Mist of Shadows
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Mist's Jumps Part 49
🕑 Added 2018-05-02 00:09:56 +0000 UTCGenie flopped down on the couch next to Mist. “Have you figured out where you’re going?”
Mist looked up from the data pad filled with jumps that he’d been looking at. “Yeah, I was looking in the wrong place.”
“Wrong place?” Genie asked curious what he meant.
“I was looking for a high tech jump that focused on starships, somewhere I could pick up a ship I could use to fight everyone in 40k, what I really needed was just a place to set up shop so I could build a decent ship to import into the end jump.”
“Makes sense, you found a place?” Genie asked with amusement.
Mist smiled. “Yeah, DC Occult, it has some crazy magical abilities that I want to pick up before I start wandering around the multiverse without training wheels and they have aliens and ships.”
Genie snickered. “Not a bad strategy, a year should give you more than enough time to put everything together.”
“That’s the theory. I have adamantium and scans of Captain America’s shield and a couple versions of Thor’s hammer… toss in Wonder Woman’s bracelets and various other super metals I can find and I’ll have a ship that can crush everything 40k has.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Genie tossed the DC Occult jump on the wall.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“Nah, I’ll check in now and then once you get your spark, promise.”
Mist sighed in relief. “In that case, let’s get the show on the road, I think the party is winding down anyways.”
Genie snickered. “I don’t know, I was enjoying watching Dawn screw her alternate.”
“That’s because you’re a pervert,” Mist pointed out good naturedly while he started working on his build.
“Everyone needs a hobby,” Genie replied as she conjured a root beer.
“True enough.”
Genie took a sip and savoured the taste as she watched Mist grab the various abilities that he wanted. She was looking forward to hanging out on Mist’s island and spending some quality time with the girls once it wasn’t a conflict of interest and a rules violation. “Have you figured out who you’re going to import yet?”
“I have eight slots other than Abby and Selena. I’m planning on sticking a decent amount of my points into the companion import option so they’ll have plenty of points.”
“What about the scenarios?”
“I’d rather not get stuck babysitting the next Merlin or get stuck in hell considering I’m going to need a fair amount of time to put together my spaceship. Even if I bind or destroy the Spectre, the Presence would probably just bring him back. Killing Trigon would be worth points but I’d rather not have to clean everything up, especially since I’d rather just treat the jump like a working vacation.”
“You’re not going to take any of the drawbacks are you?” Genie asked with amusement.
“I’m probably going to take the one that makes my skin extremely pale and my hair midnight black like a monochromatic animated character. I don’t really mind standing out and it doesn’t say I can’t cover it up with illusion if I have to.”
Genie snickered. “Keep in mind that your clothes will change to match.”
“That’s fine, I can deal with wearing black and white clothes for a year.” Mist wasn’t all that concerned about having monochromatic clothes.
“Cool, should be interesting,” Genie agreed as she looked over his build.
DC Occult
Location: Gotham
Source: Natural (Drop In)
Scholar: Gain the Library of Eternity and Fountain of Youth for free. Someone knows you have the library and they want it.
Age: 21
Perks:
Mystical Sensitivity: [Free] Your experience with magic has left you acutely aware of traces of magical energy. You can tell what kind of spells were cast days after the fact by the residual energy they left behind, discern the potency and nature of enchantments, and track down anything that leaves behind a magical trail.
Sleight of Hand: [Free] You've had a good deal of practice at stage magic, street magic, or something in between. In addition to great skill at card tricks and various other illusions, you're none too shabby at picking locks and pockets. With some practice, you may even be good enough do things like steal a watch right off of someone’s wrist.
The Moving Finger Writes: [300] Magic always has a price and you are certainly no exception to this rule. However, you are very skilled at… negotiation. You may, in exchange for the normal consequences of a spell, expend enough magical energy to pay your dues. This scales with the value of what would have been taken in the place of the raw energy. Shrugging off addictive magic would be a small fee, but who can put a true value on something so priceless as a human soul? What’s that? You can quantify the value of a human soul? Well that doesn’t seem entirely moral, but if you’re willing to pay the exorbitant fee it would surely entail, who am I stop you?
Items
Stage Set: [Free] A comprehensive set of everything you need to put on a magic show. Any supplies used or destroyed will be replaced within 24 hours. This covers everything from a stage, curtains, some tables and chairs, and even a cutting box and glass tank, along with an assortment of tools such as chains, cards, and more. Order now and it’ll come with smoke machines, bunnies, and doves for no extra cost!
Fountain of Youth: [Free] A fountain appears in your warehouse, filled with sparkling crystal water that is always pleasantly cool. Anyone submerged in the pool will cease to age, be regressed to their physical prime (if past it), and be granted the ability to understand and speak to any creature in its native language, be it man, beast, or magical entity. Any non-sapient living being will cease to age, be regressed to their prime (if past it), and also be granted human-level intelligence as well as the ability to speak.
Library of Eternity: [Free] An incredible enchanted library is added onto your warehouse. This library is an artifact of immense value that was long thought to only exist within myth and legend, for within it is all the knowledge of mankind. This infinite library will absorb all written knowledge in very jump that you visit. The only exception to this are singularly unique and important books such as the Book of Eternity or the Necronomicon. Of course, you’ll have to find the books you want to read, first. Luckily if you enter the library with a specific topic in mind you’ll tend to find yourself in the right area with only a few minutes wandering around.
Companions:
Jumper Brigade: [300 +500] You may instead Import up to 8 companions for 300 CP with 600 CP each. You may also supplement companions' CP with your own at a 1:1 ratio, with all of them gaining an equal amount from it. Boosted their CP by 300 so they have 1,100 points each.
Drawbacks:
Really Need A Tan: [+100] You’re really pale. Like, Jesus Christ you’re pale. Could be mistaken for one of the Endless, pale. What’s more, your hair is as dark as night and clothes you put on will change to match. You’re practically monochromatic.
Abby/Selena:
Source: Natural (Drop In)
Zatara: Get Real Magic for free, with significant training in backwards magic. Zatanna may
become a companion for free, if you wish. Sadly this also means you get the family’s collection of enemies.
Real Magic: [Free] This is where it starts to get interesting. You have training in how to use real magic, whether you have training in a specialized version such as the backwards magic that the Zatara family uses or a more generalized type, you're capable of some fun stuff. Teleporting, transmuting, energy blasts, etc. On a small scale, you're capable of just about anything if you have the energy and know the right spells.
Genie snickered. “Looks legit if a bit cheeky. I’m guessing you’re going to have one of your companions take Modern Day Merlin.”
Mist shrugged. “Pretty much. The drawbacks suck. There are a couple I could put up with if I really needed the points but I don’t. Besides, the companion import basically screams abuse me.”
“Yeah, it really does,” Genie agreed as Ashley and Julia walked over with the Hermione from the last world. “Having fun?”
Ashley grinned at Genie. “It could use a couple more strippers but it’s nice enough.”
Hermione blushed. “It’s nice, thank you.”
“What’s up?” Mist asked as he glanced between the three girls.
Ashley said, “We overheard you mention that there were slots open for companions.”
Julia nodded. “So we’re volunteering.”
Mist grinned. “In that case, welcome aboard. I need someone to buy the Starheart shard and the Tower of Fate and a couple of things but you have plenty of points.”
Genie said, “You should probably import Aerial and the other Hermione considering you paid points for them so Pandora could drag them to the party.”
“Sounds reasonable,” Mist agreed.
Julia said, “Patricia, Kimberly and Melinda would love to come with us if you need more people.”
“I’m not picky and it would give Aerial and both Hermiones a modern background and education.”
“I’ll go get them.” Ashley bounced to her feet and ran off to find her friends and family in question.
Genie took another drink of her root beer as she watched the fun.
“Does Dimension Lord count as a perk or an item?” Mist asked innocently.
Genie carefully lowered her bottle as she looked down her nose at him. “You can’t perk share it and it’s too large to duplicate.” She stuck her tongue out at Mist.
“Just figured I’d ask,” Mist replied with amusement as he continued looking at the items and perks he needed the group to buy.
Genie laughed. “I don’t blame you for asking but no dice.”
Mist’s lips curled up in a slight smirk as he worked on his build.
0o0o0
Aerial Potter:
Age: 18
Source: Natural
Modern Day Merlin: You were born with potential very rarely seen. Your power is enough to allow you to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest mages the world has ever known, given time to mature. Beware however, as there are many that will seek to use you for their own ends. Gain Greatest Magician of the Age for free. Merlin himself, though he rests in an enchanted sleep, will project his mind into the body of a small animal that will offer to tutor you in the use of your great power. Everyone knows about your potential power and wishes to use you for their own ends or kill you so that others cannot. Expect regular visits early on to convince you to go with them - visits from people who will do everything they can to ensure you can’t say no.
Perks:
Sleight of Hand: [Free]
Baby Magic: [200] Oh no, not you. You don’t need those training wheels on your power. Your mastery allows you to eschew requirements for magic outside of the magical energy needed to power the spell and the focus needed to shape it. You don’t need wands or reagents or even incantations for your magic, simply the will and knowledge of how to accomplish something. This isn’t without downsides, of course. It’s always somewhat both harder and less effective the more powerful the spell and the more components you eschew. Throwing a simple fireball without a chant won’t make much of a difference, but attempting to cast world rending spells that normally require elaborate rituals and hours of incantations are another matter entirely.
You Know My Reputation: [200] You have an astounding capacity to bluff your way out of anything, mostly due to your supernaturally good poker face. You have absolutely no tells and even attempts to peer into your mind can't discern whether or not you're lying. You could lie to God and he'd be none the wiser.
Faustian Flip: [400] You know how making a deal with the devil never seems to play out in your favor? Well, now it’s time for that to finally change. You may freely break any sort of binding deal or contract made with a magical being while retaining any and all benefits you received from said deal. Just, you know, be prepared for a pissed off benefactor if you decide to do so. Of course, this does have one limitation. Namely that it only works on one deal at a time. Using it to retain the benefits of a new deal will result in the forfeiture of all those gained from the last such deal. Still, this is quite the talent you have here. Use it carefully.
Greatest Magician of the Age: [Free] A normal mortal mage is constrained by the limits of their mortal body and soul. The only way to increase their power past a certain point is to become something more or to wield powerful artifacts. For you, however, this is not the case. Not only do you start with much greater power than most, but there is no true ceiling to your growth. You will, for a time, grow in power at a meteoric rate, and then slow. But you will never reach a point where your magic cannot grow further.
Items:
Stage Set: [Free]
Tarot Cards: [100] You have an enchanted set of Tarot cards. In addition to functioning much the way they're supposed to, they also change to have personalized illustrations based on the person drawing the cards. Of course, the damn things don’t actually come with any instructions, so you’ll have to figure out fortune telling on your own.
Cloak of Levitation: [100] An indestructible magical cape that moves according to the wearer’s will. This cape is a masterfully enchanted object that allows the wearer to fly at the speed they can move without the need to expend any of their magical energy, and considerably faster if they pour on the magic.
Worn Trench Coat: [100] A worn trench coat with pockets that seem to be able to store an impossible amount of things. An iconic item for some of the more modern magical types, whether working as a magical detective or an arcane conman, this coat will help you do it in style.
Melinda:
Age: 18
Source: Half Blood
Background: Jumper, Princess) of Jumpworld: Your parent was a being of vast power who ruled over their own personal plane. Now you have inherited that power and that place, along with their authority over it. Gain Dimension Lord and Highway To Hell for free. Your dimension is twice the size it would have otherwise been. You retain your full (normal) power outside of your dimension, but may only stay outside of it for no more than a week at a time before you are forcibly recalled and must spend twice as long as inside the dimension as you did outside of it.
Twisted Sister: [Free] Your mind is ever so slightly warped, allowing you to resist effects that would normally disorient you. Compulsions to not notice something themselves go unnoticed and a weak attempt at hypnotism would fail utterly. This will do little against more powerful effects, but it’ll stop smaller stuff from being a nuisance.
Dark and Troubled Times: [Free] Your life has led you into contact with some unsavory characters, and this has taught you how to blend into dangerous places. Whether it's a bar filled with dangerous people or a cult meeting, so long as you keep your head down and at least try to blend in, you're unlikely to be caught.
Highway To Hell: [Free] There exists magical pathways between most mystical dimensions. Heaven, Hell, Faerie, Gemworld, and pretty much every afterlife or magical nook and cranny you care to name. With proper knowledge of these pathways, one can easily slip into them, allowing easy access to both them and what amounts to teleportation around earth, as well. And you are one of the few people with knowledge of pretty much all of them. After this jump, you will retain the ability to travel between nearby magical dimensions and enough knowledge to not easily get lost while doing so. You also can’t access magical dimensions outside of your current jump until your chain is finished. In jumps that don’t have alternate magical dimensions this simply acts as a form of magical fast travel system instead.
Brute Force: [200] The inhuman source of your abilities grants you not only magical power, but also physical power as well. Your durability is enough to completely ignore conventional firearms and laugh in the face of a grenade exploding in your face. Your strength, likewise, allows you to casually throw large vehicles and tear through steel as if it were paper.
Thirteen: [300] Your nature has given you an incredible resistance to magic. Normal magicians would be completely unable to affect you, and the magic of more powerful beings would be greatly weakened when used against you. You have complete control over this ability, allowing you to be affected by any magic you choose. You can not be compelled to lower your resistance unwillingly, even if mind controlled or enchanted by someone else. Only a conscious choice made with free will on your part can lower it, unless it would explicitly be to your benefit, such as an allied spellcaster attempting to dispel a mind control spell or curse affecting you. Just, you know, this won't do much of anything if someone uses magic to levitate a huge boulder above your head and drop it on you or uses magically enhanced strength to snap your neck.
Dimension Lord: [Free] You are the proud owner of a magical dimension. Whether you inherited it from your parent, usurped it from their control, or gained it in some other way entirely, this is a world all your own. It can be some something associated with your parent, such as a section of Hell or a slice of Faerie, or it can be a dimension all its own. Whatever the case, within this dimension, your power is increased significantly over as you gain dominion over all of the magical power that exists within the dimension. The world can be reshaped to your will, allowing you to change the environment as you wish or control the weather on a whim. This dimension is roughly 40,000 square miles in size and you may choose to have it be inhabited by residents that are fitting to it. This could be anything from humans to elementals, fae to golems, or a variety mix. Whatever the case, these residents are absolutely loyal to you and can number anywhere from none to several million. Even outside of this dimension, you may draw on its power, though not nearly so much as while within and it is possible to block your attempts to do so. Drawing on its power outside of it does not increase your power, it simply allows you to recover your pool of magical energy much faster. You may also summon the residents outside of your dimension to serve you.
Items:
Family Tree: [Free] It can be hard, sometimes, to track down ancestors when one side of the family can live for centuries, but now it’s just a little bit easier. With a drop of blood on this large scroll the names of your ancestors will be filled in - provided their identity isn’t being supernaturally concealed. This only provides the name they would be most commonly known by, which may unfortunately be a title for some beings, but hey - it’s a start.
Tower of Fate: [600] A replica of the Tower of Fate reserved for use by the eponymous Doctor Fate. This tower is as big as it needs to be and rests outside of the bounds of the multiverse. If all of creation were to be cast into oblivion or warped into a sea of chaos, this tower would remain untouched. Only you and those you welcome inside may enter and any inside may be ejected at your leisure. While you are inside the Tower, your power is amplified many times over. Even as a normal mage this would be enough to allow workings of magic comparable to Doctor Fate himself. You may choose to have this tower manifest inside any dimensions or pocket realms you own, which also allows you to take advantage of the towers benefits in a radius around the tower.
Hermione/Hermione/Ashley/Julia/Patricia/Kimberly:
Age: 18
Source: Half Blood
Background: Jumper, Princess) of Jumpworld:
You retain your full (normal) power outside of your dimension, but may only stay outside of it for no more than a week at a time before you are forcibly recalled and must spend twice as long as inside the dimension as you did outside of it.
Twisted Sister: [Free]
Dark and Troubled Times: [Free]
Highway To Hell: [Free]
Dimension Lord: [Free]
Kimberly’s Items:
Family Tree: [Free]
Sword of Night: [200] An ancient artifact forged for a great hero in another dimension. The Sword of Night possess several powers. First, it is, of course, a very sharp blade and it will always remain so, never rusting or dulling. Among its other abilities are the ability to sense danger and warn its wielder of such, the ability to force people to speak the truth, and the ability to restore its wielder to their prime and keep them there for so long as they wield it regularly.
Trident of Lucifer: [300] Something of a misnomer, this fiendish golden weapon is actually closer to the bastard offspring of a bident and a spear. An artifact of immense power forged long ago in the deepest fires of Hell, this Trident is greatly feared and lusted after by demons and mages alike. Able to summon forth enormous torrents of the flames of Hell in which it was born, this Hellfire not only burns the physical but also the magical and spiritual. These flames are powerful enough to burn most beings to ash within an instant and banish or destroy all but the absolute most powerful of demons and spirits.
Starheart Shard: [600] A shard of the Star-Heart, forged into the shape of a ring, freed from the malevolent taint of the true Starheart. It can conjure green, flame-like energy that can be shaped into constructs by the wielder's will, in much the same way as a Green Lantern Ring. It also allows the wielder to fly, encase their body in a magical force field that will allow them to ignore large amounts of damage and sustain themselves in environments such as the vacuum of space, and fire enormously powerful energy blasts. It does not, however, possess the more esoteric abilities of the true Starheart. Though it is powerful, a simple shard will not have the power of the entire Starheart. On the upside, you'll never have to recharge it, and it is not weak against wood like the complete Starheart is.
Hermione/Hermione/Ashley/Julia/Patricia’s Extras:
Mark of the Beast: [100] Your inhuman source of power has left its mark on you. Inhuman eye, skin, and hair color are all possible, manifestations of it, and you may very well appear inhumanly beautiful, terrifying, or imposing if you desire. Whatever the case may be, you’re definitely going to be turning heads when you walk down the street.
Tower of Fate: [600]
Oblivion Bar: [400] A magical bar that resides within its own pocket dimension. The main room is a somewhat large bar that you get to decide the actual appearance of. Want an Old West saloon? Knock yourself out. A nightclub complete with annoying techno music? I really don’t think the magical crowd will be into that, but sure. It also has several other rooms connected to the main one as well that you are welcome to decide the purpose of. How the bar is accessed is largely up to you. Could be a password that, when spoken, connects any door to the dimension or it could simply require customers to provide their own method of interdimensional transport. It also magically restocks itself each night, and repairs itself if damaged at the same time. Infinite booze should be reason enough to buy this, right?
Genie frowned as she finished reading the choices. “This is because I didn’t let you perk share the Dimension Lord isn’t it?”
Aerial’s Hermione spoke up, “We can copy pretty much everything else, which means we might as well grab things we can’t just copy, like dimensions, towers and extra dimensional bars.”
Aerial shifted her shoulders. “I’m still not sure about being a Modern Day Merlin but as long as everyone is willing to help, I’m okay with it.”
Pandora reached down and started massaging Aerial’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to help as soon as you start the jump and we can teleport in.”
“Thanks.” Aerial reached up and put her hand on Pandora’s hand.
Julia asked, “Do we have a place we’re meeting?”
“The strip club?” Mist turned to look at Genie.
Genie said, “I have no objections to putting your strip club in Gotham. Where do you want your island?”
“On my world, safe and sound,” Mist replied cheekily.
“Aww, it’s like you don’t trust the people in DC.”
“That’s because I don’t.”
“Are you saying that Lex isn’t an honest businessman?” Genie asked with amusement.
Mist snorted. “I don’t think I’ve ever read a DC story where Lex counted as honest. Even in the couple of stories where he’s portrayed as a decent person, he’s usually not honest.”
“Point. I’m guessing you want your island dropped in the tropical region?” Genie asked.
“That would be nice.”
“Easy enough, I’ll scatter the rest of your business holdings around the world.”
“Thanks, I’d rather not have everything in Gotham if I can help it.” Mist was fine with his stripclub being in Gotham because it gave them a place to hang out and no one would question it having extra security, especially in Gotham.
“In that case, I’ll see you in a year.” Genie snapped her fingers and sent everyone on their way.
0o0o0
Mist scowled as he dropped out of thin air and landed on his side on a table in the middle of a poker game. “Right, sorry about that…” he trailed off as he realized he’d dropped out of thin air onto the Joker’s table. “Yeah, this can’t end well.”
The Joker smirked. “Boys, take him out back and make an example out of him. No one crashes my table when I’m winning and lives.”
Mist scowled slightly as he was hauled off the table. “Enough.” He activated his flight power and stopped moving. “Get your hands off me.”
Harley gulped as she watched the stranger’s clothes shift from normal clothes ‘black’ to the type of black you only really saw in the abyss or a lightless cell. “Mister J.”
The Joker looked over at Harley. “What?”
Mist lashed out with his biokinesis and dropped both of the thugs that were touching his neck and hand unconscious. He flashed a smile at Harley as he stood up straight as the thugs crumpled to the ground. He ‘ignored’ the rest of the low lives in the underground casino as he focused on Harley. “My apologies for interrupting your game, now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got more important things to do than entertain a clown.”
The Joker pulled out his gun and shot Mist in the face. “Hah!...” he trailed off as he realized there wasn’t even a mark on his target. “Well shit. I surrender?” He held his hands up with a grin on his face.
“No.” Mist started laughing insanely as he pulled a large cartoon ‘wooden’ mallet out of his inventory then shifted into this toon form. “It’s clobberin time!” He stretched his arm forward and hit the Joker across his face with his sanity restoring technique then ‘lightly’ bonked Harley on the head so that he could restore her sanity or at least most of it. He ignored the rest of the crowd as he went to town on the Joker with the mallet knowing that he’d survive thanks to his hammer being animated.
Harley watched the stranger beat the shit out of the Joker for half a minute with a cartoon hammer before she asked, “Shouldn’t we call the police?”
“They’d just stick him back in the Asylum. I want to make sure he never wants to escape again.” Mist raised the mallet over his head.
“Put the weapon down,” Batman called out from the shadows.
“Are you a cop?” Mist asked as he put his mallet back in his inventory then shifted back to his normal form.
“He’s Batman,” Robin pointed out from near the back exit.
“Yeah, so? I’m the amazing Mist of Shadows, magician extraordinaire and godling of magic, you don’t see me arresting people left and right.”
Batman frowned slightly as he looked at the overly pale teenage looking male in front of him. “I’m a member of the Justice League which means I have arrest privileges in certain circumstances, mostly in relation to villains.”
“In that case, have fun, he should be right as rain in a couple of hours and out of the asylum in a couple months at most.” He turned to look at Harley. “Always a pleasure.”
“I have questions. What were you doing in an underground casino?”
“A teleportation spell went wrong, I dropped onto the Joker’s table and he told his thugs to make an example out of me, I objected, a lot.”
Harley nodded. “Yet, he appeared out of thin air.”
“Which is when you started hitting the Joker?” Batman asked suspiciously.
Mist shrugged. “To be fair he shot me first. I might be bulletproof but I don’t trust him not to start shooting random people or try to take hostages. The Joker isn’t exactly known for his restraint or common sense.”
“Are you really a god?” Robin asked in disbelief.
“I’m a minor god, want to make a deal for phenomenal cosmic power?”
“Does it come with a teeny tiny living space?”
Mist smirked. “Maybe.”
“Does any ever take that deal?” Robin asked with a touch of amusement.
“Not yet but there is always a first time.”
Harley raised her hand. “I’ll take it.”
Batman turned to look at Harley. “Harley.”
“What? He knocked some sense into me, the Joker is a lunatic and never loved me, I don’t want to go back to Arkham.” She turned to look at Mist. “Can you really make me a genie?”
Mist shrugged. “Sure, easy as pumpkin pie, actually, it’s easier than pumpkin pie.”
“I’m sure that breaks all sorts of laws, right?” Robin asked as he glanced at Batman.
“Really? Which ones? Last I checked there weren’t any laws that prevented a god from empowering someone.”
“Are there any enhancement options that don’t require a teeny tiny living space?” Robin asked with amusement and a touch of interest.
Batman snapped, “Robin.”
“Sure, I can give people a female alternate form that can lift an extra five tons, run all day at upwards of 50 mph and gives you a boost to any magic you have.”
“Female?” Robin asked with a touch of disappointment.
Mist laughed. “Technically I can give people an upgraded male form but the look on your face was amusing.”
Robin snorted. “How much?”
“It’s free to most heroes in good standing.”
“Free? What’s the catch?” Harley asked, confused that he’d give away something that valuable for free.
“Ah yes, the catch. The catch is I want everyone that gets the upgrades to also pick up the free mental defense abilities I can offer.”
“That’s it?” Robin asked in disbelief.
Mist shrugged. “Sure, it doesn’t cost me anything to empower people and I have enough money to live comfortably for the foreseeable future so it’s not like I need money. Besides, giving some of the league mental defenses is a public service. I’d rather not see the result of Superman being mind controlled by a lunatic like the Joker.”
Harley shivered. “That would be bad.”
“Exactly.”
Robin winced as he pictured Superman ripping through Gotham while the Joker laughed. “Never thought I’d say this but I agree with Harley.”
“How good are the mental defenses you can offer?” Batman asked warily.
“100%, perfect. I’m perfectly willing to let Zatanna cast a detection spell to make sure I’m telling the truth.”
“What about Wonder Woman’s lasso?”
“I’m fairly sure I could still lie but I’m willing try.”
“Does that mean I can leave?” Harley asked hopefully.
Mist turned to look at Harley. “Where you doing anything illegal?”
“Nope, just watching a game.”
“In that case, I don’t have any objections. Though if you want to be a hero, you’re going to need training.”
Robin glanced between the stranger and Harley. “Aww crap.”
Batman sighed. “Any objections to coming back to League Headquarters with us?”
“Not particularly,” Mist replied as the cops stormed in, guns drawn. ‘Gotham police, almost as corrupt as Sin City, yay.’ He had a feeling it was going to take a couple hours to sort things out with the cops, thankfully he didn’t have anything pressing.
0o0o0
Azaranth frowned slightly as his scared, crying and terrified target who had been holding a broken broomstick trying to ward him off straightened, her entire posture changing in an instant from terrified victim to something else, something much closer to the look a librarian might give someone that ripped a book in half in front of them. “Ah.”
Aerial Potter dropped the broomstick, conjured her armor and sword then lunged at the mostly human looking demon that had been harassing her. She’d sort through the confusing mess of memories later.
“Fuck!” Azaranth screamed as the girl’s sword managed to cut his arm off at the elbow despite his durability.
Aerial gestured with her left hand and chained the demon in place with glowing purple chains. “Why are you following me?”
Azaranth gestured with his left hand and sent a fireball at the girl then stared in shock as the flames washed over her with no effect. “What the hell are you?”
“Pissed!” She swung her sword around and hacked off the demon’s head. She turned as she heard someone clapping. She glared at the blond haired man in a trench coat that was half heartedly clapping. “How long have you been standing there?”
John smirked. “I just got here, I was going to help but you seemed to have it under control.”
“Right,” Aerial muttered as she let her conjured sword vanish then reached down and checked the demon’s pockets.
“What are you looking for?”
“A wallet or maybe some magical trinket I can hock,” she replied as she pulled his wallet out of his pocket and opened it.
John laughed. “You I like.”
Aerial grinned as she stole a stack of hundreds and fifties from his wallet as well as his credit card. “Score.” She stuffed the money in her pocket then looked through the rest of the wallet to make sure there wasn’t anything interesting in it. “Got a name?”
“John.”
“Let’s see, blond hair, wearing a trench coat, not overly freaked about demons, is your last name Constantine by any chance?” Aerial asked with a touch of concern as she dropped the wallet on the body.
“The very same,” he replied with amusement.
“Great,” she gestured at the body and the wallet and vanished them both with a silent and wandless vanishing spell. “In that case, I’ll be going now, things to do and people to see.” She turned and headed down the alley toward the club that she liked hanging out in.
John laughed as he fell into step with the strange trench coat wearing red haired girl. “So, where are we going?”
“We?” Aerial asked.
“My friend had a vision about you, she sent me to protect you.”
“Great, I’m going to a bar and getting a drink. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.” She cancelled her armor spell as she didn’t really want the attention.
John laughed as he followed her out of the alley. “So, how much do you know about magic?”
“I know a couple card tricks.”
“Right, nice trick with the sword by the way.”
“Thanks, it’s come in handy now and then,” Aerial admitted.
“Got a name?”
“Yes,” Aerial replied with amusement as she headed down the street.
“Going to give it to me?” John asked with a touch of amusement as he pulled a cigarette out of his coat and lit it with a touch of magic. ‘At least I don’t have to convince her that magic is real.’
“You’re a magic user, I’m not in the habit of giving my name to magic users. I hear they can do some nasty things with names.”
“Red it is,” John replied unconcerned about her giving him her name just yet.
“Any idea what you’re supposed to protect me from?” Aerial asked as they walked down the sidewalk. She was 95% sure the demon chasing her was a result of taking the Modern Day Merlin background but there was always a chance it was something else.
John finished a drag. “Just that some rather nasty things would happen if the demons got their hooks into you.”
“Sounds like Tuesday.” Aerial wasn’t sure how she felt about her current life, her father had vanished years ago and her Mom owned a used bookstore. Up until she’d started hanging out at the club learning magic, her life had been depressingly normal and yet she knew that she was also a magical knight and witch with a few years of experience and a screwed up childhood.
John frowned slightly as the girl led them to a heavily enchanted strip club. He glanced at the two large burly looking men in black suits working security then at the line of people waiting to get in. “Mist’s Lounge?”
“It has the best root beer around and hot girls, what’s not to like?”
“They have alcohol, right?” John asked with a touch of annoyance as he saw the no smoking sign above the rather burly looking bouncer that was making sure no one caused trouble as they entered the club.
“Quite the selection from what I hear,” Aerial replied as she headed to the VIP door. It felt a bit strange to know the man’s name even though part of her was sure this was the first time they’d met or at least it was the first time they’d met since getting her memories back. “Hi Brian.”
The bouncer smiled as he opened the VIP door for Aerial. “Welcome back.” He looked at John then pointed at the ashtray sitting next to the door. “No smoking in the club.”
John shook his head. “What’s the world coming to when you can’t smoke in a stip club?”
Brian laughed. “I don’t make the rules, I just enforce them.”
John grumbled as he put the third of a cigarette he had left out then followed Aerial into the building. He shivered slightly as he crossed the threshold and felt the almost ever present feeling of being watched vanish. “Nice security.”
“They’re sweethearts,” Aerial replied as she headed up the metal and glass stairs that led to the second floor where they could look down at the girls on stage.
“How did you score VIP status?” John asked rather curious about the club.
“I’m friends with Abby and Selena Zatara.”
“Interesting,” John admitted warily as he glanced around the club.
Zatanna looked up then frowned as she saw John. “What are you doing here?”
“Not enjoying my cigarette because someone decided that a strip club should be smoke free.”
“Filthy habit anyways,” Zatanna replied with amusement.
“It’s my habit and I like it,” John replied as he walked over to where his friend was sitting with her sisters.
Zatanna snorted. “That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”
“Zed had a vision of Red in danger.” He gestured toward Aerial. “I was in the area, figured I’d check on things so here I am.”
Abby smiled at John. “Welcome to the club, I guess.”
“Thanks,” John turned and looked at the attractive topless waitress walking out from the behind the bar. “Maybe not smoking is worth it.”
Selena snickered. “It has its perks.”
Aerial walked over and sat down on the leather couch across from Selena. “Sorry for bringing trouble.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s not like we didn’t know it was coming.”
The waitress stopped in front of the group, “What can I get you?”
John piped up, “Decent beer.”
Abby said, “Root beer floats for the rest of us.”
“Sure.” The waitress turned to look at Zatanna then turned and headed back toward the bar once Zatanna nodded.
John glanced at Zatanna. “So what have I gotten myself into here?”
Zatanna shrugged. “No idea, I just know she’s powerful, powerful enough that people are going to want to control her.”
“We’re probably going to get some demons showing up and evil magic users, you know the usual,” Selena pointed out with amusement.
John sighed. “Great. Start from the beginning.”
Abby snickered then launched into a rather edited tale of what they were expecting and their in jump backstory which was mostly them working on training Aerial for the last couple months.
0o0o0
Batman glared at the stranger that had Diana’s lasso wrapped around his arm. “Let me get this straight, you’re a god, you really can deliver everything you said and we’re insane?”
Mist glanced at Harley then back at the five Justice League members in the conference room they were using for his interview. “I’m a minor god so technically and yes I’m a god though barely any of my power comes from being a god. That said, I really can give you magical powers and mental defenses that should help you stay safe. No strings attached for the mental defenses and the only requirement for the upgrades is to accept the mental defenses.”
Flash said, “That seems rather generous of you.”
“You’re heroes, you’re also walking engines of destruction if you wanted to be. You can travel through time by using the speed force, Superman is Superman and could toss a rather large asteroid into the planet and there is almost nothing most of you could do to stop him if it came down to it.” Mist turned to look at Doctor Fate. “With the possible exception of Doctor Fate getting lucky.”
“Lucky?” Fate asked in surprise.
“Your durability isn’t absolute which means a full strength hit or a blast of heat vision from range and you’re dead or he finds help to distract you.” Mist turned to look at Batman. “You have way too many secrets floating around in your head to be allowed to run around without some method of keeping everyone’s secrets safe.”
“Could you lie if you wanted to?” Diana asked.
Mist turned back to look at Wonder Woman then looked down at her bracers and started scanning the bracers. “Probably. I’m not sure what lying would do to your lasso so I’d rather tell the truth and not find out.”
“Thank you.” She’d rather not find out though she doubted it was possible.
Flash glanced at Harley. “What are we going to do with Harley?”
Harley piped up, “I’m not wanted for anything right now, technically.”
Batman turned to look at Harley. “You were with the Joker.”
“I was watching a card game.”
Mist cut in, “Which means there is nothing legally stopping me from offering her an upgrade or two or Robin or Batgirl.”
Batman turned his glare on Mist. “Are you trying to annoy me?”
Mist smirked as he got several patterns off Wonder Woman’s bracelets. “Maybe a little, you sort of annoy me.”
“Why?”
Mist turned to look at Batman. “Because you don’t bother wearing power armor or getting some type of mental defense gear. It’s stupid and annoying.”
Doctor Fate said, “Creating a permanent magical talisman isn’t an easy task.”
Mist turned his attention toward Doctor Fate. “You’re Doctor Fate, wearer of the helm of Nabu, don’t give me that shit. If you wanted to create a magical talisman to help your fellow league members, you would.”
“Magic is dangerous.”
“There are a number of magical talismans floating around that are perfectly safe to use. The fact that you aren’t interested in helping equip your team makes me a bit suspicious of your motives.”
“I’m a hero. Who are you to question my motives?” Doctor Fate asked with annoyance as he floated several inches off the ground.
“I’m a god.” Mist focused on Doctor Fate and pushed magic into his mystical eyes that suppressed magic. He resisted the urge to sighed in relief as Fate dropped to the ground. He’d been reasonably sure that his various perks and work with upgrade had been enough to shut Nabu down but it was nice to have confirmation.
Kent Nelson reached up and took the Helmet of Fate off. “That was unpleasant.”
Mist smiled at the old man. “It’s nice to meet you Kent.”
“How did you know?” Kent asked curious how the stranger had freed him from Nabu’s control.
Mist shrugged. “Doctor Fate was acting like an ass, from what I’ve heard, you’re a lot more polite. Either way, no harm done, I merely suppressed his powers.”
Batman stared at Mist in shock. “Do you have a counter for each of us?”
“Sure, that doesn’t mean I’m going to tell you what it is.” Mist grabbed the lasso with his left hand and uncoiled it from his right arm then dropped it. “I have places to be and you’ll need some time to think things over but if you’re interested in some rather nice defensive gear give me a call.” He turned to look at Harley. “Harley, do you want a lift back to Gotham and a legitimate job?”
Harley nodded. “You bet, I’d rather not get locked up or mind wiped when I’m not guilty of anything.”
“You can’t just…” Batman trailed off as Mist and Harley vanished leaving back motes of light behind that faded a second later leaving a business card on the ground.
Flash laughed. “He certainly knows how to make an exit.”
Diana turned her attention to Kent. “What do you think?”
Kent sighed. “Nabu doesn’t trust him or like him but a lot of that could be because he likes feeling important and doesn’t want the League to have decent defenses against magic.”
“Why not?” Flash asked.
Superman sighed. “Because if we had more magic users or defensive items, we wouldn’t need to call him in as much.”
“Which would hurt his ego,” Kent admitted. He wasn’t sure about the rest of the League but he was going to pick up a decent defence against possession before he put the helmet back on.
Flash frowned as he considered the stranger’s offer. “I don’t run into a lot of magic users but I’ve ran into a few people with mind control, it’s never fun.” He looked at Kent. “Can you make sure anything he gives us is safe?”
Kent shrugged. “He was powerful enough to suppress the Helmet of Fate, if he wanted to screw with us, I don’t think there is much we could do about it. That said, I think he’s being honest.”
Wonder Woman spoke up, “I’ll talk to my mother and see if she’s heard of him.”
Flash blurred over and picked up the card Mist had dropped. “Huh, what type of god has a strip club?”
“An annoying one,” Batman muttered.
0o0o0
Abby smiled as Mist and Harley dark orbed into the lounge. “I was wondering where you went.”
Selena grinned as she looked at Harley. “You brought us a present.”
Harley gulped. “Ah, what?”
Mist shook his head. “Harley needed a legitimate job and wanted some upgrades so she could be a hero…” he trailed off as he noticed John. “What is a Constantine doing in my club?”
Zatanna snickered.
John looked at the man with creepily pale skin and midnight black hair and clothes. “A friend got a vision of Red being in danger, I was in the area.”
Mist turned to look at Aerial. “Ah, right. How are you doing?”
Aerial shifted slightly uncomfortably as she thought about some of her ‘new/old’ memories that she could have done without. “I’ll be better once I talk to Hermione and Pandora but well enough for now.”
“Good. I’m not sure we can stop the demonic and creepy idiots from showing up to try to recruit you to their side but we should be able to make sure they’re decently polite when they show up.”
John raised an eyebrow. “How are you planning on doing that mate?”
“There are anti-violence wards on the club, I’m also planning on killing anyone that can’t take a hint.”
“Any demon right?” Zatanna asked with a touch of amusement.
“Right, any demon, though I’m sure a case could be made for self defense in certain cases…” Mist trailed off as a creepy looking old guy in a three piece suit walked up the stairs. “How the fuck did you get past the bouncer?”
Zatanna jumped to her feet. “Faust.”
Felix Faust smirked at Zatanna. “Don’t worry, I haven’t come for you, I came for the library the owner of this fine establishment has.”
Mist sighed as he looked at the man dressed in a rather expensive looking suit. “I’m afraid you’ve come a very long way for nothing.”
“If you don’t give me the library my associates will be forced to kill a decent number of people,” Faust replied with a smirk.
“What makes you think you’re walking out of here?” John asked.
Faust snorted. “The very nice anti-violence spell on the club and the fact that my minions will kill the hostages if I don’t call.”
Mist snorted. “Ah yes, how terribly dreadful that I’m immune to my own spell.”
“That’s not how those spells work.”
Mist used his mystic eyes on Faust to suppress his powers and a touch of magic to lift him into the air. “Really? You might be a too bit hack but I’m not.”
“Hturt,” Selena said as she gestured at Faust. “Where are the hostages.”
Faust’s smug look slid off his face as he blurted. “At a warehouse near the docks.” He stared at Selena in shock. “How!”
“It’s a simple truth spell.”
“I have defenses,” Faust said defensively.
“They obviously suck,” Abby pointed out with amusement.
Mist glared at Faust. “I’m going to do you a favor, I’m going to make sure that you don’t spend eternity in hell.”
Faust snorted. “Yeah, how is that?”
“I’m going to destroy your fucking soul.” Mist pulled a soul gem out of his inventory then cast soul trap on Faust.
“What?!” Faust shouted as he realized the man wasn’t joking. “No, no we can make a deal.”
Mist laughed. “You didn’t think this through did you? If I actually have the library you think I have, then why would I need anything you can offer? No, I think it’s better for the world if you never come back.”
Faust turned to look at Zatanna. “You can’t let him do this, you’re a hero.”
Zatanna snorted. “You’re a soul jumping abomination that keeps coming back from the dead who just finished threatening a bunch of hostages if he didn’t get his way, I’m not Batman. I’ll sleep easier knowing you’re gone for good.”
“Unpleasant bastard.” Mist gestured and used telekinesis to snap Faust’s neck. He frowned slightly as he claimed Faust’s knowledge of magic thanks to his Isekai skill ability. He wasn’t overly amused by some of the spells that Faust knew but there were some useful ideas scattered in his twisted collection even if a decent percentage of the spells would have to be reworked into something less twisted and slimy.
Harley twitched. “Please don’t kill me, I won’t talk.”
“He came into my place of business and threatened everyone, it was a clear case of self defense.” Mist wasn’t all that worried about Harley talking considering Faust was a known villain and he was going to dispose of the body which pretty much meant no evidence of a crime.
“Were you bluffing?” John asked warily as he looked at the corpse hanging in the air.
“Eh, more or less, I trapped his soul in a gem. I’ll make sure it ends up somewhere he can’t come back from.”
“That’s probably going to annoy his demonic masters.”
“I’m not all that concerned, I have plenty of soul gems and they work on demons which means if I kill them, they’re not coming back.” Mist gestured and orbed Faust’s body into the sun letting his clothes and equipment drop to the ground.
“Which library was he talking about?” Zatanna asked curious what her sister’s friend was hiding that would lure Faust out of hiding.
“A really nice one, more than that, I’m not saying until you upgrade your scrying protection and mental shields.”
“Are you offering to help?” Zatanna asked. She had some decent protections but she wouldn’t mind better defenses.
Mist grinned as he thought about the various perks and magical items he could share. “Of course.”
“I don’t suppose you’d share your teleportation spell?” John asked sarcastically.
“That and more.”
“What’s the catch?” John asked suspiciously.
Mist shrugged. “No real catch, you’re a hero, more or less at least. You’re doing what you can with what you have and the crap you have to deal with isn’t nice or easy. Even with the best plan sometimes things are going to come up snake eyes. It doesn’t cost me anything to hand out some trinkets and magical abilities other than a little bit of time. Besides, helping you helps keep Aerial safe and my daughter would kill me if I let anything happen to her girlfriend.”
Aerial shook her head. “Pandora isn’t that bad.”
“Probably not but I’d rather avoid dealing with a pissed off witch that can level mountains looking for revenge.”
“Level mountains?” Harley asked nervously.
“Magic can do great and terrible things,” Abby pointed out with amusement then turned to look at Aerial. “Speaking of magical items, do you have your cloak on you?”
“Yeah.” Aerial pulled her ‘new’ black cloak out of one of the pockets in her trench coat.
“What does that do?” Harley asked as she looked at the extremely dark cape.
“It’s an indestructible animated cape that allows you to fly.”
“Can I have one?” Harley asked hopefully.
Aerial handed the cloak to Mist. “Probably.”
“You’d have to take the job,” Mist pointed out as he duplicated the cloak. He tossed the original back to Aerial. “Thanks.”
John stared at the cloak in Mist’s hands. “Did you just copy a magical item?”
“Yeah, one of the many reasons I’m not worried about supplying you and the League with trinkets.”
“An indestructible cape that allows you to fly counts as a trinket?” Zatanna asked in disbelief.
“Pretty much, as soon as a friend of mine gets here, I should be able to hand out copies of a knockoff magical green lantern ring.”
Harley asked, “Why aren’t you ruling the world?”
“Too much paperwork.”
John laughed. “Now that I’ll believe.”
“What would I have to do for a copy of the cloak?” Zatanna asked.
Selena snickered. “Put on a strip show.”
Zatanna turned and glared at her sister. “Pervert.”
Abby snickered. “Raise your hand if you don’t want to see Zatanna naked.”
Zatanna sighed as she glanced around the room and then over at the waitress behind the bar, none of them had raised their hands. “You suck.”
“What about me? Do I need to strip?” John asked with amusement.
“No.” Mist duplicated his copy of the cloak then tossed the copy to Zatanna. “Here, free of charge though I don’t think any of us would object to a show.”
Zatanna smiled as she pulled the cloak on and found that it was easy enough to control. “Thanks.”
Mist turned to look at John. “If you want, I can probably move the enchantment to your trench coat so that it’s indestructible and lets you fly.”
John glanced at Zatanna then shrugged as he realized the ability to fly would have helped a fair number of times. “Be my guest.”
“Before we start sharing perks and magical items, has anyone called the girls yet?” Aerial asked.
“Not yet, I was dealing with the Justice League. You should probably give them a call and tell them we’re sharing abilities and magical items.” Mist pulled out his gender neutral enhancement rod and looked at Harley. “Let’s start by boosting Harley then John and Zatanna can give her a check up then we’ll boost John and Zatanna if they want.”
“Boost?” John asked.
“It basically gives you an alternate form that you can change into that can lift five tons more and run around all day without getting tired. It’s also a lot faster.”
John glanced at Zatanna. “I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Zatanna glanced at Abby and Selena then looked at Mist. She was going to have a discussion with her sisters about keeping secrets. “Let me cast some detection spells then you can zap Harley.”
“I’ll call Pan and the girls.” Aerial pulled her phone out of her pocket then headed for the other side of the room so she’d get some privacy for her chat with her girlfriends.
Harley turned to look at Mist. “It’s safe, right?”
“Perfectly, I’ve used it on dozens of people.” Mist waited until Zatanna and John cast several detection spells then zapped Harley, picturing a black and red one piece swimming suit for her new costume. “That should do it.”
0o0o0
