[closed]

[wroughtiron]

Characters: An NPC (wroughtiron), Annabeth Chase (sophos), Hellboy (histruename), the Doctor (iwaspromisedtea) and Zatanna Zatara (backwordscompatible)
Date: November 25/28th.
Location: The Mainland.
Situation: These characters are tracked down by an NPC and given some information, as well as asked a few things in return. Individual scenarios are in the main body of the post itself.
Warnings/Rating: Shouldn't stray much above pg-13, but if it does I'll let you know.

Comments

Zatanna;

[wroughtiron]

[Fortune telling has always been something of an imprecise art. Read one tea-leaf wrong, and you can have gone and doomed an entire civilization. Which is exactly why when Zatanna finds her, she's puzzling over an arrangement of small plaques. These plaques bear no indication to anything Earth-based – sorry, no tarot cards here – but they are obvious fortune-telling paraphernalia, and she is obviously fretting over them.

She's stretched out across a flat rock, enjoying the warmth. One elbow is braced beneath her and she's arranging these triangular plaques in formation. Her cloak is folded beside her and there's a napkin laid out with bits of various food. The rock itself is atop one of the largest hills in the area, and there's visibility for quite a ways. It makes a good vantage point, doubtless why she's there to begin with.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna didn't particularly consider herself talented in the art of divination. There had been a few instances as a child--prophetic dreams that could have just as easily been coincidences--but little else. However, she still knew enough to recognize the signs of a reading. Any magician would.]

[She approached with caution. Out of respect, not fear. Divination usually required intense concentration, and the last thing she needed to do was anger a stranger with her mere presence. So she remained quiet. Watching silently. Waiting for her presence to be noticed, or for the fortune teller to finish so she could speak up.]

[Whichever came first.]

[wroughtiron]

[This fortune teller isn't anywhere near as respectful of the art as Zatanna. She blinks as if coming out of a daze and when she looks up she sees the girl in plain sight.

She's a little thing, isn't she? Young.]

You aren't lost, are you?

[backwordscompatible]

More like exploring.

[Zatanna was incredibly tiny. The second smallest of her group of friends by several inches. But she usually made up for it with her aura. Even now, speaking against a stranger, she didn't look or feel particularly timid.]

You were doing a fortune reading, weren't you?

Do you mind if I ask what it was you saw?

[From the look on her face, it couldn't've been anything pleasant. But that still left any number of possibilities.]

[wroughtiron]

Exploring's good for the soul.

[She sits up on the rock, cross-legged and pats an empty space in case the girl wants to come take a seat.]

I'm not actually very good at it, but every once in a while I give it a whirl. I'm pretty sure, according to this, we're supposed to have Fu dogs falling out of the sky the Wednesday after next.

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna remains cautious, but accepts the kind gesture. Taking a seat a few inches further from where the woman gestured to.]

So I should remember to bring an umbrella that day?

[wroughtiron]

If you've got one big enough. Fu dogs aren't your average yappy little thing. Last I checked they're the size of cattle.

[She smiles as Zatanna takes a seat and reaches out for a handshake.]

Name's Eva. I take it you're one of them 'foreigners' too?

[backwordscompatible]

[She hesitates]

Wait, you mean that could actually happen?

[She knew this wasn't an exact science--and wouldn't Wally have a field day if he heard her saying that--but there were times when predictions could potentially go even beyond the realm of possible. She thought.]

It's nice to meet you, Eva. I'm Zatanna.

I take it you're not?

[wroughtiron]

I-- oh, no, no. I mean, Fu dogs are real and all, but I doubt they'd be falling from the skies.

[And polite, too! She's adorable.]

Zatanna, I like that. Unique. And no, not me. I'm your regular old garden variety human. With a few extra options tacked on.

[She winks.]

[backwordscompatible]

[A smile at the wink. She could always appreciate a sense of humor.]

Thanks. I like it too.

What extras?

[wroughtiron]

Oh, a little of this, a little of that.

[She's gesturing haphazardly as she talks, and when she ends on the hard t of 'that' she suddenly has a coin between her index and middle finger. Street magic, little more than illusionary skill, but her smile suggests there's a little more to it than that.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna catches the trick for what it is instantly, but gives a polite round of applause.]

Not bad.

Do you perform, or is this just a side hobby?

[wroughtiron]

Not really anyone to perform for out here, unless I felt like doing tricks for the llothi and their little friends.

[She shrugs.]

[backwordscompatible]

True.

Have you been here long?

[wroughtiron]

[Oh, that earns a laugh as Eva starts gathering up her fortune telling tiles.]

Does 'all my life' count as long? I was born here. In one of those cities you've no doubt seen.

[backwordscompatible]

[That was a surprise.]

I didn't think anything could live in those places.

...no offense.

[wroughtiron]

They weren't always ruins, girl.

[She's not offended, per se, but she does sound a little indignant.]

[backwordscompatible]

Well, yeah, I knew that. [She pulls back apologetically, realizing she might have said something wrong.] I mean--well, what happened?

[wroughtiron]

Princess Turtlepot blew the damned thing up, that's what.

[She's not Eshai's biggest fan.]

[backwordscompatible]

Princess...Turtlepot? You don't mean the Emperor, do you?

[She's still new. Not accustomed to such terms of endearment for the locals.]

[wroughtiron]

That's exactly who I mean, yes.

[She makes a little 'bingo' gesture with one hand like the firing of a gun.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna doesn't hide the frown that appears. She's not too surprised by the revelation, though that doesn't make it any less unsettling.]

Why would she bring us to a place that she destroyed? It doesn't make sense.

[wroughtiron]

[Eva stares a moment, and then just shakes her head with a chuckle.]

She may be all mighty and powerful but she doesn't control Tu Vishan. The Great Turtles that make up our continents are billions of years old.

[backwordscompatible]

Hmm. In that case, she must not be happy with our latest detour.

[wroughtiron]

Oh, I expect not. And I hope it's put a right proper bee in her bonnet.

[she drops the plaques into a drawstring bag with some finality and tucks the whole mess away at her belt.]

I can't say it breaks my heart.