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[backwordscompatible]

[The welcome center was back to normal, and so was Zatanna.]

[Well...mostly.]

[Neither her voice nor expression carried the weight of sadness any longer, but there was definitely something off.  Different.  It was subtle, but if one paid close enough attention to the video feed, they might start to pick up on a few things.  Such as the six different pasta necklaces hanging from her neck...the pasta crown atop her head...the pasta bracelet dangling from her wrist...and a very interesting pair of sunglasses.]

So, I don't know about you all, but this weather has given new definition to the meaning of the word suck.

[In that, whenever she went out, it started to suck some of her magical energy from her.  Get it?]

For those of you that agree, but still need to go out for one reason or another, I just wanted to give a heads up that the Welcome Center is always open if you need a room to crash in for a few hours at a time.  There's no fog in here, and I've been looking into getting some new games in order to pass the time.

Any requests in particular?

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[edgeoftheknife]

[For a minute he just stares at the screen, blinking, quietly.]

You've done something new with your hair.

[That's a joke.]

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[backwordscompatible]

[Ha. Ha.]

Yes. I brushed it this morning.

I'm so flattered you noticed.

[That was also a joke.]

[edgeoftheknife]

I'm observant like that, what can I say?

But seriously, did you take up teaching kindergarten, or...?

[backwordscompatible]

[She grinned in amusement, shaking her head.]

Come on, nobody in their right mind would leave me alone with a room full of children.

[She was responsible, but also a terrible influence.]

And old friend came back just in time to spread some Christmas Cheer. For twelve days straight.

I used the rest of them to decorate the main common room.

[edgeoftheknife]

I don't see why not. You look so level-headed and normal.

[He says, eyeing the macaroni jewelry with amusement.]

The Twelve Days of Pasta? I've been singing that song wrong for years. Nice that your friend came back, though. Anyone I might know?

[backwordscompatible]

Now you're just being insulting.

[The grin widened.]

You might. The name Tim Drake ring any bells? It was kind of a while ago.

[edgeoftheknife]

[He laughs quietly]

Fair enough. How've you been? We haven't talked in a while.

[There's a pause while he visibly stops to try to think about it.]

I don't... think so? How long ago are we talking?

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[stubbornlittleshit]

[Arno looks thoughtful, like he's trying to think of something to say to the new look, but instead, he focuses on the rest of what's been said. He's been here long enough to not construe that in a filthy way, so the literal one does remain. And, well, besides that...]

It's affecting your powers then? My Vision has been changed lately because of it too. Harder to control and less effective.

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[backwordscompatible]

[To be fair, that was one of the more pressing issues at hand.]

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. [Which is the only reason why it wasn't bothering her more than it should; she survived through the last time, and she'd survive through this time.] Though the last time was a lot worse, and way scarier.

It wasn't just affecting magic. There were people whose lives literally depended upon their powers still working. They all suffered way worse.

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[stubbornlittleshit]

[Arno's thoughts, admittedly, turn towards the fact that he, and, by extension, Shay, most likely, with the same abilities, have had trouble with telling danger when they see it, but she makes a very, very good point, and his nod is grave.]

I can imagine that the healers too, the magical sort, aren't having much luck with this.

But lives literally depending...that's terrible.

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[backwordscompatible]

To put it mildly.

But... [And this was the whole point of bringing it up at all] ...we got past it. So we'll get past this.

We just need to figure out how to get rid of that fog.

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[stubbornlittleshit]

You did manage to survive the war after all. At least, some of you here did.

[Arno's aware he's speaking to one of the foreigners who has been here longer, so...]

I suppose the same resourcefulness must come into play again.

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[backwordscompatible]

You do know that resourcefulness involved a little bit of world hopping, right?

The world of Dreaming, if I recall. Though I've been on the Death plane before too. I...don't really recommend that one.

[Actually, she didn't recommend either. But, between the two, Dreaming was infinitely better.]

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[mrsarcastic003]

Somehow I never envisioned you wearing them all at once. It's an interesting look.

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[backwordscompatible]

It warms my heart to know that, after all these years, I can still surprise you.

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[mrsarcastic003]

[Amused.] I doubt there will ever be a day where you can't surprise me. I'm pretty sure that would be one of the signs of the apocalypse.

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[backwordscompatible]

In other words, the fate of all the words rests on my ability to keep you on your toes.

No pressure.

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[mrsarcastic003]

Worried you won't be able to handle it?

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[backwordscompatible]

Hey, I'm not the one who's going to end up in a tutu at this rate.

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[wolfstrike]

Tell me about it. This fog is seriously messing with my blastia. And then I found a kid by herself out in the streets. Atleast it's not boring.

Nice accessories by the way.

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[backwordscompatible]

Thanks.

[A smile at the compliment. Which quickly turned into a frown when he mentioned the kid. She couldn't help thinking how horrified Jack would have been at the thought of any child left alone, fog or no fog.]

I heard about that. How's she doing?

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[wolfstrike]

She's doing okay. Still haven't found her parents though.

[They'd been looking for about a week now and no luck yet.]

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[backwordscompatible]

That's so weird. I mean, I know Keelai is kind of a big city and all, but it's not that big. You'd think two people who had a missing child would have been noticed by now.

[Unless there's a reason why they haven't been.]

[wolfstrike]

Yeah, I know. I'm starting to wonder if this kid even has a family to go back to.

[Which... would be really unfortunate if she didn't.]

[backwordscompatible]

How old is she? Can she talk?