new muse - voicetesting, considering entranceway

[crashcourse]

Alright look, I've been to hell and back, literally. Consider me a believer, but Wonderland? Are you kidding me? I can only take so much and frankly, I'm exhausted. I can barely handle Los Angeles, why would I want to fall down a rabbit hole into a fictional world?

You're crazy.

Comments

[onhiswaydown]

Comes with the territory. Wouldn't be the first time you went chasing white rabbits.

[crashcourse]

That was different, John. That was for Isabel. I needed answers - this is just... Who knows what's going to be waiting there?

[bornofthis]

There are...far worse options out there, are there not?

[onhiswaydown]

That's the thing about these 'mundanes,' Dodson. Sure, they like to pat themselves on the back about their creativity, but all that 'art' ever boils down to is dragging us right back down to our lowest lows for a cheap laugh.

[crashcourse]

I could be trapped in Wonderland with you.

[Hello, demon...]

[crashcourse]

That's horrible. Why - you know what? I don't want to know. I just, I have a bad feeling about this place. If only the mun would listen to me - I think I know a thing or two about instincts.

[bornofthis]

What what have you...to fear from me?

[ Why hello pretty little psychic. ]

[onhiswaydown]

Wish I could tell you it wasn't all bad, but even the good parts are under their control.

Still, misery loves company is how it goes, isn't it? If you're stuck in a game, you won't be the only one.

[crashcourse]

[That's a loaded question.]

Why don't we drop the pretenses. I know what you are.

[crashcourse]

You coming down the rabbit hole with me? I could use the company.

[onhiswaydown]

[Because he can't just say something directly comforting.]

Said I'd give you a crash course. Didn't say you'd learned enough to strike out on your own.

[bornofthis]

If you didn't...well. Then I wouldn't have done job.

Th-th-threadjack!

[bornofthis]

Will you be joining us then, Johnny Boy? It's....been far too long.

oh my!

[onhiswaydown]

Not to worry.

Deporting you's like riding a bike.

Wooo it's a party now

[crashcourse]

[She stops her thank you to Constantine, relief fading to concern when the demon appears - still adjusting to her powers.]

... John?

they throw the best kinds of parties

[onhiswaydown]

Think it's about time for the lesson on exorcisms, anyway.

The absolute best

[bornofthis]

I could always make...a suggestion, before you can finish your little lesson.

[crashcourse]

Really? You want to make a suggestion?

[bornofthis]

I could make...several.

[ Why, Angela. You're probably getting the idea to come closer to Balthazar. Just go ahead and ignore that brief red glow in his eyes. ]

[onhiswaydown]

[Except this is John physically stepping between them, facing Balthazar.]

We don't want any.

[bornofthis]

[ Balthazar looks incredibly amused. ]

Afraid we might...repeat history?

[crashcourse]

[She's fighting the urge as best she can to not go closer to the demon, bracing against John to stop herself.]

John, what's happening?

[bornofthis]

[ And so he makes the suggestion a little more insistent and urgent. ]

Don't mind him. He's...just bitter. Unable to let the past go.

[crashcourse]

[She can't fight it anymore, moving past John towards him, panic in her voice.]

Why can't I...? John? John!

[crashcourse]

Your job?

[She looks at him incredulously, knowing a lot more went into unlocking her abilities than one little demon.]

[bornofthis]

[ He looked rather concerned, as he released the small amount of power he'd applied, leaving her mind her own again. Oh, he liked toying with this one. ]

Why can't you...what? Is something wrong?

[bornofthis]

You didn't think it was all just coincidence and....luck....did you?

[ Little? Excuse you. He was pivotal in unlocking her abilities. But he also liked messing with her. So there's that. ]

[crashcourse]

[She stops just short of reaching him, panic turning to confusion. She slowly backs up to John.]

What did you do to me?

[crashcourse]

I don't believe in coincidences.

[She takes a beat as things start to fall into place.]

Did you kill my sister?

[onhiswaydown]

[Maybe it's a sore subject. Maybe he can't stomach just how helpless he is to prevent Balthazar from peddling his influence. Maybe he's just got a grudge. Either way, he steps around Angela as she back up, putting himself between them again.

And continuing forward. John, in fact, closes the distance to Balthazar, aiming an artless, largely futile, punch to his face. Because it's the principle of the thing, alright.]

[bornofthis]

[ The wild punch connects with Balthazar's jaw, making him step back slightly. But then again, he allowed it to happen. All for an excuse to respond appropriately.

Slowly, he looks back to John, tense and irritated. His pupils glowing red. My, John. That's quite the persistent and debilitating cough you have going there. Might want to take care of it. A nice little reminder of their meeting in Midnight's office. ]

[onhiswaydown]

[His taste of victory may have been brief, but John couldn't say it wasn't worth it.

Still, hacking cough was a hacking cough, and he all but doubled, though he did manage to croak,]

Be... Better hope she doesn't t-take me from the end.

[bornofthis]

[ He pushes harder, hoping to drive John to his knees, by sheer force of coughing alone. ]

I'm sorry. I can't understand you.

[crashcourse]

[It's her turn to step forward, needing to do something to help him - anything.]

Stop! You don't need to do this.

[bornofthis]

Do what?

[ He held out his hands, almost helplessly, as if to show he wasn't doing anything. ]

He's really quite...prone to this.

[bornofthis]

I had nothing to do with your sister. This goes back well before her...accident.

[crashcourse]

[She'd remembered John mentioning something about angels and demons being able to nudge people towards decisions, but could they do something like this? It was the only logical explanation.]

Do you really expect me to believe you're not responsible for this?

[onhiswaydown]

[Not exactly content to play damsel in distress, John didn't seem to have much say in the matter. Clutching at his chest as he tottered on his feet, John nevertheless found the time to snag his hand into his breast pocket. Let Balthazar play dumb while Angela bought him time curl fingers around brass knuckles that were a bit more uncommon than most.]

[bornofthis]

[ He kept his gaze on Angela as he loosened his hold on John. Letting him breathe just a little easier. ]

The only thing...responsible would be the usual three-packs-a-day habit. He really should...cut back.

[crashcourse]

[This was surreal. If anyone had told her 6 months ago what she'd be doing now, she'd have had them out on a psych hold pending evaluation. And yet...

She doesn't break her glare at Balthazar, trying to not let her worry for John show.]

And I suppose you didn't help the coughing fit along? Give it a little nudge?

the latest late

[onhiswaydown]

[He was faking it, a little. When Balthazar eased up, he practically gasped in air, and stumbled forward, but that was more to close distance than anything. He'd already gotten the knuckles in place. Using the moment of the lurch to his advantage, John aimed a vicious uppercut to Balthazar's chin.]