4505/What Happens at Shadowcrest Stays at Shadowcrest

What Happens at Shadowcrest Stays at Shadowcrest
Date of Scene:	24 May 2018
Location:	Shadowcrest, Bludhaven
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Zatanna Zatara, Ares

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Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Gotham City Nights Presents "Illusions in the Mist" starring the illustrious and incomparable Zatanna, daughter of history's greatest stage magician, the late Giovanni Zatara himself. The posters were everywhere, though they were lefto ddly sparse in detail. A shapely figure cloaked in a roiling mist.

The show itself is packed. Every single was sold in almost record time and everyone is craning, jotling, and mumbling to the people next to them, passing the seconds until the show starts with earnest anticipation. A male voice begins to call out from the speakers arranged around the Opera House.

"There will be no curtains tonight," it proclaims. "What you see is just how it happens. The fog hides many secrets and we hope to share a few of them with you tonight. Please, do not reach out and touch anything you see or else you might break the spells." The mist begins to roll in, not from the stage but from behind the crowd at the locked doors, guarded by silent, stern-faced ushers in the employ of the Opera House. Those young men have vanished entirely from view. The room is cool without being chilly, the temperature seeming to drop several degrees as it fills.

First is a shape. A young woman with long, dark hair, dressed in a frilled blouse, suit coat, tall black top hat and black bikini bottom with her legs seemingly bare. She gestures with a baton through the air and a shape seems to spring from her, dark and round. It transforms into the silhouette of a man leaping through the air in a display of agility.

The show continues like this, as the conjured people dance and circle the crowd while new and more fantastic things seem to appear. There's no table or curtain, so everything is visible - to some degree. But, of course, the low lighting and obscuring fog plays tricks on everyone's eyes. Certainly, this show has an element of the surreal to it. But that is the point.

It ends when Zatanna makes a few broad gestures, drawing out a circle with her baton. The mist falls away and she can be seen stepping through a blazing portal of light. All at once, the darkness in the room is illuminated by this singular source. Streaks of light fly upward like fireworks and the mist vnaishes. One by one, each of the dancers moving through the aisles becomes briefly visible, then vanishes as the light sweeps over them. Then each emerges from behind the stage.

Zatanna and her assistants all take a bow before she, smiling, leads the procession back toward their rooms. But that last act? That was not a trick. It was a fairly powerful display of prepared magic enacted in a crowded room leaving only the most perceptive the wiser of it.

Ares has posed:
Ares, the God of War, was initially at home dealing with his kid son Alexander (phobos)...but something had caught his eye in the news feed. That is, the amazing Zatanna was performing at a -very- luxuriously wealthy theater. Wanting to be relatively entertained with the magicians of today, Ares put Alexander to sleep and in record time, he shapeshifts into a pitch black tuxedo with a dark red tie around his collar. A silver watch adorned his wrist and his hair was well and slicked back.

In an instant, he's managed to arrive at the theater completely unnoticed, fitting in without any kind of doubt from his 'wealthy peers'. It was easy to fit in when all you ahve to do is really just act snobby and like you own the world. Some of these people might as well. Soon enough, Ares has his ticket and he takes a seat near the very front row.

He sees Zatanna's shapely form as she clearly appears to want to be easily identifiable. It was a smart strategy...dress in an eye-catching way, that way nobody will be able to really see the sleight of hand. It helps cover and conceal her actions. Very impressive. The War God keeps his arms crossed with a small grin on his face as he watches the initial performing acts. A very talented performer.

Then...the finale.

He senses that steady build up of actual magic. He almost stands up, but he also is so curious as to want to see the conclusion...plus, he knows this spell isn't meant to harm, but moreso to dazzle and daze. Though Before Zee turned around to head backstage, Ares's eyes locked right onto her...and it's possible she returned the favor. But he claps and stands up when everyone else does! Wunderbar! Wonderful! Bravo!

The shouts are endless. Nevertheless, Ares starts moving through the crowd...wanting to meet this dazzling performer.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The way to Zatanna's room is fortuitously free of interruptions. Other people do walk past but they all seem to be busy with other things, paying attention to clipboards or conversations. He's able to get past the 'No Guests' sign and into the back rooms without very much effort. Zatanna's dressing room is the one at the far end of the hall with the large star on it like something out of 30s movie. The plaque at the center of that star reads 'Zatanna Zatara' and the door is currently ajar just so.

Just before Ares lays a hand on the door itself a rich, smoky alto voice calls out from behind it, "I'm almost finished changing. It'll just be a moment. Mind closing your eyes as you come in?" When Ares does enter there's a screen up that separates him from Zatanna herself. She's just a silhouette on the other side who is apparently in the middle of changing her corset. The woman emerges from behind the partition wearing her corseted blouse, black slacks, and a sharp sports coat that is decidedly less formal than the jacket she wears on stage. No tails. She looks the god over from head to toe in an appraising way.

"I take it you had some questions about the show? Ithought I might see you come this way." There's a hint of amusement in the woman's voice. "Biant that you are you were pretty hard to miss." There's actually an appreciative lilt to the way she says those words. "Zatanna Zatara. Not that you could have missed that. And you are...?"

Ares has posed:
Ares tends to be able to get around pretty easily. Minor uses of illusions is enough to fool the average person extremely easily. With that in mind, when he comes across the big 'ole 80's star that has Zee's name on it? He knows he's in the right place. Easy stuff. Almost insultingly so. Though as he hears the beautiful sound that was Zatanna's voice (yes, even Ares needed a double take), he does in fact close is eyes as Zatanna changes. He's flirty, not rude.

When he finally opens his eyes to see the beautiful Zatanna in front of him, he smiles lightly. "You could say that. I liked your use of wearing quite the attractive outfit. Keeps critical eyes from watching your hands. Excellent sleight of hand use." he praises Zatanna, though he's looking her up and down in an appraising way as well, a warm smile touches his features as Zatanna apparently noticed him. "You flatter me, though I imagine you must have seen about at least 30 other faces who were harder to miss then I." he winks at her lightly, extending a hand for a handshake. "John Aaron. Nice to meet you, Zatanna." if she took his hand for a handshake, he'd try to lift her knuckles to his lips for a flirtatious, but more noble than anything else, kiss of her knuckles. "Quite the finale." Yeah, he spotted it.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna allows her hand to be taken graciously, and even offers Ares an indulgent, wide-eyed smile when he kisses her knuckles. Long lashes flutter slightly and her face lights up with further amusement as she takes back her hand. "It's nothing my father couldn't have done better," Zee admits with respect ott he compliment, though her expression is both self-assured and elated to hear the man's words. "But I think I manage to do t with just a bit more flare."

With those words Zatanna steps around Ars to reach out and press the door shut before turning to face him. She takes a deep breath, her top just a little on the tight side - a hint really, as the ruffles hide anything that might be considered overt. "I promise there wasn't anyone in that crowd who was as eyecatching as you." The amusement ripples across red-painted lips and she wiggles just a little bit, like a child barely containing a secret.

"First of all," Zee begins in that throaty, luxuriously resonant voice she's no doubt spent years in cultivating. "You're the tallest man in the theatre. Broad shoulders... A handsome face. It would be impossible to look anywhere else, I think." She pauses there for a second, lips lightly parted as she considers what to say next and dangles the words just out of reach.

"But more importantly, you've enough magic for a hundred shows like this one. I'm glad you saw the finale. Would have been a waste for you to miss it." Zatanna gives him a broad wink at that. She sashays past then, hips swaying lightly as she moves to the makeup dresser and vanity mirror to begin rifling through her lipstick. She leans over the counter with no real mind to the fact Ares is just behind her as she admires her reflection.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, John. How is it this is the first time? I thought I knew just about everyone like you."

Ares has posed:
Ares was watching her body language. VERY flirtatious, yet also with a tint of playfulness, yet seriousness in her tone as she sashayed around John, giving him a full once over. Of course, he only became that tall just so he can see clearly (and successfully intimidate a nerdy guard). As soon as he's reminded that he's still about 6'9" tall, he chuckles. "Oh, forgive me." and with a simple twitch of his finger, he becomes a more reasonable 6'3. "Better? Sometimes hiding isn't quite my forte." a wink.

He notices how -tight- her clothes are, and it's a hint well recieved. though he's rather flattered, he chuckles. "Perceptive, perceptive. I had a feeling that I was right when I decided to come to the show." he approaches Zatanna from behind, but not too close, though she will definitely be able to see Ares giving her a full glance. Yes, she's beautiful, yes, he's 'admiring god's creation' as it were.

"Well, I tend not to go to these shows. Either the magicians have too much flare around poor tricks or they simply cheat with magic. You, on the other hand...were a very healthy mixture of both. Besides, I needed to see what all the fuss was about." a little smile for her then.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Stage magic is an art all its own. For the most part, I try to keep real magic out of it." There's tahat smile again, but a little broader this time, and it lingers as Zatanna turns back toward Ares to survey him once more. "Less... Conspicuous," she considers after a second. "But actually, being seven feet tall was a bit promising. It suits you."

Zatanna takes another deep breath then and starts past Ares with a slight strut to her step. It's pure confidence, the slight sway in her step, the cant of her hip. She knows Ares is looking and doesn't mind at all, but it's not going to keep her from moving on. It's an open question, then. Will he follow?

"The fuss is because people don't know the real thing when they see it," Zee murmurs as she's walking away. She'll soon be out of conversational range if Ares allows it. "But in your case it's because you *do*."

Zatanna is headed toward the back parking lot, stepping out into a moonless Gotham night without a care for either the chill weather or the sudden darkness. She doesn't even look back.

Ares has posed:
Ares seems to chuckle very lightly as Zatanna appraises him again, but seems to prefer him at his usual 7 ft tall monster of a man. Cracking his neck lightly, he'll actually turn on his heel to follow Zatanna as she walks out into Gotham's dark knight. Staying right on her heels, he gives her a more flirtatious smile as he watches how she walks. Confident. Practiced. She didn't care who was watching.

Ares liked this one.

Shrugging lightly, Ares speaks once more. "As it stands in the world, few do. The world has become ignorant, but even a critic can decipher an 'impossible' magic if he looks at the big picture instead of each individual puzzle piece." a little metaphor, but nonetheless, he might actually end up walking her home if she's content to remain with John tonight.

"So then, Zatanna, what's next for you tonight?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I was thinking of going out and getting myself a drink, to be honest," Zee replies somewhat lazily as Ares follows her out to the dark lot out behind the building. "There's so much more to the world than just what people see in front of their eyes. My shows are only one example. The spells that wreath you are another..." Zatanna flashes Ares another smile, turning to look back at him briefly.

"But to be honest, sometimes a little bit of sensory alteration simply good sense." With a laugh Zatanna makes a broad circular gesture. "Ekat em s'inaviog!" A doorway, shimmering in smoke appears to lead to a well-appointed, upper class lounge, likely somewhere in Manhattan. The view appears to be through an open door from some back room. Zatanna shrugs as she moves to step through.

"Coming along? I wouldn't mind a bit of company if you'd like to talk shop."

Ares has posed:
With a bit of a laugh, Ares smiles lightly. "A drink sounds pretty lovely. Though I warn you, I'm a heavyweight if you're looking to get me drunk under the table." he keeps next to Zatanna with a little wink as she draws him a smile. Her beautiful pearly whites just as infectious as her laughter is. Talk about charisma...nevertheless, he simply watches as she crafts her magic, opening a doorway to apparently Giovanni's.

He knows and understands basic logomancy such as that, and as she apparently invites him for a drink with her, Ares knows this will likely be one of his better nights for various reasons. "Why not? I rather enjoy the company of a lovely lady such as yourself." and he walks through the portal and stands next to Zatanna, offering the woman his hand and arm to walk with her. Plus it should help keep creepy perverts off her back if she accepts.

"So then...what made you want to be a magic performer? A magician, certainly, most often it happens by way of bloodline descent or coming across a tome accidentally..or being a fool and selling your soul. But...why a magic performer?" he asks her curiously. A real smile on his face as he looks her in the eyes.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"You've never heard of my father?" Zatanna asks curiously as he accepts Ares's arm and they proceed together through the portal. It is an expertly crafted transportation, with barely a twinge to be felt - unlike most teleportation, some of which would make a mortal quite ill. One might as well be stepping over a cold threshold and into... A bar.

The place is much as it looked through the portal. A lush lounge where the drinks are martinis or wine and the bartender is a tall, slender man, slightly bent with age, with white hair and a curiously knowing smile. He nods once when Zatanna enters but he doesn't actually look up. Judging by the milk white of his eyes he is probably blind.

Somehow, there are two drinks on the bar. Zatanna moves toward it and collects her martini, olive and all. Ares's drink will be to his taste as well, whatever that entails. "Zatara was the most famous stage magician of an age. He was the Harry Houdini of the new millennium. Heard of him?" There's a teasing grin to follow that question and soften her incredulity.

"He felt the best way to hide magic was in plain sight. So he did. Stage magicians have often been real magicians trying to make a living from their magic without doing naything - too- dangerous." She gives a slight shrug then, turning slightly so that she can properly look up into Ares' eyes once more.

"So... It runs in the family. Literally. My cousin isn't even twenty yet and he's got a Youtube series going..." Zatanna shrugs slightly. "And you? I recognize a hint of ancient Greek contagion when I see it, but it seems like you've studied more than that. A fan of the classics?"

Ares has posed:
Ares turns his head to Zatanna as she asks him if he's heard of her father. "I've heard of him, I just never cared to see any of his shows, so I never saw fit to see if he was performing actual magic or was simply someone who was rather good at sleight of hand." a small shrug as he walks with Zatanna arm in arm. Though he notices the bartender is blind, more than likely this place isn't exactly what one would call...normal. His drink ends up simply being a red wine.

His body shifts so that he's facing Zatanna, a chuckle as she asks him if he knows Harry goddamned Houdini. Boy, does Ares have a few stories there, and his relavent smirk would easily reveal that. "Yeah, you could say that." What is he hiding? He could be an immortal maybe? Not uncommon in the wizarding world, but various forms can be rare.

Though once he hears Zatanna's reasoning, he offers a small smile and he nods a few times. "So I see. It makes sense. I recall advising a young sorcerer to take his talents to a stage where nobody would be none the wiser, thinking it to be only very wise parlor tricks. I was declined, but who knows whath is future holds. A clever plan, indeed."

ah, well she got it right that he's very much so Greek. must be the jawline. "You would be correct on that matter...though these days I'm more of a dabbler in magic." a grin as he looks her in the eyes, a free hand moving as if flirtatiously to draw her closer to him, inch by subtle inch. What? she was gorgeous with a strong sense of humor with confidence of the world. He was gonna -at least try-.

"Though...you're knowledge, I sense, is immense. Though you hide it well."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna takes the bait, it seems. She shifts closer, in ch by inch, as Ares moves to draw her in, her body weight shifting until bare inches separate the two of them. Blue eyes study Ares's gaze intensely, an eyebrow lofting as she hears what the god has to say to her.

"You're right," Zee acknowledges without preamble or dithering. "I don't like to share it around but it's rare that I meet anyone near my own level of skill. Most people don't have the ability to study to that degree... But you, John." Zatanna clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth."

"Are we trading in secrets then?" Zee reaches up with her right hand and extends her index finger to show off perfectly painted red nails. She lifts it until she is able to tap gently on Ares's bottom lip. Then draws her hand downward, tracing along his chin, his jaw, all the way to his threat. "Something you're hoping to learn? Because if you call that dabbling then I can only imagine what you are capable of, John."

For a moment Zatanna is silent then, red lips lightly pursed so that they form a bow,leaning forward with her back lightly arched as she meets Ares's eyes. "Who are you really?" She ask then, still smiling faintly. "If not who, what? I won't tell anyone if you don't."

Ares has posed:
'John Aaron' looks at Zatanna as she inches closer and closer to him until they are almost dangerously close. His own crystal clear blue eyes lock onto Zatanna's with that soft smile on his face. Nevertheless, as she tells him that they are apparently trading secrets, John cannot help but laugh. "To be fair, you were sharing secrets completely of your own free will. Though, because of that, I must now trade in my secrets?" a smile as she uses her womanly charm to do just that with the War God.

The feel of her index finger as it moves along his bottom lip...down his chin...and to his throat. He doesn't stop her. "My dear, I haven't even performed any -real- magic yet. Just adjusted my height some." he teases very lightly, though as she leans forward with that perfect arch to her back, John takes a deep breath. "Very well. Ask, and you will recieve."

he makes her wait about five solid seconds before he speaks. "I am Ares. Son of Zeus and Hera. God of War, Conflict, Bloodlust...generally anything having to do with violence of any sort." He waits to her her reaction. "I am where I am because I knew magic when mankind first discovered fire." he teases her very softly, smiling to her. "Now then...don't tell anyone." he puts his own index finger to her lips, his eyes alluring as he lets his aura shine. It might be overwhelming.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
For an instant Zatanna's eyes widen and it appears that aura might indeed be too much for her. She inahles sharply, a gasp of surprise, but then self-control asserts itself and a small warding follows, just enough to let her withstand the effects of his power crashing down upon her. It doesn't stop Zatanna from placing a palm against Ares's chest since he is so close to her. There's no retreat, just amusement and delight in the woman's eyes.

"I* didn't say all of that, Ares," Zatanna replies gently. "I didn't really tell you any secrets either. The homo magi know exactly who I am if you care to ask them and I doubt many would even consider resisting you." The woman seems comfortable enough to remain like this, her eyes on his. "I thought you were something special, but a god...? Well." She pauses for a second.

"I did promise you a secret. Let's see..." Zee pauses for a second, pursing her lips and adjusting her shoulders from left to right as if invisibly weighing to options in front of her. "I," Zatanna begins. "Am a size 36C. The corset really flatters my figure, don't you think?" She pauses for a second before breaking into soft laughter. "Or did you mean something magical? ... Mmm. The God of War and Violence. Hopefully none planned for tonight?"

Ares has posed:
Ares smiles softly to her, knowing full well that his aura alone was likely a troublesome thing for Zatanna to deal with. Nonetheless, her palm upon his chest causes his head to lean in just a little bit closer to Zatanna, his free hand starting to snake itself around the woman's waist to return every flirtation she happens to be giving him. A homo magi? Well...that shit makes sense. Naturally gifted spellcasters. Safe to assume she comes from a long line.

"A secret was indeed promised." he smiles softly to her, though when she apparently mentions the size of her....womanly wares, he seems to actually blush for a faint moment, but he manages to contain himself. "It's quite flattering." to be playful, he openly stares at her chest. "Rather impressive as well." his eyes shift back to hers, winking as he listens.

"No. I haven ot planned such for...decades, now. No, for tonight?" He'll pull her softly towards him so that they are just a little bit more than chest to chest. Or at least he'll try to. "I'd like to spend time with Zatanna Zatara, doing whatever she likes." He's not very forward when it comes to flirtation, but he doesn't mince words either.

Nonetheless, it's very clear that she's even able to charm Ares himself.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Whatever she likes?" Zatanna asks in an impish tone, he eyes alight with mirth. She nods once, her long dark hair bouncing as she does so. "It's a bargain, God of War," the woman announces then, a coquettish grin on her lips. She straightens then and takes both of Ares's hands into her own.

An hour later.

"How was I supposed to know that was going to happen? That artifact has been trapped in their since my Great Grandfather owned this place." Zatanna is breathing heavily, gesturing with her wand as she speaks. There is the fresh gleam of perspiration on her forehead and she gesticulates manically to the room around her.

"Father's kept that thing under loc kand key for ages. I figured that it wouldn't be able to smite you, being a God and all. The poison spitting lizard monster, fine. And even the skeletons. But spiders, John? Why on earth did it have to send spiders?" The woman shakes her head heavily. The aforementioned spider monsters are indeed here, though now since deceased and rapidly dematerializing back to their aetheric constituent components. Mere constructs, then.

They are standing in a library full of books and artifacts. A miniature portal to a possible hell dimension in a snow globe, books that turen themselves to pages of their own accord. All manner of artifice and magic is here. Zatanna indicates it all vaguely and announces with a shake of her head, "Welcome to Shadowcrest. Sorry about the exciting welcome. You did say anything."

Ares has posed:
"Whatever she likes." The War God echoes as she gives him that look. Normally they would go out on a date or even sit on the couch with wine in hand, giving each other looks of mischief for the future.

HAH! funny.

Nope, instead it was running through a probably evil mansion known as shadowcrest as they apparently decided to try and find the motherlode of magic knowledge. Ares wasn't even winded, doing much of the actual physical work, though he looks at Zatanna like mild annoyance was on his features, shaking his head. "Perhaps...but was the dragon really necessary?" he cracks his neck lightly. It was good exercise for someone who hasn't been actively at war in a while. But even with time, those skills never truly leave you.

Looking back to Zatanna as he stands up straight. "I suppose my words come back once again to bite me....though, I would ask for a reward." Since he never really cared too much about spell tomes, since his structure isn't God of Magic. Instead, he walks over to Zatanna and tries to steal a kiss from her lips! If successful, he'll smile. "Now it's worth it." and He'll look at the grand library before them.

Hey...he -had- to at least -try-.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Zatanna does give Ares the favour of a small kiss, more promise and the scent of her- something spiced and fragrant - then anyhting long and drawn out. A true hero's reward -s omething to entice them to come back. She looks out at the library as well, nodding as she does.

"Dragons I can deal with. Next time, I think I'll leave the genies alone. Who knew?" Zee stands comfortably close to Ares while she surveys the Great Library in turn. "This is home. The wards won't bite you since I let you in but I wouldn't recommend searching the place out on your own." With a laugh she starts toward the far side of the room with that familiar, sensual gait.

"I do, however, have a lovely bottle of red wine set aside for special occasions and a nice fire to sit by... Since we've had our exercise."