☆ video.

[hexappeal]

[James and Zatanna are in what appears to be a moment of domestic bliss. Everyone's favorite couple are in her media room and, more importantly, they're surrounded by rabbits of all kinds. They're on the floor, on the desk, and... mostly curled up near James. One in particular is laying on its back in his lap, fast asleep. The couple, however, are focused on the computer before them.

Zatanna makes a rushed noise and points at the screen, prompting James to stop scrolling.] See! I told you there was a ton! [The screen features a cluster of fanfiction about the two of them, a good number of them seem to be weird AUs and love triangles.

James reads a description of one aloud:] "It Takes Two to Teach Love by TantalizingTwilightFan: Zatanna is the new vampiric vixen English teacher in the City, upon meeting James Bond, her boss and school Principal, she thinks he's rude and obnoxious. Is there more to him than meets the eye? Rated Mature for language and lemons." ...These natives have a little too much time on their hands. At least they understand the part about you being blood sucking.

I'd hit you, if it didn't mean waking the bunnies. [A beat.] What do lemons have to do with a mature rating? I like that I get to be the vampire in this one, though. [She seems a little too pleased with this.]

Vampire or not, it says here that I'm your boss. [He shifts just enough in his chair to somehow look more smug than he already did.] Now be a dear, Miss Zatara, and get us a bottle of wine before I'm forced to drown myself in bunnies instead.

You know, I might enjoy watching that... but I'm only going to do this because I'm too sober to read any of these. When I get back, you better be prepared to read that quality piece of fiction to me, Mister Bond. [She carefully extracts herself from her seat so as not to disturb any bunnies and the video comes to an end. It's for the better that they don't read any of these on the Network. They're looking in the mature section, after all.]

Comments

[hexappeal]

It's almost two hours, so probably. Why, it might even be a good time for you to make that drink you still owe me!

[waiting]

Isn't eggnog season over? I don't really have any other cocktail specialties.

[hexappeal]

I'm pretty sure alcoholic drinks are always in season. And it's cold enough that I can pretend it's December, if I must.

[waiting]

That works.

Can't exactly invite you over, though. I moved out of the MAC.

[hexappeal]

You moved somewhere that you can't invite me to? [She leans in, hair falling over her shoulder.]

[waiting]

It's temporary. [ He hopes. ] I'm petsitting for someone.

[hexappeal]

So I can't come over because their pet is scared of... magicians?

[waiting]

[ There's a bit of discomfort and faint apology in his voice when he replies. ]

Just doesn't feel right to have people come over when it isn't my place.

[ Not that he's implying Zatanna would trash it or anything. ]

[hexappeal]

Whose place is it.

[She'll tell you that it's okay, no matter who it is... careful, B.]

[waiting]

Abigail Boylen.

[ And Terry's, technically. ]

She got Ported out.

[hexappeal]

You can come over to my place.

[waiting]

[ His tone could almost be called grateful, even if he plays it off with a joke. ]

Does that mean I have to make drinks for Bond, too?

[hexappeal]

He doesn't live here.

[There's a little something to her words. It's easy to take note of, but difficult to decipher. It disappears when she continues.] You know he wouldn't turn down a drink, if it's offered.

[waiting]

[ He picks up on it, but he's never been the type to call someone out on this kind of thing. He does pause, though, considering his response. ]

Hey, I never promised I'd make him a drink.

[hexappeal]

[It's for the better because she'll play dumb. It was partially intentional, not entirely for Bradbury's benefit. If at all.]

That's good to hear. I don't want to think you go around throwing that offer at whoever may accept it.

[waiting]

Do I really seem like the type?

[hexappeal]

The type that randomly offers drinks to anyone that will have you? It's an interesting thought, but no. I don't.

[waiting]

[ He chuckles, wryly. ]

Well, that's reassuring. Good to know I don't come off desperate.

[hexappeal]

For my company only, maybe. But I can't blame you. I'm a charming, attractive, and fascinating woman.

[waiting]

Modest, too. [ There's unmistakable amusement in his voice. ] How'd a catch like you end up with a guy like James Bond?

[hexappeal]

I try to be! [She's only teasing, but let's face it: she's a pretty rad chick.] You might be surprised, but we were friends for about two years before we started dating. He behaved himself and was a... really good friend. I'm still a little surprised we managed to work things out. Things were... complicated. For a long time. [She kind of misses those days. He really was her best friend. She could always count on him when she was feeling lonely. It was really only natural progression, that they'd end up together.]

[waiting]

[ He huffs, a sound that's either a laugh or a sigh. It's hard to tell, with only voice to go on, but at least he still sounds more amused than wistful when he replies. ]

Most relationships are.

Being here's got a way of bringing people together, doesn't it?

[hexappeal]

I'm sure ours was a little more complicated than most. [It was like a year and a half of him sleeping with people who weren't her because he couldn't have her and her doing the same thing and them both being astoundingly stupid. And mean, sometimes.]

I think so. I sorted out twenty years of avoidance in less than a year here, too. It was nice. It is nice.

[waiting]

I can imagine. [ His tone is dry, like he doesn't really want to imagine, but he can see it pretty clearly. ] You're both complicated people.

Must be something about the way weird shit happens here all the time. Makes you realize you only live once -- although here, I guess, you live as many times as the porter decides to bring you back.

[hexappeal]

[She frankly doesn't expect (or want) him to. There's plenty of evidence on the Network if he ever finds himself bored and curious at three in the morning. If at all possible, Zatanna would rather not relive that whole "I'm not your girlfriend, James" era of her life in the City. She'd just get angry and hit her boy toy for no reason if that were the case...]

It's just as potentially impermanent. I think it's more... it's of no consequence back home. If it screws everything up here, some day you'll make it back home and forget and it will be just peachy. [She briefly hesitates, looking at a rabbit nearby.] Of course, that can be just as painful. Forgetting.