tushanshu | 14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

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14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[ Guess whose internal almanac confirmed that today is officially the first day of Autumn? That's right, this guy! Who's currently bouncing around his treehouse like an over-caffeinated grasshopper while Baby Tooth peeks in the corner of the console screen with an expression like welp that's Jack for you. Whether viewers can perceive them, especially the newer arrivals, will remain to be seen. ]

WHOOOHOOO! Goodbye Summer, goodbye! Have a good vacation! Don't hurry back!

[ And then with a final whoop of joy, the feed turns off! Yeah, that's all he wanted to share. ]

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[She caught that tightness, and immediately regretted her words. Jack had seemed fine talking about swimming in general, it never dawned on her that something like the temperature of the water would have an almost ironic effect on him.]

...hey, you know what? [The question came out a bit softer than before. Less teasing.] It's not too cold yet. We can hit up the beach this weekend if you want to go for one last swim for the season?

[ His smile became somewhat rueful and he nodded. ]

Yeah, that sounds really great. We should make a whole day of it... maybe a picnic?

Just you and me, or did you want to invite anyone else?

[Honestly, she would be fine with either option.]

Just you and me, I think.

I'd like that.

It's been a while since we've had one of our Fake Dates. I think we're due.

[Not so much emphasis on the Fake part, if only because she knew he knew. Because he knew she knew. But neither of them wanted things to change, so she saw no reason to change her special nickname for their outings.]

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing. This weekend, then.

I'll drink to that.

[She holds up her cup of cocoa in a small salute, before taking another sip.]

[ Once Jack had finished his cocoa, he went back to the table and picked up the supplies that Zatanna had brought. A quick snip cut a length of it and the needle was threaded with nimble fingers before he turned the hoodie inside out and picked up the material. It seemed as though he had a decent idea of what he was doing, lining up the extra piece with an existing seam. ]

[She purposely took longer with her drink, tilting her head up from the seat she'd claimed earlier to watch what he was doing. Slightly surprised that he knew what he was doing.]

Where'd you learn to sew?

[ Baby Tooth held the other end of the material... possibly unnecessary but she wanted to help as well. ]

Watching other people do it and a lot of trial and error. I'm not bad if the area's near a seam... not so great at the rest of it.

Will wonders never cease?

That's still more than I was expecting you to know. You've been holding out on me.

[ quips: ] Not so long as North is around!

[ He knots the thread at one end and starts passing it through the hoodie's shoulder. It looks like he's adding the extra layer so that it can be pulled up through the neckline and into the hood itself. ]

I've had to fix my shirts before, that's all.

[Smirk. Cute.]

That's what happens when you wear the same thing every day, all the time.

Probably! Though cotton's a lot easier to sew than some of my other coats, easier to fly around in too.

I'm pretty sure most of my things are made out of either cotton or one of those poly-cotton blend fabrics.

Then again, I'm not exactly an expert. I just know how to properly wash them.

[She finishes the last of her mug, and proceeds to "forget" her earlier threat to leave by holding it out.]

I don't suppose there's any more where that came from?

[ Jack looks over at her with a knowing smile and nods, tucking one leg underneath him comfortably. ]

There's still half a pot on the stove, you can have the rest if you want. As soon as I'm done we'll get to the snacks.

[Hush, you. It's a really good recipe, and that is clearly the only reason why she's sticking around.]

[Sticking her tongue out at him for that look, she grins as she hops down from her seat, crossing the room to the stove, and pouring herself another cup. By her estimate, there was maybe enough for three more left in the pot, simmering to stay hot.]

What kind of snacks are we talking here?

[ Who said spirits can't learn to cook! He ties off one piece of thread, having gone the length of the seam and start unravelling more so he can restring the needle. ]

Mm, it's kind of like a cross between fudge and toffee. It's made like toffee, but then it gets all puffy and soft instead of brittle. There's a store not that far from the new shop... I was watching them make it and they gave me a piece to try. I liked it so I bought a bunch.

[Her mouth watered just thinking about it.]

That sounds delicious.

What new shop, by the way?

Finnick's shop, I moved it remember?

[ He smiled and this time it was only a touch nostalgic. He wished his friend was here to see that he'd kept the shop open after he'd gone back home. But it was doing well so far in the first few weeks it'd been open and that was a source of pride for the spirit. ]

[It took her a moment, because while she remembered him making that announcement, the shop was one of the few aspects of his after-life she wasn't completely in the know about.]

Maybe?

Why don't you refresh my memory.

Mm, well...

[ He paused in his sewing for a moment, deciding where to start. ]

After Finnick and I became friends and, well, after he was able to see me properly, he mentioned that he wanted to open a fishing business because that's what he was most familiar with at home. And I wanted to help him because...

[ Because he was damaged and I thought it would help him, was where he'd been going. Even though he trusted Zatanna implicitly though, some things were not his purview to share. ]

He... needed something to focus on. So I lent him the money I'd made from doing deliveries so he could get everything started. He insisted it was half mine because of that, but he ran it and did everything and as long as he was happy with it, I didn't mind if it was all his. Traci and Korra started working for him too.

But then he went home and I didn't want it to close, or for the others to lose their job. So I said I would keep it open.

[Consider how much she knew about Jack that she'd never told anyone else, it was a safe bet to assume Zatanna understood about keeping other's secrets. She didn't pry. Not even a curious eyebrow raise.]

[The part about Traci and Korra working with him was...surprising, to say the least. Most because neither girl had even mentioned it before, but partially because of Korra's...well...Korra-ness. She was almost tempted to ask if Korra was still working there after everything that had happened. But then that would bring up the fact that she and Korra were still fighting. And had nearly come to blows at Bianca and Jaime's party.]

[...though the less than subtle look on her face at the mentioning of the Avatar might've given at least some of that away.]

That was pretty cool of you to do, Jack.

You like getting to run your own business?

[ Jack did indeed notice the expression Zatanna was wearing, the calm one on his simultaneously inviting her to speak what was on her mind if she wanted but also not pressing because, there was little else to say on it from his side of things. ]

I don't know, it's a little strange. I guess I'm not used to having anyone relying on me. With the deliveries, I was the only one who was affected if they didn't get done. If the store doesn't do well...

...you're worried about the others.

[How very...Jack.]

[Zee wasn't sure if she was flattered or exasperated by the fact that Jack picked up on her nonverbal cues so easily. The former was mostly directed at herself, though, for being so obvious.]

It's...kind of a long story. Ish. Fortunately, you already know a good part of it.

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