dear_mun | (no subject)

Don't get ahead of yourself.

She put in a reserve. What are you going to do about it?

Why do you think I care enough to do anything about it? Running commentary, Pitch, that's all this is.

Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're not wishing you could swoop in and rescue the people of Haven from bad dreams.

Please. As if there isn't a dozen superheroes floating around, just waiting for a chance to stop you and work out their issues in the doing. I'm pretty sure they make it their day job.

Besides, I'm busy.

I think the superheroes will have better things to focus on, actually.

Losing your touch? Predictable, you are getting on.

It's just that not everybody is obsessed with me as you all are, Jack.

It's not really an obsession when you're practically banging pots and pans looking for attention, Pitch.

[He's going to ignore that because it's pretty much true.]

My point is, these people are dealing with a setting that tries to kill them on a regular basis. If they're going to concern themselves with stopping nightmares, their priorities are dangerously skewed.

[ Suck it, drama queen. ]

So you're the, what? The Darkness's sidekick now? Nice.

What are you blabbering about?

Well, like you said, there are things there of actual threat. You're just the shadow-puppet guy making people anxious they didn't sharpen their axe enough.

You're really missing the point of fear.

Fear is boring, it's flat and predictable and everyone winds up terrified. Have a little genuine fun, once in a while.

You have no idea how nuanced and complex fear is. You only feel your own.

It's healthy to be afraid of some things, in small doses.

That's the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say, watered down and mild as it is. But I'm still not sure why you're trying to make me feel insecure about... what? Not being a threat?

Jack. I don't need to be a threat to them. That's the beauty of it.

[ Excuse you, Pitch, he says plenty of intelligent things!! Just not. Often. Around you. ]

No, it's still awful, I just thought you'd prefer to do your own dirty work instead of relying on others. I guess it makes sense, though, if you hit that game straight out of the hole you were forced into.

I've never been the cause of evil in the world. Humans do that all by themselves.

But tell me, does it make you feel better about yourself to pretend that I'm a supervillain?

You wanted to sink the world into a second Dark Ages, that qualifies you for the honorary title, trust me.

[ Shaking his head, his grasp idly tightens on his staff. ]

You perpetuate it, the bad stuff. [ He's not going to say evil because that's melodramatic as hell. ] You're the guy underlining terror, and that's not okay in my book.

Right, because fear is so useless, isn't it. Everybody should just live in happy little Guardian-created bubbles and never have to face the real world they live in.

The people of Earth-- and the people of Haven, even more so-- should be having nightmares. Their situations certainly call for it.

I never said that. The Guardians don't even know how to behave around children, they're out of touch with the real world, stuck in their bubbles of self-importance. I'm their friend, that's why I can be completely honest about it, here or to their faces. [ Jack fully resents the idea he's ever lived in a happy little bubble. ] Did any of you even pay attention to the world for the last three centuries? No, you didn't, because I never left it and I barely ever saw any of you, even in passing as strangers.

Don't tell me I've never faced the real world, you don't know me.

[ The heat from his snap dissipates and he shifts feet, chagrined by his passionate outburst and getting back to the point. ]

If the people at Haven are already living a nightmare, anything else is going to be forgotten quicker than you think. It doesn't matter what's in your head when you're sick or wounded, being afraid doesn't change anything. After a while, you stop being afraid of dying altogether.

I pay plenty of attention to the real world. You didn't see me because I didn't want you to, Jack. But I saw you.

And being afraid changes a great deal of things. If they know how to use it right, it even helps them.

I saw you once, or I think I did. I thought it was a shadow but in hindsight, it looked a little like you. Crossing out of the lamplight.

Sounds like me.