203/BoP - Catching Up

BoP - Catching Up
Date of Scene:	01 March 2020
Location:	Historic Clocktower Upstairs
Synopsis:	Babs and Zee catchup. Zee nudges and Babs admits she has thought about gathering Birds again after Genosha. Now they have an assignment to explore.
Cast of Characters:	Barbara Gordon, Zatanna Zatara

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Barbara Gordon has posed:
Things in the Clock Tower are mostly tidy and organized but it has been a few years now since it operated as an active hub for a Team of Superheros. In the intervening few years Barbara has gotten back into the swing of being in the field active as a vigilante. For a variety of reasons most of the Birds split and went their own ways but many did stay in touch.

Which is why when Zatannna sends Babs a text <'Hey, back in town, want to catch up over a couple of glasses?'> she looks up from the Drone she is working on at awork bench and blinks before looking around the Clock Tower. Fishing up her phone she fires back. <'Sounds Great. Still in the same spot if you want to pop over.'>

She pushes the chair back from the workbench and heads to get make sure the kitchen is actually presentable straightening up while leaving the O.R.A.C.L.E. drone disassembled on the workbench.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Standing in front of the mirror in her room, Zatanna gives herself one last look over and pokes herself in the stomach. "I need to work on my crunches." she bemoans lightly as the phone chirps at her, and with a wave of her hand, the message is read off to her. Grabbing the bottle of wine she had picked, she gives herself a smile, before raising her hand to quietly intone one word.

"Rewotkcolc."

Instantly, Zatanna is transported from her bedroom in Shadowcrest to the Clocktower, where she appears in a pre-determined spot that she had warded to secure magic users for a few seconds as her old wards checked it over. And she frowns as she feels the age of them against her. She felt like such a kid then.

But then she spots the redhead, and her smile is as vibrant as it ever was. "Barbara!" she calls out warmly as she steps off the small platform, carrying a bottle of wine in her hand. But the outfit? That's changed.

No leotard and fishnets and that throwback to her dad's costume. A white underbust corset is sinched tightly over a black lace bralette, a black leather half-jacket with sleeves rolled up on her shoulders. A pair of black leather pants are held with a belt at her waist, going to a pair of kitten heels. There is some fishnet, the gloves that she wears on her hands and to her elbow are made of the material. "It's Saturday night, why are you here and not on a date?" she asks in a chiding tone as she presents the wine from Cupcake vineyard. "Red Velvet Cake."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
That whole instant teleportation via magic is why Barbara hussled over to the kitchen to make sure things looked presentable. Shoving several plates into the dishwasher, and flipping a couple of take out containers into the trash.

She knows how this works.

So when Zatanna does appear in the Clocktower, she is just giving the kitchen island a wipe down before tossing the cleaning wipe into the trash and letting the lid close after it.

Walking around from the kitchenette area over to Zatanna she smiles and gives her friend a look over now. The greeting though gets a laugh there. "On a date... okay listen you can't toss those rocks when you're here too." she shakes her head with amusement. "It is great to see you Zee.. you look great." there is a gesture to the outfit. "This look. This look is fantastic and a lot more... practical.. is that the word I want." she isn't sure.

Still she steps in offering a hello sort of hug. "That sounds like a fun wine, we can pop it open and get it in the aerator."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
And Zatanna is none the wiser of Barbara's domestic goddess act as she laughs. "Fine fine, rocks, glass houses. I could totally blame the rigors of three shows a day in Vegas - four on the weekends!" comes the quick addition to make it sound so much more important, "I just haven't had the time. But truth be told? Guys just aren't doing it for me, Babs." she shrugs her shoulders at that as she laughs.

Striking a model pose for Barbara, Zatanna does a twirl, and winks. "This old thing?" she says playfully. "I just threw it on to come over for a visit." That is a total lie. And you don't need to be Batgirl to know that.

Though the hug is returned. Warmly and with the affection of friendship as she lingers for a few seconds then pulls back. "Oh! One second."

With her hand around the bottle still, Zatanna states, "Llich." And the the bottle turns very cool quickly before she presents it to the redhead.

"So no rocks in glass houses tonight. I'm sure you have a gadget to open that with while I check the wards. You had any trouble?"

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara laughs "Yeah no rocks, there is way too much glass and expensive electronics in this house for sure." she watches with amusement as Zee chills the wine, her head tilting lightly before she reaches out to accept it.

"Do I have a gadget... no I threw out everything while you have been wowing crowds in Vegas with chip'n'dale dancers to fawn on you. I mean I have seen some of the promo material on the net with your assistants Zee." light teasing as she heads back to the kitchenette and pulls out a wine opener, first carefully opening it then hooking it up onto an aerator to speed up the breathing process with scientific precision.

"No trouble of the magical nature in the last couple years. I can't really speak to whether that is because of the wards or because going back to being Batgirl means I just am not running into the same diversity of villains we ran into with the Birds.... it is an interesting question though."

Speaking of going back to being Batgirl, the new costume is on an equipment rack near the workbench with the drone project, it is very different than the old Batgirl costume. All sorts of armored leather, practicality, and still a sharp style.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Decided to just give in to that whole hermit librarian thing, huh?" Zatanna asks with amusement as she moves to take off her jacket. And on her left arm is another addition. A tattoo. Flowers and whirls, wrapped around a magician's hat with a wand and a crossed pair of gloves. Freed of the jacket, the blue in her eyes turns into a glow as she mutters a soft incarnation and starts to feel around.

And Barbara can see them. For the first time since Zatanna placed them, the pentagrams and circles and wards that she placed in multiple layers. "I can't believe I was so young to think I needed to do so many wards!" she admits with a laugh.

At the comment about the promo materials, Zatanna blushes, just a moment. "Thunder From Down Under." she corrects lightly. "Mainly because of what they can do down under and not because they're from Australia. One was from New Zealand!" she points out. "But you know me, I'm the Princess of Prestidigitation. It's all smoke and mirrors. Make me look attainable, while all the while, not. It sells tickets, Barbara. Don't knock it."

"But relationships? Not in a couple of years. Not since..." she pauses and resteels herself. "...he whom shall not be named. Not worth it." she explains.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Keeping one eye on the aerator ... but wow.. she loses track of that as the wards light up around the Clocktower and she lets out a low whistle. "Is more wards bad or something, I mean when it comes to computers I operate on layers of security and defenses both physical and logical?" trying to equate the glowing circles and pentagrams with something she actually understands better.

Then the topic shifts and another laugh slips out good natured. "Right, Thunder From Down Under...." and she shakes her head. "I'm not knocking it, just noting I have been keeping track of your career.. and well most of the old team's activities. Though in some cases I am pretty sure in several cases the term is shenanigans not activities." she pauses as if thinking about it then smiles and pulls the wine bottle out of the gadget.

"Is the ink magical or just gone native in Vegas?" is asked as she steps to fish down a couple of wine glasses and tips just a splash of the Red Velvet red wine into one before sipping it testingly.

Between the Wayne connections and being the Chair of her own company she is in enough situations that she has become pretty good with wine tasting. Also Alfred was a good teacher when she asked him for the 101 on wines back in the day.

"Well don't look at me, I've been focused on trying to stay sharp on the whole risking my life on a nightly basis business.. add to that still part timing as Oracle well.. woof."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"The more complicated you make a ward, the harder it is to maintain. I can strengthen these up by combining them." comes Zatanna's response as the raven haired woman glances over to the redhead and she smiles. "Here I almost felt special that you were keeping an eye on me." There's a hint of a tease in her voice as she considers, and her attention returns to the wards as she starts to work on them.

"What have they been up to?" she asks curiously as she works, pulling the wards in together. Her brows furrow in concentration. "It's been nearly ten years since I lost dad, Barbara." she admits quietly. "I haven't given up hope. Part of me thought that if I got a tattoo, he'd suddenly appear and be all, 'What do you think you're doing Zatanna Zatara?!'" she offers up in an approximation of her father's voice. "So part native... part wanting to hold onto him."

Though it's getting harder and harder for her to remember what it sounded like. A few laughs. A lyric from a song. His smile.

She blows out a breath, and pulls on things. "So what you're telling me is that noone's bothered to ascend this ivory tower, sweep you off your feet and pull you away." she points out as she walks by the new Batsuit. "Left the spandex days behind?" comes the question. "Can't say I blame you." But her eyes move over to the Batsuit in the case. The damages to it. She frowns. Was she there for that? Where was she. Why didn't she help?

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"I suppose that has an analogy to computers, to a degree. The more systems you have up the more you have to maintain and make sure are patched and current without any known or zero day vulnerabilities. Having the AI run a good deal of it though does simplify having too many layers though if I am honest." also is probably spooky to a lot of people that she built an AI she calls Oracle these days.

"Mmm TLDR I would love if you want to strengthen them by combining them up... thanks Zee." she notes as she pours two decently full glasses of the red plucking them up to walk back over to Zee and offer her one of them.

"As for the birds... varied... no one is in trouble though so I am not too worried about any of them. If they needed help I would scramble resources to help them still of course." and she also seems to be respecting their privacy for the most part too hedging out of dishing any dirt on any of them.

"I think it is a good way to remember him Zee and it looks beautiful." glancing down at the ink up closer now. "Also my being up and not just walking but actually high kicking criminals in the head is evidence that anything can be possible... don't give up hope." she means it too. Considering the world of magic and superheroes, why would anyone have trouble believing in the remote when the impossible is often attainable.

"I so left the spandex days behind... I was so young and thought I was invulnerable... hell... that..." noticing the look to the case with the damaged suit. "Wasn't even from when he shot me you know. It was just the last time I wore it before I got shot."

She was shot as Barbara Gordon to hurt commissioner Gordon. The height of Irony that the Joker didn't even know he was crippling one of the Batclan when he tried to kill her.

"The new suit is a work of art compared to teenager me's idea of safety and crime fightin..."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I think my field days are over, really. I'm a powerful mage in a day and time where that's not many of us left." she admits. When Barbara passes by, Zatanna reaches out to give her hand a quick squeeze and a smile. "Anything is possible." she agrees. "But at some point, what's attainable and what's fantasy cross paths." comes her response before she turns her attention to the wards, her eyes, hands and the wards all starting to glow more vibrantly and pulse as Zatanna murmurs arcane words in reverse, feeding a bit of herself into protecting the Clocktower.

You can't create something from nothing, after all. And the wards ask for a price.

"I know. I know he hurt you. And I'm sorry he wasn't stopped. A lot wasn't stopped." she finally says and considers as she floats off the ground, a few feet off the ground as she rotates around, magic ebbing and flowing from her as she replaces old magic with new. "We were all young. You weren't the one running into battle in fishnets and a top hat with little else." she points out with a slight smile.

"I'm thinking of holding a show for Genoshan relief." The change of subject is offered as she quirks her brow at one of the wards. "...my last public show for a while." she admits. "I did all of this public work. Distractions, really. And not enough helping. And I feel like I should apologize for that."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara leans against the couch as she watches Zatannna work on the wards, it is fascinating. In the way that anything you really don't understand but is obviously quite complex is to someone with a mind like Barbara's. She will probably go over the footage from several angles later to see it in slow motion too.

"We may not be as young Zee but the world still needs us." she notes with a firm belief there. "I'm sure if something was happening that called on your expertise and the day needed saving, you would still put yourself in the line of danger to save the day as the Princess of Prestidigitation."

"Genosha... I have no idea how to help with that to be honest. Offering to help from an energy side might just be seen as opportunist. The scale of the conflict and destruction is so above the street criminals of Gotham I tangle with nightly." she sounds less optimistic. "That all said though you should do the relief show. I bet a lot of celebrities would be on board to do some sort of GenoshaAid." thinking back to her dad telling her about things like LiveAid before she was born.

"You're a good person Zee."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna laughs. "Oh, Babs. I'm a hedonist. Terrible at times, really." she admits with a grin as she finishes the wards, and she slaps her hands together, the glow disappearing as she drops to the ground and draws in several breaths. "Maybe. I'm not sure magicians are a big of a draw as musicians though. But I'll put a feeler out, see what happens."

"You've always been the better person, Barbara." she admits as she finally moves to join her on the couch as she reaches for her glass of wine. She swirls it around and takes a sip from it, and then she speaks.

"Lleps a otni eniw eht nrut, laiv a ot telbog siht mrofsnart."

The glass transforms, becoming a small vial inside a pendant on a chain. She turns and she offers it to the other woman. "If you are ever in trouble like that again. Alone, hurt, and it's life or death, break this vial. No matter where you are on this Earth and plane, the spell in this vial will give you a one way teleport to the study at Shadowcrest."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"No one said hedonists can't also be heroes Zee." amusement as she sips her wine and watches the wards fade from view and Zee kneel for a moment breathing hard. This isn't something new to her so there is no rushing off to help her friend up or panic over her.

"Also I think variety shows are better than concerts anyways... or Vegas would just all be singers right."

She trails off though as Zee starts to cast a spell on the wine, trying to parse the backwards talk quickly as she watches the glasss transform into a vial in her friends hands. The translation takes a moment longer than the transformation really and she ohs

She reaches out to accept the pendant on the chain now and look it over curious. "Break glass in case of utter emergency.. got it." sounding a bit surprised really. No matter how many times she gets to witness the sheer flexibility of magic, it is always a bit surprising to her. "Thank you Zee.. though now we need to pour you another glass."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Got that covered!" Zatanna says as she waves her hand towards the kitchen. "Ssalg!" And with that, the glass moves from the cabinet and flies through the air to land in the woman's hand. Holding it out for Barbara to fill for her. "So, the lessons we've learned are to never date guys that do the same thing that we do." Laughing lightly, she takes out her phone and tapping on it, she sends out a post. "There, GenoshAid is totally a hashtag now and that's totally on you." she winks.

"Alright, now! How do we get you social again? Because as awesome as it is to see a Batgirl, she doesn't hold a candle to Barbara Gordon in the right dress."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"That is definitely the moral of the story." nodding agreement about the whole dating people in the same field as it were. She carefully fills Zatanna's glass and tucks the pendant over her neck once her hands are free of the bottle before picking her own glass up again.

She offers her glass towards yours. "To friends and lessons learned." because well you should toast when you are drinking with friends in her book.

"True.. I try to not have vulnerable skin showing in my superhero costume... improves life expectancy so me in a dress probably a much hotter number for most people." pauses "I mean no if you look at some of the fan and rumor sites frequented by cape chasers.. god help us all." she sips her wine. "So what are you doing in Gotham.. show lined up?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"To bringing the flock back together. One bird at a time." Zatanna clinks her glass against Barbara's with a grin as she takes a sip from her wine and closes her eyes. "You say vulnerable, but you, dear Barbara are a complete knockout." comes the coy and amused response as she mulls over the question.

"As I said. One more performance. And then I'm hanging up the tophat for a little bit. At least the stage one. Genosha opened my eyes to the world." she shakes her head.

"Things are not getting better. My skills are more needed doing something other than pulling rabbits out of hats or car tricks." she admits as she leans against Barbara's side. "Oh. I've been there. Trust me, as much as I ... or as little as I wore, you can imagine what's out there about me." Then she laughs, and gestures her hand across her cleavage on display. "Not that I didn't bring some of it on myself!"

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Babs says dryly "just because so many of us had very poor choices in costumes.... I'll spare you any compilations of the fan art or cape chaser posts Zee." teasing really despite the dry tone.

"Genosha does really highlight just how dangerous things are. I mean... first the alien invasion.. then doomsday.. then that Loki business and now this." she just shakes her head and she sips her wine thinking.

"Do you think we should .. actually think about getting the flock back together. Have we been really selfish?" which means now Babs is wondering if she has been selfish throwing herself back into the fight fist first and just helping secure the night in Gotham by night and helping a sustainable energy future by day.

Only superheroes.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Oh, honey, I didn't have any bad choices in costume. I don't care if someone imagines what the girls look like, only a few people are ever gonna get to see them, and when the right person comes along - man, woman, alien.." she shrugs. "Then well, imagination won't matter." Zatanna points out, as she remains on task. "I can only assume that's why you're doing what you've been doing, Babs. New suit, new drones -- those are totally cool by the way -- the work here at the Tower. You can't tell me you don't have some kind of plan."

She lifts her gaze to her friend and sips from her glass. "But when it comes to it, you were always the leader none of us could be, Babs. It's your tower, your decision to make. But I promise you this, if I find out that this is where you sleep, eat, and you forget to have a social life, I will come up here, drag you out by that pretty titian hair and make you have fun, Barbara Gordon."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Well I mean, she does eat,sleep, and have no social life here in the clocktower when she isn't swinging around on a grapple line. Or the occasional board meetings. I mean who has time for a social life.

Still Zee's threat almost makes her snort wine causing a laugh, it is almost like old times and that is nice.

"Actually I mean I've just been punching criminals a lot.. which while theraputic may be short sighted." because honestly Zatanna is a good wake up call there. "I'm not going to lie to you and say I've been conciously planning to fill the nest again Zee... but maybe I should." looking around the Clocktower. "Not entirely sure who might be interested still other than you from the old crew.. or what new blood might be appropriate." okay that may be a lie and she instantly knows it once it is out of her mouth.

Of course Oracle and by extension the Batcomputer and Bruce has files on an absurd number of fresh blood out there operating who might be interested in the concept of the Birds of Prey.

"Okay.. maybe I have some ideas." she notes sheepishly, the whole not wanting to lie to Zee.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Well. It's cozy here." Zatanna opines as she finishes her wine and reaches for a refill, as she gives a smirk. "I bet your broadband is amazing, and your games library is unmatched."

That last comment may have meant to tease her.

"But it's no Shadowcrest. But it has something that my place doesn't. Good companionship." Zatanna leaves it at that as she considers and then pokes at Barbara's side. "Out with it, in for a penny, in for the pound, right?"

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara looks amused and pours herself another glass of wine, planning to sip this one a little slower."Well there are some new Babybats in town." she won't ever call them that to her face. Because well she doesn't want to insult or discourage them. "I think Spoiler might find find the idea of the Birds a trip." thoughtful look to her computer array.

"Oracle, bring up the Hatchling files." okay still bird themed, only in Gotham.

The computer brings up an array of photos with names, dates, some stats on the big monitor. Stacked like cards with only the top one showing first.

"Supergirl in Metropolis is new and seems to be patterning after Superman.. not sure if there is an actual relation but the powers seem spot on." there is a gesture and the next dossier is shuffled to the top. "I think is using the moniker of Huntress. A bit violent but seems really focused on fighting crime..." another gesture. "Songbird ... this one is murky but mostly New York but still fits the profile..." gesture. "Zinda Blake, time displaced aerial ace, also seems qualified." one more gesture and Mockingbird is up there on the screen. "Mockingbird... these are all relatively new to the public scene." a different gesture and a picture of the former Titans Raven and Starfire appears. "The Titans are mothballed, so any of those former members may be interested."

At this point she pauses there and flicks her hand dismissing the stack, there seems to be more to it than what she went through. "Add the other birds if any are interested and there is a lot to potentially speak to and see if this is a thing worth doing... so yeah I guess I have been thinking about it." just a little.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
As Barbara makes introductions, Zatanna leans forward, hands on her knees in thought. "So we have your protege, and all of this..." she looks amused for a moment. "Almost sounds like an all-female JLA." she points out in amusement. "What's the mission statement, Babs?" she finally asks curious. "Are you considering this for Gotham only, or do you plan to branch out?"

She sips from he glass, taking in all the information. "Mockingbird's SHIELD, right?" comes the question. "Willing to trust her with your secret, or worried that she may spill?" She's never told anyone that Barbara and Batgirl were one in the same. It's not her place, and when it comes to it - she never had a chance at the secret life of normal people that Barbara's had.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Well Barbara considers that. "Honestly would probably operate early through the Oracle cutout like the old days until trust can be more certain." she just considers.

"We never did restrict to here in Gotham in the old days." which are only a few years ago. "Gotham.. Metropolis.. Vegas.. that was odd... I don't see why we would just be Gotham if we got the band back together. As for a plan. Not really it is just perculating right now." wine is sipped.

"I suppose we would need to carefully split up these dossiers and approach people and see if there is any interest... and yeah why not female JLA, no boys allowed in our club house." okay that part is joking. Well not about the birds having always been women but still it sounds funny.

"Seriously though is this crazy Zee?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"After our last couple of misdventures, I am all for a big 'NO BOYS ALLOWED' sign." Zatanna says, actually summoning up those letters to have them flash red for a moment before disappearing. "So who do we have of the old group besides you and I?" comes the question as she downs the rest of the wine in a couple of gulps. "You can't tell me you didn't have fun in Vegas." she points out, before nodding in thought.

"You mean I can't just... bring them here, talk to them and then send them away if they're bitches? You're no fun." The pout she offers is totally playfully, but she sobers at Barbara's question. And she gives her friend a look, before reaching over and pulls her into a hug.

"Every plan has a little craziness, Babs. But if I could trust anyone to make sense from the insane? It's the girl that's been dealing with Arkham's worse since we both we're old enough to enjoy boy bands." she responds, before releasing her.

"What may be crazy is me backing you on this."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
There is a laugh at the flashing letters for a moment there. Glancing up then shaking her head. "Well dealin with the supervillain wasn't fun but it is a nice place to get a penthouse suite and relax yes. Good shows too." a wink.

The hug is reutrned. "Okay... and well how about we divide and conquer. Feel free to approach anyone in the files and feel them out. I'll do the same. I'll restore access on your phone so you have the files too." yeah she doesn't even ask if Zee has a new phone. It isn't much of a problem getting access and then giving Zee some files.

"I suggest you talk to the gloomy looking magic using Titan though." referring to Raven really. "Worst case no one is interested and we just fight some crime."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
As if Zee really /needs/ a phone. But it makes her feel sort of normal to have one. "Didn't we just have this whole talk of two people that do the same thing meetig up is bad?" she asks teasingly, but she accepts the challenge presented to her. "Raven, not Robin, got it." Rising to her feet, Zatanna stretches and moves to pick up her jacket. "For now? I'm going to go back home, find that bottle of Rose I started on before calling you, finish it and take a long bubble bath."

Someone might be trying to cope a little hard.

"Thanks for letting me come over, Babs. I can't wait to see where this goes."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"I'll finish the red you brought ... tidy up these dossiers... and probably finish reassembling the new ORACLE drone... the thing is going to be so sweet." she grins "I'm putting them in little camouflaged launchers all over Gotham."

Of course she is.

She snags one more hug then grabs the bottle and the glass before stepping away towards the workbench. "Next time your place and your wine cellar." she teases.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Done!" Zatanna agrees, returning the hug before she steps back. "You do realize I have some wines that are older than Christianity, right?" she asks teasingly, before giving her a wink and she lifts her hands, and closes her eyes. "You have my number. Call me wheneves." And then, a single word, and she's gone.

"Emoh."