6252/A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly
Date of Scene:	22 January 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Zatanna Zatara

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Batman has posed:
With Zatanna have memory and cognitive issues, Batman suspected she'd undergone some sort of enchantment or spell. Still, it didn't hurt to check. So he brought her into the Batcave to do a few tests. Cognitive function, reflexes. An MRI. Don't ask where the Bat-MRI machine is.

In the end, Batman stands with his arms across his chest, the bat symbol obscured by his strong arms, "You appear to be in perfectly fine physical condition. Which leaves explanations mystical and psychological. I'm not qualified to examine either of those possibilities."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The going was really tough. Batman put her through the motions and didnâ??t really let up on his examination. Which was for the best. Zatanna didnâ??t know where the memory loss began nor where it started, but no one seemingly noticed. Perhaps the reason why she told him is because he would. But how would she know that?

A fall back upon the floor with a solid â??urpâ??, and sheâ??s crossing her legs with hunched shoulders as she gives a slow shake of her head. â??Without using up all of my resources, I donâ??t know either.â?? She states. â??Maybe we can call the memory just a loss and build from there. I donâ??t know, Iâ??m giving up.â??

Batman has posed:
Batman snorts, "I'm not particularly fond of giving up. Surrender isn't a useful strategy. Whatever's going on is beyond my expertise, though. As I said, we'll have to find someone to consult if we want to penetrate further. And, while I appreciate you may be tired, it's possible this was done to you for a reason. You may have forgotten something more important than you know."

His expression softens, at least as m uch as his ever does, "But, for now, yes. You should do your best to move forward and keep motivated while dealing with it. Even if it isn't something that can be undone, you seem to be functional and healthy."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
â??Functional and healthy, yes.â?? She slowly pops to her feet, even showing off a curl of what little muscle she has. â??Though, I havenâ??t gotten into a fight and ran into any trouble, and I havenâ??t put on a show in a while, so weâ??ll see.â?? She looks around the cave, hands upon her hips. â??I suppose I could work out a few range of spells and go all out until I canâ??t anymore, and evaluate me then.â?? Still, she moves towards the chair, picking up a small towel to wipe herself down. â??Besides, Iâ??m not surrendering. Itâ??s accepting reality that.. Iâ??m a clean slate. I know my name, birthdate, everything else thatâ??s essential. I know you. I know most. I donâ??t know what we were, are, have been or could have been, and I know that now? It doesnâ??t matter.â?? She smiles a bit. â??Sounds defeatist. But, life is easier that way. Damn what I found out or should have known. It feels freeing.â??

Batman has posed:
Batman nods, "I suppose that's a healthy way to look at it," he says. He isn't one for processing things in healthy ways himself, but he understands that it's the ideal. "And yes, testing the limitations of your abilities is probably a good next step, so long as we know it's safe. I understand that mystical abilities can have complicated side effects," he says.

He presses a small button on the desk next to the main computer bank, "Alfred, could you bring some tea and sandwiches for Miss Zatarra?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
There was a little way about the way she dabs herself, patting her arms as if she'd break almost instantly, her blue eyes keeping towards the stone floor as she shakes her head. "Its not healthy." She mutters beneath her breath, inhaling as the towel was tossed aside and the chair was taken up with a flop. Tea and sandwiches where what she needed, even though her eyes roam the cave with a shake of her head.

"This place looks like fort knox. Its safe enough for me." Hands smack against her thighs as she stands, parting her legs shoulder with apart with a little added bounce to keep her body lax. Hands now smack together and rub frantically as she focuses, the rubbing picking up so much so that her hands were a blaze and flux.

Then suddenly? She stops.

"Kidding. I'm really hungry."

Batman has posed:
Batman gives a hint of a chuckle, "I'm not sure you'd want to stay in the Cave itself. The bats can be quite pesky, not to mention the traffic coming through with various associates using the place. I've made it into more base of operations than personal den. But if you need accomodations, the house upstairs has plenty of comfortable rooms."

Alfred arrives shortly thereafter, a trim older man in an impeccable suit, presenting a silver tray of sandwiches and a pot of tea. "Will you be requiring anything else?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
That was something! Zatanna tries her best to search the memory banks to remember when was the last time she's heard anything short of a laugh from the Bat. Thankfully it happened now, becausee it makes her smile. She shakes her head, then throws her hands up as she places them on her hips there after, glancing up to the far, long ceiling to stroll around in a circle. "Nah.." She says casually. "I can stay at the manor. Just let me know if -you- want a room, there's spares. I'd just have to let it know you're allowed to sneak in and out as you please." As if it were sentient!

As Alfread approaches, Zatanna stands stout. Her fingers fold in front of her as polite as you do, a small smile pressed to her face. It was clear she has never seen him before, and it was fascinating!

"Not for me, Sir! Thank you so much!" She chips out, hesitating for one of the smallest moments before she steps towards the tray. "May I?"

Batman has posed:
"Of course," the butler says, extending the tray forward. The sandwiches are simple, ham and cheese on rye with a hint of brown mustard, the crusts cut off, neat as a pin and held together with toothpicks.

"I'll keep that in mind," Batman says, a little amused by the playful nature of the sorceress. Good cheer isn't something often in abundance to be had around here and, when it is, Bruce is usually in the habit of quashing it. Part of the responsibility of being in charge. But Zatanna wasn't part of his coterie and didn't fall under his authority the way those young people did. So he can take her more as she is without feeling responsible.

He draws back his cowl and reveals the broad, handsome face of Bruce Wayne, stepping up and taking a sandwich for himself. "You said they were for the young lady, Master Bruce. I may have to make more to serve two."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The brown mustard is always an amazing addition to a sandwich. Zatanna particularly liked it with a hint of horseradish herself. But, she reaches for it, her fingers plying and prying away at the food, her nose instantly reacting to the smell of meat which.. in fact, is tossed away as Batman removes his cowl.

"NONONO DON.." Yup. It's gone. And underneath was Bruce Wayne.

"What the <CENSORED>!" She nearly shrieks, the sandwich dropped upon the ground as she gains distance between the two men with a finger pointing directly at Bruce. "NO. WAY." Yes way. And somewhere in that addled brain, she knew it. She.. just forgot it. "No.. NO WAY."

It.. it was madness. Her heart was beating rapidly, she nearly breaks out into a sweat, she couldn't even stop fidgeting because her mind was going a mile a minute. "HOoow?!" She squeaks out. Bruce is so handsome! Every womans fantasy! Not some brooding son-of-a-bitch that liked to maim and mangle while enforcing justice!

"Oh god.." Yeah. The girls in boarding school were right; handsome men are usually psychopathic serial killers. The other is Batman.

Batman has posed:
Batman stares rather blankly at Zatanna for a moment, "I guess you'd forgotten that as well," he says with a mild bit of amusement.

"You could have been more careful about it, Master Bruce. You're not as secretive as you think." Alfred says.

"I trust her. Even still, with whatever's going on." he says. "Obviously, be discreet with the knowledge, please. I do try to keep it under wraps for the most part. I have enough enemies to fill the cave to overflowing."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"I.. I gotta sit down.." Zatanna wasn't fussing around. There wasn't a flop back, or a lazy way of doing it. It was a careful lowering into the chair with the heel of both hands pressing against her eyes. "Oh god.." She mumbles to herself, finally looking up at the two gentlemen, one with a smile and one as stoic, then shakes her head. "I need a fricking drink.." And a pause. "..That's -not- funny by the way. I see you smiling!" Finger points galore towards Bruce, along with a rub of her chin. "You're secrets safe with me but.. for petes sake. You.. could have at least told me when you came to my house.." She huffs.

"Billionaire serial killer playboy coming to -my- house.. and no flowers.." Still, she's trying to find her lack of memory amusing, but right now it's not going very well. Her appetite was gone. Or it could have been that she was vegetarian to begin with..

Batman has posed:
Batman ponders, "I recall that I did make reference by Wayne Industries and my numerous properties, but you might have been a bit flustered at the moment, dealing with your condition. Forgiveable," he says. He unhooks his cape and hangs it and the cowell on a dummy before taking a seat, "The liquor cabinet is very full. I don't drink myself, but we like to keep it on hand for guests. Plus, I get to pretend to drink at dinner parties. I've poured a lot of very expensive wine into the planets upstairs."

"And if you want flowers, I can have Alfred go pick some from the greenhouse."

"We have a lovely patch of marigolds, sir."

"See?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Briefly!" Zatanna points out. "Briefly, and really.. I was wondering why you did that." She guffaws, her head burying into her hands. How in the hell could she be so stupid? She sniffles alittle,then looks up towards him beneath her fingers, even snapping a glance towards Alfred who's.. really just as composed as ever. That man? Amazing.

"Oh no no no.." Zatanna states. "Don't you get all charming with me!" She begins to laugh now, her head shaking as her hands clap. "Oh god. How could -I- forget something as grand as this? I mean.. I remembered -you-!" She gestures at the cape and cowl, not at Bruce. "But not.. -you-!" Her head shakes a little. "Yes. I want flowers. And I want an entire bottle of Johnnie Walker. Black Label. No wait. Blue. Whatever one that costs two thousand dollars." She declares. But.. then she immediately feels bad.

"No.. no no.. that's okay.." She mumbles.. fidgeting. And a pause.

"Will you stop looking at me with your face already?!"

Batman has posed:
Bruce looks to Alfred, "See if you can fetch the things Miss Zatarra wants, Alfred. I'm not sure where we are on the colors of Walker to be had, but we can have something delivered if needs be."

"I don't know how you forgot. If I could harness that particular trick, I might keep it in reserve now and again. Breeches do happen. I wouldn't mind if Ra's Al-Ghul forgot," he sighs. Although that would make complications with Damian and he didn't even want to think about that. Frankly, he was rather glad his son was away at the moment. He would likely be inappropriate to Zatanna, as he was inappropriate to...everyone.

Alfred leaves the two of them, going upstairs with a nod to retrieve flowers and whiskey. "I didn't mean to fluster you. I should have thought. I'm just used to being at ease in the Cave. Well. Relatively at ease."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"AH.. wai--.." Ah, nevermind.

She doesn't know what she was picking up from Bruce, but she does listen, leaning forward to the point she was doubled over, her arms wrapping around her knees as she looks up from her awkward position. "Do.. you want that?" Her lips purse, and for once, she was serious.

"Do you want him to forget?"

But then she sits upright, unable to keep still and it was fairly clear. Her head shakes as she glances around again, this time at the vast array of panels that make up the computing system. "Nono. Don't apologize. I imagine the first time me finding out you were.. well, you.. was a bit similiar to this." She shrugs. "I'm pretty sure you're used to it now."

Batman has posed:
Batman takes a sip of the tea, "I do, but it's a selfish thing to want," he says. "There are consequences. Ripples. Parts of my life that would change because of who knows what. Butterfly effect and all that. It would be nice to simply erase mistakes made, but at least I've learned the lessons I need from them. I hope."

He rises up from his chair and reaches out to gently put a hand on her arm, "I think it was in a Justice League meeting, if I recall. Something of a show of trust to someone when they join the ranks is letting them in on our various identities. Which is easy enough for Diana, since everyone knows she's Wonder Woman anyway," he smiles.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"It's not a selfish thing to want everyone around you to be safe from harm." She opens. "I can't remember much, but I do have feelings. Feelings of terror, danger. Something so deep that I really can't shake. Like, something is constantly after me and I have to look over my shoulder to make sure that I'm safe." She stares off, then shakes her head. "Making someone dangerous forget that you even existed? You're telling me that you wouldn't pay that price? Not even for the freedom it could bring?"

She smiles a little, especially as he puts a hand upon her arm. Her own grasps his, her chin laying down upon the top of her knuckles as he recounts when she found out he was who he was. "I'm sorry I don't remember.." She says sadly, and immediately thought that it was for the best. "I'm going to have to start over, aren't I?"

Batman has posed:
Batman looks concerned and nods, "Sounds some like sort of intensive trauma. I know a little something about that, at least," he says softly. "And no, I wouldn't pay it. Too many devils in too many details. Nothing like that could ever come without a price. I always find a way, one way or another, to get the job done."

"There are worse things than starting over," he says. "I'll help you. I'm sure I'm not the only one."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Maybe." She murmurs. "It's just something I can't shake." She states. "But.. it's a price you wouldn't have to pay Bruce. I mean, what have I got to lose?" She asks, pulling away. She even stands, this time moving towards the sandwich, taking care to remove parts of the ham and leaving only the good bits behind. "I've got no memory, other than the basics. I know magic, I know show business. I know you now. I know that I'm apart.. well.. somewhat apart of the Justice League." She finally takes a bite, nibbling the edge. "I've apparently lost everything that made me.. me."

But.. starting over. It was something she had to consider. "I know.." She finally says, pinching the bread between her fingers, then places it back upon the plate. "I know you'll help but.." She looks around. "..maybe it should be back at Shadowcrest. And not Wayne Manor. Above and below."

Batman has posed:
Batman speaks firmly, "There's always more to lose. As long as you're breathing, you have something. Perhaps even after, if Boston Brand is to be believed," he says.

"I'll see if we can put together something to help jog your memory, fill in the blanks. We'll try to find someone reliable and capable of helping to restore your memories. In the meantime, you call the shots. It's your mind, your fate. We'll approach it as you like."