"What?" As distractions went, that one was killer. "How could she be afraid of you? What did you say to her? Or is she just that unused to facial hair and piercings?"

A year after they'd met, and Dinah totally forgot she'd been intimidated by the hair and the kilt, even as she'd been charmed by the attempts to flirt.

"You intimidated a waif?" Because anyone squeaking at Priestly had to be a waif. "Awwww. Unless she's crazy and uptight. Is she? What did Trucker say?"

"Well, cool. You can keep in contact until you're back in Santa Cruz this summer. And maybe by then she won't be so easily cowed by you and your awesome." Dinah sighed, and asked, "Are you going on the trip to New York City this week when you get back?"

"Makes sense." Dinah traced Jak's name in Sandover letters into the ice on the balcony, then wiped it away. "I'm going to be there, if Jak is back. Which he might be. I don't know, it's all mega-confusing, I hate Portalocity, I just want to see that he's alive and in one piece, you know?"

It helped, hearing someone else say that. Because sense and sanity were both saying that he could be dead, he was definitely taking too many risks, and Dinah was supposed to stay out of the way.... but sense and sanity had been depriving her of sleep for a week. She really just needed that hope, there.

"Thanks, Priestly." Dinah sighed, and rubbed her head. "Do you want me to talk to your Mom for you? I owe you something nice."

"Tell her I said hi," Dinah said. "And I'll see you soon. Merry late Christmas, Priestly. And Solstice or whatever. Love you."

That was going to be Dinah's mantra 'til she saw Jak again. "I will. Thanks, Priestly."