Chapter 7 - The Jack and North Way

I had to take a break for a couple days before getting started on this chapter. I'd been so focused on just writing, I was forgetting some of the big picture. Needed to review my notes and past chapters. Anyway.

Anyone reading this fic for the long run will probably learn way more about weather than they wanted to know. I happened to be inspired by it for story ideas. Here's the first "cool" tidbit, nyuk nyuk…

According to Wikipedia, "A polar vortex... is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near one or both of a planet's geographical poles. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and the stratosphere. They surround the polar highs and lie in the wake of the polar front. These cold-core low-pressure areas strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer...The Arctic vortex has two centres, one near Baffin Island and the other over northeast Siberia.[2] In the southern hemisphere, it tends to be located near the edge of the Ross ice shelf near 160 west longitude."

How cool is that?! This will be more important to the story in the second arc, but it's mentioned here.

You guys are going to throw up from the fluff in this one. Sigh. Can't help being a sap with this father/son business...

And you ARE going to see some super-fragile Jack in this one, again. Just a warning.

-ROTG-

Jack had only sat down to rest for a moment. He was looking at a handful of shells and thinking about the next design. He had only closed his eyes to envision what it could be. The next thing the tired elemental knew, he was standing in his hometown woods again with his little sister.

At least he seemed to be able to remember what she looked like here. He grinned.

"I was hoping for another dream with you."

Her brown bangs swished as she shook her head. "You got here through a dream, but that's not where we are now."

He wondered why a dream would insist it wasn't what it obviously was. Maybe it was his subconscious wishing it wasn't a dream…

"This isn't a dream! I'm not a dream. It's important for you to understand this!"

"Uh-huh. What's your name?"

Jack really didn't want to waste what precious dreamtime he had with the memory of his sister arguing over a technicality. And if his subconscious could remember what she looked like, maybe it remembered this detail, too.

His sister looked startled at first, then shifted to sorrow and compassion. Jack frowned.

"Joyce."

The frown was replaced with a soft smile.

"That's a beautiful name."

Her eyes shone like honey. "You used to call me Joy."

"I can see why," his smile was warm and tender as he reached out and stroked her hair. "I'm glad I can seem to remember you here, at least."

She leaned into his hand and sighed. "It's seemed like forever, I'm relieved you got here finally. It means things have begun…"

"What things?"

Joyce seemed to be thinking about how to answer that. "Next steps. You have a role you will need to play. They're finally letting you move forward. And you can have another family." Her small face turned ferocious. "I'm glad about that. I was so angry that you had to be… to be all alone." The furious look broke and she started crying her heart out.

Operating completely on instinct, Jack picked the girl up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he began rocking her. He didn't mind his shirt getting wet with tears, it felt so good to hold her in his arms again, solid and beloved and real. He began telling her about his recent 'art time' with Bunny. Eventually her sobs quieted into the occasional gentle gasp and then wavering laughter.

"I'm supposed to be helping you," she murmured into his shoulder. He chuckled.

"And what is it you want to help me with, Joy of mine?"

She looked up and ran her fingers over first his eyebrow, then his cheek bone. Her tender look matched his.

"Your memories. So you can know the truth and be happy again. Real happy, not… not happy-covering-sad. We'll be here with you until all the knots are finally gone."

Jack's eyes were wide and confused. "We?"

Joy's face suddenly matched her name's meaning. "Oh yeah! Mama and Papa want to see you, too!" A shock of adrenalin ran through the boy at the mention of parents. His sister glanced away for a moment.

"Next time, though. I think you need to go back now."

Another kiss on his cheek and the world dissolved.

-ROTG-

Flying near the North Pole was easy. The cold felt great, Wind raced along completely unhindered by warmer currents, and Jack was entirely in his element. He could have made a thousand Winter pillars here.

Instead, on his way from the Warren to Santoff Clausen early that morning, he only managed to create one in Hawaii, per Sephi's list. And Pele was NOT happy. The winter elemental could have avoided the slower local spirit easily, if he hadn't frozen momentarily in a mind-wiping, paralyzed panic at her arrival. He was unspeakably terrified of volcanoes. Her heat had singed his lower back before he snapped out of it, which meant Jack had to waste an hour first freezing the wound to avoid further bleeding, and then grabbing another blue hoodie from his supply in Antarctica.

When he had originally found the box of thirty surplus sweatshirts discarded outside a warehouse twenty years before, he had thought he'd be set for life. Now there were only 8 left.

If he hadn't been able to travel instantly from one howling polar vortex to the next, he would never have been able to make it to the North Pole early enough that morning. Landing on the roof of 'Santa's Workshop', Jack smiled to see the pond by North's study once again consisted of solid permanent ice. He hopped onto the small roof above the doorway to North's balcony, and the smile grew wider. The doors were open, and North was singing along to some dramatic Russian music. It would be a shame to interrupt, so the slight youth sat down to listen, careful to lean only his uninjured upper back against the wall. He let his feet dangle over the edge, enjoying the cold air and the swelling sounds.

-ROTG-

Nicholas St. North had not been idle that week.

The large man, naturally energetic, was downright antsy waiting for his little snezhinka to show up. After the way he had… had hurt the boy the last time he was at the workshop, North had completed several projects with one goal in mind: make Jack feel welcome and included. Again the yetis had surprised him. Instead of resenting the attention and extra work spent on efforts for the snow trickster, they were direct and supportive, even making some useful recommendations about what Jack would like.

Somehow, North realized, the playful spirit had gotten to even these serious, stoic helpers.

And in the end, the Guardian of Wonder decided that after a week of working with the other Guardians on a schedule, Jack probably needed a day to unwind and just have some free-for-all fun. Especially if he was going to have to sit through another meeting, with whatever serious topic Tooth had said she needed to discuss with them all. The big Cossack was happy to oblige, and was looking forward to sharing his day with the winter child.

Because in the end, he didn't really want Jack to change too much. To reign in the wild, spontaneous nature would be to make him… not Jack. FUN, after all, would always be part surprise and mischief and imagination. And that, North decided with another impatient look toward the windows, was how it should be.

Oh.

Were those feet?

Yes, bare white toes, curling and uncurling, ankles swinging in time to the music.

Wonder be damned, it was mischief those wide eye were filled with now. Trying not to chuckle too loudly in devilish mirth, North swiped a quill from a shelf and tip-toed over to the balcony doorway, turning the music up slightly to provide greater stealth. Biting his bottom lip to keep silent, the bearded Guardian wiggled the end of the feather along the pale soles. The shrill cry of surprise and immediate short burst of laughter as the feet were withdrawn was all he could have hoped for. He finally let loose his own belly laugh.

Azure eyes, turned upward in merriment, appeared where the feet had been dangling moments before. Jack's upside-down joyful face filled North's view.

"Maybe if shoes were used for feet and not for giving little upstart gremlins deludings of grandness, would not have such a problem, da?"

Jack snickered. "And deprive you of such valuable leadership support? Never!"

North could only continue laughing at the boy's cheekiness as Jack swooped down and stood beside him.

Some special happiness filled the Guardian of Fun's chest as he succeeded in making Wonder laugh. This was how he liked the larger Guardian best. Laughing and happy and jolly. No guilt or sorrow or regret.

"How are their highnesses, anyway?"

The Cossack's face turned mock-serious.

"Incorrigible. Thank you very much, Jack. And I think there may be troublings in the ranks," North nodded as if deeply troubled himself, but then threw up his hands with his characteristic grin, "Bah! Politics! Tell me, how goes time with Guardians? Learn much from Sandy and Toothy and Bunny?"

And, as was becoming the standard, Jack was uninhibited in his energy and enthusiasm when describing things to North. The large man's eyes softened at the sheer joy in the winter spirit's tale. Some little piece of sadness worked its way into his heart, however, as he listened to Jack describe normal things like people listening and acknowledging and helping him as if these were stunning and unexpected gifts. As if the wonderfulness of those 'gifts' was a reflection of the giver's amazing nature rather than the interpretation of an attention-starved soul.

"And North," Jack quieted to a hushed tone, "Bunny actually let me stay there. Overnight. In the Warren." Enormous blue eyes seemed to expect North to share in the miracle of this hospitality, this unimagined treat.

The older man sighed internally. Yes, they had a lot of work to do with this child.

"Am not surprised, Bunny is most fond of you, Jack, is just his nature to be stern." The boy laughed, as if on cue, like North was telling a joke.

Hm, maybe time to show the boy even more welcoming gestures, to help him understand.

"And Bunny is not only one! Come, Jack, I show you something." Slapping his thighs, North rose and put a hand to Jack's lower back to gently direct him toward the door into the factory. The slender form immediately stiffened, and North's heart sank as he quickly pulled his hand away. Apparently they had not reached a comfort level with touch, yet. Jack probably disliked it when North's enthusiasm overtook him and he lifted or embraced the boy. Who, as he had learned during their first encounter, was not uncomfortably cold to hold, as he had expected.

The sprite recovered and gave him a nervous smile, then turned toward the door with a hop and a skip. North's fist clenched as he made a promise to show the boy such unrelenting support, he would eventually welcome the closeness the other Guardians wanted to have with their newest member. Taking a deep breathe, eyes determined, North followed Jack into the hallway and gestured to the left.

A quick elevator ride later, and they arrived at a bright green door. "This," North announced, pushing the door open and stepping back so Jack could enter, "Is Bunny's room here at the Pole."

"Wow… "

This must have been the ground floor because instead of wooden planks, dirt and grass covered the bottom of the spacious room. Everything was gold and green, with pastel bursts of detail and tribal designs. There were actual vines and flowers growing on certain surfaces, and plenty of nooks in the walls to hold supplies. A dense mossy patch in the corner served as a comfortable bed.

"No wonder he doesn't mind staying overnight!"

"Bunny is valued colleague, he must be comfortable when visiting my home! Hospitality is very importan- oh ho. Speaking of which." North gave him a very pointed look as they stepped back into the hall.

Jack thought jingle bells and trumpets had never sounded so ominous. Two elf kings and their attendants walked up to the winter spirit who had appointed them. Elves, Jack decided, looked particularly unsightly with their noses in the air and shoes on their heads. Still pretty darn funny, though. Dingle stepped forward with a royally gracious welcome gesture, only to be elbowed out of the way by Hankle who made an even grander gesture to outdo his rival. One of Dingle's attending elves took offense at Hankle's hand in his face and promptly bit it.

One blink later and it seemed like the whole hallway of elves had turned into one giant ball of chaos.

"Uh…"

"You see? Politics of weak-minded." North nodded sagely.

Jack grinned. "Well, when in doubt, freeze an elf!" With one wave of his staff, the ball froze, thirty elves stuck to each other in every way imaginable. There were a lot of tongues.

North raised his eyebrows in approval. "Effective political solution." He moved to pat the winter spirit's shoulder, but stopped himself. Took a deep breath.

"Come! More to show."

Sandy's room was on the top floor. All golden and rosy hues, shelves jammed full of oddities at random heights on the walls, and cushions piled all over the floor. Tooth's room was a small tower with windows and soft-lined ledges at different levels, fountains running from the ceiling to the floor, and a very cozy visiting area at the bottom, so anyone could feel welcome stopping by for a chat.

North was finding this journey quite endearing. Jack was trotting along beside him, taking in in each new thing. He didn't question his host's reason for showing him what he chose to show him. He just went along for the ride, no questions asked, so wrapped up in what he was seeing and experiencing that he didn't even think about a destination or purpose, just the fun (and mischief) of the moment. Very much like a child with a trusted adult.

And so it was with almost unbearable anticipation that North pushed open a pale blue door, just down the hall from his own. He could tell the frost boy had no idea what was coming.

Jack looked around, completely silent, mouth parted slightly. This was the most wonderful room of all. It felt right. He sighed without quite knowing why.

The room was round and tall and immediately gave the impression of being spacious and without boundaries, but still cozy. The floor was alternating white and brown wooden tiles. Tall windows in cushioned nooks looked out to the arctic landscape all around. Walls were painted to resemble a pine forest, the trees stretching up and up to the ceiling. And what a ceiling. A perfectly clear dome, made of permanent ice from North's pond, topped off the room, making the sky itself the centerpiece. That must have taken the entire pond to make...

"And this," North tentatively placed a hand on the blue-clad shoulder, relaxing in immense relief when there was no flinch or move to push him off, "Is your room, Jack."

He didn't… it wasn't… how… "What?"

Jack's eyes were huge as he looked up into his companion's face. A thrill of shock ran through him as he noticed North, boisterous, confident, crazy Nicholas St. North, wore a shy expression.

"I left forest plain. So you can determine what wonders and mysteries it contains. If you want to add something? Do it! Maybe a fluffy bunny over here, looking grumpy at snow, da? Or Baby Tooth flittering between branches?"

In his best imaginings of showing Jack this room, North had envisioned an excited sprite zooming around and inspecting all the details. He'd see the snowflakes North had carved into the base of the ice dome. The way the tiles were arranged to resemble scattered snow drifts on the ground. The frost patterns embroidered into the window seat cushions, compliments of the yetis. The bookcase of adventure stories and games. The furniture made of permanent ice that North had carved almost a week ago. The small painting on the bedside table of all five Guardians together. And the way North had left enough things for Jack himself to determine. To define what or who was important to him, and let those thing into his space at his own timing.

North had been looking forward to it.

He was completely unprepared when the slight figure next to him didn't take off and dart around the room. The winter child lowered himself into a crouch, arms around his legs, face buried.

North's stunned face and darting eyes would have been funny in another situation. This one, though, felt fragile and painful.

-ROTG-

It had been involuntary. Something twisted so deeply inside him, it curled his whole body around it.

It had finally clicked. North, surprisingly subtle, had shown Jack what he did for each of the other Guardians. And now, for him. He was one of them. The older wintertime Guardian, often acting as their leader, was telling him plain as day. You belong. You're one of us. We want you. Here is your place.

A week ago, he had betrayed them and been justly turned away. Then he'd taken an oath in front of everyone, genuinely confident. Then, in a dark room he had made a discovery and before the Moon himself, he made a promise and a plea. He had finally come to understand his situation. And to hope. That someday he might belong to their family.

And now… now he was being given a home. What was that, even? Something inside him hurt. Ached.

It wasn't… it wasn't right. He didn't deserve it yet. He hadn't helped anyone yet.

But this beautiful place, made just for him, and this amazing mentor who embraced him without reserve… he wanted it. Desperately.

But, he couldn't. Not yet. Not yet. Not y-

His internal rambling quieted as he felt a very large, impossibly gentle hand rub small circles above his shoulder blades, slowly loosening wiry muscles. As the other hand brushed through his wild locks, he found himself leaning into the touch, so unfamiliar. Rising only slightly, he leaned over and buried his face into North's massive shoulder, realizing his cheeks were, in fact, damp.

One large arm crossed the teen's shoulders, the other nestled in the snowy hair, as the largest Guardian held their youngest close to his chest.

"Just…" A swallow and a whisper. "Just for a minute."

North replied nothing, simply held the boy.

And it really was only a minute. In fact, Jack counted each second, heartbeat by heartbeat, to make sure he didn't go over the self-imposed time limit. This was… just a free sample, no one would judge him for that, right? Just to, to make sure I remember what I'm working toward.

Because, he could see that North and the others were kind. They would go easy on him if he let them. But he couldn't. That wouldn't be right. He had to earn it. Or maybe, it would all slip away again.

As Jack pushed away, North resisted for only a moment. Scrubbing a blue sleeve over his eyes, Jack missed the larger man swiping dampness from his own.

"It's perfect, you know." It was the most honestly grateful smile North, master giver of gifts, had ever seen, albeit a bit wobbly.

"I look forward to using it." Someday.

North squeezed his shoulder, already missing the proximity.

"Anytime and always."

Jack rubbed his blue eyes once more. "Don't… don't tell the others. OK?"

North pretended to look clueless. "'Bout what?" Ah, he couldn't help it. The kid was too cute. He ruffled his hand once more through Jack's hair before standing.

Jack took a deep breath and popped up beside him. "I'm trying to help them," He cleared his throat, "I haven't- I'm not very good yet at any of it yet, but getting better!"

"Tell me."

And Jack explained about frost animals and dreamsand, about ideas he wanted to share with Tooth next week, and about ice and Easter eggs.

"Is very good idea, this team promotion of all Guardians," North agreed.

"And I'd like- do you think it's a good idea, I mean, you make so many toys, um…" Although he had started off confident, the idea of telling Santa how to do his job was daunting.

North grinned. Really, too cute.

"Yes! New ideas for Guardian toys, this would be most welcome! Maybe a Tooth Fairy doll?"

"Easter Bunny action figure! Dreamsand Pictionary!"

"Jack Frost snowball launcher!"

The winter spirit paused at North's suggestion. "Do you really think kids would want that, though?"

"No doubt." Fists planted on hips. "And I need someone who knows children..." Is a child, "...to help design and test all new ideas!"

"Yeah!" Jack jumped into the air, his old energy back. "Let's do it!"

"Da, but Christmas is months in making. I have better idea for today. Let us do something NOW to spread wonder and joy and belief! Celebrate start of new possibilities. The Jack and North way! Enough with being inside! We are GUARDIANS! Must be out there, making the children happy!"

North marched out of the room and turned to look back at his companion. With one final glance of longing at the room, the wind-borne youth flew to the door to follow his guide.

"We are taking sleigh!"

Jack's cry of delight followed him down the hallway.

-ROTG-

North did not do things by half. Being "out there" apparently meant traveling the whole globe in a whirlwind race to spread Wonder and Fun, distributing icy Guardian sculptures to young people around the world. Since North was widely believed in and therefore visible to many, they started in Russia, where night, instead of morning, had just begun. Finding out that Jack could make a pretty decent ice figure in a matter of seconds drove the sleigh driver to push for matching speed in delivery.

But the winter elemental actually told North to slow down.

"Slow down? Why you want to be slowpoke?"

"Just… trust me on this."

Peering over the edge of the sleigh, Jack pointed. "Over there. Put us down."

Curiosity peaked, North followed the instruction and landed in a field by a small Siberian town. He followed the spry boy as he hopped out of the sleigh and trotted down the quiet main street. Neither winter dweller was bothered by the frigid night. Jack hopped on a thin fence North knew better than to try, and peered in a window of the house beyond.

"Yep, this is the one." Turning to smile enigmatically at North, he simply instructed, "Watch."

The snow bringer flew up to the window and concentrated for a moment, creating a mini ice replica of Santa Claus. He placed it on the ledge right in front of one of the smaller panes of glass that made up the whole window. Then he frosted the rest of the glass over, until the only clear spot was the block with the sculpture. As a final step, he rapped his knuckles against the frost and darted back over to North, peering over the fence.

"We could have done whole street by now!"

Jack gave him a stern look and shushed him, surprising the older Guardian. "Quantity isn't always the most important thing. Look."

The window slowly opened to reveal a scared-looking, tear-stained face. That expression rapidly turned to one of pure Wonder as small hands lifted the frosty figurine, taking in all the details. Tears stopped and a watery smile appeared.

"Spasibo, Санта." Thank you, Santa, the little girl whispered to the night. Belief that someone out there was protecting her gave her peace, despite whatever worrisome burden her small heart was carrying.

"Dobro pozhalovat," North couldn't help whispering back. You're welcome. The child smiled as she shut her window again, blocking out the very cold air but keeping in the warm feeling filling her chest.

Jack's quick pat on the shoulder broke North from his staring, and he bounded up on the rooftops, following the wispy sprite as he flew into the air, scanning the area. "Ah-hah!" And Jack drifted over to a house with a small backyard. With another small child, bundled up in a coat but obviously still cold, dragging a stick through the snow on the ground, a morose look on his young face. Jack spoke quietly to North, who was sitting on the roof.

"I'll bet this kid could use a little belated Easter Hope…" And with a wave of his staff, plop plop plop! Several small objects fell into the foot-deep snow, leaving round holes.

The Russian boy stared. Crept up to one of the holes, poked at it with a stick. Slowly reached inside and pulled out… an Easter egg. It may have been ice, but with the shape and the etched patterns, it was still clear exactly what it was.

Morose morphed into merry as the boy hopped from one hole to the next, lifting out frozen eggs, and then plop! Jack would create another behind him. Giggling and chasing each new appearance, cheeks grew rosy and eyes grew drowsy, until the little boy stood with an armful of googies, content and yawning and smiling at the sky as if he knew something was out there. He walked up to his back door and went inside. A few moments later, he entered his bedroom, opened his window and lovingly placed all the eggs on the outer ledge to make sure they wouldn't melt, then closing the window once done. He sat on the window seat and pulled out a well worn journal, beginning an entry with, I am actually not alone tonight. The Easter Bunny himself played with me! He gave me beautiful ice eggs, which suit this place...

North studied Jack's face for a moment as the winter spirit watch the young human. The large Guardian marveled at how very kind the pale face was, eyes so gently happy for another. Kind and… wistful.

With a sigh the frost youth hopped onto the weather vane of the house with a single graceful move. He glanced quickly around and seemed to hone in on something three streets away. His brow scrunched up. "Uh-oh." Wasting no time, he flew swiftly to the area, with a leaping North landing beside him soon after.

Another young girl, about 6 years old, was sobbing uncontrollably into her mother's side as they stood on their porch. The mother was rubbing her daughter's back soothingly and looking around with concern, calling, "Kiska, kiska! Kitti, Kitti!" It was clear to both Guardians why the girl was so upset. No pet cat would survive the night in this cold, unprotected.

"Look over there! I'll be right back." Jack whispered, pointing. Somehow the winter spirit had spotted little paw prints much further down the block. A quick flight there and back and Jack nodded.

A particularly cold breeze caused the girl to look up and her eyes immediately landed on a little tooth fairy icicle hanging from the porch railing. The fairy figure pointed out to the sidewalk. On the fence surrounding the front yard was another fairy, pointing down the street. Mouth dropping open the child darted from her mother's side and ran, following one frost fairy after another, all the way down the street with her mother calling and running after her. Until she came to a brick wall with a bush growing beside it. A bush that began to mew.

A grateful mother carrying an overjoyed daughter carrying a small cat that would survive the night made their way back home.

"And that, big guy, is a kid who will believe in the tooth fairy forever."

And North did understand what the frost child was trying to teach him. Gifts and tokens to every home were all very important and spread great happiness. But personal gestures, designed to make the lonely and sick at heart feel uniquely protected and cared for, were life changing. A memory and belief the child would keep always.

North looked down at a peaceful-looking Jack, leaning on his staff, and gave him an approving, knowing smile .

"You are very good teacher, Jack. And very good Guardian. Three worlds you have changed for better already this night."

The Cossack took a deep breath of the crisp air, feeling young and full of Wonder himself. How was it that an eternal child neglected so long had grown to such depths of compassion, rather than bitterness? It truly was a Wonder.

North glanced up at Manny. They did not deserve this boy. But now that they had him, they were keeping him. Close.

His eyes made the Moon a promise, and the Moon smiled back.

The red-clad man noticed the blue hood had come up, but this time it was a shy gesture, hiding a face that was trying to remain confident even as he was clearly unsure of how to handle praise. A laugh bubbled out of the Guardian of Wonder. "Let us spread this Jack Frost special magic! There are many children such as these, da?"

A hooded nod with sparkling eyes and they were off to continue their special field trip.

-ROTG-

In a realm of mists and veiled gates, a particularly hideous figure slunk through the waters of a particularly hushed and isolated corner. A black-shrouded wall, unusually solid in this eternally wavering world, blocked the creature's progress.

The shinigami knew he could push through to the other side and collect his prize.

He also knew it would not go unnoticed.

Which was why he clutched a handful of souls, draped around his shoulders like a cloak. While the theft he was about to commit would be known almost immediately to his Master, the incorporeal beings he wore should mask his involvement. All he needed was enough time to make the delivery with no one the wiser, and he would be home free.

And then… mmmm. He wriggled in anticipation at the thought of a future feast of fear.

No wall or immortal would stand in his way, he resolved. An instant later, he was gone, beyond the barrier.

A day later, he would be gone for good.

-ROTG-

Snezhinka is Russian for snowflake. Um, it sounds really hard to pronounce on Google translate…

The cat's name is Snowflake, too, cuz I said so. :)

Wow, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this chapter, but I unexpectedly love it! I feel like these characters are just pulling me along for the ride. I realize it may be a bit boring to read, however. :/ I don't know why I always feel that way.

I'm hoping the next few chapters don't annoy/frustrate you. They will round out the first third of the first arc. Some of the key plot elements have begun, and now those and the relationships will continue to develop. We'll be getting into what I think of as the middle part of this first arc, and I honestly have no idea how much I'm going to try to stuff in there. Then, the third and last portion of the arc when everything will blow up in their faces. :D

Haha, I just realized, Jack was happy to find the 30 sweatshirts because it meant he didn't have to go "shopping" again for a long time. Such a guy, right?