fourth snowball ❅ voice → video (open to both courts; backdated to the 16th)

[winterwork]

[Nothing appears on the locket except complete darkness—simply pitch black, if you will—and all that can be heard is a deep, rumbling voice that echoes harshly.]

They didn't believe in you, Jack. That's why they sent you away ...

—no! Shut up! That's not true.

[This voice is of a certain winter spirit, though one that might not have been heard in quite some time. He sounds strained and frustrated as if he's been listening to this for quite some time now.]

Why else would they leave you all alone, Jack, stranded in another world? They spent a mere week without you here, but you— two-hundred and eighty-five years all alone ...

No! Leave me alone, I'm not afraid of you. They can see me. They believe in me. I'm a Guardian now and you can't scare me. Not anymore.

[There's a flash of light and suddenly the image appears crystallized as if ice covers it, though the faint sign of a silhouette appears beyond it.]

Don't be mistaken. You're still alone. People will leave. People will die. And it'll be just you in the end. Just you and the darkness ...

[Another flash can be seen, the sudden shooting of ice from a staff before a growl, dog-like in its nature is heard. Several more flashes of the ice-like bolts are shot before the growling comes to a stop.

Several moments pass before the figure moves to pick up the locket, rubbing a finger over it to wipe the layer of frost off. Revealed is the face of the known winter spirit, surprised as he is as though he hadn't realized the locket was on until just now, looking the same as he always has in appearance though his expression reads him to be more worn, more aged. The brown cape he used to wear is gone now as well, replaced with a more modern looking blue hoodie, decorated with flecks of frost at the edges.

He breathes out a sigh before he finally speaks again.]

It's me. I'm—I'm back.



( ooc: for those who hadn't known, jack had gone through an enchanted sleep just before this where he was canon updated from 1727—only fifteen years of being a spirit—to 2012, post-movie. so while he was only asleep in the drabwurld for a week, he spent 285 years on his own in his own world. )

Comments

video;

[smithwork]

Well, that dog was far more charming than the one who felt like serving up dragon-sushi to me. You okay?

video;

[winterwork]

Y-yeah, you know how it is. Everything that deals with me is charming.

[He tries to shrug it off carelessly, but while it certainly might not have seemed as graphic as Hiccup's image, the meeting (as in his head as it was) continued to clutch tight to his heart even now, the engulfed darkness still managing to leave him panicked and disorientated. He chooses not to talk anymore about it though, hopeful that Hiccup won't ever have to deal with Pitch.]

I'm alright. Sorry I got strayed again.

video;

[smithwork]

I need to let Toothless rest up, he's been airborne for a while now. Can you meet me at the northern Spinebacks?

[ Maybe the flight there will give Jack the opportunity to set his head on straight, since it clearly isn't just yet. ]

video → action;

[winterwork]

Sure. You two just take it easy for now, okay? I'll be there soon.

[Flying back up into the skies certainly does help with clearing his mind, the brightness of day acting as a comfort from that darkness he just had to deal with. Most of the dogs he had come across had been exactly as they seemed to be, terrifying large canines, but this was the first to really dive into his head, grasping at his fears.

He breathes easier now, soaring through the skies allowing a light fall of snow to trail down from the skies before he glides lower to catch sight of a boy and his dragon a bit more easily.]

video;

[notyetlegend]

[She waits some before speaking, watching him. He moves differently now, compared to what she's used to. She'd been away from his side when he woke, and for that she feels the need to apologize but for now...]

Th' dogs aren't kind, are they?

video;

[winterwork]

Mer! You're here!

[There's no way he wouldn't immediately recognize that wild red hair, a sincere smile forming on his face as he sees her. The dogs may have been grasping at his fears, but in seeing old friends after so many years, this is what saves him from giving in to it.]

Yeah, the—the dogs are a pain, but we're pretty tough. They're not gonna stop us.

video;

[notyetlegend]

Aye. Ye haven't gotten rid of me that easily.

[Though the background of her locket indicates she's at Caer Scima, she's still the same. The smile is infectious and she gives one of her own, crossing her arms a little languidly.]

Well, I'm glad ye can handle yourself. I would've had tae come an' give them a piece of my mind for messin' with ye.

[Even though her voice shakes a little because she knows she'd still be useless and just put him in more danger, she's sincere and honest about that.]

video;

[winterwork]

Oh man, you should've been here. Could've scared them off with that hair of yours like is that the blood of her enemies soaked in there? Ha!

[He really does make light of the situation with his laughter. If Merida's worried, she has no reason to be. Simply showing her face makes Jack feel safer already.]

video.

[mixcds]

[wtf jack is your ex some sort of giant shadow what the heckie. ]

Not exactly the best wake-up call, are they?

video.

[winterwork]

[Clearly he went through a bad phase during his time away.]

I was kind of hoping for a cake and some streamers. Heck—even a creepy ass party clown would have been a better welcome committee.

private video

[bythewaves]

Jack! Jack are you well? The dogs wield fear as a weapon, Jack. I am sorry that your wakening is such a poor one.

private video

[winterwork]

Yo, Mag! [All these familiar faces! Even with what he just experiences, the panic is soften by knowing he has his old friends around again.]

So I guess you saw all of that, huh? [He's not exactly proud to just openly promote his fears of darkness and loneliness, but he just sighs.] I'm alright though. I've dealt with worse better.

private video

[bythewaves]

I saw. [ gently] Being able to manage does not negate the fact that it hurts, however. I am sorry to hear that you have had to suffer so in your own world as well.

[ a tip of his head in a small bow ]

I am glad that you found strength rather than despair.

video

[ziggyzoggy]

[Hey, what's up, Chilly Willy? How's it hangin'?]

'Ey. Welcome back.

[You've been gone a while. And now you probably get to teach Hiccup about television, don't you?]

video

[winterwork]

[Sure do. And at least now there's someone smart enough to not blow up microwaves when they're together.]

Good to be back. [And it really is.] You doing alright there? These dogs things causing you trouble too?

[ziggyzoggy]

[HAH, he's never going to live that down, is he?]

Eh... Ya stay far enough away from them, it's not too much trouble. They undead--or close enough to it. If ya know someone with holy magic, stick to ém. The dogs can be hurt by that.

[That is his Official Advice for dealing with them. So, yes, he's had "some trouble" with them, you could say.]

video »

[baseborne]

[So... what does one say about these fear-dog visions? They're all terrible. Jon is glad that only some few bore witness to his own.

It seems like Jack is experiencing unkindness after unkindness, though.]

Your clothes are more strange. [Yeah. He means hello, welcome back, missed u buddy.]

video »

[winterwork]

[Oh, Jon. Jon. Even if you were a pain in the ass, he never forgot you. And hearing him now, all he can do is laugh.]

You know, surprisingly, I'm actually relieved to see you haven't changed a bit.

video »

[baseborne]

[WOW EXCUSE Jon is never a pain in the ass. He is a ray of sunshine and you are lucky to know him, Jack.]

Well. That much was true, at the least. It has only been a week, for me. Us.

[digophelia]

[ What is this? Alice isn't using her usual formalities. ]

Jack...?

[winterwork]

That's me. [He grins, glad to know that Alice is okay too. She's another face he's never forgotten over the years, especially when he knew she was such a believer in stories like his. When he met Jamie, he saw so much of her in him too.]

Are you doing alright, Alice? Haven't gotten caught up with those dog things, have you?

[digophelia]

Oh, it is you! And you're awake!

voice; .. PRETEND THIS ISN'T LATE...

[silmarils]

[ for several moments, there's silence over the open connection-- at last, though, a small breath, and: ] .. How long has it been for you? [ no 'welcome back', no 'i feared for you', because he doesn't think he has to say. he thinks the thickness and tremble of his voice says it clearly enough for him. ]

voice; NEVER LATE

[winterwork]

[Jack pauses to look at the locket, sensing there's someone else there despite the silence. He's about to speak up until he finally hears the voice, one that's all too familiar, despite how long it's been since he's heard it, with a question that leaves him with a soft, saddened smile that can't be seen.]

Two hundred and eighty five years, give or take.

voice;

[silmarils]

[ nearly three-hundred years. even for one of the eldar, that's quite some time, especially to be alone. and while he knows that jack wasn't entirely isolated, he still.. had no one to properly speak to, no one that knew him. it must have been.. incredibly difficult. ]

I am-- I am very glad that you have returned, then. Do try not to leave again.