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Post by Jack Skellington on Oct 29, 2008 17:40:29 GMT -5
Jack stood there, trembling and hulked over, nearly teeming with a dark side that had stayed dormant until now, breathing heavily until his rage subsided. It was not something he really did often, but when it happened, he got ugly. Taking a good, long, deep breath, Jack straightened himself up and smoothed his clothing, then ran a hand over his hair, which still brought about a frown.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," apologized Jack, rather formally, though he was still shaking a bit - partially because his thin body had exhausted itself of energy when he had yet to feed himself. "I just... Halloween is my time of the year, to really shine," he explained, in much more calming, almost soothing, dulcet tones. "I know more humans look forward to the glow and happiness of Christmas time - something that Santa himself told me - but Halloween is about... well, for being in the season of dying leaves and skeletons and swamp creatures... it's about being and feeling alive... at least I thought so... even as a skeleton, I believed it." Now came a look of despair on his face, and he hugged his thin arms, looking defeated. He had been looking at the ground when he spoke, but looked up at Rogue, and kept himself very still.
"Did I scare you?" he asked wistfully.
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Post by emo!Rogue on Oct 29, 2008 20:05:23 GMT -5
He was really serious about Halloween, Rogue thought. Like, really serious. But she was still a person, not thinking of him as something else, and so when he asked his question she responded in the way she assumed, from human experience, that he wanted her to. Which was probably exactly the wrong thing to do.
"No," she said with false earnestness, the sort of reassurance that is entirely unsubtle. Because people who wanted friends didn't want to scare them. Right? "No, of course not, it's fine." But her own arms hugged her tight, unconsciously mimicking his own position.
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Post by Jack Skellington on Oct 29, 2008 20:35:59 GMT -5
Jack frowned, unsure of how he wanted to react to her answer. Of course, if he were actually meaning to frighten Rogue, he would have put thought and care into his fright, but not this... he felt like he'd made her sad, and that was not his motive.
Letting go of himself, he wanted to hug Rogue - he had no issues with space, obviously - but then remembered what she said about a condition. Trying to pluck up and bring back the happy mood he normally permeated, Jack put on a wide grin.
"Then I'll try harder next time," he offered with a wink, then held out his hand. "You have gloves... can I touch your hand this way?"
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Post by emo!Rogue on Oct 29, 2008 20:42:02 GMT -5
Rogue stared at him a moment, not affronted but... surprised. And confused. After all, she did not really have to go out of her way to avoid people--she was almost entirely covered, and contact could only occur if someone touched her face or was deliberately attempting to reach her skin. He could have hugged her without much fear of danger, and his previous gesture--the one she'd shrunk back from--would probably have led to nothing. But she was so used to not being touched, and refusing casual contact--and the memory of that one kiss was burned onto her brain so indelibly--that she had to think about his request.
"Yes," she said finally, secretly rather pleased. "Yes, I think that would be okay. An' you go ahead an' try to scare me whenever you want."
Gingerly, she placed her gloved hand in his after making sure the glove was pulled up all the way.
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Post by Jack Skellington on Oct 29, 2008 21:09:10 GMT -5
Jack smiled warmly and held onto her hand, his fingers enveloping her gloved hand. Giving her hand a few firm pats, he nodded.
"I'm sorry I lost my head like that. It's just a passion of mine, if you didn't already get that impression. Forgive me?"
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Post by emo!Rogue on Oct 29, 2008 21:32:10 GMT -5
Rogue smiled too, and it made her rather prettier than usual.
"It's okay," she said softly. "It's cool you care so much about somethin'."
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Post by Jack Skellington on Oct 29, 2008 22:34:53 GMT -5
Jack felt his face warm and his smile turned nervous. Still clasping Rogue's hands, he squeezed her fingers a bit, and nodded.
"Yes, I... it's... well, it's a lot of work..."
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Post by emo!Rogue on Oct 31, 2008 11:43:50 GMT -5
"I can see that," she said, as she started pulling him down the street. "D'you really use real blood? An' you know Santa Claus?"
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Post by Jack Skellington on Oct 31, 2008 23:29:24 GMT -5
"Oop!" Jack felt himself tugged along, and followed a step behind, a bit odd for a big man to be led around by a small goth girl, but he didn't seem to mind either.
"Well, it's real Halloween blood. I'm... not sure where the vampires get it, but they assure me that it's real. Since... well, since there are no humans in Halloweentown, I suppose it's some sort of monster blood." Jack grinned and felt better, glad she took an interest, though it only increased his own in her. He was an open book, she was a Pandora's box. "And I do know Santa! I know adults don't believe in him so much, but he's real! But his hands aren't claws at all..." He was babbling again. "And the fact that he can cover the world in one night amazes me. It takes all of Halloweentown's citizens to pull a Halloween together!"
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Post by emo!Rogue on Nov 1, 2008 0:01:25 GMT -5
Rogue hid her smile under swinging hair. It was stupid, liking someone this much straight off, who was so silly and probably crazy besides, but she couldn't help it.
"But he really does that?" she asked, glancing cautiously askance at him, hoping he didn't take that to mean she didn't believe in Santa. Of course she didn't, but what did she know? Now, anyway. She hadn't thought she could suck the life out of people, either. "I mean, he doesn't have help?"
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Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 1, 2008 0:20:12 GMT -5
"Well, he does have those adorable little elves to help him make all those toys, but as far as the delivery goes, he actually takes it on himself! It's amazing! Then again, every holiday has its magic, right? I mean, that big bunny has to deliver chocolate and eggs and those little marshmallow things that get really, REALLY big when you put them in a microwave... so why can't Santa fly around the world? It's just... part of what we all can do, I guess. I wish I could show you..."
Of course, without being a walking, talking skeleton, Jack realized it might be a little hard to believe him, but Rogue seemed interested enough in the Holiday worlds... she must have been a believer.
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Post by emo!Rogue on Nov 1, 2008 10:37:08 GMT -5
Of course none of it made sense, because whatever she believed Rogue was a child of consumerism and knew where chocolate and toys and Peeps came from. Did the Easter Bunny buy them before distributing?
"I'd like to see it," she said. She didn't know what was true anymore. "But maybe you can answer me somethin' thats been bothering me for awhile. Is the Easter Bunny a boy or a girl?"
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Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 1, 2008 19:29:57 GMT -5
Jack found himself silent for a change, and thought about it as he walked, trying to recall when they had accidentally met.
"Well, I had referred to the Easter Bunny as 'Sir' when Lock, Shock and Barrel had kidnapped him by mistake... but I think the poor creature was too terrified to correct me if I was wrong.... I do remember him being quite pink, however." All this was said in a serious tone as he recounted the events as he remembered those devious trick-or-treaters bringing him the wrong Holiday icon.
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Post by emo!Rogue on Nov 1, 2008 20:10:42 GMT -5
"Th' Easter Bunny's pink?" Rogue echoed. "Easter wasn't ever my favorite holiday. I like dressin' up."
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Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 3, 2008 1:06:43 GMT -5
"Santa hasn't explained to me about Easter yet, but I suppose it's not his area of expertise... but yes, he, if it's a he, is pink." Jack looked around as they walked, stopping for a few moments to marvel at some of the interesting looking humans. Their clothing was so much different than his - he wasn't blending in very well - and he liked what many of the gents were wearing.
"Where are we going anyway?"
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