nightmarejack

[nightmarejack]

"Oh." He blinked in mild surprise, turning that idea over in his mind. There were any number of drawbacks to being entombed in a body of flesh that Jack had been forced to contemplate now that he was stuck in one. It was like a badly-fitted suit that required constant upkeep to remain functional, and he sorely missed the freedom of his less corporal form. Oddly, though, mortality wasn't something he'd ever considered in-depth. Jack had a tendency to become so focused on the details that he sometimes missed the very obvious.

Death had never frightened him before, however, and it didn't now. How could it? The Skellingtons and Death were old friends, even in this place that positively oozed with life. "Well, we know for a fact that life persists after death." His lips curved into a small, soft smile, an arm wrapping around her shoulders to draw her closer. "I suppose I assumed we would too… If anyone is well-suited to being a ghost or a haunt like the ones of our world, it's us. Perhaps we'll be bound together even there." He pressed a soft kiss to her hair, wanting to comfort her.

He realized with a slightly guilty start that he'd done the opposite when she pulled back. Maybe he should have continued to keep that to himself. Jack was full up with everyone's secrets; he didn't like keeping them from the love of his undead life. "The darkness that chased us out has… expanded. Parts of our world don't seem to exist anymore. There's simply nothing where they used to be. The rest is decaying, and I fear it will cease to exist altogether in time. I can't think what kind of force could blink an entire world out of existence like that."

you'll never know a single day without me by your side.

@twistedtangledfate

"I never thought to question it before now. Perhaps I took our home a little for granted," he admitted, the corner of his mouth twitching in a wry smile. It was utterly strange to be trapped in a fully flesh body. Although he could still feel the power of the Pumpkin King in his bones, he was finding it difficult to access it fully the way he used to. It was yet another thing Jack had taken for granted in Halloweentown, but could he really be blamed? Their home had been eternal, until it wasn't.

There were many things to dislike about being trapped on the human plane, when they'd once had the power to come and go as they pleased. The one consolation was getting their people to (relative) safety. He would have been out of his skull with worry if he couldn't see for himself that Sally was safe. "Much as I wish we could go home, I'm grateful you're here with me," he added, more softly.

[nightmarejack]

"That's very logical," he approved. "Is there anything I can do to help you settle in?" It settled something in him to see her consider the question carefully. Jack valued thoughtfulness, even if he would have preferred to see her happier. She didn't brush aside his concerns. Since that one disastrous time he'd failed to listen to her about Christmas, he tried to give her the same courtesy. He made mistakes, but he did try to learn from them.

On Jack's end, at least, okay and a slight edge of apprehension eased into something closer to happiness. "I would," he confirmed, his hand coming to rest on the side of her face, his forehead tipping to hers. "You are the very best thing in my life, if what we have can be considered a life." A faint smile quirked his lips. Despite being technically, well, dead, he did consider himself very much alive. And he wanted to spend that life with her.

"You'd only just gotten your freedom. I wanted you to have some time to adjust to it and be sure of yourself before I added myself to the equation. But I do want to be with you, very much. I'll do my best to make you happy."

🌕 - for our muses to sit beneath a full moon together.

@twistedtangledfate

It was the busiest time of year in Halloweentown, those October nights slipping by so quickly he couldn't catch hold of one while the whole town prepared for the big event. Jack couldn't really afford to slip away right now, but that was precisely when he needed it most. He was past that obsession with Christmas and his weariness with his own holiday, but that didn't mean it wasn't occasionally exhausting to be at everyone's beck and call. He needed a few minutes of solitude to recharge, and the hill overlooking the graveyard was the only place he was likely to find it.

The moonlight made his ordinarily pale skin almost translucent, and there was something distinctly more skeletal about his face in that light, deep shadows casting black hollows where his eyes should be. Skellingtons had always been eldritch creatures, nothing human about him. He turned at the sound of someone approaching but relaxed when he saw that it was Sally, the only company besides Zero's he would have welcomed tonight. He'd always found her presence to be peaceful. She didn't take energy like most others. "Would you like to join me?"

[nightmarejack]

Jack could admit to making the same snap judgments about her as everyone else. Because she didn't look the part of the job, he'd assumed initially that she couldn't do it. Unlike most people, though, he was ruled by evidence, and he was more than willing to walk back that erroneous assessment after the first day. It was all the longer she'd needed to prove she was more than up to the task. He'd never so much as batted an eyelash at what she wore or that incongruous smile since. It was possible he didn't even notice. Jack tended to live more inside his head than anywhere else. Getting him to focus on the living rather than the dead was a near-insurmountable feat.

It was an asset when it came to his work, and he barely looked up from the file in front of him when she appeared. It wasn't until the scent of coffee hit him that he emerged, blinking up at her as he picked up the cup, an automatic thank you on his lips. It was a comfortable habit to trade off the caffeine runs. Since Jack didn't excel at remembering everyday things like that, he had an alert set on his phone for alternate mornings.

"I saw that in the paper. Not as straightforward as it looked?" Interest pulled his brows together. The newspapers had talked of little else since it happened, but it had seemed clear where the fire started. The more philosophical questions like why weren't typically something a body could tell them. His gaze flicked briefly back to the open file on his desk. "It looks like an open and shut murder/suicide. But the bodies will tell." He shrugged, not putting a lot of stock in that initial assessment either. Much like Alya, it might turn out to be something entirely different underneath.

@nightmarejack gets a starter!

In a room filled with furrowed brows, pinched mouths, and unbecoming wrinkles -- Alya is a stark contrast. She sweeps through those doors with a little bounce in her step; the curled ends of a pristine ponytail brushing the tops of her shoulders in rhythm with her stride.

Everyone seems to be in fair enough spirits -- when you consider the nature of the work that they do, anyway. Some are evidently annoyed (perhaps stumped by a particular aspect of the case they're working; or being faced with an uncooperative witness); but Alya spares them little more than a passing smile, or a little wave as greeting. She has a particular mark in mind.

"Good morning, Jack~ Your coffee --" A familiar paper cup is set carefully on the desk before him; from the local coffee shop Alya visits each time it's her turn to retrieve their caffeine fix.

Crystalline eyes are alight with excitement as she holds her own cup between both hands now, manicured fingers drumming against the sides impatiently.

"And in exchange, you tell me something about the case you're working! Show me yours, and I'll show you mine~ Heads up; I've been put on the arson case. They've called for an autopsy, and everything!"

[nightmarejack]

changed my URL, follow me. milclark

[nightmarejack]

Milo Ventimiglia as Charlie Nicoletti The Company You Keep S01E01 “Pilot”

[nightmarejack]

Nightmare Before Christmas Dividers

made with picsart

credit appreciated!

[nightmarejack]

[nightmarejack]

"Are you?" She didn't sound sure. He liked to see her fitting in better to the bustle of Halloweentown, but he hadn't yet observed some of the downsides that came with it. Jack, of all people, understood them though. It was one of the reasons he was currently hiding in the graveyard. His people could be a little intense about their affections. He loved the work and he was great at it, but the social aspect of being a king wasn't always a part he enjoyed. He would have found it simpler to have his work admired from afar.

"Please. It would be a relief to speak of something else." He smiled slightly, reaching for her hand to stop her twisting them in her lap. That depended on what she had to say, of course. It would be discouraging to find her feelings were only friendship, but he could understand. He was by no means a perfect person, and being with him came with a spotlight. But if she did want more… it would be unfair to make her speak her feelings first. He held her gaze, eyes black and hollow-looking in the moonlight. "I understand if you don't feel the same way… but I think you know I'd like more than friendship with you."

🌕 - for our muses to sit beneath a full moon together.

@twistedtangledfate

It was the busiest time of year in Halloweentown, those October nights slipping by so quickly he couldn't catch hold of one while the whole town prepared for the big event. Jack couldn't really afford to slip away right now, but that was precisely when he needed it most. He was past that obsession with Christmas and his weariness with his own holiday, but that didn't mean it wasn't occasionally exhausting to be at everyone's beck and call. He needed a few minutes of solitude to recharge, and the hill overlooking the graveyard was the only place he was likely to find it.

The moonlight made his ordinarily pale skin almost translucent, and there was something distinctly more skeletal about his face in that light, deep shadows casting black hollows where his eyes should be. Skellingtons had always been eldritch creatures, nothing human about him. He turned at the sound of someone approaching but relaxed when he saw that it was Sally, the only company besides Zero's he would have welcomed tonight. He'd always found her presence to be peaceful. She didn't take energy like most others. "Would you like to join me?"

[nightmarejack]

It was ironic how Jack was considered the strange one in a town like this. His interests might be rather dark and unusual, but in his mind, there was nothing unnatural about death. It was simply a fact of life and nothing to be frightened of. Humans could be terrible enough that there were far worse fates than dying. To him, it was that purposeless cruelty that was deviant and unnatural. He didn't even pretend to understand the day to day horrors people unleashed on one another.

The silence stretched as they made their way across the street, for so long that Jack thought perhaps he wasn't going to answer his question. He didn't ask it again, however. He wasn't the sort of person to push a conversation or find a silence uncomfortable, and he thought perhaps Caleb needed a few moments to collect himself. It hadn't escaped his notice that he looked rather upset when he came out of his office, as though he might have been crying. He couldn't, of course, have guessed the real reason for Caleb's distraction.

They must have made an odd vision together, Jack tall and dark, Caleb small and bright, but if people were staring, Jack was the last person to notice. He typically couldn't be bothered by what other people were doing or saying. If he could be single-minded about his work, he could get equally absorbed in his company, the rest of the world narrowing down to the person he was with. His attention could be intense once someone had it. It made most people uncomfortable.

"What would you like to do with that?" There was no judgement in the question, merely polite interest. Jack might have no talent for the arts, but they had his full support. Anyone who had ever enjoyed a stage play or an art gallery or a song on the radio could see the logic of supporting artists. They made the world more enjoyable. Moreover, he could see the way Caleb came to life when he spoke about them, and that alone was worth continuing on the topic. He sensed that he didn't have a lot of people in his life who let him talk about his interests at his leisure.

There was some definite skepticism in his expression as he eyed the face-painting booth that had caught Caleb's attention. That certainly wasn't something Jack ever would have chosen on his own. He'd assumed it was for children, but then, he'd forgotten he was in the company of an artist. Caleb saw the world from an entirely different perspective than Jack's distant, almost clinical, calculations. He decided that was a perspective he could indulge in for the afternoon. It was useful to see the world from another angle from time to time, and he realized he had a vested interest in making sure the young man had a nice afternoon. If he didn't get to do things like this often, they might as well check everything off his wishlist.

"I'm in your capable hands." He gestured for him to lead the way.

Bone Daddy: Caleb/Jack

@nightmarejack

It was that time of year again. That time when the leaves began to fall, colors began to change, and an ominous cold wind silently blew it’s way over the little town of Haddonfield. Infamously known as “ Halloweentown,” Haddonfield was a small and quite little town that was known for it’s year round autuminal vibes, hence it’s nick name. Many citizens came to hate the holiday; they would only indulge in it to get a profit. However, there was one Haddonfield resident that absolutely loved this time of year; his name was Caleb Anderson.

He was a tiny young man who was known for his abnormal physical beauty. He was eighteen years old, yet he had the face of a cherub. He was absolutely adorable, and kind hearted to boast. Haddonfield was a close minded place. So much so, many of it’s men were buried deep in the closet, both young and old, but that didn’t stop any of them from trying to make their advances on the young man. Many have tried, and all of them failed. That’s because Caleb’s mind was somewhere else; Caleb’s mind was on someone else.

His name was Professor Jack Skellington. Many thought that to be a stage name, but it wasn’t. Professor Jack Skellington was the Professor of Forensic Science at Haddonfield University. He also worked for the Haddonfield Police Department in their Forensics field. Many dubbed him the professor of all things weird. Many thought he was a weird and strange man, so much so, his students have given him the nickname “ The Pumpkin King.” While many of his students found the professor bizarre, and somewhat off putting, Caleb found him fascinating.

Caleb was a dance and literature major. His curriculum did not require forensic science at all. The boy did not have to take the class; he wanted to. In fact, he was passing the class with flying colors. He took the class because he was fascinated by the man who taught the subject. Many may have seen Mr. Skellington as bizarre, but for Caleb, he found him charismatic and fascinating. The boy was captivated by his professor’s commanding presence over his subject. In the older man, Caleb found a kindred spirit; he found someone who love the darker aspects of life as much as he did. The boy may look like an angel, but no one knew he had a dark past, and he had a natural inclination towards all things misunderstood and mysterious.

After another insightful and captivating lecture, the class was dismissed for the day. It was Caleb’s last class for the day, and he had a little something he wanted to give his professor; a small token of his appreciation for the man’s intellect, knowledge and handsome appearance. Caleb made sure to keep that last bit a heavily guarded secret. As the rest of the students left for the day, Caleb made his way toward’s Professor Skellington’s office. Finding the courage within, the young man took a deep breath and knocked on his educator’s door.

“ Knock, Knock,” said the auburn haired boy in a sweet and friendly voice as he stood in the professor’s doorway. “ Hi Professor. Do you have a minute?” Caleb tried to keep his nerves at bay. He rarely had a minute alone with the handsome man, so he tried to be professional, but he was failing…….miserably.

[nightmarejack]

Jack had always thought himself ill-suited for romance. He knew what he was like. He could get wrapped up in his work to the point of obsessiveness, all outside concerns forgotten. It wasn't very fair of him to expect a partner to tolerate that. But it was easier than he'd ever expected with Sally. True, he could still get very distracted by his work, but it was a comfort to set it down and have someone to turn to at the end of the day. The benefit of that single-mindedness was that it worked in her favor too. When he was with Sally, the rest of the world ceased to exist. It was just them the way it had been on the hilltop that first Halloween night. A part of him had never really left that place where he first fell in love with her.

"Does that worry you? Running out of time?" A slight frown formed between his brows. Jack didn't think a lot about being mortal, outside of the everyday considerations of being trapped in a human body. It was troublesome, to say the least. But dying didn't worry him. They of all people knew that death wasn't something to fear. What little evidence he had suggested that if they died they'd end up exactly where they started back in Halloweentown. "I'm afraid there's little to go back to, my love," he admitted quietly. "I didn't want to tell the others. I think it's better for them to have hope. But I doubt anyone could survive there long."

you'll never know a single day without me by your side.

@twistedtangledfate

"I never thought to question it before now. Perhaps I took our home a little for granted," he admitted, the corner of his mouth twitching in a wry smile. It was utterly strange to be trapped in a fully flesh body. Although he could still feel the power of the Pumpkin King in his bones, he was finding it difficult to access it fully the way he used to. It was yet another thing Jack had taken for granted in Halloweentown, but could he really be blamed? Their home had been eternal, until it wasn't.

There were many things to dislike about being trapped on the human plane, when they'd once had the power to come and go as they pleased. The one consolation was getting their people to (relative) safety. He would have been out of his skull with worry if he couldn't see for himself that Sally was safe. "Much as I wish we could go home, I'm grateful you're here with me," he added, more softly.

[nightmarejack]

This is how Friday nights should be!

[nightmarejack]

by Boatwright

[nightmarejack]

You know, I’ve always wonder why Jack Skellington is almost always associated and/or hanging out with Disney Villains in the Disney shows. He’s a good guy, a hero, a Disney King; yet he’s always seen affiliating with both good and bad guys. One moment he’ll be buddy-buddy with Mickey Mouse, and then the next he’s inviting Captain Hook for a stay at his party in his Disney on Ice segment.

What if Jack Skellington is a neutral character? The villains can’t hurt him because of his stealth and the fact that he’s already dead, and they seem to not mind him(they probably just tolerate him at best). But he’s also a good guy who fights evil if need be.

Maybe Jack knows where to draw the line? That he’s the one character who can tell when things are just in the name of fun and when they are in the name of true evil. We all know Sally(his girlfriend) is the voice of good; she’d stand up against the Villains…but Jack would rather converse with them and welcome them to what he has planned.

He’s only seen around Halloween time. Disney really loves to bring out the villains that time of year, possibly for trouble-making and evil-affiliation. Disney probably ran into a wall trying to figure out where to place Jack, so they decided to have HIM be the one who ties the villains and heroes together, not exactly establishing if he’s on either side, but that he’s there as an authority to keep the Villains in line during Halloween.

One thing I really love about this, though….Is when the villains are all crowding the visitors, speaking of their horrible intentions and harmful ideas…the little children who are watching the horror slowly unravel before them in the show…they only have Jack, at that moment in time, to rely on. The one character who’s on the borderline of “good” standing in the middle of all these villains. The only guy to step in while Mickey is gone and stop the Villains from going overboard.

He’s someone who the children would hide behind if evil came, despite it all. And if that’s another reason to love Jack Skellington, then I’m all the way for it.

[nightmarejack]

milo ventimiglia — brioni formalwear collection fall/winter 2017

[nightmarejack]

MotionPictureSource’s Event: Christmas Countdown: 14 Days Until Christmas

But I never intended all this madness, never! And nobody really understood, how could they? That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great. Why does nothing ever turn out like it should? Well, what the heck, I went and did my best, and, by God, I really tasted something swell. And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky, and at least I left some stories they can tell, I did. And for the first time since I don’t remember when I felt just like my old bony self again, and I, Jack, the Pumpkin King..That’s right, I am the Pumpkin King!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) dir. Henry Selick

[nightmarejack]

Sally: Did you do it?

Jack: Something goes wrong, you blame me. After all these years, where's the trust?

Sally: ...

Jack: ... Yeah, I did.

[nightmarejack]

Drew my first fictional husband

I wouldn’t be where I am as an artist were it not for this movie <3