"Oh my God…" Jack stared wide eyed at the cruise ship in front of him, North chuckling as he slapped a wide brimmed hat on the winter spirit. The Flying Dutchman was like NONE of the stories, a rickety old death trap. It was a world class cruise liner, it's ghostly crew humming happily and welcoming the spirits on vacation. Jack jumped as a black band was secured to his wrist, and nearly screamed as suddenly the hot, dry air turned moist and cool. He stared dumbly at his wrist, the black band like a strange second skin.
"Cool…" he chuckled, before mentally slapping himself for the pun. He coughed as North clapped a hand on his back, the crew taking their luggage and escorting them up the gangplank and to their respective rooms. Bunny couldn't help but watch in amusement as Jack whipped his head around, staring in wonder at the pristine white walls, regal carpets and swarms upon swarms of new faces. Really, the imp looked a bit overwhelmed.
"See Jack, this s going to be fun!" chattered Tooth, fluttering about as the guardians moved forward. "We'll play in the pool, sing some Karaoke-"
"Remind me to get some ear plugs." Snorted Aster. The ghosts led them through the halls, up a flight of stairs and finally to their rooms. Jack was handed a room key with the number 005 as a ghost opened the Door to North's suite. The entire room was Christmas themed, as if someone had taken a cut out of Santoff Claussen and deposited it on the ship. A roaring fire place was in the corner by huge windows. Chuckling North took his room key and entered.
"Meet at pool, ja?" Tooth nodded as the ghost shut the door and moved to the next room. Inside was a royal blue and gold Arabian set up, in lieu of a bed a mere pile of different sized pillows, a similar den to North's down a few steps, again with a big window. Sandy silently thanked the ghost and retreated to get settled. The next door, room 003, was definitely Tooth's with it's nest like bed and multitudes of colors. There were rainbow curtains, the entire wall leading out to sea a big set of windows, and a matching fire place and chairs in the lowered den like North and Sandy. Room 004 was opened to reveal grassy floor, the furniture made of carved wood or stone. Moss somehow clung to the walls and stones, a large circular window with a large sitting space in place of the sill. The lowered den had the similar bench idea, the soft benches round the fire place, curving with the walls. Finally the ghost opened up room 005.
"Wow…" The room had the same layout as the others, but everything in the room was a hue of blue, white or silver. The bed was big, covered by a fluffy white duvet set that reminded him of fresh snow. The carpet was dark blue with intricate frost patterns, the walls a very light blue with snowflakes. The room had a modern feel , and a window as big as Tooth's with navy blue curtains trimmed with silver. He turned as the door clicked, the ghost shutting him in. Jack took a moment to enjoy the room, flopping on the bed before opening his suitcase. North wanted to meet at the pool, so he had to have some kind of swim trunks in the case. Tooth said she spent hours packing his things in advance. His fingers brushed the smooth swimsuit fabric and he smiled, pulling it out. He stared at the garments for a moment before Tooth zoomed in, the ghost snatching back his skeleton (Pun not intended) key from the hyperactive fairy.
"Come on, get changed!" he said, hands on her hips. Jack took a moment to stare in shock at featherless Tooth, save for the plumage on her head, wearing instead a peacock patterned bikini. Jack looked back at what she packed and shook his head.
"NOT happening." He shivered at the ominous hum of thousands of wings, an army of BabyTeeth forming behind her. Jack gulped as they slowly made their way forward, shutting the door behind them. The crew members jumped as the sound of a violent fight broke out behind the doors, the squeaks of little fairies and yells of a winter spirit and a bigger fairy centering around 'it'. Wordlessly it was agreed upon to ignore it, walking along as they had before, trying to tune out the squeaks, yells and screams.
ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROTG-ROT-ROTG
Aster glared at the dripping Cossack in front of him, blocking his view of the receding coast line and light as he tried to sketch, contently relaxing poolside with carrot juice with a shot of vodka, enjoying the relative peace before everybody began hitting the bar.
"Not getting in the pool mate." He snorted. "Now move yer arse. Yer blocking my subject." North chuckled, seemingly unbothered by the fact plenty were staring at his gingerbread man print swim trunks and candy cane striped t-shirt.
"Come Bunny!" insisted North. "What the point of pool if one does not enjoy?"
"I AM enjoying myself." Huffed the Pooka. "Dry, warm and NOT getting my tail frozen by Frostbite!" Sandy, sitting on a sand beach chair sipping some kind of golden drink flashed a snowflake, a tooth and a question mark above his head.
"Yes, where Jack and Tooth?" puzzled North. Sandy dropped his cup, sand going wild above his head as he stared behind North.
"What's got yer sand in a twist?" asked Aster as North turned. Tooth was flying towards them, dragging an also flying Jack behind her, his cheeks violet with embarrassment. North chuckled, saying something in Russian as Aster looked around him. He congratulated himself for keeping his ears still and face expressionless. Tooth had, by some miracle, forced Jack into tight navy blue denim short shorts and an equally tight baby blue tank top with narrow straps and silver and white snowflakes made of swim suit material. Aster bit back a low growl as a few spirits stared at Jack, evaluating him and a few undressing him with their eyes. Not that it was difficult. The little number Tooth picked out left very little to the imagination, revealing miles of snow white skin, clinging to the eternal teen's slim figure and revealing his supple legs and-
HOLD IT! Pull yerself together Aster! The Pooka quickly took a healthy swing of his drink, thankfully unnoticed by Jack as Tooth paraded him about.
"You look so CUTE!" she squealed, clapping happily as her mini fairies swooned. Jack squirmed uncomfortably, the dark violet getting a bit deeper on his cheeks. Tooth turned to Bunny with a knowing smirk. That evil little sheila…
"So?" she said. "How does he look?" Sandy nodded and gave a thumbs up. North smiled and pulled out a short sleeved, thin hoodie and tossed it at Jack.
"Look good, but more comfortable, ja?" Jack nodded gratefully and pulled it on, the hoodie still tight but not nearly as much as the swim top and the hood provided much more familiarity to the winter spirit. Jack finally broke away from Tooth and slipped onto the beach chair next to Bunny.
"Is she ALWAYS like this?" sighed Jack.
"Only when she's got a new fashion victim." Snorted Aster, sneaking a glance at Jack. His ears went flat as he examined the boy, following the contours of his body and glimmering, frosty skin-
Damn it! SHUT UP BRAIN!
Jack relaxed into the chair, hands behind his head. He had just closed his eyes when a bottle hit him upside the head.
"Ow! What the Hell Kangaroo?!" Jack looked at the sunscreen bottle in his hands, then to the Pooka.
"I'm not dealing with ya when yer red as a bloody lobster ya dill." Snorted Aster. "Now shut yer gob and put it on." Jack smiled devilishly, leaning over to the Pooka.
"Awe, is Cotton tail WORRIED about little old me?" Aster flicked him in the forehead, sending him back, with a growl.
"Ya got roos loose in the top paddock." He snorted. Jack rolled his eyes and popped the cap on the sunscreen. Aster didn't miss a few practically drooling as Jack put a little dot of sunscreen on his thigh and rubbed it in obliviously. He paused a moment, then proceeded to wriggle out of his cover. Aster sputtered, choking a bit on his drink.
"O-Oi! What are ya-"
"In case I take it off later." Shrugged Jack. "Hey, can you get my back?" Oh, how Aster wanted to. But, sadly, the fur on his paws would pick it up like a matted sponge.
"Fur, mate." He said, moving a paw. "That stuff ain't bunny friendly." Jack, taking the refusal as I was, a polite pass, and proceeded to attempt to reach his back, and surprisingly was met with success. Bunny mentally hit himself for enjoying his flexibility when a squeak came from the other side of the pool. His eyes narrowed as the two biggest annoyances (at least in his book) of the spirit world sent spirits careening on a disguised slip and slide into the pool, laughing maniacally all the while. Jack looked on with curiosity. North lumbered over, talking with Tooth, when his foot hit the slip and slide, sending him down the deck and into the pool. Jack cracked up, seeing North resurface with a look of shock on his face. Apparently April Fool and Hallow heard, because they were staring intently in their direction, a grin spreading on both the prankster's faces.
Oh HELL no. Aster pointedly put his sketch book down, downed his drink and got up, standing between Jack and Hallow and Fool's gaze.
"Oh come on Bun-Bun, you have to admit that WAS funny." Giggled Jack.
"Annoying, but not the point." Huffed Aster. "Come on. Sooner or later ya got to meet other spirits, so lets go. Lets deal with it while I still have the patience to deal with ya."
"Hey!" said Jack, jumping up and floating at eye level with Aster.
Tooth fluttered over North, Sandy dipping his shades as the two stared each other down.
"MiM they're in it deep!" sighed Tooth, cocking her head. "The sexual tension is so thick you can almost SEE it! Why can't they hurry up and screw each other's brains out already?!"
"Love needs to grow and blossom on it's own darling, or it won't survive in the world." A red haired male with white wings sat on the edge of the pool, a red cocktail with a little heart shaped strawberry dunked in chocolate impaled on the edge in his hand.
"CUPID!" Tooth glommed the cherub, the other spirit expertly saving his beverage from a tumble as Tooth hugged him and squealed. Cupid patted her shoulder.
"Lovely to see you too Tooth darling." He said, smiling. "Now, what makes you so impatient about love? Tell the love guru all about it."
"Jack Frost and Bunny!" she sighed. "Jack's our new Guardian, and he and Bunny are ALWAYS fighting but it's so OBVIOUS they want each other! I mean, LOOK!" Cupid stared at the bickering pair a moment before smiling.
"Ah, Jack Frost…" he chuckled. "I must remember to thank him. Winter, after all IS the season of love. The moonlit walks in the sparkling snow, ice skating, cuddled together in front of the fire, slipping on the ice and colliding with your soul mate; ah, sweet l'amore."
"Yeah, but what about them?!" asked Tooth. "It's so frustrating!" Cupid took a sip of his drink and his red eyes began to glow with a pink aura.
"Well, you ARE correct in one aspect." Said Cupid. "There IS a problem. Bunnymund KNOWS he's in love with Frost, but is too stubborn to admit it. Jack, on the other hand, is also attracted to the fur ball, but doesn't realize he's in love. Idiots."
"What do we do?!" fretted Tooth. "I mean…it's love, Cupid! LOVE! And Aster needs someone to love and Jack needs to BE loved, and they are NOT making any progress! Augh! Those two…they're more frustrating than the Baby Teeth after raiding North's kitchen for those wretched, evil, sugary, sinfully delicious, tooth-rotting abominations he calls cookies!" Cupid patted her hand as Tooth caught her breath from her outburst.
"You are absolutely right Toothie darling." He said. "But…my arrows cannot fix this one. No, this is a delicate operation. It must be handled lightly. Drastic measures now could shatter our hopes, dear. Or explode into a passionate mess across the buffet table the likes of which no human pornography has ever portrayed. Hopefully the later. But, I am confident things will have progressed by the end of the week. Nobody can resist the pull of love." Tooth grabbed his face.
"So you'll help?!"
"Wait, I did not say-"
"Okay, we need to get them alone at dinner. Ooh! Should we make sure they have some roses on the table and oh we need candles! And chocolates! Sugar-free chocolates!" Cupid sighed as Tooth fluttered about, Jack and Bunny still tossing banter back and forth. He chuckled before taking another drink, smiling at the invisible to all but him red thread connecting their hearts and the two other spirit's hearts light with attraction to the fiery winter spirit.
"Been a while since I got to play match maker personally." He chuckled, setting down his drink and cracking his fingers. "THIS is going to be entertaining."