Had to happen sometime...

[darkice]

Let's...just get one thing straight, okay? Just one.

I don't go out of my way to kick puppies or anything messed up like that. I just wanted a friend. Someone who didn't treat me like dirt, who was there, who believed I was real and was honest about it. Not just because the Man In the Moon told them to.

I know, mun. There's crazy mes who went with Pitch and ended up way worse than him. Just...don't fall into that trap, okay?

Comments

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[She eyes his rather dark demeanor.]

Are you okay? You seem...different than other Jacks.

[darkice]

....I guess that depends on what your definition of "okay" is.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[True, her definition is a bit more skrewed than others.]

Well, I mean, you don't seem to act like the other Jack Frosts around here, and I've seen you with that Pitch guy...

[darkice]

Yeah. Kind of messed up, isn't it?

Pitch isn't the only one sick of not being believed in.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[That stikes her a really odd.]

But...but you are believed in. At least that's what I hear. Did something happen?

[darkice]

Yeah. I took Pitch up on his offer.

[cursed_prince]

You are quite visible. I fail to see how anyone could declare you nonexistent.

Or am I missing something, mayhaps?

[darkice]

yeah, yeah. Everyone here can see me just fine. Big deal.

But when it comes down to it, whenever there's a huge blizzard in the Midwest, or an avalanche, or pipes burst from the cold, or someone lost in the woods in the middle of winter gets frostbite, or even if it's just a nice Christmas snow, out there I'm just an expression. A myth.

[cursed_prince]

I know of no such expression concerning the cold. [The closest he's got is the Blizzard King, and it is very much real.

It's also a giant three-headed dragon with a penchant for munching on travelers in the mountains, but I digress.]

[darkice]

...See what I mean? How would you like it if no one knew your name, and you were an intangible, unseen, unheard? And no one believed you even existed?

Wouldn't be very fun, would it.

[cursed_prince]

[He can't even imagine it. He can try to imagine it, but Baldur would never be able to truly wrap his head around suddenly not existing in the eyes of others. He's a prince--no, Emperor, to whom everyone looked to for guidance. To be unknown? It was an incomprehensible concept to him.]

It does sound a pitiable existence. [He doesn't even know the half of it.]

[darkice]

You have no idea.

[thefirstguardian]

[Oh, Jack...]

[darkice]

_{[...Wait, you're supposed to be... Oh never mind.]}

Don't give me that look.

[thefirstguardian]

[Sandy heaves a silent sigh and shakes his head. What sort of look is he supposed to give you?]

[darkice]

I don't need anyone's pity. _{[he sighs]} You don't know what it was like...

[thefirstguardian]

[Nope, can't say he did, but...

Golden sand rises over his head to form a comic speech bubble, and Sandy points at Jack.

He doesn't know what it was like, but he'll listen if Jack wants to tell him.]

[bitterlycold]

Well now. This is...interesting.

[darkice]

_{[side-eying you, creepy double. Side-eying you so hard.]}

Interesting how?

[bitterlycold]

[Oh, side eye him all you want. He gives a small shrug, shouldering his staff.]

Just interesting, really. It's not every day there's two of us in almost the same situation.

Apparently I have to tag aaaaaaaall the Jacks.

[didntfallin]

Pitch ... he's the Dark man ... Bogeyman isn't he..?

oh god my heart

[darkice]

_{[...He doesn't recognize her. He never got that far. He just wanted someone, anyone, to call a friend.]}

Yeah. He's the Boogeyman, all right. He's not as scary as he wants to make himself out to be, though.

I-I'm sorry D:

[didntfallin]

[ He looks a little familiar to her. The shape of the face, and if his eyes and hair were different -- maybe she just missed her brother. But she'll be friends with this person! ]

That's because you're brave. He's scary to me.

[darkice]

Well...sometimes it's a good thing to be scared, right? You wouldn't go near a big dog when it's growling and barking...

[didntfallin]

Yeah. But I'm not supposed to always be scared. Do you get scared?