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It was an unfortunate thing, having to ask a Constantine for help.
Even more unfortunate when it was this particular Constantine, who seemed intent on defying his every command and making every request thereafter unnecessarily difficult.
Unfortunate as it was though, it was necessary. Which is what Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, had to keep repeating to himself as the most difficult Constantine to date (and that is including the one with the armed thugs) continued to prattle on about….something.
Morpheus forced himself to focus back in on the current conversation as she appeared to be wrapping up.
"...and really, if I'm going to help you, it's only fair, right?" Johanna trailed off expectantly.
Dream paused in a way he hoped seemed pensive, but she caught on quick.
"Were you listening to a word I just said?" She asked, accent heavy in her annoyance.
When he stayed silent, she rolled her eyes.
"Right, well, whatever. Let's chalk it up to a 'you owe me one' " and then when he tried to object, not one for owing anyone anything, let alone her, she finished quickly, "You'll meet my contact at a small Cafe, Dream Bean, tomorrow, 3pm. Goes by the handle Glitch."
After a beat, "Dream Bean?" He was hesitant to ask.
Johanna grinned, "Like it? They actually picked the spot, lives nearby and is a bit of a caffeine addict."
He scoffed.
"Alright. The Dream Bean," Morpheus spoke the name as if around a mouthful of scorpions.
"Yup, at 3pm." She finished, seemingly pleased with herself.
He nodded one last time, before moving to leave. He had spent entirely too much time around the nuisance of a woman and needed to reset.
"Oh!" Johanna called after him, unphased by his characteristic exit, "and don't mention the whole…Dream God, Lord, thing. They're pretty anti-supernatural."
He shot her a look of annoyance, because of course she would recommend someone with such a difficult caveat, but she had already turned the corner.
The "Dream Bean" wasn't your favorite caffeine hookup, but it definitely had it's perks.
For one, it was fairly unpopular and, for property value in the city being what it was, large enough to give ample space between the tables.
This meant lots of privacy. No college students shooting fugitive glances at the other patrons, hoping to find inspiration for their next trashy poem.
No families with kids running around screaming.
No lonely old men trying to start conversations.
Just you, your coffee, and free public and unauditable wifi.
Which were the second and third best things about the Dream Bean.
It was the perfect spot to meet new clients, as long as you didn't make it a habit. Regulars attracted too much attention and besides the social implications of that, it also could spell trouble if someone came looking for you.
Not that anyone would. But, you had survived this long by paying attention to the Just In Cases - which meant not becoming a regular.
A ping from your laptop drew your attention. One of the files you had been decrypting was finished and you opened it, sipping your coffee with your free hand.
Johannas new friend was late, might as well get a head start.
You were on the second page, an account of some heretics ramblings about how to control someone's mind using lambs blood, when the sound of the chair across from you being pulled out caused you to look up.
The man before you was striking.
Handsome enough that at first you weren't sure if this was Jo trying to set you up again, but the look on his face offset that particular notion.
He looked like an orphan who just got told all their worldly possessions were just lost in a fire. And their dog.
"Hello," you began, unsure when he didn't introduce himself, "I'm guessing you're Jo's new friend?"
His look soured at that, whether that being Jo or the implication or her being a friend, you weren’t sure.
"We are not friends. She is an unfortunate necessity." He bit out, "But yes. You may call me Morpheus. Are you the one called…'Glitch'?"
You nodded.
"Got it, strictly profesh." You held out a hand for him to shake, "and yup, that's me. The one and only."
Morpheus stared at your hand blankly long enough for you to sheepishly drop it. Ok, then. Straight to business.
"I'm not sure if Joanna told you my rates, but basic recon starts at 4, in US dollars, and we go up from there if you want any…extra features." You waggled your eyebrows, "Which really kind of depends on what you want and what I can't do, but, well, that's not much."
You took up your coffee, taking a sip as he pondered your offer.
"Very well. Four million to start." He agreed after a beat.
You choked, spluttering.
"Four mil-" you stopped yourself. Was this a test or was this guy just an idiot? Or was he so stupid rich that four million was nothing.
Fuck, now you had a dilema…could you really fleece this guy for four million?? Was it really fleecing if he's the one agreeing to it?
You groaned, morals winning out.
"Four thousand. " You clarified, regretfully.
He looked confused, then nodded. "Price is not an issue. Has Constantine informed you of your task?"
Still to the point and curt, but, and you may have been imagining it, there was now an underlying hint of respect that wasn't there before.
Shaking your head of your thoughts, you turned to your laptop.
"She did, yeah. I got a head start - figured if Jo was sending you my way, you were good for it." You clicked back to the beginning of the documentation before turning the laptop his way. "So far it's just the normal crazy, but I haven't parsed through it yet. She said you were looking for a specific item?"
Morpheus spared the laptop only a glance before looking back up at you.
"Yes. A circlet crafted from the bones of the first child," he said. "It was last seen a century ago in the possession of a wealthy heiress."
You shuddered.
"Gross." You grimaced, "But the document I pulled up did mention a circlet, look at the second page, third paragraph down."
He blinked at you.
You blinked back.
After a moment, "...or I can do it?" You offered. He nodded stiffly.
You gingerly stood up, moving behind him and adjusting the laptop for a better view.
As you leaned over him to find the right page and paragraph, you felt him stiffen imperceptibly. You would have felt worse if he wasn't the cause of this unnecessary discomfort to begin with.
Why couldn't you ever have a normal client?
You sighed, highlighting the passage you were talking about before pointing to it.
"Here: it mentions a circlet brushed with lambs blood. I haven't gotten farther than that." You returned to your seat.
His eyes darted across the screen as he read, and then he nodded. "Yes, this is the item I am looking for. Where is it?"
"Not sure yet - do you want me to send you a digital copy of what I have so far?" Your brow furrowed at his demanding tone.
"No. If you deem anything necessary for me to peruse myself, I will require print and print alone."
It was a herculean effort brought about only by the promise of 4k that you did not roll your eyes.
"That's terrible for the environment. I have secure ways of sending data, you don't have to worry about any data trails if that's your holdup."
His eyes narrowed. "Print. Or not at all."
You pinched your leg under the table before gritting out a stunted, "Fine."
Snapping your laptop closed, you took a breath.
"I'll still need time to find the circlet. How do I contact you?"
He stood, sensing the conversation over.
"I will find you in a week's time."
You stood hurriedly, "These things are unpredictable, it could take more time. Or less. Let me give you one of my burners, that way I can call if anything comes up."
By the time you had dug the phone out of your bag to give him, he was already at the door.
"One week, Glitch."
And then he was gone.