[Impulse sits down in the chair that Jack pulls out, though. He's wearing his costume -- though he has the half-cowl and goggles pulled down -- and it's kind of scuffed, like he's been in a fight. There's a small bloodstain on the right sleeve. When Jack gets a better look at Impulse's face, he might recognize the expression as "shell-shocked".]
No, it won't but it will help settle your nerves. [He presses the water into Impulse's hand and heads behind the counter to blend up a calming tea.]
[He comes back with a mug of slightly cooled tea.] Here, drink this slowly. It'll help. [He presses a damp cloth to Impulse's sleeve, checking for injuries.]
[Impulse moves automatically to take a sip of the water. Jack could have put anything in that glass and he wouldn't care, he'd drink it anyway.]
[He does the same thing when Jack comes back with the mug of tea.] ...I don't think it will, but it tastes nice. [There's a barely perceptible pause -- actually quite a while, subjectively, on his end, before Impulse remembers his manners.] Thanks.
[The bloodstain is a little old, so it doesn't really move from the fabric. It comes from Impulse's nose having been bloodied (although that's stopped already). He only has a slightly bruised shoulder -- thanks to speedster healing rates, everything else from his fight with Inertia is already gone.]
Whoa there, just take it slow. I know that's not easy for a speedster but try if you can. [He mops the tea off the young man's hand.] Do you want to talk about it?
[There's a quaver to Impulse's voice, but his expression doesn't really change.] He's more like my grampa than my real grampa, because I never knew my real grampa, and now he might be dead and I don't know what to do.
[Jack carefully take the hug from Impulse's hand, drawing him into a gentle hug if the boy will let him] I understand. It's like that with my grandfather too. Doesn't mean I love him any less.
I'm told there are a few people who can travel back and forth. When you're feeling a little stronger, maybe you can drop in at the bar and ask around.
I'm sure you did everything you could for him. And I'm sure he knew that. [Jack strokes his back gently] How about you come upstairs and lay down for a while. There's a guest room in the flat and you look like you could use some rest.
[Bart's not so sure he did everything he could. If he hadn't gotten captured by Inertia... And he thinks maybe Max would forgive him -- it's not like he wanted to come back to the Hub -- but he's not sure about that either.]
Okay.
[There's no point to arguing, no point to resisting. What will happen will happen, regardless of his feelings on the matter. This has been proven enough times that even Bart gets it now. And one place is as good as another to sleep in.]
[Jack leads Bart upstairs, herding him gently towards the guest room. If he knew it would help, he's make Bart something to help him sleep but Speedster metabolism being what it is.]
Here. There's a bathroom next door, help yourself to a shower if you feel like it. I'll be downstairs if you need anything and I'll pop up to check in on you in a little while.
[Bart nods, cataloguing the layout of the room almost before Jack is finished speaking.]
Thank you. [It doesn't mean anything but politeness. Bart pulls off his cowl, goggles, gloves, and boots. And he curls up on the bed, staring at the wall for a while. Eventually he'll try to close his eyes and keep them closed.]
[Impulse looks up. He seems kind of... dazed. He didn't even realize he walked into the tea shop.]
Oh, uh...
No, not really.
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[Impulse sits down in the chair that Jack pulls out, though. He's wearing his costume -- though he has the half-cowl and goggles pulled down -- and it's kind of scuffed, like he's been in a fight. There's a small bloodstain on the right sleeve. When Jack gets a better look at Impulse's face, he might recognize the expression as "shell-shocked".]
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[He comes back with a mug of slightly cooled tea.] Here, drink this slowly. It'll help. [He presses a damp cloth to Impulse's sleeve, checking for injuries.]
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[He does the same thing when Jack comes back with the mug of tea.] ...I don't think it will, but it tastes nice. [There's a barely perceptible pause -- actually quite a while, subjectively, on his end, before Impulse remembers his manners.] Thanks.
[The bloodstain is a little old, so it doesn't really move from the fabric. It comes from Impulse's nose having been bloodied (although that's stopped already). He only has a slightly bruised shoulder -- thanks to speedster healing rates, everything else from his fight with Inertia is already gone.]
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Me being safe isn't the problem.
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[There's a quaver to Impulse's voice, but his expression doesn't really change.] He's more like my grampa than my real grampa, because I never knew my real grampa, and now he might be dead and I don't know what to do.
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I'm told there are a few people who can travel back and forth. When you're feeling a little stronger, maybe you can drop in at the bar and ask around.
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It wouldn't do any good. I lost my grip. He must be in the Speed Storm now.
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Okay.
[There's no point to arguing, no point to resisting. What will happen will happen, regardless of his feelings on the matter. This has been proven enough times that even Bart gets it now. And one place is as good as another to sleep in.]
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Here. There's a bathroom next door, help yourself to a shower if you feel like it. I'll be downstairs if you need anything and I'll pop up to check in on you in a little while.
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Thank you. [It doesn't mean anything but politeness. Bart pulls off his cowl, goggles, gloves, and boots. And he curls up on the bed, staring at the wall for a while. Eventually he'll try to close his eyes and keep them closed.]
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