✈ fifth snowy flight ❄ — video (both courts)

[winterwork]

[The locket seems to be set up on a counter in a bedroom in the Station. To the side of the screen, there appears to be a small miniature ice sculpture of a pine tree, sparkling from the glow of the fireplace in the far background. Jack makes final adjustments in angling the locket just right to show off his crystal art project as well as his own smirking face.]

Alright, there's a whole ton of you out there that are either old and ancient or from some weird world that never got to know the cool Earth holidays, so lucky you — I'm here to provide you with a little Q&A on what Christmas is.

It doesn’t make any sense. It’s Father Christmas’s birthday but … not his birthday, too? Why is he giving out gifts for some other guy? [ OH, LOOK, one confused Viking is sitting on the bed. Hiccup gestures animatedly. ] Jack, your gods aren’t making any sense, even Loki’s more organised than this.

[The winter spirit rolls his eyes, waving a hand to hush the man behind him, keeping his attention on the locket instead of addressing him.]

The point is: you set up a ton of colorful lights around, you toss up a big tree to get sap all over your fingers, and then you find presents underneath it on the morning of the 25th. [That’s about the gist of it, right?] Look, I’m not big on bribing kids with gifts, but it does get people slacking off from all that serious crap so they can run outside and make a snowman or something. Gotta give it props for that.

So, basically, it’s Snoggletog without Thor. [ Flatly voiced from the peanut gallery. ] Boy, does that sound like a hoot.

No, no. [He finally turns his back to face Hiccup, shaking a pointed finger at him.] Don’t compare it to your aggressive “missing toes” Viking catastrophe of a holiday. [Turning back to the locket:] Just to be clear — mistletoe, that little plant that’s hung up everywhere on ceilings during the month, means you kiss the person you’re caught under it with — it’s not for punching them, as some people believe.

[ Wow, Hiccup’s just going to fold his arms right now. So rude. ]

I could always dredge up the will to punch you, if you’re getting tired of hanging out under mistletoe and suffering the other option.

[ No, he couldn’t. But he can say he might!! ]

Uh huh, sure. [With a momentary deadpan expression, Jack finally just shrugs with a sigh.] Anyway, I know the guy who hands out the presents, been in his secret lair in the North Pole and everything, so if you want to know more about elves — the small critter-like ones who don’t actually wrap the presents — or yetis, caroling and eggnog, whatever, I can fill in all the blanks for you.

[A pause before he adds:] Just do me a favor, be a pal, and run out to play in the snow for a bit, got it?

Excuse you, I am known for my incredibly artistic Snow Furies, Jack. Just because I don’t go prancing around yelling about how great winter is doesn’t mean I don’t know how to have fun.

First of all, I was talking to them, not you. Second, winter is great and I don’t think you understand how—

I’m Jack Frost, I can’t help kissing aaaall the snowflakes because I’m in love with them—

[The bickering continues for however long. Interruptions for questions would be more than welcome at this point.]

Comments

[winterwork]

Well, I'm a bit old fashioned in how I like to see it. It's gotten kind of ... commercial lately. More about the presents than the actual holiday spirit, you know?

[gordianknots]

That makes sense to me. If you were able to have the holiday done here, ideally, how would you have it set up? What would you do?

[winterwork]

[That ... wasn't exactly a question he was expecting really. Then again, he's just used to people not really being interested in his opinion of doing things.]

Uh, well. [He chuckles, looking away.] It's just that idea of everyone coming together for something, you know? The presents, the tree, all of that's nice for decoration, sure, but people just taking a break from worrying about everything else and just having fun with the people they care about— it's that sort of things that's not so bad.

[gordianknots]

It makes sense to me, especially in a place like this where it feels like all anyone does is worry.

[winterwork]

Yeah, I feel like I've been trying to get people out of that groove since I got here.

[gordianknots]

[Waver's laugh is a tired one, which probably just proves Jack's point.]

I hope you've had at least some success?

[winterwork]

Well, people seem to be interested in this, so that's something, right? [He chuckles with a sigh.]

But hey! You're doing that Barrel thing later too, right? Looks like you're joining the Fun effort.

[gordianknots]

That's definitely something.

[Waver lets out a little hm of confirmation at that.]

I am, although now I feel compelled to ask if you'd like to help out with the matter. Beyond the Fun effort, and more towards decor.

[winterwork]

Define decor. I'm not really a gardener, so tossing up the mistletoe is out of the question.

[gordianknots]

If I said free range to create your ideal evening--?

[winterwork]

[!!!] I'm listening.

[gordianknots]

The only thing I'm certain of is the fact we'll have a bonfire. I'd love to be able to provide extra snow for fights, or else a make-shift ice rink, but there's no real watersource to make that happen--

[winterwork]

Snow. Ice. Sold. [Doesn't take much more convincing than that.]

And if there's flat enough space, an ice rink is still possible.

[gordianknots]

Mr Frost, you are a godsend.

I can let you survey the grounds whenever you arrive. Would around 1:30 the day of be sufficient time?

[winterwork]

Sure. You got yourself an official Ice Man. [Who is really excited for this, no lie.]

[gordianknots]

And you have my eternal gratitude. Is there anything that you'll need, or should I not worry about the matter?

[winterwork]

Just a crowd to entertain is good enough for me.

[gordianknots]

Then I think we're good.

Hiccup's been by here before, so if the road's unclear or you get lost, I suspect he can help.

[winterwork]

Actually, I've been there once myself. Of course, it was just to pick Hiccup back up and drag him home so I didn't get a thorough tour of the place at the time.

[gordianknots]

I am incredibly sorry I missed you then! But at least it makes life easier now.

[winterwork]

Nah, it's my fault for bolting out so fast. Toothless gets kind of cranky when he spends too much time without flying though, so I had to help the poor guy and get him out. But either way — I kind of live at the Station, so getting there'll be pretty easy.

[gordianknots]

The last thing I think any of us want is a cranky dragon, admittedly.

I'll see you later this month then, and I can't say it enough: thank you.

[winterwork]

Heh, no problem, Elmie. If it's helping with a little fun, I don't mind it one bit. Just let me know if you need me to come around sooner.

[gordianknots]

Will do. Until then!