noitatnacni | 001 | Action/Accidental Video

[So, being rained on in the woods makes it pretty clear she's not on the Watchtower anymore. There's a few possibilities: she remembers flying back with the force of Fate rejecting her spell, so maybe she hit her head. Or maybe it's some illusion caused by the rebound. A very real illusion, as she can feel her whole body ache as she sits up. But there's no way she's not hallucinating this.]

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in outer space anymore. [She mumbles the words to herself, unaware that anyone might be listening. The journal has gone beyond notice, though it's been silently broadcasting the scene since a minute or so before Zatana woke. Thankfully she's close enough to a tree that the rain falling on her is light enough to not be too much of a concern. Instead her eyes have wandered downward, taking in her change of clothing with a frown.]

Oh you've got to be kidding me. [Zatanna tugs at the collar of the dress she wears, clearly displeased by the slip.] Yeah, this has to go. Emit ot egnahc sehtolc!

[She lifts her hands over her head as she speaks the words, and seconds later a cloud of smoke flows up the same path to cover Zatanna completely. It doesn't last long, vanishing within moments to reveal the girl now wearing an outfit better suited for a magician. For some reason though, it makes the pain in her back worse, and her jacket feels far too tight. She shifts where she sits for a moment before shrugging off the outermost layer to reveal a pair of grey wings.]

What in the--?! [Zatanna gasps, eyes wide as she takes in the sight of the appendages now attached to her. Actually attached; they move when she thinks of moving them, and she feels it when she touches them.] Great. A fake world with bad taste in clothing and accessories. Just what I needed.

[She takes another look at the jacket, slowly shaking her head.] At least I've still got my magic. Dda seloh rof sgniw! [After another cloud puff, this only only around the jacket, she slides the coat back on--gingerly, since the wings still hurt.

She makes her way to her feet then, determined to find out what's going on. Hopefully exploring will give her the answers she needs to get back. If she's lucky, maybe she'd wake up and find out there could still be a chance to thwart Fate.

The only place she ends up, however, is in Luceti proper. With the advice of a few good samaritans in mind, Zatanna changes into something a little less battling-bad-guys ready using the same method as before. Not that the rain makes exploring easy, but there's not really much avoiding it. Luckily summoning an umbrella is easy enough to do, and gives her adequate cover as she wanders pretty much everywhere public, just trying to get some idea for where she is.]

{ooc: open action or voice to any; Zatanna will be looking around randomly, so feel free to catch her anywhere.}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...You know, it's pretty bad when the people basically enslaving you aren't the worst ones out there.

[Ritual sacrifice? Seriously? This just keeps getting worse and worse. Really, it's a little more bleak with every word that comes out of Max's mouth.]

Just out of sheer curiosity, is there any sort of upside to this? [Because Zatanna really could use an upside.]

It kinda is, yeah. [When you put it like that, it was pretty depressing actually.]

Uh... when we aren't being experimented on, the village is kind of nice? Everything's free which is a bonus. Good people.

So let me guess. You're not normally part of the welcoming committee, right? [Because wow, Max. Zatanna sure does feel down about everything right now.]

Everyone I've run into has been pretty nice. [She'll give them both that much, mostly because they probably need it now.] And yeah, I heard about the "no money" bit. Nice to know we're taken care of, at least.

Depends what you want. Confetti and puppies or the truth.

[He'd rather know straight off, although even then, the shifts had been kind of a gut punch.]

There is that. It takes a bit of weight off you. It's not terrible all the time. I don't mean to give that impression. It's just always at the back of your mind.

Puppies are pretty cute. [But Zatanna appreciates the fact that he’s honest, even if it’s a lot to take in.]

I can see how it would be. [She’s pretty sure she’ll be thinking about it constantly from now on too, thanks Max.] Kind of makes you wonder how anyone manages not to be miserable around here.

Okay, fair. I should probably have led with puppies. I'll remember that for next time.

[He gives a small smile and shrugs.]

Good people. I mean, there's a school here, and a decent bar and hot springs. Believe it or not, for some people this is actually an improvement.

Hey, every act is a work in progress.

[She does have to grin at what he opts to mention, though.]

Well, I'm fourteen, so I think I'm obligated by the laws of the universe to take no comfort in having a school around. And I'm pretty sure that if I tried to get a drink in a bar, my dad would have a heart attack, different universe or not. The hot springs might have potential though.

[Yet for every up, there is also a down, and Zatanna stares at Max in disbelief for a minute.]

You're serious about that.

Okay, the things I think are great might not apply to teenagers but... you get to live in your own flat with no parental supervision and don't have to worry about getting a job or money.

I'm pretty sure that was what I wanted when I was fourteen.

[His expression becomes more serious when she asks that, and he nods.]

I'm serious. My housemates... some people come from some really bad places.

[Zatanna really can't smile at that, at least not with the same humor she's shown up to that point. Instead she looks away for a second, trying not to let the irony of his words overwhelm her.]

I used to wish for that too. It's...kind of not all it's cracked up to be.

[But she doesn't want to go into it, even if the alternative is just as bleak.]

That's pretty awful. I guess it does give perspective though.

Can't argue with that. There is only so much take away food you can eat before you start to hate yourself. And get sick from malnutrition.

Yeah, it sucks. But it does make you think. At least here they're getting a chance.

Actually, I'm pretty lucky there. I learned to cook when I was young. Plus one of the people I lived with was good at it. [Definitely not Connor, though.]

Still, though. You kind of have to hope there's something better for everyone than this place.

I learned how to do magic when I was young. My cooking skills are not brilliant. Good thing I live with a foodie.

You really do. Kinda hope so.

And who said magic and cooking were mutually exclusive? [Zatanna’s got a few spells specifically designed for kitchen magic, so in her eyes, Max? Needs a better excuse.] Gotta say though, that sounds pretty convenient.

[As for the other thing they’re talking about—maybe it’s too soon for Zatanna to be thinking those sorts of thoughts. But she wants to do something to help, even if she’s barely been here an hour herself.]

My brother when I nearly poisoned him that one time.

[He grins at her at that anyway though. Cooking is just not his forte.]

It has it's perks. Along with having possibly the best defended house in the village.

Sounds like you're just bad at cooking. [Hey, he's thinking it. She's allowed to say it.]

Yeah? [She thinks about that for a second.] Does this place get attacked a lot? Everything seems really peaceful...

I never quite got over the college student thing.

Well... not exactly. I don't know if it has. I just... My magic is mainly defensive and it's habit. And I live with people from some of the less nice places I mentioned.

So make sure I call first if I ever want to visit. Got it. [Really, it’s not too hard to understand. The League had some pretty tight security on their places too.] But I'm guessing your friends appreciate it, given their background.

Might be a plan, yeah. I'm pretty sure Zev has some traps set up in the yard. He was awfully insistent about making sure I followed a certain path to the door when we moved in.

It's a safe place. At least I can guarantee no ghosts.

Pretty sure that’s biased against ghosts. [Zatanna grins; she’s met all of one in her life, and that one turned out to be an innocent victim trying to help her and Artemis stop Harm.] But thanks for the heads up. All of it. I’ll keep what you’ve said in mind.

Hey, when they stop trying to possess me, then I will stop being biased against them. Well, maybe. The exorcism gig does pay pretty well.

No problem. Glad I can help. You set up for a place to stay?

Maybe the ghosts just think you're cute. [Yeah, possession is a whole new animal. But it's far easier to tease than to admit he has a point.]

I'm still looking around, but I'm sure I'll find something. [Ultimately she'll end up with the only other person from her world here, but Artemis hasn't found Zatanna just yet.]

I would appreciate the sentiment more if possession wasn't so utterly horrifying. Also, I'm taken.

[He grins though, because hey, a light-hearted conversation is always fun.]

Cool. There's plenty of flats available.

001 | Action/Accidental Video

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