Video 4: Did he sign up for this camping trip? [Backdated to May 1]

[justanexpression]

[video meant for Shaun... but let's face it, Jack's hardly a tech wiz, anyone could see it]

[It's late, and Jack knows it, but he'd made a promise, and he was going to keep it. At least, as well as he could without letting Sho wander out of sight, anyway. He's just hoping Shaun is still awake to pick up.]

Hey, Shaun? I said I'd tell you before I left town, right? I'm kinda cutting it close, so I hope you get this soon.


[open video]

So... hey. Uh, yeah, so Bunny? Tooth? Or anyone who might be wondering. Hypothetically, right? Might be gone for a while.

Anyone know if there are maps for places off the Routes?


((OOC: follows the events of Sho's Fire Dance))

Comments

[justanexpression]

[That does sound pretty bad, putting it that way, huh? Well, now Jack just plain feels bad. He rests his walking stick in the crook of his arm to ruffle his hair.]

...Sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that. Just... Well, here.

[He flips the screen around to show off Sho's back.]

He kind of upset his... best friend, I guess. So she stormed off and he stormed off, but he's not really all there, I think, if you know what I mean, so I couldn't just let him go off on his own, you know?

[The screen comes back to a very sheepish Jack.]

But I told you I'd say goodbye before I left, and I can't really do that if I'm already halfway to I don't know where, right?

[neededlassie]

[Shaun considers the information for a moment. He's still not smiling, but at least he's not on the verge of tears anymore. When the camera goes back to Jack, he leans in and asks a very serious question in a low tone.]

Did they get a divorce?

[justanexpression]

[...He'll apologize later, maybe, but right now, that question catches him so off guard that all he can do is stare and blink. A lot. Possibly even all the staring and blinking.]

Did they what?"

[neededlassie]

When two people who cared about each other decide that they don't anymore. You know, a divorce.

[It's a word he learned from his classmates, not his parents, but his unintentionally cruel peers had whispered it behind his back like a swear word, on their way to the bus as Shaun stood inside the school, staring out at the rain and waiting for his dad's beat up brown car, or when the principal escorted him to his classroom when he arrived fifteen, twenty, half an hour late. I heard his parents are getting divorced.

When he asked his mom what that meant, she told him that it was when two people who love each other can't live together anymore. She said that she and his dad weren't getting divorced yet, but that they might have to. Later that night, he heard her yelling at his dad on the phone, and he had to put his pillow over his head and cling to his teddy bear until he could finally drown out the sound enough to go back to sleep.]

[justanexpression]

[Sure, Jack's heard the word, and he's seen kids whose parents got divorced before, but it's not really a concept he's ever thought much about. Why would he? It's not even remotely fun.

But this is Shaun, so Jack has to at least make an attempt to pretend he knows what it's like.]

I don't know if they were that close. [Although Sho DID seem pretty upset.] But no, the bonfire. Sho was burning Bell's clothes. If I was Bell, I'd be pretty upset, too.

I'm sure it'll be fine once we catch up to her.

[neededlassie]

[And that's something that Shaun has a hard time processing.]

Why was he burning her clothes? She needs those.

...Grownups are weird.

[justanexpression]

[Grownups are SERIOUSLY weird. Jack could not agree more. Well, okay, so maybe Sho and Bell aren't very grown up, but they're obviously more grown up than Jack and Shaun or they'd know better than to get into this sort of problem.]

He said he bought her better ones? Your guess is probably as good as mine. [He drops his voice.] Can't blame her, though, huh?

[neededlassie]

You still don't just burn someone's clothes. Fires are dangerous.

[You know, like he's gonna learn in a couple of days.]

I don't blame her for being mad at all.

[justanexpression]

[Fire is always dangerous. As a winter spirit, Jack isn't a fan.]

Pretty much what I thought. But he's upset now, and if I let him run off all upset and something happens, then I'd be a pretty bad friend, right?

[Okay, so they aren't technically friends, but Jack knows the guy's name and did sort of witness the most awkward headbutt in history, so he feels obligated. Just a little.]

[neededlassie]

[Shaun thinks about it for a moment, and then his shoulders slump a little reluctantly.]

I guess.

You'll tell me if you come back though, right? Or if you start staying in another town?

[justanexpression]

'Course I will. You can't get rid of me that easily.

Trust me. People have tried.

[His grin says 'trust me, I'm Jack Frost' and who can argue with that?]

[neededlassie]

[Shaun can't even resist smiling back.

He does reach out and press the tip of his pinky to the screen, though.]

You promise?

[justanexpression]

[Exactly~

He doesn't even have to think before matching the gesture with his own hand.]

I totally promise.

[neededlassie]

[Shaun's smile widens as he takes his finger back.]

We pinky swore, so you can't break it. Don't get too lost!