losthermask | (no subject)

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['sup, Luceti. Thought you were free of giant winged people? You were only mostly right about that. There, in the corner of your eye, or just a few paces behind you, walking down the street and minding her own business, is Shayera Hol. She has not just one, but two pairs of wings, though you'd only be able to tell if you were looking very, very closely. The smaller, Luceti-world-approved pair is a muted gold and looks like a pattern against her larger, Thanagarian wings.

Today, Shayera is on a mission, and it's not flying the friendly skies. She will first stop in the Slash and Crash (a ridiculous sounding name) before heading into the tunnels to get her explorer on and continue to investigate what was revealed there before leaving at around dark to pay a visit to the grocery store. She doesn't feel like cooking, so the chances are good it's ramen again for dinner tonight, unless someone can persuade her otherwise.]

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[Shayera's memory, while not photographic, was highly trained. As part of her mission on Earth, she had memorized the strengths and weaknesses of its heroes. Zatanna was a name she was familiar with, although this girl was considerably younger than the woman in the file. Zatara was not a name that had a similar connotation.

But if she was that Zatanna and she didn't know...

No more lies.]

It didn't seem right anymore. But I'm afraid that we're from two different places; I'm not familiar with your father's name. I've heard of you, though. Magic, right?

Yeah, magic. And it won't surprise me if you say I'm supposed to be older. [Although her not having heard of Zatara is definitely strange, especially if she's in the Justice League.]

It's part of that whole "alternate realities, pulling people from different points in the timeline" thing that seems to go on around here.

[Which Zatanna's hoping she knows about, since it's really something she doesn't want to have to try to explain.]

Riiight. [Shayera mentally realigned her information.] So it's probably best to assume we're from two completely different places.

Or you're from my future. Maybe Hawkwoman and Hawkman have a kid or something. [Hey, it could happen. And calling herself Hawkgirl would fit, right along with growing out of it. Although that still makes it troubling for her to not have heard of Zatara at all, and Zatanna has to press.]

Hey, what about Doctor Fate? Have you heard of him?

[Hawkman and Hawkwoman's kid, huh? That would make for a different life.] No. That's not me.

[Her interest sharpens at the mention of Doctor Fate.]

Yes. Why do you ask?

Oh. Well, it was worth asking.

[And so was the question about Fate, even if it leads nowhere. Of course now Zatanna has to figure out just what she wants to reveal to this woman, who might not be able to tell her anything at all.

But she has to try. Even if it doesn't make a difference, or if she won't remember it in her world...how can she not?]

He exists in my world too. Do you know how to stop him? Not destroy him or anything, just--to get the helmet off.

[Shayera's brow comes together.]

I don't know. He seems to be pretty attached to that helmet.

[This wasn't her job anymore. When she did her job, people got hurt. She wasn't in any position to offer anything to anyone.

But there was something compelling about Zatanna's question.

Shayera put the ramen back on the shelf and gave Zatanna her full attention.]

Why don't you tell me why you're interested?

Kind of to be expect, since it's what links him to our dimension. Or mine, anyway.

[Right, different versions. Shayera's Fate may not be a purpose-driven Lord of Order who takes over innocent fathers out to save their daughters.

She looks off to the side, shifting where she stands. One arm lightly grasps the other, and Zatanna hesitates because she really doesn't want to answer. But given what she's asked, refusals now could turn out pretty bad.]

It's...not really the sort of thing I just want to share in a grocery store. [Or at all, but definitely not in aisle three.] Would you mind if we went outside or something?

"Not at all," Shayera said, replacing the ramen on the shelf. "You can only stare at noodles for so long anyway."

She turned to lead the way.

"What, the chicken and beef packets weren't saying 'eat me'?" But despite the attempt at humor, it was pretty clear Zatanna wasn't comfortable. How could she be, given what they were about to talk about?

She didn't speak up again until they were outside, and a little away from the grocery store. Looking down, Zatanna lets out a sigh.

"Okay, so here's the thing. You said you've never heard of Zatara, but in my world? He's a pretty big name. I mean, he's a professional magician, but he's also in the Justice League. He has been for over two years."

Shayera's brows came together. "Wait a minute. There are - were - only seven of us in the Justice League. What year did you say you were from?"

“Yeah, when the league first started.” There had been seven of them in Zatanna’s version too, although none of them had wings. Man, universe differences still sucked. “Now they’re up to twenty-one members, plus eight on the team. And it’s 2010 for about fifteen more minutes back in my world.”

Questions answered. Zatanna waited for a beat, silently wondering if it’d be okay for her to proceed.

Her brow furrowed but Shayera nodded. Looking too deeply into the future never did anyone any good. Especially with the evident differences in their timelines already.

"Alright. Go on."

She nodded, then took a slow breath; here was the hard part, and Zatanna crossed her arms in front of her, fingers holding tight just above her elbows.

“I don’t know how he exists in your world, but in mine Fate takes over the body of whoever is wearing the helmet. It used to be a guy named Kent Nelson, but that was decades ago. Now…it’s my dad.” She looked away as she said that—confessed it, really. It had been Zatanna’s fault that Zatara ever had to put the helmet on.

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...wow, did I really only respond to this in my mind?

lol, whoops?

seriously /facepalm

Re: seriously /facepalm

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