Work Text:
The House of Mystery. Like the legendary Winchester House but more of everything. More rooms. More feelings of fear dread and death. More spirits searching for revenge. And more space on the gaming table for players and snacks.
The weekly poker game in the game room. Tonight Zatanna Death Dream. From the multiverse Wong The Living Tribunal Cthulhu and Hellboy. Hosting and dealing as always is Constantine
The pot at the center of the gaming table is a massive hoard. Tokens trinkets baubles crystals. Bowls of snacks and glasses of beverages moving about via poltergeists ghosts and other creatures.
Cthulhu is looking at their cards while wong and the tribunal speak with them.
Wong: burble glub glub something sounds like latin.
Hellboy tapping his fingers but also looking amused.
Living Tribunal; gurgle black cards what sounds like mathematical equations and a belch.
Death munching on pretzels and showing Dream how to dip and eat a chip.
Zatanna sitting across from Constantine. She smiles and shrugs. Constantine giving his roguish grin and a wink.
Cthulhu: blurgle glug caw something Sumerian win!
They fan their cards on the table. 8 cards, all black. No matching suits or face cards. Just all black.
Cthulhu claps their hands and wings with glee.
The tribunal and wong groan and face palm.
Death and Dream stop mid chew.
Everyone looks at hellboy.
Hellboy looks grumpy and tosses his cards on the table.
Hellboy: how do you keep winning! You cheating with an elder sign?
Hellboy winks at Constantine. Everyone breaths a huge sigh of relief, even if they don't breathe.
Constantine; cthulhu you sly elder god!
The Hellblazer gathers the cards and starts to shuffle.
Much later. Just zatanna and constantine sitting at the game table. John with a glass of scotch, zee a bottle of beer. The magical staff cleaning up.
Zatanna: who would have thought the notorious Hellblazer would be a great host.
Constantine: i cant take all the credit luv. The house has an amazing staff.
The specters smile and graciously bow.
Constantine: thank you lot.
Zee and Constantine bow in return.
Zatanna: why did you start inviting cthulhu?
Constantine: they got wind of the weekly game and they... You know how their family can get.
Zee nods sadly.
Zatanna: gods yea. Azathoth is...
Constantine: and you know how hastur is when things get...
The sorceress chuckles sadly and nods.
Constantine: so... Just seemed like...
Zatanna: a good thing to do. You are such a softy.
Constantine: please. You'll ruin my reputation luv.
Zatanna: actually those you let close know what matters.
The Hellblazer gives her the side eye and smiles. Not the con artist grin. Not the snake charmer smirk. The smile few see, the one for those he loves. And zee smiles back.
Zatanna: is galactus really attending next week?
Constantine: oy bugger yes. Way more refreshments.
Even the ghostly staff groans.
Zatanna: john you should make him contribute at least snacks.