07-26-2013, 02:31 AM
Every king should have a Jack in his court.
Especially Rat Kings from Under-the-Ground.
Here is Jack of the Nosferatu, present and accounted for: why, of course he is. Hideous Jack, with his monstrous visage, his wretched curse-twisted face belied by the honey-tongue voice and the bright star-gleam of his sharp eyes, absolutely Nobody you want to look at twice, abso-tive-ly the cringe-nightmare of what the vampiric soul might be warped into if one isn't careful, oh, if one isn't full-of-care, though he isn't all rags-and-bones or trash-and-sludge. No, Jack is impeccable and immaculate (it makes it worse [more horrifying]), as far as these things go: a boogeyman-monster dressed like a gentleman Jack.
Now.
Here he is.
But where is here?
He does attend his primogen. Yes. But he is politely comfortable in Elysia and among non-Sewer dwelling kindred. He is serene in the face of Those-Who-Can't-Meet-His-Eyes and he is serene in the face of Those-Who-Do-Too-Deliberately, like, See-I've-Seen-Worse. He is serene: sure. But rather more, he is affable, and friendly, and oh so available.
At a certain and precise moment, the moment of tableau-setting, Jack is oh so available at the piano by the imposing Assamite and the less-imposing Giovanni.
Especially Rat Kings from Under-the-Ground.
Here is Jack of the Nosferatu, present and accounted for: why, of course he is. Hideous Jack, with his monstrous visage, his wretched curse-twisted face belied by the honey-tongue voice and the bright star-gleam of his sharp eyes, absolutely Nobody you want to look at twice, abso-tive-ly the cringe-nightmare of what the vampiric soul might be warped into if one isn't careful, oh, if one isn't full-of-care, though he isn't all rags-and-bones or trash-and-sludge. No, Jack is impeccable and immaculate (it makes it worse [more horrifying]), as far as these things go: a boogeyman-monster dressed like a gentleman Jack.
Now.
Here he is.
But where is here?
He does attend his primogen. Yes. But he is politely comfortable in Elysia and among non-Sewer dwelling kindred. He is serene in the face of Those-Who-Can't-Meet-His-Eyes and he is serene in the face of Those-Who-Do-Too-Deliberately, like, See-I've-Seen-Worse. He is serene: sure. But rather more, he is affable, and friendly, and oh so available.
At a certain and precise moment, the moment of tableau-setting, Jack is oh so available at the piano by the imposing Assamite and the less-imposing Giovanni.