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 Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:16 am
the pen is mightier
Her hand slips from his arm, but it gently rejoins with Jack in between his fingers. She remembers when he took her hand in the infirmary and wonders if it will be as immense a comfort for him as it was for her.
"I know," she informs him, but to which part she's agreeing to is a mystery. "Stop blubberin' or I'll give ya somethin' to blubber about," she said with a grin, worriedly touching the blotch on her chest, and then regretting it because she's made it itch again. God she hates war wounds.
"Let's talk about something else, yeah?" Her voice is calm and she uses a thumb to gently stroke down the surface of his skin. "You excited for Christmas?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:18 am
checking in
Whatever they had given Jack was clearly strong stuff. Ian's worried expression didn't change, and he absently tugged at the sleeve of his shirt, pulling the black fabric down over his fingers. "Yes, well," he said, trying to sound lighthearted. "Obviously he missed the memo."
There was a pause as he listened; the dismissal of his concern went mostly unnoticed, since that was typical Jack. "If you mean my wedding, then yes, still planning it," said Ian, a touch dryly. "But we can talk about me later, you said you fought a dragon? Like...a real dragon?"
There was another beat of silence, and then he asked cautiously, "Are you sure you're okay? You sound kind of...off."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:37 am
the pen is mightier
His fingers can't get to hers fast enough, and she's met with a sweaty and grateful grasp.
He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly as his eyes close. "Chrissmiss? Mmph..." His face wrinkles with distaste. "Overrated holiday. Home've fruitcake n' ugly sweaters n' awkward family dinners. Not worth it without snow. I miss the snow. Makes it softer."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:56 am
checking in"I," he declared in a louder voice, eyes shifting from side to side, "am perfectly fine. Thank you for asking, Ian, friend of insane patience and and a font of maternal wisdom. You are a beautiful shining unicorn and your husband is a swan of absolute grace." Then he leaned in and gave Ian a big, deliberate wink, pressing a finger to his lips. "I might've upped the dose when no-one was looking," Jack whispered with a rebellious grin. "Shhhhshshshsh. It's good s**t. I can hook you up if you want. Painkillers: best wedding gift ever, am I right?" He seemed to have missed the part about the dragon.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:06 am
the pen is mightier
Chel made a quick "oh god gross" cringe at how sweaty Jack's hands were, but she didn't release her grip and she didn't let him know.
"Yer a real scrooge mcduck. I dunno why I was expectin' somethin' different." She laughed her orange laugh and said, "Well f'you don't like Christmas I guess I'll just give your present to someone else..."
With her free hand she unraveled the candycane that had been for Jack and stuck it in her mouth. She paused for a moment or two, then took it out for a beat. "Heard a few years ago there was a freak blizzard here for the whole month. Y'could get lucky."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:07 am
((Oh god double post sorry))
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:11 am
checking in
He definitely had too much medicine. Or something. Ian managed a small smile, because in spite of the fact that Jack was clearly flying as high as a kite, he had used the "f" word in a manner that wasn't entirely sarcastic.
(Or maybe it was, and Ian just was overlooking that.)
"Yes, thank you for your compliments, Jack ******** Hawthorn," he said in mild amusement. "That's me, shining unicorn and my absolute graceful swan is my future husband, aren't you just absolutely fortunate to be our friend. A true delight to mankind."
Aha, went his brain, though what registered on Ian's face was slight exasperation. "No, no, that's okay," he said quickly, waving a hand. "I think I'd like to remember my wedding and what follows, thanks."
He squinted at him for a moment longer and then his face relaxed a little, though there was still some tenseness. "I was really ******** worried about you, for serious," said Ian, resting his head against one hand, leaning his elbow on the armrest of his chair. "Sorry I wasn't able to get here before this, I couldn't get away, but when I heard what had happened to you, and saw the report..."
He trailed off with a sigh. "Weren't you the one telling me to be more careful? Practice what you preach, Hawthorn," Ian added, lightly teasing, because it was easier to be joking than to be serious, and maybe that was what Jack was doing.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:46 am
the pen is mightier
"Nu-uh. Chrissmiss sucks," he argued. "Makes you get s**t for people. 'Get in the holiday spirit. Give to others.' S'bullshit. Everyone makes nice at the end've the year n' then goes back t'being dicks the rest 'cause they did their due. Awkward presents n' lack of presents n' 'people less fortunate than you.'" Jack made a grumbling noise just talking about it.
"Would be nice if we had a big blizzard, though. Everyone at each other's throats by candlelight?" He snorted softly. "Sounds good. Merry Christmas, assholes. Halloween's better."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:00 am
checking in
"Haaaaaah~" It was hard to tell which part he was snickering at; maybe just at Ian in general. "I was careful," Jack insisted. "I Jurassic Party'd n' lived! In ********' China! Where's my medal?"
He didn't even get a t-shirt for it. In fact, his clothes had gotten seriously wrecked. Lame.
He reached out and fumbled before he managed to pat Ian's arm. "S'whatever, man. You got a life outside me. It hurts, but I get it." More patting. "I get it. You choose a swan over me. I get it. Goooood, you stupid b*****d," Jack said with a laugh and then a few coughs. He joked, but that was what always happened in those visions: a reminder of bias and preference.
"Hey--Hey while you're here, do....like, do Christmas? 'Cause I don't know what s**t t'get you n' ******** class="quote">kuroopu
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:18 pm
the pen is mightier
"Is there anything you can't ruin Jack Hawthorn?" It's worded like an insult, but it's said like a compliment, a purr and an awestruck statement all into one. She liked the way Jack's name curls around her tongue, she always has.
She let him ramble while she turns her candycane into a dagger (is there any other way to eat one?). Eventually she spoke up, "Yer just sayin' that 'cause it's yer birthday."
Then she got a look in her eyes that indicated she was somewhere else. "I always liked Christmas. Chris always said it was his holiday, 'cause his name was in it see. But it was nice gettin' everyone together without them askin' why my hair was purple 'cause me and Chris would just run upstairs and hide in his room or somethin'." She looked back at Jack and explained, "Christmas was always at his house 'cause it was bigger."
Chel was more curious about why Jack hated Christmas (she got the feeling that there was more to it than being a scrooge), but she also didn't want to send him into another flurry of bad feelings. "Whatcha doin' for Christmas this year?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:43 pm
the pen is mightier
He hummed thoughtfully, as if actually considering the question, and for a moment was pleased with the compliment. Then it faded away as Chel gave her opinion on the matter, one eye cautiously opening to watch her and her peppermint dagger craft. The hum this time was to show he had listened, but he didn't know what to say about it. He had been an only child in an upbringing where most of the family was out of the country and where there seemed to be this slight disconnect between him and his parents and only a distant and mutually snarky relationship with his grandmother: he didn't understand what it meant to find solidarity in blood, let alone in other people.
Also, Chris was a stupid d**k who had kicked him while he was down. So there was that.
The third noise was noncommittal followed by a shrug. Christmas plans? Probably "trying not to die." Booze. Barbara. Maybe try contacting Hanna again. He didn't know. He could barely think about what was going on now, let alone what was going to happen in the future.
"S'not...'cause it's m'birthday," Jack said after a while, struggling for the words. "It's just...S'in-trin-si-ca-lly better. You can be anything...You can pretend it isn't you when it is."
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:51 pm
the pen is mightier
Chel would have argued that she liked Christmas better because you could be you and people were forced to like it out of holiday politeness, but she was quiet. Again, there was an underlying story forming and she would wait for Jack to tell it to her himself.
Instead she said, "Well if you ain't doin' anything, wanna spend it with me?" She squeezed his hand to make her own courage. "We could marathon Lord of the Rings like we keep sayin'." Her tone was all too hopeful.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:54 pm
checking in
"That is not," said Ian delicately, "being careful. And I'll get you your medal when you're lucid enough to actually appreciate it, since right now you're kind of just like, you know, all over the place. But yes, you did live," he added, with a slight smile. "Congratulations on your living."
A roll of his eyes accompanied the mildly exasperated tone of voice as Ian said, "Yes, sorry for getting married to the love of my life, how terribly selfish of me." A pause, and then he added, "But to be fair, there is no choosing people over other people, Jack, at least not for me. Shy is my heart and soul, but you're still one of my best friends."
The abrupt change of topic made him blink a little. Ian relaxed slightly, leaning back. "Get me a stuffed swan," he said, in a deadpan voice - and then, just in case Jack remembered the conversation and took it too seriously - "No, no, I'm joking, joking."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Christmas is fun for me, but only because I get to give people things. I like that part."
Ian's eyebrows drew together. "Why? Do you not like it?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:48 pm
the pen is mightier
"Mm..." Jack was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping as he thought. He didn't understand the significance of her squeeze but returned it; the extra pressure felt strangely nice despite his soreness. "Well...Think we can w'thout gettin' into s**t?" he asked. "S'a joke, but also f'serious. N' what about Chris—Axten?" he corrected himself. Chel had just talked about how much the holiday meant to him after all.
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:58 pm
the pen is mightier
"Don't think I could ever make that promise with you at the helm Jackles," she said (both serious and as a joke, same as him). "But I'd do my best."
Chris was indeed a factor that Chel hadn't considered. "Well ... we spent the last few Christmas' apart ... I can party it up with him in the morning and you can come over later that day?" Chel was ecstatic that there hadn't been a no, so she was willing to work around her barriers.
Her heart sank as she realized there was another unconsidered factor. "But ... what about Hanna?"
What about Hanna indeed.
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