Paying a call on Fate

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

Did someone just knock on the door? Her meltdown had ceased...just stopped, and she looked around quizically.

Did the phone ring? She got up from the table and wandered through the house. No. No messages and the front porch was empty. But she could have sworn something caught her attention and she was feeling an urge to go out. Someplace in specific but she didn't know where. That was enough for her.

She hurried upstairs to change her clothes, hesitating for a moment as something prompted her to dust off the costume. Odd...definately odd but she listened. Then it was a quick note to tell John she'd gone out to follow her nose, follow if he could...all assuming he came back before she did...and left the note taped to his carton of silk cuts in the fridge.

Double checking that she had her JLA comm and her cell phone tucked safely away she made her way back into the library and the wall she'd been using more often as a doorway. She squares herself in front of the wall then takes a deep breath.

"esaelp, meht ot latrop a nepO .em sllac enoemoS."

The portal flashes to life and she steps through...to the base of Dr. Fate's tower? What the...

She knocks...if there's a door to knock on.

Comments

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He slips an arm around her waist without thinking, he's glad to see her here to help get Gemma back.

"What the fuck is goin' on? An where the hell is Fate? It's his bloody tower he should be here helpin."

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She can't help but smile though she's a bit surprised. Apparently his worry for Gemma has overridden any sort of protectiveness he might feel about her being here. Good.

"He was probably in the tower, John." Said matter of factly and kind of quiet though she does look to Occult for confirmation with a questioning shrug.

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"Actually, he had just left the tower when I was there in 1943, so I imagine he's actually between worlds, whereas young Gemma was in the relative safety of the tower."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"That's just wonderful, skittle an beer." He lights a cigarrette and thinks.

"So there's a bigger problem than th'tower goin' on here."

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"Wotan," he says, knowing the name's enough. "There are other sorcerors at play in the world, but they are for others to handle. When last I saw Wotan, before Mr. Zard here imprisoned him, Wotan was working to seize control of magic itself. Indeed, in at least one alternate future, he succeeded, laying waste to his enemies and seizing control of the world in less than a week."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

The string of curses he lets out is a lot more interesting after spending the day with bunny Midnight.

"Guess someone ought t'make sure he can't play with his toys then."

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"Indeed, he says. "Wotan's last gambit took the combined might of the world's greatest heroes and villains to thwart. If his endgame is at all similar, I fear we're in for a challenge."

He pauses, and flashes John a wry smile.

"The Trenchcoat brigade rides again, eh, Mr. Constantine?"

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He chuckles at that.

"Be happier if it was Rose in the trenchcoat, but yeah, here we go again." He sighs and rubs his face.

"Goin' t'have trouble roundin' up that many people t'help out...." an idea flashes through his head.

"What if th'world itself could lend a hand?"

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

John gets a subtle tweek in the ribs for the comment about Rose, and a glare that says "I am right here you know!".

A small hmph and she gets herself disentangled from him and addresses them all. "Well I do still have connections with the JLA. I could give Oracle a call. See what we can get them doing. Meanwhile I think my help would be better with you guys."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

She gets a completely unreppenant grin from him for the tweak and his comment.

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

"I'm intrigued, old friend, but first things first. We four, between your and my will, and Zatanna and Zard's raw power, should suffice to guide the tower back to its proper location."

He peers over at the seething Wizard.

"For I fear if any of us are to survive what's coming, we will need Fate's power at our side."

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She just gives a nod in response, not entirely thrilled about working with Zard but she isn't going to vocalize it.

[jla-villains.livejournal.com]

The feeling's obviously mutual, but he's behaving. For now.

"A twist on a simple guiding spell should handle it. If Occult's still got that magic amulet of his, it could be a nice focal point for the rest of us to channel power through."

He smiles at Zatanna.

"I guess this is the part where we hold hands."

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

She gives Zard a smile a crocodile would envy. She's tempted to try this without the contact but better safe than sorry, especially if they both are supposed to be focusing on the same result.

"I'll be sure to wash thoroughly after this."

She holds out a hand reluctantly.

[jla-goldenage.livejournal.com]

Dr. Occult takes one hand, and extends his mystic talisman forward.

"John Constantine, lend me will. William Zard, lend me hunger. Zatanna Zatarra, lend me spirit."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He's a man who can walk through Hell and come out the other side just on will alone.

He loans that to Occult, giving him the unbending part of his nature, the part that has kept him on the path of fixing the universe instead of taking it over.

[zatanna-z.livejournal.com]

Her spirit is strong and bright. It's what keeps her from giving up time and time again. It's the part of her that believes in John and others for it sees in them a kindred even when they try to hide it.

It is this that she focuses towards Dr. Occult, letting it rise at her call and letting it flow to him.

[jla-villains.livejournal.com]

And William Zard -- usually the villain in the piece, and happy to be so -- lends the hunger that tears at his stomach, the drive that has pushed him forward where weaker wizards dare not go.

His appetite is a dark thing, but the strength of it adds to the spell.