tushanshu | ✦ 001 ✦ [video]

[As the feed turns on, one may notice the camera pointed directly at an open window, where some might recognize a familiar face, and others, a slightly less familiar (and noticeably younger) face. Sitting on a large tree branch just outside her room. Because why not?]

[14-year-old Zatanna looks oddly at peace for the moment, back leans against the rough bark, a few pieces peppering the shoulders of her black jacket blazer. One leg dangles off the edge, the other bent at the knee. She has a half smile on her face, and her eyes continue to casually take in her surroundings, even as she addresses the Network.]

I'll admit...definitely not what I was expecting.

[Implying that she's somehow unsurprised by her current limbo status. Like she knew something like this would happen, even if there was no way she could've predicted exactly what. Knew and accepted it. For now.]

Can't really complain, though. I'd take a giant tree house over an eternity in empty helmet space any day.

Name's Zatanna, by the way. Zatanna Zatara.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. So it's magic that you can't use, and to get to the one who can, you sacrifice yourself.

[Bucky... looks at her for a moment. Then nods, with respect. Not many people can make that kind of sacrifice, and Zatanna has done just that. Respect is definitely hers to command.

... and, after a moment, he shakes his head and smiles.]

I'm sorry, I'm forgetting my manners, ain't I. Bucky, Sergeant Bucky Barnes. I hope that whatever happens back home, what you did was worth it.

Where I come from, a magician's powers tend to come from within. Give or take a few rookie-level spells, most of the time, you need somebody who was born with the power. Problem was, my powers weren't strong enough. So, yeah, I needed to in order to gain enough power to win.

[She smiles back.]

Nice to meet you, Bucky. I'm Zatanna.

...and yeah, I hope it was worth it too.

Where I come from, we don't have magicians, so I don't have any idea what the other options for the setup would be. But I gotcha, I gotcha.

And likewise, Zatanna.

Did you get told that supposedly we'll be going back to when we came here from? So whatever the lord of chaos you talked about is up to, you and the helmet and the powerful wizard will get 'im.

No, they didn't really talk much about going back.

...do you know how we could?

They don't, no. Nobody really does, other than a general 'fulfill your purpose and you'll be returned' that the Emperor has mentioned, I've heard.

However, there have been a few people who have disappeared, and the general opinion seems to be that they've returned home. I'm pretty sure they did not expect it to happen at the time, though.

And yet they conveniently forget to mention exactly what that 'purpose' is. It's like a guessing game at this point.

Well, there is the part about saving the world, just without the details on how.

Save it from who?

No actual answer, yet. Who, what. The Emperor don't seem to be very chatty.

No, she really doesn't.

I can't say I like being so kept in the dark about all this. I usually at least like to know who or what I'm up against if I'm gonna go out fighting.

You and almost everyone else here, I reckon.

And that's coming from a soldier who should be used to march when told to march.

[Key word: should.]

So what do you do now when told to march?

That depends on who's giving the order.

Good answer.

What if it's somebody you don't trust?

Then I ask for reasons. Or somebody I do trust vouching for them.

Smart.

I try.

You seem pretty cool.

How old are you?

[Well. That's a question nobody has asked him here. So far. (Not for a long time back home, either.)]

Twenty-three. Ish.

[Almost that, when he fell. But he's been here longer than the time there was before his birthday.]

"Ish"?

Well, I came here a couple of months before my birthday. Which is in March. But I showed up here in August. Which was... more than a couple of months ago.

Wow, yeah, I can...see how that would be a bit confusing.

As far as I know, I showed up here just about the same time I left back home.

You asked.

[Small nod.] That should be nice, I guess. Less confusing.

And easier to count down the days until I actually turn 15.

[Gee golly gosh, you are a baby...]

And when will that be?

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