10619/Magic

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Magic
Date of Scene: 01 April 2022
Location: Shadowcrest Manor - Bristol Township
Synopsis: Susan and Z talk about magic and qi and plants and stuff.
Cast of Characters: Zatanna Zatara, Susan Sullivan




Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The soft white of the stone exterior harks back to the mansion's Renaissance origins. Zatanna's father, Giovanni Zatara had made the move to Gotham at Bruce Wayne's request years ago and his daughter had never thought to move it.

Much of the interior is like it was in the 16th Century with black and white stone floors warmed by oriental carpets and dark wood wainscoting lining the family rooms. Portraits of illustrious magicians line the walls of the entrance room and the large sweeping staircase leading to the upper rooms.

Zatanna like her father entertains in the large book-lined room that serves as library and salon. And, like her forbearers she keeps certain traditions. It's tea time and the house is open to friends and visitors.

Only a small fire burns in the cavernous Tudor fireplace behind one of the settees. Zatanna sits regally before the tea service laid out on a low table. Freshly made finger sandwiches and petit fours await in a multi-tiered serving tray next to a silver tea pot and delicate china cups.

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Susan is brought to the salon. She has the look of people who are brought in and don't have experience being in such fancy houses. She's dressed like usual, with a couple key differences. "Hello," she says as she sees Zatanna, awkwardly waiting where she's been led to, feet touching as she waits for further instruction.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The lady of the house rises when Susan is ushered in. Smiling warmly she indicates a seat on the long settee, "Come in and relax, have something some tea or whatever you'd like to drink. We can bring you anything. It was nice of you to come. I wanted to see how 'things' are settling in for you."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    Susan walks in with as much grace as Rosie the Riveter, pulling her coat tight around her to sit down before letting it go. "'Things,'" she echoes, "were a big hit." From the way she's putting it, every part of that was an understatement. "No side-effects that I've been able to sense. I did some qi cleansing so I don't smell like you. No offense, but that would have been a liability at my second job."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
A faint vee forms and disappears between Zee's eyebrows, then, her expression smooths out.

"Well, I am glad to hear that you cleansed. But, I am puzzled , what is your second job that smelling of my magic would be a liability?"

Touching the ebony top of the teapot, "What can I offer you?"

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "I take care of predatory plants for a local Gothamite lady. I have to purify my qi just inside the door to take on the essence of the plants, lest they become a bit too aggressive." Susan looks at the offerings and plucks up a finger sandwich. "This might sound rude, but is it possible to just get a glass of milk?" She then bites her sammich.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
At a gesture from Zee a small bell on the table rises and rings itself.

"There is nothing rude about it. I offered whatever you'd like to drink. I take nut milks with my tea now. I wonder if other homo magi are lactose intolerant, too."

A servant appears almost before it has finished ringing and Zee orders the milk. He returns a few minutes later with a large glass on a silver salver which he sets in front of Susan.

In the meantime she asks, "Can you tell me about how you care for the plants? There are aggressive ones? That's a bit out of my experience."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "Yeah," Susan says with a nod. "I've never gotten hurt by them, but there's been incidents, I think." She shrugs. "I mostly water them and fix any qi-flow issues they're having. They're not natural plants, from what I gather."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zee pours tea for herself and for a moment, there is only the sound of the fire crackling in the fireplace behind them and the tink of her spoon against the china as she stirs in some cashew milk.

"Not natural? Does that mean they are magical plants, created by someone? Qi-flow is not a new concept for me. But, would you translate it as life-force or vital force?"

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "No," Susan says. She picks up her milk and drinks a sip of it. "Oh, that's good," she says. She chugs down half the glass before putting it down. She continues, "They're not magical at all, from what I've been able to surmise. There's a 'treatment' she calls it. It's like miracle grow and steroids and does weird things to the plants. It gives them a lot more awareness than I've been able to anticipate."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zee remains quiet for a moment digesting her words. Then with a slight sideways nod, "So qi is not vital force? But I'm going on a tangent with these plants I know your employer, well not well, I've met her. I didn't realize she animated plants and made them more aware."

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "No, the plants are not magical," Susan corrects her. "They definitely have more abundant qi than normal plants. It flows faster, too. They live fast and die young, which isn't hard if you naturally live a thousand years like some plants do." She thinks for a moment, taking a bite of her sandwich. When she's swallowed it, she says, "I'm not sure if qi is exactly equated to life force or not. It can be present in a rock that has absorbed it over millenia. Decaying qi is found in cut lumber and old houses made of sawn planks. However, it's not found in concrete or smelted metal or plastics. I feel like that should have the qi of the city, but it doesn't. That's another thing, too. Whole cities are alive with flowing qi. The world itself, Gaia, the most Disney of the Princesses, flows with abundant qi. I don't think it's exactly life force, but I don't think the two can be separated in something that's alive."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Nodding understanding, she takes a sip of tea before observing, "That's an excellent description of qi. I believe that the qi and magic are hard to separate in my kind. Though I've never been compared to a Disney Princess," she says, smiling.

Susan Sullivan has posed:
    "It's my religion," Susan admits, looking down into her cup of milk. "I made it up," she continues. "When I was dead, a lot of religions didn't want me, so I mixed bits I like into my own thing." She looks up at Zatanna and confidently asserts, "I overcame my adversity at the time and made my own path. It's a very Disney Princess thing to do." She takes a sip of milk. "So, what can we talk about that's perhaps happier? Boys? Video games? Existential programming? Tea?"