capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO: Sort of open. This is for of Themyscira-Zatara Family & friends.
WHERE: Diana and Zee's place and elsewhere.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: Enough of them.
SUMMARY: Cute winter holiday stuff. Please specify in the subject line if your threads are open or closed (and if they are closed, to which people).
FORMAT: Whatever you feel like.

[Come December first, Zatanna's already done a number on the house. Mostly in that she has finally relinquished her death-grip on the spooky Halloween mansion that it had been for Halloween (that had morphed into Thankschilling Day).

By the eighth, she has given up on normalcy and forced snow upon the house itself and the front and backyards; it is natural and cold and wet to the touch. More importantly, it's clean. It doesn't melt much or get sloshy and muddy. The forest she'd created for Halloween remains, though not overgrown. The air is sweet with the smell of pine, but not thickly so. She's cleared it out a little, made it easier to navigate. There is now plenty of room for building snow people and snow forts, in addition to the occasional snowball fight.

The inside of the house no longer (quite as) spooky. The fireplace in the living room seems to permanently be full of logs and remains lit even when no one is home. Halfway through the month, a pine tree also appears, growing through some dimensional wormhole so it remains real without having to cut one down. The dining room has a warm glow from candles and wall sconces and the kitchen seems to always have some wonderful smell wafting from it.

There is a fat orange Persian walking around, dressed as a reindeer. It doesn't seem perturbed by its costume and appears quite content, although trying to curl up and sleep almost anywhere in between desired pettings. Hermes has become more mellowed out since Halloween (and much larger, too) and only wears antlers on his head. Teekl and Gabranth declined to join the festivities.

This holiday season is going to be good. Or, hopefully at least much better than last year's.]

► OPEN: COOKIES FOR ME, COOKIES FOR FREE (ZATANNA).
► CLOSED: VESPER & ZATANNA.
► OPEN: ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS (APRIL).
► OPEN: AWKWARD SOCIALIZATION (GIL).
► OPEN: EXTREME MANLINESS CHALLENGE (JAMES)!!!
► OPEN: S'NO PROBLEM (TEREZI).
► OPEN: CUTE CHRISTMAS SWEATER PART II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO (MOLLY).
► OPEN: HOW DO I SECRET IDENTITY? LOL (WALLY).
► OPEN: PRETTY MUCH JUST A FUN-HATER (MITCH).
► OPEN: SNEAKY SANTA (HAN).
► OPEN: A LOT LESS OF A FUN-HATER, APPARENTLY (BRADBURY).
► OPEN: THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR PIE (NED).

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Seems right up my alley, don't you think? [She seems to take that as a compliment of sorts. Even as a joke, it's somewhat gratifying to her.

Zatanna lets the glass dangle by the stem between her fingers, cupping it gently as she moves away from the counter and pulls out a chair at the somewhat modern table in the kitchen. It's much too small for all the occupants to sit down at once, but she'd bought it when it was just her and John. In retrospect, it wasn't a bad decision. The dining room was just as well for larger groups and this set off the kitchen nicely.

She slides a little down the chair as she stretches to reach the one across from her with her foot, nudging it far enough away from the table that he can comfortably sit in it. She remains slouching for some time, a bit of an odd thing to witness while dressed as nicely as she is at the moment. Zatanna seems to be aware of this, however, and that acts as the reason behind it.] No, I'm more the type to withhold affection like an awful parent or significant other. I'd ignore you until you were desperate for it.

Mm, then I suppose it's a rather good thing that I'm not quite that desperate, yes?

[ He does, however, take the chair, somehow seeming to slink into it, like he barely moved, one moment standing, the other, he was sitting right there, looking just as comfortable, if not more, than before.

He sipped at the wine, although he kept eyeing the baked goods out of one eye, even if he didn't procure them quite yet. ]

Perhaps I haven't been teased quite enough yet.

I guess then I'll have to not ignore you.

[There's something incredibly appealing about that sort of movement to her. It reminds her a lot of the Phantom Stranger and, for a split-second, manages to let her mask slip and allows a bit of wistfulness to seep through. She misses him.]

Or, I could do that. [She pretends to stretch, raising her arms over her head as she follows suit with her legs, gently brushing her shoes against his leg. Not at all teasing, not at all.]

[ His eyebrows lift, but he only turns a wan smile her way, as if to say 'really?' in a questioning glance. His eyebrows rise, the soft curls of dark hair only accentuating the look, even as they peeked through from the wide-brimmed hat on his head. ]

You do too much of that, and I think I may be offended.

Such things should be done in private, after all. [ It's a joke, and spoken mildly, his lips curling slightly. ]

Perhaps I shall lock us away, or take us somewhere sequestered away where we won't be bothered.

[Oh, the things she would do to him if she were single...

She scoots back to a more comfortable sitting position, allowing her legs to follow and her feet to give one last little playful tap before being planted firmly on the floor. Playing coy, she lifts the glass to her mouth and takes a lengthy sip before speaking into it, her voice muffled slightly by the liquid remaining within it.] A kidnapping? How romantic. I'm sure no one would even notice I was missing.

[She beckons some cookies over to the table from the counter space with a flick of her wrist. They hover before a plate flies on over and positions itself between the two of them on the table. The cookies follow, arranging themselves. Another two small serving dishes come out of the cabinets and to the table, one near her and the other before him.

Zatanna looks pleased with herself.] Sorry, I'm a bit of a show-off. I hope you'll forgive me.

[ As if he would complain at that sort of showmanship. He laughed, taking what his hands could find in terms of treats, but he spoke, lifting the plate in something of a cookie salute to her. ]

If showmanship is what it takes to sample your fine cooking, I think it's worth it. Besides, such fine treats deserve a little flourish, don't you think?

[ And just like that, he does sample it, the hand that had been holding his wine moving away, leaving it suspended in air, or rather, suspended by a swath of shadow, that moved to let it rest against the table.

Really, he was an expert in showing off. ]

[Any man that can truly appreciate her magic is a guy she can learn to like (assuming she doesn't already). With Shade, it just makes him all the more endearing.]

Perhaps some other time I'll actually cook, although I'm a picky eater and not everyone is impressed with a vegetarian meal. [She very rarely is genuinely complimented in such a manner, however, and her cheeks might just be tinted darker than normal right now. She doesn't acknowledge it, but it's there.]

Though the more I think of it, the more it should be a public dinner. If only because the reaction we'd get from those around us would be worthwhile. [Not necessarily a show-off (not always, anyway), but she does like the reaction on people's faces when she does something weird.] For a long time, I would try to hide my magic in public. If only so people wouldn't accuse me of using it in my stage acts or so I wouldn't freak out my dates. Tough to find a guy that can appreciate magic, you know?

Perhaps I'll bring along one of my dishes. Although it's a shame you wouldn't get to enjoy my stargazy pie. [ He waved a hand, his face still locked in a flirty quirk. ]

I can tell you, if there are gentleman out there who do not appreciate it, then perhaps they don't understand quite what they're missing out on, hm?

If I made an exception for you, I'd have to make an exception for everyone. [She had almost said "your meat," but that was pushing this little dance too far. Although she's certain whatever his response may have been it would have been worth it.]

I date inside my circle more often than not. I just... don't always like to get attached, if you know what I mean. [By which she means that she thinks she's learned her lesson. That if not magical, at least meta. Those were always her most meaningful relationships, after all.] For a while, I think I was very into the idea that most of the League is, of having some connection to the outside world. But I love my life and I would want someone that can understand it on a personal level, I think. If that makes sense. [She breaks away from the conversation long enough to munch a little. No need to make it too serious.]

My dear, I'm an immortal. You hardly need to speak to me about the folly of being attached. I'm sure you can sympathize with how many lovers I've lost in my time. It's merely the way things go. [ But he'd always favored people far removed from the fantastic life he'd always lived.

He takes one of his own, chewing thoughtfully. ]

Perhaps, however, that's the folly in of itself. Without getting attached, how shall we remind ourselves that there's a world beyond simply us?

Ah, I haven't quite hit that age where all my normal friends start dropping like flies yet. [It's a detached way to respond to all of this, but the only way to do it without thinking too hard. It's easier, that way.]

I suppose I'm a bit of a romantic at heart. [She doesn't mean to look at him like she does, like he's a puppy that's just been kicked. It's only that she truly does feel for him and sympathize. Even if you know it will end poorly, sometimes you can't help but want to be with someone or to belong.] Back home, I'm in a sort of on and off... thing with Doctor Occult. [Another immortal mage, born in 1890-something. Zatanna, involved with an older, cynical guy that dresses like a suave mofo? No one is shocked.] Don't think it'll work long-term. We're very different people.