[action]

[spellitbackwards]

[Settlement? Psshaw. That was easy as pie. Zat didn't even think it was going to be much of a challenge. Unless, of course, this place decided that his magic is unworkable.]

Dliub Esuoh! [Nope.]

Dliub a Kcahs! [Nuh-uh.]

Tnet Raeppa! [Oh look, that one manages to work-- albeit it's a small tent, and only manages to fit one person.]

Oh hardy har har. This joke is getting stale really fast.

Comments

[socrash]

Yeah, me neither. [Bart's grumbling because this is all so unfair.] Zatanna could probably do it though. She's like the best magician - magicianess? - there is in the whole history of ever.

[maybe. he didn't exactly read the history books on magic users.]

[spellitbackwards]

[If he hadn't already accepted Zatanna as someone who was better than him at magic, grudgingly as it is, that would sting. Still.] Cuz would know what to do, but unfortunately she's not here. Knowing her, she's either having another sold-out show or being chased by demons.

[socrash]

[Things Bart is not actually expecting Zach to say: that he knows Zatanna. Which, all things considered, is kind of dumb. They're both magicians, so it'd make sense for them to know each other. Just like speedsters know all the other speedsters. It's just a Thing.

Bart is now going to comment on that Thing.]

Hey, you know Zatanna? [Totally brightening up at that because mutual friends! Ish.] Right, you guys are both magicians. So does that mean you guys are both in like some super secret magical society or something?

[He kinda missed the 'cuz' part.]

[spellitbackwards]

[He gives him a look at that, a bit affronted because really? Everyone knows they're cousins, and even if they didn't, it wasn't really hard for them to figure it out. Of course, that's his ego talking, and he huffs and crosses his arms as he stares at him hard in a 'Are you seriously this slow?' (and the irony isn't lost on him either.)]

She's my cousin. How many magicians who speak backwards do you think even exists?

[socrash]

[A (comparatively) long pause (for Bart).]

....A lot?

[HEY MAN, YOU NEVER KNOW there could be like some secret cult of magicians out there with black capes and hoods holding candles and chanting backwards spells so that the New York Yankees win over the Red Sox or something.]

I mean, they might not all be good magicians like you and Zatanna but they're still out there, right? [Speaking of him and Zatanna though.] Are you guys seriously related? That's crashing, dude. So does that mean you guys grew up together and practiced magic spells together and stuff?

[spellitbackwards]

[... It's a good thing reading minds is not part of his abilities or so help him he would strangle you, Bart.]

Your ignorance overwhelms me. [He says flatly, annoyed, but otherwise cool. Right. Whatever.] Don't treat my magic like some sort of trinket that can be passed around. It's a family trade.

[Aaaand ouch.] Wow, you really don't know anything, do you? Do you always ask so many questions?

[socrash]

Hey! I'm not ignorant!

[Bart is so offended by Zach's words. And by offended he really means he's just put out that this supposedly cool dude thinks he's dumb. (Which he totally isn't, by the way.) Still, he's not one to linger over insults - thank two parts ADHD and one part just really not caring - and it's only a second before he's back on the obnoxious speedster wagon, curiosity all over his face.]

It's only 'cause the only magician I've met is Zatanna and we've only talked once. We're not exactly BFFs. And I thought asking questions was a good thing. Makes me a detective, like Batman.

[spellitbackwards]

Batman is overrated. [Ha. There. He said it. Now let's just hope he wasn't heard. Still...] Robin was a lot more interesting. [Once Zat got past the whole I hate the Teen Titans go diaf part of their meeting.]

I only got my magic a little more recently than she has, but she did teach me the trick of the trade. [He grudgingly admits, and he wonders why he's telling him this. Probably boredom.] Of course, with my natural talent, it was hardly an effort to learn.