The Spectral Boy

Tch. What, like marriage? Candlelit dinners? Joint coffee mugs?

Relationships take time. Time takes energy. Energy I usually spend keeping humanity from falling face-first into extinction.

That said…

I wouldn’t rule it out.

If someone could keep up. If they didn’t flinch at the mess—mental, scientific, emotional—and if they didn’t expect me to slow down or soften up just to fit into some neat little romantic blueprint.

It’d have to be someone I could respect enough to trust.

a young wordsmith cheesily flirting with a star child and stopping before the end of the punchline because she couldn’t even tell it was already working

Nightlight was shocked, feeling Jack hug him back he smiled keeping their embrace another moment before he pulled back.

"We do, let's open a window let it dry and we can show him as a surprise. Go ahead and shower first, I can clean up here and then we can buy eggs or toilet paper for getting back at Dad."

Nighthtlight stuck his tongue out he wasn't sure anymore if he was joking or not.

"Oh, a rebel huh? Gotta hand it to ya dad. Guess he was right about one thing, am rubbing off on ya after all," he grinned. Jack walked over to the window, flinging it open as he looked outside. Curiously he stuck his head out the window, eyes lingering up to the roof. He wondered, would it be hard to reach the roof from here? Without a second thought his hand was gripping the roof as he pulled himself out of the room and onto it.

He nearly tripped but he caught himself and held his arms out for balance. He walked all the way to the top of the roof before turning around. There was always something about heights that made him feel at ease. He briefly closed his eyes, enjoying the wind whipping across his face before he opened his eyes.

He slowly walked back down from the roof, struggling a bit as he dropped himself back inside the room. "Don't worry, with practice. Will be able to do that with my eyes closed. Ya'll see!"

"Thanks. If ya want, could draw something before I leave. Think of it as a parting gift to remember me by."

Jack listened as she talked about Nightlight. He looked down at the cup that she was offering to him before saying, "Ya mind putting lot more sugar in it? Kinda bitter for me otherwise."

She sat crossed legged sipping her tea as she listened to him speak.

"Oh! Yes! Sorry how rude of me."

With a small chuckle she leaned over pulling out a bag of sugar cubes for him to take.

"Perhaps he will be, or a nanny he's great with children too."

North had told her not to pressure him about homeschooling but the curiosity bubbled inside her.

"He's going to homeschool? Oh..would you ever home school?"

"I see, well hopefully you can apply for coverage I mean after all they have a bunch of low income help for those who need it. Family clinics..and such. I know they have gotten me out of a pinch a few times in the day. I left my home and moved out here wanting to become a famous artist and well.. didn't get far. Then I became a teacher and though my work isn't in a museum I realized it's more important to make memories with my students. That's why I collect all their art..I live through the memories and it's worth more to me then any riches."

She smiled fondly looking up at Jack, she wouldn't push as she took his hand.

"Well you know what's best for you but don't be afraid to stray off your planned path, might find something better."

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"You sound really close to them, did you know them well?"

He asked curiously as he eyed the food before him.

"Yeah it means something, means light. Didn't exactly get to pick the name but it might not even be my real name..I don't really remember much of my childhood I was found wandering around lost in the streets and ended up there."

The boy looked up raising a brow of course he knew how to eat. He sighed, a smile pulling on his lips.

Nightlight was shocked, feeling Jack hug him back he smiled keeping their embrace another moment before he pulled back.

"We do, let's open a window let it dry and we can show him as a surprise. Go ahead and shower first, I can clean up here and then we can buy eggs or toilet paper for getting back at Dad."

Nighthtlight stuck his tongue out he wasn't sure anymore if he was joking or not.

"Oh, a rebel huh? Gotta hand it to ya dad. Guess he was right about one thing, am rubbing off on ya after all," he grinned. Jack walked over to the window, flinging it open as he looked outside. Curiously he stuck his head out the window, eyes lingering up to the roof. He wondered, would it be hard to reach the roof from here? Without a second thought his hand was gripping the roof as he pulled himself out of the room and onto it.

He nearly tripped but he caught himself and held his arms out for balance. He walked all the way to the top of the roof before turning around. There was always something about heights that made him feel at ease. He briefly closed his eyes, enjoying the wind whipping across his face before he opened his eyes.

He slowly walked back down from the roof, struggling a bit as he dropped himself back inside the room. "Don't worry, with practice. Will be able to do that with my eyes closed. Ya'll see!"

"Thanks. If ya want, could draw something before I leave. Think of it as a parting gift to remember me by."

Jack listened as she talked about Nightlight. He looked down at the cup that she was offering to him before saying, "Ya mind putting lot more sugar in it? Kinda bitter for me otherwise."

She sat crossed legged sipping her tea as she listened to him speak.

"Oh! Yes! Sorry how rude of me."

With a small chuckle she leaned over pulling out a bag of sugar cubes for him to take.

"Perhaps he will be, or a nanny he's great with children too."

North had told her not to pressure him about homeschooling but the curiosity bubbled inside her.

"He's going to homeschool? Oh..would you ever home school?"

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

Jack sighed as he walked them upstairs and into a corridor. Thinking back to his time in the palace always left him with a feeling of dread. Though he pushed it down. "Anyways he was a soft hearted person. And this was his home. Before the revolutionary's came and tore the place down. After that they took everything of value and pretty much left this place in ruins. Here we are." He opened the door one of the vast rooms the palace had. There was a small table next to the fireplace, and the bedsheets had visible holes in them. A curtain was hung up against the window even though it too, was torn. Jack threw his bag onto the floor and leaned down in the fireplace to get it started. He had placed a fresh set of logs that morning so all he had to do was light up a match and throw it in. He moved the logs around with a porker before the fire grew.

"Well if he was outdoorsy then perhaps we should start my training outside? I can climb to the top of the tree's at the orphanage."

He walked down the hall behind him stopping for a brief moment at what would of been Alexei's room getting ready to turn into the room only to see Jack keep walking ahead. Once they were inside the room he looked around with a warm smile. Sure it was broken down but it was still a nice large room with warmth and privacy.

"Do you think there's ghosts?"

He suddenly blurted out looking up at the ceiling.

"Like the Royal family haunting this place? Not in anyway harmful..but just hanging around because it's all they know? Maybe you can contact the real Alexei to give us help. He can possess me."

The boy broke out into laughter for a moment looking at Jack, his tone went a bit serious.

Nightlight was shocked, feeling Jack hug him back he smiled keeping their embrace another moment before he pulled back.

"We do, let's open a window let it dry and we can show him as a surprise. Go ahead and shower first, I can clean up here and then we can buy eggs or toilet paper for getting back at Dad."

Nighthtlight stuck his tongue out he wasn't sure anymore if he was joking or not.

"Oh, a rebel huh? Gotta hand it to ya dad. Guess he was right about one thing, am rubbing off on ya after all," he grinned. Jack walked over to the window, flinging it open as he looked outside. Curiously he stuck his head out the window, eyes lingering up to the roof. He wondered, would it be hard to reach the roof from here? Without a second thought his hand was gripping the roof as he pulled himself out of the room and onto it.

He nearly tripped but he caught himself and held his arms out for balance. He walked all the way to the top of the roof before turning around. There was always something about heights that made him feel at ease. He briefly closed his eyes, enjoying the wind whipping across his face before he opened his eyes.

He slowly walked back down from the roof, struggling a bit as he dropped himself back inside the room. "Don't worry, with practice. Will be able to do that with my eyes closed. Ya'll see!"

Her tone was that of a concerned mother and nothing less. With that she stood walking over to him giving her student a light hug careful to not let it linger to long or be to rough.

"Well know the fight wasn't your fault no matter what anyone says. I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself and I hope whatever you choose in life it brings you happiness. You're very talented Jack, and you shine brightest when you're yourself."

She pulled back from the hug giving him a playful punch to the shoulder.

"Has he? That's good he's a sweet boy it always confused me how he hung around Aster and that crowed...not to talk bad of other students.."

She took a sip of her tea sitting down she poured him a cup offering it to him.

"Has a beautiful voice, he use to come into my classroom to escape at times. It's a shame he could never find it in himself to try out for choir or theater."

Nightlight was shocked, feeling Jack hug him back he smiled keeping their embrace another moment before he pulled back.

"We do, let's open a window let it dry and we can show him as a surprise. Go ahead and shower first, I can clean up here and then we can buy eggs or toilet paper for getting back at Dad."

Nighthtlight stuck his tongue out he wasn't sure anymore if he was joking or not.

"Oh, a rebel huh? Gotta hand it to ya dad. Guess he was right about one thing, am rubbing off on ya after all," he grinned. Jack walked over to the window, flinging it open as he looked outside. Curiously he stuck his head out the window, eyes lingering up to the roof. He wondered, would it be hard to reach the roof from here? Without a second thought his hand was gripping the roof as he pulled himself out of the room and onto it.

He nearly tripped but he caught himself and held his arms out for balance. He walked all the way to the top of the roof before turning around. There was always something about heights that made him feel at ease. He briefly closed his eyes, enjoying the wind whipping across his face before he opened his eyes.

He slowly walked back down from the roof, struggling a bit as he dropped himself back inside the room. "Don't worry, with practice. Will be able to do that with my eyes closed. Ya'll see!"

"Oh Good morning Jack! I am so happy to see you're here. How are you feeling? May I give you a hug? Oh we were so worried about you."

The class had a surprise for him, a large card with well wishes and doodles signed inside. When he mentioned dropping out she didn't look surprised, after all North had already spoken about homeschooling him and Nychta so long as Jack was ok with it, but she couldn't say a thing until North had a word with him first.

"Of course my classroom is your classroom..can stay the whole time if you like whatever makes you comfortable. Would you like some tea or coffee? Did you heave breakfast yet? I have some snacks here if you like."

She went 100 miles a minute, it sometimes was hard to follow.

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

He reached up pulling off the brown wig tossing it over to him, showing his pale curls.

"Said I stood out like a sore thumb. She thought a family might want me if I looked more like the rest of the kids."

He watched him light the cigarette taking a small step back he hated the smell.

"Well..um..I just want to go to Paris with you is all."

He muttered under his breath while keeping up his smile. There was something about this boy though he found amusing and he himself had so many questions..for starters why was he living in the abandoned palace?

"Sounds like a deal, don't be a boring teacher."

The boy wiped his hand against his pants offering to shake on it.

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

He reached up pulling off the brown wig tossing it over to him, showing his pale curls.

"Said I stood out like a sore thumb. She thought a family might want me if I looked more like the rest of the kids."

He watched him light the cigarette taking a small step back he hated the smell.

"Well..um..I just want to go to Paris with you is all."

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"Did you know Alexei? You seemed to impersonate him with such fondness..or are you just a grand actor?"

Nyctha asked hoping off the stage as he patted his clothes off.

"You know you basically just used what I said, that's copy right ya know."

He mocked his way of speaking walking closer to Jack.

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"Ya have a very innocent outlook huh? Family don't want him. Especially if they sold him like I said they did. Ya would know that if ya actually paid attention." He put out the cigarette in the ashtray before crumbling up the piece of paper and throwing it away.

"How do you know that? What if the family had no other way to survive other then to sell their son for work? What if they missed him just as much as he missed them? Are you implying perhaps he wasn't a kindhearted boy?"

He stomped his foot down in annoyance crossing his arms over his chest holding in his breath as he watched. Why did it matter to him? He didn't even want to be here in the first place.

"I am paying attention, hence why I gave you both my answers. If you need someone to play the part so badly why don't you do it?"

Nychta froze when he mentioned going to Paris. His shoulders softened as he exhaled looking to Jack.

"Are ya stupid or something? Does it look like I have any of Alexei's looks? That would be a no. Have brown hair and brown eyes. Pretty obvious, don't look anything like him. Now leave." Jack finished away his things when he sighed. Ugh, he definitely needed another smoke.

"You're a wonderful actor, you sound just like you could of been that kitchen boy..."

He sighed walking over to the stage he sat on the edge letting his feet hang over as he tucked a stray curl behind his ear shrugging.

"I would just..apologize to him for everything that happened. I would give my apologies that I was so young at the time that I couldn't grasp what hardships were going on in Russia because I couldn't even know living the lifestyle I had and the age I was. I would..promise as I got older and became more aware of the world outside these palace walls to talk to my family to try to put an end to the problems that poverty stricken people face that would force them to sell off their son to get out of debt."

Nyctha shrugged his shoulders touching a small pendant around his neck looking down saddened. Behind him was a young photo of Alexei.

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"Ya have a very innocent outlook huh? Family don't want him. Especially if they sold him like I said they did. Ya would know that if ya actually paid attention." He put out the cigarette in the ashtray before crumbling up the piece of paper and throwing it away.

"How do you know that? What if the family had no other way to survive other then to sell their son for work? What if they missed him just as much as he missed them? Are you implying perhaps he wasn't a kindhearted boy?"

He stomped his foot down in annoyance crossing his arms over his chest holding in his breath as he watched. Why did it matter to him? He didn't even want to be here in the first place.

"I am paying attention, hence why I gave you both my answers. If you need someone to play the part so badly why don't you do it?"

Nychta froze when he mentioned going to Paris. His shoulders softened as he exhaled looking to Jack.

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"You like acting hm? Up all night with Katherine and then other children playing stories when you should be asleep? Filling their heads with make believe?! Well it is time we use your playtime for something that might bring money to the orphanage so you can earn your keep since no family wants you. Now get out there and don't mess this up, if you do then don't even bother to come back!"

The woman spoke in a hushed anger, patting off his clothes as she shoved him out on the makeshift stage.

Nychta stumbled a bit standing solo he looked down at Jack watching him exhale the smoke he smiled with a faint laugh.

"How would anyone know what Alexei would say? I assume he would be upset that his home is messy and the pictures in his home were ruined. Most of all why a stranger would be smoking in the dancing hall."

He inhaled his cigarette, exhaling as he thought about the scenario he would use. "Pretend ya Alexei and ya're about, don't know, seven years old. And there's this boy about ten who ya're family took in as a kitchen boy against his will. Now imagine ya see this kitchen boy crying one day because he misses his parents who sold him to the royal family. As Alexei what would ya say to him?"

Nychta's face twisted in disgust at the concept.

"Did they really do that? They bought children to be slaves?"

The woman cursed loudly from behind the stage walking out of the abandoned palace leaving him there.

Nychta watched her walk off as he laughed under his breath shaking his head.

"Well..it's normal to get sad and to miss your parents. I know..many of the children in the orphanage feel that way. Talking about it only works if the person who is sad wants to talk about it. So..offer to talk? If not then probably offer to play a game together..show him he's not alone."

Nightlight was shocked, feeling Jack hug him back he smiled keeping their embrace another moment before he pulled back.

"We do, let's open a window let it dry and we can show him as a surprise. Go ahead and shower first, I can clean up here and then we can buy eggs or toilet paper for getting back at Dad."

Nighthtlight stuck his tongue out he wasn't sure anymore if he was joking or not.

"Oh, a rebel huh? Gotta hand it to ya dad. Guess he was right about one thing, am rubbing off on ya after all," he grinned. Jack walked over to the window, flinging it open as he looked outside. Curiously he stuck his head out the window, eyes lingering up to the roof. He wondered, would it be hard to reach the roof from here? Without a second thought his hand was gripping the roof as he pulled himself out of the room and onto it.

He nearly tripped but he caught himself and held his arms out for balance. He walked all the way to the top of the roof before turning around. There was always something about heights that made him feel at ease. He briefly closed his eyes, enjoying the wind whipping across his face before he opened his eyes.

He slowly walked back down from the roof, struggling a bit as he dropped himself back inside the room. "Don't worry, with practice. Will be able to do that with my eyes closed. Ya'll see!"

"No, sorry. Ya're definitely too tall and way too loud. Next!" Jack sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper he was writing on over his shoulder. He was currently criticizing each actors performance and writing down areas that needed work. But honestly? Every single actor he has seen hadn't even come close to the real deal. None of these people were going to do. And it's been months since he started searching. Maybe it was best he give it up?

"You like acting hm? Up all night with Katherine and then other children playing stories when you should be asleep? Filling their heads with make believe?! Well it is time we use your playtime for something that might bring money to the orphanage so you can earn your keep since no family wants you. Now get out there and don't mess this up, if you do then don't even bother to come back!"

The woman spoke in a hushed anger, patting off his clothes as she shoved him out on the makeshift stage.

Nychta stumbled a bit standing solo he looked down at Jack watching him exhale the smoke he smiled with a faint laugh.

"How would anyone know what Alexei would say? I assume he would be upset that his home is messy and the pictures in his home were ruined. Most of all why a stranger would be smoking in the dancing hall."