20 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's voice is quiet, nearly monotone and there are dark hollows under his eyes. ]

There's something you should know about the snow in the open areas between the domes. Some of the snow I make has magic in it, and what it does is make people more open to loosening up and playing around in it. It has to do with my center being Fun, it was never intended to hurt anyone but... it did.

Even though this time was an accident... it was also in the big snowfall last March. If you spent a lot of time outside that weekend, you probably got at least a little dose of it. A couple people already knew about this but I'm the one who should have said something before this. Long before, I was just--

I've already tried to break as much of the effect as I can between the three main domes, it should be mostly clear now and back to regular snow.

[ Which might explain the ill effect it seems to have had on him; he's been literally trying to undo the very essence of himself he expended into it. He takes a breath as though to add something else then apparently thinks better of it, reaching over and turning the console off. ]

Comments

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

[ That actually draws a smile from him and he's deeply reminded of Pepper. ]

That sounds pretty good. Any suggestions?

[video]

[hasthreefingers]

Would you know it, I actually found a bunch of tea bags in my office? I've been trying them out - they're all excellent. Want me to find you a drowsy one and drop it off for you?

Well, the drowsiest I can find, at any rate.

[ Full disclosure. Pepper, who left the tea, doesn't seem to have been interested in sleep at work. ]

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

I'll leave the choice to your selection then. I'm afraid I can't really say I've drank a lot of tea.

[video]

[hasthreefingers]

Maybe I should bring over some biscuits, too, then. Shame we don't have telly here. That always helped me sleep. Or books. Charles Dickens always put me to sleep.

Where can I find you?

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

I'm at my suite right now but it's too cold here for you. I can meet you somewhere.

[video]

[hasthreefingers]

Too cold?

I, young sir, am English.

"Too cold" is for other people.

Unless you're Scottish. Or Irish. Or Russian, I guess.

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

Okay, your choice. But I took out the heating system when I moved in, so it's about -10C in here right now, so bring some gloves.

[video]

[hasthreefingers]

[ -10.

Oh. ]

Okay. I'll just... get my coat and be right over.

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

I really won't be offended if you want to meet somewhere a little more temperate, okay?

[video]

[hasthreefingers]

You might not be offended, but I said I'd do it. And a Noble doesn't back down!

But why in the name of all things sane would you stop using your heater? You know you could die with things that cold, right? No wonder you're not feeling well.

Re: [video]

[wintershepherd]

I can honestly say I can't die of cold, I promise. Or that it has anything to do with how I'm feeling. I'm...

[ well, why not. she's already able to see and hear him ]

The Spirit of Winter. My name's Jack Frost.

1/?

[hasthreefingers]

2/?

[hasthreefingers]

3/?

[hasthreefingers]

4/?

[hasthreefingers]

5/5

[hasthreefingers]

What?

[wintershepherd]

Come on, it wasn't coincidence I was talking about magic snow, right?

[hasthreefingers]

Yeah, but-

[ Donna lowers her voice. ]

I thought you were talking about, like, drugs or weird candy or something. Which I don't approve of. Except for the weird candy. Or the something. But not the drugs. I don't ever want to hear about you taking drugs, got it?

[wintershepherd]

[ He can't help it; of all the people who responded, Donna is the one to get him to laugh when he's feeling near his lowest. Bless you, Donna Noble. ]

I won't ever take drugs, I'm not on anything weird, candy or otherwise and I'm really who I say I am.

[hasthreefingers]

Jack Frost.

[ She leans back with a frown, considering for several seconds before shaking her head. ]

Don't believe it. I've traveled in a police box to see the beginning of time, and I still don't believe it.

[ Could he really be Jack Frost? ]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack lifts his hands ruefully as though to say well what can you do? when she says she doesn't believe him. ]

Is that a requirement for the tea?

[hasthreefingers]

Believing in you or traveling in time?

[ Her expression becomes distant as she considers that. ]

I wonder... If you make tea in a time machine, is the tea always good, always bad, or does it, like, revert to tea leaves if you go into the past and turn into a horrible slime monster if you go too far in the future?

[ She glances at him. Right. People. ]

I'll be right over with your tea!

[wintershepherd]

Okay. I'll see you soon.

ACTION

[hasthreefingers]

[ Several minutes later, Donna shows up dressed in a thick coat and thick boots. There's no way to tell how many layers she's wearing, but it's enough that she's barely gotten chilled, as cold as it is on the turtle.

She's got a teapot in one gloved hand and a cup in the other, which means she knocks by kicking the door. ]

Re: ACTION

[wintershepherd]

[ To his credit, Jack did go around and close all the open windows in his suite, so it wasn't quite as cold inside when Donna finally did arrive. He opens the door and grins at her. ]

Hi.