[Video]

[redfiend]

[It's pretty obvious by his uncertain tone and expression he's troubled about something.]

I've had time to think about this, but the turtle thing isn't metaphorical or some weird mythological stuff, is it? It's... literal, right?

[Or maybe he's stupid and is the only one taking it literally. Not that he'd say that right then and there.]

How, though? Someone tell me 'cause I honestly don't get it.

Comments

video

[backwordscompatible]

[Ah, Zatanna could vaguely recall those days. When the thought of living on a giant, telepathic turtle still seemed like a pretty crazy thought, rather than a part of her everyday life.]

Oh, he's literal all right. Nice guy, too. I met him once or twice.

Why do you ask?

[redfiend]

It's just hard to believe. Feels like a big joke everyone's playing on me.

What's he like?

[backwordscompatible]

Asti? [Yes, that's his name. As far as she ever knew.] Real nice guy. Tended to act like he had the whole world on his shoulders, rather than just one city.

Honestly, it's been a while. I do kind of miss him. Which is why I hope we can bring him out of that coma soon.

[redfiend]

Probably feels like the whole world is on his shoulder for him.

[Is that a cheeky grin? Yup, it is. It fades soon after, though.]

Sounds like you really like him.

[backwordscompatible]

[She half-grinned at that. Come what may, never let it be said Zatanna Zatara couldn't appreciate a good pun.]

Cute.

And yeah. I kind of do. Him and those little turtle kids of his--it was hard hearing about them leaving the way they did. After all we'd all been through.

[redfiend]

That's my charm!

Anyways, I remember hearing about them. Sad story, but what can you do?

[backwordscompatible]

Take down the guy who did that to them?

[Which they did. No regrets.]

[redfiend]

Well, that's a reasonable answer.

[And something he'd do.]

Was it that Malicant guy?

[backwordscompatible]

[She nodded]

Yeah. Not exactly the most popular person around here. For the longest time, we couldn't even say his name.

[redfiend]

[Huh... How strange.]

Too afraid of what he would do if his name was invoked?

[backwordscompatible]

Oh, we knew what would happen.

He would appear. And trouble would start up again.

[redfiend]

Geez, that sounds like a pain.

But hey! He was taken down, right? So, maybe things will be better.

[There's a pause.]

... Sometime, I mean.

[backwordscompatible]

Things are better, though.

I'm not saying they're ideal, but there's definitely a difference from the way things used to be.

[redfiend]

Things were terrible with him around, huh? Not surprised to hear that, honestly.

[He frowns in some thought.]

Don't think you should expect things to be ideal. The effects will still be there, no matter what.

[Dante shrugs.] That's how it was for me, anyways. It might be different for you guys.

[backwordscompatible]

Considering our host turtle is still kind of trapped inside his own mind...you're not wrong.

[redfiend]

Hate being right, honestly. Wonder what would happen if that changed?

[backwordscompatible]

If what changed?

You mean...if he woke up?

[redfiend]

Yeah. What would happen if he woke up?

[backwordscompatible]

I...don't know, actually.

I mean, I would hope he'd pop in to one our dreams just long enough to say Thank You, but...it's been so long. And because of Malicant's past influence, I don't even know how may of us he'd recognize or even remember.