tushanshu | 05 ❄ ( voice )

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05 ❄ ( voice )

[ 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. ]

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Yeah, that was me.

[ Play it cool, Jack. So he jokes instead. ]

If I'd known this was going to be a subtropical vacation, I might've refused the invitation.

[The smile turns a little more genuine.] No kidding. I'm from an area of the world that has seasons. You wouldn't think you'd miss a hat and scarf, but...

[Shrug, and then serious again.]

Did you know that was going to happen?

[You should know what 'that' is, Jack. :|]

Hey, it takes a serious guy to pull off a toque with a pompom on the top.

[ Jack's gaze dims at the question. It occurred to him, briefly, to ask how Tim knew... but then, there was really on a few ways, right? And at this point, he didn't really have a standing to object to any of them. ]

I knew the magic was in the snow. It... it did what it was supposed to do: it gave people a chance to be happy if they wanted it.

[ He braces for what he assumes is an inevitable outburst. ]

Hey, I rock hats like those.

[There's a long pause while Tim considers this. It's obvious Jack didn't mean any harm. That he wanted to do something nice. The part he's stuck on is 'if they wanted it.' He won't deny wanting to be happy, but...]

The thing is--people didn't know what they were getting themselves into. And they didn't have a chance to say no if they weren't up for it. There was no informed consent.

Something like that? That changes a person's behavior and how they think? They should be given all of the information before they're exposed to it.

You didn't give us that chance. That's not okay.

[ Jack stares for a moment, perplexed to the point where it overrides how upset he feels at the whole thing. ]

What do you mean, they didn't have a chance to say no? They can say or think whatever they want.

[ And then a spark of something, not exactly anger, but frustration and determination. ]

Look, I told Ky-- it doesn't control. It-it-it... arghh, I don't know how to explain it any better!

[Tim looks thoughtful, and he's trying not to judge here. He doesn't get how any of this works, and Jack's... not explaining very well.] How can I understand better?

I don't know but if there was a way, I'd be all over it like polar bears on pack ice. I mean, short of hitting someone with it all over again there's not any way to describe what it feels like.

[nod] Okay. Let's do that, then.

Wait, what?

[ It takes a moment for it to sink in and then Jack backpedals so fast he's actually physically moving away from the console. ]

Oh no-no-no-no-- bad idea, bad idea, full stop there. Look, I just got through being yelled at and hoisted like a pinata, why would I want that again?? Maybe I can be a little on the flighty side but even I'm not that dumb!

[The backpedaling and stammering actually make him laugh.] The difference being: I know more or less what I'm getting myself into this time, and I'm asking you to.

As opposed to being ninjaed by snow.

But I...

[ He'd never actually promised, only said he wouldn't make any more snow with that ability. Kyle had said he wanted Jack to use it responsibly. Would that be... this? Or was he better to just leave it? ]

But what if you get angry too?

[Have a wry grin.]

I'm pretty sure I would have no real right to get angry at you for doing something I asked you to do, would I?

[ The grin should make him feel better, but it's going up against reactions from people he knows a lot better than Tim. Still, he has no reason not to take the assurance at face value, swallows but nods. ]

... all right. How?

Hey--it's okay. I'm not trying to get you into trouble. I just want to understand how this works.

[Seriously, he's not planning on getting mad. He just wants to understand. What could go wrong?]

Should we meet somewhere? Or do you not need to? Or...?

I know, this whole thing just kind of... it hasn't been a great time.

[ He takes a deep breath and seems to get himself together. ]

Yeah, it only works in person. How about the small park with the two tall statues in the Fire Sector? It's usually quiet around this time.

I can imagine. I think there are a lot of people that wouldn't take this kind of thing all that well. [Kyle] I'm usually one of them, but it really doesn't sound like you meant any harm.

I know where you're talking about--I can meet you there.

These people are my friends. [ he thought, anyway ] Hurting them is the last thing I'd ever want to do.

[ He nods and disconnects the feed, carefully slips out the window because the branches are getting brittle and even if he doesn't weigh much, he doesn't want to put too much strain on them. The air is blissfully cooler today as he flies through it but the lights in the Fire Sector are dim, the ambient warmth that usually permeated it dispersed somewhat. As Jack had expected, the small park is empty. ]

[Tim makes his own way to the park, glancing around as he does out of habit. It's empty, just as Jack had suggested that it would be, and that's fine by Tim. If he's going to act like a goofball kid again, he'd like there to be as few witnesses as possible.

He gives Jack a little smile when he comes into sight. He's dressed as himself--the conversation over the network had been Tim Drake's, not Red Robin's, so it's Tim Drake that comes to meet Jack.]

Hey.

[ Jack returns the smile though his is more hesitant, also glancing around as though to verify that they weren't being watched. ]

Hi. Uh, before we try this, I just... wanted to say thank you. For trying to help me like this.

[Wow, Jack. You seem almost as paranoid as Tim right now. The thought makes him want to laugh, but he doesn't.]

You're welcome. And like I said--I really would like to understand. How does it work?

I'll do my best.

[ At Tim's question, Jack offered a slightly nervous smile. ]

Well... [ he held out his hand, tiny sparkles of ice and light swirling up in his palm ] It looks like this. Which people normally can't see, by the way -- but I guess it's different when you know about it and me.

[Tim watches him curiously, and... okay, he's seen some pretty interesting things in his life, but he can't deny that that looks kid of neat. He grins a little.]

Cool.

[Pun absolutely intended.]

Thanks.

[ The compliment and the pun helps Jack relax a bit and he lets the magic play across his fingers as a magician with a coin, finally forming into a perfect snowflake, then looks at Tim and waits for permission. ]

Ready?

[Tim spreads his hands in a kind of 'hit me with your best shot' gesture, still smiling at Jack. He's curious--and maybe a tiny bit anxious--about how this is going to go.]

Whenever you are.

[ Jack blows gently across his palm and the snowflake goes fluttering into Tim, dispersing as it touches him with a feeling not unlike being hit with a a few flurries on a stray breeze. It takes a heartbeat or two for it to take effect and though Tim will feel no overt physical reaction, everything around him will suddenly seem bright and inviting. Trees look ready for climbing, fountains ripe for splashing in, passersby perfect opportunities for an impromptu games of tag. Worries and concerns are soothed; still present, but calmed with the certainly of knowledge that things are okay, this is okay, you're allowed to enjoy this. It's a young feeling, hopeful, playful and a bit shy -- all aspects Jack himself embodies. It doesn't push, but it is welcome and ready to be enjoyed. ]

Edited 2013-03-26 00:14 (UTC)

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