14 ❄ ( VIDEO )

[wintershepherd]

[ Guess whose internal almanac confirmed that today is officially the first day of Autumn? That's right, this guy! Who's currently bouncing around his treehouse like an over-caffeinated grasshopper while Baby Tooth peeks in the corner of the console screen with an expression like welp that's Jack for you. Whether viewers can perceive them, especially the newer arrivals, will remain to be seen. ]

WHOOOHOOO! Goodbye Summer, goodbye! Have a good vacation! Don't hurry back!

[ And then with a final whoop of joy, the feed turns off! Yeah, that's all he wanted to share. ]

Comments

[wintershepherd]

[ Enh he'll just roll with it. ]

For sure! Hoodies are the best clothing invention ever. Okay, no... zippers still hold that spot. But after zippers.

[truesight]

I'm almost afraid to ask how you feel about zip-up hoodies...

[wintershepherd]

[ And for some reason, Jack just finds that awfully funny and laughing might be the only answer she gets at the moment. Yeah, he's in a pretty good mood. ]

[truesight]

So, hey. [ hey, it's hard not to laugh when someone else is laughing openly the way Jack is, but eventually she comes around to her question ] Who's your friend? She's very cute. Like a hummingbird, almost, but- not. [ she has a face!!1 ]

[wintershepherd]

[ he beams ]

This is Baby Tooth, one of the Tooth Fairy's helpers. She ended up in Sinbrilee somehow...

[truesight]

...




Really? I didn't know the Tooth Fairy had helpers.

[ or there really even was a tooth fairy, but there's that. okay. she can believe that. her friends all have Gods as parents, so. it's not that wild. ]

[wintershepherd]

There are a lot of teeth to collect, anyone would need helpers. She still runs at high speed all the time anyway.

[ To that, Baby Tooth chirps emphatically, agreeing with the assessment and adds something, which Jack translates. ]

She says she thinks Tooth should slow down sometimes but that she enjoys the work.

[truesight]

Makes sense. [ !!!! oh goodness! Rachel can't help the way her eyes widen, HOW CUTE IS LITTLE BABYTOOTH too cute ]

So... Would it be rude if I asked if you know the Tooth Fairy personally? Like how did she- Why's Baby Tooth hanging out with you?

[wintershepherd]

Huh? No, of course it's not rude. I do know her now, we're both Guardians. Before I only knew her by reputation.

For Baby Tooth...

[ The small faerie's wings droop slightly, but she shakes her head and Jack resumes speaking. ]

She just found herself here, but Tooth isn't. We checked and Baby Tooth would be able to find her if she were. It's not the first time something from home has turned up here--

[ unconsciously he reaches up to clasp the small drawstring pouch under his sweatshirt ]

--but she didn't arrive like Bunny did, back in the spring.

[truesight]

[ it's a little hard not to make the connection between 'something from home' and the way he reaches for the front of his shirt, but she won't ask. instead she shakes her head a little bit, confused ]

Guardians of what?

[wintershepherd]

[ He suddenly feels self-conscious and it's Baby Tooth who chirps softly, encouragingly to get him speaking again. ]

Children... childhood, really. We each have our own center, as North calls it. His is Wonder, Sandy's is Dreams, Bunny's is Hope and Tooth's is Memories.

[truesight]

[ just this face for a second ]

ok done

[truesight]

[ dreams. sandy. sand man. okay. bunny. easter bunny? ..she doesn't make the tooth fairy/memories connection right away, but alright, sure. north.. pole, right, santa.

how is this even happening?!

she doesn't look suspicious, just- ]

If you're messing with me...

[truesight]

Whoa!

[ but then- okay, it wasn't as if the screen flickered, it wasn't the whole picture- just. him. so naturally, she panics ]

I'm sorry. Are you okay? I believe you, I- Why did- Who are you?

[wintershepherd]

[ Not realizing that his image had fluctuated for her, Jack merely looks confused by the worry. ]

Huh? 'Course I'm okay, why?

[ a faintly quirked smile as she asks ]

Jack Frost.

[truesight]

Oh, no, I just- [ it's almost like the Mist, from her world. you have to know, for sure, if something is "mythical" or whatever the case, in order to see it clearly, and see it for what it truly is. and in this case, "it' is a boy. ..guy. he can't be older than her. but anyway, she blinks a few times, as if clearing her vision, but then she's all smiles ]

No, it's alright. I think my console just had a moment. Anyway, now I understand your enthusiasm for the change in seasons, at least. I'm Rachel, and I am genuinely pleased to meet you, Jack.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack laughed a little, smiling at her and even Baby Tooth seems pleased. ]

It's very nice to meet you as well, Rachel.

[truesight]

[ and okay she just can't help this blurt- ]

-- I met Pan once! The God of the Wild. It wasn't under the best circumstances, but he was brilliant. I just- imagine you'd all be friends. I didn't even imagine that you all were Guardians, per se, but that makes sense. Wow, that makes so much sense.

[ yo pardon this nerd ]

[wintershepherd]

Pan, huh? That sounds like a wild time!

[ yes he really did just make that pun ]

You'd be surprised... how many stories aren't really just stories. Or Christmas carols, in my case.

[truesight]

[ he still gets a laugh for it, even if she winces before it first ]

I've actually gotten really good at not being surprised by stories being true, actually. In my world, that- kind of happened to me a lot. [ only it was the stories in her head that ended up being true, more stories from books. although those counted, too ] And yeah, this is where I would make a very clever quip about how it's rude to nip people's noses without warning, but I'm sure you've heard them all by now.

[wintershepherd]

[ Good! He likes when people suffer goodnaturedly through his awful puns. ]

Over and over and over again! But it's all right, it's still nice to have it recognized.