15392/What Do You Take A Mage When They Invite You Over

What Do You Take A Mage When They Invite You Over
Date of Scene:	16 July 2023
Location:	Shadowcrest Manor - Bristol Township
Synopsis:	Zatanna invites Meggan, Dick and Stephanie by to see her ancestral home.
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Dick Grayson, Meggan Puceanu, Stephanie Brown

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Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Large white limestone blocks set by stone masons in the Renaissance waver into existence. Old as they may be, the house shows no sign of wear. Only the glass, distorted with age in its wooden sashing, hints at the centuries that have passed. Large and glossy black double doors open as the owner's guest set their feet on the lowest step of the stairs.

Zatanna appears in the doorway, a smile beckoning them upward.

"What a pleasure to have you both. Thank you for coming."

She steps back into the large entrance hall lined with portraits. Its white and black marble floors warmed by hand-knotted rugs from her mother's country, Turkey.

One of several doorways has a liveried servant standing, waiting to open it for them.

"I thought we would have drinks on the library terrace and watch the sunset," she suggests, ushering them toward the room. "I've invited an old friend, Meggan Constantine as well."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick and Stephanie finish climbing the stairs up to the entrance, passing Zatanna to enter the manor. Once they are inside he waits for Zatanna to indicate a direction, then steps through the door she indicates.

    "Thanks for the invitation, you have a lovely home. And the more, the merrier I would say."

    He glances at the servant as they pass, giving them a smile and nod of thanks.

    "That sounds good to me. We'll have to have you visit us one day, sunset over the lake can be quite lovely."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Shadowcrest's many charms are not lost upon Meggan, and she takes a few moments to admire the house's steadfast appearance when it ceases to conceal itself from onlookers. She carries a slightly battered reusable shopping bag over one arm, the contents of half a lavender farm and farmer's market sticking out, including several bunches of Hidecote and French lavender sprigs. Purple, pale pink, and white blooms add a fragrance to the air enhanced by the decline into night.

"Pretty sight to see tonight! Good evening!" she calls out, a cheerful melody carrying the distinctive English accent influenced by more Gaelic undertones.

Taking a careful path into the foyer, she dips her head in greeting to the servant, Zatanna, and the other guests. Sunshine gilds a smile that widens in glimmering curiosity and intensity. "Thank you for the invitation. It's certainly a week, Zee, hasn't it? John sends his best, naturally. He's getting over a... cold." Something of a pause in that reflects her best efforts, warranting a bright laugh.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown greets Zatanna with a bright smile. "Yes, someone definitely picked the right side of the lake to build it on so you get it at sunset instead of sunrise," she says. Her eyes go about the exterior of Zatanna's home. "I've seen this place before from the road, but never knew who lived here," she says. "I grew up over in Widowstone, at least after things settled after the tsunami," Stephanie comments, naming a poorer section of Bristol.

"Oh good, the more the merrier," she says as Zatanna mentions her guest. "Would she be related to a John Constantine?" she asks as the name rings a bell. Werewolves. Charlie being stuck in a demon's body. They've crossed paths a few times too.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Sofas and comfortable chairs are arranged into conversational groupings in the large booklined room. A large Tudor fireplace dominates one wall, set with unlit logs. Next to it, a bird with blood-red feathers looms large on a perch. It opens one eye to peer at the newcomers, rustles its wings, then settles back into a nap.

Zatanna leads them through the open French doors leading out onto a large terrace overlooking a formal garden of topiary hedges and manicured flower beds leading down toward the lake. A round table awaits them, surrounded by comfortable chairs - decanters of wine glinting ruby and golden in the waning sun. The servant that greeted them at the door lays a large platter of antipasti on it, glances at Zatanna for her approval, and steps back ready to pour for each guest.

"I don't entertain as often as I like. Please be seated and tell us what you'd like to drink. There is water if the wine doesn't suit."

Adressing Stephanie's compliment, "Thank you so much. The house has been in the family since the fifteenth century but not in this location." She adds with a playful smile, "Obviously. You are one of the few to have seen it. Not many have.

Eyes closed, Zatanna inhales deeply, then opens them with a look of approbation. "Lavender. You've brought summer with you, darling Meggan. Do give my best to your husband. May I introduce you to Meggan Constantine. Dick Greyson and Stephanie Brown."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Having grown up with Alfred around Dick has had certain habits ingrained in him, one of which is not showing up at someone's home empty-handed. He holds up a bottle of good wine, offering it to Zatanna.

    "Just a little something I thought you might enjoy."

    He surrenders the bottle to Zee or the servant, whomever moves to take it first. He looks around as they move out to the terrace, smiling at Meggan as she's introduced. "A pleasure to see you again Meggan, it's been too long since we crossed paths."

    He slips an arm around Steph to gently nudge her forward and continues, "As Zatanna said, this is Stephanie, my fiancee." Introductions handled, he pulls a chair out for Steph, then waits for the others to sit before seating himself beside her.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Naturally, any sort of avian creature deserves a prospective once-over for respect as a fellow inhabitant of the manor. Meggan at least aims to do so surreptitiously, avoiding calling attention away from any conversations or other matters. But far more intriguing are the other guests, and those she greets by clasping her hands together and dipping forward as soon as Zatanna calls her name. Flaxen gold hair that might intrigue Rumpelstiltskin or certain cat burglars slips off her shoulder, heavy braid swaying in a Rapunzeline rope.

"Enchanted. Please, call me Meg." Her smile softens a fraction from Stephanie's question, her green eyes widening in fascination. "Stephanie, Dick. Congratulations upon the engagement, that's absolutely lovely news for the both of you. From both of us -- John and I -- wishes for all the best." Absolutely no hint of irony or teasing colours those sentiments, being exactly unalloyed as they are. Constantine's bittersweet sarcasm isn't something she can hope to match essentially ever, as foreign as taro root to the Inuit.

Dick's prompting leads her to sit, crossing her ankles delicately. "As Zee said, I'm married to John. Has a knack of getting about and meeting nearly everyone, him."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown greets Meggan with a warm smile. "Hello, very nice to meet you," she tells the other woman. "And thank you," she adds with a bashful but pleased smile. Her engagement ring is probably rather small and simple by the standards one might expect for a son of Bruce Wayne. But then Dick got her exactly what she wanted and the ring still makes her glow when she sees it or thinks about it.

As they move through the house, Stephanie is turning about as she walks to see everything. Even the exposure to Wayne Manor hasn't really dulled her excitement at seeing places like this. And there are definitely unique aspects to Zatanna's home!

She smiles as the bird peruses them then dozes back off. "Remind me to stay true to Dumbledore," she comments to Dick with a grin as she admires the avian.

The blond Gotham U student takes the seat with a smile to Dick, then focuses her attentions back on their host. "Oh, the wine would be lovely," Stephanie assures Zatanna.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"How thoughtful of you, Dick," Zatanna accepts the bottle then hands it to the servant. "Marcello, would you open that for us please. We will have it next." Waving a hand at the food set out for them, "Please help yourselves." On cue, Marcello, places silverware and fine china plates before each of the guests.

Once he has finished, Zatanna smiles widely at Meggan, "Yes, let me add my congratulations as well. It's very happy news. Have you already set a date?"

Gesturing to the wine glemaing golden in its decanter, "I would recommend the sparkling Sancerre for a congratulatory toast." Once the glasses have been poured, she raises her glass, "Let us drink to new friends and old. To your future happiness, Dick and Stephanie."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick takes one of the glasses, raising it as Zee speaks and then takes a sip before saying, "Thank you, that's very kind of you." Glancing over at Steph he shakes his head and answers "Not yet, no. We're waiting until after Stephanie graduates from college so that if I decided to abscond with her for an extended honeymoon it won't make her miss any classes."

    He chuckles, "I'm afraid that I'm more than happy to spend a bit of Bruce's money to take her on little unscheduled trips." He shrugs, "I usually try not to point out that I've got access to more money than anyone really needs, but I find I enjoy spoiling her a bit."

    He covers Steph's hand with his as he explains, then says "We'll even be in the same field once she's on the job, she's going into forensics and I'm a detective with the GCPD. Apparently we're just supposed to match up."

    He looks out over the garden, taking in it's carefully planned beauty. "Your garden is very lovely, you must have a very skilled landscaper. Bruce's has gone a bit wild in places, as neither of us have an especially green thumb and we can hardly ask Alfred to do anything about it given his current workload."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Manners matter, and whilst Meggan may not have the undoubted experience with Alfred to ensure she knows her soup spoon from her teaspoon or the proper order of forks to dine with, she still possesses some sense of proper etiquette. Blame lies squarely in the past with the most rigid, pointy-hatted of greybeard guardians.
Shehe waits for the wine to be poured, straight-backed and quiet, before joining the toast in her own merry "Slainte!"

Swirling the Sancerre releases a touch of its bouquet, another element for appreciation. "To responsible, thoughtful plans at that." She winks to Stephanie. "Best way to cap off sitting your exams and being done with the lot, isn't it?"

Dick's explanations warrant a rather curious look, too, though she bides her time to pepper the couple in a few questions about their chosen fields of study. The interest is there but, as ever, manners. The others will drink invariably before she does, a sip taken. Given the girl has worked as a bartender -- and still very much does, as needed -- in Gotham, it's no lack of appreciation on her part.

"Might you have a contact for a good gardener? Sounds like a plum opportunity. Though a wild look isn't a bad thing, leaving the plants to do what they want."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown's soft smile turns into a nod at Dick's explanation. "Took me awhile to find something that felt right. But I think I'm going to enjoy it," she says. "Bringing bad guys to justice."

The coed lifts up her glass at the little toast and takes a sip of the wine. "Thank you," she says. "I still kind of feel like this whole thing must just be one tremendous dream and I'm fearing the day I wake from it," she says, glancing over towards Gotham's most eligible bachelor, and not just because of his family wealth. Her eyes have a warm shine in them when she regards the handsome man, and a smile won't stay from her lips.

"He tries to spoil me. Though I still end up wanting a burger and fries. Or breakfast at the Munch Box," she says, invoking the name of a particularly popular greasy spoon breakfast place by campus.

Stephanie flashes a smile over to Meggan. "Though the chance to travel has been nice. I'd never been out of the US before. Barely out of the state or the ones around us too. Up to New York was about the further I'd gone, for gymnastic meets."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna's eyes dance with happiness watching the young couple. "You are both being wise about the decision. No running away and eloping. Save the traveling for later. A kindness to your father."

With an open handed wave at the garden, "My staff is unique, Dick. Many of them have been with us since the foundations were laid for the house. Though you should see Meggan's gardens. True magic." Leaning toward the goddess, she says in a stage whisper, "I will lend them to you if you need them. But I've seen flowers bloom in your footsteps."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    "It seems I'm surrounded by actual magic tonight. It's not something I can claim to have much experience in, but it obviously works for you." He gestures at the garden even as the night dwelling insects begin their chorus, volume swelling with the fading light.

    Turning his head to look at Meggan he replies "Bruce would have the final say on that, but usually on anything non-critical he just lets Alfred or I make the call. Mostly, I tell him what I'm planning and he nods and makes a vaguely positive sound while buried in reports from Wayne Enterprises." He chuckles a bit to himself thinking of his father's need to be hands on with as much as he can.

    Turning his attention to Zee, shakes his head ruefully, saying "I think if we eloped the entire social elite of the East Coast would have collective apoplexy. The opportunity to show themselves at my wedding is too good to miss apparently." He shrugs slightly, never having felt the need to be a social butterfly like so many of Bruce's peers.