05 ❄ ( voice )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack has come back to the city after his fight with Kyle and his talk with Bucky at the shell's edge. He isn't quite ready for video replies yet, knows that despite the usual cheerful timbre he's forcing into his voice it won't cover the fact that his eyes are sad and hollow. ]

Has anyone seen Periwinkle? I went to her suite to give her fresh snow but she's not there and it looks...

[ he fumbles for the right description ]

Unused.

[ private to Finnick ]
Sorry I haven't figured out those other lures yet, I... something-- kind of came up. I take it you saw the announcement?

[ private to Damian ]
I... wanted to apologize, for what I said to you on the sled hill. When you brought up-- I, I just shouldn't have snapped back at you like that. I don't have any right to say who trusts you and who doesn't. I'm sorry.

[ private to Kyle ]
... please don't tell everyone about the snow. I get it, okay? It was wrong and fake and cheating and a horrible thing. But just let them have a good memory of it and-- and I won't spread any more snow like that around. Please. I'll... I'll do whatever you want.

[ He doesn't think he could take it if all the people who thanked him for the snow day suddenly turned on him for it. The ones who'd had their hearts lightened enough to even be able to see him for the first time. ]

Comments

a hug is a hug~

[backwordscompatible]

[She give a slight gasp when his arms unexpectedly wrap around her, both from the spontaneity of the movement itself...and the sudden cold that accompanied it. Not enough to cause her pain, though, and soon enough, she returned the hug.]

Feel better?

[wintershepherd]

Not really.

[ The admission is accompanied by a weak laugh, because the situation really didn't seem any different, but her words gave him something to hold onto. ]

But what you said means a lot. Thank you, Zatanna.

[ He released her and sat back before his chill became uncomfortable. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[At this point, she'll take the weak laughter. It was better than the emo cloud and threat of her room turning into a freezer.]

[When he pulls away, she tries to discreetly rub at her arms. Not much, but just enough to get a bit of warmth back in them. She then reaches over for the nearly-forgotten plate of fruit. Popping another piece into her mouth.]

Well, it's not exactly riding the wind and sunsets, but I guess it'll do for now.

Maybe we should stop planning fake dates. I'm starting to think we're cursed.

[Weak laughter, meet weak attempt at humor. And a plate of fruit squares.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack doesn't miss the rubbing and offers her an apologetic smile. ]

Sorry.

Bunny asked about the fake dates, by the way.

[backwordscompatible]

Don't worry about it.

[It was worth the chill]

Bunny? [Give her a second] Oh, you mean the Easter Bunny. I met him during the snowday, actually. Even got to throw a few questions about the Tooth Fairy his way.

[She was still so proud of herself for that. Although, once the initial glow of pride faded, she realized what he said.]

He did? Why?

[wintershepherd]

I still can't believe he's here. And in time for Easter! You've met him?

[ Now he grins, moving gladly (gratefully) away from the previous subject, and props his chin in his hands. ]

So what'd you think? And you mentioned Tooth? Ha! Did he get all flustered?

He thought we were dating and he didn't know what a fake date was, so I had to explain it.

[ Nodding because HE REMEMBERS THE RULES. ]

[backwordscompatible]

I'll bet he was just trying to get back at you because he did get flustered. Very flustered, actually. Wouldn't let the subject go.

[She knew there was still a lot left unsaid regarding Jack's magic...but for the moment? They needed something to laugh over.]

[wintershepherd]

Really? [ he seems delighted ] They've known each other a long time, I wonder if there really is something there...

Oh! You'll have to come and see how he's made things grow inside his tree, Zatanna! It's like a mini warren!

[backwordscompatible]

What's a warren?

[wintershepherd]

Like a den, I guess? His regular one is huge, its tunnels go everywhere in the world.

[backwordscompatible]

So you're saying he used rabbit magic to make a den inside of the tree? Cool.

Actually, yeah, I really would like to see it.

[Because magic. And maybe the opportunity to troll talk to him again.]

[wintershepherd]

Yes but probably in a way that sounds a little more dignified than that.

I'll ask him but I doubt he'll mind.

[backwordscompatible]

[She can't help chuckle a little at the specification.]

Magic is magic, Jack. Doing what comes naturally? It doesn't get much more dignified than that.

Why wouldn't he mind? [I mean, it's not like she was giving him a headache or anything.]

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, I... guess.

[ His expression flickers when she says that and had it been anything before this week, he would have agreed with her in an instant. Now, however... ]

Hm? Oh, he can get a little tense. He did when Sophie got into the Warren.

[backwordscompatible]

[She notices. It may or may not have been a deliberate statement on her part, considering.]

Oh, no, don't you start again.

I mean it, Jack. Every word. And that goes for you too.

[wintershepherd]

I know you did. I just need to figure things out.

[backwordscompatible]

As long as that doesn't translate into "wallowing in frozen self-pity", that fine.

I mean, maybe go easy on the stuff that directly affects people without their knowing for a while...but that's not all you can do, right?

[wintershepherd]

It's not just something I do, Zatanna. It's who I am.

[backwordscompatible]

Yes and no.

We've spent how much time together, and you've never once cast a spell over me? We went sledding on a chair, ice skating in the middle of March, and you still owe me a ride on the Wind. Sounds like magic to me, except it was all as real as you are.

I mean, that's all who you are too, right?

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, it is.

[ It's not that he doesn't agree, but it seemed too small to counter the enormity of what he was feeling right now. ]

And I'm not wallowing, okay? You wouldn't like it either, if someone told you that you were some kind of dangerous person who couldn't be trusted just because you had magic.

[backwordscompatible]

[She almost laughed from the irony of it all.]

No, as a matter of fact, I don't. I like being told I need to be "watched" for the very same reason even less.

But if anyone thinks that's going to stop me from using magic, then they don't know me as well as they claim they do.

[Pause]

And you are so wallowing.

[wintershepherd]

[ I'm watching you... I'll be watching. Blue eyes widened in startlement before narrowing again and Jack reached out to touch her sleeve. ]

Who told you that?

[backwordscompatible]

[She gives a light shrug to show that it doesn't bother her that much anymore. Even if it still does a little.]

Batman.

That's...kind of how he is, although the Batman I knew back home never went as far as to bug my room. Something happened in his world.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's expression pinches a bit in recollection, back to the meeting for the teen superheroes he'd attended. Nomad had told him of that name, said he was a good person -- although she'd also mentioned the bugging of places so he could listen. ]

No one should say things like that about you, I don't care who they are. It's not right.

[backwordscompatible]

You're right. It's not.

...just like nobody should've yelled at you for the snow day.

[She's not saying they weren't allowed to be upset, but to make Jack feel so horrible about himself...well, like she said, been there, done that. And it sucks.]