Coffee Talk: Bruce and John

## Characters

* Bruce Wayne (1 Coffee - Black)
* John Constantine (1 Chai)

## Order

* Date: 1/5
* Table: 4
* Guests: 2
* Server: Fran

## Coffee Talk

* **Bruce Wayne:** Coffee - black.
* **Fran:** Got it. And you?
* **John Constantine:** I'll just have a chai. [fabric shifts, clatter]
* **Fran:** Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. No smoking in here.
* **John Constantine:** Oh? [pause, clatter, fabric shifts] Not a problem.
* **Fran:** Okay, so I'll be right out with those orders.
* **Bruce Wayne:** Thanks.
* **John Constantine:** Thanks, love.
* **Fran:** ... [giggle, footsteps]
* **John Constantine:** [sigh, clatter] So, Bruce, I have to ask. [pause] What's the deal? Why ask me here? The waitress possessed or something?
* **Bruce Wayne:** Nothing like that, John. [pause] I had a recent meeting with Oliver, just like this one. We caught up, talked about life outside of our... usual activities. It was enjoyable, and I thought it might be nice to make a habit of it with some old friends.
* **John Constantine:** Friends, eh? That's an interesting way to describe our relationship.
* **Bruce Wayne:** Well, maybe not friends, per se. But we've had our share of experiences together.
* **John Constantine:** There's something you're not saying...
* **Bruce Wayne:** Is there?
* **John Constantine:** Is this about a case, Bruce? Need my help with some supernatural nastiness?
* **Bruce Wayne:** No, actually. Part of the rules Oliver and I made was that these "Coffee Talks" shouldn't involve work talk.
* **John Constantine:** You're beating around the bush, mate...
* **Fran:** ... [footsteps] Here you go. [clatter] Coffee and chai. [clatter] Enjoy now.
* **John Constantine:** Thanks, love.
* **Fran:** I'll be back to check on you in a bit. [footsteps]
* **Bruce Wayne:** Well, I did have an ulterior motive to asking you here.
* **John Constantine:** Do tell.
* **Bruce Wayne:** Again, this doesn't involve a case. I do have need of your expertise. This is just casual curiosity on my part.
* **John Constantine:** Go on...
* **Bruce Wayne:** What do you know of Scourges?
* **John Constantine:** I know a fair deal... I'm no expert, but I've had a few dealings with their ilk. What do you want to know?
* **Bruce Wayne:** Maybe we start with what you know?
* **John Constantine:** Are you testing me, Bruce? [pause, chuckle] Well, since you're buying me a brew, I'll play your game. [sigh, pause] Well, where do I begin?
* **Bruce Wayne:** What causes one to become a Scourge?
* **John Constantine:** Well, people deal with trauma in all sort of ways, but not everyone can come out of it unscathed. [pause] Now, when traum breaks someone down to all their ugly bits smashed against upon rock bottom, it can open a door for these parasitic entities from the Dreaming or elsewhere to sneak in and take hold.
* **Bruce Wayne:** Elsewhere?
* **John Constantine:** Yeah. Not all Scourges are the thing of nightmares. Some are from infernal or eldritch in origin - Oh, there are even supernal Scourges. Quite a bit of them, actually. [sigh] Just about any incorporeal being can become a Scourge - once properly motivated. Ghosts, included. [scoff] Ghosts are some of the worst ones.
* **Bruce Wayne:** But the ones from the Dreaming are the most common?
* **John Constantine:** Yeah, for the most part. [pause] People need to dream, right? More opportunity.
* **Bruce Wayne:** What do you mean?
* **John Constantine:** [sigh] There needs to be a way for the Scourge to get from Point A to Point B. For a demonic Scourge to get access to you, you need to have some connection to Hell. So, if you've got a demon riding shotgun in your brain, you're likely a member of a Satanic cult or you recently bought a bad lamp at the flea market. [chuckle] Likewise, if the angel on your shoulder is telling you to kill people, then you probably come from a devout upbringing and you had a real bad day at Bible Camp. [chuckle]
* **Bruce Wayne:** Have you come across any such... entities here in Gotham?
* **John Constantine:** Oh, sure, mate. [pause] Though, it's not like I go lookin' for them, but this city is full of trauma. I bet one in ten patients in that nut-hut you call Arkham is sharing a fare with a stabbing enthusiast.
* **Bruce Wayne:** Are you speculating or can you speak with certainty?
* **John Constantine:** For certain? [scoff] Not off-hand. Give me a day, I could find one to use as an example. [pause] I thought this wasn't about "work", Bruce. [chuckle] Want to tell me what you really want to know?
* **Bruce Wayne:** [sigh, clatter, slurp, pause, gulp, clatter] Barbatos.
* **John Constantine:** Ah. [clatter, pause, slurp, gulp] Gotham's demon in the basement. [pause] What about him? You think he's found a crack in his seal? Has he got poor schmuck killing in his name or what?
* **Bruce Wayne:** I think he's tried...
* **John Constantine:** I can poke around. No idea where the physical seal is, but I think I got a spell or two that can test the seal's integrity. [pause] Wait, are you-? [sigh] You don't suspect. You know. [pause] Okay, I'll bite. Who is the poor bloke?
* **Bruce Wayne:** ... [clatter, slurp, gulp, sigh] You're looking at him.
* **John Constantine:** Oh... [pause] ***Oh...*** That's why you became the Bat, innit? [pause] Don't mind me, mate. I'm just going to borrow your silverware... [metallic object sliding on table, nervous chuckle]
* **Bruce Wayne:** [scoff] I'm no longer influenced, John. [pause] I was able to overcome him.
* **John Constantine:** That's what a slasher would say- [pause] Hold on now... [gasp] That's why you don't kill...
* **Bruce Wayne:** [sigh, nod, nod] I didn't realize it at first. [pause] It was years ago, when I made that conscious decision, but... then I blocked out the real reason. I made other excuses - justified it in other ways. I completely refused to acknowledge the real one, but the recent events have... reminded me of the original reason.
* **John Constantine:** What's got you stewing on this all of a sudden? The solstice or new year or an anniversary of something?
* **Bruce Wayne:** It's several things. Selina carrying my child and being due in a few weeks is one; another was our wedding-
* **John Constantine:** Your wedd- [pause] Oh, hey, uh, sorry I couldn't make it, mate. I was-, uh-
* **Bruce Wayne:** [chuckle] Don't worry, John. You weren't invited. [pause] No one was. We, uh, eloped.
* **John Constantine:** Ah, whew... Well, congratulations. [pause] How's your arm doin', mate?
* **Bruce Wayne:** It's still tender.
* **John Constantine:** I'm sure it'll be right as rain soon and then you can get back to wearing leather and jumping off rooftops.

## Trivia and Notes

* Bruce had a coffee with Oliver in Coffe Talk: Debut Episode.
* John is going to have a coffee with Danielle Cassidy in Coffee Talk: Dani and John.