tushanshu | [CONSOLE] [VIDEO]

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[CONSOLE] [VIDEO]

[The first few seconds are met with silence and a mischievous grin.]

[Then, without saying a word, Zatanna holds up a picture. A photograph. Surprisingly clear, with rich colors and a fully focused subject. In this case, it was Jack. A sleeping Jack, curled up onto his(?) bed, dressed in a rather bold pair of polar bear footie pajamas. A ball of white fluff was placed beneath his head. The winter spirit was smiling warmly, as if dreaming of something pleasant.]

[Once sure the entire Network managed to get a good look, Zatanna lowered the picture long enough to wink at the camera. Then, the screen went dark.]

[But not before the last remnants of muttered audio were picked up by the microphone:]

Telling everybody I snore...hmph...

[Revenge is sometimes a dish best served frosty cold~]

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I don't suppose there's a verbal explanation, and-or description, for those of us who can't see what's going on?

[He's a little irritable. It took him longer than it should have, until the mutter in fact, to realise that the console was active because of a silent video. It's the little things that are most annoying.]

[It took her a second to catch up. Oh...oh...]

[You know, it hadn't even dawned on her to take something like that into account. Whoops. Hopefully, this would be an easy fix:]

It's a picture of my boyfriend asleep wearing polar bear footie pajamas.

[Aha. His face clears, irritation replaced by indulgent amusement.]

Ah, vengeance. This would be better if I knew who your boyfriend is, but I completely understand the sentiment.

Jack Frost. Winter Spirit. Runs the Welcome Center.

[That usually covers the basics of introductions. Any further details would tend to get a bit personal.]

There seems to be a bit of a trend going around lately. I didn't want him to feel left out, you know?

Then yes, I do know him.

[They've never actually spoken, but Sol knows of him.]

Of course. Being inclusive to one's significant other is only considerate.

[Which may be more believable if it isn't for the smirk he's wearing.]

[No, hush this is clearly the most serious of conversations and should be taken as such.]

Oh, I'm all about the consideration, believe me.

And not just Jack, either. I try to be considerate of all my fellow Foreigners, if it comes to that. [HINT HINT]

I'll keep your diligence in the forefront of my thoughts.

[Whether or not he means that he'll keep an eye out for her or make a request is up for debate. It's probably both.]

Glad to hear it.

Although, while we're on the subject... [Of things being in the forefront of one's thoughts] ...don't think I caught your name? I mean, I know you're not new. I've seen you around, but I think this is the first time we've really had a chance to chat.

Solomon Wreath. And you're Zatanna, correct? I don't believe we have talked, no.

[As he recalls, she's a young lady without any need for mentoring.]

Idle chat isn't really on my list of skills.

[She nodded the confirmation of her name. Even if she never spoke it aloud, it rarely surprised her when someone recognized her. Either through reputation of some sort, or other clues.]

Shame. With the convenience of the Network and all, it's kind of a common pasttime for a lot of us.

I lurk. I just don't find much reason to engage. For some reason, people tend to object when I talk to them.

I can't possibly imagine why that would be.

[Okay, she could imagine, but thus far, things didn't seem so bad.]

You see? It's incomprehensible. I'm far too charming to be so disliked.

[He says it too deadpan to be really serious.]

[His done was so dull, she could've used it as a lullaby.]

[A thought which, of course, only made her grin widen.]

Clearly, it's not you, it's them.

It's so vindicating to meet someone who sees it my way.

So happy I could vindicate your ego--I mean--life choices.

It really doesn't happen often enough, let me tell you.

[He's not even kidding. He is, but he isn't. This is probably the most civil conversation he's had that hasn't involved his significant other.]

So where did you find adult-sized swaddling clothes, anyway? I know a few other people around here who should be sent a set.

[It's so funny you should mention that...]

Actually, it was a few sizes smaller when we picked it up.

I made the necessary adjustments according to his size.

Nicely done, hekau.

Thank you.

[Not entirely the point of her original public announcement, but you know what? She'll never turn down a small boost to her magical ego.]

I can say for absolute certain that it was both well worth the effort...and completely justified.

He doesn't look like the type to argue it, in any case.

Depends on his mood.

Though, knowing him, he's more likely to try and put some spin on this whole thing so it comes out completely in his favor.

You must be getting something out of it, if you're letting him do that.

That's for me to know, and him to find out.

[Though, admittedly, the Network had gotten a bit of a sneak peek.]

[Don't mind Erskine--he's stealing a few minutes of console time while Skulduggery is busy doing... whatever it is he's doing, five feet away at the other end of the chain that's keeping them together.

And he doesn't know Jack, beyond the fact that he was bantering with Zatanna on Erskine's network post the other day, but the absurdity of the situation needs no explanation. She's going to get a smirk and a big thumbs up.]

[She immediately recognized the face of the person who technically started all of this. And was pleased by his approval.]

Thanks.

We picked it up earlier this week at the Yard Sale. Doesn't it suit him perfectly?

Not knowing him from Adam, I still feel justified in saying that yes, yes it does.

And remind me never to cross you.

Really? [For a moment, she was actually surprised.] I thought Jack knew everyone. Or...I guess he used to know everyone...

[But then time passed. People left. More arrived. And they were centralized in the Welcome Center a lot. If this person hadn't been, then it made sense he hadn't had the chance to meet Jack yet.]

You can consider this your public warning.

[Erskine purses his lips together for a moment, vaguely frowning. Let's pretend this is taking place just before he runs into Jack at the yard sale >>; ]

I've seen him on the network once or twice, but I... don't get out much.

Excellent. And feel free to slap me, should I forget. Everyone else does.

How sweet. And I don't even know your name yet.

[Preemptive permission = she kind of likes him already, though.]

[He looks vaguely surprised/concerned]

Did I forget to introduce myself again? Hm, must've been all the talk of throwing shoes. I was traumatized, clearly.

Erskine Ravel.

[She waved a dismissive hand in the air.]

No big.

Three years, and sometimes I still forget the little things whenever I'm chatting it up with someone new. Oh, and before I forget, I'm Zatanna.

A pleasure to meet you then, Zatanna.

...you've been here for three years?

Give or take whatever time passed in the realm of dreaming? Yeah.

I was fourteen when I was first brought here, and last month, I celebrated my eighteenth birthday.

[So, more like three and a half years. The longest of nearly any current Keelai Foreign resident, bypassing Jack by more than a month.]

I've heard someone else refer to the 'realm of dreaming' as well. How... does that work, exactly?

[Rather than look sympathetic at the idea of sticking around so long, he actually looks impressed.]

Not as long as I'm hoping for, but it's a good start. Is it difficult to stick around so long? I've heard people can disappear at random.

I'm not sure if I could call it hard or easy. It's not usually something we have any control over...

[Except for that one time, in which they'd all been given a choice. Many had chosen to go home. Korra. Annabeth. Zatanna'd been there to see both of her long time friends and confidants off, saddened but no less resolute in her own decision to stay. Knowing fully well that she could loose what little she had left in Keelai at any time, but wanting to continue treasure each and every day for as long as they had.]

As for the Dreaming thing...it's kind of a long story. How much time've you got?

[He visibly deflates a little at that. The next bit is almost muttered, as if he decides to say it under his breath and then forgets to follow through with it.]

Well then... I suppose I'd better keep my fingers crossed, hadn't I.

[At the mention of a long story he perks back up, props his good arm--the chained one--up on the console and rests his chin in it.]

About as long as Skulduggery's good graces last, so it's quite possible I ran out of time years ago and haven't noticed yet. But I'd be interested to hear it nonetheless, if you're of a mind.

[It always did suck when she had to deliver bad news. At least she had some relevant information to make up for it.]

I don't really have anything else to do.

Did you want to come by the Welcome Center, or are we doing this over the Network? It's...not really any major secret, but we do have comfortable chairs over here.

Well... I'm sort of grounded at the moment, so I think the network might be our best bet. Unless you're in the mood to visit the Hotel?

[Grounded]

I remember those days.

[How many consecutive life sentences she'd collected over the years. Mostly because she kept using her magic to sneak out of the house, even when her father was home.]

Normally, I'd be all over a chance to get up and about, but I guess it's just as well I say all this aloud.

Got your popcorn ready?

[He laughs]

I don't recall grounding being the standard when I was a child. We got manual labor--more than usual, anyway.

[One last glance over at Skulduggery, then a shrug and a nod.]

Haven't got any popcorn, but I'm as ready as I'll be until this blasted chain comes off. Have at it.

Yeah, about that...tell your friend that when they use the expression ball and chain, it's not meant to be taken so literally.

[Once last quip gotten in, she too sat back and took a deep breath.]

Okay.

Once upon a time... [Because all good stories had to start with that] ...there was a giant Turtle. Very big. Let's call him Asti. And Asti has this great ability to get into people's heads. Literally. I'm taking major telepathic Dream-walking. You ever met anybody who could not only visit you in your dreams, but basically control them?

And yet it beats getting punched. If there's one person here I'd rather not get punched by, it's Anton.

[He presses his lips into a thin line, considering the question, and shakes his head.]

No, I can't say I've ever heard of that sort of magic. Mind-readers and Sensitives, yes, but not dream manipulation.

It was pretty cool. I mean, maybe less so if the wrong person had control, but Asti was all about just wanting to say 'hello'.

Come to think of it, the younger turtles were able to do it too. One of them interrupted a nice dream I was having once where I was back home, at our old house in Manhattan. It must be a thing with their species.

...the younger turtles?

[She was going to guess that tone of surprise meant he didn't know about them. Which meant her long story was about to get even longer.]

You heard me.

A while back--I don't know, maybe about two years ago?--we found a whole bunch of eggs. Several of the Foreigners ended up adopting them. Not me, but I knew people who had. They were charged with taking care of the baby turtles that hatched. Rumour had it, they were relatives of Asti.

Not all of them survived... [Her expression saddened for a moment, eyes wincing in residual pain at the memory. Even the non-parents had felt the loss that day] Malicant killed several of them. Left their bodies right on the palace steps for us to find. It was one of the worst days we'd ever had to suffer through.

[...it's times like this that he's reminded how much there is to this world, and how much he doesn't know. One of the downsides to spending all of his time hermiting in the Hotel.]

I... see. Ah, sorry to interrupt. Please continue.

[She shook her head, not minding the interruption at all. In fact, it helped her gather her thoughts.]

Anyways...

Okay, so this is where things start to get a little complicated. Because this is the world we were brought to, but in some ways, it's more like a third of the world. Because there are two other realms: Death, and Dreaming.

Long before we had to battle Malicant, we all went inside those realms. It was...nothing like I'd ever had to face before. There was no pressing danger...at least, I don't think there ever was...but, in some ways, it was basically us fighting against ourselves.

I remember...

[She trailed off. Wincing. More from guilt than pain, because it hadn't been her Dream she'd had to wake up from.]

...the realm of Dreaming basically warped itself around each of our heart's greatest desires. Someone I was...close with at the time. [Jack. Before she'd actually fallen for him.] He dreamt of his sister, who had died a long time ago. Only she was alive in his dreams, and they were happy.

And...me. I was there too. Only he thought it was still part of the Dream, and expected me to...play along.

[In other words, he thought they were a couple long before they actually became one.]

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