05 ❄ ( voice )

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack has come back to the city after his fight with Kyle and his talk with Bucky at the shell's edge. He isn't quite ready for video replies yet, knows that despite the usual cheerful timbre he's forcing into his voice it won't cover the fact that his eyes are sad and hollow. ]

Has anyone seen Periwinkle? I went to her suite to give her fresh snow but she's not there and it looks...

[ he fumbles for the right description ]

Unused.

[ private to Finnick ]
Sorry I haven't figured out those other lures yet, I... something-- kind of came up. I take it you saw the announcement?

[ private to Damian ]
I... wanted to apologize, for what I said to you on the sled hill. When you brought up-- I, I just shouldn't have snapped back at you like that. I don't have any right to say who trusts you and who doesn't. I'm sorry.

[ private to Kyle ]
... please don't tell everyone about the snow. I get it, okay? It was wrong and fake and cheating and a horrible thing. But just let them have a good memory of it and-- and I won't spread any more snow like that around. Please. I'll... I'll do whatever you want.

[ He doesn't think he could take it if all the people who thanked him for the snow day suddenly turned on him for it. The ones who'd had their hearts lightened enough to even be able to see him for the first time. ]

Comments

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack can't think of anything off the top of his head that he'd need something like that for, but the fact the Costigan offered was enough for the spirit to agree. ]

Okay, that sounds like a good plan.

[lostundercover]

[His eyes travel to the empty space and then beyond, a little surprised by the immediacy of Jack's agreement.]

So you'll save some of your money?

[wintershepherd]

Mm, I'll give it to you. I trust you with it.

[lostundercover]

[Costigan's expression tights a little with displeasure. Jack trusts too much and it bothers him, because if the kid trusts him already, who knows who else he'll trust. But at least he's around for now and can try to stop just such a thing from happening.]

Sure. Sounds good, kid.

[A beat.] You been making a lot of friends around here?

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, I am.

[ Hard to mistake that fondness in his tone; recent events aside, his friends on the turtle are precious to him. ]

More than I ever thought I could.

[lostundercover]

[Costigan gives that a little nod. He wants to smile for the fondness, but the naivety still worries him.]

Good. That's good. Just.. be careful, alright? Not everyone here is a good person.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack laughs a little, soft but with an age beyond a teen's. ]

There's nobody who's all good or all bad, Billy. You take people as they come, you try to see their best parts and help them fix their worst.

[ It's what he hopes that one day people whom he calls friends will do for him. ]

[lostundercover]

Some people are all bad, Jack.

[He replies without missing a beat, because he knew Costello too well to ever doubt that again. And Sullivan. Costigan finishes off his coffee and sets his cup back down.]

I know you don't believe me, kid, but try to remember that.

[wintershepherd]

All right.

[ It was a graceful allowance, but Jack didn't discount Costigan's obvious experience. They both had a different kind. ]

Feel better now?

[lostundercover]

[Costigan smiles a little at that.]

Do you? This was supposed to be about you. I've just never been too good at people.

[wintershepherd]

Yeah... I do, actually. I think you're better at people than you let on.

[lostundercover]

You're generous.

[He retorts, but his smile widens. Then Costigan gives a nod to his empty coffee cup.]

You about ready? [To call it a day?]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack nodded even though Costigan couldn't see it, pushing back the chair from the table slightly. The cool air currents surrounding him shifted with the movement. ]

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks again for hanging out.

[lostundercover]

Anytime. I mean that.

[Okay maybe not exactly literally, but he really does want to be there for Jack and make sure the kid's staying out of trouble. When he sees the other chair move and the frost with it, he moves to stand. The Bostonian reaches out to grab the plate from his dish, along with his cup, to return them to the bin.]

You know where I live, right? You can come by if you need to.

[wintershepherd]

Mm, I do. You're in the Wood Sector same as I am, in 1A.

[ Where do you think you get those pretty frosty patterns on your window in the morning, silly duck. ]

[lostundercover]

[A pause, because that does explain some things.]

Yeah, well. Maybe next time you stop by, you can knock and come in for awhile.

[He shakes his head a hint at how ridiculous it all is. Then he shoves his hands in his pockets as he hovers near the table, not knowing where Jack is.]

[wintershepherd]

I'll remember that. Maybe I'll even bring you a morning coffee, if I can find a thermos so I don't ice it off.

[lostundercover]

I'm all set.

[Because stop that magic thing.]

[wintershepherd]

[ And Jack just laughs because DEAL WITH IT. B-) ]