Keystone City: 24 Cresent Drive(#628RJn)

        Complete with the picket fence and ceeky floorboards, the rather
rusty looking old farm house sits comfortably outside ont he edge of the
Keystone City limits, int he peaceful Midwest countryside. With the city
set not far off in the background, this white weathered two-story home
greets visitors and residents alike with a friendly air that has endured
the test of time. Being a little rough around the edges, a little home
repair should add new care to that which has already been molded into the
house, making it an idle place for a family. And this is where the Flash
family resides.
        A large porch complete with a swing-seat introduces you to the
house after passing the healthy front lawn, and once inside you are
witness to the spacious hardwood floored rooms, each distinct in their
gentle warm earth-toned colorings. Downstairs there is the large lounge
filled with an array of entertainment equipment, the dining room with the
long oak table that connects to the kitchen and the librabry/den parlor
room. The basement is a place for the furnace, to warm the upstrairs which
is divided into nothing but bedrooms, for the three people that live here
and plenty left over for any visitors.

Walking out of the back, into the living room, looks like Bart's made his
pit-stop. He's in civvies again - not much point of wearing streamlined
lycra when you don't need streamlining - all baggy. Comfortable. He's got
a funny look on his face, but...hey. "Wally," he says calmly, not sure
where his older cousin is, "I'm gonna use the phone, okay? Jesse, you in
here too?"

Jesse refills her glass, "Yeah I'm here Bart. 3X2(9YZ)4A..." As nothing
happens she curses. The blond takes a sip of her drink and closes her
eyes, "3X2(9YZ)4A... " More curses come from her.

"It's not going to work Jesse."

It's not. He knows it. Decending the stairs from up above is Wally,
redressed and banadaged. He's basically a walking bandaid at this point,
but really, all of those scraps mean nothing. The pain isn't even felt.
It's what he's not feeling right now that's killing him... he thought he
breathed before, but this... it's worse than prison. it's the loss of a
sense, only worse. It's being allowed to be in tune with a fundamental
part of nature... and then to be cast aside. "It's gone. *Gone*. Not just
speed, but the Speed Force. At least I can't feel it, can't touch it. Or
it's not touching me. Frankly I don't know and right now I could really
give a fuck." Yeah, Wally just said that. When's the last time he swore?
Perhaps Bart will remember. But he heads towards the kitchen. "Have fun,
Bart." With the phone.

Oh great. It's good old Mister Congeniality, back from
pre-'Oh-Hell-I've-Been-Eaten-By-the-Speed-Force' days. Bart gives Wally a
*look*, then shakes his head at Jesse and says quietly, "Don't bang your
head against the wall. It won't hurt any less the second, third, or
fiftieth times." He pauses, then adds, "I'm speaking metaphorically, of
course." Picking up the phone, Bart resolutely dials Titans' Tower. --->

[Titans] Bart Allen [The phone in the monitor room rings, then rings
again. Yo.  Ansa.]

Jesse flinches as she hears Wally, "It has to work. It can't just fail. It
can't break down like that..." She gazes at her own bandaged hands. She
feels the aches from her using that much strength from her fear earlier.
She still doesn't think she's gotten rid of the smell of singeing flesh.
She's also already noticed she's buzzing and she can't speed up her
metabolism to debuzz.

"3X2(9YZ)4A!" SHe won't give up on this.. "Damn DAMN DAMN.." She takes
another drink not wanting to think about how her father is doing.

[Titans] Batman hates it when Nightwing says, "[After a moment] Titans
Tower, how may I help you?"

Wally stops himself at the kitchen door. He... he did this to Bart before,
when Dick came back, when Kory wasn't Kory, when everyone was busy, when
Donne had Jack when... when Wally let his life go to hell. Bart came to
him then, and aske dhim soemthing, and Wally promised. Gawd, he could use
a drink to try and forget about hismelf right now though... but that
suddenly reminds Wally of his dad. Sighing, shaking his head, he turns
back. "Bart, I'm sorry." He is, he really is. "And I'm sorry to both of
you for saying that." He really is. Okay, so, he may not have the speed
but he *is* still The Flash. Well, he has the costume to prove it. Heading
for the sofa, he flops there. "I'm sorry Jesse, but it's just not there to
access... you have the equation, yes, but in this case your '2 +2' still
exists, but the '4's been removed..."

"...Hi. It's Bart." There's a pause; the kid's listening to Wally in the
background. "I'm in Keystone...with, you know, Wally and Jesse..." Another
pause - how to keep this cryptic enough that Wally doesn't get ticked he's
calling Dick? Ooh, got it. Make like he's calling Metropolis. "Yeah,
that's right. Listen, don't tell Superboy and Tim, but I lost my speed. So
did the other guys. Not sure what's up. If you could drop by, that'd be
great." Glancing up at Wally from the phone, Bart looks at him levelly,
then nods. "All right," he says simply. "Are you -going- to be okay?"

Jesse just lets go of the glass and glares up at the cieling. Lost
absolutely lost. No speed. No Jesse Quick. Just Jesse Chambers. Suddenly
more like her mother than her father. Her eyes glance towards Wally then
back towards Bart.  She murmurs under her breath, "I'm just glad we aren't
alone."

"No," Wally admits. He's trying to be honest here, to not flip out, to
break down, and just cave-in. he's trying to dow hat he should do, and
that's... well, honestly he's not sure. But he can't give in. He knows
that much. "This isn't going to be easy for me, and I want this solved,
insantly. Of course." A slight joke. a poor one, but there was an attempt
there. But then he's not the one he's worried about, now that he thinks
about it. "There has to be some explaination behind it all.... search me
if I know what it is though..."

[Titans] Batman hates it when Nightwing There's a brief pause from the
other end of the line as well, before Nightwing responds. His tone is
slightly puzzled, though marked with concern as well. ["You lost your
speed...? Is Wally right there? Could you put him on the line...?"] Not
that Dick doesn't trust what Bart is saying, but, well, he and Wally go
quite a ways back. And not only does he want to get the Flash's input on
what's going on, but Dick's concerned for his friend as well, and wants to
make sure everything's okay with him. ["It'll take me a couple hours to
fly out there, but that wouldn't have to be wasted time if you guys know
anything more about what happened."]

[Titans] Bart Allen ["No, he hasn't the slightest idea. And you know
him...he won't ask."] Deliberately vague. ["It'd take us hours to get
there, too."] Frustrated, his voice lowers slightly and he steps briefly
into the kitchen. ["Listen, I know our teams haven't been on the best of
terms, but you're just gonna have to trust me here. If you like, you can
give Tim a call - he'll tell you I'm on the level. I wouldn't joke about
something like this, and I'm really worried about Wally and Jesse both. If
he knew I was calling you..."] His voice comes from the kitchen now, a
little louder. ["Love you too, Cassie!"]

Jesse curls up on her side on the sofa. She sighs. This is bad. This is
very bad. Ohhh she is going to have such a hang over in the morning,
"3X2(9YZ)4A!" She closes her eyes, "This SUCKS."

Bart Allen is on the phone, in the doorway between the kitchen and the
living room. His face is set, rather unlike what you'd expect if he were
talking to Cassie.


[Titans] Batman hates it when Nightwing The wry smile that crosses
Nightwing's face can almost be heard through his voice as he responds to
Bart's farewell comment, accompanying by a quiet tapping sound - like
faraway drumming fingers. ["I'm not saying I don't believe you, just
trying to get a firmer handle on things before taking a cross-country
flight to Keystone."] He pauses a beat, letting out a quiet sigh that
filters across the phone line, before continuing. ["Well, do what you can
on that end, and try to keep Wally there until I show up. I'll fly out as
quick as I can, but I likely won't be there till late."]

Wally West blinks. You know what he's blinking about? Bart using the word
love. In reference to Cassie. He knew the two were, well, are close,
but... suddenly he's wondering what his 'baby brother'/cousin has been
doing in all of his alone time with Wonder Girl... amazing what things he
catches when he has the time ot hear them.

No, it's really not that serious, about Bart and Cassie (at least Wally
doesn't think it is), it's just that he's freaking out about everything
right now. Yes, everything. And it's not like he ahs the time to worry
about it... because right now, to him, time seems short. At least a hell
of a lot more short than it was an hour ago.

Sitting on the sofa, Wally's slumped down, looking miserable. he's in
fresh clothes,s ure, but he's decorated with gauze and bandaids, after his
run-in (literally) with the streets of Keystone. Patches of white here and
there, and all too many on his face. But he's *trying* to be upbeat. He's
*trying* to be positive about this. But it's far form easy. "Jesse,
please, I know... I knwo it's frustrating. Gawd, do I. You know what it's
liek to actually spend fifteen minutes on a shower? Jeez, I forgot how
long it takes to get dressed... I wish I knew the answers, but I don't."
And as he sighs he leans forward, to whisper to just Jesse, as he glances
over to Bart. "We *have* to have it together, for 
him, because once he
realizes life isn't as he's always known it to be..." At least Wally lived
at normal speeds for a part of his life, and he'll cope. Bart? Wally
fears.

But as he glances to Bart, Wally spots the wall clock and then... he bolts
upright, and darts towards Bart and the phone... at a normal bolting pace
... crud, how slow! "Give me the phone, ohgod, I'm late...!"

[Titans] Bart Allen ["I know. You too. Oh, and tell Donna, will you? I
know you talk to her."] A pause, as if Bart's listening to speech that
just ain't there. ["Yeah, no, we'll be here. Ack! Gotta go!"]

Augh!-ing, Bart nods and hits the 'off' button with alacrity, tossing the
slowly bolting Flash the 'phone. "Here! Here, no worries, jeez...Valor
almighty. You'd think you'd lost your speed or something." Dark humor from
-Bart-? Maybe it's hit him *already* and he's just not letting you know
about it.

Does she arrive in a crackle of energy and sparkling wave of lightning?
Does she arrive with a flare for the dramatic, echoed in a rainbow swirl
of colors? Is there a loud, deafening cracka-boom? No. In fact all things
considered, when the Maid of Magic arrives - it comes with a sudden burst
of magical energy, a swirl of smoke about her ankles, and of all things -
the smell of burnt pot roast. One hand is planted on her hips, as long,
silken black hair sways down her back in ringlets of midnight. Her eyes of
dark sapphire sparkle with an intensity that can only be read as -
/upset/. (Cheesed and angry would work as well, torqued might be nice..?)

It was far too easy was for her to simply state; 'Ekat em ot eht Hsalf!',
and appear directly next to him. Regardless of where he was at, or what he
was doing, waiting over an hour for -something- was beyond upsetting,
considering -who- it exactly is she was -waiting- for. Wally West is not
called 'The Flash' for his extra curricular activities at football games.
Oh sure, you have the tinge of worry, but as the familiar setting
surrounds her, and she's inside his -home-, not out on the field, not in
some dangerous situation - plus she hears those -words-, it's enough to
send one Mistress of Magic into a sarcastic. "Oh, there is -no- need for a
phone, West." Her mouth draws up at the corners, as within her other hand
rests a rather well done pot - and extremely smelly bit of pot roast.
Burnt. To a crisp. Forgotten in her initial worry and waiting for the
'fastest' man alive. Her lips tug up into a smirk, as she shoves it out
towards him, only then taking note of others there. Oh yeah. Torqued would
be a really nice word for it, along with a mumbled. "I figured dating a
speedster would have a few minuses, but not being stood up and forgotten
as one of them."

"Just ask my grandma about Grandpa Barry being late," Bart answers
automagically, not even registering the fact that Zatanna just appeared in
the room. After all, it's Zatanna. *pause* Holy crap, it's Zatanna! He
*stares* at Wally, then at the pot roast, then at Zee again, then adds a
little pathetically, "He was late for his job so many times he actually
lost it. Got it back again, but still..."

Jesse rubs a bandaged hand against her face. She nods as she hears Wally.
As he dashes away her slender form leans up again back into a corner of
the sofa. Her arms wrap about skinned knees as she glances up at the
aroma. "Just like mom used to make.." She's not kidding either, "Evening."

As if he didn't look like crap already, what with the bandages and stuff.

Wally just deflats, looking, well, rather lost before Zatanna, or rather,
with her before him. Since her magic was to arrve before him. But, Wally
just looks to her, the phone and ... he thinks about telling a joke about
not needing that, that he doens't nee dhis long distance carrier to help
him to reach out and touch someone special as that someone special is
right here. He thinks about it and doesn't do it because of several
reasons, all of them relating to his speed. he can't dodge a blow, if that
remark isn't welcome, and he has the time now to stop and think about
something before he does it.

"I can explain and it still won't matter. I was late, well, I still am
and... I'm bound to forever be late now, Zan." He sighs as he looks to
her, so *ver* glad to see her. he could *really* use her and her support
right now. *especially* right now. But he can't ask for it, not with her
upset at him. And rightfully so. "I don't have my speed any more... I
can't... I'm not..." He has that utterly lost look again. "I don't know
how to explain it, I... I should have called before or... I'm sorry." He
sighs, his shoulders sagging a little more. Normally he has the time to go
over stuff in his head before he says it, if he wants. He just feels so...
slow. Vulnerable. Like his dad was right...

Anyway... "Zantanna, I think you know Bart and Jesse. Guys, the amazing,
wonderful and beautiful Zatanna. The Maid of Magic, who is hopefully
charming and forgiving enough to not turn me into a toad for being a
heel..."
Oh, and Bart uses the 'Barry' word, need Zee remind everyone when
Iris was thought dead, Barry wanted to have a relationship -with- Zatanna.
This does not bode well for the Princess Of Prestidigitation, as her gaze
flickers towards the younger speedster, trying not to seem as upset as she
is, even going so far as to offer a twisted grin to Bart, the very corners
of her lips tugging upwards. As her eyes do the circle of the room, the
flashing blue gems alight upon Jesse, answering in a quiet tone - "And
good evening to you." As far as 'just like mom use to make' - Zee can only
eye the pot with skepticism, she's not normally this bad of a cook,
really, honestly.

By the time her gaze flickers back towards Wally, it takes approximately
two or three seconds before she /does/ note the extraordinary amount of
bandages around him. It is, perhaps, the only saving grace that Wally is
given, until he speaks and explains at least. When it is all said and
done, Zatanna's left to eye Wally, expression as emotionless as can be -
one, two, three.. "Oh good grief."

"Nrut top tsaor otni pot tah! Egnahc sehtolc otni mrofinu!" Well, so much
for a quiet evening with Wally - though the chump could have called, Zee
isn't going to get after him for that, instead, there she appears, top hat
in hand, and form decked out in her usual attire - fishnets included.
"Where do we start in finding out how to fix this?"

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Bart slouches a little. He honestly
-does- look, right now, like a lost kid trying to look like he's not at
all lost and in fact has everything under control. "I would guess, by
finding out what went wrong in the first place," comes his voice quietly.
"And since we all slowed down, it's probably something rather cataclysmic.
Wally said...he couldn't even *feel* the speed force." He pauses and says
-very- quietly, "I can't feel much of anything right now."

Jesse gets up from where she was standing and moves to Bart. Her hands go
to his shoulders lightly, "Its okay Bart. We'll figure it out.. Sorry for
being a bit of a basket case earlier.." She sighs, "So maybe something is
interfering with our abilities to connect to it.. some sort of machine or
something." She bites her bottom lip, "If its something like that..we
should be able to find it and take it out."

"Without you, I'd be lost Zan, utterly." And he means it, he does, as he
finds himself smiling with her adopting her costume so readily for them.
He moves up to her... at normal speeds... to hug from behind, to whisper a
'thank you' before releasing. This isn't somethign he can go to Dick or
Donna about, hell, even Roy. This is.. well, it's embarassing, yes, but
it's also frustrating, beyond belief. But if there's anyone that he would
want here to help it's certainly Zatanna. "I wish I *knew*. All I do know
is that it's like... like anything but the most basic of speed isn't there
any more. It's as though there is just one on the scale of one to ten.
it's hard to describe, but that's how it feels, because I don't have that
feeling any more." And it would seem none of the other speedsters do
either. "Normally i would say we'd check the Speed Force Wall, but without
our speed to get there, that's impossible." And it truly is.

If Zatanna looks, uses her magical senses and the like... there *is*
something over Keystone, somethign magical in nature. Something that is
growing, very, very slowly, but it's there. Magical influence. Nothing
that seems constant enough to affect a universal like speed, but... it's
something.

Glad to see Jesse go to bart, to comfort, Wally's warmed somewhat. He's
only beginning to get an idea of how difficult this is going to become for
Bart. he does look to Zan, wondering if there's anything she can do for
the boy? He doubts it, but anything... not for him, but for Bart.

"Well, there was that one scientist, back almost three years ago now you
discovered the Speed Force before us, that had the technology to reach out
and probe the Speed Force Wall... but that technology also ruptured the
Wall, which is why I sped into it to seal it.* But her technology was
completely lost with her, when she vanaished into the tear. I don't
knowhat else mechanically could do it..."

* What Wally's referring to is his first plot here, his version of
'Terminal Velocity/

                        -Roleplayer Mike!

"Thanks, Jesse," Bart says -really- quietly. His hands drop to his sides,
and he looks up a little dubiously, "There were some...I dunno, in the
future, there were some fairly wacky machines that messed with things
you'd never think possible. When I was looking for you, y'know. It might
be something like that - maybe a Thawne trying to screw up the beginning
of the timeline." Then he realizes how ridiculous that sounds, and looks
away. "Not thinking straight, sorry. Does this feel mechanical, though? At
first I thought someone was running a stasis field, like Kid Quantum or
something...but I can't tell the difference." Bart stops for a long
moment, then adds reluctantly, "No basis for comparison."

This particular Maid of Magic has never exactly been very good at
'comforting' people, not when she prefers to run away from her own
troubles as easily as she can magically dance around the world, or turn
someone into a 'toad' (for example). With a furrow to her brows, Zatanna
casts her gaze towards Bart, listening to him quietly, taking in what
Jesse has to say as well, though unsure what to do in order to stop this.
If she was denied her magic - while it would be horrifying for her, she
has willingly stopped using it for years at one time, and it would not be
as much of a catastrophy as something like what Wally, Bart, and she
assumes - Jesse must be going through. (Hey, who /is/ this gorgeous blonde
anyway? This the same Jesse, Wally talks about, like a sister, or someone
else?) Time for rather revealing questions later - right now, she takes
the hug, settling back against him once, before her hat is placed directly
onto her head.

Tilting it at a roguish angle, for Zatanna will -always- remain 'on
stage', no matter what she's doing, her eyes close momentarily. She does
catch Wally's look towards Bart, but for the life of Zee, she has no idea
how to help him, she isn't a motherly figure, she never has been, and
never will be, she's far more .. flashy and to be honest, in some outward
ways, shallow to suffering, not that she doesn't care - its just that she
has no idea /how/ to help someone 'emotionally'. Still.. a mystery is
something she can sink her teeth into, and with a flare of dramtic, her
hands raise upwards, "Lets see what I can discover here, whether a magical
spell has been put over you." She makes a great show of rolling up her
sleeves, though her mouth moves ever so slightly, a quietly mumbled,
barely audible - in fact she'd have to say only the best of ears would
hear.. "Ekam a evod raeppa morf ym tekcop." With a burst and flutter of
wings, a brilliant white bird sweeps out of Zee's inner coat pocket, and
as much of the actress as she can be, the thespian to the end, Zatanna
puts on her 'act', looking surprised as she catches the bird before it can
fly off, the soft 'coo coo cooing' heard in her hands. "Whooops, wrong
pocket.."

Hey - she is trying to lighten things here. With an impish smile, she
hands the bird to Wally, before her expression draws blank, and a string
of magical phrases erupts. "Laever ot em yna lacigam ecneulfni ni siht
nwot, esuoh, ro ni esoht tneserp."

Jesse ruffles Bart's hair idly to glance back towards Zatanna, she's
hoping greatly that someone just cast a really lousy spell and that with a
live chicken (or a bucket of Sander's finest) there's a way to break it so
the Speedsters can return to their normal lives. Bickering jolliness. Her
free hand pushes through her hair as she tries to think of something to
say in addition. Her mind is drawn again to her formula, however she
doesn't say it again. She's trying to hold it together. She can do this.

Wally, for one, is thankful for Zatanna's little 'show', because even if
it doesn't cheer up Bart, as it doesn't appear to have worked for Jesse,
it at least amsues him. before settling on The Flash as heavily as he did,
Wally had wanted to be a magician, to be able to disappear, make himself
into something else, to hide... for various reasons... before settling on
that compulsion to run away. "She still gets me every time with that..."
And it's true, she does.

To Zatanna, what shall be revealed is a growing influence over all of the
residents of Keystone. Like a curtain that is slowly being closed. It has
nothing to do with the speed problem, nothign at all, but it's something
targeting the preceptions of those in this town, that is, save for
everyone in this house right now exclusively. The altered thinking via the
spell hasn't taken affect yet, and won't for several days.

Frowning as he looks to the other two, Wally knows he should be joining
them int his. hell, he wants to. he needs to. He wants to give in. Being
The Flash is *all* that he is. He 8can't* do anything else. Absolutely
nothing. And this is their lives too. Which is why he can't just cave, as
he has t try and give Jesse and bart something to lean on. So, he sucks up
his own pain and tries to help lighten the mood as well. Reaching out to
one of bart's ears and then to one of jesse, he holds a fist there, while
looking to Zatanna for confirmation ont he 'trick' he's about to do, as
well as to see if she discovers anything with her own spells? But as he
pulls his hand away from Bart's ear and opens it, he sighs as, "Nothing
there." And then he ulls and opens his hand next to Jesse and then, aha,
there's the coin! "Well, look what I found..." Lame, but hey! It was a
beginner trick, and t the time, it took a lot for Zan to likely teach
Wally just that. Back in the 'had-speed' day.

"I should clean my ears more often, huh," asks Bart fairly
unenthusiastically. No smile. Sorry, Wally. He reaches up to his shoulder
and squeezes Jesse's hand, then leans over and plops onto the couch.
Exhausted. *Big* sigh. "See anything yet, Zatanna?"

The bird quietly disappears in a swirl of smoke a few minutes after it is
'created', at least when Zatanna gets the chance to discover -something-
is amiss and send the bird back from where it came. With a shake of her
head, the dark haired magician grows quiet, moving a few steps away from
everyone present, trying to fathom what it is she just saw. Silken
ringlets of midnight bound about her shoulders, as Zee comes fully out of
her 'trance' like state, and though she did offer a nod to Wally, she
doesn't say anything else, brows furrowing deeper and deeper down. "Enac
raeppa ni ym dnah."

As though needing something to gesture with, and what magician in their
own right does not have a 'cane' to go along with the rogueish tilt of her
top hat? Tapping at the floor, before drawing the long item close to her,
Zatanna clears her throat finally, turning to inquire of any that will
listen. "There is - something amiss going on, from what I can tell, it has
nothing to do, or should have nothing to do with a loss of speed force,
it's something I'm going to have to inquire elsewhere, and to someone
else."

As Bart flops down into the couch, Zatanna flicks the cane over towards
him, speaking as she does. "Enac nrut otni teknalb." With that.. where the
cane once was.. now a small blanket tosses towards Bart, rustling around,
before the raven haired magician states quietly. "I'm going to go see what
I can find out.. And don't worry, I'll use every ounce of power I have at
my disposal to make sure this ends." Quickly, though she doesn't add that,
no need to.

Jesse blinks at Wally. She blinks again. Okay she's got just enough
alcohol to be really confused by that. The blonde winces hard as she feels
Bart squeeze her burned hand. As he walks away she makes her own way to
one of the chairs to settle in. She takes a slow breath, "So its not
Magical then?"

"Nor likely mechanical," Wally sighs, adding on to what Jesse has just
offered, as he mulls over all of this. He watches Bart flop, Jesse's heart
sink more and the worry on his girlfriend's face. And him without the spee
dor ability to fix this in a moment, for everyone. This is going to *kill*
him... but he's going to have to try, just to hold on. But with all of
you, it's going to happen. He believes that. "Thank you, Zan. For trying,
for looking... but, something? You can handle it, right?" Handle it. In
his city. Something he would normally do, or the other speedsters. But you
know? Asking Zatanna if she can handle it? It's like asking a part of the
family, practically. And Wally knows she can and will handle it. She
always does.

That magic that Zatanna is now aware of ... it pauses for a moment, the
force behind it reaching out to her... nothing sinister int hat, just to
see if she is there To see who it is. That directing force is something
vague to her, no doubt. She hasn't run into it before. Not yet, any ways.
It's something foreign again, fr another reason, a reason to do with time,
though the spell in effect over Keystone has nothing to dow ith affecting
time itself.

Slipping up behind Zatanna once more to hug her, even if briefly, before
she can bamf away, she'll get another 'thank you', and even a 'I owe you,
again'. But Wally also whisper-wonders if she can do something for those
two, Bart and jesse, to give them at leasta good night's rest? He *hates*
asking, as he knows they'll hate him for asking for them. But... he's
worried about them. Moreso than he is about himself.

"So, what leaves... something mineral? Something plant?" More bad jokes at
the wrong time.

"Not that I can tell, not from what my initial scan offered, there is
something - I can only describe as a closing of a door, or curtain, a
blinding presense that is /not/ effecting those present - but the town in
general. What it is, I've never /seen/ much less felt before. It's a
darkening .. perception unequaled - I'm going to have to ask for help on
this, or at least inquire of a few mystical tomes. Whether or not that is
linked, I can not answ...." Zatanna's voice halts suddenly, as she feels
that strange .. 'force' drawing towards her, searching her out.. Without
really stopping to think what she's doing, her voice rings out in quick
succession.. "Lacigam gnidleihs nehtgnerts dna dnib, lriws dnuora siht
emoh, tcetorp esoht edisni!" She has no idea if it'll work completely,
though she continues.. "Emoh fo eht Hsalf, tcetorp dna peek efas esoht
nihtiw uoy. Ekirts tuo ta yna taht yrt ot kcatta, trela em yltnatsni fo
yna sredurtni taht neppah yb." More words escape, as Zatanna shivers
slightly, unsure what it was she just felt, but knew she feels instantly
better at the 'ward' she just put over this home.. Even as she speaks- a
barrior of magic surrounds the home, while unseen, and unfelt (unless
magically inclined of course) it would take a will more powerful than
Zatanna to break without notifying her.

Unfortunately, she has no idea what else to do for Jesse, nor Bart, and
can only offer Wally a confused expression, "I need to go, before I
alerted this .. thing.. this.. strange.. spell to my location, I'll move
and see what I can do to protect Keystone, for you, Wally." Her gaze meets
Wally's.. before she's gone afterwards.. "Ekat em ot eht elddim fo
Enotsyek ytic."

He at least shouldn't worry about Bart anymore; the teenager's fast
asleep. At least that's one thing he can do fast, still. And you shouldn't
worry about waking him, either: he can sleep through a jet taking off. And
luckily, he'll be asleep when Nightwing gets here. Facing Wally won't be
fun, no siree. He'd've thanked Zatanna, but...well, he was on his way when
she put the blanket on him. And he's definitely quite asleep now.

Jesse looks relieved at Bart sleeping. She just leans her head back
against the sofa to gaze up wishing she could contact her father

Flopping into am arm chair as Zan goes, Wally just sighs. Heavily. Draped
over the furniture, he doesn't look to be fit to move, let alone look like
he wishes to. He's glad for Zan's protect, and cursing himself for needing
it. So this is what the people he saves feel like. "Jesse, try to sit? I
mean, being in one place right now isn't a good thing, I know. But really,
it's all we have. Tata nd each other. it's corny, yeah. But... I *know*
what you're going through. Trust me. So, we have to be tough for one
another. *Especially* Bart."

Jesse gazes back at Wally, "I'll try to sleep don't worry but there is a
lot running through my head right now." She glances towards Bart, "I can't
help but wonder how he's managing to keep it together?" She shakes her
head and looks up at the ceiling, "Well.... at least we know what it
isn't."

"He's holding it together for us, Jesse. He's thinking of us, for our
benefit. I doubt he's even allowed himself to realize yet... and when he
does... Jesse, he's *never* been without speed. I was born without it,
came to discover it. You were blessed to come to know what it is after
your dad taught you the formula. Bart? He grew up, born itno speed. He's
lived it. I would give anything to have had that... but now I'd give
anything to return that to him. You and I know how to deal, what it's
like... it's going to be rough for him. Incredibly."

Jesse pushes her hair out of her eyes and sighs, "Poor Kid. He shouldn't
have to go through this. None of us should. Feel like a limb has been cut
off." She's thinking of her legs of course but she can't bring herself to
do that. "I didn't realize how much I was really intertwined with speed."
She rests her chin on her fist, "At least we got Meltdown."

Putting a hand over his eyes, closing them, Wally tries to look at nothing
right now, in a vain attempt to think of nothing. It doesn't work. "Yeah,
poor Bart... I just... worst is likely going to be school, around the
other kids. I wonder... well, I doubt it." Wally just fears that Bart may
go through the similiar things that he did growing up, but then Bart
doesn't have Rudolph West for a father, and Wally will never be that
father type figure to Bart, or anyone. "it's more than a limb, Jesse. At
least to me. You have QuickStart, you have your degree. You can go on from
this. You have a life away from it all..."

Yes, he's jealous. Especially now. "But yeah, you're mixed up in it all,"
he chuckles. "At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to have anything to do
with you. You know this? Considering how much of an uptight priss you can
be..." Perhaps some teasing will get a bit of the old fiesty Jesse back?

"Wally.. I could get you a life as mail boy at QuickStart if you want?"
Jesse winces. She shakes her head frustratedly. "I can't do this right now
Wally. I just.." She wipes her hand across her eyes, ""I'm sorry Wally.
I'm really Sorry." Right now its that she can focus on. Her eyes look away
to gaze away and about the house. Speedsters aren't suposed to lose their
speed. Its not right.

He's on his feet in a flash, well, just a normal paced flash, but still.
He's up and over to you, hands on your shoulders. "hey, you, shh, no.
Look, Jesse, whatever this is we'll beat it. We'll find a way around it.
Through it. Under it. Over it. Whatever, we'll manage it. With your
smarts, bart's drive and my... well, with your smarts we'll do it. I
promise you. The race *is not* over yet." H's sure of this. Absoluely
positive. And then, to help Jesse, and maybe to occupy her thoughts...
"Thee's different ways to get the same answer. Yes. '2 + 2 = 4', but '8 -
4 = 4' as well. Perhaps there's a way in that..." Finding a mathematical
backdoor.

Jesse nods slowly, "Yeah .." She smiles but its a very tired little smile,
"You think so?" She releases a careful breath, "We'll solve this.."

"Of course we will. Otherwise we'll go insane." he winks to you, a little
plafully on that, but genuinely serious too.