Chalant Floriography

Hibiscus

Meaning: ephemeral beauty; romantic love and passion; joy

As far as Zatanna could remember, she's always wanted to visit Hawaii. The beautiful tropical state has always interested her, with its luscious greenery and sparkling blue waters and its unique culture. Compared to the high bricked buildings and trashed streets of Gotham, the islands seemed like paradise on earth.

She's asked her dad more times than she could count when she was younger and they were still living in New York, but he never had the time between League business and his own magic shows. One day, he'd always say.

Then Fate happened and Hawaii was the furthest thing from her mind.

Her childhood dream didn't come back up until one of those travel brochure commercials interrupted her pajama late night movie night. The moving pictures of sandy beaches and crystal waters grabbing her attention immediately.

Ironically enough and probably why it happened, Dick was there to witness her glittering interest in the islands. He didn't say anything about it, but she should have known that he had filed the information away for later like the bat he is.

True to her words, Dick showed up at her apartment's door with a roundtrip ticket to the beautiful islands of Hawaii.

But as delighted as she was, she declined. What was the point of going by herself? She didn't want to experience the island by herself.

And again, true to her words and exasperated amusement, he pulled out eight more round trip tickets from out his back pocket, one for each of the original team members including him.

She guess it was aloha Hawai'i!

The tiki torches were lit and the flickering flames danced as they cast light and shadows upon the partiers were were enjoying themselves atop the glittering sand and under the sinking evening sky.

Fresh from winning a game of Kumu Hala says and being crowned, Zatanna wandered over to the sidelines, a beautiful Mai Tai tapped with a yellow flower in her hand. Ever since she stepped foot on the island, she hasn't stopped smiling. This trip was just what she needed and having her friends here made it even better.

The water was so crystal blue you could see straight to the bottom and it felt so refreshing when everyone took a dip earlier. The flowers were so vibrant and beautiful as well as the people here. 'The drinks aren't half bad either,' she thought as she took a sip of her tropical drink and the flavor burst on her tongue.

"Is the Lady Magician enjoying the party?" The teasing voice of Dick Grayson crept up beside her. The Prince of Gotham had taken off his shirt awas wearing a tropical shirt and blue swim trunks with matching sandals.

"Aren't you supposed to be playing Limbo with Wally?" She could've sworn she had seen those two helping set up the beam.

"The game just ended. He's over at the buffet stuffing his face." She turned her head to the direction he pointed out to see the speedster going to town on his plate of huli huli chicken, potato salad and taro rolls.

"So he lost?"

"Horribly," Dick answered. "Though he might have done better if her hadn't drank three beers beforehand."

"Where's Artemis, then?"

"I thought she was with you."

Zatanna was about to answer back when a outcry of applause interrupted her. They both turned to see Megan and Raquel dragging Artemis to the stage with the hula dancers. The party-goers were cheering them on.

The music ended and changed and the hula dancers started to guide them through a dance. After a few steps Megan was a natural and after a few more steps Raquel and Artemis were naturals and after those steps Artmeis started to loosen up.

Zatanna stood in the crowd watching her friends with a wide smile and bright laughter as her friends danced and laughed on stage. Beside her, she didn't notice Dick smiling, not really paying attention to the show, but more to the beautiful woman next to him.

The dance ended and the crowd applause as the professional hula dancers congratulated the girls on their performance.

Zatanna clapped along with them when she felt Dick swept her hair behind her ear. Raising her hand to her hair felt something foreign, soft, velvety. A flower? Where had he even hid it?

"What's this for?"

"Just humoring myself." DIck answered. He stared at the flower for a little while longer before he grabbed her wrist and started pulling her towards the buffet. "Come on. Let's go get some grub before Wally eats up all of the food."