laography | if i was not myself, and you were someone else

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if i was not myself, and you were someone else

[ With winter break fast approaching for the grade schoolers seated in front of her, Tatiana could only smile wide at their anxiousness to get out of the classroom and bound through the snow. There was no way she could blame them, of course; while she thrilled at the life that bloomed in spring, there was just something about winter that, well. Warmed her. It was a silly thing that she never spoke of with anyone else, but she felt it every time the snow fell.

As it was, then. She looked out the window with a soft smile, hands folded behind her back as her thoughts rushed a mile a minute. All the snowmen, and snow angels, the snowball fights and sledding and ice skating and hot chocolate and holly. So much to do in one season, it was almost impossible to decide where one should start.

Clasping her hands together, she addressed the group of young children wriggling in their seats. ]

All right, everyone! The bell's going to ring very soon, but I just wanted to wish you all a fantastic winter break! Happy Holidays! Make sure you all bundle up, you don't want the cold nipping along after you, do you?

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[Something always drew Jack back here for some reason. Maybe it was some kind of sentimental feeling. He didn't really know why. Pitch could call him a fool all he liked but Jack had learned to ignore the king of nightmares. It wasn't easy, but it was doable.

Watching Tatiana in her element, he could see elements of the Tooth Fairy he remembered. It was no surprise that she was teaching children, given her status as a Guardian...or, well, former status. Jack could honestly say sitting in the back of her classroom at the end of the day he'd learned more than he had in his three hundred years.

He gave a small chuckle at her choice of words, resting his staff against his shoulder and leaning forward, curling his legs up onto the bench that he sat on at the back of the room. His brow furrowed a little before he was startled out of his thoughts by the ringing of the school bell.]

[ There were some days where she felt a little out of place, almost as if she should've been doing something more than simply teaching the children. But she shook it off and continued with her newfound role, working her way up from assistant and substitute teacher as best she could.

Even if she looked at the sky sometimes, oblivious of her occasional guest and impromptu student. ]

Ah, there it is! Now remember, make sure to brush your teeth over the vacation! With all those candycanes and sweets, you can't be too careful.

[ It wasn't the first time their teacher had brought up dental hygiene, but one of them finally paused in his retreat towards freedom with his classmates. ]

Miss Tooth, why do you always say stuff like that?

[ Smile widening, Tatiana leaned down to put her hands on her knees. ]

Why, because the tooth fairy leaves only the best treasures for such well cared for teeth! Now run along, Gregory, you don't want to be the last one to the snowball fight.

[Jack froze when he heard her words, fingers clenching around his staff before he shook his head. He supposed there was a bit of the old Tooth left in her, even if it was subtle things such as words like that. He bit his bottom lip and looked out the corner of his eye at her from where he'd stood on the bench, about to make his way out to prepare the kids a battlefield.

He slid his hand into the pocket of his hoodie, turning to regard her fully. Pitch had said they had no memories of their lives as Guardians, but Tooth was the Guardian of Memories...maybe something was starting to come back to her?

Shouldering his staff, he decided to watch a little more, settling back into his seat on the bench. The outside was about as well prepared as you could get for a snowball fight. The kids could wait.]

[ Ever oblivious as she was to his presence, Tatiana-- Toothiana-- watched the last of the kids rush out of the room in a flurry of activity, smile going quiet before she turned away from the door and to the line of windows. For a moment she paused at them, hands raised as if considering taking action or not. Deciding finally, she brought them forward to undo the latch of one window and push it open, letting in the winter chill.

Much as she preferred the warmer months, that silly feeling of being warmed by the cold air came back to her as she stood and watched the activity of winter vacation kick up. Snowballs and cheering children, affronted faculty and both impatient and amused parents. ]

Well, Tooth. It's that time of the year again. Best listen to your own advice and bundle up, or else Jack Frost'll get you, too.

[ It was strange, but saying that almost made her feel wistful. Even as she laughed softly to herself, it was almost as if she was talking about an old friend. How silly. ]

[But she was talking about an old friend.

Jack felt something inside him twist with anguish when he heard her say that. Ow. That hurt more than what he thought it possibly could. His face fell as he floated over to her on the wind that came through the window, turning over onto his back as he neared her.

He'd always wondered why she couldn't see him when kids could. She knew he existed, or she wouldn't have said his name like that. Why was it that kids could see him but adults couldn't? Did they just not believe enough.

He opened his mouth to say something before he closed it again. Instead, he reached out with a hand, tapping a finger to her nose.]

[ But she didn't know that.

Well, at least not right away.

Tooth shuddered a bit at the breeze coming through the window, bringing her arms up to hug herself as she considered what the winter break would bring. It wasn't as if she really ever had plans to go anywhere, despite her urge to just go and travel. It was such a strong sensation at times, the same way that her sense of loneliness and that ever present wistfulness showed themselves.

Her thoughts were derailed at the sudden chill that met her nose, as if a snowflake had landed on the very tip of it. She was confused at first, because she wasn't that close to the window, but then the familiar sensation of winter chill bringing familiarity and warmth with it began to spread through her.

She couldn't help but start giggling a bit, bringing her hands up to cover the lower half of her face while she did. ]

[His face brightened a little when she started giggling, turning himself around and setting himself upright, landing gently on his feet next to her. Well, at least he knew he could still lighten things up so to speak. Honestly Pitch could bitch and moan all he wanted about happiness and fun but there needed to be a little joy to go along with fear. Keeping a balance was important.

At least North had been able to teach him that.

Jack placed a hand on the window sill and lifted himself up from the floor, lightly landing on the edge. As much as he would have loved to stick around, he still had a job to do.]

I guess I'll see you around, Tooth...

[ That bright nostalgia hit her again as she tried to gently smother the sudden bought of joy that had set in, sent into a quiet fit of giggles that made her both lighthearted and heartsick all at once. The familiar feeling was such a combination of contradictions that she wasn't quite sure what to do with it, even as she closed her eyes.

Guess Jack Frost was already nipping at her nose.

When she opened her eyes again, lowering her hands with a warm smile on her face, she looked up towards the opened window. What she saw certainly wasn't what she expected, and she was shocked for more reasons than she quite knew how to explain. It lead to her exclaiming suddenly, jumping in surprise as she saw Jack standing on the sill. ]

Oh! [ Her hands snapped up to cover her mouth again, eyes wide. ]

Edited 2012-12-07 07:59 (UTC)

[The noise from her makes him turn his head to look at her, thinking she was just making an exclamation of surprise or something when she spoke. He probably shouldn't have been concerned since she couldn't see him, but when he saw her looking right at him and not through him...

Well.

Shit.

Jack crouched, resting an arm on his knee almost casually as he waited to see if she'd make another reaction. He couldn't be too sure if she was just looking at something through him since...well...he didn't know how that worked.]

[ For a long moment, Tooth simply stared at him, trying to figure out whether she was seeing things or not. He couldn't have gotten in without her hearing him, and yet here he was, on the window sill. Debating if she should call for someone, she bit her bottom lip behind her hands, worrying at it before she lowered her arms.

Opening her mouth... ]

Jack?

[ ... she just looked at him, confused and not sure where the name came from. Where he came from. But it sounded right, felt right. ]

[...Crap. He gave a small sigh, quietly wishing he had Sandy's powers right now and could just make her sleep and think he was a dream. For a moment Jack sat there, squatting on the sill and frozen in place, though not literally, wondering what to do. If he left now she'd probably think she was seeing things, but...

He'd really missed talking to her and being seen by her.]

Hey.

I know you.

[ When he didn't go retreating through the window, Tooth took a tentative step forward. Her tone held a great deal of confusion, but under it all was a note of wonder. She did. She knew him, had seen him before and had spoken with him before this moment. ]

I do.

[ More certain, that time, she brought a hand up as if she was going to reach for him. To assure herself that he was there.

But she stopped, searching his face, her own falling slightly. ]

I just don't...

[He waited for her to make a move, not wanting to scare her off, chewing gently on his bottom lip. He hadn't meant to make this happen but now he couldn't help but wonder if it was fate, somehow, like the Man in the Moon had planned this out or something. Jack stood from his seat on the window sill and tapped his staff against his shoulder, finishing her sentence for her.]

Remember me?

[He lightly stepped off the sill, making like he was falling off before he floated along a small updraft of wind, turning around to look at her as he pulled his staff closer.]

You should. I mean you've only been warning the kids about me nipping their noses all week.

[ Her eyes widened a little as he moved off the sill, both hands raising in what would become an aborted motion to catch him before he fell. Which was silly, she realized suddenly, because Jack would never fall. Not when he had the wind at his side.

Where did that come from? ]

Well, it's supposed to be very cold this winter--!

[ A little flustered at the comment, she paused and turned to face him properly again, looking as if a light had gone off in her mind. Pointing at him, she leaned into his space, into what felt like a familiar position. ]

You've been spying on my class all week?

Ain't nobody that knows that better than me.

[He just calmly floats there like it's no big deal, leaning against his staff. When she leaned in he stayed where he was, giving a sheepish grin, shrugging.]

Well I never went to school when I was alive. Besides, you're a great teacher.

Well, no, I don't imagine there is.

[ Considering him, she settles flat on her feet and laces her fingers together loosely, hands held over her sternum as she thinks. It's a very heavy comment that he makes, but while it makes her sad to hear she... also feels like that's something she already knew. This entire scene is exponentially confusing, and her head is starting to hurt a little. ]

Thank you. I try to make the lessons fun-- are they fun? I mean, even if you don't participate in the activities? Because I hope they are, you should have fun while you're learning, I think it really makes it mean more when you do.

[ At the very least, she hasn't lost the ability to talk at a mile a minute. ]

[At least she's not questioning his existence. It's kind of nice to chat with someone that's not Pitch. Jack curls his legs up and sits crosslegged in the air, draping his staff across his lap and his arms on his knees, giving a smile when she asks if her lessons are fun.]

Since fun's practically my middle name I think I can give your class an A+, Miss Tooth.

Fantastic! Funtastic, even. Everyone just seems so down, I want to brighten things up a little for them if I can.

[ She smiles wide, all teeth and good cheer, pleased to hear that the master of fun himself has given her a passing grade. Which, again, what a silly thought. But it still makes her happy, and it shows.

But while she doesn't quite want to question his existence, for fear that she's imagining things, she does have one question. ]

Can anyone else see you?

[Jack knows the very reason why everyone seems so down but he doesn't say anything, and his face gives a small grimace as he starts to float again, rolling onto his back. If she doesn't remember her life as a Guardian then it's not his place to tell her about what's been going on. Even though, with all reasoning, he SHOULD. He reaches into the pocket of his hoodie, fingering the baby teeth casing deep inside the pocket.

At her question, he shrugs.]

Depends on if they believe in me.

[ The more they talk, the more something nags at her subconscious. She's missing something, has been ever since she started teaching. The kids are all tired, sad, afraid. They don't believe her when she talks about Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, though they're at the age where their beliefs would be the strongest. It's so upsetting to her, some days.

But she stays strong, and now she's talking to someone who has the same level of fame. ]

That... [ Sounds so familiar. So sad. Lonely. ] I talked about you a lot, but I don't think I ever really believed until now.

You believed in me once before. A long time ago.

[She was the one who had embraced his becoming a Guardian the most aside from North, had encouraged him to help them against Pitch.

Something he'd thrown back in their faces when he joined the King of Nightmares.

He starts to float casually on his side before uprighting himself again, landing on his feet in front of her. Almost immediately ice spreads from his feet across the floor, but only in a small dose.]

It feels like I did.

[ She watches as the ice spreads across the floor, hands still held close to her body as she thinks over his words. Something in her chest aches with that thought, beyond more than just missing someone you used to care about. Because she knows him. She believes in him, and has for a very long time, but there's just a Jack Frost shaped void in her memories. Which already feel scattered, something that's always bothered her.

Without looking up from the floor, where she's studying the pattern of ice, she reaches out for him again. This time, slender fingers curl in the material of his hoodie, grasping loosely at first before tightening when it registers that he's really there.

She doesn't want him to go again. ]

[He jerks a little when she takes hold of his hoodie, shoulders twitching slightly. He's not used to people like that. Even the kids who can see him are always afraid of him (something he figured Pitch had a hand in). Hesitantly, he brings his free hand up to place it on her shoulder, gently brushing his thumb over the curve before he manages to speak, licking his lips as he lets out a shuddering breath.]

Tooth...

I don't remember you, Jack.

[ Her shoulders scrunch a little beneath his touch, but she doesn't pull away from him. Though she tries to remain steady, Tooth can't help the way her voice softens, almost shakes a little as it really hits her with the familiar chill under her fingers and against her shoulder. Something happened-- to her, to them-- to cause this, and it hurts. ]

Why don't I remember you?

[The chill thrums against her like a steady heartbeat at her words, his fingers curling around her shoulder before he let go, shifting his hand back into the pocket of his hoodie as his other tightened around the length of his staff. If he let her remember, if he let her regain her memories, would she hate him? Would she be angry with him?

His fingers curled around the curve of the casing in his pocket before he lifted his staff to shoulder it, looking down at the floor between them.]

I'm sorry.

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