✦ 008 ✦ [VIDEO]

[backwordscompatible]

[It takes several on-camera seconds before Zatanna can finally figure out the right words for this; her mouth opens and closes twice before she gives up and just comes out with it:]

...is anybody else slightly concerned about the fact that some of the local bakeries've started selling cookies in the shapes of these thi--?

[And the Network is suddenly treated to a GIANT UPSIDE-DOWN TRIBBLE FACE taking up the entire camera.  Because it wanted to say hello, of course.]

[Zatanna can barely get out the shriek of surprise in the background before her unexpected visitor suddenly tumbles downward, taking the feed with it.  The screen goes dark, leaving one last audio cry before it cuts out completely:]

Get back here, you cheap horror film knockoff!

Comments

[backinakidflash]

[Bart has gotten a glass of water and is gulping at it repeatedly.]

Someone needs to invent a tribble meat detector. Stat.

[backwordscompatible]

[Now who's overreacting to the whole thing?]

Don't look at me.

I do the magic, not science. That would probably be Wally or Kara's department.

[backinakidflash]

[It has crossed his mind to shout 'soylent green is tribbles!']

Nope. Still looking at you. You started this panic. Make up a detection spell.

[backwordscompatible]

[She probably wouldn't even get the reference, tbh.]

What do you think I am, a magician-for-hire?

At least have the decency to try please or something.

[backinakidflash]

I thought calling it 'the magic word' might be a little cliché.

[Bart leans forward hopefully, even going so far as to fold his hands neatly together. ]

Please? I could really use your help with this. And you aren't a magician-for-hire. This is a favor that will be totally repaid however and whenever you need.

[backwordscompatible]

[That? Right there? That definitely earns a hint of a grin out of her. She's not even going to bother hiding it.]

Can I get that in writing?

[backinakidflash]

[Even though his head is ducked down while he quickly writes something out on a piece of paper, it's obvious that he's got a wide smile as well. Finished, he holds it up at chest-height. In a not-sloppy print - but to call it neat would be a stretch - it reads:

I, Bartholomew Henry Allen (II), do owe the bearer of this note, Zatanna Zatarra, one favor, to be decided by her and fulfilled by me regardless of magnitude, significance, or inconvenience. There will be no complaining, unless this happens at like five a.m.

[It's signed 'Bart Allen' in a marginally legible scrawl that looks more like Bt All__ .]

You can pick it up if we have a deal.

[backwordscompatible]

[Bart, if you were just a few years younger, this would be irresistibly adorable. As it is, she can't even bother to hide her Amusement as she takes the time to read over the contract in its entirety. The 5 a.m. line, in particular, gets a smirk out of her. That wouldn't be much of an issue. Even she was rarely up that early.]

There's only one 'r' in 'Zatara'. [No way she's letting him get out of this on a spelling technicality.] Fix it, and we have a deal.

That was my mistake but lets roll with it. Damn iPhone.

[backinakidflash]

That miiiiight have been on purpose.

[He's laughing as he tears it up and re-writes it, but pink creeping into his cheeks gives it away that he's laughing at himself. Yep. Totally just spelled Zatanna's name wrong. Smooth.

He holds up the second agreement.]

It's only fair to let me know if you zap it with voodoo.

[backwordscompatible]

No voodoo. We can stick with good, old fashion legalities this time.

Where are you now? I'll swing by my job and pick up a charm on the way over.

[backinakidflash]

Works for me. I'm a big fan of the right side of the law.

[encryption 50%]

I'm over in ME-2A.

[backwordscompatible]

[The encryption catches her slightly off-guard, leaving her curious as to why he would be so secretive about where he was staying. Hmm.]

Be there in about an hour.

[True to her word, the moment she shut off her console, she grabbed her things and headed to the magic shop she worked at.]

[One of the locals was on staff, and helped her set up the miniature ritual she needed in order to charm a token. Usually, she would go with a pendant or necklace--for Bart, however, she figured something a bit smaller might be better. A smooth, polished stone made from obsidian. Easily concealed in the palm of one's hand, and even easier slipped into one's pocket without the annoyance of additional weight.]

[Charm acquired, she headed over to Metal, found the right door, and knocked.]

[backinakidflash]

Sounds like a plan.

[The hour gave Bart more than enough to start cleaning up the crumbs (and get distracted, stop, and start cleaning once more) and get back to Tim's place before Zatanna got there. He didn't want loose food to attract tribbles - or get himself banned from a cafe.

When he heard the knock, he only waited until the sound stopped to open the door. Bart found that interrupting people's knocking by taking the door away tended to throw them off. A lot. So he tried to avoid it and usually barely pulled it off.]

Hi, Zatanna. Have you gotten tired of the you're-shorter-than-I-remember comments or can I go for it?

[backwordscompatible]

That depends.

[She takes a step inside the room. Inviting herself in only because he was going to do it anyway.]

...are you sure you want to risk it? I might not be responsible for what happens next. Just saying.

[backinakidflash]

[The finer points of manners escape him. Bart really does expect people to waltz in when he opens the door - he doesn't think anything of it and shuts the door behind her once she's clear.]

Hmmm.

[Bart looks up towards the ceiling and chews on his bottom lip, pretending to think about it.]

I'll save it for after I get the tribble magic. I think. That's only fair.

[backwordscompatible]

If you insist.

[She reaches into her pocket, pulling out the small, black stone. It weighed very little and could easily be palmed by even an amateur. Turning it over so he could see, she held it out for him.]

Here it is. This little baby will heat up anytime you get near tribble meat, and stay dormant if the item in question is safe.

...oh, and just for the record, that bakery about two blocks from here? I wouldn't buy your cookies from there anymore if I were you. Though the one a few streets down from there is still fine.

[backinakidflash]

[With a grateful smile, Bart takes the stone and turns it over a few times in his hand as she's talking, but nodding along to indicate that he's listening. He doesn't doubt that she's charmed it, but he does want to play with it -

Bart's eyes whip back up to meet hers when she starts talking about specific bakeries, and he fumbles the stone, dropping it and attempting to catch it three times in rapid succession before he finally gets a hand on it.]

What?

[Horrified blinking.]

Not. Not the one with the funny little Audrey II looking plant just outside the door?

[backwordscompatible]

[Oh, Bart, you make it so easy.]

You mean the giant, carnivorous plant look-alike didn't tip you off?

sdg8wergiwa ghsg THAT WAS UNINTENTIONAL. I was only going for an alien plant!

[backinakidflash]

[Oh. My. God. Why is he so thick? Bart's eyes are like two yellow frisbees.]

But... they don't have that movie here. How is that. I didn't think it was a reference! Does everything there have tribble meat in it??

haha. I only latched onto it because I LOVE LSOH /knows the whole soundtrack by heart

[backwordscompatible]

[She can't take it anymore. Her resolve finally breaks, and she bursts out laughing.]

I was just kidding, you know.

Though, you have to admit--the plant really was a nice touch.

action

[backinakidflash]

[Blank stare. He is so very confused.]

Wait. So. It's not a tribble bakery?

[He shakes his head a little and then finally laughs.]

Yeah, it was. Well-played. I walked right into that.

action

[backwordscompatible]

Nope. The stone has spoken.

[He was laughing. That earned some serious points in her book. She always could appreciate someone with a sense of humor.]

If you don't believe me, you can test it out yourself. Got any spare tribbles handy?

Re: action

[backinakidflash]

Aww, man. I wasted that cookie for nothing. It was good, too. Kinda vanilla but not.

[He's still smiling, despite the unnecessary throwing-out-of-pastries.]

No way. There's probably some outside somewhere, but. After what happened in my place? This has been declared an official Tribble Free Zone. Pretty sure I'd be kicked out for even considering bringing one inside.

action

[backwordscompatible]

[Don't worry, Bart. There will be other cookies.]

I thought this was your place?

action

[backinakidflash]

This?

[Bart looks around at the comparative neatness of the place (because nothing Tim can do will out-mess a space that is only Bart's) and raises an eyebrow. Immediately after, he slaps his palm to his forehead.]

Right. Universes and times. There's no way on any planet or universe that this is where I live. Tim is letting me crash here for now. My building had an infestation. Two infestations. Tribbles and bad dudes.