I think some company is overdue...

[moonsummoned]

Jack's decided he's in the mood for a change of scene. Most of his spare time can find him in the park or on rooftops, playing pranks that bring smiles to kids' faces or else just having a good time. Half the time, he forgets about what responsibilities and routines normal humans might have, much less trying to pass them.

But today he's in the mood for something different. That's why he finds himself in front of the used bookstore, browsing the temporary shelving and tables they've put out. He can only assuming they were expecting a milder day than the chilly, gray one they've got on their hands but that doesn't seem to stop bookworms too much.

Seeing as he can't really feel the cold, Jack's more than happy to join them and see if there's anything that strikes his fancy.

Comments

[anopendoor]

It's not as if Anna is unaccustomed to having a lot of time to spare. If anything, it's the one thing about life in Darrow that feels like the one she left behind, though even then, that isn't saying much. She has a whole city to explore now, after all, instead of days spent cooped up inside the castle gates. Getting used to any of this is going to take a lot of work still, but it's effort she's willing to make. With so much to do, to see, to experience, and so many people to meet, she'd be crazy not to want to.

Heading down the street, she notices the display of books first, thinking she'll stop just to see what's there. No sooner has she done so, though, than she realizes that someone else has had the same idea, one of few people here she'd recognize. A lot of that first day in Darrow remains a blur, but she could never have forgotten Jack Frost himself, who has powers like her sister. "Jack!" she says brightly. "Hi."

[moonsummoned]

"Anna! Hey!" They've only properly spoken once but Jack is glad to see her. Playing at being gallant, he sweeps an arm out toward the book table, "You go first."

He's thought before that Elsa's grace and beauty remind her of Toothiana but there's something of her cheerfulness and hope in Anna. It makes Jack want to befriend them all the more.

"I promise this weather is not my fault."

[anopendoor]

"Oh, good," Anna says, shooting a grateful smile to him as she steps up to the table. She wouldn't have actually thought that he'd have had anything to do with it, since from what she's gathered, there are a few months missing as well as over a century and a half from the time she and Elsa came from, landing them squarely in winter. Still, when they only just brought summer back to Arendelle, she can't pretend she's thrilled about the weather. But Jack was nice when they met before, and he more than clearly knows what he's doing with his own powers. "Coming from July to this? Yeah, I don't really recommend it."

[moonsummoned]

"Wouldn't know," Jack says, smiling. "It all feels like winter to me."

He can remember summer and he knows what it looks like, but for the most part Jack simply knows cold. It doesn't sadden him, but he knows it's not the same for everyone. Goodness knows, Elsa seems to long for warmth sometimes.

"Still, at least there's stuff to do, no matter the season."

[anopendoor]

"Is that what it's like?" Anna asks, turning more fully away from the books so she can really look at Jack. "Everything seeming cold, no matter what time of year it is?" It might be a little intrusive, she knows — okay, a lot intrusive — but she and Elsa are still really only getting to know each other, making up for the time they missed. There's a lot she hasn't yet gotten to ask her sister, that she hasn't thought to. Now that Jack's mentioned this, she might as well ask him.

[moonsummoned]

"Yeah," Jack says, watching her face. It doesn't take a genius to guess that she's thinking about Elsa. "But it's not like I feel cold. That's just what I am. It's more like just don't feel warmth. If I touched a fire, it'd probably frost out on me."

It's just the nature of who he is. That's okay.

[anopendoor]

"Wow," Anna says, though really, it makes sense. Of course having that kind of connection to cold and ice would have such an effect. It's not like a person could melt — not, that is, in the way snow does — and there's no way there wouldn't be any reaction. "Have you always... had powers like that, or did you get them later?"

[moonsummoned]

He's had the conversation with Elsa, but Jack doesn't mind repeating it. It seems important and good that both of them hear it. "I was born human. No powers or anything. I didn't get like this until I was seventeen."

[anopendoor]

"How?" Anna asks, realizing only a moment later that maybe she shouldn't. Jack has been nothing but friendly so far, and she doubts he'd be able to blame her for being curious, but still, it's kind of personal. Elsa kept her powers secret for most of their lives, after all. "Sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. This is just all still pretty new to me."

[moonsummoned]

Jack shakes his head, holding his hands up. "I don't mind telling, but the story can be a little...dark. Do you want to hear it?"

He still remembers Elsa's face when he'd told her that he had died.

[anopendoor]

Anna's expression grows a little more serious at that, but it's out of concern for him, not what she's about to hear. She can handle it. With all she's seen and done and been through of late, that, to her, just stands to reason. Besides, she's at least fairly certain that however Jack got his powers isn't how Elsa got hers. "I do," she says, "as long as you're sure."

[moonsummoned]

Jack nods and then puts down the book he was examining. If he's really meant to have it, it'll still be on the table in a few minutes. For now, he gestures to a nearby street bench and sits, waiting for Anna to do the same.

"When I was born, I was human...no powers or anything. I was just your average guy but one day, my sister and I decided to go ice skating."

[anopendoor]

Anna nearly grins, that having been what she and Elsa were doing when they got here. He'd said the story was dark, though, and somehow, she doubts it'll have a happy ending. Instead, she takes a deep breath, one leg tucked up under her so she can better face him on the bench, and nods along. "What happened?"

[moonsummoned]

"It was too warm," Jack explains. "The ice cracked and she was about to fall through. I pushed her off the ice to save her but I fell through..."

Jack looks at her a little uncertain, knowing it's a pretty harsh twist in the story.

"But the Man in the Moon realized what I'd done...so he brought me back to life and gave me these powers."

[anopendoor]

Anna draws in a breath, eyes widening as she looks at Jack. Like he'd said, it is a dark story. What's more, it's one she understands. Since showing up here, she hasn't had much time or occasion to think about what happened before Arendelle thawed, how she'd thrown herself under Hans' sword. Now, though, it's inescapable, even if this is far from the time to mention it.

"I didn't know there was a real man in the moon," she says, voice soft, sympathetic. "So that's why the ice."

[moonsummoned]

"Exactly," Jack replies. He keeps his tone soft, knowing that what he's said is hard to hear, knowing that he and Elsa are so alike in ways.

"But she was my sister. I couldn't just do nothing."

[anopendoor]

"I know," Anna says, just as quiet, before she even realizes the words are leaving her mouth. She hasn't talked about it, not really, not even with Elsa, what happened out on the fjord. Now, much as she might feel for Jack, it's impossible not to think about. "I — I saved Elsa. Not long before we got here."

[moonsummoned]

Jack raises his eyebrows, listening to what Anna has to say. The expression on his face gives him the impression that it had required a massive sacrifice, powered by love.

"You want to talk about it?"

[anopendoor]

"It's a long story," Anna says with an exhale of a laugh, the crooked smile on her face genuine, though there's the slightest of tremors in her voice. Really, she wouldn't even know where to begin explaining it now, the way everything came together — Elsa striking her, Hans and his lies and his leaving her for dead. She's still not sure how so much happened in such a short time. Here, she's been able to put most of it far from her. This is the first time that hasn't been the case. "Someone was trying to kill her, and I... stepped in front of his sword."

[moonsummoned]

Jack reaches out and takes Anna's hand, giving it what he hopes is a comforting squeeze. He doesn't know the exact details. The story isn't exactly the same, but in that moment he thinks that he and Anna really are the same kind of person.

"We'd do anything for the people we love."

[anopendoor]

"Yeah," Anna says with a nod, certain of that much. If she had to go back, she'd do the same thing, without question. That, she thinks, probably says more than any explanation she could try to give it, either to someone else or in her own head. Now that they're here, she thinks it's all that matters, too. "No matter what."