Welcome to the World {Sally/Jack}

[Sally Finklestein]

It was to dull grey walls and some very annoying squawking from the window, that Sally awoke. Morning hadn't quite started yet, given the lack of light in her room, but she was wide awake. Was that because she'd slept like the dead for two days straight? She snorted and stretched out on her lumpy bed, pushing herself upright.

'Slept like the dead.' Huzzah, she was a renimation with a sense of humor. Very good to know.

For the past few days, Sally had been hovered over and peered at by her beloved 'Uncle' Finklestein. From over his horn-rimmed glasses, the older man had proked, prodded and examined her like she was one of the stuffed rats on his study table. He'd tried to ascertain her mental state at first; speaking comically slow and using simple words. She'd endured it all with poise, wanting to get her bearings before anything else, but after hours of 'do you remember your name?' and 'can you hear me?' she couldn't help herself. The good doctor had leaned in, a squat looking assistant at his side, and flashed a small penlight in her eyes.

"She seems responsive enough...I believe the experiment is a success!" Finklestein had exclaimed. "But she does still smell a bit like formaldehyde. I wonder if we should draw her a bath..."

And Sally, deciding to give up on playing the silent creation, turned to her 'maker' and raised a brow. "Just make sure you're not in the room, please. I already had to smell your garlic breath when I woke up; I don't need to see you staring at my stitches."

The celebrating had begun, then, much to her resignation.

Much to everyone's surprise- her own included- while her head had only been attached to her shoulders for a few hours, she could move, speak and comprehend, as if she hadn't just been put together by titanium thread and mad science. Much to her Uncle's exasperation, she also immediately began to ask questions about her new home, her new family, the outside world. She had no memory of her life before this one- though, she did seem to have a natural aversion to spiders...strange- but was happy enough to make new ones. With her first steps, she walked to the door, intend to take a peek outside...

And that was about when the protectiveness started fuming from her Uncle's ears. Words like 'dangerous,' 'caution,' and 'my personal companion' were used and after some manhandling by the eerily quiet assistant, she was ushered upstairs and locked inside her new quarters. Just born and already dealing with an insane parent. Oh, how a girl had to grow up fast around here.

So, there she was; alone in a dark room, comforted only by the slowly brightening sky outside her window. Who knew what awaited her today? What kinds of 'tests' would Uncle Finklestein perform on her? What did he mean by 'personal companion?' And what about...about...

Hmm, something smelled good. Was it coming from the window...no, from outside! She did wonder what was out there. Would there be a town? People? Food? Did newly reanimated girls eat?

Before she knew what she was doing, Sally found herself halfway down the side of her maker's mansion. As covered in vines and moss as it was, it would be relatively easy to climb down...if she hadn't looked over her shoulder. With a squeak, she plastered herself to the thick brown vine in her hands and squeezed her eyes shut. Okay, breathe. She could do this. One hand over the other...there she went. Blindly, she lowered herself down the vine, gasping when her bare foot met cold stone. The sensation was...strange, but the euphoria that followed was mesmerizing. She was outside!

And it was beautiful!

An image of the scientist inside had her hurrying for the front gate of the mansion. Aimlessly, she wandered down the streets, grinning at everything. A courtyard appeared in the middle of the town, surrounded by gnarled trees standing sentry around it and she moved inside. Like a child, she poked, peered and made faces at everything in her path, before finally plopping down onto the ground. The worn dress she was wearing was hardly enough to keep her warm, but she was too excited to care. With a fluorish, she fell back and smiled up at the slowly brightening sky.

"Hello, clouds," She said to the dark shapes above her head. "And hello, grass. And sticks, and dried leaves, and...ERK! SPIDER!"

Roll, roll, roll! her mind screamed, and her body followed suit. She kept going until her side found another tree, and she stopped with a grunt. "Ow. Stupid spider. Hello, tree!"

And then all words stopped as the sun rose. Sally was transfixed by the sight and if the living dead could cry, she would have.

She was home.

[Jack Skellington]

Bark! Bark! Bark!

"Not now, Zero."

Getting up from his perch by the lab desk, Jack attempted to ignore the noise, heading towards a crooked coat-stand in the corner of the room. However, the cries from the mutt only seemed to follow him; the pet insistant. Throwing his black coat on, a cigarette resting between his pale lips, Jack picked the tiny dog up and carried it under his arm. The moment he had done so, the animal's inceasant barking finally came to a hault, it's tail wagging furiously in delight at the attention he was receiving. Fetching his key and unbolting the door, he stepped out onto the porch, the hazy sunlight almost dazzling him.

This, was the closest that Halloween Town ever got to seeing the light of day; and even then, it didn't last very long. Darkness would fall in another few hours due to some unknown force that seemed to operate only within this boundary. Having ventured out into the land of the living several times now - mostly, unnoticed - he had begun to feel a longing for something more; sure, he knew his place was in Halloween Town, and there was nothing he could do about it, but even just to think that he could breathe in the same air as those vivacious beings - even for just a swift second - was like nothing he could explain; it felt familiar to him, and yet new at the same time.

Of course, he was aware of the high crime rates in Faraway City; it kept Halloween Town's population on the rise, naturally. Jack had learnt that much from his time here; whenever someone snuffed it - either by natural causes or murder - they all came here either in a box, or like himself, undead but very much intact. Many times had Mr. Skellington sat at his desk and thought about his current existance, if that's what it was. It wasn't like people couldn't see him; he just, wasn't like them. He couldn't feel pain; he couldn't be brought down in a typical street fight.

Passing Mr. Tearaway's house and stubbing out the cigarette against a sign post, he scratched Zero behind the ears before setting the dog down onto the dead grass that made up his neighbour's lawn. It was best his old friend stayed put; even if he was a product of the re-animation process and often quite a tough little pet, it would have been a challenge keeping an eye on him and trying to remain inconspicuous at the same time. Especially when Zero was constantly pestering him for attention.

As he passed Dr. Finklestein's laboratory, Jack's gaze lingered momentarily but soon shifted, not wanting to focus upon it. Even if his mind had already drifted back to that night; the night when they had taken the re-animation process a step further and brought to life what would have been several human beings in the one form. Jack thought back to the girl; Sally, Finklestein had dubbed her. Surprisingly, such a sight had left Jack feeling as though a rush of warmth had flooded through his otherwise dead veins; the sensation, even if it wasn't real, meant something; it was like remembering how it had once felt to be warm inside. She had been so pale, the moonlight from the rooftop window casting her flesh in a soft glow. Even the stitches couldn't dull her beauty; one of the things which redeemed his own faith in his duty as a graverobber, when he had begun to feel remorse and regret. He had chosen the perfect parts.

It was now, as he slipped soundlessly through the graveyard without seemingly piquing anyone's curiosity, that he began to wonder what would happen with the girl; the "creation" as Finklestein liked to refer to her in these early stages. It had been almost certainly a few days since the success of the experiment, and still the ever serious mad scientist was refusing visitors. Had something gone wrong with the girl? Somehow, deep down, he knew that Finklestein wanted the glory for himself. And kudos to him for that; Jack was simply fascinated by it all; it was the first time around, when Finklestein had brought Zero back to Jack as a test before choosing a human subject, that had ignited this sudden spark of interest in science. It seemed that anything was possible, given the willingness to try.

As he continued on through the thick woods of Tulgey Forest, finally crossing the divide between the land of the living and the land of the dead, Jack breathed in the air - not feeling it but imagining what it would have been like to feel it again. He paused for a moment, hearing something which caught his attentions.

[Sally Finklestein]

Completely captivated by the sunrise, Sally stared at the sky with awe. The colors were so startling, creating a contrasting clash between the darkness and the newborn light that she was completely taken aback. Was that what it was like to be born? She remembered something about a light, when she’d been created. There was some kind of color…some kind of bright flashing behind her eyes as she came back from wherever she’d been living before that first breathe. Had it been Heaven? Hell? Somewhere in between?

Just as quickly as the colors crept onto the sky, they retreated, as if the night sky were chasing it out of its domain. Her hand rose of its own accord, as if to call them back, but the dawn didn’t pay her any heed. In a matter of minutes, morning turned back to dusk, and she was left staring at a grey-ish black sky once again.

It didn’t matter; it was still beautiful to her. The darkness was like a blanket, a balm. If she hid in it, she wouldn’t have to worry about her Uncle finding out that she were missing, or the fact that she didn’t know how to get back home. Leaning back against the trunk of the tree, she absently ran her palm over the dry grass beneath her.

Funny…she could almost make out the sensations, but not quite. It was like a soft tickle that her mind was slow in categorizing. Interesting.

“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” She informed her knees, as she crossed her legs beneath her. “I still like it here. It’s nice and quiet, and it’s so…big. I like it better here than I do in the mansion, even if it’s ridiculously cold and there are spiders around.”

She tilted her head up to contemplate the grey-black blobs above her head, and sighed contentedly. Oh, this was nice. This was free and exciting and just a little bit scary—

The dull thud of footsteps had her jerking forward, her muscles tensing in surprise. Drat, had Uncle Finklestein found her? Had one of his assistants come looking for her? A bit frantically, she glanced around and her hand instinctively closed around a particularly thick stick. Okay…so, with this new friend, she could either pretend to be a tree or whack the approaching stranger upside the head and run away.

Either way, she was in so much trouble. Drat!

At a sharp crack of a twig, Sally pushed herself to her feet and clutched her stick against her chest. Out of the few faces she could remember, she certainly hadn’t been expecting the one that appeared through various dead branches that surrounded her little piece of heaven. The tall man moved through the trees like a ghost; silent, if not for the dry spots of nature underneath his feet. He looked so grim, so lost in his own thoughts that, for a split second, she was half tempted to run up and give him a hug.

That is, until her mind registered where she’d seen him. A shiver- was that of anticipation?- ran up her spine at the memory; that pale, handsome face peering down at her as she’d opened her eyes for the first time. Where Finklestein had begun to pat himself on the back, the other man had merely looked down at her with curiosity and guilt in his eyes. It was the latter that comforted her more than the gloating grin her ‘Uncle’ had worn. But then, like a spectre, he’d disappeared.

Before she could stop herself, she took a step toward the figure and the yipping dog prancing around his feet. She really should turn around and hide; leave, before he took her back to that lonely room in the mansion. Instead- because she was obviously an instinctive masochist- she called out to him, half her brain still stuck on the memory of her ‘birth.’

“Where did you go?”

[Jack Skellington]

Ignoring the sounds of Zero's barking as he scampered off into a flowerbed and began sniffing around curiously, Jack remained stood there upon the same spot instead; the feeling that someone was watching him from behind accompanied a soft but clear voice drifting against the breeze. Turning on the spot, un-afraid but intrigued, Jack found himself standing face-to-face with her; the girl.

Somehow, he found it difficult to refer to her as "the creation", whereas Dr. Finklestein didn't. He had felt an instant connection with this "Sally", and this was partly to blame for his swift departure on the night of her re-birth. It was then that the guilt had begun to set in. And although a part of him wished to see her again, Finklestein had begun to turn away visitors.

"I had ... things to do", he found himself responding with a faint nod, knowing that she had been referring to that night.

He took a careful step towards Sally, his eyes sweeping across her features in a different way; he was amazed at how well the experiment had been conducted - the fact that she was standing here, talking to him, when just days before she had been a slew of body parts taken from the earth was simply extraordinary - yes, but he wasn't gawping at her like she was an animal in a cage. He was seeing something more than a work of genius; he was seeing life in all of it's vivacity.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to the lab? You're probably not ready for this world, or where I'm going", he continued, changing subject as he snapped out of his reverie, raising his brows and leaning against one of the trees in the dimly lit forest.

He had the feeling that her introduction to the outside world had been against Dr. Finklestein's wishes or knowledge. Still, the old codger took things way too seriously for Jack's liking and instead of frog-marching the girl back to her "uncle", his pale face split into a mischievious grin. He pushed away from the tree and paced silently around her, before leaning in to whisper in her ear from behind.

"Personally, I think you're ready."

He grinned, walking in the direction away from Halloween Town, before turning about again and extending his hand towards her, encouraging her to join him.

[Sally Finklestein]

Sally frowned at the answer to his question, her hold on her stick tightening a bit. She’d been strangely comforted by the strange man’s presence, amongst all the iron instruments and crackling machines around her. The cold table beneath her back had been a shock when she’d tried to move, and the face of her Uncle had held nothing but egotistic contempt. She’d watched the scientist bustle around his lab, taking notes and drawing figures, and felt a sense of dread. When she’d turned, seeking out those fathomless eyes, he’d been gone.

Which probably explained the unladylike urge to throw her stick at him. She wasn’t exactly the violent kind- or was she? One of her arms was a bit more muscled than the other- but a little voice in her head was chittering something about ‘what could be more important than making me not afraid, you meany!’

…Great, now she knew that she had semi-violent tendencies and had the conscience of a two year old in her head. Oh, the day was getting better and better…

With a little shake of her head, she dispelled the childish chatter in her head and focused on the present. He was saying something in that low, measured voice of his, and squinted a bit as she tried to catch up. He spoke and moved as if he had all the time in the world, she thought absently. She watched him warily, and fidgeted under his intense stare. Was he looking at her scars? At the thick black stitches that threaded through her arms, legs and neck? Self consciously, one hand came up to push her hair over her shoulders, hiding the worst ones around her collarbone.

When he mentioned the mansion, she immediately shook her head. Not ready for the world? Well, that was exactly why she was there in the first place! She wanted to see everything; to experience her new home. Her mouth set in a stubborn line as she hugged her arms to her chest and shook her head.

“I’m not going back yet. I just wanted to see what was out here, since Uncle refuses to let me outside. He even locked me in the tower-room, which was a bit on the harsh…wait, where you’re going?” She’d tried to sound firm, but once his latter statement clicked in her head, she was instantly taking a step toward him. Curiosity was clearly written on her face as she glanced at a path off to the side, leading…somewhere. Excitement bubbled up in her chest, and she eagerly looked back at him.

Only to find empty space. She frowned, looking around for signs of him, but the sneaky man had moved behind her. She jumped a bit when he whispered in her ear, another shiver crawling up and down her spine. He thought she was ready? The statement, as playful as it was, made a balmy sensation take root in her chest and she smiled.

Without hesitation, she dropped her stick and took the extended hand. His palm was cool and rough; an interesting contrast to her own smooth hand. Looking back up into his face, she smiled again and glanced eagerly at the path in front of them.

“What’s out there?” She asked, eyes full of excitement. “Is it as beautiful as what’s in here?”

Pausing, she nibbled on her bottom lip, then straightened with a flourish. She still held his hand, and found herself curtseying in front of him. How odd…maybe it was leftover muscle memory from her legs? Well, it was certainly fun!

“I’m Sally, by the way. I don’t think we’ve formerly met.”

[Jack Skellington]

"Oh, here and there", he teased at her sudden interest in where he was going, lip still curled in a crooked smirk.

Jack eyed the stick in her hand, amusement alive in his hollow eyes at the thought of what she had been intending on doing with it. He wasn't at all surprised if she was angry with him; he had been pretty heartless, leaving her there to be examined and prodded at. Not that Finklestein would have had it any other way, and not that Jack had much of a choice; after all, he was only the supplier in the mad scientist's experiment - a grim and otherwise unimportant task. He hadn't actually been involved too much in the scientific part, which had disappointed him greatly.

He waited patiently, attempting to read her expression as she took the time to consider his offer. For a split-second, she seemed to debated silently to herself over what she was going to do, the intrigue finally catching hold of her as the stick fell limply to the ground and she moved towards him eagerly. Grinning widely, he felt her smooth skin make contact with his dead flesh - the warm sensation that had appeared on the night of her creation reaching him again. He laced his fingers with hers, watching as her legs bent a little awkwardly but gracefully into a curtsey which made him laugh - a low but charming laugh. They began to walk, and when she introduced herself, Jack nodded.

"Sally...I like that", he replied, then deciding it was probably best to introduce himself to his new companion, he continued, "Skellington. Friends call me Jack."

He followed her gaze out across the dark path which lay in front of them and pondered her question momentarily, thinking of the right way to answer; in all fairness, he still wasn't quite so sure about the set-up here. After all, Halloween Town was a dead-end; quite literally.

"No one fully understands, but my idea is that where we are ... Halloween Town ... is restricted to the dead", he started off shrewdly, stepping over a large stream of water with ease - having long legs was a bonus here - before turning to the stitched-up girl who's hand he was still holding onto.

Slowly, he guided her over the water without getting her feet wet by picking her up, eventually setting her down carefully onto the grass and taking her hand as they continued on their journey and their conversation.

"Where we're going", he explained. "Is the land of the living...a city. An entire civillisation which we were probably part of in the past. I have no recollection, I'm just working from what I've already picked up."

[Sally Finklestein]

Just as she had been with the sunrise, Sally was completely absorbed in what he was saying. When he teased her with such a vague answer to her initial question, she couldn’t help but snort in amusement and give his arm a playful thwack. When she’d done so, she immediately apologized and gave his newly abused arm a little rub, before refocusing on what he was saying.

When he introduced himself, she felt the strange urge to curtsey again. Instead, she gave his hand a little squeeze, and glanced up at his face, before turning back to the path ahead. “Jack Skellington,” She repeated his name, testing it out on her tongue. It seemed to fit him; the simplicity, yet almost dripping with underlying meaning, just like him. He seemed to walk around with a cloud of mystery above his head, and she was oh so tempted to poke her own right through it; discover all those hidden secrets within.

Absently, she began to swing her arm slightly, as if they were children walking hand in hand. Every tree, rock and slightly deformed animal that came into their path met the scrutiny of her azure eyes, and she felt as if she were vibrating with excitement. What kinds of adventures awaited them, out in the wide world? Oh, this was so much fun! As long as spiders were off the list, she was just sure that she was going to have the time of her undead life!

As Jack began to speak again, Sally had bent down to inspect a particularly large tree root that had poked itself up from the ground. She had to make her examination quick, as the long legged stride of her companion forced her to quicken her own steps. Her mind registering what he was describing, she straightened and turned her head toward him.

So, her home was the home of people past their prime, huh? Well that was just…very fitting. She felt a sense of kinship with the others in the town, though she hadn’t met them. Maybe returning back to Halloween Town later on wouldn’t be too bad, she informed that sense of curiosity that practically buzzed through her stitch-ridden chest.

“So then…that means you’re dead, too?” She couldn’t help but ask. She would have gone on, innocently inquiring about how he’d ended up in the town behind them, but the words were cut short as she was scooped up in his arms.

Could the undead blush? she thought to herself, instinctively sliding an arm behind his neck for support. Because if they could…she was probably a neon sign by now. Okay, concentrate on something else. Ooh, look at that! They were walking over a lake!

Craning her head over his shoulder, she peered down at the rushing water that he was wadding through. It looked so deep, but his long legs could handle it, she saw with a touch of envy. When she was back on the ground, she twined her fingers with his once again.

“The land of the living?” She repeated, a touch of awe in her voice. “You mean, there are a lot of people who live there? And when they die, they somehow make it into Halloween Town?” Excitement surged into her chest again, and she couldn’t help but prance a few steps. “Oh, this is so exciting! What is the city like, Jack? Is it big? Oh, I bet it’s big…and filled to the brim with people. Are they friendly? Do you think I should go find another big stick? Gah, if this city doesn't come up soon, I just might explode!”

[Jack Skellington]

Feeling her pull on his arm a little as she swung their hands together - in time with every step they walked - Jack flickered his never-ending gaze from the road in front of them, to his spirited companion. He watched her without saying anything, charmed by her innocence and optimism. There were very few optimistic people left in both worlds, it seemed; occassionally, Jack himself was found to be one of them. However, whenever a plan came to mind, it was back in a flash.

Contrary to the mystery surrounding him - and the rumours - Jack had always been quite the daring and enthusiastic type. When he had first come to Halloween Town, he had been like Sally is now; curious, eager, and just as innocent. Now, however, he had wisened up to it all; flitting between both worlds, he knew that they weren't without their flaws. Terrible things often happened in those dark city streets of "Faraway." Things that led to Halloween Town's gain, in a strangely morbid way.

Catching Sally's statement-turned-question about his current state, Jack had to applaud her subtle intrigue. The reason for his dark and mysterious persona was due to the fact that he rarely spoke of himself with the other inhabitants of Halloween Town. Another reason was that although he knew that he was no longer "alive", he couldn't recall much - if anything - about his former life.

"You're really picking my brain here", he replied with a slight grin, leading her along the path towards a light at the end of the forest, before continuing. "Yes, I'm running without a pulse; the "undead", that's what I am."

His smile dulled slightly as she quizzed him about the land of the living. He wanted to tell her that it was a glorious place; that people were cheerful and instinctively as friendly as those in Halloween Town. However, as much as he enjoyed slipping into Faraway, it wasn't without it's downfalls.

"It's big...", he agreed, with a slight nod, amused by her anxiety to get there. "But not everyone is friendly. It's not like Halloween Town...the people are at peace there. No, it's truly a wondrous sight, but don't stray too far. It has an evil side to it, my friend."

[Sally Finklestein]

So he was truly dead. The answer confirmed much of what Sally had suspected…and what was probably painfully obvious, giving the fact that he did live in Halloween Town. Noticing the pale-grey color of the hand grasping her own, and the coolness of his skin, she was so very tempted to ask how it was he’d died, but forced herself to quiet.

Though Jack’s reply was said in an obviously playful manner, Sally immediately hunched her shoulders and looked down at the path under her feet. “I’m sorry for asking so many questions,” She said a bit sheepishly. “I just…I want to know everything, see everything. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I just can’t help myself.”

Just like a pyromaniac couldn’t help lighting fires, she couldn’t help but wonder about what adventures awaited her. Would the city offer all the wonders her curious little mind dreamt up? She really did hope so; she didn’t want to drive her new friend insane with her chatter. Still swinging their arms in time with their steps, she resumed peering and inspecting at everything they passed.

And then she noticed the sky.

Coming to a halt, she couldn’t help but go slack jawed as she craned her head up. As they were moving away from Halloween Town, black and grey colors seemed to give way to an almost ethereal blue. It was…’wow’ was the only word she could think of. As if watching a tennis match, her eyes darted from the darkness of the path behind them, and the light of that in front of them. What kind of magical place had she been reborn into? And what magical things awaited them beyond the trees?

“Something this pretty couldn’t be evil,” She said, finally looking back at her companion with the same, excited expression on her face. She followed the blue expanse of sky and frowned, seeing something strange poke over the trees. Was that a…building? Oh, the urge to zoom down the path toward it and drag Jack after her! But no; she would be good and listen to his words of caution. Maybe she should even grab another big stick from the wood…

As they resumed walking, Sally couldn’t stop herself from prancing a few more steps, and when they finally reached the gates of Faraway City…if she could have managed a swoon without tearing a few stitches, she probably would have. Her mouth fell open as she took in the people milling around busy streets, and the sounds of loud voices echoing through the air. Just as she had with the sky, she tilted her head up to look at some of the larger buildings.

Turning back to her friend, she practically beamed at him. “I don’t know if it’s the right thing to say, but…I’m really happy that you came to Halloween Town and helped Finklestein in his lab. Thank you, Jack, for giving me this. It’s just…this place his HUGE!”

[Jack Skellington]

Jack was quick to notice the sheepish expression she wore now, observing her awkward gait and listening intently as she apologized for the inquisition; under any other circumstances, if asked such personal questions, he probably wouldn't have been so open to discussion. He was very private, and spent a great deal of his time alone - or at least trying to be alone - which was made incredibly difficult by the fact that everyone in town knew him. After all, he did have the most important task of arranging the Halloween celebrations for the town - it's most proclaimed holiday - and there were always creatures longing to meet with "Skeleton Jack" himself. Especially since he always provided the biggest fright.

"You shouldn't feel bad about it. You're merely being curious which is natural, given your re-birth - I was too when I came here", he began quietly, his tone low, a glint of something in his black eyes.

He didn't mind providing the beautifully stitched-up woman with some answers to her albeit prying questions. He couldn't really explain why, but he felt comfortable in her presence. Jack took comfort in the knowledge that he was not alone in his wonderings, and that he could be of some help to his newfound friend. It cleared some of the guilt from within, after abandoning her on the night of her creation.

As they left the clearing, and the inky colors of the sky in Halloween Town far behind, Jack followed Sally's gaze up into a sky that he'd seen many times now. It's beauty just, didn't get old. No matter how many times he had looked at it, it still caught him by amazement. Even although he had once lived, seeing this now was like seeing it for the very first time all over again.

"You'd be surprised", he responded to the girl's remark about the beauty outweighing the terrible. Still, as he watched her gaze, awe-struck, at the sea of blue above them, Jack couldn't hide the smile that lit his ghostly features. He glanced to their entwined fingers momentarily, before continuing on with his exciteable companion as she skipped and pranced around - Jack following along in a more reserved fashion.

And then as she took in the sights of buildings and traffic and people, Jack forgot all about Finklestein and his lab. He didn't care at the moment if the mad scientist would be angry at his prized invention's disappearance. He wanted to show Sally everything there was to see in Faraway. He almost laughed at her "thank-you" speech - he had definitely been expecting a more volatile or displeased reaction to her re-birth. When she mentioned that she was glad to be here with him, and that he had been in Halloween Town to help bring her to life again, Jack could have sworn he'd felt a heat creep up his neck.

"As long as you're happy. Now come on...we've got lots to see", he beckoned her, pulling her along so that she was the one left to catch up now. He grinned widely, taking her across roads and walking through the bustling streets of the city - amongst people, of all beings!

[Sally Finklestein]

Absently, Sally was tempted to ask more about Jack’s first foray into the world. He’d admitted that he’d been just as curious as she was…but not anymore? What had happened, what had he seen that made him seem to worldly? Would she become like that in the next few years?

Gah, she really hoped not. She kind of liked feeling happy and excited about the little things, even if they tended to exasperate those around her. Once again, when she turned toward her new friend, she wore a wide grin on her face. How wonderful it was that Fate had led them to meet! Would anyone else have taken her to such a beautiful, mysterious place like this?

She bit back a roll of her eyes when she pictured her Uncle. No, Dr. Finklestein would probably have leapt out of her bedroom window before taking her into such a busy place. He was always going on and on about how her place was at his side, and how his was in his lab. Not for the first time, she was sorely tempted to knock over a few bottles and see the whole place go up in flames. If there were no lab, would the mad scientist be tied down so? It was almost too scary to think about…Finklestein free in the world. No, she’d rather the old man remain in his mansion.

Even if it meant being forced to stay there with him. Oh, the obstacles one had to face in life…

As entranced with the new metal landscape as she was, Sally missed his little warning. Without letting go of his hand, she turned back and forth in an attempt to take in everything. Talk about some sensory overload; she had so many questions buzzing around in her head, that it was liable to explode! Poor Jack; he would regret giving her free rein to be as curious as she wished.

When her hand was tugged in the direction of a crowd, she willingly followed. His long legged stride was a bit hard to keep up with, but she managed to stay by his side. It was like a stream of exclamations were torn from her throat; ‘ooh,’ ‘aah,’ and ‘WOW LOOKIT THAT’s’ that were seemingly directed at everything around her. And when they made their way into a particularly crowded part of the street, she couldn’t help but take a short second to give every pedestrian a little smile and a friendly wave.

“This place is so big!” She exclaimed to her friend. “There are so many people! Holy cow, you weren’t joking, Jack! I…ooh, what’s that smell?”

Stopping in front of a window, Sally ogled a display of sweets and breads on the other side. Practically smooshing her face against the glass, she took another deep breath in, and let loose a dreamy side. Jack was still tugging at her arm, but the smell…good GAH, it was delicious!

[Jack Skellington]

Just as Jack had predicted, living-dead girl had ignored his little speech about how things weren't always perfect in the land of the living, and he was now fighting tooth and nail to keep up with her. It was insanely cute though, he thought as he watched her wave to people and skip along the sidewalk. He grinned to himself as he followed alongside her, amused by her enthusiasm towards her surroundings.

Jack caught the scent of the sweets displayed in the window of a pastry shop, though admittedly more faintly than Sally could. A part of him had adjusted to this new land now, just like he had become complacent with life in the gloomy Halloween Town. But to Sally, it was brand new and he wasn't about to interrupt her fun just yet. It certainly drew him in; made him feel the need to be around her right now.

Digging around deep in the pocket of his black coat, he extracted a few of the golden coins that counted as currency here in Faraway - he had found them in the street on one of his last visits and decided to hang onto them. Looking over at the young woman, her senses clearly going into overload now, he smiled softer this time and slipped his hand out of hers.

"Wait here, just one second."

Stepping into the small shop, he spent the next few minutes eyeing the desserts on offer, before picking out two; a cupcake with a swirl of butterscotch and fluffy pink icing on top for Sally, and a cinammon swirl for himself - the cinammon was strong, making it easier for him to enjoy the smell. Thanking the bewildered shop assistant, who had taken in his deathly complexion with utter terror, Jack stepped outside as the doorbell tinkled and handed the boxed-up little treat to his companion with a wry grin.

"Go ahead. Open it."

[Sally Finklestein]

Her head was practically spinning with the new smells, sounds and…gah, the feel of the strange city. There was just so much to take in! So many unknown things that she wanted to explore, experience. It might have been a bit juvenile and just a tad insane, but she couldn’t help herself. It was so…different! For a second, she straightened and frowned at her reflection in the window, squinting her eyes slightly. Had she been into the city before? Had…parts of her been one of the unfazed pedestrians hurrying to and fro on the sidewalk? Maybe she’d been like the lady on the other side of the glass, preparing sweets for the children running around inside. Or the boy on the corner, selling papers…or the man measuring people for a custom made suit.

Who had she been? What kinds of adventures had she been involved in? Had she loved? Been loved? Been poor or ridiculously rich? The questions made her grumble and take a step away from the window, crossing her arms over her chest.

Maybe coming here had been a bad idea; her mind was either going to go into complete overload, or spontaneously combust. On the one hand, she wanted to wander these strange streets forever…and on the other, she wanted to go back to the mansion and the tower room that had become so familiar. Backing up, she just managed to catch a glance of Jack as he slipped into the shop. Her brain was a bit slow to catch up to his order to stay where she was, and she glanced around when it did. Maybe she should tell him that she wanted to go back, when he returned…

It was a thought that didn’t last long, as she spotted a small table set up a few feet away from the shop. There was a cheerful looking young man sitting on a stool in front of it, moving little cups around in strange figure eight’s. Curiously, she moved closer to the table and the small crowd that had gathered. What a strange looking show.

When a glance back at the shop showed Jack coming back outside, she let out a little ‘eep’ and moved back to her little spot in front of the window. “I didn’t move anywhere!” She said before she could stop herself. With a little cough and what she just knew was a blush around her cheeks, she took the package with a smile and peered inside. Just as curiously as she’d inspected the forest back at Halloween Town, she poked the pink stuff on the top of the pastry, gave it a little sniff, then took a lick.

And almost died...again. Oh good GAH, it was sweet! And…kind of…pebbly in her mouth. And it was so freaking good!

“Holy cow, that tastes like Heaven and beyond,” Digging into the box, she scooped out her treat and took a bite. A little dollop of icing coated the tip of her noise, but before she could think to wipe it off, she remembered the game down the sidewalk. After sliding her free hand in his, she tugged him toward the table.

“Look, Jack! I’ve never seen this before…it’s some kind of game, I think. You’re supposed to try to guess where the marble is, after the cups move around. It doesn’t look hard at all!”

The man currently playing with the cups looked up, no doubt to entice them to join the game, but after looking from her scarred face to that of her companion, his face seemed to turn white and his hands shake a bit. Okay, so that certainly wasn’t the reaction she’d thought to get.

With a frown, Sally looked up at her friend. “I guess I insulted the game. Oh well…oh, I never thanked you for the pastry! Thank you; it’s so good.”


((Blah, sorry for the rambling/randomness. Wrote it while my cousins were running around shooting nerf darts at me. -.-;; lol))