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[demigoth]

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[Audio]

[robintohood]

[It’s early March when Jason gives Nico a call]

[demigoth]

The guys at school say no one really makes phone calls anymore.

[robintohood]

Call me old-fashioned then. I just wanna ask you something.

[demigoth]

Okay. You're old-fashioned.

[ It's a very Laurel & Hardy delivery. ]

[robintohood]

[Okay, that manages to get a light laugh out of Jason. God knows he could use some amusement this month]

And you’re a whippersnapper so maybe listen to an elder once in a while.

[demigoth]

I listen to them. I don't always do what they say, but they tend to leave you alone if they think you're going to do what they say.

[ Nico doesn't think that Jason can stop him from anything, but Jason's smart and seems to have a pretty good fix on what Nico's going to do most of the time. He can be honest with him. ]

Do you have elderly advice, old man?

[robintohood]

[Jason laughs. He can usually appreciate a teenager being a smartass to him given that’s exactly what he used to be]

Nah. Not really advice. It’s a question and maybe a reminder.

[He then launches into the reason for the call. No use delaying it]

If you ever want to, you’re free to just move into the penthouse with me and Dylan.

[demigoth]

[ The other line goes so quiet; it might as well be dead.

Eventually, Nico accepts that he has to say something. ]

I thought it was Dylan's place.

[robintohood]

[Jason had anticipated the hesitation so he waited patiently during the silence]

It is. He also hasn’t been doing great lately and Sleeper suddenly being gone hasn’t helped. He could use the company.

[demigoth]

[ Nico suddenly isn't sure if he's the one being ambushed/controlled or Dylan. ]

I know it is. I meant that shouldn't Dylan be the one asking if someone wants to stay over. You can't invite me over for him. It'll make him feel like he has to do stuff.

[robintohood]

[It's an entirely fair point Nico makes. As worried as he is about Dylan and Nico, perhaps he was being too impatient]

You're right. It depends on him. If that time comes, I'm fine with you joining us. Until then, try to support him if you can.

[demigoth]

I was already going to do that.

[ And much more quietly. ]

I know what it's like to lose a sibling. Don't tell him I said that. I know Sleeper's not dead and it's not the same.

[robintohood]

I promise. And yeah, I get it. It’s still tough, especially with how sudden it was and not knowing the next time you see them again.

[And even tougher when different universes are involved. That part Jason won’t admit to, especially when the conversation isn’t about his feelings]

[demigoth]

Sometimes I can't remember what camp felt like.

[robintohood]

How come?

[demigoth]

[ A pause. A shrug, and then again the realization that Jason can't see that. ]

I've been here a long time. Like...a third of what I remember well is here.

[robintohood]

Do you miss camp?

[demigoth]

I miss...

[ Nico sighs and shifts his phone to the other ear, stalling. ]

I miss the people at camp. And the food, sometimes, but the cafeteria food is an okay replacement if they don't push salads on us.

[robintohood]

It’s okay to miss the good stuff from camp, especially any friends you made there.