Post by Green Lantern on Dec 9, 2015 5:12:42 GMT -5
Aquaman With nowhere else to go, the trail of Manta growing beyond cold, and the Suicide Squad doing nothing to help him, especially Waller, Arthur had elected to stay with Zatanna. He brought nothing in to pay the bills and had no skills that could really help him get a job, not that he would, but the young man had made himself useful in other ways. While she was out, he went about her home cleaning up, dusting a bit, ducking random things that popped out of her books, and cooking. Most of his meals involved fish. Today, the chores had been accomplished rather quickly and Arthur was presently laying out along the couch, hands pillowed behind his head, as his ocean blues stared up at the ceiling.
Zatanna Zatanna had a remainder of her tour to finish. So, she was often gone most nights. and would often do a few heroics as well. Appearing in her room at some late hour, to pass out, exhuasted. She would chat with Arthur during the days, and appreciated him cleaning and tiding the mansion which was larger on the inside for some reason. The only rule, was that he could not clean any mirrors. she often used magic to clean, realizing she had gotten lazy with it, she let him do it. And the meals were nice. Although she didn't know you could cook salmon ins so many ways. As Arthur lounged on the couch a large white furred head leans over to look him in the eye. Sasha, looks annoyed. Someone took her spot! A voice appeared behind Sasha's ear. "Let him rest. He deserves it. you can sleep on the chaise lounge." Blue eyes and dark hair appeared where the tiger had been. "how are you doing? you seem lost in thought today.
Aquaman There was a glaze to his eyes as he looked forward.... "Daddy!" called four year old Arthur as he ran down the sandy beach by their light house, leaping up into his father's arms and hugging him tight. "We go out into the boat today right!?' he said excitedly, hands resting on Tom Curry's shoulders. "Yes Arthur," he said, beaming as he turned and walked towards the shore, the little wooden paddle boat waiting there for them. Setting Arthur down first, Tom lowered down to push the boat back into the water, "Now make sure the cooler's secure, son. If we loose it, we're going to have to come back earlier." He clambered over the wooden planks that formed the seats, making sure the bungee chord that held onto the cooler was tight and kept it flush against the back of the boat before turning and giving his dad a wide smile and a thumbs up, "It's secure!" Moving back to the bow of the boat, his hands held on as Tom turned it and hopped in before beginning to paddle them out to sea. "Dad..." he whispered, closing his eyes and clenching his teeth to bite back to tears that threatened to come. A soft feminine voice came to him and he turned his head slowly, opening his eyes, to look at Zatanna. "Hm...?" he muttered, a moment passing before he was pulled out of his thoughts and he sat up, "Oh.. Mf..Sorry. How was the show?" Quickly changing the subject, he turned and planted his feet on the floor, eyes looking to Zee's.
Zatanna She looked at him, looking concenred, but he seemed to want to push past it as he sat up quickly. she put on her entertainers smile. "Sold out show. Left them amazed. Got to pull off a the houdini water tank trink, without any real magic. so, that was fun." she sat next to him, and looked back into his eyes. her thin brows furrowed a little. "it doesn't take a magician to see someone who is a million miles away, and still be in the same room. Something on your mind?"
Aquaman "That's nice to hear," he responded, offering a smile although he could tell that her's was as fake as his own, put on for the sake of the other. When she turned and sat next to him, Arthur knew that he was not going to get out of answering her questions. "My dad..." he answered, turned his gaze to the floor and staring down at it. Biting back his pride, he continued, "I want... I want to show you something, but first, I need you to take me to Amnesty Bay. It's a coastal town in northern Maine. I need to go to the lighthouse there."
Zatanna As he stared at the floor. she put a gentle hand on his shoulder, and just let him speak. "There is no rush Arthur. But if that is what you want. I will go with you." she was surprised that the man who liked to keep so quiet on his past was telling her so much. But he seemed to need a friend and someone to share his trouble with, and well, who was better at keeping a secret than a magician? she nodded, agreeing. 'Want me to zap us there?" she offered. she wondered what a lighthouse had to do with his past.
Aquaman She had helped him, given him a place to stay, offered company, and put up with having fish more than any surfacer would. Most of all, she had dealt with him. Arthur understood that he was not always the best of company and that he could be quite difficult. Zatanna had put up with it however and still maintained the cheery side of her. He nodded, "Yes. It would be faster." If he was going to tell her anything, then the lighthouse of his father would be the place to do it. His life had begun there, both of them... Really, everything started from there like it was some sort of catalyst for any part of his life.
Zatanna She smiled, glad that he felt like he could open up to her, and nodded at her using magic to take them there. Arthur was not her easiest of house guests. Sasha was often in a better mood. Although Sasha loved his seafood dinners. But he was kind, and honerable, and always apologized when he was in the wrong. Something, not many men did these days. Toads, perhaps, but not men. she guided him upstairs. to a hallway that was much longer than it should be. taking him to a blank wall at the end of it. "I don't know what the light house looks like, so my magic may not get us there very exactly. if you have a key to the light house or can picture it in your mind, that would be easiest.' she said simply.
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Aquaman Staring up at the house on the cliff as it overlooked the ocean below. Memories flooded back into the front of his mind as well as a storm of emotions while the waves themselves crashed against the rocks below. "This place... is was my home," he began as he started up the path, leading the way towards it. Each step brought back another memory and feeling. "I never knew my mother," he continued, each footstep becoming heavier but easier to make as his bare feet pressed into the dirt. "So I came up with only my dad. He always said how important this place was... how the light always needed to be shining so that passing sailors knew where there was danger but land to find safety as well." Arthur stopped at the threshold of the porch, looking down at the boards that made the steps and platform. He had crawled and played over these many times.. but it was down behind the house and where the steps over to the side that he had found his solace growing up.
Zatanna As they stood before the lighthouse, Zatanna stayed like that for a long moment. Looking into Arthur's eyes without really seeing them, feeling them was a closer word. She still had her hands resting on his head, still linked with his thoughts. It was then that a tidal wave of emotions and memories flooded over her. so many... so many conflicting... she stepped back in a bit of surprise, hands letting go. The link severed, and so did the thoughts. But their echo remained. It was just as well, it wasn't her business to pry into this man. Arthur obviously had his conflicts and secrets, and she respected him for it. Even though curiosity often got the best of her. Her heels clicking mutely in stones and dust as they approached the home, following him up on to porch. she started to wonder if her 'working' outfit was appropriate here. she listened to his words. and she felt an ache in her heart for her own. "Your father sounded wise." she said looking at the beautiful seascape before them.
Zatanna As they stood before the lighthouse, Zatanna stayed like that for a long moment. Looking into Arthur's eyes without really seeing them, feeling them was a closer word. She still had her hands resting on his head, still linked with his thoughts. It was then that a tidal wave of emotions and memories flooded over her. so many... so many conflicting... she stepped back in a bit of surprise, hands letting go. The link severed, and so did the thoughts. But their echo remained. It was just as well, it wasn't her business to pry into this man. Arthur obviously had his conflicts and secrets, and she respected him for it. Even though curiosity often got the best of her. Her heels clicking mutely in stones and dust as they approached the home, following him up on to porch. she started to wonder if her 'working' outfit was appropriate here. she listened to his words. and she felt an ache in her heart for her own. "Your father sounded wise." she said looking at the beautiful seascape before them.
Aquaman "He was," he responded in a whisper, heart thumping in his chest as he finally found the ability to step up onto the porch and then the front door. He had not gone inside... or even visited since his father's death. To step inside would be to knowingly open up a place within that he had kept secreted away from so long. Clenching his teeth, Arthur turned the knob and stepped inside. The opening hall greeted them with the thick blanket of dust over everything, but it was clear that his gold had not been wasted. Everything appeared to be in good shape and the light house was, of course, working. "It was the fish we kept in the tank that made me see that I was different. Even when I was a child, they would follow me and watch then they started to speak to me as I got a bit older. I told my dad and...heh... Instead of thinking I was crazy, he believed me. To a five year old that means the world, to be believed, but once I found out the truth of who my mother was it all made sense."
Zatanna gave a sad smile as she heard him reply in the past tense and gently touched his shoulder as he stood there for a long moment holding the door knob. This was clearly hard on him. And she felt somewhat honored that he trusted her and held her in such confidence to let her join him on this journey for him. She knew Arthur was a strong and proud man, and to let him see her struggle spoke something about him and well her as well. She was touched for a moment and then followed him in. It was a bit dusty, but not so dusty that it looked like no one ever came here. This place was cared for. She listened to Arthur's story, one of discovering who and what you are. and glad that his dad believed so much in him. That echoed with her as well... (e)
Aquaman Turning to his side, Arthur headed into the living room. The television was new. He had put his fist through the first and launched through the window at the reporters that were harassing him after his father had died. "It was when a great white appeared when I was seven that my father got scared. He took me to see a friend, Doctor Stephen Shin, to see if he could help me. He ran tests, did experiments, even placed me in a tank with a shark. I liked him for a while... but he started to believe I was proof of Atlantis. Thought I knew where it was. He... got violent with me and my father took me away. So Shin ended up disgraced and stewed for over ten years until... he reached out to a treasure hunter that was nearby. He came here for my blood, but he found my father. They fought, but my father had a heart attack and... here is where I found him." Arthur stood in the center of the room, looking down at the floor and the very spot where he had picked up his father. "I carried dad to the hospital but he... he didn't make it."
Zatanna followed Arthur into the house to the lived in looking living room and heard more of the story. A doctor who discovered what Arthur really was. Just a human who couldn't be satisfied with such a secret, especially one as guarded as Atlantis. Magic was like that too. secrets just beyond the range of some people, and those who would do anything for them, would ruin anything, ruin lives just to get a taste of it. would do anything to have the power and promise of it. and it was good of Arthur's father to take him away from that... from that kind of man. But to find out that he hired some low life and how that impacted Arthur and his father... she was quiet for a moment. Before she softly said. "I'm sorry Arthur. I know there is nothing I can say that you don't know or hadn't thought of, but I'm sorry that some people just don't realize the impact they have on the world around them. And despite of your heritage, you were just a boy and his father caring for this place." There was a long pause as she thought of what to say, and so she didn't. she just came up behind him and wrapped her arms about him, holding him for a long moment. (e)
Aquaman He felt her arms close around his body and listened to her words. However his tale was not done. "I left him that night after he flat-lined," he continued, closing his eyes and clenching his fingers into fists. "The storm hid the stars behind it; the rain and lightning filled the air with the thunder roared. I hunted the man that killed my father. It took me only hours. I swam to his boat, got on board, and then I turned his head around." The last few words were uttered through clenched teeth as his body began to shake. "He stared at me in shock while his body faced the bow of the ship but... then he came aboard and I realized that I didn't kill the man... but his father. We fought, but it was only the beginning." Arthur felt his legs start to give out, "He came after me a couple of years later. Kidnapped my son..." His voice started to crack and break, "Black Manta... killed him. He killed <I>my boy...</I>" The legs which could carry him hundreds of feet into the air, propelled him in water faster than a jet could fly in the air, could not support his own body weight and Arthur dropped to his knees, tears flowing out from his eyes. Arthur's body shivered, now more of a wreck than the man who had so easily killed beneath her stage on their first meeting. Who had fought some of the darkest things in defense of the world while wearing the crown of a people who hated him for half of his blood no mater what he did. "Artie..." he gasped out, shoulders slumping as all the feelings of sadness that had been bottled up within broke through.
Zatanna held him, his story continued... pain and death, misunderstanding and long harbored grudges. She just listened as he continued, held him. as she heard Arthur's tale, about a battle between two men which kept escalating, she held him a bit tighter. Until he seemed to get heavier, so heavy that he suddenly sank from her grasp as he landed on his knees, gasping and choking on emotion. A son... she never had any idea that Arthur had more of a family than his half brother or his father. that he had son! This strong man, who could easily kill, like he did when she first met him. so weak to his loss which he had to toughen himself to, just to keep going. So broken on the ground before her. she bit her lip to keep herself from crying, and got down on her knees and gently stroked his hair with her fingers before gripping his shoulders and guiding him into her arms. "Oh Arthur... I"m so sorry... I can't imagine such a fight and such losses. Especially of your Artie... I..." she held him quietly, rubbing his back gently. "Thank you for sharing with me... i know this is hard for you." she said softly.
Zatanna Zatanna had a remainder of her tour to finish. So, she was often gone most nights. and would often do a few heroics as well. Appearing in her room at some late hour, to pass out, exhuasted. She would chat with Arthur during the days, and appreciated him cleaning and tiding the mansion which was larger on the inside for some reason. The only rule, was that he could not clean any mirrors. she often used magic to clean, realizing she had gotten lazy with it, she let him do it. And the meals were nice. Although she didn't know you could cook salmon ins so many ways. As Arthur lounged on the couch a large white furred head leans over to look him in the eye. Sasha, looks annoyed. Someone took her spot! A voice appeared behind Sasha's ear. "Let him rest. He deserves it. you can sleep on the chaise lounge." Blue eyes and dark hair appeared where the tiger had been. "how are you doing? you seem lost in thought today.
Aquaman There was a glaze to his eyes as he looked forward.... "Daddy!" called four year old Arthur as he ran down the sandy beach by their light house, leaping up into his father's arms and hugging him tight. "We go out into the boat today right!?' he said excitedly, hands resting on Tom Curry's shoulders. "Yes Arthur," he said, beaming as he turned and walked towards the shore, the little wooden paddle boat waiting there for them. Setting Arthur down first, Tom lowered down to push the boat back into the water, "Now make sure the cooler's secure, son. If we loose it, we're going to have to come back earlier." He clambered over the wooden planks that formed the seats, making sure the bungee chord that held onto the cooler was tight and kept it flush against the back of the boat before turning and giving his dad a wide smile and a thumbs up, "It's secure!" Moving back to the bow of the boat, his hands held on as Tom turned it and hopped in before beginning to paddle them out to sea. "Dad..." he whispered, closing his eyes and clenching his teeth to bite back to tears that threatened to come. A soft feminine voice came to him and he turned his head slowly, opening his eyes, to look at Zatanna. "Hm...?" he muttered, a moment passing before he was pulled out of his thoughts and he sat up, "Oh.. Mf..Sorry. How was the show?" Quickly changing the subject, he turned and planted his feet on the floor, eyes looking to Zee's.
Zatanna She looked at him, looking concenred, but he seemed to want to push past it as he sat up quickly. she put on her entertainers smile. "Sold out show. Left them amazed. Got to pull off a the houdini water tank trink, without any real magic. so, that was fun." she sat next to him, and looked back into his eyes. her thin brows furrowed a little. "it doesn't take a magician to see someone who is a million miles away, and still be in the same room. Something on your mind?"
Aquaman "That's nice to hear," he responded, offering a smile although he could tell that her's was as fake as his own, put on for the sake of the other. When she turned and sat next to him, Arthur knew that he was not going to get out of answering her questions. "My dad..." he answered, turned his gaze to the floor and staring down at it. Biting back his pride, he continued, "I want... I want to show you something, but first, I need you to take me to Amnesty Bay. It's a coastal town in northern Maine. I need to go to the lighthouse there."
Zatanna As he stared at the floor. she put a gentle hand on his shoulder, and just let him speak. "There is no rush Arthur. But if that is what you want. I will go with you." she was surprised that the man who liked to keep so quiet on his past was telling her so much. But he seemed to need a friend and someone to share his trouble with, and well, who was better at keeping a secret than a magician? she nodded, agreeing. 'Want me to zap us there?" she offered. she wondered what a lighthouse had to do with his past.
Aquaman She had helped him, given him a place to stay, offered company, and put up with having fish more than any surfacer would. Most of all, she had dealt with him. Arthur understood that he was not always the best of company and that he could be quite difficult. Zatanna had put up with it however and still maintained the cheery side of her. He nodded, "Yes. It would be faster." If he was going to tell her anything, then the lighthouse of his father would be the place to do it. His life had begun there, both of them... Really, everything started from there like it was some sort of catalyst for any part of his life.
Zatanna She smiled, glad that he felt like he could open up to her, and nodded at her using magic to take them there. Arthur was not her easiest of house guests. Sasha was often in a better mood. Although Sasha loved his seafood dinners. But he was kind, and honerable, and always apologized when he was in the wrong. Something, not many men did these days. Toads, perhaps, but not men. she guided him upstairs. to a hallway that was much longer than it should be. taking him to a blank wall at the end of it. "I don't know what the light house looks like, so my magic may not get us there very exactly. if you have a key to the light house or can picture it in your mind, that would be easiest.' she said simply.
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Aquaman Staring up at the house on the cliff as it overlooked the ocean below. Memories flooded back into the front of his mind as well as a storm of emotions while the waves themselves crashed against the rocks below. "This place... is was my home," he began as he started up the path, leading the way towards it. Each step brought back another memory and feeling. "I never knew my mother," he continued, each footstep becoming heavier but easier to make as his bare feet pressed into the dirt. "So I came up with only my dad. He always said how important this place was... how the light always needed to be shining so that passing sailors knew where there was danger but land to find safety as well." Arthur stopped at the threshold of the porch, looking down at the boards that made the steps and platform. He had crawled and played over these many times.. but it was down behind the house and where the steps over to the side that he had found his solace growing up.
Zatanna As they stood before the lighthouse, Zatanna stayed like that for a long moment. Looking into Arthur's eyes without really seeing them, feeling them was a closer word. She still had her hands resting on his head, still linked with his thoughts. It was then that a tidal wave of emotions and memories flooded over her. so many... so many conflicting... she stepped back in a bit of surprise, hands letting go. The link severed, and so did the thoughts. But their echo remained. It was just as well, it wasn't her business to pry into this man. Arthur obviously had his conflicts and secrets, and she respected him for it. Even though curiosity often got the best of her. Her heels clicking mutely in stones and dust as they approached the home, following him up on to porch. she started to wonder if her 'working' outfit was appropriate here. she listened to his words. and she felt an ache in her heart for her own. "Your father sounded wise." she said looking at the beautiful seascape before them.
Zatanna As they stood before the lighthouse, Zatanna stayed like that for a long moment. Looking into Arthur's eyes without really seeing them, feeling them was a closer word. She still had her hands resting on his head, still linked with his thoughts. It was then that a tidal wave of emotions and memories flooded over her. so many... so many conflicting... she stepped back in a bit of surprise, hands letting go. The link severed, and so did the thoughts. But their echo remained. It was just as well, it wasn't her business to pry into this man. Arthur obviously had his conflicts and secrets, and she respected him for it. Even though curiosity often got the best of her. Her heels clicking mutely in stones and dust as they approached the home, following him up on to porch. she started to wonder if her 'working' outfit was appropriate here. she listened to his words. and she felt an ache in her heart for her own. "Your father sounded wise." she said looking at the beautiful seascape before them.
Aquaman "He was," he responded in a whisper, heart thumping in his chest as he finally found the ability to step up onto the porch and then the front door. He had not gone inside... or even visited since his father's death. To step inside would be to knowingly open up a place within that he had kept secreted away from so long. Clenching his teeth, Arthur turned the knob and stepped inside. The opening hall greeted them with the thick blanket of dust over everything, but it was clear that his gold had not been wasted. Everything appeared to be in good shape and the light house was, of course, working. "It was the fish we kept in the tank that made me see that I was different. Even when I was a child, they would follow me and watch then they started to speak to me as I got a bit older. I told my dad and...heh... Instead of thinking I was crazy, he believed me. To a five year old that means the world, to be believed, but once I found out the truth of who my mother was it all made sense."
Zatanna gave a sad smile as she heard him reply in the past tense and gently touched his shoulder as he stood there for a long moment holding the door knob. This was clearly hard on him. And she felt somewhat honored that he trusted her and held her in such confidence to let her join him on this journey for him. She knew Arthur was a strong and proud man, and to let him see her struggle spoke something about him and well her as well. She was touched for a moment and then followed him in. It was a bit dusty, but not so dusty that it looked like no one ever came here. This place was cared for. She listened to Arthur's story, one of discovering who and what you are. and glad that his dad believed so much in him. That echoed with her as well... (e)
Aquaman Turning to his side, Arthur headed into the living room. The television was new. He had put his fist through the first and launched through the window at the reporters that were harassing him after his father had died. "It was when a great white appeared when I was seven that my father got scared. He took me to see a friend, Doctor Stephen Shin, to see if he could help me. He ran tests, did experiments, even placed me in a tank with a shark. I liked him for a while... but he started to believe I was proof of Atlantis. Thought I knew where it was. He... got violent with me and my father took me away. So Shin ended up disgraced and stewed for over ten years until... he reached out to a treasure hunter that was nearby. He came here for my blood, but he found my father. They fought, but my father had a heart attack and... here is where I found him." Arthur stood in the center of the room, looking down at the floor and the very spot where he had picked up his father. "I carried dad to the hospital but he... he didn't make it."
Zatanna followed Arthur into the house to the lived in looking living room and heard more of the story. A doctor who discovered what Arthur really was. Just a human who couldn't be satisfied with such a secret, especially one as guarded as Atlantis. Magic was like that too. secrets just beyond the range of some people, and those who would do anything for them, would ruin anything, ruin lives just to get a taste of it. would do anything to have the power and promise of it. and it was good of Arthur's father to take him away from that... from that kind of man. But to find out that he hired some low life and how that impacted Arthur and his father... she was quiet for a moment. Before she softly said. "I'm sorry Arthur. I know there is nothing I can say that you don't know or hadn't thought of, but I'm sorry that some people just don't realize the impact they have on the world around them. And despite of your heritage, you were just a boy and his father caring for this place." There was a long pause as she thought of what to say, and so she didn't. she just came up behind him and wrapped her arms about him, holding him for a long moment. (e)
Aquaman He felt her arms close around his body and listened to her words. However his tale was not done. "I left him that night after he flat-lined," he continued, closing his eyes and clenching his fingers into fists. "The storm hid the stars behind it; the rain and lightning filled the air with the thunder roared. I hunted the man that killed my father. It took me only hours. I swam to his boat, got on board, and then I turned his head around." The last few words were uttered through clenched teeth as his body began to shake. "He stared at me in shock while his body faced the bow of the ship but... then he came aboard and I realized that I didn't kill the man... but his father. We fought, but it was only the beginning." Arthur felt his legs start to give out, "He came after me a couple of years later. Kidnapped my son..." His voice started to crack and break, "Black Manta... killed him. He killed <I>my boy...</I>" The legs which could carry him hundreds of feet into the air, propelled him in water faster than a jet could fly in the air, could not support his own body weight and Arthur dropped to his knees, tears flowing out from his eyes. Arthur's body shivered, now more of a wreck than the man who had so easily killed beneath her stage on their first meeting. Who had fought some of the darkest things in defense of the world while wearing the crown of a people who hated him for half of his blood no mater what he did. "Artie..." he gasped out, shoulders slumping as all the feelings of sadness that had been bottled up within broke through.
Zatanna held him, his story continued... pain and death, misunderstanding and long harbored grudges. She just listened as he continued, held him. as she heard Arthur's tale, about a battle between two men which kept escalating, she held him a bit tighter. Until he seemed to get heavier, so heavy that he suddenly sank from her grasp as he landed on his knees, gasping and choking on emotion. A son... she never had any idea that Arthur had more of a family than his half brother or his father. that he had son! This strong man, who could easily kill, like he did when she first met him. so weak to his loss which he had to toughen himself to, just to keep going. So broken on the ground before her. she bit her lip to keep herself from crying, and got down on her knees and gently stroked his hair with her fingers before gripping his shoulders and guiding him into her arms. "Oh Arthur... I"m so sorry... I can't imagine such a fight and such losses. Especially of your Artie... I..." she held him quietly, rubbing his back gently. "Thank you for sharing with me... i know this is hard for you." she said softly.
