Hellblazer

Wanda cocked her head, watching him closely. She had been bemused before. Now she was a little wary - and curious.

She listened to him speak, and blinked quickly when he held onto that tiny dancing flame. Parlour trick, maybe, but she didn’t think so. He had a lot of confidence, that was sure, but Wanda didn’t know if that confidence was warranted - what kind of power did he actually have.

“More people like us?” she repeated, a questioning lilt in her tone. “I have to say, that’s a neat TRICK. But I can do more than that.” She was bigging herself up now, but it seemed a good option. She didn’t want to be underestimated, and she also wanted to see a little more of what he was capable of. 

She looked at his card for a moment, still tense - before relaxing slightly with an amused smile. “It’s a conversation I’d like to have, indeed with friendlier ears - so, that makes you the friendlier ears? How can you–” She had started asking her question without thinking. She knew she ought to be WARY. She knew she had to be cautious - she was a wanted woman, by the government and criminals she’d helped put away when she worked with the Avengers. But now that her mind was thinking about people like us her she needed to know more. “How can you do what you can do? How did you become like… us.”

John smiled a little, amused by her response.  She was cautious which was a mark in her favor.  There were plenty of people out there that she should be cautious of.  Course there were loads of people that would tell her he was one of them.  Maybe they had a point, his moral compass didn’t exactly point north, but he always did what he thought was right.  Sometimes what needed to be done wasn’t in line with what the heroes thought needed to be done.

“I prefer the term sorcerer,” he said.  “Has kind of an ominous sound to it.”  He took a drag off his cigarette then let it out.  “Got into magic when I was a teenager.  Studied everything I could get my hands on.  Left home, went all over the world and learned whatever I could from whomever would teach me.”  He sighed.  “Made mistakes, lots of them.  Learned a bit of this and a bit of that.  Capnomancy isn’t the most exact magic, but I’ve gotten good at it and I see some useful things.”

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John glanced over at the other person. “Not yet,” he said before lighting a cigarette. “Can’t say I’m much for dealing with problems with fists and powers dressed like Arthur Dent. Truth is I’ve done more with a good con or two when I have the time to plan. Not that I’m above getting in a scrap, just prefer to use my other skills first.”