You say it's your birthday
Everything has been set up at the brownstone, on this clear crisp day in April.
With Ma Hunkel's assistance, food had been prepared, along with a BBQ currently heating up and sending scented smoke up into the air.
And invitations had been sent out to everyone that Jesse could think of, that simply said, Come help us celebrate the birthday of one ( Read more... )
With Ma Hunkel's assistance, food had been prepared, along with a BBQ currently heating up and sending scented smoke up into the air.
And invitations had been sent out to everyone that Jesse could think of, that simply said, Come help us celebrate the birthday of one ( Read more... )
What the hell else do you get an adult male you don't really know but have to get a gift anyway?
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"That's very thoughtful of you, Zachary. Joan's been telling me I should get dressed up a little more often. You should come out to Keystone and have dinner with us sometime."
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"Ah.... well, thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
How long was he supposed to be keeping up this farce anyway? He wasn't fond of sticking around as anyone's charity case, in imagined need of guidance.
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He beckons to Zach, pulling him aside for a moment.
"Son - and I mean no disrespect by calling you that - you seem to think you're being forced to be here. The Justice Society isn't a prison sentence. It's not even a service organization, when you boil it down. The Justice Society is a family, and we're happy to have you as a part of that. We're here to support one another, and to have fun."
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Zach folded his arms across his chest. "I've spent enough years in the shadow of my own family, so I hope you can understand how it's hard for me to comfortably put myself in the shadow of another one."
He may have sighed just a little. "I'm not a hero, Mister Garrick; and I really don't see how I'm ever going to be. All I was ever waiting for in my life was for the same power as Zanna and Uncle John. Now it's here, and I can start.." His voice cut off.
Start what exactly, Zachary Zatara? Your stage magic is as good as anyone's, and Zanna built her career contractually promising not to use it. You can't step up to that yourself?
So what exactly are these powers going to do for you then?
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He smiles.
"And we're not here to overshadow anybody. If the Justice Society were about power, our first meeting would've been the Spectre and Dr. Fate, with Alan acting as the secretary. You've got a niche here - just be you."
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He takes a deep breath. "I just... admitted I'm not a hero is all; but... I'm not so worthless that I'll ignore something right in front of me, or something threatening the whole world." He takes off his hat and runs his hand through his hair. "Is it so wrong to have powers and just... want to get by?"
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"But you don't want to just get by, you want to be famous, last I checked. Am I wrong? And as long as you answer the call when the world's in danger, then I don't think it's wrong to want to live your life. Jesse Quick is a successful businesswoman, and does the heroing thing as she can."
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He huffs. "I hate making excuses about my career, but... well, let me put it this way. If every time you showed up to try and save someone, you were told 'Oh, no thanks. We've decided to go with this other Flash. No... no, that's fine. No need to show us what you can do; we're quite made up in our minds already.'"
He shrugs, arms still folded across his chest. "See where I'm coming from?"
Has it ever occurred to you that being SEVENTEEN might have something to do with the slow moving career?
No, not at all.
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"I understand completely. After all, you're talking to a man who's been replaced by a younger, faster model twice. Of course, the nice thing about being a superhero is that people in danger are always happy to see you, even if they'd rather meet Superman."
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And what's so great about Superman anyway?
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And a big dorky smile on her face to match.
People need to have birthdays more often.
She doesn't even notice when she collides with Zach, pie flying out of her hands and onto him.
"Sorry!" Her face turns fifty shades of red, "I didn't see you...."
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He sees Courtney.
He sees a mostly empty plate with fruit and some bit of pastry on it.
He looks at her. "...pie, or cobbler?" He raises a hand and jerks his thumb towards the center of his back.
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Her face turns a darker shade of crimson, "Just a sec," she dashes into the kitchen and returns with a small pile of napkins in hand, "Here you go," she says, "You should be able to most of it off..."
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"I'll leave you two to talk - I need to go help Ma start a few more desserts."
He gives them both a friendly wave, moving towards the kitchen.
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