I want to see your guard down // I want to know what's under there

[nifties]

It takes them entirely too long to realize their brave captain is missing, all things considered. John almost thinks it's a spell, how caught up everyone is in the aftermath of the fight and the victory. There's a celebration and laughter - more laughter than he can remember in his recent past. Nate's laugh especially is infectious, making him laugh every time despite himself. His arm around Zari's shoulder shakes and he catches her eyes and even in the midst of this crowded party he has to kiss her. He keeps it brief, but it telegraphs his intentions well enough, and he only separates from her long enough to get them both a drink.

Then it's like reality cracks and fizzles, the wall coming down suddenly as they all realize simultaneously that something is very wrong. The cups slip from John's grip, nonalcoholic punch and whatever potent concoction was in his mix falling to the ground. It seems to splatter in slow motion, staining his shirt beyond repair, something he doesn't have a chance to react to when Ava suddenly starts yelling, "Where's Sara?" Where, indeed. His expression screws up, wondering how they were all enchanted to think she was never here when despite her flaws, she's arguably the glue that holds this rag-tag group together. And what brought them together, to begin with.

Never one to get involved with the grander overtures of an emotional situation, he instead sidles up to Behrad and asks if he has any more of those magic mushrooms. With a finger to his lips, he's making his way back to Zari and gripping her arm, harder than he means to. "Something strange is afoot. Up for a trip?" He holds up the baggy for her and lifts an eyebrow. It isn't like him to ask for help before getting into trouble, but he knows she can handle herself, having already been on a visionquest herself. Besides, there's something appealing about getting to the bottom of this together.

Comments

[influenceher]

The truth is she can't even remember how it went down. All Zari knows is one minute they're fighting for their lives (or rather her life) and the next something changed. Reality slipped away and suddenly she was a girl hustling to survive the modern world, living with her baby brother, and dodging his best friend... literally. She could never figure out why she was always pushing Nate away. Everyone in that stupid reality was constantly on her about how this is the guy she should want on paper. A part of her knew there wasn't a heart left to give him. It already belonged to someone else. She's grateful for even that tiny bit of agency that Charlie couldn't strip away with the bribe of her brother's life.

It suddenly occurs to her that she has no idea what it was like for him. Zari doesn't know if he saw what Charlie was up to and tried to fight it or what his prison was even like. Now isn't the time to ask, is it? Zari resists the urge to downplay the situation again. She acknowledges it honestly.

"I know, John. It really hurt." Zari stops them even though her hand aches and the answers are straight ahead. She pivots on her boot to face him, grabbing the back of his neck with her free hand to telegraph the kiss that's coming. It's sweet, but firm reminder that she is here. They're not going to lose like that again.

She pulls back sooner than usual if only because they are on a mission. "Let's do this before Sara finds out she didn't get to make a lame mission intro. I feel like she'd have a field day with whatever this is all about." She lets go of the back of his head to vaguely gesture behind her. Zari turns again on her heel, leading them ahead with the confidence of a woman who never met a problem she couldn't take head-on. Some things never change.

[nifties]

It feels good just to be validated in the moment and he digs a hand into her hip in anticipation of the kiss, a gesture he returns with gusto though he knows it won't last long. He allows it to lend him strength, as her presence somehow always does, looking up at their destination. Just as he does, the city flickers, like reality is trying to seep back into their scene.

"The reference you were looking for earlier is that this is a magical city set over the rainbow that's somehow supposed to have exactly what you need... but it was all a sham in the end." He has to stop a second to think, and the sky starts darkening measure by measure the longer he takes. It isn't easy when he's higher than a kite and distracted by his feelings for Zari, but when he thinks of Sara the clouds part a little. "Oh, and we should probably stay out of the open before the witch gets us."

Because that isn't ominous at all. The poppies start calling to him the moment they stop, but he's present enough to know that's a bad idea - or is it? A voice interrupts him, a guard dressed head to toe in green to match the fortress he's protecting.

"John Constantine? There's a message for you." It's his turn to grab Zari's hand and beeline towards the figure, cautious but hopeful as he takes the envelope from the man's hand. He hands it over to Zari immediately, once again needing her strength to get through this.

"Will you do the honors, luv?"

[influenceher]

Zari makes a face at the reference. That probably won't bode well for them. She'll find a way to make her own luck. Sara may not be her bff the way Ava is growing to be, but she is their leader. She's not leaving this drug trip until they have answers. "Okay. That's super reassuring." They have a wizard so she thinks it'll be cool.

It seems her optimism pays off when they get a letter. That's weird but, helpful. "Yeah, I've got it. Just remember to kiss me if I fall into a magical coma from a paper cut." Zari lets go of his hand reluctantly to open it. She gets "Surrender, Dorothy" for her trouble in big black letters. She blinks twice, drops the letter, sucks in a harsh breath, before stomping up to the guard and getting in his stupid face. She points her finger at him for emphasis as she screams every word out.

"You listen to me, you tacky little creep. Stop screwing with us or I'll go full dragoness on you. Try me. I have a highly suggestible wizard with no impulse control! He will burn your freaking castle down if I tell him to and make sure whoever sent that knows it!" She steps back only to pull out her phone. The furious look on her face makes it plain that is not a retreat. She's getting ready to ruin his entire life. "I'm setting a timer for five minutes. Get moving!" Zari turns the phone around to face the man and he books it. Either she came off as completely insane as she wanted or John did something really cool behind her. It's a victory either way.

[nifties]

He considers trying to explain the context, but if the professor is actually inside they may get more answers from him. John shrugs and shakes his hands out, letting the flames overtake them easily. The guard's eyes widen and it takes him all of 30 seconds before he decides this is above his paygrade and runs off his post, letting his spear fall to the ground with a loud clatter.

"That might be a new record," he praises them both, starting to reach over her shoulder before he realizes his hand is still on fire. John shakes his hands to clear the spell again and hits the phone screen to pause her timer. But when he goes to reach for the door, it falls away like a TV screen shattering into a million shards of glass on impact. He immediately grabs at her arm, not wanting to get separated again, but what springs from the rubble is breathtaking and he holds Zari close to witness it with him.

Assuming she's still sharing his vision, it's like they're floating in the vacuum of space looking out at the Milky Way. He's remembering looking up at the night sky back in Liverpool, praying for a way out. If only that little boy would have known just how far he'd end up. The peace of the scene doesn't last long, however, as spectres of the previous visions blink in and out of existence.

First up is the Cheshire Cat himself, slowly appearing before fading back out to only his smile like that iconic scene. Next, the Wicked Witch travels by on her broomstick, her cackle eerily stolen by the lack of atmosphere. Her flying monkeys flank her like secret service before they all vanish behind a nearby planet. The stars rearrange to spell out their discarded message from before: SURRENDER DOROTHY staining the sky as Dorothy herself is the next to join their surreal scene. Her bejeweled shoes shine brightly in the night sky as she clacks her heels three times and John finds himself saying the phrase with her, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home..."

[influenceher]

The reminder of TV terrifies Zari at first glance to the point where she freezes just the second long it takes for something bad to happen. She's relieved that John grabs her. It's not often she spooks, but it's meaningful he has her back. Zari loves him all the more for being ready to cover that moment of weakness. The reveal that follows does a lot to bring the air back into her lungs. For a moment, she smiles innocently. It's beautiful. She almost forgets why they're here because it's just them and the sights. What could possibly be wrong?

Things start to turn. It shouldn't be scary. Mostly it's weird; very John in many ways. For a control freak? It's deeply unnerving. Zari feels truly high for the first time. It makes her feel a little queasy. She can't figure out how any of these images will return Sara to them. If there's one thing that scares Zari, it'll be the look of disappointment on Ava's face if they come back with nothing. She tears her eyes away to center on John and squeezes his hand hard enough to hurt.

"I don't know what this means." She admits in frustration. Zari sucks in a breath to steady herself. "Will saying the words tell us where Sara is?"