tushanshu | video; backdated to during the yard sard

[Deon looks characteristically excited...but even more so than usual. And he's talking...a little faster...than usual.]

Okay, so I know about the jar of endless coffee beans in the Hotel, right? That thing is a godsend, it really is, but it's just not enough, you know? Well, I found something, during the yard sale, and I'd really really appreciate it if someone could help me set up something similar. It can be done, right? Course it can, there's an endless jar of coffee beans, this is a lot easier, or should be anyway.

[He holds an open can of Red Bull up to the camera. And the way he's holding it? It looks empty.

Take someone away from their fix for a couple months, and give it back, and don't be surprised when the reaction is a little stronger than usual.]

I found a whole case of Red Bull, and I'd like to know if anyone can make it so that it doesn't run out. Violates every law of physics I know, but the coffee jar proves it can be done, and I know there's people who can do all sorts of magic here, so how about it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You drank it a lot? I tried one once, couldn't get past the taste. Then again, it's not like it would have any effect on me... with the not needing to sleep and all.

Pretty much constantly, [he admits.

But wait, hold the phone!] You don't need to sleep?

[LUCKY!]

Spirits don't need to, no. I mean, if we get tired or overexert ourselves, we can sleep, but normally we don't need to.

[Great, Jack. Now you'll never get rid of him.]

You don't look like a spirit, I mean, you look like a, uh, regular person.

[With some sweet frosted tips, I thank you.]

[ Jack laughed at that. ]

Well, I'm a human. Er, was before I became a spirit. You don't stop being whatever you were before, you just kind of... uh, evolve. But not really.

... what would you expect a spirit to look like, anyway?

[Deon's about to answer, when he stops, looking quite a bit nonplussed.] I...don't know, actually, [he says sheepishly.] I never really thought about it.

Well good! I'd hate to think I was disappointing and didn't live up to expectations!

I guess I should introduce myself, huh? Jack Frost.

Oh! Deon Wilson.

[Beat. Wait for it...]

Sorry, Jack Frost? As in, the Jack Frost?

[Big fan of your work. Don't get to see you much down in Jozi, sir.]

[ Jack sketches a terrible cheesy bow for him! ]

Look at that, you just found out the turtle has +1 winter spirit. You couldn't have shown up here in January or something? I could have given you a better show then.

Well, this'd be winter in Johannesburg. Not that you'd really know it...

Oh wow, you're from Johannesburg? Yeah, I don't get down that way too often. Although I did back in... what, 2006? 2007? Something like that.

Can't imagine there's too much for you to do there, really. It hasn't been below freezing since I've been living there.

...so what does a winter spirit do in warm regions? I mean, there still is winter, just...no snow, no ice. [And he does miss snow, kind of. Doesn't miss having it shoved down his shirt at school, but he misses English winters and icicles and the rest.]

[ laughing ] That's because I've got a really strict boss-lady, so there's only so much 'messing with the natural order' I can do before she notices.

I keep busy. It's cold in some countries year-round.

[He laughs.] Never thought of the spirit of winter having a boss.

[ dryly: ] Oh, you'd know her if you met her. Mother Nature? All the Seasonals answer to her, it's just usually... indirectly.

Wait...Mother Nature's a real person? Ah, uh, spirit, I mean?

She definitely is. Don't you have stories about spirits, you know, that you kind of refer to for different things? Like Lady Luck, or...

[ He's trying to remember some of the other spirits down that way. ]

Jeez, the only guy I can really think of off the top of my head is Huntin, he looks after all the silk-cottonwood trees down there.

I always thought that she was a figure of speech. Like John Bull, or... [he laughs a little self-deprecatingly.] ...or Jack Frost. I see I was wrong.

Hey, don't worry about it. We're all used to it. Live and learn, right?

Exactly. And it looks like I won't be making that mistake again anytime soon.

So what are you going to do with your Red Bull? Reverse engineer it? I wonder if it'd be a hit with the kedan too...

Maybe, if we can figure out how? I'm not a chemist, unfortunately.

Yeah, but aren't there like... multiple geniuses here on the turtle? Surely one of them has to know some chemistry.

That's why I'm asking around. I know we all have, ah, unique skillsets. I just hope somebody can help.

I hope so. Good luck with it, Deon.

video; backdated to during the yard sard

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