magicmistrcss

[magicmistrcss]

@suitedviolet

"So I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but you looked super hot at the party.” Zatanna commented with a smirky smile over her coffee, glad for the steaming beverage and the sweet, sweet caffeine it provided. Even more so for the presence of Lois and their little get togethers. “Before it went to shit, at least, though I assume you were still hot throughout, just hot and stressed.”

[magicmistrcss]

@tcmpcst

“Oh, hey, we’ve met a few times, yeah? You were with... Nightwing’s group.” Zatanna offered the vaguely familiar man a warm greeting as she brushed past him to grab her coffee, lowering her voice slightly so she wasn’t shouting it above the din of the cafe. She could feel the aura of magic around him and knew enough to pin it as Atlantean, far closer to her own variety of magic than Stephen’s or even Fate’s. With a quirk of her eyebrows, she shot him a knowing smile. “I think you and I have some similar hobbies.”

[magicmistrcss]

ofhellblazer‌:

John had lost the costume a long time back - after all, he was lazy at best about using his magic, and maintaining that get up while chasing after Cobblepot? Definitely not. 

Unfortunately, that entire escapade had turned out to be a wild penguin chase, leading to absolutely nothing. He’d left Batsy to sort out the mess, which was the sort of thing that he just loved doing and which John himself hated. That had left him free to go searching for Zee – not that he’d really truly admit that he was worried about her. She was more than capable of looking after herself. If anything, he was more likely to be the damsel in distress.

So why was it he couldn’t find her?

His heart swelled with relief when he heard her call out to him, and he really didn’t want to dwell on how his gut twisted nastily when he saw the state she was in. Oh. Oh hell. 

“That’s probably why it’s called the Iceberg Lounge,” he muttered, looking over her and unable to completely conceal his worry. Without thinking, he stripped his coat off, wrapping it around her shoulders. “Oh, I think you’ll have more problems pulling rabbits out of hats, but you could probably improvise,” he said lamely. 

Okay, so he was definitely worried. “Look, Zee. You look like a right mess, and this place is a disaster. What do you say to us calling this evening a bust and heading to my house? I can throw a far better party.”

“That was my joke, silly.” Oh- that expression on his face triggered a pang of sadness, and she shifted awkwardly in her sodden dress. Zatanna touched cold fingertips to his cheek just beyond the corner of his mouth, the blooming frown lines there, before remembering better of it and snatching her hand back to tug at lapels and burrow into the coat. It had been... a very long time, since she’d found herself wearing it. “Hope you’ve washed this.”

Her chattering teeth undermined any arguments she might make about being perfectly alright. But as far as hypothermia was concerned, it was probably a good sign she hadn’t stopped shivering. 

“That’s not a very nice thing to tell a lady.” Zatanna murmured under her breath, not quite able to summon as much teasing verve as she wanted. “You’ve seen me look a lot worse.” Truthfully, he’d seen her run the spectrum; John had been there for some of the very best moments of her life and the very worst. “I’m just cold. And dizzy.” The comfort of his presence, so familiar and fond though never steady, warred always with knowing she should hate him and that them falling apart had proven itself an inevitability. She inhaled slow, tried to steady herself, told herself she shouldn’t, then realized it was futile. “Okay. But it has to be the kind of party where you make me tea.”

[magicmistrcss]

notjusta-helm‌:

    kent ignored the other’s words asking him to tell her what the problem was, he found it was easier to show it rather than explaining.  “the future is uncertain, zatanna.”  he started, his fingers slowly hitting against the chair’s arm.  “it already was before, but back then there were main events that would happen regardless of the choices people made. milestones. those i could see perfectly… and through those i could find a way to set up order. that had always been the way… so that our future doesn’t end before its time.”  as he explained that, his hand went up and with a snap of his fingers the whole map of their previous timeline showed up as inconsistent lines followed by converging points, the events.  “i cannot see those milestones in this new reality… in fact, there are no milestones for there is no one future. this world could end today, tomorrow, or in thousands of years. and therefore i am unable to do the one thing i’ve been doing for more than eighty years…”  the magician stopped to look at the other shortly.  “i’ve lost my purpose.”

    “sure, have it your way.”  he responded towards not using his power to establish order that ways. the former archeologist shook his head.  “balance? that’s an utopian concept now. balance only works if there’s order. in this chaotic reality we’ve found ourselves in how do you intend on making that work?”  he replied, arching an eyebrow at the other. she might be one of the most powerful magicians in their universe, but she was far from being omnipotent and she lacked the will to do anything to protect the cause to which he gave his life to.  “i’ll need the helmet to reset everything back to what it was, of course, but to close the breach in space and time that allowed all of this situation to happen i’d only need my own life force… i’ve lived long enough. seen enough. that’d be a good death for a person such as me, wouldn’t it?”  he stopped, watching the bottle for a second before allowing himself to pick up a glass and pour some for himself. maybe it was the years of living and seeing the people he loved pass talking, but he didn’t mind showing this side of his to zatanna.  “that being said… you shouldn’t worry about me, child. i’m kent nelson. i can handle myself.”

It was strange seeing him with little ticks; Zatanna sometimes fidgeted with her hair or jewelry, stuck as the vessel for an ever-present humming magic, but seeing Dr. Fate absently drum his fingers represented another unexpected anxiety. Her head tipped and she touched her wine glass to her cheek as she listened, eyes tracking the web he spun. “You’re such a meddler.” Zee commented, but her mind was elsewhere. She wondered where her father’s death sat along that timeline; she vaguely recalled shrieking at the smooth, uncaring helm- and everyone else present- as John and Jason Blood restrained her through her hysterics after watching him burn. Fated. Zatanna had never liked the idea of that, even before. Her eyes snapped back to his, and she watched him quietly for a moment. “So we’re in uncharted territory. You’ve lost your roadmap, not your purpose. I know it’s not as simple as that, but you still have the rest of your powers, and eighty years experience and whatever sweet nothings Nabu can whisper to you... it’s not ideal, but you can make your own judgments.” Like the rest of them did, unknowing whether they were condemning the future or saving it.

“I usually do.” Her eyebrows quirked, and she briefly considered telling John what Kent had said so they could start in on contingencies. That wasn’t a nice way to treat allies, but she knew he’d already have ideas. Zee sighed, then sipped from her glass. “I don’t fight for order, Kent. I’m in it to protect people, and if true order is oppressing them all, then I’m against it.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she considered him. She was no stranger to sacrifice, but it usually came to a head in the moments before, not over a relatively calm discussion in a safe haven. “Maybe. Are you planning on it? The odds... didn’t sound good.” If they did get out, it would be odd to return to a world where a new Dr Fate had been chosen. If it cracked the timeline and the universe itself, she supposed he at least wouldn’t be around to know that. After a beat, Zatanna cracked a very small smile. “You’ve known me long enough to know I’ll worry no matter what. It’s basically my job in our little group. And that I’ll have to make a solid attempt at turning you into a frog if you call me child again.”

[magicmistrcss]

[magicmistrcss]

amendcr‌:

RJ couldn’t believe how nice the woman was being to him — letting him order all the flavors if he wanted to. He steps forward to look at all the different flavors, picking out a few that sounded good at the moment. He doesn’t want to be too greedy, so maybe six of the flavors would be good.  “I think that’s all I want today.” His eyes turn to look at Zatanna. “THANK YOU.” It would pay off to be polite to those that are kind to you, especially if they knew Dick. “He’s the best!” RJ was proud to say it, believing in how good the man is. “Not yet, but I’d like to. Are they nice? Do you have any advice? I want them to LIKE me.”

Zatanna liked helping, she would have even if he didn’t know Dick, and it was nice to see him so happily pick out some ice cream. “No problem- maybe once you figure out what you like we can get you a gallon to bring home? Don’t tell anyone, but I have a secret stash of their caramel pecan ice cream in the back of my freezer.” She joked with a warm smile before ordering a white hot chocolate for herself. “They’re all very genuinely good people.” The assurance came easily, and genuine, her smile fond. “His dad can be intense, but he means well. Just be yourself. Dick’s a good judge of character- since he likes you, I’m sure they will too.”

[magicmistrcss]

notjusta-helm‌:

    those feelings were unnatural for the current kent nelson, but he had been human once, he lived a life with ups and downs; he’d had people he loved, his father, his mother; more than enough years for him to have learned how to feel. the kent nelson from the past, however, decided to give up on everything he had, on everyone he knew, to keep the world from falling into darkness and chaos. nabu’s influence was there, of course, but he also could’ve denied the burden of the helmet. perhaps if he’d done so he could’ve lived a happy life. a healthy life. seen his parents age, have a partner of his own; but it was all for the good of the universe, or so he told himself. now that the one decision he made that changed the course of his life was put into question, what else should he do? if things didn’t go back to the way they were, what was his purpose? what did he live for all his life? was it all for nothing?  “everything is wrong, can’t you see?”  was all he could mutter.

    “nabu cannot stop me from making this decision for not even him could touch the full understanding of what we’re currently facing. the thing is… as a lord of order, our first and superior rule is to maintain order in the world, but there’s no clear explanation to which way you’re supposed to do it. if i wanted to just put all of you under my domain and if that somehow seemed like something that could help for our greater reason, not a single soul would complain.”  he spoke, his eyes fixed on some point farther for them.  “an unreasonable sollution to solve an unreasonable circumstance… everything… anything… to maintain order. nabu would just have to choose my successor.”  it could be hard to understand being someone from outside that circle of existence, but sacrifices of all sorts had been made in the past, some of which not even him would dare bring up.

“Yeah, I can. I know where we are, and I know we don’t know why, and I know not knowing is a dangerous position to be in. I am more than aware of the way the fabric of reality is bleeding.” She said steadily with eyes intent on him. “And I’ll admit I’m not immune to sinking into that despair sometimes, but we are persevering, because that is what we do.” As magic users, they weren’t strangers to seeing the darkest corners of horror the world had to offer; people weren’t dying by the dozens yet, or turning inside out spontaneously, or whatever other awful nasty things she could imagine, that she’s already witnessed in her life, so that was a good first step as far as she was concerned. “If there’s a problem I don’t already know about, you need to tell me.” Zatanna had always been more inclined to be softer and more understanding, but she didn’t have any patience for being cagey when the world was on the line either. 

“Kent.” Zatanna snapped, a little harsher than she meant too, then shook her head. “Dr. Fate, Nabu, you go down that path, and I’m standing in your way. Know that. You are not going to use magic to subjugate the population for the sake of order. We operate in a balance.” Her priority wasn’t order; it was saving as many lives as possible, however chaotic that process might be. Humans were inherently messy. “Well, he couldn’t if you got the helmet trapped in some space between worlds. Or a world where the lords of order never established themselves.” After a sigh, she prodded her still mostly full wine bottle so the levitation spell sent it spinning towards him and fixed him with a look.

[magicmistrcss]

amendcr‌:

“TRYING them all sounds amazing, but wouldn’t that be expensive?” RJ doesn’t have the money for that, no way, but that would be the only way to figure out exactly WHAT his favorite would be. He has the appetite for trying all the different flavors though, standing closer to look into the glass to try and catch a glance at them inside. His gaze turns back to the woman though with a smile. “Would his name be DICK GRAYSON by chance? He took me in recently, gave me a home, and his old clothes.” He was grateful for the kindness — and has to figure out a way to thank the man someday for it. “Small world, huh?”

“Maybe, but I think we can swing it.” Zee gave him a conspiratorial little smile before turning to the cashier where it shifted warm and overwhelmingly charming. “You can put whatever he buys on my order, and I’ll make sure to tip extra on it since we might be a minute.” Her eyebrows lifted, and she laughed quietly with a warm amusement, because- oh, god, apparently taking in stray kids was an inherited trait. Did Bruce know? That was adorable. “It is, and that sounds just like him. He’s a good kid, I’m not surprised he offered help.” She nodded. “Apparently so. Have you met the rest of his family?”

[magicmistrcss]

[magicmistrcss]

ofgodkiller‌:

diana laughs softly, grinning over at zee before she hugs her back tightly, though of course not tight enough to hurt the other. always all too aware of her own strength. “oh, yes, it really is such a wonderful movie, isn’t it? there’s just so many movies these days, it can be hard to keep track, but i am doing my best,” she replies with a shrug of her shoulders. “i’m glad you like my outfit. i love yours as well. it appears you are leaving glitter behind, but that is alright. it suits you and your costume. as for our friends, yes, i’ve noticed a few of them haven’t dressed up, though i really cannot say i am completely surprised when it comes to bruce and dick. like father like son is the saying, yes?” she chuckles. “how are you doing, my friend? it feels like it has been a while since i last checked in with you.”

“I don’t think I’ve been to a movie theater in years- I just watch whatever’s online while I’m doing something else.” She admitted with a quiet laugh, but nodded. “It is! Ideal aesthetic.” Zatanna smiled brightly, ducking her head a little as she noted the gold glitter she’d left on the front of Diana’s dress merely by hugging her. “Consider it my gift to you! But I could magic it off, if you want?” With an eye roll, she nodded, but her expression was undeniably fond. “Practical as always. I thought Clark might, but since he’s been away...” One shoulder lifted in a half-hearted shrug. “Oh, you know. Dealing? It’s still... odd, but I’m managing. How are you?”

[magicmistrcss]

The cold already got on her nerves normally, so ice cream was out of the question, but one of Zatanna’s old favorite shops had ice cream and sherbet and about ten different kinds of hot chocolate, which was her real goal here. She glanced away from the menu to the boy speaking to her; her face warmed immediately with a soft smile. “Well, if you’ve never had any of them, you’ll have to try all of them. I like the coffee, and chocolate with dark chocolate chunks and caramel.” Looking at him again, an old ping of recognition registered in her mind, and her her head tipped. She distinctly remembered a much younger Dick wearing that jacket, and the R insignia was fairly unique, so she wasn’t sure if that was just a bizarre coincidence or not. “One of my friend’s kids had a jacket just like that one. It’s neat.”

There was so many choices that it was almost TOO MUCH. RJ turns his gaze to look over at who was standing next to him. “There’s thirty different flavors to choose from, how do you possibly pick? I’ve never had any of them so could you help me? Which would you recommend?” He knows the weather was getting colder so getting ice cream is probably STRANGE, but it wasn’t as if the boy really cared about what anyone thought. After what happened at the party RJ wanted to TREAT HIMSELF for making it through such an experience. It was childish, but he was still young. He was FREE of his handler which meant getting a chance to really experience the world. His hand nervously tugs on the sleeves of the jacket he was wearing — which originally belonged to Dick Grayson.

[ @magicmistrcss​ ]

[magicmistrcss]

doctorinterrupted‌:

Stephen sensed some level of aggravation at the mention of ‘team’, and shot Zatanna a sympathetic smile. “I imagine the team must be like herding cats. Admittedly… we’re not much better over here. We supposedly have the Avengers, but they’re less of a team and … ever since they lost their leader, I don’t know what they… we… are.”

“We have time for now,” he said. “And I’m happy to listen.” He’d led them to the main foyer of the Sanctum, and the artifacts definitely seemed to perk up at Zatanna’s presence. Interesting. 

“Zatanna Zorina Zatara,” he echoed softly, before grinning. “Sorry to disappoint you, but my middle name is ‘Vincent’. Crazy, I know.”

He shouldn’t have been surprised that Zatanna could sense the fact that the Sanctum wasn’t the only one of its kind but he did find himself impressed. “You can sense them? This Sanctum is connected to two others. They’re the source of a lot of our Earth’s magical defenses.” He elected not to mention that the London Sanctum was currently in a rather terrible state of disrepair. “The defenses didn’t trigger when our worlds collided, which was interesting. Clearly, they didn’t regard it as a threat.” 

“As for a catalogue, not as such. Trust me, it’s annoying when I’m trying to figure out what all this stuff is. Maybe you could help? Would you like a tour?”

“Angry cats that all kind of hate each other.” Zatanna agreed with a laugh, but her expression went sympathetic, and she nodded. “I did some research, I saw- I’m sorry you lost people. That’s difficult to deal with, to put it lightly.”

The magic buzzed all around her, and she drifted, fascinated, between artifacts, intent on studying them all and hardly knowing where to stop. “Damn, well, it’s Sampson to me, now, because I need an ally in the alliterative mage club.” She said with a chuckle, then eagerly agreed to a tour. The potential for magical study lifted her spirits, a spot of hope amidst the confusion of Gotham’s transplant to this universe. 

A few weeks later found her curled up on one of the couches, several tomes open on the cushions beside her and a steaming cup of tea clutched between her hands. She inhaled the scent slowly, and enjoyed the warmth on her fingers after so recently having found them freezing and trembling. “So... enjoy your first Gotham party? They’re not all like that. I’d say- a fifty percent split, maybe.”

[magicmistrcss]

@ofhellblazer​

In the end, they made it out of the iceberg hell-challenge, though with no small amount of bickering and trouble. Zatanna still shivered, the edges of her dress were damp, and her hair partially let down from the updo surrounding her halo. Instead of going straight home, she loitered near the back exit of the lounge, taking a moment to try to focus through the chaos.

Plenty of people bustled around, and Zatanna zoned out watching them, caught in her thoughts until she spotted one in particular. A shock of relief crashed through her, and the urge to speak to him won out after briefly warring with the sensible bit of her that wanted to leave it at that. “John!” She called in a hoarse voice as she tried not to dwell on her desperate reaching for him before she’d been dragged away. “Hey!”

When she tried to push off the wall to approach him, the sidewalk tilted alarmingly beneath her with the foggy aftermath of whatever Penguin’s people had drugged her with. Instead, she leaned back against the wall with a groan, closed her eyes against the vertigo and trusted he’d approach. “Guess how-“ A shudder ran through her. She lifted her trembling hands between them, opening her eyes. “- How literal Iceberg lounge is? Think my magic career’ll suffer if my hands freeze off?”

[magicmistrcss]

Floaty toulle and wings were decidedly not for freezing temperatures, which wouldn’t usually be a problem if she could just fucking cast, or had her necklace. But no, Zatanna shivered almost violently as she tried to maintain her precarious balance on the ice in her designer heels, and arched her eyebrows at one Lex Luthor. “Big enough to kill us isn’t necessarily big enough to completely destroy the property.” She pointed out, unwinding hair pins she’d enchanted little flash bang spells into ages ago to maybe distract the shark with, and finding it difficult between her trembling fingers, foggy mind, and uncooperative curls. “And I think you’re underestimating the Penguin’s commitment to the bit.”

      “is this how everyone is treated in this city?” lex asked, sitting back down from the spot he’d been hoarding as his own - thankful that his lion costume was large and warm. he stared at the others, smirking to himself at some of the choices of costume that they decided upon. “no wonder the batman is the way he is…” he muttered to himself before looking down and over his shoulder at the blinking lights below the ice. “has anyone stopped to consider that maybe this bomb is a dud? i mean, we’re all here - essentially in what looks like a large refrigeration unit and presumably in a place that oswald owns - why would he destroy his own property?”

( @earthstarters​ )

[magicmistrcss]

notjusta-helm‌:

    kent listened to her until completion before speaking again.  “i said there’s a twenty percent chance of failure, but the other eighty percent are not immediately of success. there are infinite possibilities to what would happen to both worlds and the people who got transported from one to the other. theoretically, our future would go back to what it should be… but i can only account for the main events that would lead to the proper end of time, not side ones… 80% represents the chances of properly resetting a timeline for our world, but you’re exactly right, we could end up turning this reality to chaos or even losing a few people in between space and time, which would mean leaving them to eternal suffering for not even i would not be able to reach them…”  he admitted with a long sigh, hitting the back of his head against the chair lightly in frustration.

    the man gazed back at the other magician.  “i can’t find a sollution to this that doesn’t involve sacrifices being made… don’t think, however, that i’m only considering the events in which our friends and the people we should protect are to vanish from existence… i’ve also calculated the chances of everything going as planned with me staying behind to regulate the reversal of this situation, but even then there’s no improve in our odds.”  it really was getting to him that he could not do the one thing he was supposed to do with all the power he had: maintain order.  “and that’s why i needed a more humane point of view. yours.”

“Of course, nothing’s ever that easy and our best possible course is the proper end of time.” Zatanna sighed, slumping down in her seat as her mind whirred with all the options and worries. A furrow formed between her eyebrows as she watched him do something similar, though, a real genuine expression of frustration. Weirdness of seeing his face in the first place aside, she couldn’t remember Dr. Fate expressing anything other than smug superiority easy self-assurance. And, sure, mild concern. “Kent, what’s wrong?” Zatanna asked softly, sincere worry crossing her features despite her usual neutral stance on the man. “Besides our crap chances at success. I know we’re not exactly close, but we’ve worked together enough for you to know you can trust me if there’s something worse going on. Or more- personal.” 

Her head tipped. “Nabu would let you do that?” She couldn’t imagine him staying behind, away from their universe, his domain of order. Furthermore, Zee knew she sometimes operated as a conscience for the Dark, but that was often a position she had to fight for, rather than be offered. It took her a moment to answer. “Well- we can’t. As far as we know, this could be benign. This isn’t a looming apocalypse, not yet, this isn’t a situation where we’d be taking a risky shot because the other option is certain death. We can’t chance dooming three entire universes until we know the alternative is worse.”

[magicmistrcss]

ofhellblazer‌:

John smirked as Zee accused him of bringing trouble. Or being trouble. Sometimes, they were one and the same. “I do hope something happens. Some good old fashioned punch ‘em up ruckus would be nice. Would make a bloody nice change from all the rest of the things that have been happening.”

As much as he wanted to quietly sidle off in the other direction, the other half of him wanted to stay. It had been so long; even if they did nothing but exchange half assed insults and remarks, it was almost, almost like old times. Back before everything had gone to hell. Before their paths had separated.

Yeah, and you’re a bloody masochist, my boy.

He laughed at her jibe at him, wondering if it came out as hollow and empty as it sounded to his own ears. “You’re lucky. Had one following me around for a bit - an angel, that is. Royal pain in the arse, he was. You’re better off not dealing with them. Self-righteous pricks, most of them. And that’s not counting the fallen.” He sighed. 

Fishing a cigarette out of his pocket out of sheer habit – and maybe to hide how unsettled he was at seeing her again, he held it out. “Give us a light, love.”

He caught the edges of the muttered words, his heart flip-flopping like the bloody sardine it was. He went for a retort, when a crash and a bang cut him off. Immediately, he reached for Zee, then the lights went. “Zee?!”

Zatanna rolled her eyes, not very unusual in his presence. Back then it always used to be undercut with an impossibly fond smile, but right now she only felt exasperated. “I’m not exactly in the mood for punching.” But... she understood his sentiment, him, and the hollowness of failure they carried. “Something winnable might be nice.”

His forced laugh grated against her, and for a moment the look Zatanna gave John was too soft, too open and lovingly worried and honest before she evaded by staring morosely into her drink. There’d been a time when she could have helped him; there’d been a time when she could claim with unwavering faith that their very souls were meant to be intertwined. Now she shrugged one shoulder, started fiddling with the layered necklaces she wore. “I believe self-righteous, but you think everyone’s a pain in the ass.” The hint of smile touched her face. “The kid’s here- I helped him with his costume, he’s glamoured like a fallen. If Lucifer saw he’d pitch a fit.”

Her mouth twisted to a frown, and she extended a finger ready to be lit with erif. ”I’m not your-“ Personal lighter or love, either interrupted by a sudden bang. 

“John?” Sheer instinct had her grabbing for him, reaching until they closed the distance and she could feel his hands on her arms, and tangled her own in his lapels. Don’t get separated, don’t get separated. Beneath the scent of Silk Cuts and scotch there’s magic and painful familiarity, and his grounding touch in the chaotic pitch darkness.

“Thgi-” Her spell for light cut short with the feeling of a jab at the back of her neck, and a sudden wave of fogginess rushed through her head. Zatanna pitched and swayed, the room tilting around her and John slipping from her grip. He always seemed to slip away from her. Zee muttered his name, syllable slurring, again and again, as if that’d help, but she felt herself being dragged, violently, as she fell into unconsciousness.

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notjusta-helm‌:

    it was awfully strange to use something other than ancient egyptian sorcery, so he actually felt a bit odd afterwards; but at least they were at the safest place he could think of in the world, the tower of fate. no one could enter without his permission, and even leaving was hard if he tried even just a bit to interfere. kent started walking from one side to another.  “messing with time has its complications… the future has changed into uncertainty and therefore must be fixed, but it also means we’ll have to find out what even caused the realities to merge in order to stop it from ever happening. that might mess with the timeline in our previous world as well, which will most likely break the rules of order and accelerate the end of times. that would be the first scenario.”  the doctor looked up to the other to make sure she was following.

    “there’s also a chance that resetting our earth could lead to it never even existing since it is possible our past has also merged with this new reality’s. this would lead to a scenario in which turning back time for us would lead into a dimensional paradox we’d be trapped in until one of the entities would come and shatter our reality in order to keep the universe from breaking. we’d be doomed once again.”  the man stopped.  “that’s the second scenario.”  he added, snapping his fingers once; two chairs arrived at their location and he sat down.

    “the odds of these world-breaking scenarios happening are of around 20%. if we can do everything correctly, none of this will ever happen and our world will be restored… do you see why i cannot make this call on my own?”

Zatanna didn’t stray too far, not wanting to get lost in the twisting and turning Escher-like construction of the Tower. It unsettled her in the same slight vague way as Nabu in general did; powerful and not under her domain of control. She took a sip of her wine, had the bottle float nearby with a quietly commanded “Etativel” and listened intently. “Presuming we could find the source and stop it at all, we might return to find the future far worse than we left it.” Her father taught her to stay out of time travel. She got into a lot of things he’d warned her out of anyway, but always left altering time to others like Barry. She was, admittedly, scared of fucking anything up. Worrying about the present was trouble enough. 

“Ah. That’s no fun either.” Zee said wryly, sitting in the offered chair and adjusting her dress around her as she thought.“If we found it, if we stopped it, and if neither of those happen- and we’re still at eighty-percent success? That’s higher than I’d have guessed.” Not like that made it any better; any chance of destroying the universe wasn’t one she wanted to take. Her voice went a little quieter. “We could inadvertently fuck up their timeline too. The other ones here, the more similar ones. Even if we did everything right and disentangled and fixed our world, we could be leaving them high and dry with no way of knowing or fixing it.”