Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D For some strange reason, I thought I was behind on my writing again, so I wasn't going to post a chapter today, but then I realized I still had several prewritten chapters so...yeah. That explains why I'm updating late. XD
I don't really have anything else to say...so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! XD
~ XXX ~
Of Paint and Easles
Jack loved to color
It didn't matter what he used
A crayon or pencil
Charcoal or paint tubes
So Aster happily showed him
What he did for a living
And that was the work of painting
...
Jack's laughter rang through the Warren as rode on Aster's back through the Warren. He clung to the Pooka's shirt, a bright smile on his face as the rushing air ruffled his hair and ears. He squealed when Aster lept over a patch of flowers, continuing the ride through his luscious green glade. The Warren was huge, and Jack wanted to explore all of it, but he was only upon Aster's back per request.
Both Sandy and Tooth had shown Jack their job life, and now, it was Aster's turn. The Pooka didn't think his work was too interesting, but he would try to make it seem appealing to Jack. The winter child seemed excited, though, when North dropped him off at his cottage. And he was just about to take Jack into his studio when the winter child asked if he could give him a ride through the Warren.
Aster couldn't say no (What? Don't tell me you'd deny the big, blue, begging blue eyes of a six-year-old boy, who was already known for getting what he wanted when he pulled such a trick). He took Jack below his cottage and into the Warren's spring environment. He allowed him to climb on his back, and Aster told the young snow sprite to hold on tight as he bas he bounded through the Warren.
It had been a while since Aster had just ran. He had done plenty of running in the past when escaping the eyes of humans, but here, with Jack on his back, he feared not of oncoming enemies or was bothered by the worries of being hunted. He felt as free as bird, and his paws beat against the ground in tandem with his heart. A steady, strong beat pulsed through his hands to his tail. The grass waved as he ran by. Eggs tottled out of their path. The atmosphere become one green blur, and all Aster thought of was where to go next
"Faster, Bunny, faster!" Jack cried. Aster laughed, and he increased his speed. Riding on a Pooka's back was a rare and enjoyable experience. It was similar to riding a horse, but much, much more fun.
They reached one of the many paint rivers that bubbled through the green grass. It was here that Aster stopped, and Jack slipped off his back. The tall rabbit flopped in the grass, breathing heavily. He felt tired, but exhilaration still pumped through his veins. That had been a whirlwind of a ride. A faint smile graced Aster's face; he needed to make this a daily activity.
Since he had only been the rider, Jack wasn't at all tired. And he didn't seem to take notice of how winded Aster seemed. He hovered over him, a bright grin on his face. "Bunny! Can we go again?" he asked.
Aster laughed and sat up. "Frostbite, I need a breather. Besides, I still have ta show ya what I do."
Jack suddenly remembered why he was there in the first place. "Oh! I forgot about that…Breathe faster!"
Aster chuckled, and once he caught his breath, he lifted Jack into his arms and carried him out of the Warrren. They climbed up through the trapdoor under the stairs, and Aster closed it behind him. He set Jack down, and the little boy followed him to his painting studio. He had been there many times before, but Jack was still awed by the multitude of paintings and art materials that stocked the tables and walls. The large window gave a view of a beautiful backyard. Jack pressed his fingers against the glass, a light frost spiraling from his fingertips. Outside looked like a winter wonderland, but Aster's Warren was blessed with eternal spring. Jack wondered how it never got cold down there Probably because it's way underground, he deemed to himself.
"Alright, mate. Let's get this started," said Aster. Jack turned around and walked over to Aster, giving him his attention. "As ya already know, I'm a painter. People ask me ta paint things fer them, and then I sell 'em. It's not the most interesting of jobs, I know, but at least I enjoy what I'm doin'."
"I think it's a great job," complimented Jack. He had seen Aster's work before, and he deeply admired them. There was so much thought and detail put into every brushstroke. And the heart that was put into each of Aster's paintings made them even more pleasant to gaze upon. To Jack, Aster was the best painter in the whole wide world. The Pooka was touched by his comment.
Jack looked at the illustrations that hung on the wall, and he asked, "Do you ever paint people? Or animals?"
Aster shrugged. "Ehh…sometimes. It really depends. Landscapes are my specialty, but if I'm asked to draw a portrait, I might. And I may sketch people if I feel like it. But I prefer capturin' things in nature. I feel like I have a bit more freedom that way. Ya aren't limited, and ya can add multiple things in one place like plants or animals. See?"
Aster showed Jack the current piece he was working on, and the winter child studied it. It was winter outside, but in Aster's painting, it was a lovely summer's day in the middle of a deep wood. Sunlight spilled through the thick canopy of leaves on the trees and birds were positioned on their branches. A sparkling, pouring waterfall fell into the pond that sat in an open area of the scene. Deer and a few other woodland animals surrounded it, drinking its cool liquid.
"Whoa," remarked Jack. "It looks real."
"It's all in the strokes and blendin'," said Aster. "Ya don't have ta make things perfect, though. Less is more when it comes ta art, and even the most basic of brushstrokes can make a difference."
"I wanna try and paint something!" Jack chirped. Everything Aster was telling him was extremely fascinating to him, and Jack wanted to make an art piece just as fantastic as his.
"I can let ya borrow my paints," said Aster. He was thoroughly curious about what Jack would paint. The winter child had quite an active imagination, and he liked to doodle with crayons and pencils when he could. He and Katherine had recently made an entire book filled with colorful drawings. Aster saw potential in the boy, so, he prepared a pallet of paint, pulled out a piece of painting paper, and a cup of water. It took Aster some time to find a suitable brush for Jack, so he settled on the one that he used to make medium-sized details in his paintings.
"This is one of my favorite brushes, so be careful with it," said Aster, handing the utensil to the boy. Jack nodded, and he took the dark green brush out of Aster's paw and dunked it into the water, and loaded it with paint. Before the brush hit the paper, Aster told him to wait. The Pooka pulled out a small apron and placed it over Jack, tying it securely around his small form.
"There. Now ya won't get any paint on ya," Aster said, satisfied. Jack then began to paint, making large sweeps with his brush. As Jack worked on his painting, Aster turned to work on his. It was almost done, and it only needed a few more details before it was ready to be sold. Aster was so lost in his own painting, that he didn't hear Jack when first announced he was done.
The Pooka's ear twitched. "Done? Already?" he asked, surprised.
Jack nodded. "Uh-huh! Come and see!"
Aster stood up and walked over, standing over the painting that Jack had made. He had attempted to paint the winter view out the window. He used a light grey for the snow and a pale blue for the sky. There were trees in the background of his painting, just like the one that stood outside, and a flurry of clouds specked the sky. Jack's brushstrokes were sloppy and childish, but the piece was still unique in its own way.
"Nice job, mate," said Aster. "I like what ya did with the clouds there."
Jack smiled briefly, but then he sighed. "I wanna make something like your paintings. It doesn't look as great as yours."
"It takes a lot of time ta get ta the level I'm at. But if ya keep practicin', ya'll improve." Aster smirked. "Even I wasn't as good of an artist compared to now back then."
Jack looked at his painting thoughtfully and hummed. After a moment of silence, he asked, "So…what's your special job?"
Aster tilted his head. "'Special' job?"
"Toothy works as a dentist, Sandy patrols, and North works in the Workshop. But Toothy also collects teeth and leaves coins, Sandy gives sweet dreams, and North delivers toys on Christmas to other children sometimes," said Jack. "You paint, but what's your special job?"
Aster thought for a moment. "I…don't have one, mate."
Now it was Jack's turn to tilt his head in confusion. "You don't? Why?"
"I'm just a painter," said Aster. "Well…a Guardian too. But nothin' much has happened in that field yet other than meetings and exchange of information."
"Oh," said Jack. Aster hoped he hadn't disappointed him. Suddenly, the winter child sat upright and said, "I'm gonna find something special for you to do!"
"Something special, eh?" said Aster with a small smile. "I'm already content as a painter, Snowflake. But…what did ya have in mind?"
"Uh…" Jack thought for a bit before replaying. "You could…um…" his blue eyes brightened with an idea. "Eggs! You could do something with your eggs!"
"My eggs?" asked Aster, bewildered.
"Your eggs!" Jack repeated, his idea piecing together like a puzzle. "You could decorate eggs, like you already do, and hide them for kids to find. Maybe you could find a way to even hide your chocolate inside of them! That way you don't have to feed it all to me, and Toothy won't get mad."
Aster chuckled at both Jack's statement and the seemingly bizarre idea. "And when would I do all that, mate? I still have ta balance my other work."
"You could do it on Easter!" chirped Jack. "Once a year so you're still able to do your other things too!" The winter child gasped. "And that fits perfectly! The title is your name anyway!"
Easter…E. Aster…Aster blinked. "Crikey…how come I didn't notice that before?"
Jack laughed. "See? It's a perfect plan! It has everything you like, and you're helping the kids just like Toothy, Sandy, and North."
Now that Aster thought about it…the idea was rather fascinating. Easter was a holiday celebrated amongst the Lunslrunians. It was a day to commemorate the season of spring, as well as remember the sacrifices made to build the Tsardom they knew. It was an especially important holiday for the Pookas, who were bound to Earth and nature. Easter was about new beginnings, new life, and new hopes. They held huge celebrations, ones that lasted two weeks even after the holiday was over—the way they celebrated is very similar to what's known today as New Year's. Aster remembered the festivities fondly; they were the few childhood memories that he allowed himself to reminisce.
And the way Jack explained the little holiday…it sounded as if it were an amalgamation of North, Tooth, and Sandy's—to quote the snow sprite—"special" jobs. As a Guardian of Childhood, Aster did want to further help the children. Everyone in Santoff Claussen knew of his true identity, but he hadn't put himself out there as much since then. Perhaps this could be a way to further push him out of his comfort zone, something that he only thought of doing.
"I think I might give it a try," said Aster at long last. Jack grinned.
"I'd be happy to help!" said Jack. The Pooka smiled and ruffled his hair.
"And I'd very much appreciate it, Frosty," he said. Jack giggled, and it was then Aster noticed that his clothes were covered in paint despite the apron's protection. Aster's eyes widened, and he shook his head, a laugh slipping past his lips.
"Let's get ya cleaned up before North comes back," said Aster. "We don't want ta return ya ta him lookin' like a rainbow."
Jack looked down at himself and shrugged. "I think I look like a work of art," he said.
Aster laughed once again.
Author's Note: Jackie zee artieest. X3
And a little fun fact...did you guys know that Jack invented Bunny's holiday? Well, the whole hiding eggs and chocolate thing. XD This is mentioned in book five of the Guardians of Childhood series, so I kind of wanted to throw in a minor book reference for this chapter. =D I am planning on writing a one-shot in which Jack proposes the idea to Bunny in GOC. =3 I'm not sure when I'm going to write it though (hopefully not in six months, AHAHAHA- XD)
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one! ^u^
Until the next chapter!
~BeyondTheMoon1203
