What is this? Where am I? Omigoogies could it bE. IS THIS AN UPDATE HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN HOLLA AT MY NONEXISTENT SANITY
*cries* i am SO sorry
Fortunately for the lot of them Pitch's people hadn't managed to destroy everything. A short search and a quick thought had Tooth rustling open the lone van left by the GYG employees that had fled. She found a few unbroken items that they could use; she assumed it was back up equipment in case something or other failed. She smiled idly to herself, 'Good thinking.'
North supplied the skates – whose mere presence brought Aster's mood swinging down low in mere seconds. "North please tell me we aren't - "
"SKATING!" the large Russian thundered happily as he tossed the skates at Aster. With a yelp the Aussie managed to catch them, muttering to himself under his breath. From what Jack could hear it mentioned 'bladed footwear of death'.
Oh so Kangaroo didn't like to skate did he?
This was going to be fun. And Jack liked fun.
"Today I am wanting both you and Jack to skate around pond. Natural. No cares or cameras. Just you and you skating, gliding – looking good. You can do no problem, da?" North asked, clapping Aster on the back roughly. He must have picked something up from Aster's disgruntled expression because his broad grin was replaced with a slightly worried look. "You do skate da, Bunny?"
"NO! I ruddy do not! I run. Not bloody skate. I like nice firm, solid ground. Not that ruddy slippery crap." Aster barked with a dark scowl on his face. Even as he complained though he tugged the skates roughly onto his feet, tightening the laces with forceful yanks. North's watched with a slightly befuddled expression on his face. "Should you be pulling laces so tightly?"
"No he shouldn't," Jack piped up as he walked over with a smug look on his face. He walked perfectly normal for a person that suddenly had sharp bits of metal balancing up him and holding him up from crashing face first into the pavement. "You keep tugging like that and you won't walk right, Kangaroo. You gotta let those big feet breath." To the surprise of both North and Aster he knelt down, slapping Aster's hands away as he took up the skate's laces, tying them with ease and not so much tension. "You can't walk right then you can't skate right and as much fun as it would be watching you fall everywhere I don't think a bloody nose is very attractive in modeling. Unless you're into that kind of thing."
"Oi – "Aster started shaking a finger at Jack, but was cut off with ease as the other stood up fluidly on his feet and grabbed said finger. "UP we go, Bun Bun!"
"Gyah! No! NOnonononono!" The typically stoic and reserved man was now a flailing and panicked mess as Jack dragged him, tripping and struggling to the ice. North watched all this with a thoughtful smile until he felt a light tap on his hand. He looked down to find Sandy shooting him a glance that was a mixture of amusement and suspicion. Deciding not to respond to the silent figure North waved a hand at him and headed to help Tooth, a deep chuckle rumbling in him.
Tooth grinned at the boys on the ice – Aster barely managing to stay upright on shaky legs while Jack would frolic and skate circles around him laughing. She gave a soft chuckle and snapped a few shots before turning to the others. This was turning out far better than she could have hoped – and North and Sandy were merely standing about gaping at Jack and Aster. "Hey! You DO remember we're doing a shoot right?" Both men jumped nervously and with sheepish grins scrambled to settle lighting and cameras.
To be honest there was not too much for North or Sandy to do – besides clean up fallen equipment with Baby, which neither seemed to remember unless prodded by Baby. Occasionally North would shout out some sort of random advice to the couple on the ice and Sandy would sign something furiously and call over either Jack or Aster to fix hair or whatever obscure thing that unsettled him. Tooth's prompting however seemed to finally have them on track…..
Sort of.
It soon became apparent that both North and Sandy had a competitive streak. A big dopey one the size of Russia. There was dashing and dodging of wiring and random tossing and catching with equipment. Or on occasion, snatching; one second Sandy had a lighting shade and the next he did not. Dancing away on surprisingly nimble feet was North, giving a happy little wave. "HAHA!"
Whenever Tooth called for something specific to aid her it became a race to see who could do it better and faster. At one point Sandy had managed to clamber on North's shoulders and, well - from behind her Tooth heard a loud bang followed by a crash. She let out a sigh and refused to turn around. They looked a pair of fools indeed, or at least they sounded as such. With a roll of violet eyes she settled her scope back upon the couple upon the ice.
Currently on the ice, Aster was sprawled out groaning. "Ruddiest worst – bloody ice." A sudden spray of said ice, which did not improve his mood, crashed onto his face. He shot into a seating position with a loud yelp – only to find himself nose to nose with the grinning Jack. "Having a little trouble there?"
That smarmy look on that upright little upstart really did nothing for his mood.
"Don't ya think ice skatin' is more of a girl thing?" Aster asked the teen bitingly.
Jack came to a slow halt in front of Aster and just regarded him quietly with a blank face. And then in a quick blur of motion he skidded in close to Aster with a wide taunting smirk, making the jerk back suddenly – almost costing him his recently acquainted balance. "You know who says that? Guys that are too chicken to skate."
"Oi! I'll give ya too chicken ta ska –ATE!" he barked slipping and sliding in attempts to right himself onto his feet. His efforts seemed to greatly amuse Jack who had slid out of his reach with simple ease, gliding his way backwards across the ice, that smirk never far from his face. Aster managed to shakily get himself into a crouched position, but from the wobbly way he held the pose he was sure it wouldn't last long. Think skating. Come on think skating. Ya stand up and move your feet. Like –like walking but – bloody death walking.
Inside his head he gave an internal scream watching Jack's movements; the teen made it look so easy and beautiful. Jack moved as if he were alive with something else entirely, breeze ruffling his hair as he smiled peacefully and just skated. Aster's mind wandered to the memory of his mystery skater, the only other person he'd seen manage to look that comfortable and at home on the iced pond's surface. The elegant and whimsical motions that exuded the feeling of freedom and joy and –
wait.
He barely felt the cold now as the gears finally clicked in place. There is no bloody way. The world seemed to slow down as he gaped wide-eyed as Jack gave a sudden flying leap from the ice and spun gracefully in midair before executing a perfect landing once more upon the ice, continuing on his way as if the feat were nothing.
It's HIM. It's bloody – strewth. It's HIM.
Unaware of the inner turmoil within the frozen Australian Jack returned, easing into a stop as he cocked his head amusedly at Aster. "What's this? Is the girly model impressed with the girly skating?"
His voice knocked Aster's clamoring head back into the moment and he scowled up at Jack, offering no response. Jack just laughed and thrust a hand down towards Aster, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Need some help there? Bunny?"
Aster gave a deep growl in his throat as his cheeks reddened, but grabbed the offered hand and allowed Jack to haul him unsteadily back on his feet. Once up as proper human beings should be he pinched the boy's arm, even as he clung to him. "Oi. That name isn't for ya ta use. It's friends only – got it?" For a split minute he could have sworn the playful light in Jack's eyes dimmed to something akin to pain before the boy looked away. His snowy, white hair falling over his face as he let out a hollow chuckle. Aster had only a flash of regret before Jack looked back up with that familiar smile back on his face. "Right! Right! Of course! Oh but wait – you aren't a bunny, you're a KANGAROO!" he crowed, leaping back in the nick of time as Aster made a flustered grab for him and nearly lost his balance again. But the large Aussie could face plant into the ice Jack caught him and steadied him once more.
Aster let out a huff gripping Jack's forearms as he still felt wobbly. He felt completely vulnerable here on the ice being held up by Frostbite of all people. Frostbite who, as he noted, looked completely at home and free as a bird here. His pale cheeks were flushed and the bright grin on his face was from a mixture of ice skating and laughing at Aster. Of course, he'd always looked beautiful and at home on the ice back when he was the mystery skater … he gulped hastily, realizing how close he was to the boy and straightened up. Any of his discomfort went completely unnoticed by Jack fortunately for him.
Or unfortunately.
"Seriously have you never gone skating before? Do they even have water where you're from in the Outback? Or winter?"
"Shaddup and help me – ruddy hell, it's slippery."
Jack scoffed grabbing Aster's rough hands and tugged. "Come on, it's easy. Running on ice. Move your feet!" Before the feeling of déjà vu could wash over Aster he was being hauled forward. Given no choice the taller male slowly moved his feet in tiny unsure steps following Jack. It took everything in Jack's power not to start laughing again as he took in the sight of his 'pupil'. Aster's face was fired up with complete concentration with his eyes fixated on his feet and his tongue sticking out. That was how it went for quite a while; the two of them skating around the lake's icy transparent surface. Jack towed Aster along, occasionally letting go to skate around the Aussie but always coming back in the nick of time to catch him.
At some point or other Tooth motioned for the two to come off the ice for a cocoa break – apparently North's car was capable of this amazing feat. Cars should do this more, this was a valuable trait. Or at least Jack thought so.
As he skated over to Tooth's side he let Aster go….. which might have been a bad idea as momentum decided to carry the hollering Aussie away at a breakneck pace until he crashed into the snow on a pile of North and Sandy. Jack gave a small wince, chuckling at the moans. Hey, they were alive and breathing and he was certain still pretty enough.
Tooth herself seemed far different from the defeated woman of before; she was bright and alert, eyes glimmering with excitement. She had a large grin adorning her face as Jack swished up beside her. She reminded him of an extremely excited cockatiel he'd seen on Youtube with Jamie once. A frenzy of action.
"Oh! Hi Jack! Isn't this – isn't this just – yiPES!" In her enthusiasm she crashed blindly into a camera, fumbling with it but managing a smooth save before it crashed into the ground. Jack let out a small laugh. "Whoops! Ehehh, I'm running on such a rush right now! And one NOT involved with caffeine. I haven't been this jittery and happy in a long time!" Tooth squeaked clapping her hands a little.
"You gonna be okay there Tooth?"
"Oh I'm fine! Fine, super fine! I just – I haven't done a shoot like this in years. Just me and a small crew or by myself. Crazy nostalgia!" she laughed, waving her arms about.
"How long is awhile exactly?" Now she really did remind him of a crazy bird, a happy free for the first time in years. Hide the peanut butter. Or whatever escaped birds ate.
"Ah…. Give or take about…forever. Ooh! I have to go find Baby Tooth! Go get that cocoa, Shiny Teeth!" she flew off, leaving a bemused Jack in her wake. He really was gonna have to ask her about the teeth thing sometime.
Along with the cocoa North had supplied the lot of them with cookies. Jack gave the treats a cautious sniff remembering the last time he'd seen them and who they came from. Insane Russian pirate cookies, can't be too careful.
They were freaking delicious.
And he ate 15 before Tooth managed to catch him and physically hold him back. In the background were Sandy, North and Aster laughing up a storm as Tooth fretted worriedly over Jack's shiny teeth, even going so far as to pry his mouth open. North finally felt the grace to intervene on Jack's behalf which was highly appreciated as Jack's jaw felt like it had been stretched to its maximum length. Something that should not be done.
"TOOTH. FINGERS OUT OF MOUTH! I think Jack is having enough now eh?"
"Ah! Right… ehehe, they are lovely teeth Jack you have to take good care of them." Tooth smiled nervously with one last longing look at his mouth. Touching, yet creepy. Over Tooth's should he could see Baby giving him a discomfited smile before teetering off somewhere. He shook his head, still grinning broadly. As crazy as Tooth was getting on his face just to look at his teeth…..it was almost nice having someone concerned over him, over a small matter like his teeth. Like the mother that nags you to brush your teeth every night. Except he never had that.
Jack's eyes roamed over the others – North and Sandy animatedly conversing or whatever it was you did when only one person spoke and the other managed to gesticulate loudly. Tooth and Baby muttering and sharing ideas as they checked and cleaned lenses on the cameras, the two sisters cheerful and excited. And then there was Aster sitting quietly just watching the pond, his mind off somewhere in another time or place. Quite the interesting people I've got myself in with. Fancy Stripper Kangaroo, Bird Sisters, a Russian pirate and…. Jack paused and blinked at Sandy. He hadn't thought to much but if he did think of a sort of nick name for him…. Sleepy Syrup. Now I want waffles snappit.
And yet all of this…. For the first time in forever his brain seemed to be serious and quiet. A type of calm it never had. It wasn't the sadness he got occasionally when he was home alone in his glittery cramped apartment though. It was happiness. He blinked in surprise, mid slurp of his cocoa. He was really happy with these insane people, even if he had been blackmailed into this job, even if they wanted naked pictu- dontthinkaboutthatStripperFrost- ahem. He was seen and things were going swell.
The rest of the break was filled with North and Bunny fighting over holiday supremacy. Easter vs Christmas. Which was better? The ultimate showdown. Jack smirked into his coffee as he watched the pair square off with large grins on their faces as they argued. You know….. they could be Santa or the Easter Bunny if he thought about it.
If Santa were a frigging Russian pirate and the Easter Bunny was rough good looking Aussie.
Break ended with Sandy finally kicking them both apart with silent forcefulness that surprised Jack. He was a little golden syrup storm. So once again it was back to the ice with Jack and Aster –the latter grumbling and griping on about the cold and ice.
"Hey Bun Bun bet I can skate faster than you can run."
"Ya can bloody well try ya scamp. Ya don't wanna race me."
"Oh but I do, Cottontail."
Much laughter was had in the expense of the cursing and blustering Aussie as he literally attempted to run on the ice after Jack. Until Jack took pity on him and was helping him skate more smoothly. They held hands, shot jokes back and forth at each other.
And from her vantage point behind a camera lens Tooth could have sworn Aster was smiling wide and bright for the first time in what must have been forever.
The feeling of gliding across the ice with the brisk coolness of a breeze in their faces, the smooth swooshing of their blades and the occasional shouts of triumph from Aster accompanied by Jack's laughs - all of this wiped out any remnants of unease left by Pitch. Together on the ice Aster and Jack seemed to have forgotten everything – the shoot, the others, the world. This couple here and now was a huge difference to the angry pair that had squared off back at GYG.
So of course it is at moments like this when plot shake and bakes happen.
A small figure stood on the far side of the pond, away from the camera and crew. Just staring wide eyed with a gap toothed expression.
"JACK! You're on the ice!"
Cuz Jamie had to come in again of course. But what is his reaction? What is going to happen with Pitch? What is gonna happen to Sandy *sobs heard in the distance* aND WILL I UPDATE THIS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND QUICKLY
tune in hopefully sooner than last time