940/A Little Magical Perspective

A Little Magical Perspective
Date of Scene:	02 April 2020
Location:	Sundollar Coffee - Avenue of Tomorrow
Synopsis:	Lois seeks Zatanna's help in a mysterious occurrence. (The Bells)
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Zatanna Zatara

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Lois Lane has posed:
The perk about meeting with people about things was that coffee shops were convenient places to also get coffee. Lois Lane currently sits at a table out of the way, a large (or whatever their fancy named equivalent is) coffee in her hand. She had been brief in exactly what information she'd given Zatanna over the phone--only that she needed help with something that could potentially be magic related.

She glances at her phone, checking briefly for work-related messages before she goes back to her coffee as she waits.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Coffee's sweet allure is one of the few things that could draw Zatanna out of bed this morning. After dealing with a paticularly bad demon, and we don't mean Beezlebub, last night, the sorceress only wanted to hide in her covers until the world came to an end. Instead, when she saw her text from Lois, she tugged herself up and at them, waving a hand over herself after a shower to summon her clothes and then traveresed to coffee shop.

Arriving within, she's dressed in a simple black turtleneck with grey trim on the piping and a pair of skinny jeans, kitten heels finishing off the look. Noticing Lois after a brief look around, she waves to the reporter, but makes her way to the barista first to place her order. Once that's done, she comes over and smiles warmly. "Hi, Lois!" she offers warmly, a pair of air kisses to each cheek before she takes a seat. "I was surprised to see your message this morning."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Sorry about the sudden message, sometimes I forget that other people aren't busy working as often as I am," Lois says with a grin. She's dressed for a work day, it seems, a posh pantsuit that screams Janet Van Dyne. Probably because her wardrobe is mostly Janet's clothes by now. "I was hoping for some help on something I'm working on and given that you just happen to be my best contact when it comes to magic related things..."

She shrugs a bit and takes a sip from her coffee. "Plus I like excuses to go hang out in coffee shops. It's a nice change from the office and I think I'm getting out of a boring staff meeting."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I had so much going on. Totally had to clear my schedule." Zatanna's voice is teasing as she takes a seat. "Just so busy." Winking, she waves to the barista when she calls out to her and waves her over to the table.

"Alright, so magic stuff." she caught the gist of that when she sat down. "Curses, spells, artifacts? What do you need help with?

Lois Lane has posed:
"More like there's a creature. Sort of." Lois looks a bit amused. "Let me give you some background. Not quite a week ago there was an unexplainable mess of cars that crashed in Metropolis. Four people died, twenty-two injured. The weird thing was that no one could remember what happened. They fell asleep, they blanked out. Pretty weird, right?"

She leans forward against the table a bit. "So Clark and I did some digging. There's some kind of weird sound vibration that may have caused the accidents. Something that, when overheard, causes people to just... do nothing. We followed what seemed to be where the 'sound' was coming from and what we found was..."

She seems to be trying to figure out how to explain it. "We followed a shadow, looked like we just kept missing the outline of a person, and then when we finally got to where it disappeared, it was... well, there was some kind of creature there. Best I can describe it is it was some kind of mound of darkness, a shadow... with teeth."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"A week ago?" Zatanna asks, brows knitting in thought as the sorceress takes up her frappe to take a drink from it. All soy and almond milk drink for this girl. "Was it the 27th of March, around 4 eastern?" She draws in a breath, and folds her hands over each other. "I was doing some research and meditation, and felt... something about the same time." she explains.

"And it was more like a gong, not a bell." she reminds herself, her hands folding over each other as she holds onto her cup. "You said Clark followed it? A shadow with teeth. Did you get enough of an image that maybe you could draw it?" she asks.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Yeah, the 27th at about 4pm," Lois nods a little. "I believe it was almost more of a vibration than a 'noise', I'd say. It's definitely dangerous, though. You get too close to wherever that vibration is coming from you just zone out. The vibration is definitely tied to the creature. When it seemed to get agitated, it was starting to make the noise, but Clark and I got out of there before it was any sort of issue for us."

She takes a long sip of her coffee. "Sure, I could draw it, but it's... not much to draw. There wasn't much to it. No eyes, nothing but shadow and teeth. Kind of like just a shadowy mass. I threw a pen at it, but it sure didn't react all that much, just kind of turned towards me and started moving. But, like I said, Clark and I booked it. Who knows what would happen if it started making that noise and stopped whomever was in the area and they were /near/ it."

She looks over seriously. "If you do look into this, which I'm hoping you will, don't do it alone. Go with me, go with Clark, go with a friend, anyone. Just have someone with earplugs at the ready in case things get tricky. You need someone to watch your back if you zone out."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"A ripple." explains Zatanna as she nods. "Like dropping water into a still pool, it ripples out and fades in intensity." Drawing in a breath, she looks down at the coffee in thought. "I didn't mean to confuse you with the gong reference - it was a sonic vibration. When the sound reached Shadowcrest, it was about thirty minutes later, and it sounded as though someone had struck a gong." she explains.

"I rarely try to research things on my own anymore, I'm a powerful sorceress, but when it comes to it, my magic is mainly used to support others." Sure, she could stand out on her own, but she's holding off on her true abilities. Her own doubts she has about how powerful she is.

"So thing with teeth, turned to face you, and you and Clark backed off. Got it. Where were you at? I know you said Queensland Park, but was it a specific location? Church, museum?"

Lois Lane has posed:
"The playground. Right atop the castle, of all places, just kind of sitting there. We chased the shadow until we got there, I climbed up and there it was. I'm not sure if it turned towards me because I was there or because I threw a pen at it."

Lois smiles wryly. "I'd certainly be glaring at someone who threw a pen at /me/. Best thing I had in my purse, though. I'm not sure if it'll be back there if you investigate, but it's as good a place to start as any."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I didn't expect it to be there, no. But that is exactly where I planned to begin the search. To see if there was any residual magic that may be left behind that could me identify what it is that you may have seen. Or what would have caused this ripple of distracted and lost thought." Zatanna explains as she takes a sip from her coffee, crossing one leg over the other.

She considers the coffee, watching the ripples in the liquid, then adds. "You know, I never apologized for dragging you along with me to Genosha on what seemed to have been a wild goose chase. Something was there." she explains. "Strange didn't want me to mess with what he and Illyana had done, but it apparently was something that was trying to harvest the souls of Genosha." the young woman shakes her head. "Just like when it comes to not sharing the secrets of our trade, it seems that magicians can be utterly secretive about the things they do."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois laughs, then shakes her head. "You don't need to apologize at all. Frankly, it was enlightening. Perhaps those in the magical arts like to keep things secret, but it doesn't mean reporters are the enemy. I know just as well as anyone the line of sharing too much. I imagine there's a lot out there that /shouldn't/ be shared." She pauses. "Sure, I'm a writer. That's my job. But your average reporter doesn't do what I do."

Lois offers a grin. "I hope you'll think of me again if you do need help, even if it's for a second look at things. I enjoy the challenge of investigating things, even if I never get to write about it. Not entirely sure what I'll even be able to write about with this one, yet. Doesn't mean I'm not looking."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Well, the best thing to do is..." Zatanna considers. "I know someone that owes me a huge favor. And demons and things that go bump in the night is his speciality." Getting out her phone, she scrolls through some contacts, she finds the one she wants. She waves her fingers over the phone and says, "Refsnart ot Siol." And the contact jumps from her phone to Lois', no need for button pushing, really. She might be showing off a little.

The contact that she gets? When it arrives, it's a picture of a scruffy looking blonde man in a trenchcoat with a cigarette.

John Constantine

"Tell him I sent you and that him helping you is payment for my helping him cry last night. He'll understand." He //better// understand, at least. "Let him know what's going on, and when he's ready, we can join you and Clark on seeking out this thing."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Oh, he was the grumpy one you were upset at, right?" Lois vaguely remembers him being there. She does point at her phone. "That's a cool trick, honestly. I mean, I can magically get someone's phone number, doesn't mean I can make it go into my phone." She shakes her head. "Ah well, perhaps it's best I don't have any weird tricks."

She peers at the contact. "Helping him cry last night. Okay, weird code words but I'll be sure he gets the message. If he grumps at me, though, I'm one-hundred-percent blaming you. Sorry for throwing a bus at your head, but it seemed like you knew how to handle him."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Not weird code. I had to make him cry." Zatanna responds. But something in the way she says it suggests she wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea. "Right. The one that vanished and showed up with the equally grumpy Sorcerer Supreme. He owes me for that to." the young sorceress laughs. "If I knew we were getting into this, I'd suggested we had a liquid lunch at your favorite dive bar." she says with a laugh.

Though she gets a smirk at her magically getting a phone number remark. "Girl like you? I'm sure a smile and a couple of words, John would have given you his number anyway. No magic needed."

Lois Lane has posed:
"He's not gonna be able to magically zap me from a distance for talking about him crying, is he?" Lois winces at the suggestion. From what little she'd seen, John Constantine isn't exactly the kind of person who would cry easily. "What's with the grumpy sorcerers? I mean, I can look at traditional and overused stereotypes that they're all hermits who live in dark castles with tragic pasts, but stereotypes are always tricky. Some truth and some fiction."

Lois takes a sip and then almost spits it out at the phone number comment. "/Him/? I have worked my feminine wiles plenty of times to get information in the course of my professional work, possibly personal too, but somehow I doubt a smile would have endeared him. I think I'd have better luck getting a phone number out of a cactus. And it's not like I need his number right now anyway." There's a long pause. "Except I do have his number and I do need it right now. That kind of fell apart right there."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Drawing in a breath, Zatanna looks down in her coffee. "Johnny's one of the best of us. But the things he's had to do to get there, Lois... it's cost him." she sighs. "I was fortunate, I was born with my abilities. He wasn't, and he's spent his whole life trying to get where he is now." She circles her finger around the rim of the cup, closing her eyes. Her tone belies, she still cares for him. Maybe not as much as she once was.

"You want the whole story, though? You might have to ask him for that. You know, the whole magician's secret thing is like superhero origins. You know, some people share them. Some don't. Not all of us are alien orphans from lost worlds after all."

Lois Lane has posed:
There's a bit of a laugh. Maybe it's at the last bit of what she said. Lois glances over. "If there's anything I've learned, I've learned that the personal stories are the hardest. The hardest to talk about, the hardest to understand, the hardest to let people in. I like to poke at things, Zatanna, because I like the stories. People are interesting and what made them who they are is a fascinating tale."

She pauses to sip from her coffee. "I don't always poke, though. I've done a bit of that recently and came out the other end alright, but... sometimes it's a big risk to talk about someone's history. If something's personal, I don't poke at it unless I think it needs to be poked at."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"It's always good to know when to go and when not to, Lois. But I always assumed you just had a nose for that type of stuff, of knowing when to ask the right things and when to step back." Zatanna gives Lois a swift smile. "When it comes to my life, I'm pretty much an open book. Can't have done three shows a night in Vegas without giving away some of my life, right?" comes the coy question with a smile.

"You're just as fascinating as anyone else, Lois. Even as much as..." she trails off, a little shake of her head. "I mean, you've done the whole thing with getting the first interviews with Superman and pretty much covered his whole career in a way that should have made the Daily Bugle piss themselves with your journalistic integrity. But now just that, you're an amazing writer, and I always enjoy seeing your Byline."

Lois Lane has posed:
"I got pretty lucky with that, I built my entire career off of him. I just went for it and it ended up being everything. Right up until the end," Lois smiles, though it's a little sad. "But he gave me really firm ground to stand on, people know who I am. For /writing/. Not something I ever anticipated. I just wanted to tell stories." She looks at her coffee and takes another sip.

"I appreciate the compliments. Someday soon I'll have another big one. I sense it in the wind or something. Something big's on the way soon. Not shadow monsters. Hopefully that's something we can just clear up."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Reaching over, Zatanna gives Lois' hand a squeeze. Not out of flirtation, more support than anything. "If you want me to be honest? After it happened, in those first weeks? I searched to see if his soul was there... if he could be found. I guess because of his whole thing with magic... it was hidden from me as well." she admits with a sigh. "He was the one that kept us all together, and now..." she smiles weakly. "Well, I've had plenty of time to binge watch television."

"I keep hoping that Genosha -- finding out who did this and why will be your big break in, Lois. I didn't mean for you to come along on that trip, but if anyone deserves the win for exposing the truth? It should be you."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Superman dying was... not an easy time. It still has an impact on me to this day. Writing about it was my way of grieving. I love hearing how much he meant to people, though. Knowing the impact he has makes me proud more than anything," Lois says, the hand squeeze returned with an appreciative look.

"You give me an opening and I will absolutely be all over the Genosha story. There's a lot of pieces coming together, though, a lot more than I can just do on my own. But if you or your collegues find anything, direct it my way and I'll make sure the world knows."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"As soon as I find out some more information, I'll let you know." Zatanna promises with a smile as she finishes her coffee. "We all need to be working together on this, and it feel like we're still fracture in so many ways." she admits, sadness tugging at her smile. "But if I learn things, I'll let you know. And contact John. We'll figure out this shadow thing."

Rising to her feet, she pulls out her wallet to leave a tip on the table. "It's good to see you, Lois. And I heard from a birdie that you and Clark Kent are dating? Good on you." she winks playfully, before she's starting to make her way out.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois nods. "I'll see if I can get John to help. Hopefully your favor will help with things. Perhaps the mystery of it all will help as well. Either way we need to do /something/ before someone else dies. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop."

At the mention of Clark, Lois grins. "I think the office had a pool going how long it would be. I don't think anyone had any idea it'd take ten years. But it's really good, thank you." She gives a nod in Zatanna's direction. "Keep in touch!"