Jason looked to his cracks along his hands that had lengthened through the joints and spidered wider and nodded,sighing softly. "People tend to rip at weakness,like a wolf to a wounded deer,it's a feast in their eyes.I used to not hide things,but that's what forced me to it. Being physically hurt,beaten up because I was a frail thing and that I couldn't bring myself to hurt others. But then I avoided the fights if I hid that I hurt,hid my wounds.And so I did,and have for 9 years. I couldn't take it once I was eight. I'm not sure how else to have it now."

"Be proud of your pain. It shows how strong you are, all that you've gone through. All you've gone through and survived. I'm pretty sure no one else even comes close to all the pain that you've gone through," he said with a shrug

He seemed shocked,tired but still shocked,at this. He hadn't ever thought of it,he'd thought it a show of just how weak he was. But this really seemed to lift so much off of him,faint yellow forcing it's way into his freckles and a faint tired smile coming. "Really?"

He nodded. The only person he could think of would be Ash, but he didn't say so. "Yeah, of course. Can you think of anyone that has ever come close to all you've gone through?" He asked

Jason wasn't sure. His brother,Flasher,came to mind. They'd both lost two sisters and a father to death and a brother to insanity but the older prince had lived with them in the dragon realm and lived just fine before that and the war. His other two brothers either took it just fine or weren't fine in their mind due to self poisoning. He thought of Lila and her little happy life,no downing on her,and knew that wasn't true and so couldn't think of anyone else. He found a hint of Ash in his mind but shook it out,knowing that he'd lost a lover and a brother and practically his world he'd known but Jason hadn't had a world without pain ever to begin with. He shook his head then.

"Exactly. So you're stronger than all of those people. Maybe not physically, but mentally. I'm pretty sure you could survive anything, at this point, to be honest," Puck pointed out

Jason brightened up a bit,a real smile coming despite not being very big yet. "Thank you."

He shrugged. "No, thank you. For pulling through." The door opened and Leanansidhe entered the room, followed by two brownies bearing a tray with mugs. "Jason dove, try to drink this. It should help."

He smiled a little more,eye's shining slightly again with a happy tint and a flirty glint. He nodded to Lean. "Yes ma'am.Thank you." He said,then tried to sit up but it made the sound of crunching glass and the maroon in his freckles and underwings darkened somehow and he dropped back down onto his elbows with a wince.

Puck knelt beside the bed and eased Jason into a sitting position, then handed him the mug the brownies offered. The hot liquid smelled strongly of herbs.