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Jack's PoV
He's always loved the years he can bring the frost early. It gives him a chance to enjoy the autumn festivals. He's enjoyed watching how they've evolved over the years, changing and staying the same.
While there's several different spirit's tied to the season, and even a few gods, he'd mostly like to meet the living skeleton he's heard of. The concept intrigues him. That he's supposed to be a trickster too makes it all the better!
Unfortunately, he hasn't managed to meet him yet. They're never in the same place at the same time it seems.
So he's surprised when he comes across a flickering shadow that’s too solid to be a regular shadow or a shade. Then there's the shape, far more human-like than a shadow normally is. Curiously, he drops from the sky, perching on a nearby electric pole to watch.
The shadow slips along, entering a small stream of light where the fact it's actually a well dressed skeleton is revealed.
He bounces excitedly on his pole, following along using the lines to see what they're going to do. This goes on for several blocks until they reach one of the seasonal haunted houses. He's fascinated by how they blend with the fake skeletons only to make various teenagers and adults jump in fear when they reach out, brushing a hand against the humans or allowing their eyes to glow and cause a thrill of terrified fun.
When it looks as if they're going to leave, he hops off his post, landing silently on the ground. "Wait!" He calls out, "Hi! That was great, do that a lot or only sometimes? Or only certain places? I'm Jack, by the way." He's probably babbling too much but he doesn’t know if he'll get a chance to speak to them again. So far they haven't left but that doesn't mean they'll actually respond. Maybe there's another reason they stayed so far.
Large black empty spaces where eyes normally would be zero in on him, a flash of inner fire gleams as their gazes meet. "Hello Jack," they reply, a wick smile splitting their face. "I'm also Jack." One long fingered hand is held out towards him to shake.
Laughing, he closes his fingers around the bony fingers, surprised at how warm they feel compared to his own.
When he lets go, Jack motions towards the street, as if asking him to walk with them.
Nodding, he turns and falls in step as best as he can since they are far taller than him.
"To answer your questions: fairly often, mostly to alleviate boredom, it really depends on my mood where I end up," they chuckle, rubbing a hand over their head. "There's nineteen different Earth's I bounce between, tied to fear and anxiety for the season, with Halloween being my strongest day, when I'm drawn to each. Often the one with the least is the one I end up on. Over roughly three days I visit all of them."
They've made it to the end of the street when his companion stops to take a breath. Does he actually breathe or is it a habit?
There's nineteen different earths? That means that the scientists who've suggested that the universe is actually a multiverse are right! It opens up so many possibilities and questions! Is it possible for anyone to move between or only those who have ties to the different worlds? How did they get those ties? Is it possible to do so voluntarily?
Jack motions to a pair of yards beside each other that are decorated in different styles. "I'm not the only Halloween spirit. I just happen to be the strongest since I'm not tied to any one place." They smile ruefully, "There's a few gods that are too, but they aren't tied to the emotions of the Holiday, but the purpose."
He nods, completely fascinated. There's so many things to ask but he doesn't want to drive off this spirit who's been friendly with him.
"So Jack," the skeleton grins down at him, "are you tied to any holidays of your own?”
He shakes his head, reaching out absently and frosting the glass of a nearby car. "No, no holiday, for me. I'm not sure exactly what I’m tied to.” He sighs, tapping his foot and smiling faintly at the way frost ferns spiral outwards. Shrugging, he meets Jack’s gaze again, “I’m drawn to paint the leaves in the autumn, help them change colors.” He motions to the ground by their feet and the glass of the car, “Touching things creates frost, and if I focus I can control winter storms, but mostly use that to gentle them, rather than make them worse. I like seeing kids playing in the snow, they can’t do that if the storm is too harsh or dangerous.”
They nod, leaning close and peering at the frosty ferns and little pumpkins he covered the glass in. “That’s amazing!” Straightening, they ask, "Can you control what you’re making with ice?"
He's certain he's blushing as he nods, "It depends on my mood and where I'm at for what I make. Sometimes I just let the magic go. Other times I direct it. Anything I touch frosts unless I intentionally contain it."
"Amazing!" Jack repeats, their grin growing, surprisingly open and full of joy.
They pace away from him, only to come striding back over, bouncing excitedly. "Would you like to help me with this like to help me with this year’s Halloween? A lot of what I do is pranks and tricks, causing fears that linger because they are small. Or like at the haunted house where the point is to scare them so much they try going through it again.”
"Really?" He's breathless with shock, no one with a holiday invites him along generally.
"Yes!" Jack beams at him, explaining, "I don't hurt people, nothing lasting, but love seeing what can be done to get a rise out of them.”
Grinning, he whoops with joy. "I'd love to!"
Laughing almost creepily yet full of happiness, his new friend grabs his hand, pulling him towards a house that is bursting at the seams with people and decorations. Oh, it’s a Halloween party!
Before they get to the door, he murmurs to the Wind, asking her to rattle the windows and swoosh down the chimney.
"You didn't mention winds!" Jack excitedly glances between him and the windows. Some of the partiers jump as she does as asked. Bony fingers tightening absently on his wrist.
"I don't really control her," he replies, intentionally leaving a trail of spider web like frost in their wake, "I make requests and she decides to do them or not."
His companion lets go of him to clap, vibrating with energy.
"I should say they decide, as there's really more than one Wind that helps me, but uh, the one I fly with, she's a lady.” He says as he feels her wrap around him, fluffing his hair in her cool airs.
Jack's eyes go impossibly wide with that. "The one wind I know hasn't specified a gender, they like giving people the chills.”
He nods, there are several wind spirits he knows like that. Though saying he knows them is probably a bit much. Even these he's close to, he doesn't know as well as he'd like. That’s the problem with not being able to use words or even images to communicate. He doesn't even know if they have names or not.
Their attention turns to the Halloween party, and their expression turns mischievous as they vanish into a shadow only for a pair of teens near a fake skeleton near the door jump with a yelp and laugh.
Gliding closer, he makes only the spot the taller teen is touching turn suddenly cold as Jack reappears beside him.
The rest of the night is spent playing with each other and pulling pranks on humans. It’s one of the best nights he can remember having.
Not long before sun up, Jack stretches and sighs. “I need to return to Halloween Town. It's been lots of fun and I'm definitely going to visit again!" They pause, head tilting, and pat their pockets, grinning happily when they pull a coin out. Flipping it to him, they continue, "Come visit some time, I think you would have fun."
Grinning back, he glances between the coin in his hand that shimmers silvery gold and the skeleton spirit. "Thanks, I will," he nods, holding it tight within his grasp.
It's been a long time since anyone invited him somewhere, so he appreciates it. Far longer than he wants to think about. Tonight’s been great, it seems he's made a friend. That’s something he’s going to cherish.