#tnbc fanfiction

[anauthore]

Escape From Halloweentown {Jack Skellington x Reader} CHAPTER 5 - Good Morning

Summary: When a game of hide-and-seek goes wrong, you find yourself lost in the woods without a way home. Whether it be fate, or just dumb luck, you suddenly find yourself in a far bigger predicament than you ever thought you would be- and it’s not just because you can’t seem to find your little brother.

Pairing: Reader / Jack Skellington. A very slow burn fic.

NOTE: This is a full-length fanfic! If you don’t want to read chapter by chapter on tumblr, please use the following links to read in a different format / on a different website!

CW: Slight NSFW themes

Hey all! I'm back with this chapter and it has some... surprises. I know I specified that this is a slow burn fic, and it IS, but some spice doesn't hurt here. Also, I wanted to put a content warning in case someone didn't want to read because of their closeness- I'll spoil what happens below for those who are on the edge about it.

As always, thanks for choosing my fic! I really appreciate it x

SPOILER: You and Jack sleep together, and in the morning he accidentally stimulates you with the bones of his leg. It doesn't progress pass 'accidental' and you quickly go to the bathroom.

Wattpad | Quotev | AO3

Fic Below the Cut | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

The fire crackled, a few select sparks flying out and disappearing as quick as they did so. Jack stood watching you, your breaths making your back rise and fall rhythmically, as you slept draped across the windowsill. That can’t be comfortable… Jack thought, his first instinct wanting to bring you to bed and cover you in his blanket. I can’t, he scolded himself. He wouldn’t forgive himself if he lost you. He enjoyed your company, but you’ve become restless, and he can tell that you would take a chance to escape the moment it was presented to you.

Still, something about the way you sat made him frown. He didn’t like that you were sleeping like that, hunched over on your knees, drooling on a platform of wood. Fighting his initial rejection, he tiptoed your direction, careful not to make any noise. Despite this, you stirred, and your eyes popped open.

You wiped your face, turning around so fast that your muscles ached from the stiffness they’d developed prior. There, right behind you, was Jack, looking down at your half-awake form. He’d stopped in his tracks, his eyebrows raised in surprise. Was he praying that you were asleep? What even was his plan? 

You raised your arms up by gut reaction, covering your face and ducking. Jack’s brow raised further, puzzled by your need to protect yourself. Was he really that scary to you? Did you… dislike him that much? The sadness swept through him, lodged deep in his bones. He took a step back, keeping his mouth shut. You stilled your shaking, and peeked through your arm barrier. Jack had moved back a few feet, yet he hadn’t said a word. You lowered your arms slowly, trusting that he wouldn’t charge or do something worse.

Jack waited patiently for you to say something, but you didn’t know what to say. You felt all the thoughts on the situation bounce around your head, and so you just caught one at random, voicing it.

“Were you watching me sleep?”

Jack hesitated, caught off-guard. He’d been watching you for a little bit, yes, but he meant no harm. He couldn’t form all of those words, so he just nodded. “Yes.”

You had no idea how to take that. Your pulse, already pounding at having been woken up, quickened more. “Why?” You sounded more and more desperate, your body short of breath.

Jack really couldn’t answer this one. He didn’t know how you would react, so he just spoke from the heart.

“I was thinking that you couldn’t be comfortable sleeping like that.”

You paused, reflecting on his reply. You didn’t know what to say after that. Was he being creepy, or was he being kind? You continued the conversation for lack of another option.

"It isn't. It hurts my back. And my neck."

Jack took in this information quietly. "Then why did you sleep there?" 

"I don't have very many choices. The bed is too small."

Jack thought about this. You were right; the bed was for his small ghost dog, who didn't need sleep anyway. It served more as a pillow than a mattress. He swallowed, wanting desperately to help you out. Without letting it pass through his mental filter, he spoke. He brought up a solution that had been off limits.

"You can sleep in my bed."

Your heart skipped a beat. You forgot to breath. His bed? 

You worked up the courage to ask. You had to know how he thought this would go if you agreed. "With you?"

Jack was caught off guard once more, but this time his face was stone. He wanted to give you a choice.

"If that's what you want."

. . .

It was awkward enough when the much taller skeleton had touched you gently during your check-up with Dr. Finklestein, but the feeling that burned through you now was definitely worse. You wanted to sleep in a bed- a real bed- and let your body actually rest. And, even though you denied it, you wanted the protection of Jack. You bit your lip, fighting with your inner emotions. You want to, you more than want to, but the logical part of your brain told you that it was dangerous. What if he hurt you? What if he wanted to force himself on you? What if… what if you wanted him? 

Your eyes darted around the room, looking for something- anything- to use to distract yourself. Before you could, Jack spoke once more. His tone seemed…. disappointed. 

"You don't have to, of course. It's an option, not a necessity."

You instantly interjected. "No! That's not- that's- I didn't mean that. I just don't-" You cut yourself off, trying to organzie your thoughts. You started to panic. You closed your eyes tightly, your breaths getting faster, more strained, more panicked, more-

Jack's hand made contact with your shoulder, and he squeezed to take your attention from your racing mind. You reached up and put your own hand atop his, and you grabbed it. He retreated, but before he could you interlocked your fingers in his. You needed someone. For some reason, you needed him.

He didn't quite understand your emotions right now, but he could sense distress. He knelt down, much more around the same height as you. He took his free hand and started rubbing your back in large circles, trying to stimulate slow, deep breaths. Your pulse calmed ever so slightly, and Jack felt a surge of dopamine. It was working. He was helping you.

Once you gained control over your body once more, you realized how close you both were. He sat next to you, your hand in his and his palm rubbing your back. He wasn't doing any harm. He was only trying to make you feel better.

"Would you like to come to bed? With… me?" Jack asked the same question in a different way, trying to make it more 'yes or no' rather than having you explain. That served no purpose for you, and it was easier, anyway.

To Jack's surprise, you nodded, sniffing back snot and tears that were trying to exit your system. You were kind of surprised at yourself, but you couldn't be alone for yet another night. You needed someone.

Jack slipped his hand away from where it was placed in yours, and rose, lifting his palm from your back. He reached out his hand and helped you up, standing still afterward. He took a tender step forward, eyeing you, but you looked calm. He reached his hands up and gently touched your collar, the chain rattling slightly from the shift in weight.

Slowly, he thumbed the studs, twisting it so that he could unlock it with the key he’d kept hidden somewhere on his person. The metal clinked, and popped open within seconds. He removed it from around your neck, tossing it to the side. Your skin was very red, and it looked almost irritated. It felt irritated, but you dared not to fidget or scratch. You knew it would only make matters worse. 

Jack's palm hovered over the affected area, an odd look crossing him. You looked at him just as you had when he was last this close. You tilted your head to the side to give him easier access, and he ran the end of a single digit across the raised irritation bumps. He was so gentle, and his phalanges were cold, but it soothed you more than you'd expected. You leaned into his touch, slightly embarrassed. He stopped for a moment, and you turned back to look at him.

"I'm sorry." 

Jack sounded sincere. He sounded hurt. It seemed like he didn't realize how inhumane he was treating you. You said nothing. 

He sighed to himself and gently pulled you along with him as he went down the spiral staircase you'd been previously kept away from. You remembered that this floor was the one with the tub. You remembered the time you'd bathed, and how gentle Jack was with you then, at your most vulnerable. You trusted him then and it had been okay- trusting him now wasn’t any different.

On the other side of the room was a mattress that had been laid out crookedly. The blankets were tossed to the side, and a single pillow was pushed up against the wall. It looked like Jack hadn't slept at all yet tonight.

He guided you toward his bed, and you realized that it was slightly smaller than a Queen-sized. If you shared, you'd surely be touching him. But you'd also be sleeping on a bed, and as your mind clouded more and more with sleep, you wanted its comfort more and more.

You looked to him for permission, and he nodded, pulling up the blanket to cover you. You laid down, and the moment the blanket hit you, you felt instantly exhausted. You'd cried so much this past week that you weren't sure if you could again. Your brain felt empty, your body fuzzy. Despite this, you scooted over and made room for Jack, who climbed under with you. 

His striped pajama clothes suited him well, and looked more comfortable than the sweats you were given. You didn't want to be rude, but you'd wished you'd had your pajamas. They kept the chill from penetrating into your skin easily.

You shivered. You were cold, especially now that there was no fireplace on this floor. Jack must've noticed, because he nudged himself toward you, just so it was barely noticeable. You breathed in, weighing your options. You were already kept here against your will, you might as well be comfortable.

"You can come closer. You can… hold me. If you want."

Your request came out more like a suggestion. You inwardly cursed yourself for acting so submissive. Still, Jack did as you mentioned and snuck his arm over you, turning on his side. He rested it on the curve of your hip, making sure his only point of contact was his elbow atop the flesh there. For some reason, you thought his hesitance was cute. You lingered on the thought before letting it stay, choosing not to push it down.

You wiggled closer to him, wanting his body to heat yours despite his being a literal skeleton, but he kept moving away. Not caring if he didn't want to hold you at this point, you growled in frustration. 

"I want you to be next to me. I want your body to touch mine." You felt like you were demanding, and quickly followed up with, "If you want that too, I mean."

He didn't respond. For a brief while, he didn't even move. You thought you'd been too mean to him, that your tone had been too much, but he suddenly closed the gap between your bodies and tucked his hand under your ribs, his arm around you snugly. He rested his chin atop your head, his form too tall to go any lower. You felt your nerves ignite, and even worse, the feeling deep in your belly spread farther than it should have.

Still, you felt calm and cozy with Jack snuggled up behind you. Your bodies being pressed together soothed you, and you felt okay. It was almost like you weren't missing. It was almost like you could forget you were very far from home. If you closed your eyes and pretended really hard, it was almost like you were happy.

. . .

You woke up to a bright light passing just over your head, shadowed by the obstacle that is Jack's skull. You forgot that you'd fallen asleep next to him, but it had been worth it; there were no knots in your back or cricks in your neck. You felt well-rested for once.

You were also extremely comfortable. Your limbs were entangled in his, your bodies facing each other while his right palm was pressed firmly against your back. You weren't afraid. If anything, you welcomed his touch. You almost yearned for it. You almost…

Jack stirred and you tried to detangle your bodies, but he pulled you closer. You ceased your actions, looking up at his face. His lids, uncharacteristic of a skeleton, were closed and he looked peaceful. You stared at him for a while longer, taking into account how not monstrous he seemed.

Suddenly, you were staring into two black pits; he'd woken, and found him staring at him. You looked away, your face becoming hot. Quickly, you became aware of exactly what parts of you he was touching: his hand was firmly pressed to your lower back, his thumb grazing the dip in your waist; His pelvic bones were pressing against yours, flesh cushioning them; your chest was pressed to his ribcage; your legs were wrapped around his, his knee resting at the juncture between them. Your body began to burn in embarrassment, but you didn't want to move.

He blinked, and then a smile spread across his face. You felt his bones shake in a soft chuckle, and you were getting more and more self-conscious. You felt the need to apologize, but before the words could even form on your tongue, Jack interrupted you.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

His voice was deeper than usual, thick from lack of use and sleep. His heart rate was steady, despite the position you both were in. There was no doubt that he could feel your thumping pulse from your closeness, but you tried to ignore it. You mumbled out a reply, and he hummed in response. Was he still tired? Did he want to sleep in?

He took a large breath and moved back a smidge, giving you more room to breath. You were grateful, but somewhere inside you, you still wanted him close. You moved forward half the distance, taking a chance. 

He adjusted himself so that your faces were at the same height- it was easier to talk to you this way. He stared at you for another long moment, and this time, you were the one that spoke up.

"Why did you hold me like that? When the Doctor came, I mean."

Your pulse quickened once more, nervousness setting in. Your anxiety always got the best of you in situations like these, but you wanted answers. You needed to know. The question had been burning at you for a while.

"I don't know." 

You hadn't expected that. You'd expected him to make an excuse about his infatuation with humans, or maybe for him to admit some sort of feelings between the two of you. He never elaborated. Just- he doesn’t know why. You had to accept that answer.

"Why did you let me?"

His question caught you off guard. Why had you let him touch you so gently? Why did you let him get close to you now? Why did you yearn for his touch? Why were you even answering questions like these?

"I… liked it. I like when you touch me. I miss being touched."

You swallowed, biting your lip. You repressed a chill as Jack's hand, previously pressed against your back, caressed it's way around to your side, a small squeeze at the curve of your hip letting you know his intent was not malicious. Your back instinctively arched, your body moving forward into the sharp curve of his pelvic bone. You muffled a noise that threatened to come from you, and Jack’s body stiffened. There was no use in hiding the thing that was going on between your two bodies. 

But you could try to ignore it.

Still, you couldn't bring yourself to do so- you wanted to lean in to the feeling, to let it build, and then to satiate it. You wanted it, even though it was extremely selfish. You wanted to be able to trust him at your most vulnerable state. You wanted him to protect you from the other monsters that he governed. You wanted to be safe and loved. You wanted a family. You wanted… home.

You'd hesitated long enough that Jack moved again, his other hand finding it's way to your hair, running his bony fingers through the strands. It felt nice, and you leaned your head into the touch. He took the hand on your hip and inched it upward, caressing the sensitive dip that is your waist, and moving up even more to feel your ribs. The bones protruded slightly, hard and strong under your skin, and Jack's fingers tickled against them.

You let your body turn into putty in his touch, slowly losing control of your higher thought. You reached your hand up to rest against the side of his skull, and he exhaled in a single burst of hot air. The noise and feel of his breath made you shudder, and his knee came up in between your legs, just to pull you closer; his kneecap pressed a pointed pressure at the place where your legs met, and a jolt ran up through the entirety of your body. He didn't know what he did, but you were slowly coming apart, and something about the way you looked fighting for bodily calm sparked a distant instinct inside him. He thought he may have hurt you, but somewhere a thought in his mind pushed him to curl into you, pulling you close and pushing his body into yours.

This time his femur brushed against your overly-sensitive juncture, the spark within your belly growing. Your body was heating up, your own willpower not enough to allow you to hold back. The running of his fingers through your hair, the sweet touch against your ribs, the friction between your legs- you involuntarily moved to make more friction, your hands now holding his shoulders and squeezing hard to keep yourself from making any unnecessary noises. You opened your mouth, exhaling a heated breath, and Jack mirrored you, releasing his pent up emotion. He didn't quite understand what was making you feel so good, but he knew that it was something he was doing, so he didn't want to stop. He wanted to redeem himself, he wanted to take away all the fear, all the uncertainty, all the negative emotions he'd made you feel by bringing you here.

So he kept going.

You pulled yourself close enough to him now that there were no gaps between your bodies. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against yours, your mouths inches from one another. The stimulation made your lips quiver, and you were holding everything back by what felt like a broken piece of string- more friction, more closeness, more of whatever it was that was happening, and you were over.

You almost yelped out, almost, but suddenly your mouth was pressed against Jack's, keeping you from exhaling any further. Suddenly your nerves were set on fire, but you were sedated by the feeling you were getting from your mind. He pressed his body into yours, and you were overwhelmingly warm. You moved your lips and he moved his, and soon your hand was behind his head, guiding it into a tilt. Your mouths interlocked, your lips pressed against his until a tongue swiped over them. You barely parted your lips, catching a breath, and again Jack’s mouth found yours. He held you close, pulling his legs from where they rested with yours. He untangled himself from you as you kissed, his arms still keeping you close to him. Your hands made their way to his chest, the bones and his sternum pressing through the pajama fabric. 

One last kiss, and you pushed him away gently. He obeyed, opening his eyes to stare at you. He’d just kissed you. Hell, you two might as well have been making out.

He stilled. Stiff, his brain started to think so many different things. He’d never kissed someone like that- had she come onto me?, he asked himself, unsure at what started which thing. Quickly, that burning sensation within his own core shrunk, until it was barely even noticeable. 

You balled your open palm into a fist, resting your hand like that on Jack. You shimmied away slightly, putting some space in between your faces.

“I have to use the bathroom.”

Right, he thought, humans need to get rid of waste. 

As fast as you had gotten yourself into that situation did you get yourself out of it. Jack fought his way to stand against the sleep that plagued his limbs, and after him you did the same. You relieved yourself in a makeshift toilet that Jack had gotten put together for you, sitting appropriately near the tub. He left you alone on the floor while you did so, having gone downstairs to make breakfast for the two of you. 

Alone, you felt ashamed. You’d just kissed a skeleton. A monster. The same exact one that had kidnapped you and chained you up. You frowned, wiping your lips hard with your arm.

Your first fucking kiss was a monster.

[starsfic]

[Addams Family/Disney] Santa delivers a thank you note he received from the only family who adored Jack Skellington's christmas: the Addams family.

"Uh, sir? We received a thank you note."

Nicholas Claus was used to receiving thank you notes. Good children tended to be polite or were asked by their parents to be polite. That didn't mention the amount of mail he got from world governments, thanking him from his service. What raised his eyebrows was the fact that he got a thank-you note this year.

Honestly, after Jack's rampage, he was prepared for nothing.

"Oh, really?" he said. The elf nodded. "Well, that's wonderful!" Nicholas straightened up, feeling a smile form. "Let me see."

"Uh...well...you see..." Huh, the elf wasn't looking at him. They looked down at their feet, pulling out the letter. To realize the issue, Nicholas only had to look at it and see the yellowed envelope and the black A.

Oh.

"It's from them."

-_-

"...I got a thank you letter?"

"From a particular family," Nicholas had never expected to be in Halloweentown again. Based on Jack Skellington's gape when he opened the door, neither had he. Nicholas didn't like it, but he didn't want to be rude. He held out the letter. "They're good people, very loving and generous, but they're strange."

Jack stared at the letter like it was going to bite him. It wasn't until he shook it that the skeleton took it, slowly. "I got a letter?" he repeated again.

"I do want to warn you, the daughter of the family has a tendency to-" Jack was already peeling the envelope open. Nicholas took a step back when the scorpion jumped out, skittering on the paper and making those horrible squeaky noises. "She has a tendency to boobytrap the mail she sends," he repeated quickly. "Make sure there's nothing on the paper."

Instead of the usual screams and cries, however, Jack smiled.

"How charming!" he cooed, reaching out. The scorpion seemed to consider the white bone for a moment before stepping onto his hand, settling down and looking content. "Sally has been wanting another pet," Jack said, allowing the scorpion to crawl up onto his shoulder before he pulled out the paper.

Right. This place was insane.

[rainbows-fanfics]

Since it's the season, it's time to promote my Nightmare Before Christmas/Jack Skellington X Sally fanfiction series!

Two Dearest Friends:

"Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, meets Sally, a ragdoll created by Dr. Finklestein. A friendship blossoms between them as he introduces her to the world outside of her tower. Sally is falling for him as their relationship grows into something more, and Jack finds the same is happening to him."

"A story where the Christmas incident never happens, and Jack and Sally find their happiness on their own."

Our Nightmare:

"Sally moves in with the man of her screams. But there is still so much she has to learn of Halloween Town, and what it's like living with The Pumpkin King.

A sequel to Two Dearest Friends, where the Christmas incident never happens. But there are still many ends that haven't been met, and much for these two dreamers to learn as they start to spend their deaths together."

[sivilvendetta]

Episode 11 of Spook's Season brought many emotions.

Like lust.

[tnbc-thoughtsandheadcanons]

I NEED SALLY'S LAMENT TO RELEASE ALREADY

[meegan420]

Goth Kids Hot Air Balloon Rides -South Paws 🐾 my hams

[skeletonanne]

Annalise and Nevermore at the tavern. Inspired by chapter 41 of Skeleton Anne, although that wouldn't be the only time these two go out for a drink and the drawing is of another such time.

I'm aware of how scratchy it looks. Decided I need to just draw stuff for fun and not really care about the quality too much. It's something I stress about too much in my studies, then I end up being too scared to draw anything. That not how anyone improves.

[tamarinfrog-art]

"You can have this. You girls like cute crap like this, right?"

I swear I should draw TNBC stuff outside of October... None the less, this is inspired of an old ass fanfiction I wrote years ago (sorry, it's only in Finnish)

[violets-and-books]

Guys should I write TNBC fanfiction

[hiddenobject-fanblog]

Introduction Post

Hello and welcome! This is my main blog that I've now repurposed into a Hidden Object Game-fanbased space. My pronouns are they/them and you may call me "Rainbow"!

My favorite HOPA games:

Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome

Weird Park: Broken Tune + Scary Tales

Whispered Secrets: Morbid Obsession

Mystery Legends: The Phantom of the Opera

Nightmares From the Deep: The Cursed Heart

Bonfire Stories: The Faceless Gravedigger + Heartless

Other games/series I've played:

Engimatis and Ghost Files series + lots of Artifex Mundi games

Mystery Case Files

Dark Parables (Not too invested in them, though, sorry!)

True Fear: Forsaken Souls 1 & 2

Otherworld: Spring of Shadows (Currently playing the other games)

Seeker's Notes: Hidden Objects

Phantasmat (Currently playing the other games)

The Invisible Man

-And many more!

On this blog, I plan to share & create content, headcanons, theories, fanart, reviews, fanfiction, etc. based upon Hidden Object games. You can send me an ask about the games I post, for mine/your own recommendations, and/or anything! Feel free to DM me as well. I'd love to meet other people that play these games!

More information below the cut:

My sideblogs are as listed:

@tnbc-thoughtsandheadcanons (Nightmare Before Christmas fanblog) @rainbows-fanfics (Fanfiction/writing blog) @rainbowfox-art (Art/reference blog) @piecesofchess (Pirate101 fanblog) @rainbowthefox (Personal blog, where I first posted about Hidden Object games) @haveyouplayedthispinball (Poll blog for pinball machines)

--If you see me following you, it may be for any of these fanbases. I cannot change my Main blog, so please bear with me. <3

Additional Info:

-I try to tag all potentially upsetting/triggering material. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know in a DM! I will tag/delete posts properly.

-Please do not repost, trace, or steal my art without permission.

-While I am 21+, please don’t send me NSFW-related anonymous asks. I’d rather talk about that with people I know personally and not anonymously.

-My icon is Curioso from Whispered Secrets: Morbid Obsession (drawn by @/psychicaves), and my header is Oscar from Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome! (Drawn by @/mosswyrmz)

-Please do not send any anonymous hate, and keep an open mind that I have personal opinions on the games I play.

[anauthore]

Escape From Halloweentown {Jack Skellington x Reader} CHAPTER 4 - Doctor’s Appointment

Summary: When a game of hide-and-seek goes wrong, you find yourself lost in the woods without a way home. Whether it be fate, or just dumb luck, you suddenly find yourself in a far bigger predicament than you ever thought you would be- and it’s not just because you can’t seem to find your little brother.

Pairing: Reader / Jack Skellington. A very slow burn fic.

NOTE: This is a full-length fanfic! If you don’t want to read chapter by chapter on tumblr, please use the following links to read in a different format / on a different website!

Wattpad | Quotev | AO3

Fic Below the Cut | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

You woke up suddenly, a loud clanging noise shaking the ground underneath your previously horizontal body. You sat upright, eyes darting around for any sign of the noise. Your vision was blurry and slightly blackened around the edges, as you had just been jolted from your slumber; you held your head and closed your eyes for a moment while the effects of your sleep faded away.

Below you, muffled voices chatted back and forth. You assumed one of them must have been Jack, but the other you had no ideas for. Kicking the blanket off of you, you rose, and started to walk toward the stairs to peak over the railing. The chain attached to your collar pulled taut right within an arms’ reach of the rail, and you clicked your tongue to yourself. Just great, you thought. Out of options, you opted to sit down and wait for someone to come retrieve you. 

. . .

On the first floor of his very tall house, Jack sat patiently at his dining room table- which honestly looked more like a patio endpiece than a table. He yawned to himself and sipped from a tall clear glass- water, of course, was his beverage of choice. He tapped his foot impatiently and checked his watch for what may as well have been the hundredth time. 

Unbeknownst to you, who had been sleeping soundly away upstairs, Jack had invited Doctor Finklestein to visit and give you a very human checkup. It was important for your health, and a book he had read stated that humans were supposed to get checked by a doctor frequently. Jack, of course, didn’t know when the last time you’d visited a doctor was, and since he didn’t bother asking, he’d called upon the Doctor to do whatever it is he would do. While Jack didn’t bother looking into what the exact processes were, he knew the could trust Dr. Finklestein.

As the seconds passed, creaking from the steps outside quietly pierced the silence Jack had been sitting in, and before the Doctor could knock, Jack threw open the door and greeted his guest with a wide grin.

“Doctor! I am so grateful you came!”

“Ah, Jack! Of course I would come- this is a very important and urgent matter, is it not?”

Jack nodded, letting him inside his home with all his tools dragging behind him. Igor, his assistant, also stepped inside the building, but he made no utterances. In fact, he stayed mostly in the background, looking to Dr. Finklestein for commands.

Jack clapped his bony fingers together and bowed ever so slightly to the Doctor as he spoke, not wanting to stand taller than someone he idolized. If only he could make headway in the scientific field! But alas, his visit wasn’t for Jack, but for you. 

“Should I get her from upstairs?” He played with the thought of having to wake you up, but if he were honest he really didn’t want to do so. As oblivious as he was to almost everything around him, he knew that he scared you. It tugged at him in a way he couldn’t quite describe; he loved to scare people, and he loved their reactions, but the terror in your eyes every time you saw him made him… sad.

“No, that won’t be necessary. Take me to her, we’ll see what we can do.”

Snapped out of his briefly lived train of thought, he led the doctor to the base of the stairway. Taking notice of his wheelchair, he stops and raises a brow-bone. To his surprise, the Doctor flicks a switch and the wheels recend into the chair, easily replaced by some sort of spider-esque appendage that can easily navigate the stairway. Jack was taken aback, but it wasn’t out of the ordinary for the Doctor to have some sort of machine prepared for all sorts of circumstances. Jack watched the stairs as he climbed them, thinking about whether or not you would be awake when he reached the top.

. . .

Mechanical whirring got closer and closer to the top of the stairs, and Jack’s head peaked out from the hole in the floor. You, of course, were slightly confused before Jack stepped aside and Doctor Finklestein appeared. You had gotten somewhat used to Jack’s presence, even though he still scared you tremendously. He was a constant that you could rely on, as he’d proven to you time and time again over the past few days that he was not here to hurt you. Despite this, this new monster climbing up the stairs scared the shit out of you. While you were expecting Jack and seemed somewhat calm, the presence of the wheelchair-bound scientist shocked your system into being filled with adrenaline. Your heart started beating out of your chest, but surprisingly, you sat still in the bed. Your gaze, however, never moved from the Doctor. Jack turned to you, but you only saw him from your peripheral vision. “This is Doctor Finkelstein. He’ll assess your bodily needs. He’s trained in this sort of thing, so you have no need to worry.” He cracked a smile meant to soothe, but you felt the exact opposite. 

The Doctor’s chair approached, this time on wheels, and you leaned back out of instinct. “Stand up.”

His voice was not what you were expecting. You didn’t want to obey his command, and you were caught in between wanting to sit still and get it done and over with. You looked at Jack, silently asking for reassurance, and he nodded as if to grant it. You slowly rose, eyes back on the Doctor. 

He motioned for you to step out into the middle of the room, and slowly you did so. The chain was pulled off of the floor, and it jingled as it did so, but it was not pulled taut. It was left dangling, slightly pulling at your collar- you readjusted it with two fingers, running it along the length of where it connected to your neck. You swallowed as the Doctor circled you, probably looking up and down at your form from behind his glasses. You kept your eyes glued to the floor, trying to steady your pulse. The Doctor stopped circling, and moved closer back to Jack. After a moment of silence, he yet again spoke another demand.

“I need you to take those off, please.”

Your face went red as he gestured to your clothes. “What?”

“I need to assess you for any bruising, rashes, hives, constipation… I assure you it is very necessary for me to know whether or not you are healthy.” The Doctor sat patiently, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to ask a girl to take off her clothes. You, on the other hand, suddenly felt hot. There was no doubt that you were blushing, but you were also burning with annoyance. Why were you subject to these types of things? Why did you have to be constantly humiliated? “Do I have to?” You sounded weak, like a little girl rather than the adult you almost were. 

Doctor Finklestein nodded frankly. “It is necessary.”

You swallowed, hard. You didn’t trust the Doctor, and while you were growing to trust Jack, this had just shattered any amicable feelings that had been starting to appear. You looked to Jack, and to your surprise, he was looking out the window, not even paying the slightest bit of attention to you. Your heart dropped. Was he ashamed of what he was letting happen? Or was he being polite toward you? Your head hurt at trying to figure out what he was doing, but for some reason your gut wanted to forgive him. Just like that, and so soon. 

You started to shake. Your nervousness was getting the better of you and suddenly you felt like crying. You started to tear up as you grasped the hem of your shirt, raising it so that your belly was exposed. Smooth skin was revealed, but that was as far as you could pull yourself to go. The Doctor accepted it for now and moved forward once more, eyeing your belly for any marks. He reached out a gloved hand and pressed below your naval, assessing for anything that could be bothering you internally. His wheelchair raised in height, and he reached up your shirt from behind. He pressed a hand firm to your chest while a cold metal instrument touched your back, and you arched your spine as a reaction. “Breath, girl. Your heart is racing.”

If you hadn’t been in such a compromising position, you would have laughed at the irony. You took a few deep breaths and your pulse calmed somewhat. You closed your eyes and tried to imagine that this was just another checkup- you’d just recently had your yearly physical, and so you tried to think of that memory instead. 

“Much better.” He moved to your front, assessing your eyes, ears, and throat. He, too, pulled at the collar slightly, noticing the redness from where it rested. He hummed in thought, seeming to make a note of it. Once he was done, he’d sunk back to his normal wheelchair-bound height, and you were happy it was over.

But it was not.

“Jack, I can tell that she doesn't trust me. Do you want to check her over, please? Bruising, rashes… anything I should be aware of.”

At this point, Jack was just as shocked as you were to the Doctor’s statement. He turned his attention from the window to you, showing embarrassment for the first time you’d known him. He didn’t want to disobey the Doctor, though, so he nodded as the scientist turned around. He stepped forward stiffly, an apologetic look on his face. You dropped your shirt and took an instinctive step back, hands in front of you in a defensive position. 

To your surprise, he mouthed an apology and reached his hand out, bony palm facing upwards. He was waiting for your permission, it seemed. After a few long moments of hesitation, you put your left hand in his. You had decided to trust him, even though every nerve ending in your body was on fire and your gut practically shrieked at you not to.

Carefully, he grasped your hand as he rolled up your sleeve. His touch was surprisingly gentle, and he trailed his fingers up your arm with his free hand. You held your breath, your skin tingling at the places where he touched. He nodded to himself, affirming that there were no abnormal things on your skin. He switched arms, doing the same thing to your other side. He was slow, frequently looking up at you to gauge your reaction. For some reason, his touch soothed you, and his gaze calmed you. He finished with your arms, kneeling down and grasping your right calf with a feather-light touch. He looked up at you, and you nodded your approval. He did the same thing to both of your legs, stopping at the knee. He pointed to your thighs, his head tilting as if to ask ‘is there anything there?’, and you shook your head. He rose from his place on the ground, and then moved behind you.

He touched your waist, phalanges pressing against your skin as he reached into your shirt. You felt his presence right behind you, close enough that you both were nearly touching. He made his way upward to your belly, and then to your ribs, carefully probing you for any bumps or hot spots he could find. Luckily, there were none.

He then moved to your lower back, his thumbs moving in small circles along your spine. He reached upward to your upper back, trailing his fingers across your shoulder blades, and then to the mound of muscle atop your shoulders. He squeezed lightly, eliciting a jolt from you. Immediately he apologized, barely touching you as he pulled his hands away from your body. He moved around to your front, and hesitantly placed both of his hands on either side of your neck just above the collar. He was focusing on touching you, and you were focused on his face; his skull was smoother than you remember seeing it, his eyes pits rather than endless voids. His mouth was slightly open, and inside you glanced at what you thought was a tongue. The more his fingers moved around your face- under your jaw, grasping the sides of your head- the more your gaze was pulled to his eyes. 

Finally, he brushed your hair out from your face, tucking it gently behind your ears. There he held your skull, his gaze meeting yours. 

In this moment, your body was at an absolute calm. Your heart beat slowly, and your nerves had completely subsided. You both looked at each other, and for the first time you didn’t see Jack as a cruel monster, but rather a creature with a humane heart. 

You didn’t blink, but you glanced down to his expression. His mouth was still slightly parted, but his features were completely relaxed.

He leaned in the tiniest amount, barely enough to be noticable. You breathed in, leaning forward as well, but not enough to close the distance between the two of you.

You raised your arms and found his elbows, gently holding them. This startled Jack out of his trance, and he swallowed before he murmured an apology and untangled his digits from your scalp. The back of his hand brushed against your palm, lingering for a second before he stepped back and turned to tap the Doctor on his shoulder.

“There was nothing to note, Doctor.” He reported this plainly, as if what had just happened was not significant to him at all. You felt your heartstrings pull, but you were quick to push this feeling down. Feeling awkward, you held your hands in front of you, as if you were closing the pair ahead off from your body.

The Doctor nodded. “Then, from what I’ve gathered, you are perfectly healthy.” 

You fought the urge to laugh. Of course you were! Unless these monsters had some hidden disease within their village, you were going to be fine. Jack thanked him for his time and led him back down the stairs, this time with a short wave at you before his head sunk below the floor. You sighed. They were gone again, and once more you were left alone in this attic with nothing more than the decor around you and your own thoughts.

You looked at the dog bed where you’d been sleeping, weighing the option of comfort versus entertainment. With a brief moment passing, you instead decided to wander toward the nearest bookshelf which you could just reach. From what you could observe, the shelves seemed to be sorted by genre, and then in alphabetical order within that. The genre you had been able to reach was Action / Adventure- you skimmed through book titles and picked one that seemed like it could be good. 

You flipped through its pages and nodded to yourself, sitting back down on the bed and beginning to read. If you were going to be here for hours, days, alone, you might as well be entertained. 

. . .

Jack walked silently down cobble streets, a frown replacing his normally smiling face. His hands were locked behind him as he wandered, his skull racing with thoughts of the human person he’d been keeping in his house for a few days now. He didn’t even know her name, yet he’d touched her so tenderly that she’d gone completely calm. He remembered the feel of her skin, the way her breathing deepened when he was around her, and the way she stared into his soul. He almost made a mistake- he’d almost let himself go to that feeling, to the feeling that she made him feel, and he’d almost succumbed. He’d almost-

“Jack!”

Jack looked up, his name startling him out of his thoughts. Coming in his direction was Sally, a longtime friend of his. She waved toward him cheerily, and Jack couldn’t help but smile. Standing up straight, he waved back, welcoming her presence.

“Jack, it’s been so long! I was starting to worry about you, you know.” Sally looked down at the ground, drawing shapes into the ground with the toe of her shoe. Jack noticed, and reached a gentle palm out to her shoulder as a gesture of comfort. 

“I’m fine! Really, I’ve never been better.” He cracked a large grin for her, though deep down he was feeling all sorts of tumultuous emotions. 

Sally eyed him for a moment before she accepted his claim. “Good. I’m always here for you, though. And sometimes, I get lonely.” She glanced back up at him, her slow hints reaching him late.

“Well, it is that time. I get called everywhere to help out, and I’ve got some things to take care of at home. I can find time to go out for lunch with you… how about a picnic? I could-” Jack was cut off by Sally, who was shaking her head.

“You don’t have to do that! I guess I just miss when we had time together, but if you’re busy, I understand.” She looked sincere, as if she really didn’t want to bother anything Jack was doing. She would be lying if she said she didn’t miss her old friend, though, and deep down she wanted nothing more than to be with him as much as possible. Jack, however, just acknowledged her thoughts. “Well, as long as you understand. I’ll let you know next time I’m free, alright? We’ll get together then.” He nodded and soon, the pair parted from one another. Jack was now heading home, wanting nothing more than to curl up with a good book near the fireplace, drinking a hot drink while the human sat next to him, dozing off. He smiled at the thought before he realized that he’d been thinking of the girl again- he shook it off and quickened his pace.

Sally, on the other hand, walked in the opposite direction. She couldn’t help but think he was acting a little… different. She hoped he’d be free soon, if not for their convenience, for Jack himself.

. . . 

The door slammed, and you jerked your attention from the book to the area around you. You blinked hard a few times, the black and white lines seared into your vision. Just outside the window, the sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow across the black and white marble floors. You closed the book you had been reading and set it on the floor next to you, stretching out your stiff muscles. Maybe Jack should invest in a more comfortable reading nook, you thought, before you caught yourself and pushed the thought away. You wouldn’t be staying here longer than you had to, you’d decided, so thoughts like those served only to be counterproductive to your goals.

After some time, Jack rose from the staircase, a steaming tray and glass in hand. Your mouth started to water, and you’d grown accustomed to receiving meals and drink from the monster. He sat them both on the floor in front of you without a word, and before you could thank him he was descending the staircase once more. Puzzled, you began to eat, finishing your meal without his presence for the first time since you’d been captured.

He didn’t come back up when you were done to collect your dishes. In fact, he didn’t come up at all after that. It was almost like he’d been avoiding you. You sighed and crumbled near the window, watching as the moon rose high in the sky above you. You hoped that somewhere out there, Thomas was safe and sound. You imagined that he was just messing with you, that he never went far into the forest, and he’d come home and waited for you until Dad got there. Were they looking for you now? Did any of your school friends know? Did they… miss you?

Tears filled your vision, but you didn’t wipe them away. You let them build, and you let them fall. You cried quietly, hands gripping at the windowsill to redirect them from clawing at yourself. The pain you felt was overwhelming. You almost wished you would die. 

You felt utterly defeated. You willed someone to come take you back- the police, your dad, another monster that could free you, even. But of course, none of that happened. Slowly, you wore yourself down until the windowsill felt comfortable, crying yourself to sleep only moments later.

[renmarrr]

I wrote a long (by my standarts) text doc that could be called scenario. But I'm not sure will that be a comic or a fanfac. Currently I don't like idea of me writing fanfictions in English bc its not that great. Maaaaybe I could use a decent translator for better wordings... Still comic spunds better (still a whole tone of work). It is fanwork on TNBC with main characters.

[rainbows-fanfics]

Prompts, you say? 👀

Could you perhaps write a little AU scenario where it’s Jack who’s pining for an oblivious Sally? I am so weak for this trope.

Thanks in advance! 🖤

YYYEAAAHHHHHHH

----

It was nearing sundown when the Pumpkin King walked over to Witches’ Goods. The Witch sisters, Helgamine and Zeldaborne, had been dozing off until they heard the familiar ring of their bell attached to the front door. They perked up behind the counter and eagerly leaned forward until they could spot the tall, thin figure of Jack Skellington strolling through their aisles. 

They both sighed in bliss, eyes fluttering as the skeleton approached them. Their still hearts began beating as they cooed to him. He always managed to do that  - get their blood flowing again until the vibrant green returned to their skin. Their King usually got his citizens riled up with his company…themselves included. He was such a debonair character - a gentleman at heart, who knew how to sway others with his charismatic smile. They couldn’t stop admiring his wide shoulders and thin frame, hidden under the elegant, pinstriped suit he wore. 

“Why, Jack! You’ve come right before closing time.” Helgamine greeted, twirling a strand of her black hair with a finger. 

“What is it we can do for you?” Zeldaborne added, observing his frame with devious eyes. 

He gave the two a polite nod. “Good evening, ladies. I’ve come for the special batch of roses I ordered?” 

Their postures fell as the sisters exchanged a weary glance. How could they forget Jack Skellington’s special order of three enchanted roses? When they first received it, they fought over *who* it could be for - Helgamine insisting the King had fallen for her charm, while Zeldaborne argued that he loved shorter girls. Their bickering ceased the moment he specified the color of red. He wanted them to be a shade of deep scarlet. When asked why, he simply insisted it was important and that he couldn’t accept the flowers otherwise. 

It didn’t take them long to figure it out. The only place one could find this, beyond the drips of human blood, was on top of the Mad Scientist’s daughter’s hair. Helgamine and Zeldaborne couldn’t stomach this fact. 

Zeldaborne sucked in a breath as she jumped off her tall stool. “I’ll get that for you right away!” 

In her absence, Helgamine fingered small circles on the counter. “They came out terribly. Whoever you’re giving them to must be such an unlucky girl…!” 

Jack sighed with melancholy. “If only she’ll accept them this time…” 

It was frustrating to see the Pumpkin King completely enamored with Sally Finkelstein. The ragdoll couldn’t spot his affections if they were right in front of her! Whenever she was in town, the citizens had to watch their King run over to her like a lovesick thing - helping her down whatever stairs he could, offer her countless blood lollipops and moldy cheese, and remained at her beck and call at all times. 

The infuriating part of it was - she was oblivious to the whole thing. It drove the Witches insane, to see him pine for someone who couldn’t differentiate him from a lamppost. If only they could ease him from this affliction…

“I don’t know why you bother with her, Jack! She’ll never realize how you feel. Why not go for someone who *does*..? Perhaps, someone you’ve known for a long ti-” 

“--Here they are!” 

Helgamine was interrupted when Zeldaborne came in, gently placing the roses in front of him. They were under a spell to remain alive and fresh for as long as possible, without any treatment, in order to maintain their vivid color. They wouldn’t wilt for many years, if things went right. A relatively simple spell they were more than happy to perform - but at a price…

He lit up at the sight. “Perfect! She’ll be sure to love these!” 

Zeldaborne hesitated. “Jack, are you sure that-”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, as he scooped them up in his arms and headed straight for the door. “--I don’t know how to thank you two enough! I’ll be back again!” 

The two women sighed as they watched him go, knowing that this night would go exactly as the others had…. 

—---------

Jack Skellington had a skip in his step as he hurried over to the Graveyard. If his instincts were right, Sally was there right now, escaping Doctor Finkelstein as she usually had to…he kept a close eye on her schedule(if one could call it that). It was rather sporadic - as the old man often had her grounded to her room. Sally risked everything for her freedom, where he would often find her in the gates of the Graveyard, sitting at the Spiral Hill. Other nights, she remained content in her isolation, singing to herself as she worked at her sewing machine all night. He remembered the times he remained below, content to just wait nearby as he listened to her soft voice several distances away. 

He loved her dearly. He fell for her shortly after they met - her beautiful, stitched face haunting his mind as he slept at night, craving to run his bony hand through her long, yarn hair…replaying her voice in his dreams, hoping desperately that she returned his affections and he could kiss her lovely, ruby lips… 

His grip on the roses tightened as he opened the gate and closed it quietly. He found Sally where she usually was - picking through the graves for fresh herbs, placing them gently in the wicker basket held in the crook of her arm. He stood where he was and watched her. Every time she bent down, she had to brush her hair behind her ear so as to not obscure her vision. He wanted to be the one moving the strands aside, urging closer to her face....

“Ruff!” 

Jack was brought back to reality at the familiar bark of Zero. He watched the apparition surface from his grave and fly over to the ragdoll. Sally laughed when he jumped around and nuzzled her face. She ran her hand along his form, leaving a small kiss on the top of his white head. The dog followed after as she climbed the Spiral Hill, joining her side as she sat down and gazed at the stars forming in the sky. 

Jack’s other hand clenched in his pocket, wondering why he felt jealous over his dog, of all people. 

He wasted no time skipping after her, reaching the bottom of the hill and loudly clearing his throat. He earned her attention, as she turned around and looked at him curiously.

“Sally!” The name slid off his lips with a huge grin. “Would you like some company? I brought you a gift.” 

She motioned to the spot beside her. “Go right ahead.” 

He happily climbed up the hill and took his awaited seat. He bowed his skull as he offered her the roses, his sternum rattling in anticipation while she observed them. 

“For you,” He offered. “I asked the Witches to make me some special roses. You see, they’re-” 

“-Oh! How pretty!” She swiped them from his hands, catching the King off-guard. “Thank you very much.” 

He chuckled. “Ah, as I was saying…these flowers are under a spell, which means they can never-” 

“Ow!” She interrupted, wincing as she poked her finger on one of the thorns. “They’re so pointy..”

“Y-yes! Do be careful,” He worriedly reached for her hand and removed it from the stem. He melted at this contact, wishing to hold it as long as possible until she removed her touch. He held back a disappointed noise. “Anyway, they can never wilt, because they’re bewitched to remain as alive as long as possible…I hope you like them.”

“Really? I didn’t know that was possible,” She marveled at the gift, tracing her fingernail along one of the petals. 

“The Witches will perform most spells upon request. This one cost me an arm and a leg, so-” 

“-You could’ve just borrowed mine.” She interjected, undoing one of the threads in her arms and presenting the limb to him. “I wouldn’t mind; the Doctor has plenty of these.” 

He marveled at how cute she was. He couldn’t stop himself from tittering at the offer. He motioned her arm down and she got the message, reluctantly sewing it back on. Zero watched the two from below and wagged his sheet at this exchange. 

“No, no, I meant that it was costly. But I don’t mind…you’re absolutely worth it.” He insisted. She dipped her head down to smell one of them.

“They’re wonderful. You’re such a good friend for thinking of me.” 

His smile fell and he fidgeted with his bat bow tie. “Actually, Sally…do you know what it means when someone gives you three roses?” 

She blinked. “No. What?” 

“Three roses mean…” He began to sweat, nervousness filling his entire beating. Could he confess to her now? Should he? What if she rejected him? These thoughts brought Jack to a panic, and he blurted out, “-You’re my best friend.” 

“Your best friend?” She repeated.

 For a moment, he worried about her reaction, but she threw her arms around his figure, pulling him in closely for a hug. His eye sockets widened as he gladly returned the embrace, absorbing her scent and ingraining this moment into his memories that will surely be replayed for months to come. 

She was so soft…some of the textures of her dress were more coarse than others, but she fit into his arms perfectly. Like she was meant to be there. He immediately yearned for her the second she let go. She looked back down at the roses before smiling brightly. 

“You’re my best friend, too, Jack. The Doctor will love these in his sitting room!” 

His figure slumped. He was hoping she’d keep it for herself, maybe in her own room, close at all times…despite the disappointment, he wore a forced smile. “That’s great to hear.” 

She stood from her spot, bending down one last time to pet Zero. Jack followed her movements and rose to his full height. The ghostly dog levitated above to meet them both. She tucked the roses into her wicker basket alongside the witch hazel and deadly nightshade. She was taking a step down - an obvious notion that she was prepared to leave. 

“I have to go now. The Doctor will wake up any minute. I’d like to be there before he does.” 

His bones ached. How badly he wanted to hold her again. “I-I can walk you to the Tower. It is getting awfully late-” 

“-No, I’m fine. Thank you, though.” She waved to him as she climbed down the Spiral Hill. “I’ll see you later, Jack.” 

He exhaled slowly, returning the wave weakly. “I’ll…see you soon.” 

With that, she left the Graveyard, the sound of the gates closing echoing harshly in the skeleton’s nonexistent ears. He stood there for a long time, staring at the spot she once was in. Eventually, Zero nudged the side of his master with a confused ‘rrr?’, snapping him back to the present. 

He sighed loudly and placed a contemplative finger on his lower jaw. “Perhaps, next time…I’ll get her twelve.”

Zero barked happily.

[totallynormalfanficauthor]

The Visitor - Chapter 6 (Final)

Short Summary: Jack finds Sally outside his home, so he invites her inside

Pairings: Jack/Sally

——

Chapter Six

Just Friends... For now

"You've hardly touched your soup, Sally. Not hungry?" Finkelstein's voice came from across the table. She looked up.

"Oh. Um, no. Not really." She released the note and folded her hands on the table. "My, uh, stomach doesn't feel too well. May I be excused, Doctor?"

"Hmm" he grumbled. "Alright. Fine. Go ahead, get some rest." The end of his sentence was muffled by the spoon in his mouth. Sally smiled and stood up, thanking him as she headed for the ramp in the other room. But his voice stopped her for a moment before she could get there. "-I'll be up to check on you in a little while, so don't think about sneaking out again. Alright?"

She nodded her reply- although she didn't really mean it- and finally headed up the ramp and into her bedroom.

Once there, Sally sat down on her bed and held back a deep sigh. She debated on what to do as she glanced at the window. It was a bit soon, but would it really hurt to get there a little bit early? Afterall, it might do her good to relax and calm her nerves before Jack arrives.

She hopped off the bed and trotted up to the window. Sally observed the scene below her- it was a gorgeous evening. The breeze was soft, and she could tell from the sky that the sun would be setting soon. It seemed now would be a fine time to head out.

Clicking the window open, Sally flung her left leg over sill, and soon the rest of her, until she was falling quickly onto the golden leaf covered pavement below.

When she opened her eyes, the world around her was dark until her vision finally focused. Blinking, Sally sat up. Her right arm was barely hanging on by a thread, and her left leg had come apart at her thigh. She quickly stuffed the leaves back in and sewed herself up, and, using the side of the building to balance herself, she stood. After hesitating for a moment, her trip to the spiral hill had begun.

——

The pumpkin sun had barely begun to go down by the time she got there. Sally approached the withered gate. She found her hands slightly shaky, which was odd. Perhaps she was more nervous to speak with Jack than she originally thought.

A breeze swept through her hair and around her neck as she passed through, giving her chills.

Not much had changed about this place since the last time she was here, which had been quite awhile ago. It was nice to be back. Fog still covered the gravestones, moss lined the ground by her feet, the atmosphere was still creepy, yet soothing. It was a nice feeling.

Sally's eyes scanned the area around her. As they glanced around, her gaze found its way to the hill. A tall figure was standing at the top.

Jack.

He was already here. It startled her a little bit- she really was expecting to have arrived before him. But seeing as he was already waiting on her, there was no point in hesitating any longer. She approached the hill from the side, quietly, waiting for him to notice her. He must have been able to hear the crunch of the leaves under her feet, because after one step closer the skeleton suddenly turned to her direction, spotting her immediately. He looked a little surprised, but forced a smile anyway. She smiled back. Stepping a tad closer to her, he greeted, "Horrible evening, Sally"

"Horrible evening, Jack"

He nodded to her and finally took a seat on the hill, motioning next to him. "Please, some sit."

Sally did as asked and started her way up, sitting down a few spaces beside him. She awkwardly forced a smile as well. Her heart raced inside her chest. Finally, it was time... the conversation she had been waiting for. And there was no way out of it now. But as nerve wracking as it was, she couldn't wait to hear what he had to say.

"I'm glad you could make it.", Jack started.

"Oh, yes. I am too.."

The skeleton sat back a little, Sally noticed him avoiding her gaze. "I hope it wasn't any trouble? I know this was kind of short notice.."

"No, no. Not at all."

"Well, that's a relief...I-"

"Arf!"

The bark of a dog sounded to their left, cutting him off. Sally recognized it right away: Zero. And when she looked, sure enough, the ghostly pup had come up beside them, holding what must have been one of Jack's ribs in his mouth.

"Oh, Zero! Thanks, boy." Jack took the rib back and popped it into his shirt, then patted the dog on the head. Zero licked his hand before yawning, turning and flying away, barely acknowledging Sally. She watched him go with a smile.

"He's a very good dog..."

"Yes, he is."

"Did you train him?"

"I did."

"Well..." She folded her legs. "...you did a very good job."

"Thank you. Zero is a fast learner, so it wasn't too difficult."

"I see..."

They both grew silent. The ragdoll shuffled in her seat, unsure if it was because of the cold, uncomfortable ground beneath her or from the awkward tension rapidly growing between the two. The wind continued to whistle past them, and Sally gazed up at the large moon. She brought up all her courage, finally ready to finally ask what's been on her mind.

"...Jack..?"

"Yes?"

"...." she took a deep breath. "....was there a reason you asked me here..? Something you wanted to...discuss?" Her words came out a bit shaky, but Jack didn't seem to notice.

Sally watched his posture stiffen, his hands nervously tugging at the ground. But it was hard to read the expression on his face. "Ah..yes, of course..." he cleared his throat before continuing. "...I assume you may already have a bit of an idea on... what this is about?"

Her heart thumped, "I might.."

"I thought maybe..." Jack sighed, finally tilting his head up to make eye contact with her. She shivered as his sockets met hers. "Sally, you know that, you and I have been good friends for quite some time. And I do enjoy spending time with you, really. You listen and understand me better than anyone else. So please, understand that I care about you." He paused momentarily, looking at his friend. Sally's eyes were wide, her cheeks slightly pink. She liked the way this sounded, and hoped it was going where she thought it was. He continued.

"I think that...sometimes, when we get caught up in the moment, we're not...thinking properly. Or at least, I know I wasn't thinking properly. And it doesn't help when, you don't fully understand the way you feel. Don't get me wrong, I did mean everything I said about you that night.. but, I guess, what I'm trying to say is that..."

Yes...!

"...I'm sorry, Sally"

....what...?

"I shouldn't have kissed you. It was wrong of me. I'd never want.. to make you feel uncomfortable in any way. So I sincerely apologize if I did."

Sally felt something inside of her break. He was....apologizing? She could feel the frown making its way onto her lips. Perhaps she got her hopes up too soon... but Jack wasn't finished talking yet.

"When I saw you in the morning I could tell... something was off by the way you were behaving. That's why I wanted to speak with you this evening. I can assure you, Sally, the, ah.. Kiss, it didn't mean anything. I'd never want you to think bad of me... and, really, I view you as nothing more than a dear friend of mine- of course. But I'm hoping, now that this has been cleared up, it will make things a little less... awkward, heh. Wouldn't you agree?"

The skeleton smiled a bit as he looked at her, but his expression quickly faltered.

"...Sally..?"

He tilted his head. The ragdoll wasn't smiling. She stared downwords, eyeing the ground. Her hands were shaky, and her breath was coming out slow and shallow. It felt like the world around her was shattering. Jack's words were replaying inside her head, tearing a piece of her heart each time they did.

It...meant....nothing...?

All hopes for this moment were gone. Of course it meant nothing...she suddenly felt ridiculous for ever thinking otherwise. Deep down inside she knew this would happen. But it still hurt. A lot.

"..Sally...? Are you... crying?"

"What?" She lifted her head suddenly, reaching up to slide a finger under her eye. Sure enough, it was wet. Somehow the tears must have slipped out without her noticing. She quickly wiped them away then dried her hands on her dress. She did her best to collect herself, not wanting to appear too upset- although, even she knew it was a little late for that.

"N-no, I'm not. I'm fine. And, yes, of course. I... I agree with you, Jack.." She did her best to force a smile. Jack didn't look convinced.

"Are you... sure?"

"What? Of course I am. I-I think that, we both just, as you said.... not thinking straight. You never made me uncomfortable, I think I was, was just confused.." She managed to reply through wobbly lips. But her voice cracked at her next sentence, "Of course I...I only view you as a...as a friend as well. I mean that's what we are, right? It would p-probably be better if we just forgot about all of this anyways.."

"I suppose so..." Jack looked at her, frowning with a puzzled expression. "Sally... please, what's the matter? You seem upset."

"I..." she thought for a moment. Should she...tell him? Tell him the truth? That she was actually in love with him and has been the whole time?

What's the point... he already said he only sees me as a friend. What, am I trying to get rejected even harder?

"...I'm just tired Jack, really. It's been a long day. And I think... I got something in my eye. That's all."

Jack didn't seem too convinced, but didn't argue this time. "Oh... alright. If you say so."

"I really do agree with you, I promise. And I'm... I'm glad we were able to talk. I appreciate the, uh...c-clarification."

"Of course." The skeleton sat up a little, resting his hands on his knees. "I know it hasn't been long, but I'm sure things will be back to normal between us now."

"Yes..."

They both fell silent again. Jack was watching her quietly, while Sally stared at the ground in front of her. She was still holding back tears and trying to think of anything besides the pit of emptiness and despair that was growing quickly inside her stomach, torn open by the pieces of her broken heart.

"Jack...?"

"Hm?"

"Can I...ask you one more thing?"

"Of course"

She hesitated before boldly but genuinely asking, "..if it meant nothing, then, why did you kiss me?"

She found the courage to look up at him. He tapped his finger on his chin, eyes half closed in thought. After a moment, he sighed.

"Truthfully? I don't... really know." Their eyes met once again, a sorrowful glance. "Like I said... I don't think I was thinking correctly. I felt awfully... strange that night. I don't really know what it was that had come over me. But, I am terribly sorry, Sally. I'd never want to-"

"No, Jack, please. Don't apologize. It's okay." She let out another shuddering breath. ".. thank you for inviting me here, it was nice to speak with you."

"Of course, thank you for joining me."

Sally didn't respond, but gazed up at the moon. Another year rolled down her cheek, but in the darkness, Jack didn't seem to notice. He gazed at the sky as well.

"It's getting quite late.. perhaps we should get back."

"...that's okay, you go. I think I'd like to stay here for a little while longer."

There was concern in his reply, "are you sure? It gets quite chilly out here at night, and most likely darker too."

"That's alright."

"-if you come with me, I'd be happy to walk you home"

She had to bite her lip. God, what was this man trying to do? Of course, yes, give her another reason to remember why she fell so deep in love with him in the first place. Such a gentleman. And yet he broke her heart without even realizing what he had done.

"I'll find my way home later. It's okay."

"...well, if you're sure."

The pumpkin king stood up, brushing his suit off. He stepped past her and began heading down the hill. He called back his goodbye, but Sally did not turn to face him.

"We'll talk soon, Sal. Have a horrible night."

"Horrible night, Jack. Sleep well."

The only response that came was the crunching of leaves under Jack's feet and he crept down the hill and back through the graveyard. Sally turned to watch just as he went through the gate, and waved her final farewell. As soon as his figure disappeared down the trail, she couldn't hold herself back any longer.

Sally collapsed down onto the hill in sobs, the tears rolling down her stitched cheeks one after the other. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth in an attempt to muffle her cries. Her chest ached, and her hands and arms shook. This was an overwhelming sadness she had never felt before: absolute heartbreak.

Sally had known in the back of her mind the entire time that the chance of this happening was greater than she liked. But what was she to do about it? If Jack only wanted to be friends with her, then that's that. She was just going to have to accept it, as much as it pained her.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she wiped her eyes again, trying to calm herself down. Her weeping began to slow as she collected herself. But she was still sad.

'What am I supposed to do now...?' she wondered. Should she just... give up? Forget about her feelings for him entirely..? Perhaps that would be better... but, no. No.

Jack's words rang inside her head.

'I felt awfully... strange that night. I don't really know what it was that had come over me.'

Hm....

She sniffled. Felt strange... doesn't know what came over him... , something about that seemed oddly familiar.

Finally pulling herself together, Sally sat the rest of the way up again, staring into the night sky as the stars twinkled around her. The tears kept falling slowly, her nose sniffling quietly. She couldn't stop thinking about what her friend had said to her. Something about it seemed... not right. What did he mean he 'felt weird' ?

'But he told me he only sees me as a friend... this doesn't... make sense..' She shook her head. "Oh, Jack. You puzzle me."

Wiping her eyes for the final time, Sally stood up. The wind passed calmly through her yarn hair. She decided then that, all she could really do was go home. Go home, and sleep. Get the rest that she needed. And when she woke up in the morning... nothing would be different, would it? She would sneak out, see Jack again most likely, and everything would be back to how it was before. But maybe this... maybe this was a good thing. Despite everything that had happened that night, the pain she had felt and the tears she had cried, Sally still felt something.. else inside her heart, after what Jack had said. Like one tiny, tiny flame still burning at the bottom of a fireplace that had supposedly been put out. She couldn't help but think, and hope, with all of her phantom heart, that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance her and Jack could end up together, even if it seemed so far from possible in this moment.

...

...

And she was right.

——

...

Sally always thought Skellington manor was a beautiful place. Jack's home, it was gorgeous on the inside and out. She always enjoyed being there, even if she hadn't gotten to visit very often as a good friend to the owner. Not that that mattered anymore.

Truth be told, she always felt at home around those parts. Even if it was hard for her to understand why. The energy it radiated was so oddly comforting. And it made her feel... happy. Perhaps it was a sign.

But had you told Sally years before that she would end up living within these walls? She may not have believed you.

But it was the truth.

It had taken a long time for Sally to get where she was now. But she was grateful for it, to be able to look back and think just how far she'd come. And it was worth the wait.

Sally often took time during her days and evenings, to relax on the soft furniture in her home and reflect on things in the past, just letting her mind wonder. And this is where she was now. She leaned her head back, drawing in a nice, long breath. The dim evening sunlight was shining through a window nearby, reflecting brightly off the golden ring on her finger.

She looked down, feeling a stir in her arms. The little bundle she was holding shifted over slightly, turning in it's sleep. She smiled. Moving the blanket away from its face, she gave her baby a kiss on the cheek. It wiggled a little, making a tiny grab motion with it's skeletal hand, but continued to snooze soundly. Sally sighed blissfully, closing her eyes. She felt content.

"Sally?"

She opened her eyes. Jack was walking into the room, his skull tilted and his hands behind his back. "Ah- there you are. I've been looking for you." He walked over and sat down on the couch next to her, leaning over to give her a long kiss on the forehead. She giggled a little at that.

"Yes. Is there something you need?"

"No. I just...wanted to see you."

Jack leaned over and placed his arm around her, holding her close. She leaned on his shoulder and yawned.

Reflecting back on how far she'd come with this skeleton man— that was her favorite. Even after all they had been through, Sally wouldn't have guessed that they'd actually end up together. And yet here she was. Holding the little skeleton baby in her arms, and wearing a matching ring on her finger. And she still loved him just as much as she always had, if not more.

...

It would be hard for Sally to forget that one moment. The moment when her world came crashing down, her heart split into two. When Jack said those horrible words to her-, "I view you as nothing more than a dear friend of mine". She thought he had meant it. And for a while, Jack did too. But slowly, with the more time that passed, he discovered: he did not.

In the end, it didn't matter what happened in the past, did it? Because the important thing was? They are together now. Together, happy, and in love. And Jack and Sally know, that they always will be, now and forever

[tnbc-thoughtsandheadcanons]

What do you think of the whole "brain bug" idea, where Oogie supposedly has a single bug controlling all of the others? I've never seen an official source for this information before, and I'm curious where it came from. lol

I wonder if it's a popular fan theory grabbed from the scene where Oogie's last bug is heard screaming "my bugs, my bugs!", which could be the "brain bug" that the theory refers to..? Then again, it's entirely possible all of his bugs are sentient + have control, and that was just the last one.

There's also the Alternative Jack VS Oogie Boogie workprint, where he sends off a swarm of his bugs and verbally controls them from afar. But we don't know if it's just one bug remaining under Oogie's head that's controlling them..? Either way, the Workprint shows that he can control a mass of his bugs. I think the "brain bug" theory is just a neat interpretation of this idea that isn't a collective hive mind.

Personally, I don't think I've used the "brain bug" idea in any of my fanfictions/portrayals, but I always thought it was neat. The TNBC fandom has a lot of fun fanon to play around with..!

[yandere-toons]

i‘m looking forward to the jack skellington headcanons! being a yandere would fit him so well!

Jack Skellington (Platonic & Romantic Headcanons)

WARNING: toxic mindset.

A.N. - No better way to celebrate the holiday.

PLATONIC:

Jack commands the respect of Halloween Town and almost all of its residents, for his word is the supreme authority in that holiday world. While the ever-packed schedule that comes with such a demanding title prevents him from seeking his friend out, he wishes for them to be involved in his projects and asks the locals to retrieve them so he can hear their opinion on the festivities.

Monotony is a burden that weighs heavily on Jack, and he looks to his friend to add a positive spice to his daily existence. Despite not initiating most of the interactions, Jack tends to extend visits and conversations with them for longer than is necessary. He is happy to fill their silence with his raving about his ideas for a Halloween that surpasses the previous year.

Exploiting insecurities and playing with emotions is not the way of the Pumpkin King. He abhors many expressions of traditional rudeness and limits his questionable behaviour to the intimidation of anyone who treats his friend with less respect than he is treated, working instead to be a figure of admiration in the mind of his friend. Jack is principally a gracious leader, so the worst of his wrath is reserved for when his friend is threatened or placed in a dangerous situation.

ROMANTIC:

The Pumpkin King is worshipped as a folk hero by the citizens of Halloween Town, thereby restricting his partner's ability to have meaningful discussions about any concerns or complaints they may entertain in regards to the relationship. The recurring argument is that their position of eternal companionship with Jack is a highly enviable one and should be viewed as a priceless stroke of luck.

Jack's understanding of the relationship gravitates towards the myopic, which results in him believing that there are no pressing conflicts and any doubt expressed by his partner is of minimal concern. It does not require a surplus of bonding experiences before Jack is convinced that the relationship is everlasting and incapable of deteriorating, and he comes to view his partner as an escape from the burdens of his responsibilities.

The biggest flaws in Jack are his reluctance to accept when he is wrong and his tendency to be short-sighted when pursuing a goal. Obstacles are not a sign that his strategy may be full of mistakes, but rather they are trivial hurdles to be minimized and ignored. Jack is inclined not to give his partner's troubles the appropriate attention and assumes that they share his idealistic view of the relationship.

Do anything you want with my work, but never make me boring!