wintershepherd | [TUSHANSHU] IC Inbox

[She wanted to protest. Take the book from him altogether. But it didn't take a soothsayer to see where that would lead. Compromise it was, then. She stood up, nodding head head, and moved towards the door.]

Alright.

I'll be in the kitchen. Come down when you're ready.

[ Jack comes down about ten minutes later, going to the sink to wash his hands of ink that no amount of practice will ever prevent from getting onto the skin between the fingers. He's changed his shirt too, found a casual shirt over a plain tee that he actually seems fairly comfortable in. He's been trying to make conscientious effort to actually wear more clothes picked this up from a kedan shop that was experimenting in clothing based on the styles Foreigners seemed to favour. ]

[By that point, Zatanna was nearly finished with their drinks. The kettle whistled softly, at which time she picked it up and poured into the two mugs on the counter. Over on the table, there was also a small bowl full of ice. For him to cool down the drink as he saw fit.]

[She said nothing when he came in. Though she did do a double take at the shirt. It was...different. And it looked really good on him.]

[Once the drinks were properly mixed, she came over placed the other one down on the table before taking a sip of her own. Leaning against the edge rather than sit down. Waiting for him to say something.]

[ Jack slid into his seat and wrapped his hands gingerly around the steaming mug, giving a little huff of amusement at the bowl of ice because he was pretty sure he could have made his own but appreciated the thoughtfulness of the gesture. ]

Thanks.

[ He picked up one of the ice cubes and dropped it into the cocoa, watching it rapidly begin to shrink in the hot liquid. ]

[It was the little things that counted most when she didn't know where they stood. The amusement at the bowl of ice, even though they both knew he could have simply cooled down the mug with his own power. Her way of trying to compensate because she knew the cocoa would be too hot when she gave it to him. But it was the only way to properly dissolve the chocolate in the milk.]

[The fact that he thanked her. Breaking the silence. She smiled faintly.]

You didn't have to dress up for me, you know. Not that I'm complaining.

Guys always used to dress up before they could come down to dinner. Can't have you thinking I'm uncivilized or something.

[ A faint tease, his usual habit of pulling old tidbits of fact out of nowhere. ]

Oh, am I making dinner now? I don't remember getting that memo.

[Her shoulders relaxed a little as she took a sip of her drink. Deliberately smirking at the uncivilized line, but saying nothing in reply.]

If it's me or you cooking, remember that I can only taste half the food. Maybe it'd be better if we ordered in.

No dishes? Count me in.

What are you in the mood for?

Honestly? I'd be all right with sandwiches or something. But if you have something you'd prefer, that'd be fine too.

[If all he wanted was a sandwich, they could have easily up something together for themselves. It was hardly the most complicated recipe, after all, but since he put the idea of ordering in her mind, she had an idea.]

What about that deli place down the street? Their stuff is pretty good. And, actually....

[Holding out one hand, she summoned what looked like a menu. One of a handful she'd collected from the surrounding businesses. Opening it up, she came over to the table and placed both her mug of tea and the menu down so Jack could get a better look at the selections.]

...what do you think? See anything you like?

[ Jack looked at the menu without really seeing much of it, then set his finger on one of the choices. ]

That one's good.

[She leaned over just enough to get a good look at which one he chose, her hair lightly brushing against his shoulder as it fell around her.]

Alright.

I'll go order. Do you mine if I use your console upstairs?

Yeah, of course. I'll be right here.

I won't be long.

[She knew his place as well as he knew hers, as evident by the cocoa, and it took almost no thought to navigate her way back up the stairs to his console. Placing the order wasn't difficult. They recognized her, and even knew roughly where the treehouse was located.]

[Payment was on her, she insisted, and if a white-haired boy happens to open the door, tell him that it's on her tab.]

[Once everything was set up, and the estimated time of delivery given, she headed back downstairs to find Jack.]

Twenty minutes, they said.

That's pretty good.

[ The response is automatic more than approval of the time frame. ]

I should check on Tony, too. They were friends, this Tony... well, the last one too.

[She nodded absently, and moved to reclaim her tea.]

Is there anything you need me to do?

[He'd gone along with her temporary break. There was no point in arguing any further about things. Right then, all she could do was play the role of Supportive Friend as best as she could.]

[ She'll get a faintly depreciated smile in return, though it's not because of her. ]

There's nothing you can do.

[It wasn't Jack's fault, but she felt a small pang of sadness when he told her that. Feeling utterly useless, she simply lowered her gaze and nodded in understanding.]

[There was one last thing, though. It wasn't much, but with things still awkward between them, and Jack still in such an obvious funk over yet another loss...it was the only thing she could offer him besides her company and a free dinner:[

When you come back...do you think...you could show me what you've written? In the book.

[She could only hope he wouldn't get mad for her intruding on something he might have considered private. Still, she had to offer. Truth be told, she really was curious.]

You don't have to if you want to. I was just thinking...you've worked so hard on it, somebody else should see it. Remember with you.

[ Jack seems surprised by the request, but he nods. ]

Yeah... sure.

[The relief in her eyes was visible.]

Great.

You go check in. I'll wait for the food and set everything up in the meantime

Oh... I didn't mean right now. He may not want company but if he does, I'll want to be able to stay.

[...oh! It just went to show how out of it she still was, that she misinterpreted. Since he had abruptly brought Tony up the way he had, she'd assumed...]

[But no, this was good. He was still thinking of others, but he very much wasn't avoiding her attention, either. Her expression softened, and to her faint surprise, she realized she had to resist the urge to kiss his cheek for being such a wonderful person as always.]

Who wouldn't want your company? You are the coolest kid on the block, you know.

And speaking of...want to head into the living room? We can sit on the couch, and you can read to me.

I'm pretty sure Tony is used to being the coolest.

[ While Jack had never gotten the same sort of connection with this Tony, some things were constants. He headed into the living room and waited, though there was still a little more distance to his posture than normal. ]

It's not written in... you know, paragraphs or anything.

[Baby steps. So long as those steps led her over to the couch, where she made herself comfortable on one side of the cushions, she could accept their unusually slow pace.]

As long as it's not written in Russian, I think I'll be fine.

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