[TUSHANSHU] IC Inbox

[wintershepherd]

hey! you've reached Jack Frost!
"I'm away from a console right now, but leave me a message and
I'll return it as soon as I can! Prank callers will be snowballed-- kidding!"

Comments

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's breath catches slightly as Kal describes a nearly identical situation from the other side of what the spirit feels. And he'd be lying to say that a flash of anger didn't jolt through him, on Kon's behalf, that someone else had to go through the same thing-- only to be followed by a terrible, shameful relief that somewhere, Jack wasn't the only one who'd had to endure that.

Both gut reactions make him feel terrible, choke off his words for a moment.

That's twice now that Kal has said something extremely profound to Jack and he wants, so much, to latch onto it like he did last time... but he's wary. It didn't prevent him from screwing up this time, why would it be any different in the future? This will just happen again and again, exactly as Pitch predicted. He's been a lot more damaged by this whole incident than he lets on because it placed stress on cracks that have been skating below the surface for much longer than anyone realizes. ]

You can't speak for everyone, Kal-El. It's just better if I... don't. I can't ask anyone else to trust what I can do when I don't even trust it myself.

[andaway]

[Kal isn't a mind reader, but it'd be hard not to see the flash of anger in the spirit's eyes. He hardly blames him, he would simply accept it and take the blame if Jack spoke out- he's fully aware he managed things the worst way possible in the past, and that he's barely doing any better in the present. He's also completely at lost on what to do about it and he's usually too busy giving his (usually not requested) advice he doesn't stop to ask for help himself.

He waits, patient, for Jack's answer. He would have been more... disappointed at himself if he hadn't kind of been expecting a reaction of the sort.]

I am not speaking for everyone, that's true. But you can't let others speak for you either.

[But he can tell the kid needs his time to process, to grieve and understand.] If you ever need me, if only to have an ear from someone who's been on the other side, call this suite asking for me.

It's my father's.

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, great.

[ Jack does actually try to inject some appreciation for the offer into his response, but it falls painfully flat. ]

Right. Say hi to your dad.