estoria | [Closed] I'm not dead, I'm just floating

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[Closed] I'm not dead, I'm just floating

Who: Jack Frost and ~~his hypocrisy~~ his traumatized cr (Hiccup, Hiro, Korra, Rei, Athena)
When: IC 3/17 (aka backdated to three days after the raid)
Where: Their apartments, the shrines
What: After coming back from the death, Jack wants to check on his friends
Rating/Warning: Lots of angst, talk about death, mentions of gory details

[For three hundred years, Jack didn't know who he was or where he came from... but death had always definitely been an option. He had many other theories too, of course, but being dead fit the pattern - spirits had to come from somewhere, right? So when he finally found out the truth, it wasn't shocking. He was delighted to get his story, and even if being dead became a touchy subject later, it was because of its nature more than how it affected Jack.

This time, things aren't as easy.

Death shouldn't be a fear for him. Something to think about when it comes to his past, sure. Worry about belief and disappearing, that too. But facing physical pain with such horror? That shouldn't be a thing for Jack - he may've been hit multiple of times and it hurt, but it's only magic that can truly damage him. So facing that fan and being caught in its blades... there are no words to describe how horrible it was.

That's what he's thinking about when he wakes up in the park. Is this death? Is it Ceres messing with him? Has worldhopping changed his nature? Jack lays there on the grass, frustrated, angry, feeling powerless, and most importantly... scared.

The way to fight fear is fun, and what makes Jack snap out of it is the sound of bright laughter coming from the children running toward him. They're so happy to see him! They missed him, they have been so worried! Jack is buried under hugs and tears and, underwhelming as it is, he'll take this over angsty thoughts everyday.

He can think about his death later. Here he has people to worry about. As long as he is still an eternal spirit, he can go on, coping with pain as it comes. He coped for three centuries after all.

The kids aren't told the truth, but Jack stays with them until his body is less sore and his powers are fully back (what's with that anyway?). Then he sends them home with promises of more fun tomorrow - he has things to do.

A Guardian cares about children, sure, but he also cares about his friends.]

((ooc: I'll add top levels for each character! As I said in plurk, please don't feel pressured to tag right now. I'm just setting up things for organization, you can tag when your own threads are done.))

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[Who else was in the raid? Whoelsewhoelsewhoelse... He can't forget anyone. If he does, he'll never forgive himself. So many faces, and he was in such a (hotheaded) hurry.

There's one more - a new face, but still a friendly one. Korra was there too, and so Jack flies to find her next, crashing into the girl when he finally finds her. Oops, someone isn't thinking straight... enjoy the frost all over your hair?]

[With her mind on the raid, the crash that Korra might have been able to spot and avoid if she weren't so distracted nearly knocks her off her feet. She stumbles, instinctively grabbing onto Jack to steady herself before she falls.

The frost covering her is a little surprising, but it doesn't seem to bother her. She brushes the ice off of herself absently, eyes on Jack curiously.]

You okay? I'mmm guessing the crashing thing isn't supposed to happen when you're flying around.

(ooc: still tied up with the raid thread, but I'm tagging in just to make sure it's in my tracker!)

[The crash barely bothers him when he can feel her grabbing onto him. Usually he would pull back, still not used to her like he is to Hiccup or Haru, but... today, this kind of thing, overwhelming as it is, can also be reassuring.]

Korra! You are-- [Fine, he wants to say after looking at her up and down, but he can't know that, can he? They come back as if nothing happened, but inside...] --are you okay?

I'm okay. [It's a reflexive answer. She's not, really, when some of the things from their trip into the CERES building still sticks stubbornly to her memory, no matter how much she wants to forget.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Korra examines him just like he did with her a moment ago.]

What about you? We all got separated in there.

Okay-okay or oookaaay-okay?

[A little frown appears on his face - probably an annoying question, but he needs to know. And then of course she returns the question, which even after all the talking he's done, it's difficult to answer.]

We did, yeah. I'm... here now. Just-- checking one everyone. I didn't want anyone coming with me but... [It's not like Ceres gives them a choice most of the time.]

[He's asking for an honest answer, but Korra instinctively tries to dodge around it. Forcing herself to relax, she pieces the answer together. Jack's the one who started the whole thing, it's only fair that he know what happened.]

I don't know. I mean, Hiro and I got out alive, but the rest of our group... [Korra shakes her head.] And it's not your fault. We all wanted to get answers, too. I just wish I had been better about helping the others.

[There's the touch of guilt in her expression again, accompanied by a shudder that she can't quite suppress. Watching people get electrocuted isn't something she ever wanted to see.]

You're not hurt so-- that's ok. That's fine, I-- I am sorry you had to see all that.

[Jack finally lands in front of her, his expression matching hers. He knows that guilt, he's been feeling since he woke up. The weather around them is definitely starting t get chilly now. Blue temperature for blue mood...]

...you did help. You rescued the Bridge, right? Hiro told me.

You're sorry? [Korra chokes out, a little increduous. She shakes her head, some of the feelings she's trying to close off already flooding back in.] You really need to stop blaming yourself for that. Especially since...

[She remembers the ice that she and Hiro had seen on their way out, and that feeling of dread as she realized exactly who it had belonged to. She blinks at him, then lurches forward. Sorry, Jack, you're getting a hug, whether you like it or not.]

You didn't make it out either, did you?

[She knows he's asking about the Bridge, but if Hiro's already explained what happened, then making sure Jack's really okay gets priority right now.]

Hey, excuse me for--

[His attempt at a joke is forgotten when he's suddenly hugged - he didn't see that one coming. He almost never does, though he's getting better around certain people. Korra is still kinda new in his life so this time is extra surprising.

It takes him a moment to snap out of it and return it, a cold hand patting her back in what's meant to be comforting. Sorry about any frost leftover.]

I-- I didn't. But I'm here now, alright? And it worked. The Bridge was rescued.

Yeah... at least we didn't get in there for nothing.

[She squeezes him, maybe a little too tightly for his comfort before drawing back slightly. She laughs a little shakily.]

You're here now. I'm never going to get used to the whole...dying and coming back thing.

[Yep, the squeeze makes him tense once again, but he's still smiling, awkwardly but a smile anyway. He snorts at Korra's comment, giving a step back to recover his personal space - oh, if she only knew...]

I don't think anyone is. [He frowns a bit, thinking.] ...which may be a good thing. Just because you can come back it doesn't mean you should know what it feels like.

[This time she does notice, letting go of him with a chagrined look.]

Sorry! Does that bother you?

[Come to think of it, she did kind of just grab him, didn't she? Oops.]

[He answers with a sheepish expression, rubbing the back of his head.]

It's ok, I know you. ...kinda. It's still new, having all these people being able to touch me. [He shrugs, but his tone and look are sincere.] I just need to get used to have you around, newbie.

[Confusion takes over now, and she tilts her head as she studies him.]

Being touched is new...? I don't-- [Her eyes widen, the rest of the words catching in her throat as the clues he dropped before abruptly fall into place and form a picture-or at least, part of it.

"You see spirits often?"

He'd asked her that before, so curiously, like it wasn't normal. She hadn't thought much of it then. Most people in her world didn't see spirits either, but that was only because the spirits probably weren't in the mood to be seen.

With Jack, though, Korra has the sinking feeling that isn't the case. Touching is new.]

Wait. The people back in your world... they couldn't see you at all, could they?

[He notices the change in her expression, the self-interruption, and so he waits. Jack isn't always a man for patience, but with a subject like this? Yeah, better let it flow.

When she finally asks, he shakes his head, suddenly sounding his real age when he speaks. Old and tired.]

Only people who believe in us can see us, hear us, touch us. Ceres changed that when I got here. [He lowers his eyes, frowning.] I don't like owning them anything but...

[It's hard not to like this aspect of the colony.]

Jack... [She makes an aborted movement, like she's about to touch his hand, as she would normally do with a friend, but this feels a little different. A split-second passes, and then the confusion's replaced by determination. She grabs onto his hand lightly--not as overwhelming as a hug might be, but it's still a touch to let him know she's there.

There's one thing she knows for sure: she doesn't like that look on Jack's face.]

How long did it take before anyone saw you?

[Though Jack hasn't gone into that just yet, she can put the pieces together.]

[It's less overwhelming but still surprising, so the process is repeating: he tenses at first, relaxes a second later when he hears her voice, sounding sad and lonely when he finally answers.]

...three hundred years. [Yeah, that's the age he said he is. But blue eyes never leave their hands.] Korra-- be careful or you'll get frostbite.

[I thought so. It's still heartbreaking to hear the numbers spoken out loud. Korra had thought her years of being stuck in the compound had been lonely, but it's nothing compared to how long Jack's been isolated.

She squeezes his hand, not letting go just yet.]

You think so? I'm pretty used to the cold, though.

[Her voice is soft, like she's still processing what he just told her.]

[He arches an eyebrow, quickly taking this opportunity to derail the conversation before it gets way too deep and awkward. (As if it wasn't already...)]

Really? Even without gloves and jackets? This place is stuck in eternal spring.

[He has Some Feelings about that, in case you couldn't tell.]

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[Closed] I'm not dead, I'm just floating

for Korra

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