InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Are we having fun yet?"

ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ᴏғ ᴘʀᴇsᴛɪᴅɪɢɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ (cigam) wrote in valarlogs,
@ 2016-01-08 11:36:00

Entry tags:

!complete, elizabeth comstock, zatanna zatara

Who: Elizabeth Comstock & Zatanna Zatara
What: A gremlin situation
When: Backdated to when those critters were running around
Where: Out and about
Rating/Warnings: Some magic and stuff, nothing awful
Status: Complete

One of the joys of Elizabeth’s newfound freedom was the ability to go out whenever she wanted to. She was exercising this freedom on this particular night by going out to see a movie. It was one there was a lot of hubbub about, full of space battles and light sword fights. It was a fun movie and Elizabeth enjoyed it.

She wasn’t paying much attention as she walked toward the coffee shop where she planned to wait for her Uber. It was a habit of hers to read on her cell phone when she had a free moment, so her nose was pointed toward her screen.

It was a peaceful night, with fresh fallen snow all around and only the street lights to illuminate the world. The cold pleased Elizabeth with its novelty. It reminded her somewhat of her dreams. It was always cold in Columbia, due to the altitude. She hummed as she shuffled through the snow, completely unaware of the world around her.

A lot of this place, for Zatanna, felt like magic pulling at magic - she was highly attuned to the changes in Orange County’s, shall we say, atmosphere, and there were times when it was tight on her skin, when that magic seemed to breathe on its own, and other times when it would expand like a balloon to allow more within. She hadn’t necessarily felt that with the snow because it wasn’t magical in nature, but as she was walking to her car from the venue she’d thrilled and entertained that night, she felt something.

Coat pulled tighter around the magician’s getup, no tophat but there were tails, and fishnets that plunged into boots she’d traded her not-so-sensible heels for, the answer came when suddenly a gremlin emerged and leapt - all batlike ears and teeth scaly skin, obviously looking for a bit of fun. “Watch out,” Zee warned the girl walking by, and with a quick gninthgil a sizzling stream shot from her fingers and fried the ugly reptilian thing in the midst of its party.

But there was never just one, was there?

“Are you by yourself?” she asked, lifting a slender brow over vibrant eyes. There was still a touch of glitter in black hair, from the show she’d put on. “Because in the OC I tend to recommend the buddy system.” Especially when a wave of oddness washed over the county.

When someone spoke Elizabeth looked up, just in time to see a gremlin get zapped with lightning. She gasped and side stepped away from where it had happened, then looked at Zatana with large eyes, her expression confused. “Oh, that’s probably smart,” she said, before another gremlin lept out at her. Without thinking Elizabeth swung her purse, which was full of books from her recent trip to the library. The gremlin connected with a solid ‘thunk’ and fell away.

“So that’s what a gremlin is,” Elizabeth said, moving closer to Zatana. Now that she was looking there were lots of places for the monsters to hide. “Did you do that lightning?”

Lots of places to hide, and lots of gremlins looking for some thrills and chills. Fun, or whatever they considered as such - they didn’t seem highly intelligent, but they multiplied quickly and boinged all over the place; not to mention probably had a carnivorous taste for flesh. Zee didn’t really want to allow one close enough to get a bite out of her, in order to find out.

“Apparently,” she smiled wryly, then jumped a little when the second thing went down. Alright, now she was officially on alert. And would probably have to zap her way through a wall of these suckers. “I’ve read on the forum I frequent that they’ve been popping up everywhere, breaking into homes and such - “

She took two steps, then uttered an eci - instead of sizzling and popping, the pest froze into a chilly block. “But yes, I did the lightning. And the ice. I’ve got a whole bunch of tricks up my sleeve, though we really should go - Zatanna Zatara,” she introduced herself. “My car’s just up that way.”

Elizabeth dodged away from the gremlin after it was iced, then nodded eagerly at Zatanna’s offer of a ride. “That sounds like a good idea. I’m not ready to be tested in battle just yet.” She started off at a run in the direction Zatanna had indicated. At the moment she was only thinking about escaping without being hurt. Eventually she would wonder about Zatanna’s magic, but after Booker’s display of his ‘vigors’ she wasn’t too rattled by it.

The way things were going this month, Zatanna wasn’t even very fussed about using her magic in public. It had been a long month, a long year, and she simply wanted to find her way to 2016, turn the cards, see where life would lead her - many unexpected obstacles had been thrown at her but she’d worked past them all. She imagined it would be much of the same after the first of the year.

But gremlins. The cards certainly didn’t show her these.

“I’ll cover you,” she promised. It was a matter of ducking and dodging these multiplying beasts - she saw so many, some ‘arguing’ amongst themselves, fighting, some rummaging through trash cans. “I don’t think they like bright light so if you’ve got a flashlight on you - “ She could also illuminate their path, in kind of a cocoon of light; it was cleaner keeping them away then blowing them all up, “I’m guessing that you’re somewhat accustomed to the strange things that happen here?”

Elizabeth paused and let Zatana catch up. The gremlins shied away from the light, fighting with each other even more. “They’re so aggressive.” She noted, holding her bag, ready to defend herself again. “And yes, I’m becoming more and more accustomed as time goes on. You mentioned a network where people talked about these things. I think I’m part of it too.” She didn’t know where they were going, so she let Zatana take the lead. Beside, the other woman had magic and Elizabeth wanted to see more.

She used a bit of photokinesis, thgil, to illuminate their surroundings. “Stay close to me,” Zatanna advised, and the brightness acted as a bit of a shield for them both. Her car was just up the block, thank goodness - what an awfully long night this had been. “Though using a purse as a weapon usually works in a pinch,” she chuckled huskily. It had been something she’d done before she even started to dream, to remember what it was like to have magic coursing through her veins - that, and mace. Always carry the mace no matter what.

Her father taught her about self-defense even without magic. Because you just never knew.

Keys appeared in her hand, and she unlocked the doors to their savior getaway vehicle. “Whereabouts are you headed?” she asked, giving her slightly sparkly hair a fluff with fingers before climbing into the driver’s side.

Elizabeth had no problem staying close to Zatana. She wanted to stay in the light because the network had said the monsters didn’t like it. When Zatana pulled out her keys Elizabeth sighed in relief and made her way to the passenger side door. “West a little ways. 84th and Logan.” From there she could direct Zatana to Anna’s house.

Once she was secured and buckled Elizabeth turned to Zatana, her eyes wide. “That was so cool! Your magic is amazing!”

"Thanks," Zatanna spoke huskily and smiled, a flash of teeth meant for the stage, proud of her hard-learned craft. Something that simmered in her veins and was always with her. She gladly started up the car and headed away from the scene - gremlins would be run over if they attempted to land on her vehicle, but she hoped that the bright headlights would keep them at bay.

Plus, she was going fast enough to squash them.

"I have an act I take here and there," she explained, heading in the direction Elizabeth indicated. "It's something I've been doing for awhile. But after beginning to dream, I sort of acquired more oomph." Real magic, as it were. Power and responsibility, that whole cocktail.

“Oh, is that why-” Elizabeth motioned to her outfit. “You look nice, but it’s a little chilly.” She’d lamented putting her dresses aside for sweatpants earlier that day, so clothing was heavy on her mind. “That’s kind of awesome, that a magician dreamed of doing real magic.”

Zee had a coat, but yes, the outfit for her act tended to be a little flashy. And showed some skin, which was purposeful - she’d at least put boots on, trading her heels, but fishnets didn’t really keep the legs warm like a good pair of thick tights did. Alas, the price we pay to put on a stellar show.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind the chill so much,” she said - though she cranked the heat on in the car, a bit, so that neither she or her passenger would turn into an icicle. “I didn’t expect to have to stop to zap gremlins, but we can’t ever truly discount anything here, can we?” That made her huff a laugh out of disbelief - you just never knew. “I used to have an act at a casino, and I admit that the dressing room just for me was a nice perk.” Her traveling show, not so much, but she made it work.

“So what is it that you do?” she asked. “Something with a lot of research, I gather?” Must be a reason for all the books.

“Nobody expects gremlins until they happen, I think.” Elizabeth hadn’t counted on seeing them either. She would have just waited to see the movie.

The warm air felt good and Elizabeth put her hands out to warm them by the vent. “I’m going to be a student next fall, but right now I really like to read.” She chuckled a little, feeling sheepish. “I like nonfiction so a lot of the books I checked out are hardcover. I’ll have to write the authors and let them know they saved me from gremlins.”

Hellfire, Zatanna couldn’t remember the last time she read for fun. Or not even that, but just had the time to sit down and enjoy a book - something besides her library at the Guild, rather. “I ought to pick up something nonfiction myself someday,” she mused. “But yes, I’m sure the authors of your selections would be pleased to know that they wrote enough to make for a heavy book that can be used as a weapon. You’ll have to let me know if they’re entertaining reads too.”

She flashed Elizabeth a warm smile, before racing the road again. It looked clear up ahead, thank goodness, and she’d reached the intersection the girl spoke of before. “Where to from here? I’m your official taxi service for the evening.”

“You should. I learn a lot and it’s been very helpful.” She was a big proponent of learning and reading. She’d had little else to keep her sane for most of her life. She wished her dreams had more magic and less reading and learning. “Um take a right. I’m 2046, it’s about a block down. Thanks a lot for helping me out.”

“Books are indeed viable resources,” Zee agreed, taking the right as instructed. She didn’t mind helping out - it was something she always ended up doing anyway, and besides, it would have meant for bad karma if she just left the girl to be pounced by gremlins looking for a party. “My niece is a big reader too. Her room at home is chock-full of books.”

The block passed without interruption, luckily, and the 2046 loomed into view thanks to a flash of headlights. “No trouble. It was nice meeting you.” Zatanna would also wait until her passenger safely got inside before leaving - that was also the right thing to do. “I’m on Valarnet, if you ever need anything else.”

Obviously, since they had spoken of dreams, and that was the only ‘dream’ forum that she knew of. “My business card’s in your pocket too.” Ah, she was ever so fond of that trick.

Elizabeth put her hand in her pocket out of reflex and giggled when she felt the card in there. “You’re very good. Thanks again.” She readied her bag and slipped out of the car, darting toward the house and safety. It seemed like Orange County would never stop showing her wonders, both good and bad.