14908/A Lucky Find

A Lucky Find
Date of Scene:	08 April 2023
Location:	The Magic Box, Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Clark Kent asked Harry to be on the look out for Zatanna. Fortune favored him with a chance meeting at The Magic Box.
Cast of Characters:	Harry Dresden, Zatanna Zatara

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Firestar (1014) has posed:
She came to visit. She gets a part time job and a place to sleep. Scratch two problems off the list. At least now she can focus on getting ready for the new semester and NYU. She has her phone out and is sending a message to someone. She is sitting on the low dive board and just enjoying a little relief from a few concerns.

Emma Frost (113) has posed:
Emma comes down from the mansion in an exquisite two-piece bathing suit, all in white, trimmed in rhinestones that sparkle like the diamonds of which she is sometimes made. Her hair is carefully coiffed and scooped up under a cap to keep it from getting wet as she makes her way towards the pool, padding shamelessly in bare feet. The asphalt is warm, the sun beating down on it. Spring has finally sprung and Emma is quite pleased about it.

""Well, well - Angelica. It's been some time. I'm pleased to see you looking so well," she says cautiously as she sees the redhead. "Have you come to be amongst Xavier's group of little heroes?"

Firestar (1014) has posed:
There is a mild twitch when she hears the voice. Nothing overly obvious, but not terribly subtle either. Her phone gets one last glance and she locks the screen. She doesn't stand yet, instead she finally looks towards the sound of Emma's voice. She doesn't look angry, but rather resigned to some sort of fated situation.

Finally she rises, mostly a polite gesture. It might be a little forced as well, but she replies,"Ms. Frost. You are looking well." she replies,"I will be staying here for a time. I am starting NYU in the fall. Ms. Grey is going to let me stay here for a while and assist teaching with the Physics professor."

Emma Frost (113) has posed:
Emma Frost smiles slightly, her lips a shining, glossy pink - she might have had a little collagen done - putting a hand on her hip, "So formal. You may call me Emma, if you like, you've known me long enough. And you're all grown now. Very nicely, too, from the looks of things," she says.

"I never had an issue with your abilities, darling. I'm sure you'll excel. I just wanted you to have a little bit more of a...killer instinct. You're just so sweet. Well, you were. I at least got your anger to come to the surface towards ONE person," she says with a smirk as she goes to select a chair to lay out in.

"Don't suppose you're feeling beneficent enough to help oil me up, dear? It's so terribly sunny today."

Firestar (1014) has posed:
It is warm out today. The sun is indeed making it so. When she tells her to call her Emma, that slides. She narrows her eyes a little when she talks about the killer instinct. The sun is no longer the hot thing in the area as Angelica anger is stroked,"You want to see killer instinct? You want to see what you taught me, what Alpha Flight honed after you?"

As Emma turns to go, Angelica shifts into Firestar's costume in an instant, the clothes falling away. She leaves the ground and flies to Emma, Angelica hooking her arms under Emma's armpits and flying up. Straight up. Fast. Faster than Emma has seen from her,"Your training made me able to resist mental powers like yours and other telepaths, especially when the radiation really opens."

She looks towards the sky and smiles,"You can survive out of atmosphere right? You diamond form. I mean if you really want to see what you released I want to do it outside the atmosphere where I don't have to hold back."
One thing about her, she is more grim and aggressive than Emma has ever seen in the past.

Emma Frost (113) has posed:
Emma Frost finds herself seized and taken upwards faster than she would have expected. For all she's surprised, though, she remains cool and untouched on the surface, her porcelain face smug and delighted.

"Oh my. You really have blossomed. I'm delighted to see it, darling. Yes, I could probably survive that high. And, whatever preparations you've been given, I wouldn't taunt so flagrantly. Challenging a skilled telepath to get past your shields is essentially asking to be burgled," she teases.

"But you're very strong and very fit and very impressive. Consider me impressed. Did you actually want to fight or did you just want to make a point?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Wandering through the Magic Box, Harry collects a few ingredients and generally keeps to himself. Most people tend to give the overly tall and somwehat unsettling wizard. Something about the primal powers makes him stand out, ever in this place. Maybe more so. Taking down a book and thumbs through it thougtfully.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The little bell over the door chimes in that pristine way that non-magical folk might find 'charming' and magical types are aware is used as just one part of protection measures. The clarion sound is intolerable to many otherworldly beasts. But it is no otherworldly being that steps through the door: it is Zatanna Zatara, Mistress of Magic.

Zee is not attired as most tend to recognize her: no fishnets in attendance today. That said,she still doesn't necessarily *blend in*. Slim-fit black slacks tuck into a pair of heeled black ankle boots in sharp contrast to the white bodice that leaves an expanse of smooth skin capped by a simple black choker. Her hair is, as it often is, left free to fall in a wave of black down her back.

Once inside and the beat taken for eyes to adjust, she immediately angles towards a table of 'recent arrivals' all the while whistling some nonsense, but jaunty tune.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry doesn't look her way at first. He is still reading his book and thus far everything is calm in the little magic shop. He turns a page, frowns at something he reads, and fianlly sighs as he puts the book back on the shelf. He gathers his desired purchases and starts towards the cash register.

It is that he notices the new arrival. He gives her a cursory once over and moves his attention towards the counter again. Something behind his eyes clicks, he blinks, and turns his attention towards her again. He takes out a picture from his duster pocket and compares the picture to the new arrival. He frowns and mutters,"There is no way it could be that easy."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
But it could! After all, eldritch types need supplies and supplies mean shopping.

And Amazon does not deliver to Shadowcrest (it did once but it turned out to be a homo magi descendent entirely unaware of his ancestry).

Zatanna continues whistling, circling the table and picking up this or that trinket before putting them back down and moving on. Eventually, she departs the table of "new" (or at least "Oh god we have too much of this in the back please sell it for the love of god") items and moves to a nearby bookshelf, fingertip lightly grazing the titles as she skims through them. Whether looking for something in particular or no, she does at least seem intent on reading the spines of each... or looking at the book more intently when the spine is bare of title.

Harry Dresden has posed:
He watches her interested a moment, not looking directly at her face. He sets the book aside and walks towards the woman. He looks at the picture once more and decides to commit to the idea,"I am sorry to bother you, but that's what I am paid for." he introduces in his way,"I was approached by Clark Kent to locate this woman." He presents a picture to her, showing her in her fishnets from a show in the past months.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
A book is taken down and Zatanna flips through it checking a few pages here and there. Satisfied, she tucks it under her arm. Based on the cover and the spine text, it seems to be a book relating to divination - specifically in relation to divining events of the past. She's about to step away and make for the table displaying various crystals and other magically-charged stones when Dresden crosses her path. His initial greeting causes an eyebrow to arch.

The mention of Clark Kent causes her *other* eyebrow to arch. When he shows her the photo, she clears her throat: "If Mr. Kent would like my autograph, I am happy to provide one." There's something almost too-light in her tone; she's feeling the situation out.

Harry Dresden has posed:
@
"I can't speak to the idea that he wants your autograph. He asked me to look out for you. I have his contact information if you would rather contact him yourself." he replies,"I can tell him I saw you as he didn't ask me to do anything more than find you."

He offers her a business card, it gives her his name and address. It also indicates that he is a private investigator and wizard. He is used to all sorts of weird reactions to the card so he just waits to see how she takes that.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Both would be fine," Zatanna says in an absent-minded tone of voice as she digs into the purse she has with her. Informing Kent and providing her the contact information. When she surfaces, it's with a business card of her own.

Realizing they've extended the relatively archaic items at the same time, Zee's mouth quirks slightly in a smile. She takes the card he offers while allowing him to accept hers in return. Blue eyes take a moment to skim the details. There's a quirk of brow and: "Wizard? Was '#1 PI' too cliche?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
He takes the card she offers with a hint of a smirk. He reads it a moment and admits,"I didn't think many people other than me still used business cards." he admits. He puts it into his coat pocket and nods to her comment.

"Not too many people want to pay the wizard if they can avoid it, but the private investigator is at least something I can take legal action against if the services are refused. Plus...I really don't know what else I can do considering the level of disater that follows me where technolgy is concerned."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I paid for them a while back and honestly, it's still easier than trying to find a pen or making sure someone keys in a number correctly." Zatanna doesn't seem flustered by having the piece of cardboard. She does tuck his away, leaning back on her heels in the wake of it.

A further furrow of brow as he alludes to issues with technology. "So you believe yourself to... actually be a wizard? It's not just a marketing gimmick?" It's not that Zee -- for obvious reasons -- disbelieves in magic. It's more that meeting other adepts is so very, very rare for her.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"It is definately easier than always looking for a pen and like a said, no cell phone so..." he shrugs and listens to her question and he nods,"No gimmick. I am in the Yellow Pages and the power that I carry is the reason that electronic things can't be around me. I live without electricity, air conditioning, and I drive an old Volkswagon that only mostly survives exposure to me."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Uh...huh." Zatanna seems a mixture of interested and distracted; likely wracking her brain for other examples of such. She finally shakes her head slightly. "Can't say I've ever heard of that before: magic that interferes with technology." Crossing one arm over her chest, she balances the other elbow across it; fingers curling against her cheek, index finger slowly tapping away at her temple.

"Are you a metahuman? Some of them have... odd side effects and detriments to their powers and some certainly have had powers that *look* like magic."

Harry Dresden has posed:
He manages a hint of a smile as he is used to skepticism. A shake of his head,"Nothing meta about me. I just spents hours, upon days, upon months, upon years of studying. A lot of books and focus."

It takes him a moment of thought and says,"Imagine the deepest, darkest, most primal energy from the beginning of time. Now set it loose in a cell phone store or in a parking garage of computer controlled cars. This energy strikes out at things it doesn't recognize. If you really want to see what my power does come to my lab or meet me away from town and I will try to come up with something high tech enough that I don't burn out just touching it."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Curious." Zatanna gives another small shake of her head; bemused and bewildered. "I am not unfamiliar with primal things. Swamp Thing, for example." She tilts her head left, right left; mentally accounting others who she would consider 'primal energy' or wielders thereof.

When Harry mentions going to his lab or outside town, she gives a bit of a smile: one that just pulls the left corner of her lips upward somewhat. A smirk, yes, but a gently amused one. Her intended purchase is set aside and she rifles around in her bag again to pull forth a key: one that's just, on the surface, a simple skeleton key. Made less impressive, really, by the fluffy white bunny keychain it dangles from.

"Howabout my place."

Harry Dresden has posed:
One think about him, he's forthright. He doesn't have a problem backing up what he says,"I have never met the Swamp Thing, but I think Bob mentioned him once in passing." he muses thoughtfully. He looks at the key she produces and his head tilts to one side as well, his eyebrow raising a little, his face might show just a little amusement.

He shrugs as she offers her place to go and see what he means,"If you are OK with it. Why not?" he replies. He isn't usually the most talkative of sorts, but talking shop with someone that seems to maybe be a little hesitant can be entertaining,"One thing about it, I am a detective so I am not rich. I hope you have somewhere we can not mess up your entire home."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I promise, Shadowcrest will survive." Zatanna turns to lead out to the street as she speaks, head turned just slightly to keep him appropriately in the conversation. "Swamp Thing is a lovely person, so long as you aren't harming the land in any way. And it can be beneficial to have an ally who is connected to every green thing on Earth." Though she's being a little more forthright still, there's still an edge of disbelief as to the level of destruction or risk that his magic might present.

At the door, she... inserts the key, turns it, and there's -- to the magically inclined -- a sense of something *shifting*. When she opens the door, it's not to the street beyond but rather to an immense foyer; dark in the way of older structures with extensive wood and limited lighting. She just gestures to Harry to precede her and if he does, she'll pocket the key, follow him through, and close the door.

The Magic Box door leads in and out appropriately once more. The foyer is a long gallery with a massive staircase leading to the second floor. Visible easily, through broad doors, is a library and a dining hall. Everything has that 'period' feel from when such a place would be built, but is in pristine condition. The antiques and artwork that tastefully decorate the place are all kept in clean order. "Welcome to Shadowcrest," she announces, with a small little smile that says she's expecting *some* sort of reaction.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Considering the survival of a home with a name like that, Harry seems to be a little more at ease than he was before. He frowns thoughtfully and brings out an older pocket tape recorder and removes the cassette. A nod says that will do.

When she opens the door he raises a brow and go through when she indicates. He looks around the area and mutters softly,"A pocket dimension or something more?" Safe to say he felt something." The area does indeed get a response as he nod appreciating what he sees.

Her welcoming him turns his attention towards her and he nods,"Thank you. This place is very impressive." he admits. He pushes his duster sleeve back a little, the hairs on his arm standing up,"It's been a while since I have seen anything equal to it."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Not a pocket dimension. We're in Avalon." And by the no-nonsense tone of voice, she means yes, *that* Avalon. Of Merlin fame. Zatanna sets her purse down on a table near the door and takes in a deep breath. That sort of... homecoming. "This is where it is anchored, but... it can be accessed from other places. When it wills it and when you know how to get here. There is a veil, so non-magical types don't wander in." Except for the rare who has a spark of magic and stumbles in accidentally.

"I inherited it from my father." Giovanni Zatara, a rather famous stage magician in his own right. She strides further in and nods down a hallway branching off of the gallery. "Many have practiced their magic here... including myself. There are wards in the basement and-" a slight grin. "No priceless works of art."

Harry Dresden has posed:
He looks around the place again,"Avalon." he repeats thoughtfully when he studies the area. That does spark more interest,"The home of the original Merlin. I have met several of his descendents that hold the mantle now." he muses thougtfully.

"A safer place to practice. It's been a while since...well I learned on an old farm with the Blackstaff. The White Council of wizards lethal enforcer. I wasn't aware of that at the time." He frowns thoughtfully and sets the tape recorder on the surface of a table and pulls his pentacle necklace from under his shirt. He mutters something softly and the pentacle glows blue, the tape recorder sizzles a little and begins to smoke almost instantly. He looks at her and shrugs,"That's the more basic way it happens. I can use magic to strike technology down that might resist if I want to."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I imagine the man has many descendents, from stories I've heard." Zatanna can't quite suppress a grin as she says this. Instead, she watches his work with the pentacle, gaze shifting toward the recorder on the table. Approaching it, she picks it up and purses her lips to gently blow away the smoke. "Wild," she says, turning it over in her hands. "I'd offer to repair it but I'd have to... understand what even happened."

The device is set back down gently. "If you would like, you are welcome to peruse the library." There's a nod in that direction and even though the closed doors, he can likely sense the magical power that emanates from within. "The books," she clarifies. "The artifacts in there are primarily for safe-keeping."

After a moment, a thought comes to her: "Does even so small a display take down all technology? Or must it scale? Like, could you stop a robot just by using your magic?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Merlin is a rank within the White Council of Wizards. The original Merlin was the first to wear it." he replies. He shakes his head and looks at the smoking recorder,"It was old and the pick ups was wearing out. I need to find another, but not something newer. I will hit the pawn shops to find that."

He looks towards the library and she can tell that he is very interested in the possibility of looking over the library. It is hard to not see something like that after all. He will likely take her up on that.

"The newer the tech the easier to destroy." he replies,"Sometimes I can get away with using power without destroying things. It does always happen, but after a while to default to the idea of it will and so you steer clear where you can. I don't control when it happens, but I can mimic the effect if I want to. I can hex down the tech even if it doesn't just smoke out the the presence of the power."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Newer or more advanced?" Zatanna does seem to showcase some pity, but mostly an academic fascination. "For example, which would be more affected: one of those brick cellphones from the 80s or those little cellphones they make for kids that have like, 3 buttons so they can only call pre-set numbers?"

Then, something dawns on her that furthers the pitying side of things: "Oh my god you can't watch cat videos can you?" One of life's greatest pleasures!

Harry Dresden has posed:
"The older the technology, the less likely I will damage it." he replies,"So neither are likely to survive around me for long, but the older one will last longer than the newer one. I wuit trying to have one pretty early on. I have an old school house phone at the office, that's pretty much it."

Her comment about cat videos draws a soft laugh and he shakes his head,"Not too many cat videos. I do have a cat, maybe to be accurate the cat has me it seems. He is rarely dull and rules the house despite the size of the dog."

He frowns at something and says,"There is something. I don't like doing it. You probably noticed I don't keep your gaze long. There is a reason for that. If I do it opens a soul gaze. There is nothing you don't know about me and vice versa. You never forget it either. Ever. I don't like doing it lightly."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"What a shame. Sleeping in on a Sunday and watching cat videos while you doze is one of life's greatest pleasures." Zatanna tsks slightly, clasping hands behind her back. As Dresden continues, she looks somewhere past him and nods at... someone? Something?

Her attention comes back rather quickly when he mentions this 'soul gaze.' "Mind magic," she says simply, voice dipping into something more serious. "I am aware of it. I have some talent at it, but I avoid it except when necessary. It is... wrong, in a deep, primal way to mess with someone's mind." Her voice dips to something that speaks of remorse as she gestures for him to follow - not to the library, but the parlor where... a shimmering, almost ghostly figure is currently setting up tea.

"I've done it when necessary. There are things people should never suffer remembering. But I don't do it lightly." And before any concern can be expressed: "One of the house's... avatars, you could say. I hate the term servant. The house manifests what it or I need. Even with magic, there's no way I'd keep this place clean by myself."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"
She makes with the jokes. Sleeping in. I have heard of this thing you speak of, but I don't think I have ever experienced it." he quips. When she nods past him he turns as well. Not that he is overly concerned. If she wanted trouble she could have caused it already,"It is mind magic in a way." he agrees,"It connects everything though, the wizards call it a 'soul gaze' and there is more than just what you are physically. I entered a gaze with a criminal in the past. I saw his past, understood the corruption of his soul, and never can forget the degree of evil that he hides from the world."

Her gesture gets a nod and he goes where she indicates. Normally he is a ladies first sort of guy, but this is her house and there are certain circumstances that have to be observed. He studies the shimmering figure thoughtfully.

"Most people avoid the 'soul gaze', this guy engaged me on purpose. That should give you an idea what he is capable of and what he might do." A nod in agreement,"I never was fond of that term either. Possibly not for the same reason. I hate cleaning house as well. If it wasn't connected to my office it would probably be in far worse shape."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Everyone needs to sleep in sometimes. Even when I have a packed performance schedule, I make sure I sleep." Zatanna follows him into the parlor and takes a seat, reaching for the pot of tea set for t hem, pouring two cups. "Mostly because I never know what might come my way. The last thing I want is to be running on fumes and have the Justice League call because they need help with an interdimensional being." Tea poured, she slides the cup on its saucer toward him.

There are bookshelves in the parlor, but nothing magical beyond biographies, histories, and other more mundane things. Books you could even trust a Muggle with. Though many are first editions and some look quite old.

"I have found that evil runs quite a broad spectrum. There is human evil and human evil is often sympathetic. The proverbial man who steals for his family and yes, even the murderer who was pushed to his limit." Once she's added some sugar to her tea, she leans back and blows gently across the surface to cool it. "And then there is true evil. Creatures that do not think or reason as we do. They may emulate it well: they may speak English, look human, but nothing about them actually *is* human. Some humans come close to this, also, but usually through such extreme situations and means that it is... strangely understandable."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"I would like to do that sometime. Sleep past noon." he admits and takes the tea,"Thank you." he comments as he does. He blows the steam off as well, then sips it gingerly,"I would hate to be too tired for the bad things, it just seems to be inevitable that is what will happen when I start dealing with things."

He looks around the room once he is settled. His duster slides off his shoulders and rests on the back of the chair. He considers what she says,"Magic is as much about the intent of the user as well as it is the power." he agrees,"There are exceptions. Constructs that are evil enough to make the best of people do the worst of things." His face winces at the thought of that one. Experience really bites it seems.

"Demons, vampires, shapeshifters, and other things you don't speak of if you are smart are everywhere you look. Just under the surface. You are aware of that. Some can be almost human in behavior and intent. Like you said, the worst ones are out there though and they want to take over the world." he continues,"Me, I don't want to live in a world where the strong rule and the weak cower. I'd rather make a place where things are a little quieter. Where trolls stay the hell under their bridges and where elves don't come swooping out to snatch children from their cradles. Where vampires respect the limits, and where the faeries mind their p's and q's."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Thankfully, groups like the Justice League allow those things. If I had to face everything I have alone, I'm not sure I'd have survived." Particularly some situations. "Knowing there are people who have my back, even if it's just to hold something off long enough for me to be ready? It's vital, I think." In her first display of *personal* magic, she gestures and sends her tea cup and saucer back to the table with a touch of telekinesis... with just a bit of a rattle.

"I'd hate to think what I might do if I were too tired or in too much pain. A slurred word or a forgotten one could be disastrous and hurt more than it saves." Yes, Zee is a strong proponent of a good night's sleep and eating healthy.

"As for a... so-called perfect world, they exist. I've seen various dimensions, from places that make the Christian concept of hell look like a five-star hotel to places that seem like paradise and..." Zee shakes her head slightly. "There's no place quite like home and... ridiculous as it is, I think there are those of us who are destined for the fight. Batman, for example. If you've ever interacted with him, you know- he is a man who *needs* conflict. It is as much a part of him as magic is you or me."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"I have my own...Justice League if you will." he replies,"A half brother of questionable morals and his own power, a best friend who wields one of the most powerful swords in the history of time and lives as a modern day knight, he has two allies as well each with their own weapon." he admits,"They tell me I have a girlfriend that is a local cop with Bludhaven that has left the area, but something has grabbed that part of my memory. Several people around here are losing memories, one of them being a former ally as well." he explains to her,"We have saved each others lives many time over. They are less my Justice League and more a family."

He shrugs and admits,"Sometimes I use pain, discomfort, and high emotions to fuel magic. I get it. I haven't seen a lot of dimensions, but there were a few. I have been on the otherside, walking in the NeverNever among the fae folks. That can be it's own Hell all by itself." He takes another sip of his tea and admits,"Tell me, are you good at making people talk magically, your home, or just you in general?"

He shakes his head,"I have never met Batman, but I have heard he is pretty intense. Mission driven or something. It's been a while since I was told and I might have been too tired to pay that close attention."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I know Bludhaven fairly well," Zatanna says, sympathy rife in her voice. "I can keep an ear out, if you don't mind telling me her name or what she looks like." Beat. "If you know those things, of course. Memory itself is more... tricky. So many things can cause memory loss. Another part of why I stay away from messing with the mind."

When he questions speaking magically, there is a bit of a grin and she leans back further in her chair; one leg crossing over the other. "A little of column a, little of column b. Shadowcrest is a safe place for those it deems safe. And people sensitive will sense that, of course. The primal, caveman part of you that senses risk and danger can also risk when everything is okay. I find most people who are inherently good get that sensation here. The rest, well-" it's an *almost* self-deprecating smile. "I guess being in show business pretty much my whole life, I could have taken two paths. I could have ended up a complete introvert, but my father was always so... outgoing and I guess being the same helps me stay close to him."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Reaching into his coat pocket, he takes out a folded piece of paper. He opens and recites,"Her name is Karrin Murphy. I can't even remember that. I have to look. My brother says she is my girlfriend, I have no recollection. It is...complicated." he explains,"If you see or hear anything I would appreciate it yes. You're right. Messing with the memory is...complicated. Part of why I rarely enter the soul gaze and why I know I never gazed with her. I would know if I had. I don't care what the other memory magic did."

Another sip of his tea and he nods, listening to her. She will notice he does look at her, but rarely in her eyes and never for more than a second or two,"So the house is like it's own welcome wagon. Interesting." He considers her for a moment and the wise guy gets the best of him,"I have a hard time with the idea of you ending up an introvert." He said it, no innuendo to it. She appears as she does and he observed it. Somehow he doesn't totally come across as creepy despite is lesser social graces.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Karrin Murphy. Got it. I grew up in Bludhaven and it's where my father did most of his shows. I still go there quite often and any time I'm touring, I ensure at least one night is there. If I hear anything, I'll let you know." Zee did get his card, after all.

The compliment -- blunt as it may be -- has the effect of making her sit up a bit straighter. She even grins briefly. It doesn't seem to be so much a flattered reaction as the reaction of someone who, even if they don't wish to, is very driven by outside approval. "I have my moments," she answers finally, "but I had only my father, growing up, and he was a very outgoing man. I saw, regularly, how important the people around him were and you can't build those bonds by keeping to yourself all the time."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"I understand the concept of only having a father." he admits. He frowns a little at himself and shakes it off,"He was a stage magician, but he didn't have a trace of actual magic in him. He was an illusionist. He tried hard, but didn't make much of a living at it. He died and I was raised by my uncle, not well either. That said, he is who started teaching me actual magic until..." he lets that one go away not wanting to chase it for long.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"My father's magical skills were more... inherited, I suppose you could say. Our bloodline goes back to Nostradamus. But his magic was-" Zatanna gives a gesture around her. "This is all from his side of the family. Tomes, trinkets, all the things anyone with even a spark of magic could use. My mother... well, what he explained to me once is that she came from a race called Homo Magi. I get my abilities through her." There's a small shrug, her voice going a bit... sad. "I've never known what happened to her. And my father disappeared when I was a teenager."

She lingers there only momentarily before giving a small shake of her head. "He and this house helped me a lot before he did. And when he was gone, I... searched everywhere I could and it's how I met the Justice League and so many others. I guess you could say my father taught me magic, but the people I met since then have taught me everything else."

Taking a deep breath, she pushes to her feet. "You're welcome to stay here a bit if you'd like. You can even explore if you want: just respect any locked doors. The front door, when you wish to leave, should take you back to the Magic Box." Though the House sometimes has other ideas.

Harry Dresden has posed:
He looks around the room again and back to her,"You and I have way too much in common." he mutters. Watching her get up to go he nods,"I think I will look around a little, but I will stay out of the locked doors. Thank you for the tea." he comments and watches her depart. He finally shakes that off. Pretty is pretty and she is, but focus. There are more things at hand.,"Take care. If you need my help you know how to reach me."