12735/If THAT Was Behind Door

If THAT Was Behind Door
Date of Scene:	10 September 2022
Location:	Shadowcrest Manor - Bristol Township
Synopsis:	Zatanna invites Helena over for a visit and to catch up on matters with the team, and beyond.
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Helena Bertinelli

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Zatanna Zatara has posed:
There has been a steady stream of visitors to the grand stone mansion in the last few hours. If her staff were human, they would be run ragged.

The house looks like it has weathered and settled into place for centuries, making it older than the city of Gotham. It hides many secrets. Not the least is that the house can be moved at will and unfolds like a clever children's diorama into several dimensions in space.

Visitors must be explicitly invited by the current owner or remain locked outside by powerful magic wards, nor can the uninvited mortal see it.

In short, it's a magical place to which Helena holds an invitation and is expected by its mistress.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli hadn't expected an invitation. Sure, they're on the Birds as teammates. They even had that one crazy back-alley kerfuffle street fight. But actual peers? Helena was as far from magical as the devil is from the Catholic church.

Okay. That's probably a bad analogy. The point is still valid! Helena wasn't expecting an invite. But here she is. She is not one to turn down friendly invite. Or even some unfriendly invites.

Walking up to the door, the dark haired woman is dressed casually. A plum colored silk blouse hangs untucked over pale denim jeans and chunky heeled dress boots. She pauses. Does she knock? Pull a bell cord? Push a doorbell? How does this work.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The mansion is an anachronism like its owner. The invitation had explained that the mansion would not be visible from the street until the high gates around the property open. Someone passing by would only see a densely wooded lot, an old derelict park no longer kept up by the city.

One of the high wooden doors of the mansion open and Helena is greeted by an elderly bewigged man in 18th Century court dress, complete with silver buckles on his shoes. He gestures her into the house without a word and takes her down a hall with high ceilings, lined with portraits of the family dating back to the 14th Century. Some of the portraits are from the hand of one Zee's ancestors and belong in a museum.

The man's footsteps are soundless over the oriental rugs cushioning the marble floor. Helena is led to another set of double doors leading into the library which he throws open and then stands aside to announce her arrival in a stentorian voice, "Ms. Helena Bertinelli, Ma'am.

At which, Zee rises from behind her large desk and crosses the room to greet her companion from Gotham with a large warm smile. "It's so good of you to come, Helena, do come in." Zee sweeps her hand to a love seat and comfortable chairs in a conversational group to one side of the large room. "Can I offer you anything to drink? Tea, hot cider, soft drinks, coffee...

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli looks to the door and offers the gentleman a smile. "Hello." She offers over the invitation if requested. Regardless, she follows him along, eyes taking in the decor with a mix of wonder and admiration. It _is_ a lavish place.

Looking toward Zee she smiles. "Hey.. well? I mean. You did invite me. I'd be a horrible friend if I said no. Mama Bertinelli raised be better than that." Even if it was for only her first 8 years. We won't go there.

Being more of a wine girl, Helena smiles. "Tea sounds perfect thanks. With some honey if you have it?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna signals to the man waiting at the door, "Tea with honey, then George and add a bottle of the Chambertin-Clos de Beze, 2002, two glasses and a small platter of hors d'oeuvres, please. Thank you."

The walls of the room are lined with book cases filled with leather bound books interspersed with odd objects - astrolabes, boxes, curios under glass. On a side table a large bird resembling an eagle sits on a perch eyeing the two women. It ruffles its blood red feathers once and settles into immobility.

Zee takes a seat in one of the armed chairs. "Sit where you like, Helena. You are the first of our group to come here besides Barbara."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli smiles and nods to George. "Thank you." She then looks around, "Well it's amazing. Very elegant.." a little laugh slips out, "But.. also a little Addams Family vibe going on, I can't lie. I like it." She grins, hoping that wasn't an insult.

Moving to sit in a chair near Zatanna so they can talk she dips her head, "Well I'm honored. Thank you for having me."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Amused, Zatanna looks around the room and shrugs. "It's the family home. I grew up here. And yes, there is an Addams family quality to it. Thing is no longer with us," she offers sadly with a badly concealed smile.

"What is the news on the street? I've heard that there is a gang war raging through the streets. I've been out of town quite a lot recently with other business so I count on you to catch me up on Clocktower doings and gossip.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli relaxes when the comparison to the Addams family manse is taken in the spirit it was meant.

"We're still looking into the werewolf thing. They went to ground after the theme park. I'm sure we'll get more leads soon enough." A nod, "Yeah.. some of the Bat family are on it the last I heard from Comms on the way over here." When the tea arrives, she pauses to sip at it.

"Well. Things have been good..? Not bad anyway. Barb had me follow up with Mika and invite her to join the team provisionally. We need to get her into some action and training. She's an actress... but also has EMT training so that may be very helpful if any of us get hurt badly."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Ah, the werewolves. That was a bad business." She frowns and looks into the middle distance a moment, distracted by her thoughts.

She refocuses, "I've been remiss and not followed up with Babs. So they have gone to ground? What do you and Babs suspect? That there is a large group recruiting more people into their ranks? And, that is good to hear that Batman has been following leads into the other crimes. I've been too out of touch."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli holds her teacup and sips easily. It was good, not that she imagined otherwise considering the hostess.

"There seems to be more out there. Trying to find the source, the big boss level guy, you know? Barb has been talking with someone fron Manahttan. Elektra Nachios. She seems to have some measure of intel that has been helping. I need to nudge Barb again and figure out where we're going next. You'd think I'd already have done that since she asked me to step up and be her second.." A smirk.

Someone has been too busy looking at, or watching a particular ass(et) when she should be giving more attention to helping with team matters. Ahem.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"New skills for the group? An actress and an EMT? Well. That's an interesting side gig while she waits on becoming famous." Her blue eyes widen, "Or is she already famous and I am out of the loop? Well, never mind. Show people come and go.

"Speaking of people who come and go, Elektra was it? Now, that is interesting."

Zatanna notes the expression on Helena's face when she mentions Babs. Helena can't hide the softness when she mentions her name behind a smirk. "Babs, knows talent when she sees it. Undoubtedly." A small smile flits across her face as she asks, "How -are- you two?"

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Helena Bertinelli laughs. "Yeah. I'm.. not sure exactly. But she is in some movies or TV shows. So we need to come up with armor for her that hides her identity. Just like the rest of us, mostly, right? Not all of us can be outed and awesome like you." She grins and winks.

Then Zee turns things to personal topics. Helena actually flushes a little. But only a little.

"We're.. well." She smiles quietly. "We're good? Just caught up in saving the city, saving the world. There isn't a lot of time for down time really. But it's good.." she admits softly. "We'll find our equilibirum." Eyes with a measure of concern look to Zee, "The last thing I want is to be responsible for driving a wedge through the center of the team. Or taking Barbaras focus off of what needs to be done.."

She closes her eyes while rolling her head back for a moment. "But she needs more than just the cape and cowl. I don't get how others do it without having someone to help keep them grounded." Her shoulder rises in a shrug. "And if it wasn't for her setting expectations, I'd still be out there cutting my way through the Gotham Families like the grim reaper. In a lot of ways she's saved me. You know?"

With a blink she stops talking and hides behind a sip of tea. She isn't one to talk often or openly about her innermost thoughts. Then again, most people aren't Zatanna.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Personally, I've never thought of you as a distraction in her life. It seems you do just that: ground her," Zee leans forward slightly as though to emphasize her sincerity. "And it sounds like it goes both ways. You both benefit from it. So, if I am to interpret that selfishly, then we all do. She seems happy," said with the faintest longing tucked away behind a half smile.

Picking up the bottle that has sat uncorked during the conversation, Zee examines the label, followed by the soft glug of wine being poured. The wine is a rich ruby with accents of orange gleaming in the light of the lamps scattered about the room. "Can I offer some? Some little tidbits to eat should be on their way up from the kitchen. No drinking on an empty stomach."