him. ]

It's nothing exciting. No one knocked on my door one day or lead me to joining a gang and becoming a hitman.

I simply did it myself on a whim one day. It seemed like something that would suit me just fine.

[ Risotto didn't think about it too much. He used to. But, he had new priorities now despite his impulsive decision years ago. ]

What about yourself? I doubt many become an Occultic Detective for the fun of it.

[scouserer]

[Constantine shoves his hands into his pockets. His fingers brush against a stray toothpick in his pocket--instinctively filched from the Jimmy Buffet. He pulls it out and begins chewing on the end.]

Same as you. Thought I'd do well enough dabbling in the dark arts, and now, here I am.

[He spreads his arms out in mock celebration of himself. Ladies and gentlemen, the ever-successful, not-a-fuck-up John Constantine.]

Most people don't know how to deal with magic. I do. [He peers out towards the dark horizon.] S'ppose it's just the nature of our jobs.

[deathmagnetic]

I suppose that it is.

[ He watched the man's mannerisms carefully. It's habitual, the taking in every small action someone made.

An idle thought came on by, wondering if someone in his profession would be familiar with the existence of Stands. But that aside...another curious thought came to him. ]

Do you believe something like that was involved in all of this? The dark arts, that is.

I'm sure there would be signs that you'd be able to recognize if that was so, after all.

[scouserer]

[When it comes to Constantine's mannerisms, there's always a sense that he's hiding something just out of view, even if he isn't necessarily holding anything. If Risotto pays attention, he'll notice that Constantine is intentional where he places his hands--in and out of his pockets, scratching the back of his neck, even smoothing the wrinkles on his coat. Like a parlor magician preparing a trick.]

S'not out of the question, especially given the cast of characters gathered here. But besides that, I haven't seen any obvious signs pointing to what kind of magic, which is even more important.

[He scrutinizes Risotto, watching him in return.]

You don't seem all that faffed about me going on about magic.

[deathmagnetic]

[ It's a little interesting, and it's something he took note for sure. Probably mostly habit, shaped by a previous experience or a job he had before being a detective, he presumed. ]

That it would.

[ ... ]

No. I can't exactly say I've seen or experienced magic in the traditional way, but there are odd happenings, abilities, and beings that I've come across that could be considered out of the norm. Or maybe a form of magic, to others. Even if it's not necessarily that at all.

[scouserer]

I dunno. Sounds like magic to me, mate.

[He shrugs, crossing his arms and eyeing Risotto.]

But what do I know? Different worlds have different standards on what's 'normal'. What've you seen that's so strange or special, eh?

[deathmagnetic]

[ It could really be considered as such, so he won't refute the statement at all. ]

Mostly the existence surrounding that of Stands. In essence, something that could be considered a supernatural extension of someone else, or rather just an entity that would embody and as well as being capable of enacting an individual's abnormal abilities.

Have you heard of such a thing?

[scouserer]

[Constantine nods, looking thoughtful.]

I've heard of somethin' like that, but never heard it called that name.

[He crosses his arms.]

Everyone and their mum has a different way of referring to magic or supernatural abilities, anyways. Mostly just sounds like puppeteering something else, if I'm bein' honest.