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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Tea'lc gets by with a selection of snazzy hats.
tumblr_obceuiX1NZ1sznjqyo6_250.gifv
 
Anarkic (part 6) New
1st May 2013
07:13 GMT -8

Mr. Bierce and I appear outside of…

I sigh.

An abandoned warehouse. Or possibly an industrial unit. And I'm not sure that it's entirely abandoned. It still has power, there are still lights on… A quick check shows that it doesn't have power legally from the grid, but there's nothing stopping someone from hooking up a generator or something along those lines.

"Hm." Mr. Bierce looks down with a degree of satisfaction at the server hard drive dangling from a bit of string as it pulls in the direction of the building. Then he pulls it up and slides it into his pocket. "Well, that's where it was done, anyway. Let me poke around for a bit and I'll see if I can get a read on the magician."

"Just a moment while I notify the local police."

Message sent.

"Alright, now that it's legally not breaking and entering, let's go. Scans show-."

Ugh.

Mr. Bierce glances at me as he approaches the door. "If it's a bunch of brains, that was good foreshadowing."

"Ever watched Fight Club?"

"Read the book, once. What of it?"

"Quite a lot of human fat in there. Not enough other tissue for me to think that they've been acquiring it by murder, but it is a bit odd."

He nods. "Could be soap. And it could be material for a golem."

"Human fat?"

"I've seen stranger. It's a weak material but human tissue can take some spells better."

"How much better?"

He walks nearly right up to the door, studying it intently. "Not well enough to worry you. Plenty to worry me. Is anyone home?"

"Scans, heat and vibrations say 'no', and since this is a magician's workshop we aren't obliged to announce ourselves before bursting in."

"Still. If he just burned someone's records after they asked him to, it's a bit of a social faux pas to knock down the door."

"I mean, it's still a crime." He looks at me with his left eyebrow raised. "Just saying."

"When you're without sin, you can start throwing stones at other people's workshops. We don't want to escalate. Most wizards don't like people poking around their workshops."

"Most people don't like police poking around at their crime scenes. That isn't a reason not to do it."

He sighs. "Do you know who owns this place?"

"Technically, no one. I think the city government might have a claim on it, but they're busy. Los Angeles… Did not have a high survival rate." Hm. "Interesting that there aren't any genetic residues inside. Not that I can detect externally, anyway."

"Could just mean the owner's good with flesh magic."

"Or that they treat the place like a clean room. So-." Ah. "No quick and easy power-focused way to find out who owns it, but we can probably just knock on a few doors-"

He raises both eyebrows.

"-and ask people."

"I can ask people. You should just stay here."

I frown. "Are you sure? I can wear a disguise."

"Yeah, I think it's for the best." He sticks his hands in his pockets and slouches off, something… Something about how he looks making it seem like he fits in better than-. Street magic.

So… Hang around looking pretty, or find some actual work to do?

I don't want to try entering the building if Mr. Bierce wants to play this softly. He's the expert after all. Hacking phones…

Hm. They've got a landline, and the nearest mobile phone tower is over there. I send a filament to access the landline hub and remotely access the tower. List of numbers that have called here recently and a list of mobile phones frequently in the area..?

Compliance.

Good. Any overlap?

One match. Marquez Agua.

I raise my left hand to my ear.

Phone him.

Compliance.

A few rings, and then…

"Ak, come on, man. You know I'm not working today."

"I can't say that I did, but thank you for letting me know."

"Wh-? Who is this."

"Orange Lantern."

"H-h." He sounds amused. "Did Seamus put you up to this?"

"No, but I'm logging that name. I'm standing outside of an industrial unit containing quite a lot of human fat. I'm not seeing any record of the property having any kind of licence for holding or processing human tissue."

"Ah, shit."

"Yes. But how much depends on what's actually happening here. Given some of the spells I've run into, I have concerns, but with civic infrastructure being what it is I understand that a few applications might not have made it through the system yet."

"So, you-. You just want to know what we're doing. That's it?"

"Assuming that no major crimes have occurred, yes. I may point out that some things are illegal, but given that I do want more people to start studying magic, you can just treat it as a 'need for corrective action' notice from your regulator."

"I mean, I don't actually run-. Ah…"

"Then I suggest that you contact your employer and ask them to report to your place of work as quickly as possible. I suggest also coming along yourself, along with your co-workers."

"I… I guess-."

"The alternative is that I come looking for you. You don't want that."

"No. Ah. Okay. I'll be there in… Ah, twenty minutes."

"I'll look forward to meeting you."
 

If I remember, you usually call him Ambrose.

Guess their relationship will be rocky for a while.

Mr. Bierce and I appear outside of…

I sigh.

An abandoned warehouse

Hey, with what happened there may be a lot of abandoned warehouses all over the planet.

Mr. Bierce glances at me as he approaches the door. "If it's a bunch of brains, that was good foreshadowing."

"Ever watched Fight Club?"

"Read the book, once. What of it?"

"Quite a lot of human fat in there. Not enough other tissue for me to think that they've been acquiring it by murder, but it is a bit odd

Anarchy did alter his brain to make himself smarter in the comics.

Maybe he did that here too, or he wants to do it, but is experimenting to see if it's safe and possible.

Interesting that there aren't any genetic residues inside. Not that I can detect externally, anyway."

"Could just mean the owner's good with flesh magic."

Maybe they modified the spell that gets rid of information to also include DNA.

owns it, but we can probably just knock on a few doors-"

He raises both eyebrows.

"-and ask people."

"I can ask people. You should just stay here."

I frown. "Are you sure? I can wear a disguise

Ambrose may be better in social situations.

So… Hang around looking pretty, or find some actual work to do?

Hey, you're in LA.

Maybe you'll get discovered if you look pretty.
 
1st May 2013
07:13 GMT -8


Mr. Bierce and I appear outside of…

I sigh.

An abandoned warehouse. Or possibly an industrial unit. And I'm not sure that it's entirely abandoned. It still has power, there are still lights on… A quick check shows that it doesn't have power legally from the grid, but there's nothing stopping someone from hooking up a generator or something along those lines.
Boy, this could not be a more typical 'villain's lair' setup if they tried. On the upside, there's not likely to be too many neighbours to bother if things get noisy. Or people to get hurt. And knowing OL's luck, it will get loud.

"Hm." Mr. Bierce looks down with a degree of satisfaction at the server hard drive dangling from a bit of string as it pulls in the direction of the building. Then he pulls it up and slides it into his pocket. "Well, that's where it was done, anyway. Let me poke around for a bit and I'll see if I can get a read on the magician."
True, best not to rush into a place prepared by a wizard. Who know what sort of traps await?

"Just a moment while I notify the local police."

Message sent.

"
Alright, now that it's legally not breaking and entering, let's go. Scans show-."
Covering his butt just in case of legal issues. That's OL to the bone.

Ugh.

Mr. Bierce glances at me as he approaches the door. "If it's a bunch of brains, that was good foreshadowing."
I'm guessing it's not pretty, whatever it is.

"Ever watched Fight Club?"

"Read the book, once. What of it?"
Alas, I have done neither. So this is going to be all new.

"Quite a lot of human fat in there. Not enough other tissue for me to think that they've been acquiring it by murder, but it is a bit odd."

He nods. "Could be soap. And it could be material for a golem."
...Or an unofficial liposuction clinic?

"Human fat?"

"I've seen stranger. It's a weak material but human tissue can take some spells better."
That would an ugly-ass golem, though.

"How much better?"

He walks nearly right up to the door, studying it intently. "Not well enough to worry you. Plenty to worry me. Is anyone home?"
This does have a feel of 'high-level player doing a low-level escort mission', doesn't it?

"Scans, heat and vibrations say 'no', and since this is a magician's workshop we aren't obliged to announce ourselves before bursting in."

"Still. If he just burned someone's records after they asked him to, it's a bit of a social faux pas to knock down the door."
True, he might just be a regular hedge-wizard like Ambrose here, not some League-tier supervillain.

"I mean, it's still a crime." He looks at me with his left eyebrow raised. "Just saying."

"When you're without sin, you can start throwing stones at other people's workshops. We don't want to escalate. Most wizards don't like people poking around their workshops."
And in some cases, that's for good reason. A room full of human fat doesn't sound like a good reason.

"Most people don't like police poking around at their crime scenes. That isn't a reason not to do it."

He sighs. "Do you know who owns this place?"
No getting out of this politely. Admittedly, offending a wizard isn't the best idea, but...

"Technically, no one. I think the city government might have a claim on it, but they're busy. Los Angeles… Did not have a high survival rate." Hm. "Interesting that there aren't any genetic residues inside. Not that I can detect externally, anyway."

"Could just mean the owner's good with flesh magic."
Well, sounds like the City of Angels is a bit cleaner, perhaps.

"Or that they treat the place like a clean room. So-." Ah. "No quick and easy power-focused way to find out who owns it, but we can probably just knock on a few doors-"

He raises both eyebrows.
There's got to be some unspoken rule in the Trenchcoat Brigade charter about doing that... 😏

"-and ask people."

"I can ask people. You should just stay here."
OL does stand out just a bit. Even if he's in mufti, his face is too well known.

I frown. "Are you sure? I can wear a disguise."

"Yeah, I think it's for the best." He sticks his hands in his pockets and slouches off, something… Something about how he looks making it seem like he fits in better than-. Street magic.
Well, looks like OL has to find something to occupy his time until Ambrose gets back. 😨 Oh, dear...

So… Hang around looking pretty, or find some actual work to do?

I don't want to try entering the building if Mr. Bierce wants to play this softly. He's the expert after all. Hacking phones…
Maybe go for a quick crime sweep?

Hm. They've got a landline, and the nearest mobile phone tower is over there. I send a filament to access the landline hub and remotely access the tower. List of numbers that have called here recently and a list of mobile phones frequently in the area..?

Compliance.
Clever. Track the phone calls and see who's been around.

Good. Any overlap?

One match. Marquez Agua.
Massive breach of privacy, but hey, this isn't an official investigation, so...

I raise my left hand to my ear.

Phone him.

Compliance.
Hopefully this isn't the wizard in question, but merely an assistant or something who won't alert them.

A few rings, and then…

"Ak, come on, man. You know I'm not working today."
Marquez and 'Ak', eh? Let's see if there's any known DC wizards findable with those hints... <one check later> Nothing obvious, but let's wait and see...

"I can't say that I did, but thank you for letting me know."

"Wh-? Who is this."

"Orange Lantern."
And Marquez is now in a flop-sweat.

"H-h." He sounds amused. "Did Seamus put you up to this?"

"No, but I'm logging that name. I'm standing outside of an industrial unit containing quite a lot of human fat. I'm not seeing any record of the property having any kind of licence for holding or processing human tissue."
Would be amusing if OL could get a wizard on such a mundane technicality.

"Ah, shit."

"Yes. But how much depends on what's actually happening here. Given some of the spells I've run into, I have concerns, but with civic infrastructure being what it is I understand that a few applications might not have made it through the system yet."
Perhaps arrangements could be made to get such a one backdated... In return for certain cooperation.

"So, you-. You just want to know what we're doing. That's it?"

"Assuming that no major crimes have occurred, yes. I may point out that some things are illegal, but given that I do want more people to start studying magic, you can just treat it as a 'need for corrective action' notice from your regulator."
There's going to be all kinds of things like this early on, after all.

"I mean, I don't actually run-. Ah…"

"Then I suggest that you contact your employer and ask them to report to your place of work as quickly as possible. I suggest also coming along yourself, along with your co-workers."
Always easier when the guys come along politely and surrender all at once.

"I… I guess-."

"The alternative is that I come looking for you. You don't want that."
True, very true.

"No. Ah. Okay. I'll be there in… Ah, twenty minutes."

"I'll look forward to meeting you."
Now, what to do while he waits...

It's a safe bet these guys have something to do with this whole 'fat room' thing. Working for the wizard? Messed up clinical service? Very peculiar collectors? I can't wait to see where this goes, and how it related to Anarky's backstory erasure thing. Curious to see what Ambrose finds out too, and how well it lines up with OL's detective work.
 
Maybe they modified the spell that gets rid of information to also include DNA.
Now here's a spell concept that would earn the Constantine seal of approval for maximizing the number of potential horrible side effects. Top hits include instantly deleting all your own DNA and/or immediately killing your entire family tree.
 
Last edited:
I was rereading and found an error. That should say 'in'.
Thank you, corrected.
This reminded me of an episode of Supernatural where a monster that feeds on human fat opened up a weight loss center and fed on the participants.
Doctor Who had an episode like that. People got given 'weight loss medalions' and it turned their fat into intelligent creatures, who then walked away.
 
Yeah, golems get weird in DC.

Like I remember golems made out of dust that came from human skin and love letters that were never read.

Might have been piloted by the ghosts of wasps who died stuck between window panes, but I might be getting two weird golems confused.
 
Unlikely, as if that were the case Paul wouldn't be able to tell that the fat is human.
He specifically said the genetic information in the fat was gone. I'd questioned it earlier, but assumed he was scanning some human specific cell antigens in the fat. There's more to biology than DNA.
 
Anarkic (part 7) New
1st May 2013
07:25 GMT -8


The somewhat weather-beaten car pulls up to the industrial unit car park with commendable haste and compliance with driving ordnances, a man of Hispanic extraction getting out a moment later. He's staring at me with a combination of surprise and nervousness on his face.

"Hey, ah… I wasn't sure it was really you."

"I assure you, I'm really me. Your colleagues?"

"I…" He shakes his head. "I couldn't get hold of Seamus, and my boss should already be here."

"He doesn't appear to be inside."

He shrugs. "Could be out getting breakfast or a cigarette. I can let you in..?"

"Please do so. And tell me about your employer."

"Mister Levi used to be a quality checker in a pharmaceutical company. Did chemistry in college." He inserts his key into the door, and then takes out… That's not a fob key, that's a fetish. He waves it around the door frame before turning the key. "He said he was always kind of interested in magic, but then…" He turns back to me. "Huh. I guess it figures you'd be-."

I raise my eyebrows. "I'd be..?"

"It was that talk you did, about how not using new technology and not using magic was stupid. He got really into it. Got a grant to do scientific magic research. Ended up quitting his regular job-. This was all before the Anti-Life thing."

"Okay, that sounds respectable and productive. But there's a lot of human fat in there."

"Oh, that. Yeah, it-." He pushes the door open and beckons me inside. "We're not doing anything that needs that much human fat. Not anymore. But we needed a standard medium for testing-. We do hundreds of tests with tiny variations to try and find out what exactly works the best. It was easier to get standardized fat than blood. And…"

"Go on. You're doing fine so far."

I follow him as he leads the way inside.

"When the Anti-Life… Happened, he… Kind of managed to ward it off. Just a.. little. But the fat went bad real fast. We ended up raiding clinics and stuff." He raises his hands defensively. "And I know we-."

I shake my head. "Perfectly fine, under the circumstances. Weapons, medicine and reagents are all acquisitionable during major crises like that. If you'd taken cash or jewellery, that's not okay, but vital supplies are fine."

"Including human fat?"

"You might need to prove the efficacy of your ward in court, but in principle, yes."

He exhales, sagging slightly. "That's a huge load off my mind. Ah, thanks."

The interior… 'Work space' is basic but up to code. There's a nitrogen tank I remember from… Work on Earth Prime, and a clean room with a fume cabinet, and a work bench covered in equal parts scientific equipment, magic books and alchemical reagents. More of the same fills three shelving units set against the walls, and power is provided by…

I think that's a magic-based generator.

"There are more efficient ways to check the law than asking a superhero, but we'll do in a pinch. However, that doesn't explain the fat you've got now."

He pulls out a chair and sits down, gesturing for me to do the same. Since he's being so helpful, I comply.

"Turns out we took more than a month's worth. And it's not like the clinics need it back. I mean, how would we even do that?"

"In theory, if you were complying with the law, you would walk up to the front door, announce that you'd taken their property during the emergency and were now returning it, and then hand it over. But I wouldn't worry about it." I frown. "Have liposuction clinics..? Reopened..?"

"That's the other thing; a lot of 'em haven't. Some places are just abandoned, some are shut down… Some have reopened, but we weren't all that careful about exactly what came from where."

"As I said, don't worry about it. Now, the main reason that I'm here is that I want to ask about whether-. No, let's not pretend that I don't know. Some people came here and had a spell cast to erase their records. I want to know exactly what happened."

"Huh?"

"I'm assuming that your work includes pure casting as well as alchemy?"

"Uh, yeah?"

I take a hologram projector out of subspace and activate it, showing the faces of the five roof attackers. And then I add my most recent scan of Lonnie Machin's face.

"These gentlemen. Do you recognise any of them?"

He makes a point of looking the faces over, then shakes his head. And his brain activity suggests that he's not lying.

"I didn't even know there was a spell that could do that. Like… Every record?"

"I'm not sure of the exact reach it has, but it looks like it gets every paper or electronic record. The Justice League has warded computers and my rings are a little special, but otherwise a person can erase everything except memories with it."

"Jesus. Is it hard to make it work?"

"Not sure. It doesn't require much raw power or expensive reagents. And I don't think it needs that much skill."

"Got a few parking tickets I wouldn't mind making go poof."

"Alright, but you'd also lose your passport, driving licence, mortgage or rental agreement, contract of employment, banking records and school certificates. It's really for people willing to live off the grid only."

"Oh." He nods. "So, what now?"

"Well, I'm waiting for my colleague to get back so that we can more precisely trace-."

"…already here. Seamus!? Marquez!?"

Mr. Agua half turns to the door. "In here!"

A man… Mr. Levi, walks in, followed by Mr. Bierce, who briefly rolls his eyes at me.

"Orange Lantern. Ah, hello, hello!" Mr. Levi walks up to me, offering me his right hand. I politely shake it. "Ambrose was just telling me-. Your tattoos! Do they really make you immune to all magic detection?"

"Virtually all of it. Two-stage indirect attempts can still work. Listen, I need to know about-."

"The boy you're trying to find, yes. I've never met him, but anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Ah. Ah, thank you. Let's see if we can narrow down what happened and go from there."
 
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"They boy you're trying to find, yes. I've never met him, but anything I can do to help, just say the word."
That should say 'The'.

Hang on, is Greta not dead here, or did she somehow end up in Hell?
Because Artemis near instantly defeated Harm when they first met, Secret never met her and Zatanna. She's presumably been wandering the Earth unable to rest until she somehow came into Mammon's employ/possession. I still hope we get to see her and she becomes the newest member of the list of girls who fall in love with Paul because he rescued them.
 
"Mister Levi used to be a quality checker in a pharmaceutical company

Ahh, the guy that separated Blood and Etrigan using a goop that was made using human fat and severed foreskin.

. We do hundreds of tests with tiny variations to try and find out what exactly works the best. It was easier to get standardized fat than blood

Either because they don't need the fat compared to the blood, or the fact that if you mention blood and magic in the same sentence, people may get nervous.

Have liposuction clinics..? Reopened..?"

"That's the other thing; a lot of 'em haven't

At this point anyone with a medical license is probably working jobs that are necessary, and cosmetic surgery may not be considered that important.

Granted, with the fact that Anti-Life is depression, cosmetic surgery may actually be helpful for some people.

"I didn't even know there was a spell that could do that. Like… Every record?"

"I'm not sure of the exact reach it has, but it looks like it gets every paper or electronic record

Maybe don't tell that to the guy that could be involved in shady shit.
 
Always appreciated Levi.

The man self published a magazine about his techno-alchemy.

Probably not here though, since Zoat made magic more secret than it is in the comics.

I'm pretty sure Constantine used Catholic exorcism once, so not really a well kept secret that, what with over a billion Catholics and everyone who saw the Exorcist.
 
1st May 2013
07:25 GMT -8


The somewhat weather-beaten car pulls up to the industrial unit car park with commendable haste and compliance with driving ordnances, a man of Hispanic extraction getting out a moment later. He's staring at me with a combination of surprise and nervousness on his face.

"Hey, ah… I wasn't sure it was really you."
I mean, would anyone else be so brazen to do what OL did? Certainly a prompt response. Hope he didn't break any road rules on the way. Well, time to get let in all legal-like.

"I assure you, I'm really me. Your colleagues?"

"I…" He shakes his head. "I couldn't get hold of Seamus, and my boss should already be here."
That could be troublesome. I have the feeling Seamus will be up to his neck in something...

"He doesn't appear to be inside."

He shrugs. "Could be out getting breakfast or a cigarette. I can let you in..?"
Entirely possible. Or he's inside and in need of aid in a warded area...

"Please do so. And tell me about your employer."

"Mister Levi used to be a quality checker in a pharmaceutical company. Did chemistry in college." He inserts his key into the door, and then takes out… That's not a fob key, that's a fetish. He waves it around the door frame before turning the key. "He said he was always kind of interested in magic, but then…" He turns back to me. "Huh. I guess it figures you'd be-."
Right, well, that answers the question of who is behind this operation.

I raise my eyebrows. "I'd be..?"

"It was that talk you did, about how not using new technology and not using magic was stupid. He got really into it. Got a grant to do scientific magic research. Ended up quitting his regular job-. This was all before the Anti-Life thing."
Huh, consequences of his actions. 😏 Who'd have thunk it?

"Okay, that sounds respectable and productive. But there's a lot of human fat in there."

"Oh, that. Yeah, it-." He pushes the door open and beckons me inside. "We're not doing anything that needs that much human fat. Not anymore. But we needed a standard medium for testing-. We do hundreds of tests with tiny variations to try and find out what exactly works the best. It was easier to get standardized fat than blood. And…"
Huh. That is a reasonable idea. Surprised no-one else thought of it before them. Then again... Recycling fat.

"Go on. You're doing fine so far."

I follow him as he leads the way inside.
Nothing illegal yet, if they have all the permits needed.

"When the Anti-Life… Happened, he… Kind of managed to ward it off. Just a.. little. But the fat went bad real fast. We ended up raiding clinics and stuff." He raises his hands defensively. "And I know we-."

I shake my head. "Perfectly fine, under the circumstances. Weapons, medicine and reagents are all acquisitionable during major crises like that. If you'd taken cash or jewellery, that's not okay, but vital supplies are fine."
And given how many disasters Earth seems to attract, I'm not surprised that's become a thing.

"Including human fat?"

"You might need to prove the efficacy of your ward in court, but in principle, yes."

He exhales, sagging slightly. "That's a huge load off my mind. Ah, thanks."
That would be a weird case to sit...

The interior… 'Work space' is basic but up to code. There's a nitrogen tank I remember from… Work on Earth Prime, and a clean room with a fume cabinet, and a work bench covered in equal parts scientific equipment, magic books and alchemical reagents. More of the same fills three shelving units set against the walls, and power is provided by…
Wonderfully mundane given what they've been doing.

I think that's a magic-based generator.

"There are more efficient ways to check the law than asking a superhero, but we'll do in a pinch. However, that doesn't explain the fat you've got now."
Huh. Wonder if that generator is a new design they made, or not. Could be a money-spinner for them.

He pulls out a chair and sits down, gesturing for me to do the same. Since he's being so helpful, I comply.

"Turns out we took more than a month's worth. And it's not like the clinics need it back. I mean, how would we even do that?"
Huh. Well, that's gonna be a thing, then.

"In theory, if you were complying with the law, you would walk up to the front door, announce that you'd taken their property during the emergency and were now returning it, and then hand it over. But I wouldn't worry about it." I frown. "Have liposuction clinics..? Reopened..?"
I mean, some people cope with trauma by eating... Some, well... 🤔 Surgical therapy?

"That's the other thing; a lot of 'em haven't. Some places are just abandoned, some are shut down… Some have reopened, but we weren't all that careful about exactly what came from where."

"As I said, don't worry about it. Now, the main reason that I'm here is that I want to ask about whether-. No, let's not pretend that I don't know. Some people came here and had a spell cast to erase their records. I want to know exactly what happened."
And I suspect most places are just fine with it being gone. Not like they'd ask for it back.

"Huh?"

"I'm assuming that your work includes pure casting as well as alchemy?"
If nothing else, they'd need wards to minimise outside contamination...

"Uh, yeah?"

I take a hologram projector out of subspace and activate it, showing the faces of the five roof attackers. And then I add my most recent scan of Lonnie Machin's face.
Worth checking all of them, even if only one seemed to have used the spell...

"These gentlemen. Do you recognise any of them?"

He makes a point of looking the faces over, then shakes his head. And his brain activity suggests that he's not lying.
Okay, so he didn't see them. Doesn't mean the boss or Seamus didn't do something...

"I didn't even know there was a spell that could do that. Like… Every record?"

"I'm not sure of the exact reach it has, but it looks like it gets every paper or electronic record. The Justice League has warded computers and my rings are a little special, but otherwise a person can erase everything except memories with it."
Of course, using it suggests you're the kind of person who needs that kind of erasure...

"Jesus. Is it hard to make it work?"

"Not sure. It doesn't require much raw power or expensive reagents. And I don't think it needs that much skill."
After all, John Constantine could manage it before he got Lorded up.

"Got a few parking tickets I would mind making go poof."

"Alright, but you'd also lose your passport, driving licence, mortgage or rental agreement, contract of employment, banking records and school certificates. It's really for people willing to live off the grid only."

"Oh." He nods. "So, what now?"
Yes, that would be a bit of a drawback.

"Well, I'm waiting for my colleague to get back so that we can more precisely trace-."

"…already here. Seamus!? Marquez!?"
Huh. Looks like Ambrose found the boss.

Mr. Agua half turns to the door. "In here!"

A man… Mr. Levi, walks in, followed by Mr. Bierce, who briefly rolls his eyes at me.
Probably was getting coffees or something.

"Orange Lantern. Ah, hello, hello!" Mr. Levi walks up to me, offering me his right hand. I politely shake it. "Ambrose was just telling me-. Your tattoos! Do they really make you immune to all magic detection?"

"Virtually all of it. Two-stage indirect attempts can still work. Listen, I need to know about-."
No doubt a very fascinating subject to Eliphas here.

"The boy you're trying to find, yes. I've never met him, but anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Ah. Ah, thank you. Let's see if we can narrow down what happened and go from there."
Okay, still the matter of Seamus to resolve.

Well, if all of Eliphas' stuff is above board and got his paperwork covered, I'm sure OL would approve of his studies. Now, let's see if this mysterious Seamus bloke turns up, because I get the feeling he's been doing some work on the side. Work his boss and OL might not approve of. Because someone did the 'wipe records' spell here, and if it wasn't them, well...
 
Right, well, that answers the question of who is behind this operation.

And it also answers how Lonnie could have gotten one of them to wipe any records.

Finding reliable and truthful knowledge about magic may be difficult on the surface world, but Levi does have scientific knowledge and credentials, so Lonnie may have been more likely to trust him and his assistants in either performing the spell or giving him some info on magic that he could have used to create his own spell.

And given how many disasters Earth seems to attract, I'm not surprised that's become a thing

Pretty sure the same could be applied to the real world.

I mean, some people cope with trauma by eating... Some, well... 🤔 Surgical therapy

Cosmetic surgery is for more than just vanity.

Surgeries for things like scarring, deformities or gender reassignment surgery can have positive impacts on a person's mental and emotional health.
 

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