estoria | [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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The cold is secondary but he shivers a little inside his hoodie, keeping Jack locked in that hug for a minute before pulling back enough to look at him. He's not stupid, Jack. He recognizes that lie. He's hardly offended that Jack lied to him to protect him, but at the same time…]

I talked to Mars. She told us nobody else but her made it out alive from her group…and Korra, Terra and I were the only ones from ours, too. [He's been worried. Very worried. He's been sticking pretty close to Tadashi for the last couple of days but the older Hamada was out for a bit.]

Can you stay a while? There's a lot I need to tell you. [And also he'd just like Jack to stick around for a bit so he's sure he's okay.]

[The hug was really nice and all, but Jack still sighs. As much as he likes these creative nerds, at times like this he wishes they wouldn't be so damn smart and notice so much.]

I'm not sure what happened to my group. We kept splitting, and-- [He doesn't want to say, but Hiro knows already, so what choice does he have?] ...I went down, just came.back today.

[Hiro is definitely not the only one worried. That's why Jack is here for after all, both as a Guardian and as a friend. He's noticed the lack of Tadashi with quite disapproval, but he isn't starting an argument now of all times.]

Of course I'm staying - I came to visit, didn't I? Unless your marshmallow nurse is afraid I'm giving you a cold...

[Sorry Jack, it's much easier to call other people on their shit than yourself, especially when you're this particular creative nerd.]

Three days. [He nods to himself.] I think Baymax likes you, actually, so you're safe. [He tries to make a joke out of it. He steps away, gesturing for Jack to follow him. He's busy curling up in a corner of Tadashi's bed again, but Jack has a few places he can sit. The confirmation that Jack had actually died renders a disapproving look (and his own brother had scolded him and reminded him that he could have easily died, too) but it answers the question of what happens when people die here.]

Have you seen anybody else yet since you've been back? ["And what have they told you?"]

Well, at least one robot likes me around here.

[He throws Baymax a quick glance before following Hiro inside. Disapproving looks usually don't shake him - other spirits have always looked at him like that. But coming from Hiro and adding the current context, well. It stings a little.

The headboard of Tadashi's bed is the spot he chooses to perch on, and he nods at Hiro's question.]

The kids found me when I-- woke up. [It's still weird to say.] And I checked on Hiccup and Toothless before coming here. I had to check on you too.

[Buddy, there are reasons. He shifts to sit back and face Jack, looking up at the spirit's perch before tilting his head curiously. What a strange thing to wake up to. He has to wonder how the kids felt about Jack's return, but there's a strange tug in his chest the moment Jack says he had to check on Hiro, too. He ducks his head, smiling slightly before he pulls his knees to his chest.]

...you didn't have to. I'm fine. [Mildly traumatized, but fine.] What'd Hiccup have to say? Are they okay?

This-- [He waves a hand around to mean the dark room and the hiding in Tadashi's bed.] --is fine? Right. I think I'll stick to being glad that I came.

[Not buying the excuses, Hiro. Nobody is fine, not even himself, but gotta be a Guardian for the boy. At least Hiro is smiling, and that's enough to count as improvement in Jack's eyes. Coming was definitely the right thing to do.]

They... they are hanging there. [He isn't sure if he should be talking about someone else's death.] But what about you?

[He just pointedly ignores that, sort of the way he avoids telling Jack he's sort of been sleeping in Tadashi's bed since he arrived in Cerealia. It's complicated. The whole...thing is complicated. He knows he can't really avoid it though, especially when Jack presses the subject.

The smile dips into something a little more solemn as he gives him a contemplative look.]

...I couldn't save everybody in our group. [That's the first problem.] We tried, but we couldn't do it. We still lost two of them, and Baymax had to escape with Terra to take him to the hospital so it was just me and Korra at the end. [And finally, quietly, he admits something he hasn't said to anyone else just yet.] I should have been more careful when we were separated from everybody else to make sure they got out alive.

[Complicated doesn't start to describe it, but they both need this. It did Hiccup well, as sad as it was, so hopefully it will work again. Hiro's expression changes and Jack knows he's on the right track - it's not like he wants the kid to be feel like that, but this is the way to go.]

Hey now, you listen to me - Hiro? [Jack leans in, older brother mode to the max. Hypocrisy also to the max, but details.] It wasn't your fault. None of you was ready for what we found there.

That's not an excuse, Jack. None of us were prepared...[Including Jack, he bets. How could any of them have known what they were up again? He understands what Jack is saying, but at the same time it's hard to admit.]

Heroes aren't supposed to let people die. I know it wasn't our fault, but we still could have done something. [He shakes his head.] ...what happened to you guys when we were all separated anyway?

Do something? I'm not believing you didn't try anything. [Of course it's hard to admit, that's why Jack isn't touching is own side of things...

Until Hiro asks, and it'd be super asshole of him to ignore it or lie. If he wants Hiro to be honesty with him, he has to do the same in return. Jack rubs the back of his neck, looking away as he answers.] We lost the same senses as last time and got split. Dunno what happened to the others but... you know what happened to me so. Fans are now the enemy. [...Jack, that's awful black humor, you suck at this.]

...we tried everything and it still wasn't enough. I already knew we'd lost a bit when the electric fields in the floor activated.

[He narrows his eyes though when Jack continues. Losing senses huh...also that is terrible humor, Jack, don't even.] Did you find anything before the fan found you?

[Jack frowns at that, not liking the implications at all. Worried, he leans a bit closer, looking at Hiro up and down as if noticing him for the first time.] Electric fields? Hiro, did you get electrocuted?

[Watch out for that answer, because Jack is getting a bit frustrated and angry again - if they hurt Hiro, then he'll only want to go back and freeze their asses.

A shake of his head.] Just a bunch of empty rooms and traps.

I didn't, no. Two of our guys did though when they fell off of Baymax. I don't even know how the floors activated. One minute they were fine and the next...[He shrugs helplessly.] We moved as fast as we could but it wasn't enough. Those were the only floors that were electric, too.

What kind of traps did you find? [Because it's best to ask about Jack's surroundings and really try to puzzle it out than dwell on watching people being fried.]

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

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