Downtime

[zatanna_z]

She has come to the conclusion that she hates demons. She really, really hates demons! Especially arch-demons....or whatever you want to call them. This particular one seemed to be swiftly becoming a rather large pain in her....well this time a pain all over

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[grey_walker]

As she walks, suddenly the Stranger walks beside her. "Good evening, Zatanna."

[zatanna_z]

She flinched ever so slightly, still too tired to react much as she is suddenly joined.

She glances at him, giving him a small, tired smile.

"Hi there. I'm glad to see that it wasn't just me and John that made it out ok....or at least alive."

A million questions about the finality of the battle run through her mind, but she can't quite work up the energy to ask them though she truly does wish to know how everyone is. She figures Gemma and Tefe are ok or John wouldn't have even left the note.

[grey_walker]

"You are well." It's more of an assessment than a question. "Your encounter with Tannarak - did you find the dagger helpful?"

[zatanna_z]

She gives an involuntary shudder remembering the incident. Her hands are stuffed into pockets quickly as if to hide the blood she knows she washed off thoroughly. She can still feel it though.

Her voice is quiet, a little shakey as she asks him, "What....what did I do?"

[grey_walker]

There's a pause before the answer comes. "You did not kill Tannarak. The magics that sustain him are far more difficult to unravel - you merely saved your own life, and reminded him of the sensation of pain that he had forgotten."

[zatanna_z]

She lets out a slow, soft exhale as if she had been holding her breath ever since she had stabbed Tannarak. Her eyes close as she takes her hands out of her pockets. Her eyelids slowly open and she looks at them as they shake slightly. Then she smiles in relief. Reminding that bastard of pain is one thing, killing him is quite another.

She turns her attention off her hands to the Stranger once more and gives a slight nod.

"Thank you."

[grey_walker]

There's a ghost of a smile, for a moment. "I do not care to see heroes suffer unnecessarily. And in any case, you merely used the weapon I had provided you."

[zatanna_z]

Her smile lifts a little more at the edges. If it were anyone else, she'd give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek but somehow she thinks it might be better to maintain her distance with him.

The moment passes and she lowers her eyes once more. "Did everyone....make it?"

[grey_walker]

"The living who stood with us remain so."

He looks towards the horizon - at what, it's hard to say.

"And things are in balance once more."

[zatanna_z]

Ok she can't maintain it anymore. John left before she woke up so she hasn't had any contact from anyone since the First and well that wasn't comforting to say the least.

She loops her arm through his and gives it a gentle hug then rests her head against his arm for a moment. It's brief but she feels better. Then she gives him his space again.

Now that she's feeling somewhat better she feels she can ask a question that was niggling in the back of her mind.

"So....what was that knife...thing....anyway?"

[grey_walker]

The hug seems slightly unexpected - he raises an eyebrow in surprise.

"I told you it was embued with the essence of justice and goodness by the laws of sympathetic magic - this is because it spent many years surrounded by great heroes. I recovered the shard - composed of exotic metals both alien and terrestrial, from the remnants of one of the few places I have truly felt welcome."

The Stranger looks skyward. "The shell remains in Earth's orbit - the portion that remains, in any case."

[zatanna_z]

She stops dead in her tracks and blinks at him, her jaw having fallen open. Her mouth works after a while but no sound comes out at first. Then she rushes forward to catch up to him giving him an incredulous look.

"You mean......" she looks up, still blinking. "....whoa....."

[grey_walker]

Now, there is a smile.

"From the meeting table, to be precise. Near your own seat. What object has endured the continued influence of more heroes than that table?"

[zatanna_z]

She lowers her eyes to him, blinks some more then smirks with a low chuckle.

"Devious old man." She chuckles again and nudges him with her arm as they continue to walk.

Then she sighs softly, looking at her feet. "I think I lost it or I'd give it back. I was a little unconscious after that."

[grey_walker]

"It was a gift, freely given - and it might come in handy again, someday."

As if by sleight of hand, he produces the shard. "The psychic resonance of the metal is very easy to follow, if one is familiar with it."

[zatanna_z]

Her smile looks like a child having a quarter produced from behind her ear. She nods in thanks.

"I'll keep it safe. Promise."