9384/Magic Moments

Magic Moments
Date of Scene:	30 September 2019
Location:	Gotham Academy
Synopsis:	Zachary shows an undercover Svetlana around his high school and a magic trick.
Cast of Characters:	Svetlana Kuznetsov, Zachary Zatara

---

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Gotham Academy. A new foreign exchange student is arriving today, all the way from Russia. Her last name is too long to pronounce, so everyone has been told to simply call her 'Lana'. Her English is good; her knowledge of American culture is not so good. She is here to take classes, and also to learn about America. She will be arriving at the front office within the hour.

Svetlana 'Lana' Kuznetsov, a.k.a. 'Subject 6' was trained by HYDRA as part of an experimental 'Super Soldier' program after the second world war. She was 18 when selected for modification and conditioning. Two years later the program was shut down completely and all Test Subjects put in cryo suspension. Lana was the only survivor, rescued by Captain America and the Black Widow.

Since her rescue, Lana has parted ways amicably with SHIELD to work as a mercenary soldier. Her immediate mission is self-imposed, however, for Lana's training lacked actual experience. And she knows that there's only one way to gain experience...

Zachary Zatara has posed:
While not the most hardworking student or the friendliest or (as we are about to see) the most punctual, Zachary Zatara has been tasked by the student council to let Svetlana be his shadow for the day, and more, if required. Why? Well, he is a member of that council. He is one of the most famous students at the academy, and unlike some of the other members of the body, he owned much of his fame to his own success.

He is, however, late. Not terribly so, but he arrives in a rush to the main office seconds after Lana. "Sorry about that," He smiles amicably, white pearls on display, and holds out a hand. "Got sidetracked with some schoolwork." He shrugs. "You know how that goes. Or maybe you don't."

"The name's Zachary Zatara."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana is wearing crisp, new jeans and a Springsteen 'Born in the USA' t-shirt, tucked in. Long brown hair is worn in a single braid, pulled forward over her right shoulder. A pair if new, blue Sketchers are on her feet and there's a leather messenger bag slung over her right shoulder.

She is chatting with a guidance counselor when Zach rushes in, the girl turning those big, brown eyes towards him with open curiosity. "Da, I mean... yes. Yes, I do. We do have schools in Russia, after all. I am Svetlana Rozhdestvensky, but you will please call me Lana."

Zachary Zatara has posed:
Zachary is in a relaxed version of the school uniform, button-up untucked and tie hanging looser around his neck. For someone who spends most of his time dressed in a fancy tux, it's quite the change, but those with a keen eye would notice that none of it looks wrinkled or mussed. He even tries hard to look casual.

"Russia. Right. They told me that," Zachary comments, hand falling to his side. "How's Russia? Never been." He won't try to pronounce her last name. Lana works just as well. Lana's a great name!

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana tilts her head curiously as she looks over Zach's uniform. Reaching out, she doesn't quite touch the neatly-tied, yet loosely casual tie. Natural lips pull into a bit of a knowing smile and for a moment her eyes meet his. It's as if she knows.

"My name means 'Christmas' in Russian. We usually call each other by our surnames, but I would not make you do that Zachary Zatara." Brows knit, then. "This is not a common name in America, yes?"

Zachary Zatara has posed:
"It's Italian," Zachary explains, with a shrug. "You're not likely to find many with it, even there. It's a bit of a trademark." He's a shade or two darker, a few inches taller, has the eye coloring, but yes, he's a Zatara, relative to Zatanna, and looks the part.

"You'd be surprised. I'm pretty used to people referring to me as Zatara rather than Zach or Zachary. Pick whichever suits you," He gives the counselor a nod, before turning and pushing the office door open. "Let's get this party started, huh? Where do you want to go first? I like to think this is a pretty normal school if you ignore the Gotham creepiness. We could head to the fields, or the classrooms, or...Lunch starts in a few hours, we probably don't want to miss that."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana smiles at that. "Italian, and a trademark? I will call you Zach, then." she declares. "I will follow and you will lead, Zach. To this... party." She does follow when he pushes the door open, walking just quickly enough to keep up.

"Tell me more of this Gotham... creepiness? Is that a word? I would like to see it all, of course. The school, I mean. And especially lunch. I had a cheeseburger in the airport, and it was wonderful."

Zachary Zatara has posed:
"You've never heard of the Zataras?" Zachary frowns. That is possible, he supposes, on another hemisphere, but a member of their clan has certainly been out to Moscow on tour, at some point. "Gotham is a cesspool for weirdos. Our guardian is a man in a bat suit that only comes out during the night. Don't get me started on his entourage of children. Like I said, creepy."

"In this school, there's the occasional perching gargoyle," He chuckles, glancing behind him at her. Class is still in session, so it looks like he's leading her outside. "Yeah, American food can be great if you don't mind processed junk. I pack, but that's not a dig on the food here." He just packs.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana brightens at that. "Oh! Zataras. THE Zataras, like the magic family. Yes, yes. I have heard of you." Quickening her steps to walk beside him now, she looks as if she is going to ask him something... the question that he's no doubt heard all of his life once his family name gets out.

But she doesn't ask for some reason.

"We have also heard of the Batman, even in Russia. There are worse legends in my mother country. Much worse." And yet she seems so... chipper... about it. Lana had thought it would be difficult to go to school, but in so many ways this 'role' is quite natural for her.

"You... pack?" And for a moment she looks him over, as if checking for hidden weapons. Then it occurs to her. "Oh! You mean your *lunch* is what you pack!" What else, right?

Zachary Zatara has posed:
It's really a mixed bag for Zachary. Sometimes his name attracts questions and comments because oooo magic~, but he's often overshadowed by his superior relatives and gets nothing at all. It all depends.

"Does Russia have a superhero community?" He asks, opening the doors to the back of the school. He'll hold the door like a gentleman but quirks a brow.

//You pack//, she says and checks out his body.

He snorts, predictably. "Yeah, lunch. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to make a move on the new girl on her first day."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana pauses midway through the door, brows knitting at yet a third infinitive use of the verb 'to pack'. Turning to give him a slower once-over, the Russian girl's expression is full of mischief as she gets it. "I'm afraid that no one has ever 'made a move' on me, Zach. You will forgive if I don't respond properly."

"Russian superheroes? When we were the Soviet Union, such things were forbidden except for those like Kilowog, a Green Lantern who was also a Communist. But I'm sure there are others. I have just not met them."

She obviously doesn't count 'Agents' and 'Superheroes' as the same thing, otherwise Barnes and Romanoff would be included. Stepping through the door at last, she waits until they're outside to ask that obvious question from a few moments ago. "So can you do magic, then?"

Zachary Zatara has posed:
"Really? Pretty girl like you?" Zachary smiles ruefully and shakes his head. "See. I did it again. Sorry, flirting is second nature, but I'll behave."

It's a perfectly crisp fall morning. "We have most of the sports you could imagine. Tennis, field hockey, soccer or football, American football, lacrosse," He guides her to the various fields. "For indoor, there's basketball, volleyball, etcetera, etcetera. Do you play any? I'm not much of a sports guy myself, but I occasionally show up to the games."

He smiles wide, "Naturally."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana beams at his apology, brown eyes brightening. "No need to apologize, Zach. I need to learn more about flirting." she admits, although her cheeks darken noticeably. She doesn't outright -ask- him, but the implication hangs there for a moment.

"Back in Russia, I was a good skater." she offers. "Ice skating mostly, but also roller skating. I have not tried other things, but I would like to."

Walking along wherever he leads, she returns his smile with a wry expression of her own. "Would you show me something magic, then? Or would that be what is considered a 'double-meaning' question?"

Zachary Zatara has posed:
"It's an intuitive art, really," Zach explains, teasingly instructional. "When you know, you know. It comes with many a danger from the drunken douchebag to the creep, but I take it you can handle yourself."

"Ice skating...we do not have ice skating. In a couple of weeks, the city will have great ice rinks open, outdoor or indoor. I could be your guide if you'd like."

The offer is genuine, with only a hint of roguery behind it. "I could," He leans in slightly, which seems silly since there's no one around this early. "Most magicians - real ones, anyway - tend to keep the big stuff under wraps unless a situation calls for it. I'm not most magicians."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Lana perks a bit. "Ice rinks? Yes. I would like that very much." she replies. Then her brows knit as he tosses more slang at her. "Drunken douchebag? I am certain I know what is a 'Creep', but this other is new word to me. But yes, I can take care of myself. I was taught how to punch a long time ago." Like about 1948...

When he doesn't immediately decline on the magic request, her expression brightens further. She leans in, and a lower voice she almost-whispers. "You will do something, then? Something amazing?"

Zachary Zatara has posed:
Zachary reminds himself to explain to Lana what a douchebag is in what will no doubt be an informative and somewhat amusing conversation. "It's always amazing," He says, in a delightfully conspiratorial tone. "Tell me what you want to see...to happen...and I can make that happen. I'm like a fairy godmother with better style."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana gives him a peculiar look, pausing to stand with hands on her hips as she looks around. "I should ask for you to pull a white rabbit out of my backpack, but that is too ordinary." It's pretty likely that she doesn't know about Bunny.

Unslinging her backpack, she holds it out... still zipped. "Pull a purple rabbit out of my backpack."

Zachary Zatara has posed:
Zachary Zatara says, "Nothing about my white rabbits are ordinary," Zachary says, winking and taking her backpack in one hand. "But I give the audience what they want, and right now, they want purple hoppers of all things."

He sets the backpack on the ground, unzips it, ponders on how the incantation will sound aloud, then incants it, "Gnirb htrof eht stibbar! Elprup!"

Promptly, more than a dozen curious, boldly violet rabbits escape from Lana's bag, some quite literally hopping out while others are more cautious...just like typical non-purple rabbits would be. Zach's smiling strong. It worked!

"Wanna see another?" Where did that wand come from?!?"