tushanshu | 12 ❄ ( VIDEO )

Entry tags:

12 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[ Jack has gone back and forth between Keeliai and Tu Vishan several times, each more insistent than before, before returning to his suite to relay this message. He sticks to video because he's a little weary (mentally more than physically) and most of the people he knew needed to hear this news, he knew could see and hear him or the petite, jewel-toned faerie securely perched on his shoulder in the soft folds of his sweater's hood. The feed begins as he's still talking to her and it catches the last of his words and her soft chirping. ]

--et them know, Baby Tooth, just a minute.

[ Then he addresses the screen properly, keeping his voice level and steady. ]

I know everything's been a little crazy lately with... you know, that message--

--but I wanted to let people know, Finnick Odair has gone home. I've looked all over and neither I nor the Wind can't find him anywhere on Tu Vishan or in Sinbrilee. I'm sure he... would have said goodbye, if he'd been able. But I didn't want people to just be looking for him and not realize.

[ a beat and then, unable to think of anything more appropriate to add: ]

Sorry.

[ private to Traci & Korra ]

I'd like to keep the fishing business open, even if it'll have to move to a building not attached to his suite but... I think he'd have liked that, and I don't want you two to be out of jobs. I'll understand if you'd prefer not to, though. I know I've... never really been around it much for supposedly being half the ownership.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hm? No, nothing in particular.

[ and then over his shoulder: ]

Baby Tooth, we have company!

[The tiny fairy twittered to life, flying over to greet Zatanna with all the enthusiasm she would expect from a rainbow-colored, fluffy hummingburd. With a warm smile, she held out a hand for Baby Tooth to rest in.]

She's adorable.

Where'd you find her?

Ororo found her in Sinbrilee, but she said she doesn't remember how she got there.

[ The little faerie chirped affirmatively, spreading her hands in a "beats me" gesture. ]

[Okay, that was adorable. Zatanna held out two fingers, giving Baby Tooth a little pat on the head.]

Probably the same way the rest of us did.

Still...I'm glad you have another friend from home here with you now.

Me too.

[ Baby Tooth enjoyed the attention though she flitted up to Zatanna's shoulder and grabbed two handfuls of black hair to use as an impromptu shawl. ]

Yeah, we're still trying to compromise on the temperature. It's pretty summery at the Tooth Palace.

[Her fur was soft, but slightly cold from having been in the chilling temperature for so long; Zatanna squirmed a little as it brushed against her skin, attempting to negociate her hair's freedom before giving up after only a few seconds.]

She can always fly over to my room for a bit, if it gets too cold in here for her. I wouldn't mind.

[Though, on the subject of friends and chilling temperatures...her expresion faltered, eyes keeping focused on the tiny fairy so she wouldn't have to look Jack directly in the eye.]

Jack...can I ask you something?

[ Jack nodded absently at her offer, going back to the table where he was working on something. Though only half-built, it bore an already distinct resemblance to the baskets that had lined the walls of the halls in the house fashioned in the dream. ]

Sure, you can ask anything.

[ Whether he'd answer or not was a different issue. ]

[Now if only she could figure out exactly how to phrase what it was that was on her mind.]

About...the Dream...

[She knew he would recognize which one she was talking about; the distinct similarities in those baskets were obvious.]

Yeah, that was a trip, huh? You'd think they'd put something like that in the guidebook for this place. Or warning signs around those arches.

[He was trying to brush it off. Part of her wanted to let him. Honestly, she might've done the same thing in his place.]

Since when did anything about this place come with a guidebook?

[To her credit, she almost even smiled as she spoke. Though, a moment later, she forewent petting Baby Tooth in favor of giving him her full attention. She even stood up from the ledge.]

Jack...do you like me?

Maybe that could be the start of a business! I'll sell little guidebooks on the wall of the fishing shop. Oh-- I'll be running that from now on, I guess.

[ The spirit didn't look up from his basket making, currently absorbed by poking a strip of cloth in and out of the weave. ]

'Course I do.

[She shook her head, coming to stand beside him. Though he didn't look at her, she tried to tilt her head to fall into his line of vision while maintaining a hesitant distance between them.]

That's not what i mean.

Jack...you dreamed about us being together.

I dreamed a lot of things, Zatanna-- we both know dreams aren't real.

[ There's the beginnings of an undercurrent in his tone. He hasn't shut her out yet, but he's wary... ]

No. They're not. But sometimes...they're about things we wish were.

[She heard the undercurrent as loudly as if he had been shouting. It told her more than any open admission possibly could; if what they'd seen really hadn't meant anything, he would've been joking about it. Like they had in the past.]

[Before she realized.]

...why didn't you tell me?

[Her voice came out soft, more of a murmur than anything, and without accusation. If anything, there was guilt behind it. Guilt, because she felt she should have known even without him saying it, but she hadn't.]

[ They're about the things we can't have when we're awake. But Jack shrugs, even as Baby Tooth starts casting glances between he and Zatanna. ]

There was nothing to say.

[ I know my place. ]

[Poor Baby Tooth. She must have been so confused as to what she was witnessing. Some first meeting.]

Yes, there was. You should've said something. I mean, I thought... ['once you started dating other girls...'] ...I don't know.

[It's not that simple. It never is.]

Should have said what, exactly?

[ No anger in his voice but definitely a cool reception. ]

I didn't want-- this.

[ The awkwardness. The hesitation. Anything that would complicate them. ]

[Too late. She might not've blamed him, but the fact of the matter was that she knew now. Having found out through his very subconscious, rather than him telling her outright.]

All those times. When we were just joking around. Teasing. ['That time on the rooftop, with the snow. And the playful flirting'] If I had known, I would've...

[Would've what, exactly? Not joked? Not teased? Would it really have made that much of a difference?]

[Her eyes lowered. Jack wasnt the only one who wasn't saynig everything aloud. The truth was...she was scared. All this time, she could have been risking their friendship and never known. One more thing in her life or afterlife or whatever for her to screw up. Like she nearly had with Robin. Like she will with her father...]

I never stopped to think it might've meant something different to you. I never seem to think, period.

[ firmly: ] Those times meant exactly what you thought they did, Zatanna. Nothing more-- I knew what they were. This, this was never about mixed signals... I don't want it to start being that way. We're friends, that's it, that's what I want.

[She didn't look up.]

...are you sure?

[He had a habit of saying things he knew would make others feel better. She knew he had this habit. Much as she wanted to believe he was telling the truth, the Dreams still made her question a lot.]

Then...you know why I had to leave when I did.

I'm sure. Look, I can't... stop liking someone, just because they're-- just because it's not returned.

[ Whether they were taken or they simply weren't interested. ]

It's not a like a switch I can just turn off. But that doesn't mean as much to me as still being friends with them, not even close. So it's all right.

You don't have to explain.

[The corners of her lips tugged upwards in a somewhat ironic smile, and she gave a quiet scoff. Not at him, but at herself.]

...why do you have to be so nice to me all the time? Even when I screw up.

Because you will never, ever deserve anything less.

[She has to tilt her head downward at that, hair hiding her face from view so he wouldn't see the tears threatening to well. It was just like the time he'd gotten the pendant for her. That he'd somehow managed to have made with her father's lullaby inside.]

You don't play fair.

I don't usually get complaints.

permaction

permaction

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject