Summary:A disturbance at the Alhambra Theatre has an Asgardian dropping by Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
  |
New York has been hectic. With the dome over Staten Island, cults running around and a war between the pantheons only just averted. Most of that has died down - at least for the moment - which leaves Zatanna Zatara pondering her latest conundrum.
Tonight she was performing at Alhambra Theatre - a dinner show which finished about an hour and a half ago. The patrons have all left and Zatanna is talking to the manager in the middle of the dining area when the baying of a hound gets her attention. It shouldn't just get her attention either - those with the right knowledge and senses will hear it.
It's then a giant hound bounds into the room, taking up an aggressive stance as it glares at Zee and the manager balefully.
"That's … a hound of the hunt…" The dark haired mage recognises it immediately. "Don't run. If it's not looking for you, you'll be safe." She tells the man she's with.
The Son of Odin had only recently returned from the Realm Eternal to the 'mortal' plane of Midgard (or earth). Ironically, Thor had landed himself near the theater that Zatanna was intended to work - Alhambra Theater - and though he looked a little saddened when he realized he had missed his friend's show, he decided to enter on in anyway.
Thankfully, he was not in his Asgardian garb. He had stamped the end of Mjolnir against the ground and had transformed into more modern-day clothing. Like a jacket, simple jeans, solid plain t-shirt. Mjolnir was now an umbrella, or at the very least took the appearance of such.
Though imagine his surprise when he notices a hound of the hunt! "Zatanna, what have you done this time?" He tells her with a friendly smile, but also something more stern in his eyes. He stands there for a moment, not moving…even though he's five seconds from smiting the thing.
Zatanna had moved to place herself in front of the manager, still dressed in her stage costume. "Oh, you know me, Thor. I probably spurned someones request for a date and now they think to hound me." beat "That is a Hound of the Hunt, isn't it?"
One of the Wild Hunt. And it certainly seems to be.
The hound snarls and growl, drool as it eyes the magician. With a shake of its shaggy head, it turns baleful eyes on Thor and … leaps. Intent of knocking the Asgardian god over.
Zatanna takes the opportunity to start casting a spell, speaking unintelligble words as blue arcane symbols fill the air by her hand.
Thor seems to shake his head just a little bit at her. "I'm surprised you still date at all considering the consequence of having a Wild Hunt animal coming after you. Speaking of which, it seems as if he would like to play."
Thor enters a more defensive position, but alas…Thor is mighty!
He catches the powerful hound in his hands and he holds it there. "Whenever you are ready for the banishments, Zatanna! and By Odins beard, make it quick, he's a wriggly one!"
Apparently Thor doesn't want to smite it, since it would likely mean damaging the theater they are in at the moment and that would be a bad time.
There's also the political ramifications of destroying a creature of another Pantheon. Regardless of whether they should have been here or not - sometimes one needs to be careful.
The hound is strong is though and struggles against Thors grip, trying to knock the god down and go for his throat. The god of thunder can smell its fetid breath and it snaps at his face.
Zatanna doesn't answer immediately, she's busy casting. Where the arcane symbols swirl, a portal starts to open, the raven haired mage nodding to Thor. "That should do it…"
Thor still has to wrestle the creature towards the portal and shove it in there … which won't be easy.
That is….also true. Though considering Thor's past conflicts with other pantheonic representitives, it probably wouldn't even surprise Odin if Thor got into a fight with another 'god', as it were. Either way, Thor's eyes narrow at this monster as it continues to struggle against Thor's grip, which makes Thor have to try so much harder just to keep this beast from escaping his hads.
A portal opens and Thor notices it. So, he tries to drag the hound over to the portal, though seems to be having some such trouble throwing it inside. "In the name of Odin…go back to whence you came!"
Thor tries to just toss the monster through the portal, though he'll probably get bit while he does so.
Thor being reckless, mainly.
Zatanna watches as Thor struggles. She doesn't try to help - she knows it will only hinder him. There's a wince though as the beast twists and tries to bite Thors arm.
It takes long moments before Thor manages to wrestle the beast through the opening. It's still snapping and snarling as it's tossed unceremoniously, it probably does get its teeth on the god.
Zatanna utters another incantation, the words still indecipherable, and the swirling blue portal shriks to nothing and winks out. "That was refreshing…" She says to the room in general. "I thank you, Thor for your assistance. Are you alright?"
The manager is ashen faced behind the mage, slightly agape as he views the pair. "I I I need a drink…." He stutters and Zatanna turns that smile on him.
"A very good idea, Malcolm. I'll have a scotch on the rocks, if you don't mind. Thor will have ale and keep it coming - put it all on my tab of course."
Thor manages to get the beast in there all the same, but its teeth manage to dig into Thor's arm and wrend flesh there before he's thrown through the portal. He looks at his arm when Zatanna asks him if he's alright, before he shakes his head.
"Naught but a scratch, Zatanna. The beast was no match for my strength or your cleverness." Thor approaches Zatanna then, as if trying to scoop her up in a giant hug.
"But enough of that for now! How are you my friend?! It has been far too long." Of course, if he was allowed to hug her, he'll put her down after such words. "…and what god did you approach or deny relations with that they would send such a foul beast from an even fouler force?"
"That is not a scratch, Thor." Zatanna answers as she's scooped up into that hug. It's returned - they're friends after all. "I am well, as you can see. Attracting trouble as always."
When she's finally deposited back onto the floor, she gestures to a table nearby as Malcolm returns with the drinks. Several glasses of ale for Thor to start with "It's not Asgardian, Lord Thor. My apologies…" the man stutters, still shaken.
"Go and rest, Malcolm. I'll see you before I leave. We can schedule another time to talk shows." Zee smiles.
"I doubt it was that, Thor. Someones been sending cursed artifacts into the city, where I will find them or they'll find me. I can't wonder if this is related or something else entirely. I have precious few leads on it as well."
It sounds like she has some though.
"And yourself? Wine and women throughout the nine realms?"
"Then we have differing opinions on what is a scratch and what is not." Thor chuckles, but after he puts Zatanna down, he looks over to Malcolm as he brings glasses of ale. "HAH! Do not be ashamed, friend Malcolm. I do not trust you to get what is generally impossible to receive. Your thoughtfulness is well-seen in my eyes, I thank you my friend." He accepts the tray that is given and proceeds to down five of the seven ales and doesn't even look buzzed when it would probably knock the average person unconscious.
"Cursed artifacts, you say? Are you certain it isn't my brother being hard at work?" He asks Zatanna curiously, before he ponders. "Well, should you have need of assistance, I will be happy to help you." He gives her a bow of his head then in approval of his own words.
"The wine yes, the women not so much. Though I would not deny such company, I had a mission to complete throughout the Nine Realms." he chuckles. "Why do you ask?" he winks at her
"A mission, hmmm? You've been gone a short while, I was curious. Can I assume that the universe not ending means you were successful?" Zatanna answers, sipping the scotch enjoying the burn of the liquid on the back of her throat. "Keep them coming, Malcolm." She says as five of the ales disappear like Thor just inhaled them.
"As certain as I can be, that it is not your brother." Though she's probably expecting a visit from the god of mischief. "His son came to visit and has offered assistance as well. I will accept it, of course - I just don't know what I'm dealing with yet. I have to take a trip to Otherworld soon and speak with the Emrys, that's where my clues are leading so far."
"By the way, what do you think of my new place?" She gestures to the theatre about them.
Thor seems to chuckle for a moment before he smirks. "Yes indeed. I was successful and Ragnarok will not be occuring anytime soon, you are all very very welcome." Remind one of a certain Samoan deity? But, Thor downs the other two ales and patiently waits for the next ones. Thats the thing with earth drinks.
While they do absolutely nothing for him, they are extremely tasty.
Alas, he does nod. "Ah, I see. Well, should you require further assistance, I am present. Though I should tell you that my brother, or my nephew, will probably not very much appreciate it." He chuckles.
He looks around at the theater. "Quite nice and homely, if you have my opinion on the matter. It is a palace fit for a queen." he nods.
"I wouldn't be so sure on that, Thor. But I won't be getting in between family matters. Everyone knows that ends poorly for the poor mortal when Asgardians … and just about any other dieties … are involved." Zatanna grins and looks around the theatre they're sitting in.
"I will take your assistance, without question. I'm good, but I have limits and who doesn't need a meat shield every so often?" Glass cannon. That's what Zee is.
"A palace fit for a Queen, hmmm? Well, I'm no Queen but I'm buying it. At least this space in the building. I'm going to make it a venue for people to come. Maybe I'll attract other aspiring magicians or performers who don't fit other spaces. If not, I can have a regular show of my own."
Thor seems to nod for a moment at Zatanna as she speaks and he actually even chuckles. "Fair enough, fair enough. Though I suppose time will reveal all to us, no?" He teases her ever so softly, but he laughs. "I am not a meat shield, I am a meat hammer. I hear among the earliest of youths on this planet that there is a difference, no?"
Thor gives a twirl of his umbrella with a finger, idly messing with Zatanna but he knows that besides magic, she is just a normal person and has a regular person's durability. Makes her quite tough, actually to keep down.
"Then should I refer to you as Queen Zatanna, Mistress of Magic?" He questions, before he just smiles. "I think it is a wonderful idea to convert this place into a regular stage for you and any other guest performers who wish to show the world their talents."
Zatanna chuckles at the teasing. "I'll accept that. You can punch and I can cast spells. It works and I prefer to stack the deck my way, when I can." It's almost sad smile she gives Thor as she adds "Dad always told me there's no such thing as a fair playing field and if I was going into a fight, to make sure I tilted the field in my favour."
She shakes herself, pushing thoughts of her father away and looks at the umbrella "Nice camoflauge. I pity the poor person who tries to lift it though."
Draining her drink and signalling Malcolm for another one. "If you have some time now, I can show you around before Malcolm and I catch up for tomorrow night. And no, just Zee will be fine."
Thor chuckles a little bit, but when Zatanna speaks of her father, he can understand just by looking at her that it is a painful subject that likely should not be discussed much further beyond what has already been said. Thor does nod for a quick moment though.
"I thought it was rather creative, though I will have to make sure I'm holding onto it the entire time almost." He chuckles. "To avoid anyone trying to pick it up, of course."
He thinks for a second. "If you like, Zatanna, I would not refuse you I think. However, I believe Malcolm's intended conversation with you is an important one, yes? It can wait until later if so."
"Perhaps you are right, Thor. It's getting late and unlike me who is used to seeing the dawn in, Malcom likely isn't. Raincheck?"
The Mistress of Magic smiles brightly as she rises from her chair. "Why don't you drop by tomorrow or the next day and I'll give you a tour of the old place? Maybe I'll have some leads of that hound as well. Or maybe you will…"
A wild hunt hound is no small matter, after all.