[lanternjack]

# 𝕷𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝕵𝐀𝐂𝐊 : a private and highly selective rendition of jack skellington from tim burton's the nightmare before christmas. reimagined and headcanon driven —— this blog will contain sensitive and triggering material. minors do not interact. 🕸️ follows back from @thecrypt.

𖦹 . . . trick or treat .ᐟ

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𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙳𝚈 𝙸𝙽 : endless curtain calls, wanting more than the grave allows, beauty in the grotesque, the gothic archetype, obsession that devours, tragic grandeur, and being doomed to spend eternity performing for death.

[lanternjack]

and then he disappears into the fog

[lanternjack]

scare actor jack au meet cute where he's chasing ur muse through a house or park and they fall in luv

[quad4xel]

jack says, ❛ you're not afraid of me ?? how disappointing. ❜ — @lanternjack

❝ why would i fear something so... fascinating ?? ❞ DEATH - TOUCHED, but not entirely dead. something between living and dead, like alexei himself. he's neither living nor dead, he's something in between. not undead, as he does still have vital life functions, but not fully alive. the vampire's always been morbidly curious, obsessed with the dead and the macabre, with the grotesque and the disgusting. it's why he loves watching people get injured on the ice, as long as he's well fed, that is. the mere smell of blood does things to a starved vampire's brain. blame it on exposure to what were essentially murder parties as a small child, before his vampirism turned him into a creature skirting between life and death. while he doesn't know what jack is, he can't exactly smell him, he's intrigued.

HIS SMILE FADES SLIGHTLY, a bit of an exaggerated pout replacing it. ❝ i apologise for having disappointed you, sir, is just — i have never met anything like you before. in all one - hundred - and - twenty - six years of my life, nothing has piqued my interest quite like you. so, what are you ?? not a vampire, i would know. is very easy to spot my own kind when i know what i am looking for. a ghoul, perhaps ?? i have never met one before. ghosts, yes. ghouls, no. i was not aware they looked like humans. i thought they were something more grotesque, if i am going to be completely honest. ❞

[lanternjack]

🎃 oddly enough, in jack's regenerated eye sockets, there hadn't been much recoiling during his time here. he'd expected more fear from others in his presence, like when he visited otherworld towns vastly different from his own. ( oh how quickly those became boring ! ) he's enjoying his time back through the veil —— and really, he quite likes walking amongst folks with such a casualness that made him feel as though he once again belonged... a feat from new skin, he's aware. SIDE EYES AND OFF PUT SHIVERS MEANT VERY LITTLE TO A MAN IN HIS LINE OF FRIGHTENING WORK. but there's something that can be dearly missed about a good old fashioned shriek of fear... perhaps he'll have to try scooping out an eye in front of a stranger, or unhinge his jaw to a monstrous degree —— just to feel a little extra excitement. just for the reminder that he still has it even on mortal planes ! especially on mortal planes.

❛❛ labels... ❜❜ jack tsked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, as if the idea of having to put a name to himself annoyed him. but don't let it fool you —— there's nothing he enjoys more than talking about himself. though he can't help but laugh at the mention of ghouls. ❛❛ oh if you meet a ghoul, you'll know, my friend. i don't share the same dinner menu as them. ❜❜ another laugh to himself more than to alexei, and maybe he's only half heartedly stalling because even he is unsure of what to consider himself... he's never really had to think about it. AND HE WASN'T GIVEN MUCH AFTER HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE OTHER THAN A CROWN AND WORSHIP. but what man could possibly complain about the beauty of flesh decay and loyalty? ❛❛ undead is the new alive. ❜❜

[metalprompts]

*      ―    ﴾  𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚠  𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚜  ﴿   :           𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍  𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍.  

a  random  assortment  of  nsfw  actions  and  silly  dialogue  prompts ,   perfect  for  the  spooky  season.   or  maybe  all  year  round.   i  won’t  judge  you.   feel  free  to  make  adjustments  /  add  specifics  /  reverse  wherever  you  see  fit.

actions.

[ HAUNTED  HOUSE ]:   sender  and  receiver  sneak  off  while  going  through  a  fake  haunted  house  to  have  sex.

[ ABANDONED ]:   sender  and  receiver  have  sex  in  a  supposedly  real  haunted  house.

[ CEMETERY ]:   sender  and  receiver  have  sex  in  a  cemetery.

[ HAYRIDE ]:   sender  and  receiver  have  sex  on  a  hayride.

[ COSTUME  PARTY ]:   sender  and  receiver  sneak  off  to  have  sex  at  a  costume  party.

[ ROLEPLAY ]:   sender  and  receiver  roleplay  in  their  costumes.

[ COSTUME ]:   sender  and  receiver  have  sex  in  their  costumes.

[ DRIVE  IN ]:   sender  and  receiver  have  sex  in  the  car  at  the  drive  in  while  a  scary  movie  plays.

[ SCARY  MOVIE ]:   sender  and  receiver  forgo  their  scary  movie  night  to  have  sex  while  it  plays  in  the  background.

[ MESSY ]:   things  get  steamy  while  one  or  both  muses  are  wearing  face  paint  or  makeup.

[ BLOODY ]:   things  get  steamy  while  one  or  both  muses  are  covered  in  (real or fake?)  blood.

[ COSTUME  SHOPPING ]:   receiver  helps  sender  pick  out  a  sexy  costume.

[ DRESS ]:   receiver  is  supposed  to  help  sender  into  their  costume  but  they  end  up  taking  it  off  instead.

[ CANDY ]:   sender  is  wearing  candy  pasties  and  the  receiver  eats  them  off.

dialogue.

“ your  costume  looks  complicated.  need  help  taking  it  off ? “

“ i’ve  got  some  candy  for  you … “

“ i’ve  got  a  treat  for  you … “

“ i  was  expecting  a  trick.  but  you’re  a  real  treat. “

“ if  i  were  a  zombie,  i’d  eat  you  first. “

“ wanna  take  a  ride  on  my  broomstick ? “

“ i’m  not  a  ghost,  but  you  can  still  get  under  my  sheets. “

“ you  look  so  sexy  dressed  up  like  (costume). “

“ wanna  check  my  pants  for  a  treat ? “

“ forget  your  broom.  ride  me  instead. “

“ i’m  tired  of  this  broom.  got  anything  else  i  can  ride ? “

“ i  bet  i  can  make  you  scream  tonight. “

“ is  that  candy  in  your  pocket  or  are  you  just  happy  to  see  me ? “

“ my / your  costume  would  look  better  on  my / your  bedroom  floor. “

“ i’m  not  a  vampire,  but  i  know  how  to  suck. “

“ wanna  find  out  how  many  licks  it  takes  to  get  to  the  center  of  my  tootsie  pop ? “

“ i  like  to  give  head  like  a  zombie.  i’ll  eat  you  out  ‘til  your  insides  are  on  me. “

“ i’ll  be  your  victim. “

“ i  can  make  your  heart  beat  faster  than  a  haunted  house. “

[absolmemes]

☾ lustful action prompts.

a litany of prompts exploring intimacy and sexuality. mature audiences only; do not interact if you are a minor. add +reverse to reverse the roles. combine prompts by sending multiple at once. only use these prompts to portray consensual scenarios.

[beg.] sender makes receiver beg before giving them what they want.

[fumble.] sender struggles impatiently with receiver's clothes.

[shh.] sender stuffs their fingers in receiver's mouth to keep them quiet.

[tug.] sender grips receiver's hair to pull them closer.

[tie.] sender binds receiver's wrists with rope / belt / tie / etc.

[bite.] sender sinks their teeth into receiver's neck / shoulder / skin.

[scratch.] sender rakes their nails down receiver's back.

[drip.] sender drips spit into receiver's mouth / onto receiver.

[69.] sender and receiver go down on each other at the same time.

[needy.] sender teases receiver about how desperate they look.

[deep.] sender pushes receiver's head down during oral until they gag.

[eager.] sender holds receiver's head still and fucks their mouth.

[anchor.] sender pins receiver's hips while eating them out.

[grind.] sender grinds their hips into receiver while receiver gives them oral.

[press.] sender pushes a hand against receiver's stomach while inside them.

[hold.] sender grabs receiver's hand to hold while they have sex.

[pin.] sender pins receiver's wrists above their head.

[straddle.] sender straddles receiver's body to restrain them.

[clutch.] sender clutches receiver's jaw to hold their head still.

[hollow.] sender presses a thumb into the hollow of receiver's throat.

[cradle.] sender cradles receiver's throat in their hand, applying light pressure.

[stay.] sender cockwarms receiver.

[breed.] sender fucks receiver deep and finishes inside.

[stare.] sender forces receiver to maintain eye contact.

[cling.] sender wraps their legs tight around receiver's waist while they have sex.

[elevate.] sender places a pillow beneath receiver's hips during sex.

[suckle.] sender sucks on receiver's chest and nipples.

[eavesdrop.] sender fucks receiver where others can hear but not see.

[praise.] sender praises receiver for taking it well.

[hush.] sender forbids receiver from making a sound.

[chokehold.] sender locks receiver's throat in the crook of their arm.

[mark.] sender leaves hickeys on receiver where they will be seen later.

[nuzzle.] sender buries their face in receiver's neck mid-fuck.

[rut.] sender gets caught up, fucking receiver harder without warning.

[ohisms]

✱ ˚｡⋆ ↪ MORBID CURIOSITY ... [ REMASTERED ] ( a collection of various original dialogue prompts centered around asking questions. adjust phrasing / gendered terms as necessary. )

give that to me! where did you find this?!

do you drink coffee or tea?

sorry– am i crazy, or have we met before?

do you trust me enough to close your eyes?

when were you planning on telling me?

at the risk of being a cliché, do you want to get out of here?

can i convince you to stay the night?

do i look like someone who knows what that means?

would you consider giving me a second chance?

do you really think that's helpful right now?

would you mind showing me around?

do you ever plan on forgiving yourself?

are you thinking what i'm thinking?

can we ... go out and do something crazy?

why are we whispering?

who exactly are you, anyways?

can't we just be civil for a minute?

does the past ever keep you up at night?

if you have nothing to hide, what's the problem?

how long has it been since i saw you last, [ name ]?

did the power just go out?

are we still doing the thing where we pretend not to care?

how should we celebrate?

can we just ... start over?

why is this so important to you?

how was i supposed to know that?!

do you want me to stay? it doesn't have to mean anything.

where are you? nobody's heard from you.

can you help me zip this up?

why do these things always happen to me?

you don't secretly hate me, right?

can i get you something to eat? –or drink?

ready to see what i've been working on?

where have you been disappearing off to?

what's that perfume you're wearing?

you're laughing?! do you really think this is funny?

are you planning to stay for dinner?

did you think it was going to be easy?

you see where you went wrong, don't you?

when did we become so cold and distant?

who are you working for?

did you really do all of this for me?

can i open my eyes yet?

haven't you heard the stories?

[ name ], what are you doing here?

what's it gonna take for you to trust me?

do you believe people can change?

how about we catch the ten o'clock showing?

don't you remember what happened last time?

why is it so unbelievable that i'd want to help you?

you're [ name ], aren't you?

who did this to you?!

how did you know i'd be here?

what's that supposed to mean?

do you think i'm irredeemable?

what kind of mess have you gotten us into?!

do you see anything you like?

what do i owe you for the food?

why won't this stupid thing work?!

does tonight really have to end?

holy shit. can you believe we really pulled that off?!

i can tell you're upset, [ name ]. what happened?

how long have you been standing there?

do you ever wish you could just ... run away?

haven't we been here before?

wait, shush ... did you hear that?

did i miss today's newsletter or something?

can we put our differences aside for a second?

what are you getting out of this, exactly?

you'd tell me if something was wrong, right?

are you willing to bet on it?

would you kill for me?

what made you think that was okay?!

do you believe people can change?

what's the worst thing you've ever done?

you were going to leave without saying goodbye?

[ name ], can you sit up for me?

can i kiss you?

where are your keys? you're not driving like this.

how's life been treating you?

where have you been?!

aren't we supposed to be alone tonight?

aw, has someone had a little too much to drink?

where are you going with this?

are we really doing this right now?

have you eaten today?

can i crash here for the night?

how did you learn to lie so well?

can i at least buy you a drink?

where should i meet you?

is that  ...  blood?!

are you trying to make me jealous right now?

what’s your problem? you're acting weird.

[ name ], you're ... real, right?

where’s your sense of adventure?

do you like horror movies?

what are you trying to prove?

can you give me a ride?

do you have any idea what you've done?

shouldn't you answer that?

why should i be the one to calm down?

have you been up all night?

why are you lying to me?

is that my [ jacket / hoodie / shirt ]?

what are you so afraid of?

do you want to grow old with me?

you’re gonna walk away from this?

are you nervous? your hands are shaking.

where am i supposed to go?

how many fingers am i holding up?

you want me to just walk away from this?

[ name ], slow down– what's wrong?!

are you embarrassed of me?

what's that smell? something's burning.

how can i make it up to you?

why can't you stay out of it?

is this some kind of trick?

come on, what do you have to lose?

do you ever still think of me?

idiot. why didn't you tell me?!

can we stop and think about this rationally?

how long has it been since you’ve slept?

what's your ideal first date?

are you ready to tell me the truth?

i almost died, and you're laughing?

what do you mean, "sort of"?

can we just stay like this forever?

when can i see you again?

can we put this behind us?

oh ... you thought of me first?

where did you learn to do that?

oh my god,  are you bleeding?!

where are you?  nobody’s heard from you.

[ name ], are you drunk?

how can i make this go away?

someone's jumpy today. are you feeling okay?

are we safe here?

what can i do to convince you?

what could possibly go wrong?

you have no idea who i am, do you?

how do you really feel about me?

why can't you look me in the eyes?

did you know you talk in your sleep?

were you following me?

can we just pretend this never happened?

are you just barely getting home?

are you even listening to me right now?!

where does it hurt?  can you show me?

are you trying to get yourself killed?!

how about we just forget the world exists?

how long have you been keeping this from me?

were you ever going to tell me?

what do you make of this?

[ name ],  what the hell?!

can we just be honest with each other, here?

are you trying to keep me a secret?

why does your story keep changing?

how long have you known?

it can't be that bad, right?

are you happy? i mean, really happy?

isn't this place amazing?

did i interrupt something?

how am i supposed to trust you?

are they still following us?

are you fucking serious?

do you remember our first kiss?

can we take a break for a minute?

how about we disappear for awhile?

you're going to walk away from this?

can you please just cut the crap?!

why didn't you tell me you were hurt?

how can i make this go away?

can you just look at me, please?

is there anything i can do to change your mind?

do you ever stop talking?

that depends. are you done lying to me?

are you sure this is legal?

how do you take your coffee?

can you keep your voice down?

why does your phone keep buzzing?

[kissmedcadly]

‘your house is haunted.’ — @lanternjack

"that's just called having cats, dear." it's only half a joke. her home has never been noisier than it is now, with a third cat who is decidedly more playful than either of the others. the number of times she's fallen into an uneasy doze only to be woken just a few minutes later because the cats were committing some sort of crime? it's more than zero. she's not even sure she can count it on both hands.

vic's laughing as she rolls onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow. "you're not gonna get it because zero is the best boy in the world," she reaches out to tap the tip of jack's nose like that might emphasize her point (it won't). "and dogs commit completely different flavors of crimes than cats do." less fueled by spite, more fueled by excitement over something, it seems like, but what would she know? she's never had a dog.

"like ninety-nine percent of the time if you hear weird shit, it's just the cats where they shouldn't be."

[lanternjack]

the mattress under his back creaked and shifted with the roll of her body —— but he hadn't yet moved. not from the bed, not from the same stiff corpse-like position he'd woken up in. silently blinking up at the ceiling while his eyes unblurred and he intently listened to every groan from a home settling against the wind waging war outside... every odd sound his half awake mind couldn't quite place. ( he wasn't even sure if she was conscious yet when he spoke so softly, ) but a sleepy sort of joy filled him when she responded from his side. even when she was disagreeing with him... because of course she was.

a laugh was already forming somewhere in the dirt filled graveyard of his throat, but the boop to his nose only accelerated its departure. made it come out a little louder and rougher than he intended. ❛❛ i know what cats sound like, dear. that's not what i'm talking about. ❜❜ but the mention of zero certainly reminded him that he couldn't lie here like this all day as he so wished... he had his own four legged companion to go home to —— before the dachshund woke the dead below said home from his yipping. THE BEST BOY IN THE WORLD, INDEED ! his hand finally dragged upward to idly scratch at the side of his neck as it lolled to face her, to catch her first thing in the morning.

❛❛ this place gives me sleep paralysis demons. ❜❜ and it's difficult to tell with that very full stretched smile whether or not he's fucking with her. that scratching hand released itself from the crook of his neck to reach out and smooth some stray hairs from her bed wrecked head with a just barely there touch. ❛❛ unless all three of them were sitting on my chest in the middle of the night. ❜❜

[lanternjack]

im gonna fucking lose it.

[quad4xel]

jack says, ❛ thoughts on labubus ?? ❜ — @lanternjack

SILENCE. total silence for a minute or two. he's not amused. the vampire sighs, staring at the other man in total silence before finally answering. ❝ demons. nasty little demonic creatures. they are not allowed in my field of vision, i do not like them. never ask me this question again, dear jack. i will not be as kind answering it a second time. ❞

[lanternjack]

🎃 it's a long pause... long, long, terribly long ! enough time would pass to make him briefly question whether or not his harmless conversation starter should have him dragged under the guillotine for punishment. ( but the dead have centuries worth of patience, ) and he'll hardly blink as an answer finally rolls from the tongue across from him. THAT LOOK OF ANTICIPATION WOULD ONLY THEN TWIST INTO SOMETHING ELSE. surprise, maybe. almost resembling confusion... either way, brows temporarily shot up. but mostly at the other's tone when mentioning nasty little demonic creatures, said as if that were a bad thing !

❛❛ you don't find them hideously charming? apparently they're incredibly popular. a woman tried to sell me one today, but i'm sure you can imagine my disappointment when i found out it wasn't haunted... they should come pre-made haunted. ❜❜

[ohisms]

↪     𝑺𝑳𝑬𝑬𝑷𝒀 𝑯𝑶𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑾 .    (  a  series  of  sentence  starters  from  the  1999  film   “  sleepy hollow  ” .  adjust  phrasing  as  necessary . )  

help ,  here  —  lend a hand .

just a moment ,  if i may  —

i stand up for sense  &  justice .

do make certain you meet with success .

such a day for such a sad farewell .

this is such a silly game .

be a sport  &  stop complaining !

play along ,  you must .

forgive me ,  i didn’t know .

we haven’t heard your name yet ,  friend .

you need some manners .

if we could speak alone ?

how much have your superiors bothered to tell you ?

you are horribly old - fashioned ,  aren’t you ?

feel free to form your own opinion ,  though it appears you already have .

it seems i’ve made matters worse .

i’ll leave you to your business .

excuse me  …  i should apologize .

is it me ,  or are you this nervous around all women ?

do be a dear  &  tell me all about it .

sounds like an extraordinary place to live a life .

there is no such thing as magic .

to call a person superstitious is to imply they fear magic .

poets have silly notions .

you do believe me now ,  don’t you ?

you need less big words ,  &  more common sense .

what the hell are you doing ?

i am not here for revenge .  i am here to bring justice .

i manage fine alone .

i deserve to help you .  don’t you see how much this means ?

what are you spying on ?

i beg you ,  no more ,  please .

i will not allow it .  i will not !

why was i not told of this ?

you should step outside .

sorry for disturbing you .  i thought a forgotten candle was burning .

having trouble sleeping ?

i have something to show you ,  if you have a moment .

these scars .  how did you get them ?

oh ,  you are hopeless .

i have a gift for you .  true magic which even you will not be able to deny .

are you saying i should be frightened ?

what will it take for you to realize this is no laughing matter ?

don’t be afraid  …  don’t be afraid .

you promised justice .  people have put their trust in you .

why would you do such a thing ?

leave me .  you are not welcome here .

allow me some time .

the things i said to you before  …  i was wrong to say them .

every word you spoke had truth in it .

if you want me to go ,  i will .  do you want me to leave ?

i no longer know what i think or what i feel .

why are you so afraid ?  is there truly such harm in uncertainty ?

i should be going  …  good day to you .

i’m one of the few people who likes you .

i apologize if i worried you .

my god  …  what has happened ?

yes ,  i did notice that ,  thank you .

i am a bad habit .  there’s nothing for it .

don’t let him get you .

lay still ,  [ name ] .  do not move .

i’m drawing bad blood from the wound .

you were half - drowned when they found you .

i serve a fine purpose alive .

midnight seems an appropriate time .

hide in my room  &  bolt the door til i return .

i was getting worried .

do you have anything to clean it with ?

i know you saw me .

i know you followed me last night .

i appreciate your concern .

you are so upset now  …  &  yet ,  you seemed in such good spirits last night .

why have i not seen your face for so long ?

i have been reading your journal .

what would you have me believe ?

if you think i am behind this ,  say it .

call me a liar ,  then ,  &  a  murderer .

what is stopping you ?  what has happened to your ability to transcend sentimentality ?

don’t dare stand looking as if you still care for me ,  after all that you have said .

if i were to confess ,  would that ease your suffering ?  would that make it easier for you to hate me ?

the next person to lay hands on me will have a bullet .

you do not know all that has happened .

why  …  why are you like this ?

to hell with this place  &  all the people here .

won’t you change your mind ?  what can i say to convince you ?

take me with you .  there’s nothing left for me here .

forgive me .  i failed you .

you  …  you’re alive .

no one will believe your lies .

i am not going to kill you .  not me  …

you cannot kill what is already dead .

[lanternjack]

🕷 headcanons .ᐟ

jack was born at some point in the early 1600s, in a market town where cobbled streets echoed with superstition and plague bells. his family wasn't destitute, but they were far from affluent. they sat in that middle gray space of modest respectability: his father was a tradesman who worked with leather, and his mother was the literate daughter of a parish clerk. literacy was rare but not unheard of — and this small privilege cracked open the door for jack to pursue medicine. some of his earliest memories are of death as a constant company. neighbors were carried on carts, "bring out your dead!" rang down narrow alleys while charnel pits filled at the town's edge. while other children recoiled at the sight of bundled corpses, jack lingered. he'd follow processions at a distance, fascinated by the rhythm of mortality... it was as if the toll of bells was a lullaby written just for him.

he apprenticed under a conservative physician, where he learned the staples of the age: bleeding, tinctures of herbs and opiates, trepanation, crude surgeries. his mentor prized restraint and pragmatism, but jack was restless. he grew to despise "maintenance," the treatments that soothed but never dazzled or saved. to him, medicine without wonder was merely managing despair. he wanted miracles. the older man and his peers called him reckless. too ambitious, prone to showboating. a dreamer too eager to meddle with things beyond his grasp. but instead of discouraging him, that criticism only hardened his resolve and need to prove himself by turning healing into something more.

the manor he occupies now in halloween town is precariously perched on a jagged hill, a tall and slightly tilting house that feels alive with windows that flicker like eyes. it overlooks a dead garden — withered roses, skeletal trees, and soil that never sprouts — but jack tends it with love as though it still blooms. the house isn't just haunted... it responds to him. when he's restless, doors slam and windows rattle. when he's contemplative, candles gutter softly on their own. when he performs, the entire manor creaks like it's leaning forward to watch. attached to the house is his laboratory: a candlelit madman mess of preserved specimens, surgical tools, half finished experiments, and blueprints for devices no mortal world could sanction. and the town itself is both whimsical and horrific. the stage in the square doubles as gallows and theater. buildings seem to have grown themselves from shadowed soil, with sharp eaves and crooked chimneys that breathe like lungs. the pumpkin patch is sacred ground — when jack was crowned, the pumpkins themselves flared brighter, as if the soil had chosen him... some residents note that they'll sometimes do it even now when he performs, with vines curling toward him like worship. it's almost symbiotic. he feeds the town, and the town feeds him.

at home, the form he has gotten so used to over the centuries isn't wholly skeleton. he's more corpse than clean bone. what skin he does have is pulled taut, sunken in, with long limbs rotted under his sharp suits. but it isn't just his legendary status that draws his crowds. many citizens swoon not in spite of his cadaverous form, but because of it — beauty and horror blur in him, and his charisma does the rest. he is adored not only as the pumpkin king, but as a symbol of death's allure made flesh. a reminder that in halloween town, grotesque and beauty aren't opposites.

even when the veil grants him a semblance of humanity, when old skin knits itself back over his bones, animals and insects always sense the truth beneath his disguise. cats follow him like familiars, crows linger on telephone wires. his rot seeps through and attracts flies, gnats, and carrion insects that seem to follow him no matter where he goes. even in a crowded cafe, he might swat a fly away only for another to buzz by his ear like a constant reminder. they'll never let him forget what he is. shadows seem to lengthen when he enters a room, lightbulbs may flicker, and his presence may bring a sensation of deja vu to certain people — like they've seen him before, known him before, or even dreamed of him. to the average person, he's eccentric but kind; to those touched by the supernatural, he reads like a specter disguised as a man. a visitor from elsewhere.

understandably, jack is out of step with the modern world. he prefers candlelight to electricity in his apartment, he'll walk barefoot through cemeteries at night and lose track of time. in some lights, mirrors betray him — showing his corpse form instead of his human guise. not always, but enough to unsettle. he tends to avoid mirrors in mortal life, claiming they bore him. he has no need to eat or drink, but he'll do so anyway to keep appearances, despite how muted everything tastes. though he is very fond of pumpkin flavored treats, and he loves the crisp crunch of an apple. and no matter the verse, his beloved dog is with him. zero is jack's childhood pet that followed him sideways. in halloween town, he glows bright. but in the mortal world, he's harder to see; just an occasional flicker of glowing light at jack's heels or the faint sound of paws on tile. people unable to see him might think jack talks to himself — when he's really talking to his dog. even in human verses, he is the sweetest dachshund you'll ever meet.

[lanternjack]

i'm excited to see what you do with this creature of a man ♡ your muses always blow me away.

nausi!!!! 🥹 i've missed you, i love you, i gasped when i saw you were back xx. methinks we need to do something with these two asap.

[ozth]

what? oh sweetheart no, you're not weirding me out at all. you're weirding me in. keep talking, freak

[lanternjack]

🕷 choose your own adventure .ᐟ

main verse — the pumpkin king. location: halloween town. the liminal world of shadows, spirits, and the perpetual turning of leaves. it is not easily found; only those brushed by strangeness, touched by death, or caught between worlds may stumble into it. ideal for: gothic fantasy, horror fairytale, macabre whimsy. tnbc muses/verses. strangers who accidentally (or deliberately) slip through the doors that lead between worlds. muses whose death have pulled them sideways. curious wanderers, witches, creatures, or otherwise strange beings.

here, death is not an ending but a doorway, and jack stands at its threshold. he is equal parts beloved king, guide, and specter — an eternal host to the strange souls that drift into town. this is a default catch all verse for those wishing to find him at home, where he is forever balancing his endless curiosity against his duty to halloween. anyone who bushes shoulders with death (spirits, non-humans, dreamers, etc.), beings strange or uncanny to the town's standards, or the occasional lost mortal can find themselves wandering through the crooked gates. but be warned... once inside, the town has a difficult time letting them go.

possible settings: town square for new arrivals and old friends, where many celebrations and festivals take place. — the graveyard with a spiral hill, which leads to the sacred pumpkin patch. jack does his best contemplating, reflecting, and mourning here. — his haunted manor, which is precariously built on a hill that overlooks a garden. it serves as a home for himself and his dog zero, and has a tower for his lab for experiments. tall, shadowed, and welcoming in its own eerie way.

modern verse — through the veil. location: contemporary earth. ideal for: supernatural, horror, fantasy. slice of life? but make it weird. miscellaneous shenanigans alongside anybody and everybody.

jack has walked out of halloween town — not by accident, but by permission. the town, knowing his restless nature, begrudgingly opened the veil and allowed him passage back into the mortal world to satisfy his urges. the rotted corpse form he's been living in for centuries has been restored to resemble his former humanity, though it's far from flawless. this is a temporary release that allows him to wander and experience life outside the endless macabre; though the living he now walks with can tell there's something off about his presence. to most mortals, he reads as eccentric, an oddity, or even a madman in a way that simultaneously unsettles and charms. clothes always sharp but strangely old fashioned, a cult leader-like personality, and a fascination for ordinary things. he still feels the pull of halloween and he can't shake the aura of death, and his presence often stirs strange phenomena: shadows that stretch, flickering lights, inexplicable chills, cats and crows following him home, and flies constantly being drawn to him because he's still decaying. the veil will eventually pull him back — unless he finds a reason (or person) worth staying for.

possible settings and dynamics: neighbors and strangers alike that encounter him in daily life. pondering in a cemetery, an apartment complex, maybe there's a barista that knows his pumpkin flavored preference. — supernatural or adjacent beings who recognize that he isn't supposed to be here, walking around in old skin. he gravitates toward them like a moth to a flame, just as they do him. — a workplace. he finds himself drifting between odd jobs. a thrift store for strange antiques or oddities, halloween shops, hosting seasonal festivals, a grave digger. anywhere the veil feels thin. whichever he lands on will vary depending on thread and partner.

modern verse — human au. location: contemporary earth. ideal for: slice of life, dark comedy. anybody and everybody who can appreciate a naturally born weirdo without the supernatural or magic.

his dramatic, spectacular death belonged to another time — a past life whispered through his bones. he may not remember it, but it echoes in everything he does. in this life, he's nothing more (and nothing less) than a man... he's just jack. once a theater kid: tall, magnetic, dramatic, and unforgettable on stage. he lived for performance, craved applause, and built his entire sense of self around being seen. he commanded the stage, was beloved for his strange magnetism, but deemed too much by the average audience. as an adult, he splits himself between morbidity and showmanship. by day, he is a mortician. drawn to death but treats it tenderly and with reverence; believing a service to be life's last hurrah, and that it's one of the greatest honors one can have to be part of someone's death journey. he lives with his dachshund above the funeral home his uncle plans on leaving him after his own inevitable passing. by night, especially during holidays, jack is a seasoned scare actor — haunted houses, amusement parks, and he occasionally partakes in small horror theater troupes. known to be charismatic, going a little too far, and being a touch unhinged... he thrives in the spotlight and craves attention, constantly chasing that stage high. even developed a cult following online. clips of his scare acting go viral on tikok, and his personality shines through during his videos about the death industry. he can't help but turn everything into a performance, whether it's embalming, telling ghost stories, or hosting a halloween party. it's not easy being the town freak, but someone has to do it.

possible dynamics: mortuary co-workers, or even a first meeting via him working the funeral of a muse's family member. actor co-workers who fuck around in between scares, killing time or picking their next targets. — musicians, artists, horror enthusiasts are bound to cross paths with him. they share a kinship. and supernatural muses may sense his essence as something they should know. like déjà vu, the ghost of the pumpkin king that never was. muses tied to death might be drawn to his orbit. — neighbors who don't love living next door to a funeral home, who don't understand why there's a mannequin in his window. or maybe ones that do. — childhood friends who have always known he was meant for grand, macabre things.

pre death verse — the physician. location: plague era europe. ideal for: historical gothic. anyone who wishes to go back in time to watch a good man become so clouded with vanity and wanting to cure death, that it kills him.

before the walking corpse, before the crown — jack was only a man. a brilliant, obsessive and beloved figure who devoted his life to conquering death. his work began out of compassion but eventually became hubris: not just curing death, but controlling it. pride and the need for legacy twisted his path. but even in failure, he knew how to captivate. his lectures, demonstrations, and experiments were as much theatre as science. a physician in plague stricken europe, he lived where death was constant and despair was currency. to the common folk, he was a savior cloaked in shadow; to other doctors, he was a dangerous charlatan. the man who romanticized death until it consumed him.

possible settings and dynamics: a candlelit laboratory cluttered with skulls, vials, and the notes of a madman. — graveyards and crypts where he hunts inspiration, speaking with the dead like old friends. — the town square where he dazzles with medicine. — assistants or students, drawn to his charisma but caught in his experiments. — patients, those he tries (and perhaps fail) to save. — death itself. muses who embody mortality, the supernatural, or the uncanny may already be circling him.

[ohisms]

✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐄.   (   a collection of  dialogue prompts originating from alice in wonderland 2010. adjust as desired.   )

you have finally lost your senses.

this venture is impossible.

the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.

that kind of thinking could ruin you.

the nightmare, again?

do you think i've gone around the bend?

you're mad. bonkers, off your head.

if you get frightened, you can always wake up.

doubt they'll notice if we never arrive.

who's to say what is proper?

to me, a corset is like a codfish.

i'm sorry. i'm tired, i didn't sleep well last night.

it's always the same, ever since i can remember.

don't most people have different dreams?

there. you're beautiful.

there. you're beautiful. now, can you manage a smile?

at last. we thought you'd never arrive.

[ name ] is waiting to dance with you.

i hope you don't think i've taken advantage of your misfortunes.

do you ever tire of quadrille?

i think you'll do best to keep your visions to yourself.

i was wondering what it would be like to fly.

[ name ], meet me under the gazebo in ten minutes.

but now you've brought it up, you have to tell me.

everyone went through so much effort to keep it a secret.

i don't know if i want to marry [ name ].

shall we take a leisurely stroll through the garden, just you & me?

what an odd thing to say.

i couldn't be more interested, but you'll have to excuse me.

i think i'm going mad.

i don't know. i'm confused, i need time to think.

me? but i'm not the one who's sneaking around.

i think i ... i need a moment.

i am not convinced.

how is that for gratitude?

who are you, if i might ask?

the question is, who are you?

what do you mean by that? i ought to know who i am.

wait, this is my dream. i'm going to wake up now & you'll all disappear.

that's odd. pinching usually does the trick.

did you steal them?

it looks like you ran afoul of something with wicked claws.

well, i'd better have a look.

i'll be fine as soon as i wake up.

what do you call yourself?

all i want to do is wake up from this dream.

i was obliged to kill time until your return.

we simply must commence with the slaying & such.

all this talk of blood & slaying has put me off my tea.

what happened that day was not my fault.

you ran out on them to save your own skin.

what's wrong with you, [ name ]? you used to be the life of the party.

would you like to join us? you're late for tea!

i'm not slaying anything. i don't slay, so put it out of your mind.

wait! you can't leave me here.

you're not the same as you were before.

you were much more ... muchier. you've lost your muchness.

it's not a pretty story.

that is not foretold.

i've been told what i must do & who i must be.

i'll decide where it goes from here.

i make the path.

i've come to you, hoping you would understand what it's like.

and who is this lovely creature?

you're too soft.

the trees seem sad... have you been speaking with them?

rest now. you've done well.

is it not better to be feared than loved?

i'm frightened, [ name ]. i don't like it in here, it's terribly crowded.

you're entirely bonkers. but i'll tell you a secret; all of the best people are.

that's better, you look like yourself again.

why is it you're always too small or too tall?

i don't take orders from big, clumsy, galumphing—

why haven't you mentioned this?

i believe this belongs to you.

i thought we'd settled this.

i suggest you keep a sword on hand.

it is far better to be feared than loved.

it's against my vows to harm any living creature.

here i am, still in one piece.

i would have regretted not seeing you again.

you know what tomorrow is, don't you?

still believe this is a dream, do you?

this has all come from my own mind.

i'm afraid you're just a figment of my imagination.

you would have to be half-mad to dream me up.

i'll miss you when i wake up.

you cannot live your life to please others. the choice must be yours.

when you step out to face that creature, you will step out alone.

nothing was ever accomplished with tears.

don't go. i need your help, i don't know what to do.

i can't help you if you don't even know who you are.

you're just as dim-witted as the first time you were here.

it wasn't a dream at all ... it was a memory.

the sword knows what it wants. all you have to do is hold onto it.

i know what you're doing. you think you can blink those pretty little eyes & i'll melt.

it is MY crown! i am the eldest!

sometimes i believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

so, my old foe, we meet on the battlefield once again.

you are banished. no one is to ever show you kindness.

majesty, i hope you bear me no ill will.

i do not owe you a kindness.

i'll be back again before you know it.

of course i will, how could i forget?

good lord ... are you alright?

i love you, but this is my life. i'll decide what to do with it.

i'll find something useful to do with my life.

shall we speak in my study?

perhaps you'd consider becoming an apprentice.

[lanternjack]