tryit | 1st Shot [action/video]

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1st Shot [action/video]

action - for Zatanna Zatara and Billy Kaplan;

[Okay, to say that this so wasn't what Kate expected to wake up to was an understatement. Sprawled on her soft and deep couch in her nice, if not messy, SoHo apartment on West Broadway while her sister stole her bed after a night of dinner and clubbing? Yes. In the middle of a forest floor surrounded by chirping and chattering animals like something out of a sick Disney movie? Hell no.

Get a grip, Katie.

Maybe she had more to drink last night than she realized. It's not as if she or Susan were exactly paying all that much attention to their tabs. Not when the night had been Suze's treat; their wild spending causing bouncers to look the other way when it came to Kate's ID. But she had balanced her alcohol with food and water. Just in case the Boss needed her. Letting a hangover get in the way of superheroing was just poor form.

So, not a hangover.

And hey, didn't the weather call for cold and flurries today? Definitely not hot, sticky, and sunny like the Fourth of July.

She stood a second or two later, looking around her as she lifted her arms over her head and stretched. ...that felt strange. Really strange.]

Hell of a dream you're having. [She looked down with a frown, taking in the simple white shift that didn't look like anything she actually owned. Cautiously, she took a step or two forward and looked around. Creek, trees, and not a single skyscraper in site.] Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore.

video/action - A Shot in the Dark;

[Sometime that evening...

Showered and cleaned, dressed in normal clothes, and finally clued in, Kate sat at the counter in the coffee shop sipping at a vanilla latte as she stared at the book. It wasn't exactly Ninth Street Espresso but hey, at least it contained caffeine. For what seemed like the umpteenth time, she flipped through the journal pages yet again before finally giving in and turning on the little camera.

She held up the mug in a quick salute and gave a quick, wry grin.]

Y'know, as prisons go, this one's definitely going to extremes to keep up the masquerade of resort village. Shops and restaurants and night clubs, oh my.

So... what exactly do people do here for fun?

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[Speaking of magic, Billy had been doing his daily search-for-New-Feathers spell when he'd gotten a view of a familiar one this time, who was apparently in the middle of fighting- ...Zatanna?

How the heck did that even--

Whatever, though, that isn't what's important. Rather than wasting time thinking about it, Billy summons his costume and teleports over to where they are, appearing with a flare of blue energy between the two girls, glancing from one to the other.]

What the hell are you guys doing?

I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for your slippers! [She ducks another attack, then goes for one of the few spells she can do almost instantly.] Etativel! [It sends her flying upward, away from Kate and now maybe she can actually focus, put a stop to this before the girl does anything even more stupid—

When a flash of blue light blinds her momentarily. Zatanna winces as she looks away, only to turn back a second later to see Billy standing him.

Damn it. She really needs to figure out this teleporting mess.]

Hey, don’t look at me. I was trying to explain what’s going on to her when she started attacking!

Hey! [She watches with shock and more than a little frustration when the girl suddenly flies upward. Seriously, what she wouldn't give for her bow and arrows right about now. Because, ugh, climbing a tree to get at the girl? So not what she wants to do in this shift.

She's still in the midst of figuring out what to do when Billy appears. She laughs and smiles brightly when she sees him.]

Oh god, Billy, I sure am glad to see you. [And then she quickly turns an accusing stare at Zatanna.] Attack you? You're one of the ones that kidnapped me!

[Dammit, girls, stop arguing, he's trying to mediate here.]

Zatanna, come down here and chill out, okay, and Kate, oh my god, just-

[You know what, he can't keep a clear head right now. It's been forever since he saw her, more than a year now, and he honestly can't contain the rush of euphoria now that he has a clear view of her, so that it fully clicks that it's really her, she's really here.

So before he can even finish his sentence, he just goes ahead and closes the distance between them, pulling her into a tight hug.

TIME OUT FOR EMOTIONAL REUNIONS, LADIES]

[Not the right thing to say, Billy. Zatanna frowns down at him, crossing her arms over her chest.] I'm not the one who needs to chill out here. [And she's also not coming down now, just because he said it like that.]

Except I didn't kidnap anyone. That's what I've been trying--

[Oh, but now Billy's hugging the girl. Kate, apparently. Zatanna rolls her eyes, because right now her sympathy is struggling against her frustration and her annoyance at the whole situation. At least what she says next is muttered. Not that she thinks anyone's paying attention to her now anyway, but still.] So I get attacked, and she gets hugs. Today's really going great so far.

[There's a look of perplexity on her face as, rather than helping her take down the floating girl, he hugs her instead. It's reflex that has her hugging him back. What else is she supposed to do?

But even as she hugs him, she nods back towards Zatanna.] Um, Billy? Not that I mind the hug and all but I really don't think now's the time for it.

[Y'know, Witch Girl might just chose to attack or something while neither of them pay attention.]

Shut up and hear me out already, geez...

[Billy's tone is mixed, exasperation and relief vying for control, and after a long moment he pulls back again, though he keeps his hands on her shoulders.]

She's not a threat, okay? That's Zatanna, I know her. She isn't the one who did this to us.

[He glances back over at Zatanna, brows furrowed.]

Sorry about that. It's just a misunderstanding! Will you please come down? No one's gonna attack you again, I promise.

[He gives Kate a pointed (and somewhat pleading) look. Unruffle those feathers, hawklady. Please?]

[Oh, hey, is she being included again? And not as the villain of the week, even. Zatanna's thrilled.]

I kind of figured out that much for myself, given what she's wearing. [But with at least one apology coming from down there, she's willing to put her feet on the ground again. Her arms are still crossed though. She is not a happy magician.]

Word of advice? You might want to listen before you start rushing at people. Not a great way to introduce yourself.

[Feathers far from unruffled (quite literally), Kate turns from Billy to Zatanna. Her arms are crossed over her own chest, an equally disgruntled look on her face. She does not like being lectured.

Especially when Kate totally maintains that she was in the right.]<

And I should have trusted you why?

Um.

[He can't tell if they're just holding a grudge or are about to lunge at each other again. This is a potentially volatile situation here 8( He has way too many kickass female friends.]

Can we all just agree that we shouldn't be fighting now?

Hey, I'm not saying you had to believe me. But you could've at least given me a chance to explain without trying to tackle me. [Well, Zatanna doesn't want to fight. Then again, Kate's the one who started it.]

Besides, I can prove that I'm in the same exact boat you are. I've just been here longer.

[Kate rolls her eyes. Right. Because giving the magician a chance to talk without knowing what side she was on was such a smart idea.]

Sorry if that whole waking up in a forest with strange clothing on threw me for a loop.

[Yeah, so not sorry. But she's being civil. Mostly. For Billy's sake.]

Kate...

[Billy shoots her a long-suffering look, because really, really? He can't blame her for being angry about what's happened here - it's not like he was thrilled his first day, either - but it's never fun when your friends don't get along. Even if it's just a first impression.

He gives his forehead a rub, somehow withholding an exasperated groan, and tries again.]

Okay, uh. From the start. This isn't Earth, this isn't our universe - probably - and we're all stuck here for a while. Welcome to Luceti. [A beat, and then:] Have you noticed the wings yet?

Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t know anything about that—except for the part where I would.

[Seriously? This girl clearly has some anger issues or something going on. The play at civility doesn’t really sit well, and Zatanna is still frowning as Billy tries to explain things. Maybe she’ll start listening now, and noticing that she isn’t the only one with wings around at that.]

[They're control issues, not anger issues, thank you very much.

But whatever because suddenly there are so many more important issues at hand aside from snapping back at Zatana. As soon as Billy mentions the wings, she cranes her head to look behind her. Something had felt strange when she had stood up. But wings?

Purple wings?

It's enough to nearly make her jump backwards as the wings flutter anxiously.]

What the hell?

[Billy winces. It's inevitable, with pretty much every newcomer, but it still sucks to see it happen.]

Yeah, uh- we've all got them. It's a trademark of this world or something. See?

[He pulls his cape aside and lets his own bluejay-patterned wings unfold, fluttering them a bit.]

Be careful with them. They're literally tied to your life.

[And three for three, Zatanna's wings are clearly visible, since she's wearing a tank top.]

You've also got a barcode on the back of your neck, thanks to the Malnosso. Who are the ones responsible for all of us being in Luceti, for the record.

[She glances from Zatanna's wings towards Billy as he moves his cape aside. The bluejay-like wings make her frown and she steps closer to Billy, reaching out as if to touch them.]

Can't you just magic them away?

[Distracted by the wings, she nearly misses Zatanna's comment about barcodes. A second or two later, those words sink in and she turns back to look at her.]

Barcodes?

[Well, so much for easing her into it gently.]

Yeah, um- [Well, shit, he can't even show her his, with his costume on. Too much spandex on the neck. He gives the spot a pat, lips pursing uncomfortably.] I think it's for... tracking us? Or something like that. Magic doesn't work on it, or the wings. But like Zatanna said, the Malnosso are this organization who've stuck us in this big barrier and... they've been running some weird experiments on us.

[Weird-to-confusing-to-terrifying, anyway.]

[Gently went out the door when Zatanna got jumped. :|

But she does remember what it was like to find out all of this stuff. So when Billy brings up the experiments, Zatanna uncrosses her arms with a soft sigh.] Basically it’s insane and wrong in a lot of ways, but right now there’s not much anyone can really do about it. Thankfully most of the people stuck here are really nice and helpful, since we’re all trapped together.

[Wings. Barcodes. Experiments. It's like some sort of fucked up version of a fantasy prison camp. And even as Billy and Zatanna try to be reassuring, Kate wants none of it.

Life's already crazy back home. Seriously. She so does not need any kind of complications.

She lets out a breath and laughs almost dryly.] You guys sure this isn't a bad dream?

[Billy looks sympathetic and pained at the same time; god, does he ever wish that was the case.]

If it was a dream, we'd all be in comas. I've been here for over a year now.

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1st Shot [action/video]

[action] TEAMMATE TO THE RESCUE?

FINALLY

THANKS FOR SHOWING UP, BILLY

COME ON BETTER LATE THAN NEVER RIGHT

LATE :|

SO LATE :|

MAYBE I WAS BUSY 8[[[

NO EXCUSES >:|

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