tushanshu | video; anonymous location

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video; anonymous location

[The video pickup doesn't show a person, other than in the background at the cafe, and not many, at that. But it does show an article.]

[It is a somewhat peculiar statuette, turned in such a way as to obscure significant details that may allow for its identification.]

[Then there is Robin's voice.]

Landfall seems to bring items that belong to people who are resident of Keeliai, so it is possible that this one may be property of somebody here. If yours, let me know.

[And that's it.]

[Private to Jack Frost.]

[For this one, Robin is visible at the console.]

How is the warming weather affecting you? And should I keep an eye on sunny spots or something of the sort and make sure you don't get exposed too long?

[Private to Zatanna Zatara.]

[And, again, Robin is visible in the video pick-up. His hand might be still at the base of the statuette, though.]

Have you been keeping an eye on how the change in the weather is affecting your - silver-haired neighbor?

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[ The reply comes later in the evening, after the sun has set and Jack has woken. He's glad it's not text because his hands are hurting again, the joints tight and almost knobbed though on the other hand, video is almost as bad. He surreptitiously pulls his hood up before answering but it doesn't completely disguise the darkened hollows beneath his eyes, nor the faint blue-black mottling of his skin down the side of his neck.

Jack picks the easiest symptom from the growing list to answer Robin with, not a lie but far from the whole truth. ]

More tiredness... I'm sleeping the better part of the day now.

And no, that won't be necessary.

I see.

[He does. You don't have to hide.]

Have you consulted anyone who can do something to alleviate the situation? Since your energy seems mostly to go into... maintaining yourself operational.

People have offered.

[ It's not that he's not grateful for those offers either and that shows in how he momentarily looks away from the screen, as though ashamed that he hasn't taken any of them up yet. Nor is he foolish enough to think that midday naps are ice baths are going to get him through a full-blown summer, not when he's already having trouble. But there's something else he's clinging to, something he isn't quite ready to give up just yet, and it's worth the stubbornness and the side effects of it. ]

[Beat. Stare.]

And?

[THIS IS NOT EASY, ok? It's not like Damian has ever tried to take care of somebody before. But, for all his issue with Frost, letting him die, or whatever may happen, doesn't seem like a thing he should do. Or wants to do.]

And I'm... just trying to figure things out. This is new to me too.

Have you at least found out what is happening?

Not... exactly.

[ He suspected, but getting confirmation would not only be a hundred times more uncomfortable than the symptoms, but he frankly didn't want anyone else to know. ]

Frost!

[Come on. Damian's trying to help, and if there is somebody who wouldn't overreact to Jack's guess...]

[ The sharpness of it makes him jump a little, having not expected it. But it also spurs a more definitive reaction. ]

It's my decision, okay? I just need a little more time.

It would be if you had demonstrated better effort to self-preservation.

[Though the words are sharp, the tone is more clipped than aggressive or anything of that sort. Stating facts.]

What the weather is now is nothing to how warm it will be in a month, let alone by August. You don't have too much more time.

[ oh that rankled ]

What do you want me to do? Convince the turtle it would be a great side trip to an iceberg field? How about you go complain to the Man in the Moon about why I got to be the Winter Spirit instead of someone that's useful for the other nine months of the year? Look, I get that you all want to shove me in some icebox from now until November but I need some more time.

[... oh. This outbursts? Actually feels somewhat familiar. If not in the specifics. Damian actually stills on his end of the transmission, then. His voice is actually smooth and even.]

If I wanted to shove you in some icebox from now until November, the icebox would already be at the door of your suite.

However, some people are used to dealing with 'new' situations, so long as you give them the correct data to start from. Attempting to just cope on your own wastes time and resources. Your time.

You should stay aware of that.

[ Jack bit back the reply of you're going to lecture me about being open with people? with an actual clamp of teeth on his gums to keep from speaking it, releasing a long breath after a moment. ]

I am aware of it. Just because I haven't asked for help doesn't mean I don't want it. It just means that I need... I need to ask for the right thing and I don't know what that is yet.

Then do that.

[Beat. Huff, as he tries to calm down, too. The next offer? Is absolutely honest.]

If you are in need of somebody attentive to bounce questions off, let me know.

[And, beat.]

Then you'll have a better opportunity to spend times with the foreigners my age and younger that are here now, even if the locals haven't gone back to their previous attitude by the time you get around to it.

[ Jack closes his eyes for a moment, as though reliving happier playtimes. ]

... I'd like that, a lot.

[Yelp. People displaying vulnerability like this IS STILL A THING DAMIAN ISN'T SURE WHAT TO DO WITH.]

I... thought you might.

You will work more on finding out what is necessary and who can help you, won't you?

[There's almost a please, there. But he's pretty sure that would be pushing it.]

[ At that, Damian gets a smile, weary but honest. ]

I will. Soon, too. I promise.

[ Admittedly that probably doesn't hold any weight with this one, but he means it and he'll say it anyway. ]

>Tt.<

[Damian is... less dismissive of promises than before what Kyle did, but, still. He'd have thought Jack would have done something already.]

I can accept that this is new for you, but taking care of yourself is among the first things you ought to learn. Everything else will fail if you don't start there.

All right?

It's just easier to take care of other people, I guess.

But I understand.

You can't do that if you collapse on them. Or look terrifying to them.

[Watches him for a moment, then nods.]

And if you end up wanting a big freezer box, I can build one for you. Even here.

[ Jack crosses his arms, disgruntled. The repetitions feel odd, not pointed enough to be... concern? (he thinks?) but too direct to be mere standard warnings. ]

I don't look-- [ except that's not entirely true ] Nghh. Fine.

Bruce offered too. Does everyone here build ice cream storage or something in their spare time?

[There's no more than the ghost of a smile, at the reluctant agreement; there is, however, a definite nod, accepting it.]

[And then, shrug.]

I build all sorts of things. A recent big project was a flying Batmobile, off erroneous plans of Father's that I corrected. Something like that is not really a problem.

[Beat.]

I am assuming you do not mean Father.

Wow... you can build things like that? How'd you learn?

[ No doubt at the claim, just a surprised awe. It's so much beyond the scope of anything Jack knows how to do that he has nothing to compare it to. ]

Huh? Oh, sorry. No, a new Bruce that arrived. He's a scientist.

The same way I learned everything else. I was trained to do it.

[You don't want to know how young he was learning some things, Jack. You just don't want to know.]

[Small pause, and he nods.]

I know who you're talking about.

[ It seems weird to Jack to think things like that were trained but again, he has no basis for reference on it. ]

Figures all the extra-smart people around here know each other.

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