The Raven's Basilisk

Constantinople gave the two in front of him a bit of honest consideration, they seemed at least somewhat comfortable; more comfortable that Izime was with him and that was a good thing. The exorcist decided to quietly raise the volume of the conversation he was having with the mind-reader, sending a teasing thought her way.

Get a bit closer lass maybe then you'll know what he thinks of you. 

Shut it Constantinople I'm only here to keep you two in line. 

Was kinda hoping you'd think about keeping him in line, as friends, of course. 

I'm not looking Constantinople, Steven and I just spit a few months ago.

Constantinople rolled his eyes as Psyis' mind seemed occupied with Steven. The lad was a knob, Izime being the far better choice in the Brit's own opinion. Finding someone who'd be a bit more than Izime's friend had been a goal of the exorcist for a while now, especially considering he had been relegated to the blue moon drinking buddy and business partner. Constantinople had become just another part, everything in Izime's life was parts, a part here a part there. Even the man's soul was in pieces, some even lingering with his pet others flitting about his form.

That fact alone giving Constantinople enough reason to worry and want to put someone trustworthy near his friend, just in case something happened to him, again. The exorcist not sure what had shattered the soul in the first place and not bothering to ask. Izime had to have a past beyond just appearing, even if it was from another plane. Things like that weren't outside of the exorcist's field of expertise. Where he couldn't help Izime was with putting it all back together. There Constantinople would happily admit he wasn't even near the middle of the pack of those who'd be helpful, having plenty of issues himself.

An emotional grounding of some-kind in this plane would help create an anchor that would keep things from getting worse, much like tying down a ghost. The exorcist worrying that the longer Izime's issue was put off the more those bits would flit away or be held by the bird and not the body. Having baggage was one thing, losing who you were or what you were was another and Izime seemed to toe the line of possessing his own body. If anyone between heaven and hell needed to unload it was his toxin dealer and who better than the world's strongest psychic, even if she had to do it the old school way and actually talk to the man.

Something she seemed quite capable of earlier. Though Constantinople was regretting playing his hand openly now, he had thought the two could work on whittling Izime's barriers down. Now though it looked like he was going split the entire thing into a free for all. Constantinople was fine with that, happy to go down casting Izime in at least a favorable light to keep him out of the way.

Fine don't then, but don't get mad at him, going to make me regret introducing you two.

You're the last person to play matchmaker Constantinople.

I'm not playing. I save souls, you save cities. He's saving species. Lad needs a steady hand. I just had an admittedly bad idea is all. 

He sells batteries, air pumps and bits of string, and I was just asking him if it was OK for me to be here that's all.

On lost worlds an scrapships hidden in the stars. Who's living on them, why are they hiding there?Aliens like yourself and James, the survivors.

Izime turned pulling his hand from his pocket to try and catch Psyis' arm as her foot slipped down a step, the alien being a bit lighter than he had expected. Though her instinctual grab at that arm was probably going to leave a bruise, thessian biology was frighteningly strong in comparison. The reactionary grab probably mentally strengthened by the shock of her sudden slip.

"Sorry" Psyis quickly tried to let go, wanting to put a bit more space between herself and the man Constantinople was trying to slip through her guard. That space not appearing as her missed step had placed her on the same level with the person she was trying to avoid thinking about.

Was Constantinople, right? Psyis couldn't stop herself from considering the thought for a moment. That Izime's efforts were keeping other from experiencing the same deep loss that James and herself had been forced to accept. The idea seeming a bit far-fetched were it not for the fact that both those same heroes, Radiation Man and Miss Psyis, had kept the people of this planet from suffering the same fate single handedly multiple times over.

"You good?" Izime gave the super-hero a bit of a sideways look as her eyes tried to dodge his. A half second wasted in surprise at finding she was just as tall as him even in his boots before motioning for the two to follow as he walked down the stairs. "Let's go turn up."

"I think that means sloshed," Constantinople quipped and nodded at Psyis to follow Izime, the alien holding still clearly waiting until Izime had moved a ways away to talk to the exorcist. The exorcist shrugging as his friend reached the ground floor, moving to follow until he was stopped, a gray sleeve stopping him.

"Constantinople I'm not really comfortable with this." Psyis turned as Constantinople tried to a pass. Her arm stopped the exorcist on the stairs, blocking his path down. "I just ended things with Steven and need time. I'm sure Izime is nice bu-"

"Then forget I said anything and take your time lass, being his friend is the least I'd hoped for," Constantinople nodded, admitting it wasn't exactly the best plan, "anything more was a bugger of an idea, just a thought. That the human raised alien and the human who's to bloody alien to stick around on his home planet might have been good together."

Constantinople raising his brows and taking another approach at the two, wanting to put Psyis concerns in their proper place. Considering the grand scheme of things and the risks involved for Izime, Constantinople doubled down on wanting someone next to his friend just in case. Be it Psyis, Radiation Man, or even Matty the angel. Someone who could hopefully hold their own in the face of the same evils that Izime was tidying up after.

"Those ships will only stay hidden for so long; I just want him to have some company when the time comes. Someone besides that bird fighting beside him when Vhainos and Voidside finally realize it's Izime keeping their victims afloat." Constantinople explained his reasoning behind the potential match as his eyes followed Izime down below. Posing a question towards the heroine who'd faced both evils that Izime was tangling with. "How long do you think he'd last alone? Hes a minnow playing at hiding the schools from the sharks."

"Now, I've got a drink waiting to get drunk." Constantinople turned sideways; ducking underneath that still raised arm he slipped down the stairs after Izime. Not bothering to see if Psyis followed, it was her choice after all, and the exorcist would leave her to make it. "You're still welcome to join in, and I'll lay off the pushy attitude."

Psyis not believing Constantinople for a second, reading the truth plainly between his blond brows. Her own white brows arching in sarcasm, which the exorcist thankfully acknowledged coming clean about his actual intentions. The con-magician's words leaving her chewing at a purple lip, considering which direction she would choose to take on the stairs. Either returning to the streets to go find Steven, or to head down further and spend the evening with Izime despite Constantinople's agenda.

"At least intentionally, can't help it if I honestly think you'd be an interesting match and want to see it happen." Constantinople couldn't help but add the last part, finally turning with a smile. Quick stepping a bit to catch up with the man who was secretly supplying the victims of some of the most power villains across the known multi-verse Constantinople explained his reasoning, "I'm a lover not a fighter after all."

The exorcist joined Izime on the main floor, picking a mystic story at random to regale the space faring earthling with while waving a server over to seat them. Leaving the alien to decide if she wanted to try forming any kind of friendship with Izime. It was a tough choice the exorcist imagined, knowing full well that he would always tease at more between the two. The psychic likely weighing the potential risks and rewards of making a new friend as the night out turned in potential matchmaking.

Psyis tried to chew through the entire dilemma Constantinople had just dropped at her feet, watching as the two were being guided towards a table. The shorter Constantinople was gesturing animatedly between the occasional nod from Izime who had no idea what his friend had tried to do, a question forming in her mind.

How would Izime feel if he knew he was being led around by the nose?

Psyis looked down at Izime who seemed engrossed in Constantinople's chatter unaware of what his friend was thinking, wondering what he might do. Finally deciding on a course of action Psyis made her way to find out. If Constantinople wanted to play games, she could too. Making her way towards the table while silently waving the server off, arriving just in time to catch a bit of Constantinople story.

"-hen I decided it was time to let Azmanoth get a taste of his own medicine and inverted the seal, the look on his face when I altered the terms was priceless. A thousand smiling jaws falling to the floor in shock..." Constantinople gave a cocky nod of his head, recounting another tale of him turning the tables on the denizens from the lower planes, "Not quite the light show we gave those pirates near the pillars, but I didn't have an asteroid belt to work with at the time."

"Still can't believe they thought we were going to fly through that." Izime shook his head, leaning forward to kick the chair out a bit for the final guest that night, giving the alien a nod as she joined the table. The chair catching a bit and only sliding cleanly on one side where he'd kicked at it. Izime wondering for a moment if he should have just pulled it out though a quick purple hand stopped him from moving to do so.

"Fly through what?" Psyis reached out adjusting the chair a bit as she sat, looking at the two as she tried to slip into the conversation hoping she could take control of its direction for just a moment. Wanting to put Constantinople on the back foot she was glad when Izime was the one who answered her question.

"A few rocks, nothing you couldn't have just crushed" Izime made a grasping motion with his hand miming the heroine's powers. Finally pointing at the exorcist to place the blame for the part of the story she'd heard. "This ass thought Reaver's would take to his cheating at cards as easily as the idiots in the lower planes."

"They did not in fact." Constantinople nodded admitting his mistake, recalling exactly how the two had escaped the expert pilots the Reavers had sent after them. Izime was not the best pilot and even though Cradle tried a bird could really only physically do so much with human sized controls. "Still glad you had an in with the Vidan Security that interdicted us."

"Had, until I burned it on a light-speed ticket we could have avoided, if someone hadn't fried the transponder with an invisibility spell." Izime could still smell the smoking friend or foe identification module Constantinople had dumped a bottle of something on, the only magic released being a puff of blue smoke.

"We already had active cloaking just another one of his brill ideas." Izime gave a tilt of his head towards the Thessian as he wrapped up the tale, tossing in a bit of Constantinople's own slang as a parting shot at the exorcist's ego. The con-magician snorting at the cheap shot as their server walked up to take their orders.

"Oh, now that's low." Constantinople shook his head in mock disappointment before looking up at the server that had just walked up to take their drink orders. Placing his order, Constantinople quickly added something for the whole table as well. "Pint for me, and a round of Baby Guinness for the lot."

"Your poison," The server nodded, writing quickly before looking at Izime and asking with a country drawl. An almost painfully obvious joking look of mock disapproval painted on their face as they tried to work for some kind of tip from the table. "Something stateside and bland maybe?"

"White Russian." Izime smiled back at the waiter who was teasing him on Constantinople behalf before quickly ordering something tasty that was easily drinkable. Giving the exorcist a nod in thanks for ordering the table a round of shots before the attention turned towards their third.

"Sure thing." The server nodded smiling in appreciation as the man played along, even if he was a bit rough looking, he at least seemed to have a sense of humor and was willing to share it. Certainly, a bit more than half the people in Voltham would give you willingly so the waiter had decided to joke around a bit with the table, glad to find them receptive.

"Just a beer," Psyis ordered something she didn't really care for, not wanting to indulge to much with Constantinople around plotting. Izime likely not yet aware of his friend's intentions it was best she kept her wits about her; quickly adding after hearing the question form in their server's mind. "Doesn't matter what kind."

"So, what were you talking about?" Psyis tried to bring the conversation back to life was their server was walking away to get their drinks from the bartender. Turning towards Izime, she was a bit wary trying to gauge if he was a partner in Constantinople's crimes of playing cupid. Instead, her question answered by Constantinople this time, luck not on her side a second time.

"The misadventures of space-hero Izime." Constantinople spoke up wanting to bring the focus towards his friend, determined to paint him in some decent light. If not for the personal reason of wanting to make Izime look good in front of Psyis, there was always the fact Dark Night was looking into the man. Constantinople deciding he'd remain firmly on his friend regardless of which scenario played out.

"Salesman," Izime rolled his eyes correcting Constantinople mislabel on both ends, the scavenger quickly trying to distance himself from such damning titles. If it had been his old reality sure call him a hero or villain, they were simply concepts of morality. Here they were real-life beings that existed in an actual functioning ecosystem that had evolved around them. Odd coincidence or the worlds self-corrective scripting, a Hero begot matching Villains; the idea of which was honestly a bit scary.

"I don't do the whole hero and villain stuff." Izime needed to make it very clear, he was only here to manage the scraps; calling anything he did heroic was a stretch by any means. Wanting to set the record straight Izime clarified the tables topic, pointing a thumb towards himself as he explained to Psyis. "Besides, I was talking about Constantinople's penchant for terrible ideas that being another one."

"Weird how he has those, I've been involved in a couple too sadly." Psyis nodded giving the exorcist a warning look as a bright smile crept across her light purple lips. Izime giving her the perfect opportunity to expose the exorcist's plot, "he was sharing one with me just no-"

"Oye!" Constantinople cut the Psychic off before she could fill Izime in, "Fucking bugger off or don't start trouble."

"Thats what you get for shoving every nonhuman towards my bed," Izime smiled, glad Psyis was at least willing to help him call Constantinople out for being a bit pushy, tastes aside this time. Izime immediately being reminded of just why he'd not seen the exorcist in so long, the man was completely incorrigible when it came to flings; a habit he'd tried to rub off on Izime. "Let it go Constantinople."

"A man has needs, my bad for trying to be a mate." Constantinople looked at Izime then rolled his eyes at the two, hoping a quick self-execution would keep too much evidence from being exposed.

Psyis blinked for a moment, Izime's crass claim not exactly what Constantinople had been trying for... right? The alien stopped blinking for a moment, blushing blue on Constantinople's behalf as Izime called him out further.

"Says the shark fucker." Izime took out one of his favorite insults quickly kneecapping the exorcists mentioning one of his most regretful exes.

"That wa-" Constantinople let his head drop to the table, hoping playing into it would keep Izime entertained and Psyis from opening her mouth. Sure, those had been bad, but he'd been trying to figure out Izime's type and it didn't seem like it'd be human with as much time as the man spent off-world. So maybe the exorcist had shot himself in the foot taking Izzy on a pub crawl in atlantis still he'd learned a bit about what caught those teal eyes.

"A bad idea? What the multiple rows of teeth didn't clue you in?" Izime reached over and patted Constantinople on the back before turning towards the alien who was giving the exorcist a worried look. Izime addressing her now, hoping he could smooth whatever feathers his friend had ruffled on the thessian. "Don't let it bother you, if it really does, I'll drop him of someplace in a galaxy far far away. Like I said earlier its Constantinople's thing, he does this anytime we hang out."

Izime tried to finish the conversation he had avoid on the stairs without further detail. Seeing as Constantinople had thrown himself under those tires willingly Izime decided to drive the bus right back over his friend, asking the exorcist to explain his reasoning. "What were you going off of this time?"

"Color, shes an alien, and you were already looking at her." Constantinople shrugged, leaning back as the server sat a tray on the center of the table. A bit to focused on avoiding the topic and reaching for a drink to realize he had walked himself into the other opponent's field.

"Oh, what happen to the whole bit I got about Izime being the alien one and you being worried about him." Psyis rolled her eyes at Constantinople who was taking his beer and shots, his hand only pausing for the briefest moment at her question. Though Izime replied before Constantinople, a bit insulted at the insinuation. "How he needed, a what was it, steady hand?"

The exorcist knocked his hand against his head as Psyis took the steering wheel to the conversation and drove it right over him. Sitting back Constantinople look at their server, blatantly ignoring the obvious scowl Izime was giving him.

"I'm a human thank you, it's even been verified by multiple sources." Izime helplessly tried to reinforce his position while taking the black and white drink from the waiter. Reaching over to snag one of the tiny shot glasses from Constantinople, continuing as he turned towards Psyis wanting to make sure she knew, "I can take care of myself if not I've got Cradle, so there's nothing to worry about."

Psyis running her eyes over Constantinople's face as Izime unintentionally or intentionally played right into the script his friend had used. Izime words coming across as more than dry sarcasm, the man believed what he was saying. The exasperation in it enough to force Constantinople to take a sip of his beer before he dared call his friend out on the possible use of clever word play. Psyis doubting the latter part of the statement herself, she'd battled VoidSide before personally.

"There's already three different loopholes I can think of using in that statement." Constantinople raised a brow, reaching across and placing the third shot glass in front of the psychic with a meaningful look, as he continued. "And you're the type to use them, even the litmus test across from me can't read you so I'm not sure you deserve the pass."

"I don't sell information especially my own, so both of you can pry on your own time or go join the Blane's" Izime shook his head trying his best to politely put the exorcists questions to rest and head off the psychic who had joined them for the night, "I'm not wasting a night at Lucky Dog's on this, especially after you cleared my tab."

"I wasn't prying," Psyis held her hands up as she reached for her bottle of beer, denying Izime's accusation. Carefully backing off the subject that the exorcist had opened up, explaining why she'd mentioned it at all. "I just didn't know if you were aware Constantinople was trying to set us up as a thing tonight, talking really big on the stairs about you needing someone by your side."

Izime tried to not drop his drink at Psyis words, the slosh mixing the layers of coffee liquor and cream in the white russian. Playing it off, giving the drink a bit firmer and more intentional swirl to slosh the beverage, sitting back. Taking a bit more care to mind his drink, looking carefully as the dark colors swirled over milky ice. That was new, the doubts about his past weren't. Izime taking a bit deeper drink as before placing the glass down unsure how to feel about this change in the conversation's focus, the different direction of Constantinople's usual behavior.

A steady relationship, that was something he probably needed to consider at some point sure; in another thousand years maybe. Certainly not with a Thessian though, they would likely only be insulted by sharing their mental bonds with a bird. Let alone the Miss Psyis who was already had a major role in this world, her script was essentially set. In hindsight Izime was wishing the exorcist had just been trying to get him laid like he had since they'd met.

In fact, he'd expected the usual shenanigans tonight, certainly not the lack luster exorcist to put effort into finding him a girlfriend. Let alone the potential match for his destitute friend to be the world-famous super-heroine from Centropolis. Izime not finding the chuckle he thought he would have at the idea as he considered it more, this was just a bad match all around. Constantinople had either prayed sincerely, found a sixth part of his soul to sell, or just leaned into blind romanticism with such high hopes.

"Do you have some weird bet going," Izime tried to wrap his head around Constantinople's possible motivations beyond genuinely misplaced good intentions. Trying to clarify the very different status in society the two shared Izime motioned between Psyis and himself, "Celebrity and a homeless man?"

"You are hardly homeless; you just don't like owning property on Earth." Constantinople shook his head at Izime's appearance of poverty, throwing back the tiny mock Guinness as he accused him. Swallowing bitterly before pointing at the two who had soured the shot in his hand wanting to set them straight. "Ye might be good for one another just like I told her, bunch of daft arses."

"Thanks for thinking of me buddy," Izime shook his head and took his own shot, watching as Psyis slammed her own empty glass down on the table as well. Izime trying to cover for his idiotic friend apologized once more he turned towards the alien who was taking a slight magenta hue from the liquor, "again I'm sorry, I'll find a moon someplace and ditch him there as punishment."

Psyis just nodded hoping the blush caused by Constantinople thoughts could be attributed to the shot she had just taken. Unsure if she should press the issue the exorcist had posed to her, which was that Izime hadn't said no. The man hadn't really answered anything from the little questions about him to even touching on how he felt about her. Just a self-depreciating apology before sarcastically shelving any real response in favor of watching the band on the stage.

The exorcist who'd caused the whole situation jumping in-between trying to rescue the night with a change of topics.

"Alright, alright, I'll stuff the idea so long as it doesn't make you two awkward," Constantinople looked between the two hoping that his good intentions hadn't once again ruined a bright future, even if it was just the chance of one. "So... Dark Night?"

Izime nodded looking back towards the table as he turned his glass, revealing his minor concerns over the heroic sleuth investigating him, "Not the worst issue I've had, I imagine he'll dig through my files and come up with a hundred or two ways to try and sanction me off planet."

"I'm hoping the Vidan Security Council just sticks with humans belong on earth as I don't exactly have records here." Giving a bit of a sorry look back towards the stage Izime spilled a little tidbit of information taking another sip. Sure, Izime knew he'd claimed he was human and for all intents and purposes he was, he'd been certified and given the pedigree by the only authority he'd acknowledged on the issue. Though the fact that paperwork and professional opinion didn't extend to this reality was a bit of an issue he'd yet to manage.

"Y..." Constantinople was about to call Izime out, having just said he'd been from earth, instead only shaking his head. Already knowing the next words that would have come out of Izime's mouth if he'd finished that thought Constantinople dropped the issue, "never mind."

The man refused to share any information about himself so why bother asking for clarification. Constantinople recalling the vague wording Izime always used when it came to himself. It was entirely possible Izime was born off world and was only technically an earthling by abusing some loophole in galactic legalese. Abusing some gap in the red tape, keeping the Vidan from extraditing him from earth; sure, on paper it might very well confirm everything Izime said.

"Why don't you just get an I.D.?" Psyis asked as she was honestly curious as to why Izime hadn't just gotten some kind of non-driver photo I.D. or otherwise. They would surely be helpful if not necessary to have a decent time on earth; immediately rolling her eyes as Izime turned to smile brightly; Psyis knowing she'd been had.

"I don't sell information that goes double for my own," Izime took a smaller sip as he watched the psychic kick herself for not thinking of the obvious answer she would receive. "You should know that by now Miss Psyis."

Izime glancing over the rim of his glass at the two of them watching their reactions as the ice melted down slowly. Constantinople giving a short snort, cocking a brow at the mind reader who Izime had just used to shotgun down any further questions. The Psychic already having rolled her eyes at him Izime was a little taken back at the second less playful look. The alien giving him a sideways glance before huffing her own response.

"I told you too, it's just Psyis." Turning her red eyes away Psyis let Izime have his little victory, she was more upset by the way he was treating her. A heroine on second and just another person the next, she wished once again she could just peek inside to get a solid answer on just what Izime was thinking.

The woman giving the man across from her a bit of a cross look as she tried to make sense of him. Did he even respect her at all or was using her full title just to taunt her, and what about how casually he'd acted in the alley. Psyis already having her fill of being yanked around by Steven's mood swings let alone someone doing it intentionally. If it was intentional at all, the mind-reader suffering from this odd lack of knowing once more.

"Short answer is proving any form of citizenship." Izime decided to throw a couple chips down on the table, tossing the two a nugget of information they would discover later anyway. Hoping it would at least smooth whatever feathers he'd ruffled on the mostly purple alien Izime explained further, "Dark Night is going to eventually confirm I'm not from earth and not just suspect it, the Vidan's records are only going to confirm his suspicions."

Psyis giving a thoughtful sip of her own beer not wanting to reveal her contentment at Izime at least sharing something beyond the tired catch phrase. Ignoring the reaction of the usually more convincing exorcist next to her as she reveled in her little moment. The response obviously a reaction to the upset tone she'd taken with him just a moment before, Izime quickly backtracking at her words. The alien unsure of just how much she should allow her ego to grow.

"OK enough answers from me, let's all drink then the two of us go get a tank from hell so you can take it to hell." Izime took another deep swig sending few remaining clouds of dark and white mixing about further, returning Constantinople's curious look, "Never been to mercury?"

"I, ah, I'll head back to the Blane's afterwards then," Psyis glanced between the two men at the table trying to find her own plans for the night seeing as Izime had certainly just cut her out, "I can just meet up with you in Centropolis at some point afterwards, next year I think you said?"

"At least see if the budgies willing instead of lying to the lass, rude arse doesn't have any family." Constantinople wanted to try and kick Izime under the table, though just the thought was enough to clue in the psychic. The exorcist deciding to call Izime out openly for the lie, putting his foot down on the issue of who was going where. "She's coming I didn't cold shoulder a Blane for you to be anti-social, that's my gig."

"I didn't lie." Izime swallowed down the half the remaining alcohol at once, sitting the glass down a bit roughly. Refusing to acknowledge any look that would follow his revelation after the game Constantinople had tried to play earlier. Even though it certainly wasn't the nosy exorcist business what he'd planned with Psyis, he had to explain a bit, "I invited her to meet some of my family."

"Meet the family, Izzy's?" Constantinople looked over at the man who according to Lucy had no relation to this world. At least not when he had entered hell beside the exorcist to start dealing toxin, "You don't have family."

Constantinople watching as Izime nodded along with the beat, taking a moment to form a proper reply. The exorcist knew the question was loaded, as he already had a bit of insider information on Izime. His friend a look as if he was a bit regretful, Constantinople only wondering about what. If it was Lucy's words, the question in general, or his own friends coming response.

"The stuff in hell was just a technical truth," Izime spoke at towards the stage, finally looking back towards the exorcist wanting to put the incident he was recalling to rest, "I have people I care about who care about that's family enough outside of blood relations. One's a huge Miss Psyis fan anyway so I figured why not."

"I'm supposed to go listen to them play music, once it warms up enough that its worth playing in the square, I assume?" Psyis interjected, glad when Izime simply nodded along. Tilting his nearly empty glass towards the psychic who had spelled it all out well enough.

Izime nodded along as he considered his own parts to the planned meeting, like how it couldn't be raining but still needed to be busy enough that the celebrity heroine wouldn't stick around too long. Though not so busy that Shya couldn't say hi. Just arranging a quick meet and greet, he wasn't introducing Psyis to the two on any kind of personal level. Izime didn't want Shya to think this was something her Uncle Izime could pull off on the regular. Just collecting the odd knickknack, a free pass to see Miss Psyis was available so he'd snagged one for his niece.

The three taking that chance to turn to lighter topics, talking until the drinks were finally finished. The minutes passing quickly with idle chatter until Psyis wound up reminding the two they couldn't spend the night away getting wasted.

The two magic users and psychic paying a pleasantly surprised Jessie before disappearing into the streets of Voltham. The group roaming around in the late night, looking for a decent place to set up a teleportation spell. Settling on a location they'd found in an abandoned parking complex; Constantinople began busily inscribing with the chalk. Psyis and Izime standing off to the side a considerable bit of distance between them as Izime muttered quietly at the bundle of feathered irritation in his hands.

"Miss Psyis. Come on Cradle don't be rude." Izime tried to hold the raven's attention, the bird scratching at the concrete and bobbing its head around to glance past him.

"Stupid. Purple." Cradle saw a bit of the gray hoodie standing a ways away, glancing up at Izime before trying to give a flap of its wings. Cawing out hoping to aggravate the alien once more, not giving Izime a reason to intervene. "Stupid purple! Stupid."

Psyis just smiling, giving a slight bow of her head. Not baring any teeth, hoping it came across as apologetic and not irritating or taunting towards the raven. At first using the excuse of an apology to meet now feeling a bit worried as the bird was very obviously upset at her still. Constantinople pushing the meet forward may not have been the wisest move, though he seemed unworried.

"Nope, now you're doing it on purpose," Izime tapped the raven on the nose as it seemed to calm down, happy that at least one of the two halves of this problem could behave like a reasonable adult. Izime glanced back, pointing at the alien trying to make headway with the childish raven, "She came here to be nice and if you accept her apology, she'll give you a treat."

Cradle looked under Izime's arm, glancing at the annoying alien that hadn't even waited a day before popping back up. Stupid purple was useless, and Cradle had decided it didn't want her apology after all. The female couldn't even put up a good show now, simply rolling over after all that spitting in its face earlier. All at Izime's request, the cowardly crowess was revealing her colors, Cradle had more fight when it'd been just a chick. Now she intended to bribe her way into forgiveness after not just being rude but failing Cradles most basic expectations for her. Flying hero's meant money and here she was once again with nothing to show for it!

Oh, sure Constantinople had sent them a transfer but that was for something else. Cradle knew they were going back to the ship to Izime's home, the Thessian obviously plotting to feed it from their own stash of treats. It was disingenuous at best and the behavior of a thieving crow at worst!

"Capabilities of a supercomputer and flying lawnmower combined with temper of a seven-year-old." Constantinople shot a look at the terrifying creature that was misbehaving in Izime's grasp before nodding towards Psyis and explaining, "I'd try pleading your case lass, sooner rather than later."

The exorcist was aware that every single safety feature on the device activated simply because the one handling the bird was Izime, the beasties bond. Any other being likely to start losing limbs quite quickly. Izime could treat Cradle like a raven because for him the bird was willing to limit itself to one, that feature was optional and dependent of the living machines own attitude towards anything else. If it chose, they could instead be facing a whirling free-form blender, that or the terrifying nanite cloud the raven was made of.

"I'm sorry for touching you without permission Cradle, and Izime. I just didn't know what you were," Psyis gave the exorcist a thankful nod as she tried talking to Cradle directly, the birds head still snaked under Izime's arm. The thessian trying to match her own speech to the ravens limited vocabulary, "causing a scene in the noodle shop wasn't very good of me. I will try to be good from now on.

"Not stupid?" Cradle decided it would play along, if everyone here thought they could talk Psyis through an apology they had another thing coming.

"Just purple." Psyis gave a little smile, a hint of enthusiasm slipping in as she thought she might be making progress in building a bridge with the bird.

"Not Stupid!" Cradle gave an agitated flap, wanting to hear the alien say the words properly. Glancing up at Izime both for reinforcement and to see if its bond had caught on to the clever trick it intended to play.

"Fine I won't be stupid anymore." Psyis rolled her head brushing her mohawk aside as she handed the raven the words it was demanding to hear, red eyes giving a sarcastic look at red lenses. "Not Stupid!"

"Purple!" Cradle looked back up at Izime, playing along happily with the thessian's silly apology. Cradles happily bobbing head looking at its bond in pride as it'd successfully trained the thessian.

"Are you going to behave?" Izime looked down at the raven, still doubtful for some reason. Though this did seem along the lines of Cradles typical upset little fit throwing.

"Cradle is a good birdie." Cradle gave a pecking nod of its head before hopping in time with Izime's new friends name. Izime could forgive the alien, Cradle intended to bide its time hopping along until it could spring its trap. "Purple Purple."

"OK well that's that cleared up," Constantinople gave a nod of admiration towards Psyis before looking at the bird that had always given him the creeps and asking about himself. "What about old fish and chips?"

"Con, Stain! Con, Stain!" Cradle puffed its feathers out, giving a grating croak of a cry with each syllable as its demeaned the exorcist that was always poking at Izime.

"Good Cradle." Izime nodded giving the ravens back an appreciative stroke smoothing out the puffed feathers.

"Bloody bird." Constantinople stood finally finished with his end of the teleportation spell. A circle etched with various runes and symbols. Its center a geometric ideogram of some sort, "Go and set up a portal on your end I'm not playing the guessing game with a tank that size under pressure."

"You guys haven't ever... you know spilled a bunch of that stuff, have you?' Psyis leaned away from the wall, idly asking the question that had popped into her mind aloud.

"No." "Yep!" "NO!'

The silence dragging on for a moment, finally looking up to see three sets of eyes looking at her. As if spurred on by her eyes three immediate replies came at once, two laden with guilt one happily hopping in truth.

"OK, first of all I'm a better psychic than that Constantinople so try harder next time," Psyis looked at the exorcist who had tried to block her with a mental image of a pint, before turning to thank the only honest person there. "And thank you at least for being honest Cradle."

"It got cleaned up... in a fashion" Constantinople stuffed a hand into his pocket while the other waved in explanation.

"It was a free sample, and the demons loved it." Izime crossed his arms defiantly still proud he'd managed to hit the portal at all.

"Constantinople you should know better and you, you... I swear," Psyis looked between the two as the excuse came flying at her, first admonishing Constantinople. Then turning and taking a couple steps towards Izime her warning cut short "I ever hear of something like this happening in Centropolis I wil-"

"Purple!" A raven's cry echoed in the empty parking garage as a red eye twitched.

Psyis looked at the bird that had just interrupted her biting her lip in frustration, they had just settled their own little spat. The bird needed to stay out of her business with Izime, "I-Cradle please understand, Iz-"

"Purple!" Cradle hopped up and forward as it cut her off.

The raven glad that it had a chance to play with the alien, Izime had told it to be nice fine, it would play all kinds of fun games with Purple. It would show them both how stupid they were, Izime for thinking he'd outsmarted Cradle and Psyis for thinking she could trick Izime. Cradle would show her all kinds of games, like the 'you can't talk' game, so many games she'd hated it and never bothered them again.

Psyis watched as the smile spread further on the man's face, one hand reaching up to slowly pat the bird that was still interrupting her, "Izime I'm just warning you don't pu-" "Pur!ple! Pur!ple!" Cradle gave a perfect example of the childlike mentality Constantinople had warned of as it sang out Psyis growing shade as a new chorus to some unheard rhythm.

"Cradle, Cradle... look at me, look!" Psyis clapped her hands trying to interrupt the little stomping strut Cradle was doing while chanting her new name, finally get its attention she tried to remind it of Izime's words earlier. "Izime already went over this I'm not just purple remember?"

"Just stupid?" Cradle cocked its head watching as the alien seemed to boil over her colors adjusting a bit as the blue ribbons slimmed, making her appear a bit brighter and all the angrier. The raven trying to keep its throaty chunking chuckle inside as it looked at the loser of its game, instead only managing to muffle a mocking squawk.

"This is why I'm glad Dark Night isn't here right now, I could imagine all the safety issues he would try and snag me on. Last thing I need is OSHA as an actual dark crusader and a literal mind-reader flagging every violation post-humorously," Izime rubbed his head not wanting the psychic breathing down his neck in worry of her city. While walking towards Constantinople to get the chalky spell component needed for the true teleportation gate Izime gestured towards Cradle accusingly. It was obvious by the thessian's shade she wasn't having nearly as much fun as Cradle was with their new game, "All while my work crew pisses them off."

"Who's OS-? Forget it mate, I'll chalk it up to forbidden knowledge." Constantinople brushed off his tan trench coat curiously asking about what sounded like the name of some elder god, Ousha. Standing the exorcist reminded himself to not ask, instead he lazily under-handed the chalk towards Izime. "Speaking of, catch"

"Close enough." Izime agreed, nodding as he reached out to catch the chalk. Instead stumbling to the side as a purple fist connected with his bicep, a delicate finger digging in through the leather to twinge the muscle a bit. Instead of chalk which she'd caught mid-air, she'd thrown a surprise punch for him to catch.

The chalk suspended in a light purple haze as the psychic took a only somewhat friendly swing at him her knuckle still digging further into his arm. Izime looked over trying not to appear surprised by her actions even though he could feel his ears growing warmer. Izime trying to make some sense out of the look on her face, irate and something along the lines of joking. A pair of white brows furrowing with cheeks slightly puffed purple in frustration with one purple and blue finger pointing accusingly at Cradle, Psyis tried to explain away her attack.

"Fix that if you want us to get along. The purple joke is fine, and I'm used to a little mouth but please respect Centropolis, it is my home." Ire fizzling out, Psyis averted her eyes as Izime silently demanded a reason for being accosted. However, she still refused to stop her twisting drill into his arm, pressing him for an answer.

"I will," Izime nodded and plucked the bit of chalk from the air, glad Psyis wasn't asking how exactly he had remained unaffected by the spill or any of the other thousands of questions she could. Simply assuring her with a reminder as he stepped away from the heroine who was apparently willing to consider having his business in Centropolis, "My family lives there too."

The heroine only caring they had cleaned up their mess, apparently not bothering to ask for further details about the spill. Seemingly occupied with whatever memory she had stolen from Constantinople or Cradle's taunting to continue antagonizing him further. Instead crossing her arms and turning away from him to examine the far side of Constantinople's work. Taking the moment of distraction to scoop the bird up, tucking Cradle on his shoulder Izime prepared to copy the rather large magical circle.

The bird settling down in a ruffle of feathers as a blue light began to sweep across the various runes. Taking exact measurements, locations in relation to stellar objects, every minor detail and adjusting them to cast the matching spell. Cradle essentially copying the entire thing so it could easily be pasted elsewhere; ready to use aside from the actual regents themselves.

"Absolute bollocks that, bloody hack!" Constantinople walked over to the alien, calling back to Izime as he stood on the far side of the circle before continuing, "If I hadn't made one first he'd be helpless."

"Everyone's a critique," Izime tucked the chalk in his pocket, brushing away Constantinople's comment as he raised his hand giving a sarcastic smile. His own warping spell far outmatching the ancient relic of transport on the ground before him. "Don't call me a hack just because I can do it faster. Now, I'll be back."

"He's lucky that spell doesn't kill him." Constantinople snarked at Psyis while he waved towards the few lingering sparks. For some spell used created by a supreme sorcerer it sure seemed malleable enough for Izime's purposes. The exorcist absolutely distrustful of the short-cut form that circumvented proper spell casting, "Its originally a janky bit of kit from Tibet used by the sorcerers over there, he tore it down and enchanted his hands with it so anything he's touching get snapped along with him."

Psyis simply nodding along as she considered just how Izime seemed to get under everyone's skin in a slightly different way. Constantinople's out of worry for him, the Blane's out of irritation and possible fear, even her own in some indescribably frustrating way. The thoughts she had on Izime lasting far longer than the sparks he'd left behind in the parking garage.