A large camo colored truck stopped just next to the pair as they made their way up the long driveway. The wind brought in a gush then, strands of her black hair nearly hitting Jack in the face. Oblivious to the near hit, Jadis waved at the man inside the truck. "Well hello, hello Patrick. You're a few hours into the day to rescue me, but better late than never."
An arm cloaked in camo sleeves and glove stuck out of the window, followed soon by a head. His hair was as black as the snow was white although just as messy despite the short cut. His eyes were a startlingly bright shade of blue though, just one shade less electric than Jack's suit. "Hello Miss Jadis," his voice came out like hot chocolate, sweet and warm. "Apologies for the delay. Damn storm froze my livestock's water source. Took a while to remedy."
"Ah, that sucks, I'm sorry. Jack Frost did the same to my heater, little brat." Jadis shook her head. Behind her, Jack gave her a sharp look.
"Right, your Jack Frost," Patrick shook his head with a grin, "Anyway, who's that man behind you? You do realize he's behind you right? If not, I've got a shotgun in the back…"
"So funny." Jadis rolled her eyes before stepping to the side. "Patrick, this is Jack Claus. Jack, this is Patrick Gooder. This one," she gestured to Jack, "wandered over this morning. His car broke down a few miles away. Telephone line is down as well or we would have called Triple A."
Patrick's eyes traveled over Jack's suit before resting sharply on his hair. His lips twitched. He wanted to laugh. "Uh, nice to meet you…Mr. Claus, was it?" A small snort escaped his hold.
In the back of his mind, Jack wondered how much magic he would use if he simply turned this prick into an ice statue right here and now. "Call me 'Jack'." He said with a false smile.
"Jack, good to see Jadis has left you in one piece." Patrick held his hand out. When Jack took it reluctantly, he gave it a near crushing squeeze and shake. "Last man who ventured onto her property without warning now has a scar to show for it."
"You walked up at night, can you really blame me?!" Jadis protested.
"Say as you will, Miss Jadis, but I swear I still have phantom pains in my left hand." Patrick flexed said hand.
Jack's eyebrows raised at this news. He recalled that she had reached for a knife when they first met. He was quite glad to have avoided any…marks. "I see."
"Jadis, your, uh, guest is frozen over. Thought you were a good hostess. I mean, at least you were when I came over a few nights ago. Mmm, that stew!" Patrick was still studying the blue suited man.
For once, Jack didn't mind being talked about. He was able to study, glare, and plan this man's demise as he stood to the side of the conversation. Jadis, however, laughed softly. "I offered him some spiked cider, thanks. And he's fine, unless he hasn't said anything yet. Are you frozen, Jack?" When the man shook his head, she smirked. "See? He's fine."
"Uh, your hair is um…" Patrick nodded to his hair.
Jack bristled further, his body stern and tense. If his words could ice over, this was the moment. "Freeze-dried, all the rage in New York." If he gritted his teeth in restraint anymore, they may just crack. It had been many, many years since he had to restrain himself from…anything really. He was Santa Claus, after all, everyone bended to his will in the North Pole!
A giggle interrupted his thought process. In fact, for the first time in many years, the noise cut through his temper as well. Normally it would have just furthered it, infuriated him, but this time…his mind was clear. Strange.
It was Jadis who giggled, naturally. When he looked to her, she blushed and looked away. "Ahem, well anyway. You have perfect timing, Patrick. Might you be able to give Jack a lift to his car and maybe give it a start? I'm sure it's just a battery issue. Jack, would you mind that? I'm sure you're awfully busy in the city and all."
"Yeah, I can do that." Patrick paused before adding, "Heard there was another storm coming tonight so this might be the only window. Well then…Jack…shall we?"
The blue man hadn't taken his eyes off Jadis. He was still…taken aback by how quickly his fury had vanished. What an odd instance. "Hm?" The city? Oh, right, the reason why he was here. He was to find a woman to marry for the sake of keeping his title as Santa. The best bet would be in city – a beautiful woman to praise him, to fall head over heels with him. And himself? Eh, he could be charming when he wanted to. "Oh, that is correct."
"Alright well," Jadis' smile fell slightly, as if disappointed. "Patrick, be nice and thank you. And Jack…pleasure to meet you, really." She stepped forward without warning. Her arms went around Jack's neck, a firm hug nearly as firm as Patrick's handshake. "If you feel like getting lost again," her cheek brushed against his as she started to pull away, "you know where to find me. Or not since you need to be lost."
The hug had startled Jack, made him tense even. Under any other circumstance, he would have turned the person's arms to useless blocks of ice at such a daring move. His personal space, his bubble, how dare they! When Jadis hugged him, however, nothing happened. He merely tensed and awkwardly raised his hands, not touching her though. When she pulled away, he let his hands drop as quick as they were awkwardly raised.
"Right, well...thank you for the cider. And uh, good luck on…Mr. Man over there." It was because he didn't want to waste his magic, yes, that was it. That was why Jadis was still warm, breathing, alive. And the fact that he could still feel the warmth from her blushing cheek against his was just…hallucination. From…from the de-Santafication process, right. Right…
With a wave and a door shutting, the truck with Patrick and Jack were off. Jadis stood in the driveway for another long moment despite the fact that they were gone. She forced herself finally to turn away. Jack Claus…Snowball…Icicle…Jack…Frost.
She walked past the snowman they – she mostly – made and sighed. No matter, she thought. Best prepare for the next storm.
The truck ride to Jack's car was…bumpy. He would bet money that this Patrick hick was doing it on purpose. Each bump cut his thought process short. A car. They were going to 'his car'. This did not exist. What to do? Tell Patrick to let him off here?
No, the man would certainly tell Jadis. Wait, why did he care if Jadis knew or not? It wasn't as if they would meet again. After all, he needed a woman who wouldn't mind the idea of Santa Claus, who worshipped Santa Claus. In this world, it was easy enough to do. Everyone knew of the red suit…the red suit was popular.
Jack Frost was not.
He needed a woman who liked, who knew, who worshipped Santa Claus.
What use would Jadis be with her adoration for Frost? Frost was a myth, Frost didn't matter…Claus did. And Jadis…wasn't harsh on the eyes. Well, no, no, he brushed it away. It didn't matter. He had to find a Claus-loving woman.
"So, where's your car?" Patrick inquired after the third mile.
Car, right. Car. Hm. Regardless what he told Jadis – he would never see the woman again, after all – he did need a ride for town. A ride that would attract women…ah, he knew!
A Porsche appeared right around the corner. "There it is." He smirked. A soft ding came from his wrist. Nine. Eh, it was worth it.
When Patrick stopped the car, Jack got out and walked to his car. "Battery issue?" Patrick asked as he started to get out of his truck.
"Nope, no problem." Jack didn't want to spend one more second with this brute. To show this further, he started the car. It came to life and he smirked. Oh yeah, he thought, definitely worth the price of magic. "Enjoy the storm." He purred before driving off.
Patrick stood there a moment longer, shaking his head. What a strange man. Even stranger, Patrick mused as he got back into his truck, was the lie he had told Jadis.