#//almost added a sad note about jack being willing to embrace homeopathic remedies and alternative medicine

[gas-stxtion-a]

@modestmuses said: Does Jack believe he has had any personal encounters with ghosts, the occult, aliens, or the supernatural?

//would be incredibly funny if the answer to this was a flat-out no, considering the series we're talking about. but, i don't think the answer is exactly a definite *yes* either.

i was originally planning to answer this ask by talking about a specific experience jack had, the first time he ever personally talked to the bathroom cowboy, but i think i'll just discuss his thoughts on the supernatural in general.

so jack, by this point, has completely and comfortably accepted the reality that supernatural shit exists. he's not so stupid and stubborn as to pretend otherwise, even if he has a hard time believing in a lot of things. (ex: he does not believe psychics are a thing.)

in general, jack tries to keep an open mind when it comes to the supernatural, even if there's a lot he had a hard time believing in. what gets to him is when people present this stuff and expect him to believe it at face value or belittle him when he has questions. if you earnestly believe you have psychic powers, he'll probably be confused and doubtful but ultimately accepting as long as you're not a huge asshole to him.

because really, reality is subjective, and jack is very used to not totally trusting his own experiences and perspective on what's *real* and what isn't. so who is he to dictate what's real to another person, even if it's something he has some doubts about, as long as they're not insisting on their superiority?

the old woman at the very beginning of volume one was a creepy asshole who invaded his personal space right away and refused to respect his boundaries, so he disregarded any and all prophecies she spouted. someone who had a different approach may have gotten a different and more open-minded response.

aaand just for fun, some thoughts on the specific things mentioned in this ask.

ghosts - jack believes ghosts can do whatever the fuck they want and he doesn't really get a say in the matter either way. him not believing doesn't mean the bathroom cowboy isn't still scaring people who just want to shit in peace.

the occult - this is a bit dicier, but for the most part jack does still keep an open mind here. still, though, he's a lot more likely to tell you he thinks you're a dumbass to your face if you come at him insisting you alone have the secret occult knowledge of the universe.

aliens - aliens are real and jack has definitely seen them, but as long as they don't bother him he doesn't care.