3378/A Kind of Magic

A Kind of Magic
Date of Scene:	15 September 2020
Location:	The Rock of Eternity, part subway station, part ancient temple, part grotto with many twists, turns and doors. Seven thrones sit in the main meeting area lit from above by... something.
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Billy Batson, Zatanna Zatara

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Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam sits on the central throne of the Rock of Eternity, light streaming down on him. He looks like a creature of magic, or perhaps one of those hyper reality photos. He's a little too perfect. He sits pondering, like a Titan toying with humanity. Sparks of lightning cascade from his emblem and shoot from his eyes. Shazam looks out into the dark cavelike place that is more than a place, wishing for a sign, some kind of help and finally the Champion of Man speaks.

"This is a screw job. That's what this is! I don't care if you hear me Wizard!"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
One moment, she was reviewing a sticky situation of a missing college student and trying to trace social media through her laptop. Unlike some mystics, Zatanna is perfectly comfortable dealing with computers, mobile phones, and the Internet. It's hardly a place to be scared, considering the community consolidating their information there.

Unfortunately for her, all that changes when a crackle of energy runs over the mouse and up the screen. She jolts back and cries out reflexively, "dleihS!" A halo of energy explodes around her in a magical bubble, seared by the intersecting triangles and rings that mark a high practitioner of the art.

Her arcane bubble makes an excellent cushion as the ground drops out beneath her comfy chair into something mildly less comfy, bouncing her into the unknown realms that split space and time. She isn't in danger of hamster-balling around, but it still leaves her in a defensive position with her arms rising in preparation to... well, it's hard to say what. Deflect something, entangle it, possibly pull a rabbit from thin air.

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam does a pop-eyed expression for a moment as lightning crackles out of the dark. What the heck? None of the others can come here without him, yet. Is Sivana freed and powered up somehow? Unlike the Kryptonians, he doesn't have thermal vision. His other senses feel unfamiliar magic before him, like a brick wall hiding someone in the darkness.

Well it doesn't have to be dark, does it? Shazam snaps his fingers creating a burst of lightning, warping it into a ball and holding the crackling sphere in the palm of his hand. The glow in his eyes mirror is as he steps forward.

"Show yourself now, if you're chill," he says. Hardly mythic, but what can you do?

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Lightning gives way to the raven-haired mage, her black and white attire standing out. No fishnets; those are for performances and not cozy moments in dark jeans, curled up, enjoying the fine research and occasional trawl through the web. Rather happily as it happens, because those boots and her jeans make it far easier to anticipate sudden changes of terrain. Like a rock or a throne, possibly a pit of magma with a catwalk suspended over it. Life's interesting when your last name is Zatara and your mom comes from a ruling caste of magical people.

Zee's eyes narrow in the darkness, the radiant bands of blue energy swirling off of her shield as she uses that, too, to brighten her ability to see. "At least you speak English, that's a helpful start," she replies wryly. "Is this your idea of getting a personal performance or a date? Because I assure you, that's not really how it works."

She's hardly unknown with name or face; much less so now, as a member of the Justice League for the past few years. So tilting her head, she waves her hand around idly. "Nice digs, though a bit Vegas with the lighting. I'm chill with that, though props if you have a pot of tea anywhere. You caught me before lunch time."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam is a little perplexed by the arrival of... <Zatanna Zatara> Solomon provides. He detects a little snark but no overt menace from her. He is a little confused by her accusations. "Uhm a date? I'm flattered but no. Did I bring you here? I didn't mean to. Sorry if I did. This place is kind of like playing with one of those publishing or rendering programs without really reading the manual. I keep hitting a button and learning something new... Zatanna, is it? I'm Shazam."

There's a roll of thunder has he speaks his name and the lightning ball flashes brightly. He throws the ball of lightning up to the ceiling where it shines on them. He hopes she heard of him. Otherwise awkward, like blue bug guy every keeps misnaming. Just sad. In any case he tries to smile reassuringly, stops well outside personal space and extends a hand without lightning coming off the fingertips.

"Uhm, I have a grape soda in my bag if you'd like that. I don't live here."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Yes, Zatanna Zatara; not exactly a threat unless she just says /no/ on a catastrophic scale. Calm surmised in that moment, she offers that hint of a grin. Her hands drop slightly and a protective wall remains, but her body language doesn't exude quite the level of defensiveness it did before. She can at least read the intensely powerful signature of the Rock; the rest may or may not filter through, given she has to calm a bit.

"Ah, common enough problem when dealing with things like this. It's all very exciting." The roving gaze around the room settles on Shazam. "Nice to meet you. Fancy here, and certainly very bright." She pushes her dark hair from her face, since it's no longer needed to shield her brow. "No, you're good. Grape pop should be saved for special occasions and you might need it later. I can hold off for now." Or turn a chunk of rock into a latte, if it came down to it, but that's just showing off.

"I'd imagine this would be a hard place to live. Not much reception."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam nods his head knowledgeably. "I'm lucky to get two bars. Anyway, you're my first friendly visitor so the pop is yours for the asking. Oh... I think I know what happened... I was wishing for some help and... boom you're here. I'm really sorry. I better watch that. You might have been in pajamas or something. It's a magical matter and... I don't really know anyone does magic. I guess I got lucky. I mean I heard of you... great things,Ms. Zatara."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I'll be okay. Good for my waistline not to have too much sugar," Zee teases, but she's probably not that serious. "I am? You can tell me where I am, perhaps, or at least what you call it?" Maybe wise and maybe not, but manners are her bailiwick in this matter.

"Pajamas would have been a problem for some people, sure. You got lucky but hey, let's not be too upset about it. You seem to be trying to figure things out, if I hear right. Is that so?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam gestures around. "This is the Rock of Eternity, the center for the Council of Wizards. I'm their latest Champiuon-Shazam." There's that boom again. He looks embarrassed. "I can usually control the lightning and say my name without transforming or calling the lightning but... this place has its own rules. I have this magic word, my name and when I say it and mean it I become Shazam." Rumble.

"Anyway I have a problem but... let me show you. I guess I can trust a Justice League member... or Spider-Man. //Shazam!//"

Burst of lightning that almost hurts the eyes. When the fog clears... a rather puny teenage boy.

Seriously, Zatanna could likely beat him up without reversing a single word.

"See, being... that guy is great but... this is who I really am and it's awkward. I get all kinds of attention from these women... way older than m... you even. then I get all this adult stuff in my head... and there's this girl I like around my age and if she's seen with Shazam, it could be major awkward. Like people think she's my daughter or something."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Council of wizards; yet there are a fair few more than just one around here. I wonder if we all end up here sooner or later, or it's a special set of wizards." Zee chuckles when the rumbling follows, listening to the grumble of the atmosphere and shielding her gaze from any possible burst of lightning. It tends to blind, after all. "Spider-Man does tend to be fairly trustworthy. If he ever wanted to join the Justice League, I assure you that would be an interesting conversation."

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, driving Bats crazy cause he can.

The young woman smiles all the same as the next bursting declaration leaves... a teenager. A /real/ teenager, and not one of those 19-going-on-thirty-six year old ones hanging around. "Hello there. Mm, so you do the fancy transformation sequence like in anime or manga, except it's real." A solemn nod there. "Unfortunately not all of us get to have the very interesting secret identities. I can imagine how awkward it is if you're hanging out in high school, trouble shows up or you get a call, and then suddenly Mr. Zam, the hero down the street, has to take to the sky when you are missing from class."