001 Video

[actualwizard]

[The camera clicks on and amber eyes blink owlishly at the screen. Billy usually didn’t do things like this. The only videos that existed of him were usually taken by Teddy, because he claimed Billy was doing something cute, or by Tommy who claimed Billy was doing something idiotic and those usually wound up on the internet somewhere. This was a first for him.]

Well. This was not where I expected to end up when trying to teleport home. Unless someone slipped me something at the comic book store. Is it possible to hallucinate entire worlds? For all I know I’ve wandered into Avengers Mansion and I’m talking to a wall.

[He winced internally, he was babbling and the only one who ever found that endearing was Teddy, and Teddy wasn’t here, at least he didn't think Teddy was here.]

So um, hi, I guess? I guess I should introduce myself. Billy Kaplan, I can do magic…sometimes it works.

Comments

[stoptheviolence]

[Somebody's eyes were lighting up faster than Rudolph's nose on Christmas Eve.]

You're a magician?

Can you pull things out of a hat? Like a duck?

video

[noitatnacni]

If you're hallucinating all of this, then I'd kind of hate to see what else you can do.

[Because seriously, the power required for the magic Zatanna thinks must be in play? Scary big.]

So when you say magic, are you talking about stage performance, or actual manipulation of mystical energy? Not that both don't have their place, but it might be important to distinguish.

[video]

[heirtotheshield]

How do you know the Avengers?

[anomaliiiiies]

Magic? What kind, if I can ask? [/chinhands] Oh, Avengers Mansion? I think Tony had a Tower, but not a mansion.

[widows_kiss]

[The predictable catches Natasha's attention, even if she doesn't recognize the boy in the video screen. Not that that means anything here, she's come to learn. She eyes him curiously a moment before flicking open the video feed to respond.]

We have a mansion now? Please tell me no one let Tony design it.

[It's a test more than anything, because Kate had recognized her right off. James hadn't, but she was dead in his world, so that was to be expected, she supposed. This one was another unknown for the moment, however.]

video.

[oikodomae]

[ annabeth isn't really one to go out and start welcoming new people as they appear in wonderland, if only because she's still trying to keep a hold on the people from home. to bring them up to speed with what she knows and what is general knowledge.

but today she's at a stopping point and having issues concentrating, so why not check the network. why not. ]

Not hallucinating, if that helps. [ maybe she should smile here, be a little more welcoming, but instead she just kind of watches the screen. she doesn't look mean (maybe a little intimidating), but she's not one to be overly nice either. ]

You magic only works sometimes? [ obviously the most interesting part of this post... ]

[actualwizard]

A duck? [This causes his eyebrows to rise.] Isn't it usually a rabbit?

Re: video

[actualwizard]

If I'm hallucinating this I'm really hoping I'm not the cause of the hallucination.

[Really hoping he's not the cause, because that's...that's hitting entirely too close to home.]

Well I'm not standing on a stage sawing anyone in half.

Re: video

[noitatnacni]

I hope not. That's not the sort of stuff you do for an opening act.

[Sawing people in half? Definitely one for after you get the crowd's attention. Which just emphasizes his answer to her question.]

Me too. Like I said, it'd make me concerned about just how much power you have. So has anyone given you the "Welcome to Wonderland" speech yet?

Re: [video]

[actualwizard]

I am one, or I was then I wasn't now I am again, I think. It's complicated.

[actualwizard]

[ He knew her immediately. It was a relief to see a familiar face, even if it was attached to a woman that could easily kill him using just her legs. He relaxed, but not by much.]

Now? You've always had a mansion, I mean, it was destroyed a few times but it's still there.

[actualwizard]

The kind that probably somehow got me here, wherever here is.

Re: video.

[actualwizard]

But wouldn't my hallucination tell me exactly that? [It wasn't very reassuring when everyone just said he wasn't hallucinating but not what was actually going on. He was doing a good job of not freaking out, but only barely.]

It' works, chaotically. [But really he thought he was getting better, not teleporting himself to strange places.]

Re: [video]

[heirtotheshield]

Tony never mentioned someone named Billy.

Re: video

[actualwizard]

I wouldn't really know, I've never been to a magic show. [His mom hired a magician for his birthday when he was four, but he came dressed as a clown and Billy remembers crying for the rest of the party. Not his finest hour.]

An understandable cause for concern. [Her and everybody else who knew what kind of magic he has and what kind of destiny he was facing. That included himself.]

There was a pamphlet, but it wasn't very reassuring. I don't remember following a white rabbit down a rabbit hole.

Re: [video]

[actualwizard]

Who are you?

Re: video

[noitatnacni]

Now that's just sad. [Because real magic or not, stage magic still has its place in the world. Zatanna just can't help but feel sorry for someone who hasn't had the benefit of seeing a good stage practitioner at work.]

Pretty sure no one here does, and yet here we are. I'm Zatanna Zatara, by the way. Since we're stuck here, might as well get introductions out of the way.

Re: [video]

[heirtotheshield]

James Rogers.

[stoptheviolence]

That's what I used to think, too. But Mr. Schue definitely mentioned a duck, and I never got to see it.

[To this day, she was slightly disappointed about that.]

[actualwizard]

That sounds...disappointing. If I happen to see someone pulling ducks out of hats I'll be sure to let you know.

[stoptheviolence]

Does that mean you can't?

Re: video

[actualwizard]

Nice to meet you Zatanna Zatara. So what exactly is going on?

Re: [video]

[actualwizard]

Never heard of you.

[Rogers, though, he couldn't be...]

[actualwizard]

I've never actually tried to pull a duck from a hat.

[stoptheviolence]

Maybe you should.

I'd bet you'd be awesome at it. And it'd totally be a hit over the Network! ...just try not to hurt the duck, alright?