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Who: The Sword Whisperer & his latest catch
When: Huh... today?
Where: Starting at the park
What: Haru can't turn off his spirit swag
Rating/Warning: None for now. This log is totally serious, in case you couldn't tell.

[Jack Frost doesn't need to sleep.

He does need to rest every once in a while, though. He's a spirit but he's not invincible. But those "naps" he takes, he isn't sure they can count as sleeping. He enters some sort of hibernating mode when he spends too much energy, especially after making it cold in a place that isn't supposed to be. Damn sun.

Today isn't one of those days, to be fair. But after entertaining the local kids since early in the morning, Jack needs a break. The park is the place he chooses - he really misses big open spaces of nature, especially after he found out they can't leave the colony. Apartment? What apartment? He threw the card key away when he arrived.

Resting on a tree isn't unusual for him, but unlike home, he chooses a low branch, in case the kids need to find him again. It's nice being seen and not walked through, and with that wonderful memory of hugs Jack closes his eyes, no expecting any "visitors"...]

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[ haru wasn't looking for jack, because jack is a winter spirit and can do whatever the heck he wants. no, haru was on his way home from practice, and sometimes he swings through the big park before heading up to his apartment.. which is why a white and blue figure catches his attention. he glances up into the tree in surprise, then alarm. why is jack sleeping(?) in a tree?! why isn't he in his apartment? isn't he more like haru's spirits than not in that way? shelter is important!

.. has he been sleeping in trees the whole time he's been here?!

haru goes up on his toes, reaching up to poke the spirit in the arm. ]

Jack-kun. [ seriously!! ] Is this always where you sleep??

[Jack's startled by the sudden poke, and since the only people that usually could bother him are other spirits... well. Haru is now having certain staff aimed at his face.

Oops?

After blinking a couple of times, Jack finally remembers where they are and takes it back, looking a bit ashamed for a change.]

...sorry about that. [He waves at Haru because yes, hi there.] I don't always sleep here. Sometimes I choose windows. And it's not really sleeping anyway...

[ haru flinches instinctively at something coming toward his face, a hand thrown up as if to ward off a blow-- but he seems embarrassed by his own reaction, hand falling swiftly away again. it's.. been a while since he did that.

he tucks his hands into his pockets to keep them out of trouble, shaking his head. ] No, it's my fault. I should have called to you before touching you. [ but then his usual flat expression twists faintly, brows coming together and lips turning down slightly. ]

.. Trees and windows? What about your apartment?

[Haru's gesture doesn't call Jack's attention, it looks to him like some basic defense the body pulls off. He has to wonder about the face his friends shows afterwards though. Did he hurt him? Offended him or something?

And then there's that frown plus... a very confusing question.]

What apartment? [He keeps his head tilted until he realizes what Haru is talking about.] Wait, you mean the place they gave us when we arrived? I've never been to it. [He says dismissively.]

.. Unbelievable. [ haru's hands don't last in his pockets long, because a moment later they're planted on his hips. ] Did you live like this back home, too? [ sure, not all spirits have cozy houses to live in, but spirits like jack and like haru's tsukumogami ought to. ]

What about when there's bad weather? What about summer?

Umm, yeah? Where did you think I lived? An igloo?

[Jack is a bit astonished at the moment. He has been scolded in the past, just not this way, not with... care instead of anger. The Guardians, especially North, tried, but still... not the same.

The s-word makes him snort though.] When it's summer in half of the world, the other half has winter, genius.

I thought you had a place to stay, whether an igloo or a temple or.. whatever. I mean, you're the spirit of winter.

[ and then he points to the ground. ] Yes, that works back home, but what about here? [ they can't leave the colony.. so what about when it's summer here? jack can't just go to a cold part of this world.

his brows lift. what now, jack. ]

Yeeeeah, I'm a seasonal so I'm kinda stuck with nature.

[Someone is getting defensive it seems. Haru is right, he can't deny that. He supposes the lake at Burgess could be called his special spot, but that's obviously not what the boy is talking about. No, Jack has no home, and that's one subject that's gonna get on his nerves.

However, it's the last part that really hits him in the guts. For all the bitching he made about being locked in the colony, the thought of summer never crossed his mind. The weather has never been a concern of his for obvious reasons.]

I-- I don't know. I didn't think about it.

[ it's the comment at the end that makes haru soften again, and he shifts to toe off his shoes, clambering up into the tree like a cat. he settles onto a branch close to the spirit, leaning against the trunk and swinging his legs. ]

.. Look, I'm not trying to tie you down anywhere, but.. it's going to be tough for you in the summer, right? And the thought of you being stuck somewhere in the rain is awful. [ he curls his hands over the branch, glancing briefly down at them to avoid looking jack in the eye. ] .. I keep the living room window unlocked for you, so.. I'll put some sheets and a pillow or two by the couch if you want to drop in. And when it starts getting hot outside, we have extra room now.. so.. [ you know, haru can temporarily shuffle his swords around so jack has a room to keep out of the heat in. ]

What are you doing...

[Haru is more athletic than he looks, go figure. Jack starts fidgeting, suddenly unsure about how close the guy is. He's getting used to being seen and touched, and the children sure are hleping with that process... but it's different to be playing with them in general than sitting close to a person to have a private chat (well, as private as it can be in the park).

He stares at his friend with his muth hanging open, not believing what he's hearing.]

You-- you keep the window unlocked for me?

[Well. Damn. He didn't know about that. It's surprising and shocking and... who knows what else, Jack may be going through a bit of an emotional mess right now. Because someone is thinking of him, worrying him, and offering a pseudo-home. Where to even start with that?]

...I don't need the sheets, but I will take those pillows. [He smiles then, a very sincere smile, one offered by a tired old man who is very touched at the moment.] Thank you, Haru. But I can't promise I won't freeze anything.

I'm actually from the country, you know. Some of the other saniwa training with me used to tease me about being a bumpkin. [ so climbing trees is nothing!! and jack should've heard his accent before he started taking pains to get rid of it. it's hard to sound commanding and regal when you're that rural. (not that haru is commanding or regal on his best days, anyway.)

he lifts his head at the disbelieving outburst, ears going red. ] You came through the window last time. I figured you'd prefer to visit that way from now on. [ he wouldn't want him trapped outside because he's too jack to use the door.

legs swinging a little again, he shrugs. ] It's a win/win for me, really. I have a friend over and it cuts down on my cooling costs in the summer.

[Haru? Regal? AHAHAHAHA...! Ahem.]

Do you miss the country too?

[Yes, he said "too". Because Jack totally needs a bit more of nature than this park. He likes cities just fine, especially because of all the children in them, but he's still a seasonal. He's connected to nature, he misses the mountains, the poles and the penguins.

He laughs a bit at the window comment and just nods - what. It's the true! Windows are just easier, okay. He pauses again when he hears the rest, he never thought a not-nap would bring out so many feelings. Haru calls him a friend, wants him around AND wants him to keep things cold. It truly means a lot to him. Hopefully Haru won't be bothered by the fact the tree is kinda cold either.]

Aaah, I see where this is going. You are using me to save on electricity bills! It was too good to be true!

[It's teasing, promise.]

[ wow, jack!!! he could be.. regal......... probably. if he tried really hard. ]

.. Sorta'. [ he draws a knee up, hooking his arms loosely around it. ] I miss the quiet and the town-- [ barely a town, really. ] --and I miss having a garden-- [ though he'd had one at the citadel, a big one. ] --but on the other hand, there's a lot of bad memories there, too. So.. [ he trails off for a moment, narrow shoulders hunching in a little. ] Well, anyway, my brother and sisters live in the city, now, back home. So it's growing on me a little.

[ but he glances back up and over to jack at the teasing comment, lips quirking up faintly at the corner in what's practically a grin for haru. ] --Well, honestly, by now you should expect me to be practical about things.

[Keep telling yourself that.

Jack jumps off the branch to hover around Haru while he listens to the story, getting more comfortable about this with passing each second. He shows sympathy when he hears "bad memories", and blue eyes widen when Haru mentions bother and sisters.]

You have siblings! [He laughs and is about to ask more about them, but then it hits him.] You had siblings and now a bunch of spirits, but you missed the quiet? When did you even have quiet?

[A snort. Oooh, this is so on, mister. (Good to see him smile like that though.)] You aren't practical at all, do you know how hard it was to find spoons in your stupid kitchen?

I have four siblings. [ there's no mistaking the pride in his voice. ] Three younger sisters and a younger brother. They're all really smart kids-- even Natsumi, and she's only two. [ something in his expression softens, pale eyes quietly fond. ] .. I did okay with them. I'm glad they're with foster-parents now, though. They can provide a lot more for them than I could.

[ a beat, then, and he finally shrugs. ] It was still quieter than the city, you know? And I didn't have any spirits back then. [ not exactly, anyway. he's always seen things, but he's also always been too busy to think much about them.

his lips finally quirk back up, and he reaches out with a foot, nudging at jack with it. ] Look, don't blame me because you don't know how I organize my kitchen.

Four! [That sounds fantastic, but Jack's face falls when he hears the rest.] Wait, they-- they took them from you? Why? Haven't you seen them again since?

[That's so sad! The conversation is truly getting him, and so Jack decides to sit next to Haru on the branch, more comfortable now for the closeness. Hopefully his friend won't mind the chill. The nudge makes a bit of his smile come back, and he nudges back with a pointy elbow.]

You swords live there and they don't know how you organize your kitchen either.

[...that's what he took from Nakigitsune's silence anyway...]

[ haru shakes his head at the first question, legs swinging a little, surprisingly childish for the usually taciturn teenager. ] No, it's not like that. Our parents weren't.. [ he trails off, suddenly aware that this is the most he's ever really talked about his life back home with anyone. it feels kind of.. weird. ] Uh. Well, anyway, when I was approached to train as a saniwa, my one condition was that my siblings would be taken care of while I was gone. [ he glances to jack, mouth quirking up faintly. ] I don't get the chance to visit often, because I'm so busy with the war, but their foster parents are really great and the kids are happy with them.

[ a part of haru hopes that they'll officially be adopted, especially since he doesn't know how long the war will last, or even if he and his spirits will survive it, but he tries not to think about any of it much.

at the teasing nudge, he makes a mock-outraged noise. ] That's not my fault! They should pay more attention when I cook.

But you do get to visit? [That definitely makes this anecdote better! Well, except for the parents part, Jack has to frown a bit at that. He wants to know more, but even he can tell Haru is uncomfortable with the topic. And the kids are obviously in better hands now, so nothing to worry about!] Why don't you come to hang out with me and the kids some day? It sounds like you'd enjoy that.

[And the children could do with another "older brother", though Jack may get a bit jealous over having to share the attention. But this is Haru, a good friend, and he could like... be a pseudo-Guardian. Or something.

Jack laughs at that noise.] They also need better desserts! Next time I visit I wanna see that fridge filled with ice-cream, got it?

[Haru gets a poke to his chest. See, he's getting better at this touching friends thing.]

Yeah, when I can. They're really accommodating to my schedule. [ he'd never really understood just how inadequate his parents really were, not until he'd been around his siblings' foster-parents. haru had tried his best, of course, but he's only a teenager, himself.

his lips quirk up at the suggestion. ] Maybe I will if I get the time. [ he glances back toward the apartments pointedly. ] .. Though I already live with a bunch of ancient kids, so.. [ between his spirits, school, and practice, he doesn't have time for much of anything else. still, it'd be nice to spend more time with jack. though the winter spirit is centuries old, he acts as if he's closer to haru's age, and.. haru's never really had a friend like that before. it's kind of nice.

the poke earns a dramatic roll of his eyes. ] Yes, yes, ice-cream for the spirit of winter. I might've guessed. [ ... actually, he should've thought of that before now. can jack even eat hot foods? ] I'll start keeping some more chilled food, too. [ a beat, perking up and glancing to jack. ] Do you like sushi?

[The comment about "ancient kids" gets Jack laughing again. In part because it is funny, in part because of the big irony. He behaves like a kid most of the time but inside there's one hell of a bitter old man.]

I guess... they aren't like me, are they? The actual swords are old but the spirits are young. [And he sure feels old now, great.] If you don't have the time then make it. Bring them too if you wanna. But you're not allowed to be so-- responsible any more. You need to let go!

[School and practice, blegh. Haru needs a hobby and Jack will find him one, end of the story. He instantly beams when Haru says he'll keep specific food for him, and shrugs at the mention of sushi.]

It's good if they didn't go crazy with the soy sauce. Wanna worry about me, forget about temperature, just keep the salt away. [Snow spirit indeed. This is why he usually sticks to sweets, see. After a pause, he pulls a face.] Not a fan of the spicy stuff either.

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it's like he has a radar

are you telling me he doesn't

LOOK.... look.................... i dont have an answer for you (he probably does)

I knew it!!!

huffs

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