Location: Base Level > Lounge
Interactions: Jack @Courtaud Viktor @FunnyGuy Casper @Shard Devan @Prosaic

The new guy acknowledged Zach by nodding his head, but he didn’t actually say anything. Meaning he was either deaf, mute, maybe both. That would make this a challenge... Then his theory was proven wrong when he opened his mouth to ask when the next mission would be. “Oh, so you can talk. Good to know.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know when the next mission will be. I’m sure Red will give us something when it’s time. In the meantime, chill. Relax a little. You just got here. Don’t worry about missions and stuff until the time comes. K?” Then he pointed his black and white magicians wand up. “neercsekoms!” Zach was enveloped with a bunch of smoke. When it cleared, Zach was gone. It looked like he teleported, but he really just ran off to the elevators to get to the lounge. Everyone else had already left, and it didn’t seem like he was getting anywhere with the silent guy.

When he arrived at the lounge, he saw Casper, the other new guy, he never did get his name... And Devan... He didn’t know much about Devan, except that his mentor was John Constantine, and it was clear Constantine was more than friends with his cousin. Zach shuddered at the thought. They were all gathered around the TV watching one of those ridiculous reality shows. Zach decided to butt in. It’s not like he had anything better to do. “Hey fellas! What are we watching?” He jumped on to the couch, and sat next to Viktor, which he only overheard his name by listening to their conversation.

"You're presented."

"You're gonna present me? To who? The JL already checked me out."

"No I mean present-ed. Like the present. Like grounded but in the present."

"You mean the past? This is the past for me. For you too..."

"You know what I mean!"



Location: Uhh.... wherever the tour ended, right outside the Teleporter room?
Interactions: Jack

---

This was off to a bad start. This had to be the worst idea anyone had had. Putting him on a secret team? It was all wrong. He was supposed to be out in public, creating a spectacle. Judging by their reserved tour guide and the other quiet people on his tour group, it would prove to be a very unspectacular experience. Felix couldn't even bring himself to remark on Red Tornado's sudden departure he was so bored. And then he heard the voice. It was annoyingly familiar. And sure enough as soon as he heard that incantation, he knew. What teenager didn't know that voice? He was here.

Zachary Zatara. Well, it seemed there would be spectacle. Even more than Felix was looking for. Felix could only watch as the shit show unfolded from there. It seemed that he and Zach might just be permanently resigned to be the lives of this party. Them and that bird of the ghost boys. Felix opened his mouth to speak but was taken aback. The quiet boy... the quiet boy with Nightwing, his helmet. He had seen that before somewhere hadn't he? Beware. He had come with Nightwing. He had heard the bats had a new member. But this wasn't quite what he had expected. A knot formed in Felix's stomach. He retreated to a side hallway in all the ruckus.

Another Felix appeared by his side. Without missing a beat the other boy began. "Yeah I saw it too. Just gotta deal. There's supposed to be tons of them. This doesn't mean anything."

"I know, I know. And we're hundreds of years in the past. Everyone alive now will be dead..." he said as if reciting a familiar mantra.

"Blah, blah, blah," the other Felix continued. "Exactly. Besides, he's working with Nightwing apparently. You know how all these guys are..."

Felix nodded to himself and his pair disappeared. By the time he returned most of the group had moved on to the lounge. All except him. The Talon. "So uh... don't think I introduced myself by the way. I'm Felix. Most everyone knows me as Gold Rush though." He held out a hand. The guy had that "I don't follow pop culture" feel to him so he probably hadn't seen any of his commercials or social media. No point in mentioning them.

---

---

Alisa stood over her new pair of jeans holding a palette full of paint, wondering which color to use next. It was a hard choice. Her once blue denim jeans were already covered in painted flowers and vines, from sunflowers to roses to clusters of tulips. A new flower had the potential to ruin the entire look or make it even better. She pursed her lips and dipped her paintbrush in red to make another rose along the bottom hem of the leg.

This had been an impromptu project. The nights here were hard and lonely, and Alisa had little else to do. Sleep was unneeded for someone like her. Back home, the nights had been easy. The other members of her family would often stay up until late at night working on projects and, failing that, Alisa always had something to do. But it wasn’t like that here. She had none of her old things from home, and procuring an easel and canvases and new books had proved difficult. The only things she really had were her new clothes that the woman who had brought her here had bought and some acrylics. So she had decided to paint her clothes. Better that then wandering the halls at 4 AM, alone. The project had proved more fun than Alisa had thought it would be, and she was nearly done. She’d just have to find a place to dry it… She looked around her room. There were no windows in here to dry it against. All she had was a pretty useless twin bed, her desk, her TV, her chair, and her dresser. It was terribly plain for Alisa, but she hadn’t yet gotten any decorations.

Before Alisa got a chance to get distracted again and look for a good place to hang her jeans to dry, there was a knock at her door. A soft one, but Alisa heard it clearly.

“Hey. Um. Alisa? If you’re in there… you feel like going to meet the new people?” Alisa heard Kassy said.

A smile immediately brightened Alisa’s face. The new people! God, how had she missed that?! She had been waiting for their arrival for days and she had completely missed it. She glanced at the clock and winced. 11 AM already? Jeez, I took forever on these jeans.

“Coming!” she yelled at the door. Hurriedly, she put her palette of paint down on her desk and her brushes in a glass of water. She rushed to the door, opening it.

“Kassy! Hi!” Alisa smiled, big and wide, revealing too-white teeth. Her shirt and sweatpants were splattered with paint, and so was her hair, which was tied into a messy bun. If Kassy looked behind her, she could very clearly see the mess inside. “I would love that! I’ve been so excited to meet everyone. Maybe give me a second though?” Alisa held up a finger and closed the door.

In her room with the door closed again, Alisa got dressed. It was quick, and she came out within a minute.

Now, she looked much less disheveled. Her hair was still a bit covered in paint, but it was down and reached just below her collarbone. She was wearing a cute sweater with a sweetheart tank top over it, some denim jeans, tennis shoes, and silver clip-on star earrings. Alisa had never been one to not want to be fashionable.

“Ooh, I’m so excited! Come on, let’s go,” Alisa said, and she grabbed Kassy’s hand and started speed walking down the hallway. She was going perhaps a bit faster than was comfortable for most people. “Do you think there’ll be another girl that’s coming today? I hope so. I’m getting really sick of all these guys. They’re either edgy or really showy, and I don’t appreciate either. You’re excited, right? You don’t look excited.” Alisa scrutinized Kassy’s expression, furrowing her brows.

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.
💀 The Kitchen.

Interactions
💀 @Prosaic
💀 @FunnyGuy
💀 @Crimson Flame

---

How was an undead boy to answer that question? Devan was kind enough to pitch in, offering Viktor a simple denial, however it wasn’t quite what the two of them were looking for. Casper was a Wraithborn, but how was he going to present that? ”I’m..,” the phantasmal teen began, frowning softly. Viktor’s question wasn’t insulting, neither did it upset the deathly creature. It would be fair to claim that Casper simply didn’t care enough to react, his skin far thicker than it appeared. ”A ghost..,” came a shrug, before he brought that drink to his lips and enjoyed another swig. None of these people needed to know the details of what he was, or the process of his creation. Ghost was a far easier substitute.

“Can’t you tell from that beautiful personality of his?” Coal chirped.

Necromancy was a dark, forbidden art, something even the most prominent of mages were wary of, and a magical school few individuals understood. Casper was this very magic given flesh, his mortal frame entirely replaced. It was nothing he could explain, especially to individuals unaware of spellcraft. ”I use magic..,” the pale creature continued, raising a clawed hand to motion at Zach, where the magician appeared. ”But nothing like him..,” Casper added. Indeed, Zach and Casper’s magic were vastly different, and one could make the claim that they were nothing alike.

Those close to the Wraithborn may have noticed that the creature wasn’t breathing, especially someone with Viktor’s training. The boy’s heart was beating, however. Quite odd for an undead being, mimicking life to that extent. Such was the nature of a Wraithborn, Necromancy attempting to reflect life in dark, twisted ways. It was beating at slow, steady pace, never rising, never lowering, a constant rhythm clearly slower than that of a human’s, but enough to maintain a flow of that black blood beneath his flesh. “He still can’t fly, though,” Coal slowly shook his head, “one day this Ghost might be worth his salt, one day.”

”It’s fucking hard, okay..?” Despite Casper’s magical nature, flying was not a simple task. Given enough practice, it very well would be, but he had yet to reach that level.

“Yes, yes,” the avian commented, flapping its wings before perching atop a curtain rod. “So how would you survive naked and in the wilds, Cassy’?” Beady eyes turned towards the television. "Also, hello, Zachy' Boy. We're watching Naked and Stupid."

Casper in a survival show? His participation would be cheating, surely. ”If you want a survival test, Coal, we can step into the Spirit World..,” a small smirk crossed the Wraithborn's lips, revealing shark-like teeth.

“Don’t even joke about that!” The crow countered, hopping in place atop that curtain rod. “How many things want to kill us there, Cas’!?”

It took a moment for the ghostly teenager to consider Coal’s question, a claw rising as he counted, followed by another, and a third. ”Three..,” he returned. Three horrific, spiritual beasts Casper managed to agitate by stepping on their turf. The Weaver, The Wisp, and The Brewer, three monstrous fiends beyond the shore. Three monstrous sisters.

“And they sure as fuck don’t want to invite us over for tea!” The bird finished, before turning back to the television show.

”I’m Casper.., as you might have heard. On the field I’m Hex, for what it’s worth..,” The Wraithborn offered, answering Viktor’s question. In time, they would all know of each other’s powers and capabilities. In time, secrets would reveal themselves.

Location: Lounge, Sanctuary
Interactions: Casper, Zachary, Devan,

---

Viktor listened between Devan and Casper about what the latter was. His hard stare was upon Devan first who quickly pointed out what Casper was not. Then his eyes shifted to Casper. A ghost? His right eyebrow reflexively raised for a second before he nodded silently.

"Interesting." He simply said just as Zachary took a seat next to him while asking what they were all watching. The social butterfly had arrived. Viktor looked at him from the corner of his eye. "It's called Bared and Scared. Have you watched this before, Zachary?" Attempting being friendly, but his words lacked inflection. Perhaps Zachary sitting so close to him meant he hadn't hurt his feelings. Good.

Casper then mentioned his and Zachary's ability to use magic and also pointed out how it was not the same. It was fitting as he could not imagine Casper being as flashy as Zachary. Viktor's eyes seemed to now be affixed on Casper. He truly did find the guy interesting from what he could observe. It would be easier if he was just an alien or just a very peculiar meta. Magic and the supernatural just made things complicated yet intriguing for Viktor. Something new to learn about.

Then came the bickering between Casper and his bird, Coal. They brought up a few things that seemed to be just between the two of them, but Viktor took note. When they ceased, he spoke up.

"Nice to meet you, Casper, and you as well, Coal... Actually, it's nice meeting all of you… And I look forward to getting to know you all better." A hint of a smirk appeared briefly as he purposely took a certain someone's line.

---

Ja’s head bobbed along to the music still as he waited for her to finish up her call. Although the young afro boy had his headphones on, he was still able to hear the sudden burst of a voice from her phone. Ja blinked, but the fact that she laughed after the man on the phone’s outburst kept the smile on his face. She seemed friendly, which made him hopeful that the other new recruit was fun too.

In the meantime of her conversation, he tried to focus more on what exactly he was feeling. The sort of energy that radiated from the girl that his senses whispered to him about. It wasn’t like Casper or Devan, they released energy of the unliving, or The Rot. The Rot did not make Ja feel good, even though Cassy was nice.

On the other hand, girl Kassy with a K, she radiated feeling almost like The Red but more like a fish. Ambuya said that ‘closely connected with The Red were two, the one borne of water was called The Blue.’ While the mermaid made him smile too, even though often hiding, it was not the same as this girl.

There was another that Ambuya told him about— The girl put the phone down and approached, her conversation must have finished. Thus he pushed his headphones down to rest around his neck, and his headbush bounced to fill the indented space. Ja waited as she was about introduce herself, but his eyes darted to the ground as her bag crashed onto it.

While she scrambled to pick the bag back up, he followed after the bottle that rolled across the floor. It held something sweet smelling inside, his nose told him, but it wasn’t juice as it made his nose twitch. Though, Soda made his nose twitch too, and that was a drink. But this stuff did not bubble up from the fall. The discrepancy made him wonder what it was. Maybe it was something to do with her powers? Like a special juice? After retrieving it, he returned to her outstretched hand. Ja looked up to her eyes and smiled, revealing four pointed canines between his teeth.

“Mhoro! My name is Kilamanjaro, but you can call me Ja.” He greeted, shaking Daphne’s hand with a firm but friendly grip. Looking down at the bottle in the other hand, he reached it out to her.

”You dropped your juice...Or is it soda? I’m not sure but it smells good.”

Location: Lounge
Interactions: Viktor @FunnyGuy Casper @Shard Devan @Prosaic

Zach sat there as he listened to Casper explain to the non magically inclined what he was. It was an abridged version for sure. He left out the parts about having to sacrifice the souls of other teenage boys in order for him to even exist... He would leave that part out too honestly. “Hold up. You still can’t fly? You have my cousin Zee, and an actual bird to teach you!” Zach sighed, and tapped his head with his wand. “Etativel!” Zach then floated a few feet in the air. “Flying was the first thing I had to learn when I finally gained access to my magic.” That was mainly because he had trouble teleporting, and needed some form of transportation. The young magician flew around the room in circles. Because Zachary Zatara never passed up an opportunity to show off. Then he landed back on the couch again. “You do have a point... I suppose it is a difficult skill to master...”

Viktor explained what they were watching, without making eye contact. Zachary felt he must still bear ill will after their introduction earlier. “I... have to agree with Coal. I haven’t watched it myself, but Naked and Stupid is an apt description of the show. The contestants don’t even get any sort of cash prize for having to endure all of that... Like, what kind of person would put themselves through that for free?”

He smirked, and held out his hand. “Em ot etomer!” The TV remote floated into his hand. “I’ll give you a real show to watch!” He switched the TV to Youtube, and pulled up one of his videos of his magic act for everyone to see. “So much better than watching naked people be dumb in the jungle, wouldn’t you say?”

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.
💀 The Kitchen.

Interactions
💀 @Crimson Flame
💀 Everyone in the Lounge.

---

It was true that Casper’s lack of flight was somewhat frustrating. He was able to phase through walls, teleport his body short distances, and a repertoire of other ghostly feats, but flight was still beyond him. Even so, the irony was not lost on the Wraithborn. Zatanna, one of the most powerful magicians in the world, as well as a bird was attempting to teach him how to fly, and he had little to show for it. Turning that phantasmal gaze towards the sunlit window, Casper’s mellow expression lingered. Ivory darkness protected him from unforgiving light, but longing for nighttime was a constant desire that embraced the undead creature. A desire for starlit comfort.

Claws gently tightened against the cold surface of Casper’s drink. Would this truly work out? Were Zatanna’s decisions based on accurate conclusions, or would this all reveal itself to be a mistake? So far, the Wraithborn’s experiences from college were unsatisfactory. Other students avoided him, and teachers were unsure of how to approach the so-called ’Meta’ they were dealing with. Naturally, his nature was hidden, much as it had been from the Young Justice team. His ’family’. A peculiar choice of words, to be sure. Casper’s family situation had been complicated from the start, and the track record left much to be desired. Death by his own father was difficult to surpass, but Casper would assure anyone that being a part of his family was a less than spectacular scenario.

Much opposed to the display presented by Zach, ’spectacular’ was a state of being the young magi sought to emphasize. It went hand in hand with his flight across the room, and it would then proceed to maintain itself as he switched 'Bared and Scared' to his YouTube channel. The self-esteem of this boy could easily be mistaken for arrogance, that much was certain. “I keep telling Casper to make his own channel,” Coal stated, remaining comfortable where he had positioned himself. “Imagine how many gothy emo teens would tune into his edgy-ass content.”

”My powers aren’t entertainment, Coal..,” the Wraithborn protested, taking another sip of his drink. Was he jealous of Zach’s ability to fly? That required some form of reaction, and death had done wonders in raising the boy’s apathy, a quirk he had already mastered in life.

“Okay, okay! So hear me out!” The avian continued, earning Casper’s attention as his brow raised. “A medium,” Coal began, “speak to the fucking dead, right? Earn a fortune from housewives.”

”Mom and Zatanna would be real proud of me, then..,” Casper smirked softly, shaking his head in disapproval. It would be a lie to claim that Casper’s magic revolved solely around death and destruction. Where he had the ability to damage, destroy, and manipulate souls, essences, and the dead, there was another side to his magical powers. Before Zatanna and Constantine had found him, the boy was somewhat of a medium, already. Souls who had not yet passed onto the Spirit World were aided into the afterlife, and those few mad phantasms that had made their way through the veil were swiftly dealt with. Casper could protect life as readily as he could destroy it. A herald of life and death, some called him. It was partly why he was uncomfortable in the presence of machines, something so divorced from his being that nearly none of Casper’s magic could touch such an artificial existence.

“A guy’s gonna’ have an occupation, Cassy’.” Coal pitched, though the statement fell on deaf ears. Casper was not going to turn his abilities into a gimmick. Zach was doing that enough for the both of them.

”I’ll leave that to him..,” a claw lazily motioned towards Zatara, following that spectral voice. If Casper could recall, this team contained as many as three individuals attuned to magic in some capacity. Death, Arcane, and Illusions, if the boy wasn’t mistaken. An interesting variation to be sure.

“So, while we’re all enjoying Zach’s Logomancy,” the bird was more well-read than he let on, “why don’t we go around sharing our most daring adventures!?” Small, avian talons hopped excitedly in place. “How can we all be heroes without stories to tell, huh?”

”I’m not a hero, Coal..,” the Wraithborn finished his drink. He wanted another.

“Casper! You start!” The bird had clearly ignored his friend’s words.

”..I hate you...” Claws reached for the fridge to procure another drink. He certainly needed one, now.

"And I love you too, babe!" Coal laughed.

Kassandra
Location: Lounge
Interaction: @canaryrose
Everyone else in the Lounge

“Do you think there’ll be another girl that’s coming today? I hope so. I’m getting really sick of all these guys. They’re either edgy or really showy, and I don’t appreciate either. You’re excited, right? You don’t look excited.”

Kassy tried to keep up after Alisa grabbed her hand. It was just a bit difficult, as Alisa was excited and going quickly. “I don’t know if I’m excited yet. It may just be more boys. I’m hoping for another girl or two, just to even things out.” The phrase ‘I’m not good with people’ stuck to her tongue.

“I’m not really edgy or showy. I’m just sort of… here.” She didn’t know how else to say it. While she was just fine on a battlefield, where she could actually be of use, being social was different. She felt like a lost jellyfish, drifting on a wild current. Too many rules, too many personalities to keep up with. She wondered, time and time again, just why her king had chosen her for this role. Maybe he should have chosen someone else. Someone with more… more… something. Something that Kassandra just didn’t have.

She heard talking up ahead, and realized that the TV was on. She stalled slightly. “Let’s get this over with.” She entered the recreation room. There were several boys there, and her heart dropped a little. More boys that she didn’t know. Could the day get worse? Well, probably, so she shouldn’t say that. They seemed to be watching one of Zachary’s videos. One of many. She didn’t get the appeal of performing like that. She would never bother, though. Who would want to watch her?

Though, if she had to be completely honest, there was a small, secret place in her heart that wanted that kind of confidence.

“Um. H-hey. I’m… I’m Kassandra. You can call me Kassy if you like. Or Kass. Or hey you. Whatever is fine.” She could barely be heard over the television.

Interactions:
The Smokey Remains of Zachary Zatarra
Gold Rush

“Oh, so you can talk. Good to know.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know when the next mission will be. I’m sure Red will give us something when it’s time. In the meantime, chill. Relax a little. You just got here. Don’t worry about missions and stuff until the time comes. K?”

Talon was about to respond to the formally dressed boy before suddenly he was up in smoke. Theatricality and deception. Gone. Talon looked over towards the elevator, watched the illuminated numbers blink as it moved to the next floor.

Chill. Relax.

Talon sighed. Already he felt he was doing the wrong things. At first, Talon was embarrassed at this, wondered if he would be alienated right from the jump. Othered. Coming from a group of people including actual ghosts and androids, you'd think it would be easier for someone like himself to relax. But he was burdened with his true self. He wasn't sure how to relax. He knew how to fight, he knew how to compete, to train. But those hobbies were all he'd ever known in the past. His life was nothing but trials up until a few months ago. Dick and Barbara had promised him he'd be able to become his own person. They pitched to him that joining a team like this would push Talon into growing. But was that really what it was? Or was he just being shirked aside, tossed over to the kids table to make nice? Talon didn't notice that he had balled his hands into fists. He could feel himself beginning to seethe, a familiar desire to lash out started to pulse its way through him.

And then Felix introduced himself.

The boy reached out to Talon with his hand extended. He flashed a smile at Talon that he couldn't help but return. Talon hadn't had much interaction with someone so immediately charismatic. Jack didn't even realize he was shaking the boys hand until Felix let go. His hero name was Gold Rush. Talon had seen him on TV before. Barbara encouraged Talon to watch TV and try and keep up with Social Media in order to live a more normal childhood. Although he couldn't get a grasp on Social Media, he had taken to TV and Movies quite fast. It was the magnetism of Booster Gold and his sidekick Gold Rush that particularly stood out to him. Talon had come from a pretty bleak world view, fought alongside and against heroes who otherwise would have been considered dark and violent.

But Booster Gold and his partner made it all seem...fun.

"Talon." Was all the poor kid could get out at first.

"This is my first day here. It's a little overwhelming. I've never been on a team before. I'm not sure I know how to do it." Talon looked past Felix and to his mentor Nightwing, who was too busy conversing on his League Communicator to notice his protege was interacting with the others. Or at least one of the others. Talon looked back to Felix and felt himself speaking more now than he had in some time. He was also unconsciously signing every other word or so, out of habit.

"I don't see Red Tornado. Should I wait for him here or?" Talon gestured to the elevator that lead further into the base. He had lost sight of the others who had appeared - the boy in the headphones, the young girl on the phone. Should he follow them and try to find them? There was so much he already wanted to see at the base, but knew that Dick would prefer he meet the others first.

Location: The Sanctuary, Base level, near the first entrance
Interactions: Metamorph (Ja McCabe)

---

He has fangs. It was the first thought which popped into her mind when Ja smiled brightly at her. That and his awesome name, it sounded foreign to her. Maybe African? But she based that more on his looks than anything else. Wherever it was from she liked it. The fangs were probably connected to his powers. Daphne wondered what they were, but refrained from asking him. There would be plenty of opportunities to see them in action. It wasn't the kind of thing you could just ask right after meeting someone. She was curious though and also, even though they were only fangs Daphne felt they normalized her own altered physiology. There were plenty of superheroes in the world who looked strange, but their reality was miles away from her own. This was actually the first time she'd ever been around any other meta humans.

Ja handed her the perfume bottle. While he was speaking she checked if the bottle was cracked, luckily that wasn't the case. When he referred to her perfume as juice Daphne tilted her head to the side, her eyebrows drawn up in surprise. To her it was obvious this was a perfume bottle, but maybe not to Ja. It was one of her favorite products from a local independent beauty store back in Gotham. The scent was light and delicate, not overtly floral or sweet. The main ingredient was Lilly of the valley.

"No.." Daphne looked at him and shook her head, smiling. She opened the cap of the bottle and sprayed a little perfume on the inside of her wrist. With her other wrist she dabbed the perfume carefully, rubbing would destroy the molecules. The scent caught in the air lightly and she waved her wrist back and forth a few times, testing the smell on her skin. A pleased smile spread across her face.
"It's a perfume, you can smell it if you like, it's really good" Daphne offered, holding out her wrist to him.

With her phone call now over, Daphne's thoughts went back to the interrupted tour and the remaining team members she still wanted to meet. She left Casper rather rudely and quickly and there were three other guys with her this morning. The Martian Manhunter had told her there were ten of them, including herself. A lot more introductions to go. She had no clue who she would meet here. Was there some kind of selection process? Daphne was completely in the dark about the recruitment methods of the Justice League, but maybe that was for the best. She trusted them, they believed in her enough to put her on this team.

Daphne looked at the hallway leading back to the teleporter room. Red Tornado was gone and she had no idea when he would be back. What if they could just finish the tour on their own instead? She could get the other guys and maybe ask Ja to show them around. He was friendly and hopefully he knew his way around this place a little. That's what she assumed anyway. Only one way to know for sure.
"Hey Ja, do you think you could show us around a little? I mean, the other recruits and me, since Red Tornado left and all"

Dapnhe fidgeted with the heart shaped necklace around her neck, waiting for Ja's answer. It dawned on her that she was actually going to be living inside a mountain, how awesome was that?

Location: Lounge, Sanctuary
Interactions: Casper, Zachary, Devan, Kassandra, Alisa

---

"More talent? Isn't he just speaking what he wants backward?" Viktor raised his right eyebrow at Devan's last comment. "Maybe it's just me…" He looked at Casper. "...but facing a challenge is much more impressive. Even when you fail some." He addressed the last bit to Casper, commenting on his failure to fly. His eyes peered up towards the playing YouTube video before looking at the two that had arrived in the lounge. Almost everyone who arrived here before me. Viktor was a bit impressed with himself.

“Um. H-hey. I’m… I’m Kassandra. You can call me Kassy if you like. Or Kass. Or hey you. Whatever is fine.”

Kassandra's timid tone made it hard to hear her introduction, but fortunately, Viktor tuned out the television. His focus now on the newcomers. He had already judged Kassandra as another who would be easy to spar with socially and so, he spoke up. Besides, he was one of the newest arrivals.

"Hey you?" He questioned with a puzzled look on his face. He wondered why anyone would want to be referred to as that. He stood up from the sofa and walked in her direction. "Kass will do fine. Two syllables shorter." He walked right by her as he entered the kitchen. "Actually… I will stick with 'Kassandra.'" He simply did not want to cause any confusion and miscommunication between her and Casper. Communication was key in the building of relationships... At least it was what he read.

Going to the refrigerator, he opened it to inspect its contents. Though he wasn't making eye contact, he continued to speak.

"My name is Viktor, but out there, I just go by Rain." He nearly repeated what he had told Casper and Devan just moments earlier to both Kassandra and Alisa while "Nice to meet you." Rinse and repeat. This was easier than he thought.

Sandwich meat… cheese… juice… soda… milk… pickles… eggs… butter… coffee grounds… He simply browsed the refrigerator, but he kept his ears perked to listen to the others.

---

Stepping aside as Viktor approached the fridge, Casper could consider himself satisfied with claws wrapped around a second serving of soda. He recalled a debate once had in regards to the sugary treat, or more precisely, its container. Was soda from a glass bottle better? Did plastic sully the taste? In truth, the Wraithborn was unsure. He was not refined enough to pinpoint a difference, but with the flask brushing against his lips, the boy enjoyed another sip, all the same. They had been accompanied by yet another soul, this one reserved, and her words confessing to insecurity. Ghostly eyes met the girl, phantasmal white swirls scrutinizing the young aquatic sorceress. This was the illusionist, Kassandra. Kassy with a K. There was an air of sadness surrounding this Atlantean, an aura that lingered akin to grasping shadows. The third caster, the third mage. She possessed abilities Casper had yet to fully understand. Indeed, illusions were quite common in the realm of phantasms and ghosts, but the complexity of such magic required years of study to truly comprehend. Where did reality end, and where did an illusionist’s web begin? More than once, Casper had found himself entangled in a powerful spirit’s labyrinth of lies. Perhaps Kassandra would be able to weave such powerful images into being one day, as well.

”Kassandra..,” a ghostly voice echoed softly from Casper’s lips. He had seen Zach’s videos, already. Enough so for Coal to believe that Casper was infatuated with the magician. It was not entirely true, however. What Zach had managed to do was unlock thoughts previously hidden behind a veil of disinterest. What was it like to embrace another being? What did it entail to present one’s own heart to others? It was a scenario the Wraithborn was still struggling with understanding. The dead did not frequent such venues of the emotional spectrum. Longing, sorrow, anger, and fear tended towards center stage. ”’Hey You’ does sound pretty vague..,” came a soft smirk, sharp teeth revealing themselves as Casper expressed something his apathetic features seldom offered. ”Zatanna told me about you..,” the Wraithborn continued, ”the ’Mirage’.., right..?”

“Oh, now he’s talkative,” Coal cawed, wings flapping before the bird made its way towards Casper’s shoulder. “This is Casper, I’m Coal,” the bird stated, “or you can call him ’Hex’ if you feel dramatic,” the avian laughed. “And you still haven’t told us a heroic story, Cassy Boy!”

”I have no heroic stories, Coal..,” the Wraithborn countered, his eyes turning towards the bird for a brief moment, before another sip of his drink worked to calm his annoyance towards that term. ’Heroic’, a staple of the Justice League, and so many other well-to-do actors on the stage of constant conflict. The thought of appearing in the midst of chaos like an angel slowly descending onto a mortal plane, cape flowing in the wind, was so divorced from the Wraithborn’s nature that he’d find himself scoffing at the notion.

“Bullshit,” Coal protested, “and you know it!” He cemented the statement. “Tell them the story of The Maw. Go ahead, do it!”

Clenching those sharp teeth, Casper shifted his attention towards the ever-amassing group. He was no storyteller, and certainly not one to present his exploits. The Maw was a phantasm, terrifying and menacing. A creature feasting on souls and growing in strength following every meal. It took everything in him for Casper to finally defeat the creature. It was incidentally after this encounter that Zatanna and Constantine had found him. ”Maybe.., another time..,” Casper lamented, his expression returning to a mellow state. The Maw was a creature of destruction, one that left several casualties in its wake. Several souls Casper was unable to save. Though Coal may have considered the story one of heroic aptitude, Casper saw it as little more than a failure to act quickly enough.

“Fine,” the bird shook its head. “So, what about you Kassy with a K?” Coal turned to look at the dark-skinned girl, his attention leaving the pale creature he so enjoyed teasing. “How are ya’ liking this circus, so far?”

Location: Lounge > Kitchen
Interactions: Viktor @FunnyGuy

Zach was upset by what he heard come out of Viktor’s mouth, and he followed him into the kitchen to give him a piece of his mind. He didn’t care how hot Viktor was. No one was allow to badmouth his craft like that. ”How dare you! You do not get to disrespect magic like that. It’s more than just saying words backwards. Can you even speak backwards anyway? Probably not, you barely speak forwards. It takes skill, and energy, and dedication to the craft. Can you make objects fly around the room and act on their own? No you can’t. He got really close to Viktor’s face and glared at him. At this point Zach would have turned him into a toad to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately, he didn’t have that kind of power.

Instead, he walked to the center of the kitchen, and held his wand. [color=darkviolet]“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I suggest you back up a little. This is about to get messy. Hcnul ekam!” Suddenly, food flew out of the fridge, as did knives, pots and pans, and a bunch of plates and other utensils flew around as the food literally cooked itself. Soon, Zach had prepared several plates of food for everyone, and they all magically set themselves on the table.

“Lunch... is... served.” Zach took his hat off, and bowed. You could clearly tell that took a lot of energy. He was panting and out of breath. That was a large spell he just cast. “You... had better...appreciate... it. I... am not... here... to be... your...fairy godbrother...”

---

---

Alisa giggled at Kassy’s introduction. “Why would you want somebody to call you hey you? That just seems counterproductive,” she said to Kassy in what she hoped was a jesting tone.

Alisa observed the situation from behind Kassy for a moment, smiling cheerily. The other girl seemed rather shy, so she didn’t want to talk over her too much. There were four guys in the lounge, but two elected to leave as soon as they got there- rude! But for now it was just Casper and Viktor. They both seemed like the dark and brooding types just from appearance and mannerisms alone. Alisa didn’t mind that, but she didn’t love it. It would be cool if someone here could be cheery for once… If no one else did it, it would have to be her.

Seeing an opening in the conversation when Casper asked about Kassy, she jumped right in. “Hi Casper, hi Viktor! I’m Alisa. Please don’t call me hey you-” she laughed at that again- “but I’m happy with pretty much anything. I’ve heard Ally, I’ve heard Lisa, I’ve heard A… But Alisa’s fine too. I’m super excited to get to know you guys!” Alisa said as she came out from behind Kassy and waved at the two other boys.

In reality, she was excited to meet them, if substantially nervous. Hopefully, it didn’t show much on her face. These were real people, unlike her, and she wanted to get along with them. Even if she wasn’t with her family, she could at least pretend to be a normal girl with normal friends outside of her family, here. That’s what she hoped, anyway.

Kassandra
Location: Lounge and then Training Gym
Interactions: Casper and Coal

Congratulations, Kass, you’re an idiot.

Kassandra wanted to sink through the floor. Her stomach twisted. Just one little stupid comment and now they all thought she was a fool. All she had meant was that she’d respond if someone addressed her, even if they couldn’t quite remember her name. She wasn’t sure why she bothered to come down, and just wanted to leave. Immediately if at all possible. Alisa and Casper were both teasing her. Even the new guy Victor thought she was a weirdo, certainly.

But then Coal asked a question and she couldn’t quite leave. “Circus? Um. It’s fine, I guess. Things are going to be a lot more exciting around here, that’s for sure.” She tried to force a smile, but probably looked even more stupid doing that. “I just hope we can all get along.”

Fine words from someone fully expecting to be the outsider. This was home all over again…

Then Zachary burst in, fuming to Victor about some perceived or real slight. In a theatrical - that is to say – usual – display of showy magic, he made lunch for everyone with a few backward words and what seemed like a great deal of energy. She wasn’t sure of the point of that besides just to show off. Then again, it was Zachary, so that probably was the entire point.

“I’m. Um. Not hungry.” Kassandra lied.

And then she left.

Her whole body felt tense as she padded barefoot through the corridors. Her eyes were on the ground. Before she could really think about it, she was outside the training gym.

Here was something she could actually do. She entered, going to the set of lockers near the door. Here she kept some simple clothes, ones that were easy to move in. She changed in the bathroom, then grabbed her preferred weapon from the many stationed on the wall. It was a thick wooden staff, weighted on one end to match the precise measurements of her golden octopus staff.

She approached the dummy, exhaling slow through her nose. After a moment’s pause, she twisted the staff and struck hard, the vibration coursing through the dummy. She followed that with a knee to the midsection, and brought the back end of the staff up for a head blow. Kassandra was not particularly fast, but she did hit like a whale through a school of plankton. She was never going to be a slender, pretty Atlantean, but at the very least she knew how to put her thick build to use.

Why do you bother, Kassandra? You’re always going to be the one outside. Just watch. They’ll all make friends, and you’re going to be watching from the windows as usual. Just like home. Why are you even here? Aunt Kristy was right. You’re nothing.

Each blow came heavier, the dummy taking the silent punishment as she tried to burn off her embarrassment. The sounds of her solo battle could be heard outside the door, as Kassandra did the one thing she felt she was any good at.

---

Alisa, the machine. Seeing this girl put into perspective how others viewed Casper, that being with discomfort. Much like him, she had been created, an android designed to serve another’s purpose. They held that in common. However, for Casper, this girl was more alien than any being, any entity across the multiverse with actual life, or death for that matter, running through them. ”Hey..,” the boy returned. Alisa was polite, not unlike what one would have expected from an artificial life-form designed to emulate biological existence. Casper’s discomfort was not birthed from her behavior, however, it was rooted in her being. Alisa had no soul, no essence, or any variation thereof. For Casper, it was like staring into a void, one bereft of everything that encapsulated the life spectrum. She was neither living, nor was she dead. In truth, it was difficult for a creature like the Wraithborn to consider Alisa anything more than a machine on par with the fridge keeping that soda between his claws cold. An unfair judgement, of course, and one he would never openly confess to, but a position hailing from his very nature as a being standing between life and death. ”It’s nice to meet you..,” a lie, though one difficult to deduce. Casper’s apathetic expression, his phantasmal eyes, and equally ghostly voice would make it nigh impossible to pinpoint his intentions.

This was unlike Zach who made himself known with a bombastic entrance. Despite the magician’s frustration, however, Casper was thankful for the intrusion. He could shift his attention towards something else. Someone else. ”Logomany is quite difficult, Viktor..,” the Wraithborn pitched in. Was it to defend Zach? Hardly. That boy was loud and brash enough to stand up for himself. Rather, Casper was more interested in explaining the nature of this puzzle. ”Zach’s aggression aside..,” he continued, ”speaking a word, much less a sentence backwards in the midst of battle requires a level of wits only achieved through rigorous practice..,” the necromantic entity finished. The apathetic sound of his voice was, of course, constant. Could Casper even feel anger? Could he be offended, annoyed, or otherwise disgruntled? Of course, claiming anything else would have been a lie. However, the level of apathy present within the pale-skinned boy was impressive. Perhaps this was the reason why Coal had not gotten under his skin, yet.

“Holy shit, that was a whole sentence! Well done, kid!” The spirit flew onto Casper’s head, and hopped excitedly in place. “Magic gets this little shit to pop open like a balloon.” It wasn’t wrong. The Wraithborn adored discussing magic, and the many philosophical questions accompanying this mystic flow. Why wouldn’t he? Casper was magic, after all, and despite being unable to use any other form of spellcasting than his very own, the concept was of great interest. He was well-read on various forms of the art, not only due to a pursuit of knowledge, but equally so for combat purposes. Knowing your enemy, some would call it, which segwayed quite perfectly into Zach’s next display. Where Casper was nigh impossible to provoke, Zach was far too easy to taunt, which resulted in spectacular displays like this. Things that left him winded, and tired. Things that could get him killed in a dangerous situation.

Though the Wraithborn was going to offer Zach a word of comfort, or an attempt at the feat, something else caught his spiritual friend’s attention. “Oh, you scared her off, as well,” Coal shook his head, turning to Casper. A dark brow rose as the Wraithborn’s eyes followed Kassy’s steps, her withdrawal. It was ironic how flawed these heroes were. All of them. Asocial, stubborn, anxious, temperamental, or dying for attention. None of them were different from the very people they were aiming to protect. Did the Justice League start like this? Lowering his gaze, claws tightened around Casper’s soda bottle. He was not one for crowds either, but he had made Zatanna a promise, one echoed with his mother. The Wraithborn was going to make this work, somehow, but in doing that, was he supposed to follow Kassandra? What did people with actual social skills do in a situation like this? Casper’s instinct was to leave her to the Atalntean’s own devices. She withdrew for a reason, after all, and she left following Casper’s interaction. If anyone was to console Kassy with a K, it likely should not have been the undead monstrosity who may very well have scared her off, adding truth to Coal’s words. “You haven’t even used your magic yet, Dead Boy, and you’ve already freaked out half the cast.”

”Mmh..,” the Wraithborn frowned softly, raising his flask for another sip.

Location: Kitchen, Sanctuary
Interactions: Casper, Zachary, Kassandra, Alisa

---

Viktor was still scoping out the contents of the refrigerator when he heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind. He turned so he could face none other than Zachary who appeared to be fuming. But why? Viktor didn't know, at least not yet.

"How dare you! You do not get to disrespect magic like that. It’s more than just saying words backwards. Can you even speak backwards anyway? Probably not, you barely speak forwards. It takes skill, and energy, and dedication to the craft. Can you make objects fly around the room and act on their own? No, you can’t."

Viktor stared apathetically back at Zachary as he moved in close and glared at him. He honestly did not know what to say, so he decided to not say anything. He hadn't meant to say Zachary lacked talent. Viktor just believed the effort required to perform his magic was less than what was required of the sorry people on Bared and Scared.

When Casper commented on the difficulty of logomancy, Viktor raised an eyebrow at him while he took a few steps away to avoid Zachary's spell. He Viktor watched Zachary prepare lunch with his consistent miraculous display of magic.

"I assumed it matched the difficulty of learning a new language… Perhaps you can teach me more about your world of magic." Viktor gave Casper a quick nod before shifting his attention to the prepared food. It

"Well done, Zachary. The power to make objects fly around the room and act on their own is impressive." Viktor complimented the tired magician as he grabbed a burger. He visually inspected it before addressing Alisa. He couldn't forget her bubbly introduction. Like Zachary, her words held greater inflection and emotion. He liked one of the nicknames she provided very much. "A." Short, quick to say, quick to write, and easy to remember. "Nice to meet you." He then bit into his burger, but paused midchew as he stared at her. He blinked twice before realizing he was staring a bit too hard. He continued to eat. Interesting.

---

The world of magic was a complicated existence. A reality bending and shaping itself in response to forces scarcely understood even by those wielding this fearsome force. An ever flowing energy expressing itself so vastly differently by everyone utilizing its power. How would Casper begin to explain this peculiar phenomenon? He was no teacher, and much less able to express information in a satisfactory manner. Even so, perhaps one day, Casper would manage to convey spectral mysticism.

His eyes shifted to Zach, a somber expression crossing the Wraithborn’s features. Was it fair to assume the worst? It was not difficult to deduce Zach’s distaste for his fellow student beneath Zatanna’s care. Two opposites trained by the same teacher, one of whom was related to their mentor. Claiming that Casper felt like he had imposed on a family business was true. In fact, there was little Zatanna could teach the boy in regards to using his magic. Rather, Casper was taught the many intricacies of spellcraft in hopes of arming him against other casters, and the supernatural. There was little the woman could do with Casper’s powers, as she was unable to wield them, herself. Yes, a question often swirled within the Wraithborn’s mind. ’Am I intruding?’

It did not require in depth analysis to expose Zach’s competitive nature, and his reaction to Casper’s inclusion had been less than ideal. It was a somewhat complicated situation, to be sure. Casper was not naive. He was fully aware of Zatanna’s intentions with taking him in. She wanted to monitor him, the undead abomination. She wanted to learn of his nature, and be prepared for a lack of judgment. It begged the question, would Zatanna have been interested in the boy had he not been a peculiar case? Had he not been a danger?

It was fair to say that Casper lacked friends beyond Coal, often due to his own asocial tendencies. In truth, the lingering joke of him preferring the company of death was accurate. Casper did indeed feel more comfortable in the midst of spirits and souls, those beyond the veil. One could almost consider it a shame that the friends he had made along the way were all assisted into the afterlife. They did not belong in this world, trapped and unable to move on, and bidding farewell had become a constant repeat. It begged the question if the Wraithborn would ever shepherd any of these aspiring heroes to the beyond.

”Thank you for the food, Zach..,” came a quiet notion of appreciation. Casper did not even require nourishment, so why did he remain? A part of the boy wanted to abscond, to turn around and simply leave, but here he stood, ghostly eyes maintaining a lingering gaze upon a table set for ten. Perhaps it was acceptable to enjoy the taste of a meal, irrelevant of its actual necessity. An attempt at kinship. Lowering himself to a chair, Casper’s clawed hand reached for a burger, soft buns gently yielding to his digits as he brought the assembled meal to a plate. Such an unnecessary motion, all in the name of companionship. Was he trying too hard? As sharp teeth bit into the juicy meat comprising his burger, Casper concluded that for the moment, perhaps it didn’t matter.