What’s This?

Jack Skellington || Club Owner || 32 || Demon

Sexuality: pansexual

Pronouns: He/Him

Favorite Song: skeleton appreciation day by will wood and the tapeworms

Big Three: Scorpio ♏️ sun, Cancer ♋️ moon, Leo ♌️ rising

“Just like when you were younger,” Jack chuckles. “Y’know, I gave you a key. And you don’t have to sneak in. You’re an adult, I don’t care how late you’re out or anything like that. You know I’m a night owl anyway.”

Jack doesn't say anything for a moment. He just sits, thinking about it. He doesn't care if he knows. Not really. But at the same time, Harold was a far more powerful demon. Thankfully he didn't have the station he once had in the Underworld, and thankfully Jack hadn't really been there since he was a really young child, and it was only briefly. So this shouldn't worry him, but in a way... there's just a tiny bit of anxiety that builds. "Has he said anything to you about it?" Jack asks. "Or has he done anything?" No, that's not what he needs to say right now. He lets out a small sigh and takes her hand. "I don't care if he knows, Paislee, unless it means more trouble for you. I don't want him treating you poorly anymore, especially not because of me."

It was weird for people to show concern for him. He couldn’t say he bought it entirely, but it made him slightly uncomfortable to think Jack actually cared a little. He could get into it, but he wouldn’t; it would be like pulling teeth out to get him to open up. “Yeah, man, I just get bored,” Bucky shrugged. “Better to be making money in my free time than wasting a few hours watching whatever random TV show catches my attention, you know?”

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“Ah, alright,” Jack says, seemingly believing him. At least he believes him enough to not pry. He doesn’t want to pry, he knows everyone has their secrets. If Bucky doesn’t want to open up, he doesn’t want to make him. “I suppose so, yes. I’ll move things around and see if I can’t get you more shifts.” he nods. “Do know I’m only doing this because you work pretty hard. If you start slacking off, I won’t be so willing to just hand out extra shifts.” He writes himself a note to add Bucky to more days on the calendar before looking up at him. “Any times that don’t work? Times you want off to spend with friends or something?” so maybe he was still a little curious about what was up with him, whatever. It just seems strange for someone so young to want extra hours just because they’re bored. If Bucky had said it was for the money, he would’ve bought it a little more. Or at least wouldn’t still be thinking about the why of it all. 

Paislee sighed into his touch, allowing herself to let go more than she had been. She was feeding into his words, his touch, and all she wanted was to enjoy this night with Jack. He was encouraging her to let go and she wanted to do that for him, she just wasn’t really sure where to begin. As they kissed, red poppies bloomed from the ground around them. She supposed it couldn’t be helped and tried not to think too hard on it. “I’m going to need you to guide me,” she whispered between his lips. Her hands went to his hair, tugging gently before she realized she had the chance to give more. Her tugging became pulling and she tried to kiss him with more passion. She honestly didn’t want to go back for air but her lungs eventually demanded it, and when she pulled away she stared into his eyes with complete trust. “Don’t hold back on me?”

There were very few people that Bucky liked… and maybe liked was too strong of a word, even then. But he appreciated Jack, he was the reason he had the job he did, which was pretty much the only thing he looked forward to, sad as it may be. Mixing drinks and dealing with people out of the ordinary at least held some sort of purpose. “Heyo, boss, I’ve been meaning to ask you, is there any way you could schedule me some extra doubles coming up? Tips seem to be pretty good this time of year and, well,” he shrugged, “I’d really rather not be home as much as possible, so there’s that.” 

@bonexdaddy

Jack looks up when Bucky speaks to him. He was a good employee. Did his job, wasn’t late--at least not that Jack noticed. “I can definitely look into it, sure thing,” Jack says, making a mental note to do that. But he does say something that makes him... worry, just a little. “It’s not... really my place to ask, but is everything... alright there? Any reason you don’t want to be there?” he asks, his curiosity and his concern for his employee getting the better of him. “I mean, I’ll give you the hours regardless, I’m sure I can make that work, but you know if you need to talk, I’m here.” 

Paislee grinned. She was so grateful for Jack and his kind words. She was happy that for the first time in forever she felt like she was surrounding herself with good people only. She snuggled closer to him the moment it felt okay to; like she wasn’t being mean to him or that he was going to resent her for being the way she was when it came to Harold. She knew this was all a mess and she didn’t want to drag Jack down a rabbit hole he didn’t deserve to be in, but he was making this feel so much easier than it was. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. Her hands gripped his arm and she rubbed circles into it, looking up at him after a moment. “I really appreciate everything you said,” she said softly. “But…I am not a good person. I want to be, I’m trying to be….but I’m not what you think I am…” She pressed a kiss to his neck. “I’ve been good. I do good things….but I’m growing tired of being the good girl in every situation too….I meant what I said earlier. I want to…explore all my options.” It was the one thing Harold understood about her best, and she was tired of reserving her darkness for him and only him. How could she truly find balance if she didn’t explore? She could very well regret it but…she had to give it a shot. “My plants are doing very well. They are being taken care of and my business is growing…..” She sat up suddenly, her arms going around his neck instead. “Do you really want to hear about my plants?”

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Jack smiles down at her, reaching his free arm over to brush against her cheek. “Well, it sounds like we have more in common than I thought,” he hums gently. “It can grow so exhausting, trying to be a good person all the time. Especially if that’s going against what you want--against what you feel and desire.” She kisses his neck and he leans in closer to her. “What I mean to say with all of that, with all that I’ve said, is I know you hold no malice toward me. And I would be more than happy to help you explore all those options.” He looks down at her, something dark flashing across his eyes. “You can’t scare me away, Paislee. So please. Don’t feel the need to be a good girl on my account.” Her arms go around his neck, and he shifts, his hands going to her waist as he pulls her into his lap. “No, not really. Maybe sometime, but... not now.” Jack moves forward, kissing her neck, “Right now, I want to see you. And all that darkness you want to explore.”

-

Paislee took a deep breath as she settled on the couch next to him. “This is going to sound bad but….Harold. He has been trying to win me back and I have been refusing him but I just….I don’t want you to think I’m using you because I’m not with him. I made the choice to not be with him. I swear, I am not trying to get back with him right now….I don’t know if ever though. Does that make me an awful person? Jack, I treasure you so much. You’re one of my dearest friends and I just don’t want to mess what we have up because I made you feel like you’re not enough or something. You’re so wonderful!”

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Hearing her say that name makes that anger flare up inside of him again. But he’s able to settle it as she speaks more about what’s been going on. “I’m sorry you’re going through all of that,” he says softly, meaning it. He may not like Harold, but he does know that Persephone cares for him at some times in some ways. But he’s also relieved to hear she might not want to go back to him. “I don’t think you could ever be an awful person, Paislee. I mean that. The fact that you’re even considering that in this situation proves as much.” He folds his hands in his lap, looking out into the room for a moment, just sort of in his own head. Thinking about all she’s said to him--the parts that relate to him. “I wouldn’t think that. That you were using me, I mean. Because it’s not in your nature--not that I’ve seen. You are so dear to me as well, and I would hate to lose our friendship--to lose everything we have. But you couldn’t ruin it. Anything I could think of that could ruin what we have, I cannot imagine you ever doing. And perhaps I’m wrong in thinking that, but you... You’re one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever known. You’re one of the people that makes me want to keep trying to do better--to be better. You have never made me feel like I wasn’t enough.” Jack looks back up at Paislee, trying to give her a reassuring smile. “We don’t have to ever do anything you don’t want to, but for me at least, I don’t think anything would be messed up.” He leans back against the couch, relaxing a little. “If you would like, we could just hang out and watch a movie? Or keep chatting, about whatever... How are your plants doing?”

bonexdaddy​:

-

Maybe this was what she needed. Meg had encouraged her to take it all on her own time and to figure out how she felt and right now she felt safe and appreciated. Jack was warmth and kind to her and she liked being this close with him. She wasn’t trying to rebound because she felt awful about the idea of it, but at the same time this very much might be what it is. She was trying not to think too hard on it. His words were like honey and she wanted to indulge in him and his wishes, but she needed a moment to catch her breath. So she reluctantly pulled away again, running a hand through her hair since she gave herself the proper distance to. “Jack,” she said softly. “I feel like I’m being cruel to you in coming here. Can we talk first? Properly?”

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She pulls away again, and he stops. He feels all those feelings that started to grow get overshadowed by his worry. Jack watches as she runs her hand through her hair, holding his breath, feeling a cold wave of panic rush through him as she says his name. Perhaps he was wrong. He went too far too fast, he worried, panicked that he was scaring her. But she continues and he’s... confused. A little relieved that she’s not telling him off or say he’s done something wrong or to upset her. “You could never be cruel to me, Pais,” he says softly. “What... of course we can talk. You can always talk to me. I’m... I hope I didn’t take things too fast for you. I’d hate to ever make you feel uncomfortable. But yes, please. Let’s talk.” he walks to the sofa. “What’s on your mind?”

Zero let out a long sigh as he made himself at home practically at his brothers. “Are doing… like family holiday crap?” He asked messing with whatever was stuck on the screen on his phone. Anything but to have to look at his brother and catch that weird overprotective look he gave him sometimes. There were moment Zero felt bad for shoving himself so far away from Jack. But then there were other times he just wanted to run further. Almost like he just didn’t understand Zero. End of every day though he knew if he ever needed someone the only one he could really trust would be Jack.  || @bonexdaddy​

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Jack has always loved holidays. All of them. He thinks all of the human traditions are so fun and mostly pointless but in a joyous sort of way. Winter holidays were some of his favorites because of the lights and the snow. And when Zero asks if they’re doing anything, his eyes light up. “If you would want to, yes, we absolutely can!” Jack says excitedly, not only enthused to have Zero wanting to be around him, but wanting to participate in these activities with him. “You know I usually decorate, and maybe do something with Sally, but if you want to do a family thing... Oh, it’d be just like when we were children, wouldn’t it, Zero?” he talks fast, thinking faster, trying to come up with the idea for the perfect celebration. “I have to be honest, I wouldn’t think you’d want to. And maybe you don’t, but the fact that you asked it... well, I’m just excited that we could do something together! It’s been... too long.”

continued from here. @bonexdaddy​

Paislee always felt so safe with Jack. He was such a kind man and he understood her in ways that she felt no one else did sometimes. He just knew how to get into her head in a way that didn’t hurt and she would forever adore him for it. When she went to him, it was because she felt so lost about this Harold stuff and she needed some sort of push to try and figure out herself and have some of her own fun. When he kissed her she always felt a little weak in the knees and she returned the kiss with as much intensity as he did. She could easily get lost in this, in him, but she had to be sure he wasn’t pitying her. She pulled away, not too far away, and bit her lip. “Jack, are you sure? I mean….I don’t want to make you do something you don’t wish to do. I’m happy being around you regardless.”

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She pulls away and it almost jolts him out of the state he was finding himself in. Lost in his own inner demons. He worries for a moment he’s done something to scare her, to drive her away. But no, here she is, worried about him. She was so good and so effortlessly. “I could never regret anything we do together, Paislee.” he closes the distance she made, kissing her again, his hands going around her waist. “But if you don’t wish to, just say the word,” his lips trail down to her neck, kissing her slowly and with intention. Each kiss placed carefully, some softer than others, trying to illicit a reaction--hopefully a good one. “You know I’m always happy to be around you--I simply adore your company. But I must say, making you melt would make me ecstatic.”

Something about hearing Paislee say that made him falter. He feels a tug in his chest as that darkness stirs. "I don't think there's such a thing as being... too good," he says, though his hands go to her waist, pulling her closer. "But I do... I understand, how that can feel. To maybe grow tired of it all, of being... good." Jack brushes a lock of hair out of her face, twirling it around his finger. "But if you want to be... well, if you want a break from that--from being too good-- allow me to indulge you." He kisses her, which isn't a first, but it feels good. It always feels good. But this time there's that ache as he holds back that growing presence of the true demon he was inside that wants to deepen the kiss, that wants to pin her to the wall. That wants... her. If she feels as though she's been too good of a girl, too well behaved, he wanted to do whatever he could to rectify those feelings while still making her feel as good as he could.

Sally knew why he kept the shades on, it was reasonable and she probably would’ve done the same thing in his position. However, it might’ve been selfish of her but she loved seeing him without them. Around him, she always felt safe, a home she never knew until she had met him. Besides she always found him handsome too, though those thoughts were kept to herself. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of someone she held so dearly to her heart. Smiling–but catching her breath as their fingers laced together for a moment. God, why did she have to get so flustered so easily? “Work was really good today, busy! Which I can’t say I mind since that means business is doing well. You never have to apologize, you know I’m always happy to see you.” It was true, seeing Jack was usually the best part of her day. His offer caused her cheeks to darken a shade or two as she held the same warm smile. “N-No I don’t have anything planned after, I would love that.” Swallowing hard she tried to remember the tasks she had left to do before closing. “You want to help me sweep? Then we can be on our way. It’s not glamorous but it keeps the floors clean.” She giggled before turning on her heels to fetch the brooms from the break room.

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Sally’s smile brought a warmth and light to him he rarely ever experienced. Her smile was stunning. He found himself getting lost in looking at her for a moment, admiring her face, her eyes. Being able to look in her eyes and never see an ounce of fear... that meant the world to him. That made him feel more human than anything else ever had. Sally made him feel more human than anything ever could. She made him feel like himself. “I’m so glad work was good. Busy is always good,” he smiles. “I’m always happy to see you too, Sally.” He means it. he always means it with Sally. Everything he says to her is so genuine and real. He’s honest with her in ways he couldn’t be honest with anyone else. She makes him feel lighter and warmer and at home. And he doesn’t really realize what that means. “Wonderful,” he beams, looking around the shop. “Of course, I’d love to help.” Jack follows behind her as she goes to get the brooms. They reach the breakroom and Jack goes to grab a broom. “We’ve done a lot of things together, but I think this will be our first time sweeping together. I love that after all these years we can still find new things to do together,” he smiles brightly. “Though, then again, it truly doesn’t matter what we’re doing, so long as I get to spend time with you.” 

As she groans, Jack finds himself grinning, his breath just a little heavier as he watched her face change. She was enjoying this. As was he, probably too much. For someone who tried so hard to pretend he was above all of this and these darker urges, he loved how her chuckle got cut off because of his hand on her throat. “I’d love to hear you scream,” he practically growls as his hand moves just a little lower on her throat, just to put that pressure in a different place. Vanessa bites his lip hard and he lets out a groan. It made all those feelings stir a little stronger. That darkness lingering a little longer in his eyes.