far away from home.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack laid down on his stomach watching as Thumper read the book. He smiled, enjoy the live-in-person audiobook version of his favorite gothic classic as Thumper read on.

Thumper glanced up as Jack shifted positions and laid on his stomach. He kept reading, his voice rising and falling. After several pages, he found himself stifling a yawn and had to stop. Nudging Jack's shoulder, he passed the book over. "Do you want to read-- for a while?" He asked softly.

He curled up beside Jack, laying his head on the other boy's back and closing his eyes. At first he wasn't sure if that would be okay, but he trusted Jack and he got the feeling that his friend (maybe more?) trusted him too.

As Jack read, Thumper slid a hand into his hair, gently playing with it. He yawned again and found himself drifting off.

#skelper #selfie #myoldbonyself #because if i'm going to make things i'm gonna post them goddamnit #his neck is a weird color and i don't even give a shit

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack blushed, smiling into the kiss as Thumper cupped his face in his hands. Reflexively, his own hand wrapped around the back of Thumper’s neck, holding him there gently. When the kiss broke Jack smiled back at Thumper moving his hand when Thumper did.

There was a small silence after the “—- nice” kiss. But Jack wouldn’t have that for long. From what he could tell, it wasn’t as if Thumper wanted him to go. His eyes landed on the book.

"Any chance during this art break you’d want to…. read another chapter?" He asked.

#c:jack #//crappy reply is crappy

Thumper's head was swimming. This was all so unexpected and he didn't quite know how to deal with it, but luckily Jack seemed to be taking the lead for the moment.

He nodded. "Sure...I'd like that," he said, picking up the book and finding the page where he left off at. Leaning against Jack, he started to read out loud the passage in which Frankenstein's creature meets the blind man.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack nodded. “Don’t be.” He said, not knowing if he meant for Thumper not to be sorry or scared. Probably both. “But uhhhh….”

And with that he leaned forward and this time let himself take charge of the kiss. It was just as gentle as when Thumper had kissed him. But with a bit more of bravery charging it.

Thumper knew what to expect this time and his his eye shut as Jack's mouth pressed against his. He instinctively parted his lips to give the other boy more access, lifting his hands to cup Jack's face and keep him there. He still tasted fire, but this time it didn't burn. It danced over his skin like a warm glow and spread through his chest filling him with... happiness.

This time when he pulled away, it was slow. His hot breath clouding between them as he opened his eyes to see Jack. He couldn't keep from smiling. His nose twitched slightly. "Jack... that was-- nice," he said softly, letting go of the other boy's face and pushing a hand through his hair nervously.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

"Yes. You’re a…. *blush*…. good kisser." Jack said. "Although……. if you really didn’t mean to or anything, I can forget it if you want." He bit his lip now, willing his reddening to die down. Why? Why did he still blush? He was a corpse for goodness sake.

"No-- I did, I mean... I wanted to. I thought-- you might have been upset when I pulled away," he said quietly, glancing back up at him. Thumper licked his lips and he could still taste Jack on them. "I-- liked it...a lot. I just -- got scared. Sorry," He apologized again, scratching at the back of his head.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack didn’t mind. At first he didn’t know why he didn’t mind but soon realized the obvious reason. He returned the kiss, eyes closed, lips just as minimally parted as Thumper’s. And then Thumper tore away, apologizing.

"No… no. It’s okay…. well more than okay. That was a great kiss." He somehow spat out. "You don’t have to be sorry."

"I didn't mean to..." He started to say, looking down into his lap where his hands were fidgeting. "I mean-- it wasn't you. I just... what do you mean...great?" He finally asked Jack, titling his head slightly and chewing the inside of his cheek.

"You really liked-- that?" He questioned, hopeful.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack grinned widely. “Jackrabbit! That’s much better!” Then it settled in why that came to mind. He reddened a bit again. “You sly genius.” He said, giving him a weak, playful shove.

Thumper held eye contact with Jack, trying to find a way to his actual point across. Something fluttered in his stomach. There were nerves he was feeling that he had forgotten existed. His lips were pressed together, but he sucked his bottom lip between his teeth and bit down on it, blowing out air through his nose.

The boy was terrified, but the desire was so strong. Lifting his free hand, he gently and cautiously cupped Jack's face, tilting it towards him. As he leaned in, he could feel his heart racing and hear it pounding louder in his ears. His lips were barely parted as they touched the other boy's and his eyes closed at the contact. It was soft, like a feather brushing over his skin, but it felt like fire...

He backed away from Jack immediately. "Sorry-- I... sorry," he tried to get out, not sure how to get out exactly what had happened.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

"The first thing that comes to mind is….. Chester… but that’s just cuz some kid on a TV show named his bunny that." Jack admitted. "I have no other ideas though, honestly." After all HOW long did it take hi to name Zero?

"Chester? That's.... okay," he said shrugging, but then his nose twitched slightly and he grinned. He had a better idea. "How about... Jackrabbit? It was a gift-- after all."

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack smiled widely. “Yes. I come here to drop off a gift and I’m told how great and kind a friend I am. It’s great really. I’ve been so…. showered with compliments all at once.”

Huh… this must have been how Berlioz felt the other day.

He looked a the stuffed rabbit, which was sitting next to them on the bed. "He needs a name," Thumper said. "You-- should name him." He nudged Jack with his shoulder to encourage him.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

"You’re enjoying this aren’t you?" Jack chuckled. "Like seeing me go from white to red?" He chuckled harder.

He allowed the squeeze and circled his thumb round the back Thumper’s hand. “I’m glad though. That I make you happy.” That wasn’t too rare for him these days but it as ALWAYS nice to know.

#c:jack #//i've given up looking for gifs

"Only a little," Thumper admitted, grinning.

He looked down at their hands clasped together. It didn't feel weird. It was natural and comfortable. Thumper wasn't usually one for physical contact, at least not recently. I mean, he used to be back when-- but she was gone and he'd been alone for a long time. He didn't know what to do, but at least Jack hadn't pulled his hand away.

When the boy looked up again, he wanted to ask something. "Are you-- happy?" He asked. "I mean...like right now, right--here."

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack must have been BEET red at this point. All he could do was stutter out somes semblance of a thanks and curl his hand back round Thumper’s. He leaned his forehead on Thumper’s shoulder.

"Really. You’re terribly kind. Thank you." He said.

"I just-- want you to know that I appreciate you. I've had...a lot of friends--and I've lost--all of them," Thumper said in a quiet voice. "It's been--a long time since I've wanted-- to share my life with anyone. Eeyore's great-- he's like family, Sally and Aurora are nice, but you-- you make me smile--and laugh..." The usually shy boy explained.

He didn't know why he felt like he had to tell Jack this, but he did. It was the first time in a long time that he felt...anything. He craved that feeling and wanted to latch onto it to keep from drowning. He needed it.

"I'm happy, Jack-- because you... I can't remember the last time I was happy," he finally admitted, squeezing Jack's hand.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack reddened further. “You’re very kind and I’m glad I’m different for whatever reason that is.” he said, getting quieter and quieter. He was wanted to hug the kind boy now more than ever but wasn’t one to make him uncomfortable. He’d learned that from last time.

"I was friendless before this place. And for a long time, I was GLAD about how scary I looked, hoping to KEEP people away. I’m glad I have the friends I do now. And glad you can be so comfortable with me." He finally admitted.

He’d never told anyone about that scariness as a defense mechanism fact before. Besides Dr. Tremaine who helped him drop that.

He offered Jack a small, but genuine smile. "There's-- nothing to be scared of," he explained.

"You're not-- scary, Jack...and like Dr. Frankenstein's creature, you're not-- a monster," Thumper told his friend while looking him in the eye. "They were wrong...all of them, anyone-- who treated you badly for being-- different."

He chewed on his bottom lip. "It makes sense-- that you'd do that, but... it's their loss. I'm--glad that you found friends here-- and that I'm one of them," he said softly, reaching out to put his hand on top of the other boy's and curling his fingers around it.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack felt heat rise in his cold dead cheeks. “I didn’t before this place either. ANY really.” He thanked Thumper again after called special. He’d never considered himself that or BEEN considered so outside of Halloweentown.

"You give me too much credit." He said, scratching his head shyly as he looked down.

Thumper shook his head. "I'm not-- Jack. I've lost-- everybody -- that I've ever cared about. I've...been so scared to make a friend-- because I could lose them just as fast," he tried to explain, but he wasn't sure if he was succeeding. "--And I don't know why... but you're different," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders as his voice trailed off and he stared back down at his feet. His toes were coiled tight. He didn't know why he was telling Jack any of this or what it meant, and he was so scared of what it might mean. The weird thing was though, that he trusted Jack.

He licked his lips, contemplating for a moment before saying, "You... deserve it."

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

"Yes, great! But book first. Can’t have you spoiling it." He chuckled after hearing himself. "I sound like a parent at a dinner table." He laughed.

Then Thumper brought all that up. Out of the blue? Maybe. Welcome and and appreciated? VERY. He smiled and gave Thumper’s hand a quick squeeze.

"You know you mkae it really easy. You’re very nice." Jack said with a smile. "I value our friendship. Thank you too."

#c:jack #gif #//always ignore the baby

"Of course-- I'll finish the book first," Thumper promised, his nose twitching slightly. He stuck his tongue out at Jack. He'd be done with in the next couple days anyway.

The boy was a little taken aback when his friend squeezed his hand, though he didn't show it. He hadn't really been expecting any reaction to his words or if he did, he wasn't sure what reaction to expect.

His lips curled up when Jack spoke. "You're nice," he told the other boy. "I don't-- have a lot of friends. I don't-- let people in, but you're.. special." he explained in a quiet voice as he stared down at his bare feet for a moment, before meeting Jack's eyes again.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

#c:jack #gif #//so there's this

myoldbonyself:

Jack’s grin only widened. “I wonder if they have the movie here. Not the old black and white one Hallmark did one a few years back that’s more faithful to the book. Much better. I think you’d like it.”

He wondered now to himself if he’d rattled that off as fast as he’d thought it.

"If they do-- we could watch it," Thumper told him, getting sucked into Jack's enthusiasm for the work. "I'd like to do-- that," he admitted, "I mean...if you would." He looked over at his friend and returned his wide grin. He genuinely enjoyed spending time with Jack and he couldn't say that about most of his relationships. Something about being around him cleared the darkness in his mind and made him forget that everything in his life was broken. Maybe this was what he needed.

"Hey--" Thumper cut off the conversation for a moment. He didn't know exactly what or how to say what he wanted to say. He didn't know how to tell Jack that he was important and that he was appreciated. The boy had other friends like Eeyore, Aurora, and Sally, but Jack was different. Nobody made him smile quite like the strange boy he was sitting with right now. He reached out somewhat cautiously and touched Jack's arm with his fingertips. "You're-- really great. I wanted to tell you that. I'm really -- happy -- that we're... friends," he said, letting his hand fall back to his side. "Thank you-- for being my friend."

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack smiled, rocking excitedly. “I LOVE this book. I’ve read it like 5 times. It’s I daresay my favorite, my go-to. Back when my friend, Elsa was here, I was tempted to start a book club over it.” He chuckled.

"Only because I think it’s one of those books everyone should real at LEAST once."

#c:jack #gif #//ignore text...if you want to

Thumper couldn't help smiling as Jack practically fell over with his excitement over the book. It was always nice to watch someone get so enthusiastic and just happy over such a small thing. He didn't think Frankenstein would be his favorite book, but he was glad that Jack had connected with it. He could see why too. Dr. Frankenstein's creature was so hated for being different and maybe all he needed, maybe all Jack wanted, was someone to accept him as he was.

He nodded along with Jack's words, watching his friend closely. "We can have a real conversation about it-- when I finish it," he promised.

Perfect Hell || Thumper + Open

Jack smiled, a happy breath emitting from his nose. “Thanks.” He grinned.

Well… something that sounded like one since his lungs didn’t…. you get the point. He sat on the bed and began watching after taking in the decorated room as a whole. He nodded when Thumper said he was in need of a break.

"So what shall we do- OHHHH!" He got really excited when he saw it. "You’re reading Frankenstein!!! I LOVE this book. How far in it are you?" He asked, slightly bouncing.

Thumper chuckled slightly when Jack found the book and settled himself next to his friend on the bed. "About -- halfway, I think. The creature wants... to meet the blind man he's been watching," he explained. He didn't feel comfortable saying the monsters. Dr. Frankenstein's creature was not a monster, but more like a misunderstood child. How else was he supposed to act when no one showed him even a little kindness? It was upsetting, but he knew that meant he was invested in the story.

"It's really good," He told Jack, picking up the book and examining the cover, not sure what else to say. "I -- like it."