Welcome back all! It's been a busy few weeks - work, my birthday, plans to see family - but I'm glad to be back! We're very close to the end of our tale and myself, the characters, and some passionate readers are all dealing with the consequences. Lots more is to follow, but let's see first what Jack's proposal is!
GoldGuardian2418: What, indeed? :)
Noro: To be fair, I've been WRITING this and forgetting that Ivy getting home is just as important as the fluff. And with a bond like Jack and Ivy's? I'm sure they'll be able to find some way to keep in contact…
Haley: Here is your answer! Also, I'm glad you liked the "I love you." It's been highly requested and I knew it had to be right.
Firebird89: First and foremost, happy birthday! And as always, your reviews are AMAZING. I knew you'd like the little fluff of dinner time, and kudos for picking up on both the intention of Ivy only mentioned Bezata leaving and the chapter title! And I promise, Tricked Out will have a satisfying and completed ending. As for what happens next…. You'll find out!
February 22
Town Hall
8pm
"Are you out of your mind, Jack?" The Mayor said in horror, his face never having left white since Jack had called the Council.
Jack, more than used to the accusation, didn't take it personally. He stood before the small group of monsters, huddled in the ruins of the Town Hall. The ceiling had what Jack would optimistically call a new skylight, the Wind sending in gusts of sweet-smelling air that made Jack's bones twitch with the urge to explore the fields outside Town. Flames had licked their way to the wood inside, giving a permanent sooty smell to the place, but the Mayor was determinedly ignoring the destruction, even as he sat upon a chair that no longer had backing.
A few hands moved under the collapsed tables, taking bets on when he'd lean back.
"There's a debt to be paid here," Jack insisted firmly. "The ghost would not have been defeated without her help. We've used what she remembers of the Human World to make Halloween better, and if I may be so bold, she's become more than a human mascot to each of us."
There was some rustling at that, a few shifty glances to the other members, but nobody dared to come forward and directly contradict the matter.
"So we send her and the other home," rebuked the Mayor, in a rare show of defiance. "Let her choose if she wants her memory wiped or not, if you're feeling generous! But to break tradition like this -"
"How does it break tradition?" Jack said with a sly grin. "She's died and spent time in Halloween Town. That seems to meet the parameters for at least asking."
"Because - because -'' The Mayor was sputtering, looking frantically at the other Council members for support. But whether out of their own feelings for Ivy or (more likely) the urge to see the Mayor squirm, they all stared expectantly, a few even nodding their assent. Even the screaming pumpkins had fallen silent, leaving only the nervous grinding of the Mayor's gears to break the spell.
Jack decided to crank up the pressure. "It is because she's human?"
And, like the fine china of his face, the Mayor cracked. "Yes! Yes, it's because she's human! Sure, she was dead, but -" He sputtered, finally forcing the unthinkable out of his mouth. "- but to make her a - a Citizen, Jack? Don't you see how bad of an idea this is?"
Jack shrugged. "Not really. She could still refuse, of course. But I think we have an obligation to ask."
"She - she destroyed the Town!" The Mayor tried next, though his eyes were beginning to flicker, glancing at the other members with increasing nervousness.
"Technically, the ghost possessed her to do that," Chifte (currently wearing the Mayor's own form) interrupted. "It wasn't her; she said she hadn't even met him before."
"Yes, but -"
"And Jack said she helped destroy it," added the Clown helpfully, and Jack was overwhelmed with gratitude that the other's distaste of the Mayor was stronger than their feelings towards Ivy.
"Well, that's all well and good, but -"
Points flew from all around, the Council members smelling the Mayor's nerves like blood in the water, their grins as threatening as any shark.
"She saved Jack's life!"
"She's taken the Oath, hasn't she?"
"She's figured out a way to get the other one home, that's duty enough for me-"
"She helped bring Sally to life, and that doll is a gem!"
"But - but -" The Mayor's head spun in an endless circle, hands and eyes twitching in astonishment at the cries of his fellow Council Members. He finally settled on Jack, who still stood silently, arms crossed, and a look of smug confidence on his face. "Jack, this is madness. She's a human. What if she forgets everything? What if she tells the other humans?"
Jack raised his brow. "Do you really believe she'll do that?"
The Mayor had the decency to flush. "Well, I - I suppose not. But this… it has never been done before."
Jack sighed, leaning over the desk and staring into the Mayor's beady, anxious eyes. "Mister Mayor, there are a lot of things we do now that we've never done before. Isn't that the whole point of this Council? To adapt, to grow, to make sure we don't get stuck in the past?"
The Mayor began to shrink back into his seat (tantalizingly close to the giant hole). "Jack," he began, his voice shaky but stubborn, "I'm sure no one doubts your account, but we've all seen how - er, close you and the Human have become." He seemed to say whatever version of prayer a Halloween Citizen could, his fingers flexing beneath the table. "How can we be sure that you're wanting to ask her because Halloween needs it, or because you don't want to let her leave?"
The temperature dropped in the room, the whispers falling silent.
Jack was the picture of stillness, his jaw tight, and dark sockets seeming to glow from within, as though the empty space had been replaced with a blazing ember within a chunk of coal. The fire in the torches flickered, failing for a half second, and the Council began to collectively sweat at the thought of being plunged into darkness, where Jack's suit and dark eyes would perfectly vanish. Nobody dared make a move (whether to save the Mayor or themselves) - until someone did.
"I would advocate for this action," Vlad said smoothly, eyes fixed on Jack even as his low voice cut through the tension in the air. "She's constantly underfoot and knows far too much. Better to keep an eye on her this way than setting her loose."
"And what of the other human?"
Vlad's shoulders stiffened slightly but he remained firm. "She's been here only a week and hasn't contributed enough to Town. Let her decide whether or not to lose her memory, but Citizenship isn't the answer there."
Jack finally turned to face Vlad, his neck creaking, blinking slowly in gratitude.
"I agree." The Creature shifted from the corner, his hulking form tightly bunched against the wall. "Other humans have abandoned the Town once they died, not fight for us. We saw the aftermath of the assault; it was no small feat."
The Mayor, somehow, grew paler.
Nicholas growled as the other two monsters shifted their gaze to him. He tossed his head, swiped a claw across his snout, and grit out, "yeah, she's got my vote too. Maybe she'll say no any - OW!"
Nicholas yelped, clutching at his leg, where something unseen had jabbed into him as invisible footsteps trod carelessly over the wooden planks.
"I'm all for asking the kid," Marvel said breezily, causing the Council members closest to him to lean away, their eyes frantically tracking where he might be, lest a bare limb brush cheekily against them. "If we're all being honest, I think half of us forgot that she hasn't been here for ages anyway. And when she did kick the bucket, she ended up here. We're kidding ourselves if we don't think it'll be the same in a couple of decades."
The Council shifted uneasily at that, the question of Ivy's mortality - and the prospect of facing her again - hanging uncomfortably in the air.
"I think a final vote is in order," Jack said quietly, still managing to echo through the absolute silence in the room. "All those in favor of offering Ivy Citizenship?"
The Classics all raised their hands, Marvel taking a pen from the table to indicate his own raised hand. Slowly but surely the rest of the Council followed, limbs stretching towards the destroyed ceiling, eyes turning to their two leaders, a growing sense of certainty stirring among them. Jack lifted his own, the other planted on his hip, his sockets fixed on the Mayor. The monster in question squirmed, eyes twitching and nails nervously drumming, any rebuttal dying in the face of such solidarity.
"Oh, all right," the Mayor grumbled, throwing his own hand up. "Better the Devil we know, eh?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ivy sat outside, having a crisis.
She could hear some raised voices from within the Hall and winced, not sure who she pitied more. The moonlight shone down on her, giving her bruised skin a silver sheen, almost glowing against the black dirt beneath her feet.
The weight of Jack's question swirled in her mind, her shoulders tensing and mouth dry as she thought through all the possibilities. Jack had warned her that the Council might not approve of his asking, but Ivy wasn't worried about that - Jack had had that gleam in his eye that meant he wouldn't take no for an answer. No, the real question was what she should do next.
Citizenship. She swallowed, frantically running a hand through her hair, practically burying her shoe into the dirt to stop her leg from bouncing. It seemed to be the solution that had been dancing around her for a while, but something in her still faltered, uncertain.
She remembered, with a touch of embarrassment, demanding to be made a Citizen to go through the Gateway. Then, she'd seen it as the only way of getting home, and now…
Now it seemed to be a way of remaining home.
The door opened, Ivy jumping slightly from the broken stillness. She turned to see Jack standing before her, a victorious grin on his face that gave her all the answer she needed.
"They said yes?" She asked in disbelief, scrambling to her feet. "Are you serious?"
"Deadly so," Jack said smugly, bounding down the steps to her. Seeing her wince from the movement of standing, he offered his arm, which she gratefully took. "We'll discuss everything related to it back at the Manor, but - how are you feeling?"
"About, like, this or -"
"Anything." He gave her arm a short squeeze, encouraging her to lean against him. Above their heads, a particularly large and reproachful-looking bat flapped in and out of the moonbeams. "I know that mind of yours has been driving itself to the ground. Talk to me."
Ivy managed a laugh, resting her head against his arm. She idly kicked a pebble, watching it disappear with a soft plunk into the goop that lurked beneath the streets. "Dunno. It's just… a lot of changes, y'know?"
"I do." Jack looked behind him where some of the monsters were leaving the Town Hall, a few of them casting hesitant glances at the pair. Ivy ducked her head, avoiding the curiosity of their stares. "But I believe you've grown rather adaptive towards those changes."
She thought about that, looking at the place where flesh and bone met, Jack's lifeless fingers still thrumming with energy, eyeing a few new scorch marks from their fight that hadn't been buffed away. She wondered, briefly, what other stories were etched into her friend's bones - how many other times he'd had to fight for Halloween.
"Do you think I actually earned it?" She blurted out before she could stop herself. "I mean, monsters get it for the things they do in life or something for the Town… I'm still human and came here by accident." She stared resolutely ahead, trusting her feet (and Jack) to not let her trip on the road. "Last time I said the Oath I felt… dunno. Weird? Like I wasn't supposed to be saying it."
"I'll say this again," Jack said quietly, "but you have no obligation to take this. I understand, I do, that there might be more reasons for you not to. However: don't let your view of whether you deserve it or not be the reason you say no. In my eyes - and the eyes of the allies you've made - you've more than earned your place here."
"Sure you're not just biased?" Ivy tried to joke as the Manor came into view, a single candle glowing in the study that caused her heart rate to kick up.
Jack snorted. "Even if I was, love, you'd be accusing the Clown or Nicholas of feeling the same."
"Nicholas was in favor?"
"All the Classics were." Jack opened the gate and shuffled a baffled Ivy inside the garden. "For their own purpose, I'm sure. We'll have to keep an eye on them, eh?"
It was strange, Ivy thought, to walk back into the Manor with the overcast of seriousness. She'd bounded up the steps countless times, but the weight of what awaited in the study seemed to make the climb stretch on forever. The whole Manor seemed to be holding its breath, the creaks louder than ever. The Wind took advantage of the new holes in the walls to whistle through, gently pushing her along until Jack closed the thick and secure door of the study, leaving the formless being to fade away.
Once inside, Jack lowered Ivy into the chair on the other side of the great black desk, then went about rustling around the shelves. The air tasted stale and smoky, the window was fogged over, and Ivy couldn't help the thrum of anxiety within her as being in the room where Sally, Zero, and countless others had sat, awaiting their own Citizenship process.
Jack lifted the hefty black tome of Citizenship records, setting it down on the desk with a resounding thud. Ivy felt the shockwaves run through the floor and up her body, and her eyes fixed on the yellowed pages, almost stiff with age. It didn't seem like there should be such a thick layer of dust, but Jack blew it off all the same, using the hem of his sleeve to wipe the cover clean. He didn't open it, instead placing a fountain pen, gold with detailed black lacing, on top of the book. It caught the candlelight and radiated a soft glow, almost demanding that Ivy pay attention to it.
Jack settled himself behind the desk, leaning over and fixing his sockets on the squirming girl. "Breathe, Ivy."
She let out a shaky breath - more of a strangled gasp, really - that she hadn't realized was trapped in her lungs, almost shaking in the absence of it. "Sorry."
"No need." Jack shook his skull, his own fingers flexing in nervousness. The sight eased the tightness in Ivy's stomach better than any exercise and she felt herself relax, the screaming in her mind quieting somewhat at the familiarity of Jack's presence. No matter what, she knew Jack was with her.
"Ivy Kunze," Jack began, his lips quirking at the formality. Needing to move her body, she dipped her own head, if only to add to Jack's smile. "I am here to offer you the chance to join our Town permanently: to become a Citizen." He rubbed his hands together then pulled them sharply apart, a soft black cloud erupting from his fingers.
"To become a Citizen is to bind yourself to the Town," Jack said, his voice echoing around the room, as a golden glow blossomed in the middle, a picture of the Town emerging as the golden thread sped through the streets, like a giant gleaming spiderweb beneath their feet. If the picture weren't so mesmerizing, she'd feel the urge to look down at her own shoes, wondering if the golden glow was there. "You will gain the protection of the Town, the Pumpkin King, and the Spirits of Halloween. You'll be tasked with serving Halloween, as well as pledging allegiance to me." Jack had the decency to look somewhat uncomfortable at that, only practice keeping him from shifting in his chair. "Furthermore, as Citizenships allows you to control your passage through the Veil between worlds, you would be tasked with using that skill responsibly."
Jack closed his fist, the cloud disappearing. "If you were any other dead," he admitted, "denying Citizenship would mean that you leave Town, striking your own path as a Rogue. Many of these become ghosts, desperately trying to get back to the Human World. As Citizens, this is our world. We concern ourselves with humans only on Halloween, not trying to become something we're not." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I won't lie to you, I'm not sure how this will turn out. We've never made this offer with a living being before, but your soul is already tied to Halloween. There is a chance, however…" he looked to the foggy window a moment, then seemed to force himself to face Ivy once more, who hadn't moved from her position.
"If you were to say no, your life in the Human World would change very little. I can't say to what extent your memory will remain or fade, and I have no idea what either path will mean for your afterlife. I also can't speak to whether you will see your family again once you die." He paused once more, leaning across the table to meet her eyes, a rare seriousness in his sockets. "I wish I had more concrete answers for you, truly I do. I know that this is a bunch of unknowns, and I know that this makes it harder to decide." He looked down, and Ivy felt the stillness of the room grow louder. "But, Ivy… no matter what you choose, I will support you, and I won't love you any less." He sat back, fingers pressed together, seemingly having said his piece.
Ivy sat there, trying not to feel like a child being admonished before the principal, as she pondered the fate of her soul.
She conjured up the images of her family: still mostly clear from the train, but fading away at the edges, a soft fuzz overtaking them. Her heart clenched at the thought of the afterlife without them, but… how did she know what would happen? What if Chakis had a place in mind for her that wasn't with either family?
The thought stopped her cold, and her mind grappled with an existence where Halloween didn't exist, and where the Human World was blocked. She had the opportunity to step back into her old life, leave Halloween as a memory, and move on.
But she wasn't even sure if she wanted her old life back. Now that she had seen how the power of thought brought characters to life, how could she ever read a book the same way again? How could she ever walk through a foggy field without thinking of the Hide and Sneak games? When every glow of candlelight would remind her of this very study, or a cool breeze that came without words?
How could she think of the skeleton beneath her skin without the reminder of the one before her?
And even so… if she stepped back, who would she be? The Ivy Kunze who'd fallen, bringing a tense smile and cracking façade? She spread her fingers before her, marveling again at their solidity, the flesh that stretched across her bones. She wasn't sure who this new Ivy was, and if Jack was any indication, she'd probably never stop figuring it out. To deny Citizenship might mean losing that path for a while, at least. If the world was going crazy, turned upside down, if magic and monsters were real, she didn't want to face them alone. Her body tingled with the memory of every touch from Halloween, from Nicholas' playful jabs to the ribs and Angus' claws on her arm to the sensation of Jack's fingers in her hair and arms around her. They were strange and bizarre, but they were family.
And, sure, she didn't know what came next - what her soul would do, what the fate of those around her would be. Tying herself to Halloween meant kissing goodbye to any shred of normalcy. Instead of going home at the end of an adventure, she'd be keeping the door open for it to come back into her life. A different touch burned at the thought, Cia- his fingers burning into her arm, the pressure of his thoughts against her mind. She shuddered, closing her eyes and listening to the sound of her heart in her ears. Time was running out; she had to make a choice - and then live with it forever. She could be killed or lost or confused or worse - forced to keep changing, to make herself better, for Jack and herself. Were there strange side-effects? What would this do to her? Why would she choose a path that didn't offer stagnancy or a clear future, one where she couldn't run or hide or lie anymore? It was borderline idiotic, something the her of a few months ago would be screaming at, but...but...
But deep down, Ivy knew what the truth was. It was impulsive and premeditated, insane yet logical, filled with the same contradictions as she herself was. And… what better way to break from the past then to be honest with herself?
Ivy looked up at Jack, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over her. Jack hadn't moved, his fingers still pressed together and brow still furrowed, but Ivy could read the twitch of his sockets, every vertebrae of his body seeming to tremble in anticipation.
"I accept," she said, feeling for a moment that her words were echoing through the decades. "I don't know what's going to happen next either - tomorrow or fifty years from now. I want to go back to my family, but… I'm not going to turn my back on the one I've made here, either."
Jack smiled, unbidden and full, one that used to make her hair stand on end but now only sent warmth through her soul. "I'm glad." Ivy watched as the relief slowly made his way through his body, shoulders melting and hands softening. "I do have to ask, of course: are you sure?"
Ivy swallowed but nodded, no regret in her stomach, only the thrill of the unknown before her. "I am. Let's figure this out together, eh Bone Boy?"
Jack chuckled, glancing down, and Ivy was grateful to see some of the anxiety and formality evaporate from her friend. "I ought to have known that your mind would be made up," he teased gently, smiling at her. "I do thank you for taking the time to consider it, though." He stood once more, pulling a thin rod of metal from what seemed to be thin air. He set his shoulders, and Ivy watched in fascination as he put it to a drawer she'd never noticed before, a small bolt of black magic creeping out from his sleeve and turning around the rod, transforming it into a key. With a small grunt of effort, the key turned and Jack opened the creaky drawer. Soft light from within spilled out onto his face, illuminating the bone of Jack's face with a fuzzy white glow. He looked over to her, sockets trailing over her form, as he lifted a black sphere from the drawer.
It seemed to be made of glass, but Ivy wondered if it was a material she'd never heard of, for it seemed to suck all the light from the room towards sphere rolled around in Jack's hand and Ivy saw black and white light within, endlessly turning against each other. Jack carried it carefully over to the table with all the care of an atomic bomb, pulling a wire structure from the side of the great desk and nestling the orb on top, where it swirled and gleamed between them. Ivy couldn't stop herself from leaning forward, a strange heat passing between her eyes as she stared into the depths, the inky shapes a siren's call. She didn't notice Jack's face, tight once more, as he stared down at the contraption.
"What is it?" She asked in breathless wonder, even the whisper seeming too loud.
"A bit of the future made physical," Jack explained in the same hushed tone. "It seems… unfair to ask Citizens to join without showing them all the possibilities of what lies before them. There is no one path, however, and no one singular you that is demonstrated. The future is bright and full, even after death." He gestured towards the orb, nodding for her to look within.
Despite the sweat under her collar and the frantic thumping of her heart, Ivy took a deep breath, shoved her hands under her knees, leaned forward, and -
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack always hated this part.
He hated the silence that would descend over the study, how he himself was forced to remain still, to not speak, even when words and nerves piled up inside his throat, longing to spill out. He forced himself to look away from the orb, from the glazed look in Ivy's eyes and she sat there, seeming more of a shell than the ever-moving, speaking, living creature he knew. He practically sat on his hands to keep from reaching over, fearful that any distraction from the orb's depths would… well, he wasn't quite sure what would happen, but instinct told him nothing good.
Unfortunately, getting the new Citizens to follow that rule was somewhat difficult.
At the first sign of delayed twitching - small, almost miniscule jolts of the muscle around her shoulders - Jack stepped forward, slowly, careful to not attract her attention. When her head tried to snap to the side, eyes still fixed on the orb, Jack carefully turned her face back towards the desk, holding her skull firmly in place even as her body kicked to be free from what she saw. He thought he heard a faint 'no' slip from her lips, but he couldn't be sure. There were always different reactions: Zero had seemed shaken but resolute, Finkelstein had writhed in his chair and hardly spoken afterwards, the Mayor had to be roused from a dead faint, and Sally…
Sally had looked up, her glassy eyes reflecting the glow of the orb beautifully, and gazed at him with a surge of confidence and… something else he was afraid to name. Her timid nature had slowly crept back in the more time went on, but it was the first time he'd felt the urge to interrogate a Citizen on what they had seen.
Especially when it seemed to concern him.
Ivy stilled, going limp once more, and for once Jack was grateful to release his grip on her, not caring for the way she seemed so listless and malleable. It was all too similar to the way he'd manhandled her in the days before, when he'd had to apply careful pressure to her jaw to keep water in her system, or when he'd gently pulled her out of her fetal position around a disgruntled Tailypo, who'd appreciated the nearness to her (very chewy) hair but not being treated like a teddy bear. Or so it had acted, anyway - Jack had found the fuzzball curled protectively atop her head, yellow eyes watchfully glaring into the dark.
Jack waited for the strangled gasp he knew was coming, and forced himself to look up from the fiddling of his fingers. Ivy's eyes were huge, the swirls of black and white still somersaulting in her pupils, but it faded as she drew back, face pale and hands trembling. She blinked rapidly, shaking her head, and the effects of the orb began to slowly melt from her eyes, evaporating like mist. The stench of death crept around the room, and Jack instinctually glanced around for the Reaper, despite knowing he'd never find her.
Ivy's breathing was laboured and she held her hands before her, seeming almost alarmed by the tremors. The faintest hints of aura drifted up from her hands, little streaks of light creeping through her veins.
"So that's who I am?" She asked, her voice tight and unsteady. It wasn't unusual, Jack knew, for Citizens-to-be to have such a reaction, but there had never been the struggle to breathe, or the thumping of a heart like a jackrabbit in his mind. "That's me?"
"It could be," Jack said as mildly as he could, watching the sweat gather at her temples. "But, ultimately, like everything else, I believe that choice is up to you."
The smell and sensation of death slowly faded from the room, and Jack let out a silent gust of relief.
Ivy was quiet, gaze drifting back to the orb until Jack removed it from the wire holding, nestling it back into the velvet lining of the drawer. He took his time - locking the drawer, turning the key back into an innocuous looking rod, slipping it away - all the while waiting until some of the frantic harshness of her breath faded, the fight for survival draining away. When it did, he faced her once more, feeling a tightness to his lungs at the spaced out look on her face, the confrontation of her innermost selves weighing heavily on her mind. Forgoing tradition and honoring his instincts, he came around to her side of the desk, wrapping a quick arm around her shoulders and pulling her in, allowing her to rest her face against his hip bone. He felt her small fingers gripping his waistcoat, the warmth bleeding through to his bone.
She let go first, albeit reluctantly, pushing her hair back from where it had gathered on her face and did a small shake of all her limbs, as though trying to reset herself. Jack watched carefully, wondering if her human body would collapse from the strain, but she seemed to be more or less alright - rattled, no doubt, but Jack would have been suspicious if she was anything less.
"Did you see any of that?" She asked, her voice raspy.
Jack shook his head. "Nor do you have to tell me. Most don't. Inner reflection is something that holds the most benefit for you, not those around you. Our job is merely to support whatever comes of it." He paused, looking down at her with a stern finger. "Unless, of course, you decide to somehow attack us all -"
"No, no," she laughed, the orb's grasp fading now that it was safely locked away. "Nothing like that, I promise."
"Excellent. Now, do you, Ivy Kunze, swear to uphold the terror and trepidation of Halloween Town?"
"I do." She flexed her fingers, as though trying to push the tremors from them.
"Do you swear allegiance to the Pumpkin King, and Halloween itself?" Jack let the familiar words fall from his mouth, his mind fixated on the soft glowing of the pen, curling towards the unsuspecting human. He sat himself on the edge of the desk and grabbed the Signature's Pen, turning it over in his fingers the same way he had months ago, when she sat in that exact spot, the book of Citizens between them.
"I do."
"Then repeat after me." He took a breath, feeling the words constrict in his ribcage as he slowly pushed the book towards her. "Timore coniungit nos."
Her eyes fell to it and Jack nodded. She blinked up at him and said in a strong, clear voice, "Timore coniungit nos." There was no flinch to her form as she pulled the book close, eyes darting over the details of the thick volume.
It was nearly half her height, the parchment frayed and yellowed, the smell of ink and dust wafting from the pages. Jet-black ink made up charts spanned the width of the book, countless names, dates, and signatures making her squint and lean forward. Some were crossed out, some had nearly faded, but there were just as many who remained strong, the different handwritings telling a story older than Ivy or Jack could ever imagine. Sometimes, on lonely nights, Jack would read the names of those that were no longer among them, repeating them silently to himself, desperate to keep some form of their memory alive, for the sake of whatever soul remained.
The pages were turning slowly, carefully, as though Ivy were afraid each one would shatter beneath her fingertips despite their almost buttery nature, until she got to the most recent page, where the table was only partially filled. He watched as she traced her fingers along (Zero, 1992) and (Sally, 1993) before pausing at the empty slot beneath them. She glanced up at Jack through her bangs, a question in her eyes.
Jack rubbed obsessively at the pen before finally giving in, offering the handle and answer to her.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
One last time, one last out.
Ivy didn't hesitate, taking the gold gleaming pen from him, dipping it into the inkwell. She squared her shoulders, tossed him a wink, and with her trademark scrawl she signed, Ivy Kunze (1993).
The ink went on gold and then faded to black, soaking into the page and declaring the new Citizen for generations to come.
She looked up at him, a broad grin on her face, smoke swirling around her eyes. Jack eyed how close she was to the edge of the chair and winced, waiting. Ivy's eyes narrowed, catching the new tension in his shoulders.
"What now?" She asked, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "What's that face f- OW!"
With a shout, Ivy clamped her hand across her right arm, a look of shock and pain stealing across her face. She hunched over, Jack pressing her back into the chair as she gasped, gaze flickering up to Jack in disbelief. He patted her other shoulder frantically, trying to block out both the smoke curling from under her jacket and the scream he could hear trapped behind her teeth.
"What - the - hell - is - this?" Ivy's nails began to dig into her jacket, the material splitting between the broken bits.
"It'll be over in a moment," Jack told her as calmly as he could, pulling a slight water jug (just in case, of course).
"What'll be - uhhh."
Ivy's hand loosened, the scream dying in her throat. She frowned, nails now scratching lightly as though she had an itch rather than trying to claw her own skin off. A look of curiosity stole across her face, a hesitancy in her eyes. Then, suddenly -
"No way," she asked flatly, one hand trapped on her bicep, even as the other slowly reached towards the collar of her jacket. "No way."
"See for yourself," Jack responded mildly, despite the growing excitement in his own ribs.
Ivy hesitated for only a moment longer, balancing between two realities, before tearing off her jacket and rolling up her shirt sleeve, staring in disbelief at her bicep.
An ivy strand tattoo was inked into her skin, weaving around her upper shoulder and trailing down her arm, pausing just shy of her elbow. Leaves graced the edges of the swirled strands, and Ivy brushed a finger against them in wonder. Then her face twisted in exasperated annoyance, and she huffed out a breath as she turned to stare at Jack.
"Dude, people are gonna think I'm a narcissist," she dead-panned.
Jack couldn't hold back a laugh at that, grateful to have somewhere for the energy in his bones to escape. Ivy tried to keep the grouched look on her face, but eventually she too cracked, a sheepish grin slipping loose. She rolled her eyes and threw herself forward, lightly punching Jack on the arm as he continued to laugh, pressing her forehead into his sternum.
He brought up both hands to her face, cupping it gently before kissing the top of her head, feeling her grin against him. She pulled back, rotating her arm while staring down at her Mark in dazed wonder.
"This is -" Then she blinked, startled, and rubbed at her eyes. Jack smiled indulgently; a jolt of realization going off within him. Of course, she was still alive, so now she could -
"You're glowing!" She yelped, then spun about, one hand still on her Mark. "Every - Everything's glowing! Like when I had the Cat's Eye!" She sniffed the air, sticking out her tongue and letting out a gleeful laugh.
"This is how we see the world," Jack said gently, wondering if she noticed her own aura, which had grown and waved ever since the Mark appeared, as steady as the rest of the Town's. "Not as dreary as it is to your human eyes, I'd wager?"
"Not at all. You -" She paused to smile at him, her grin blinding. "You look so cool, Jack."
"Why, thank you." Jack preened, smoothing down the front of his waistcoat and flaring his aura out, just to show off.
"Holy shit," she laughed. She lifted her arm to show him her Mark as her gaze darted around the room, a child-like euphoria on her face. "I didn't think - this is awesome!"
"I'm glad you like it." Most Citizens, a bit overwhelmed by the whole process, didn't register their Mark as much more than a painful adornment. "There is one other thing -"
"Oh, my god, really?" It was loose and light, and Jack basked in the easiness that existed between them. "Now what?"
"It's not a Citizen-specific matter." Jack sat back against the desk, his long fingers reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket (Sally truly was a genius) and pulling out a yellowed scroll. Ivy's eyes flickered to it, head tilting in the same way Jack's did when curiosity overcame their minds. He smiled at that, un-tying the ribbon and offering it to her. Ivy took it hesitantly, eyes darting around Jack's messy scrawl. He waited patiently until Ivy lowered the scroll, a new question in her eyes.
"What is this?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." Jack spread his hands, thankful his cheekbones didn't ache from smiling the way humans would.
Ivy scowled, then read aloud. "'We, the Council of Halloween, do extend the offer to Ivy Kunze, of the Human and Halloween Realm, to act as Ambassador between the Worlds, to better serve the Scares and Terrors of Halloween.'" She lowered the scroll, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
"You're in a unique position," Jack said in a lofty tone, drumming his fingers on the desk. "You've already given us a wonderful insight into what helps scare humans best, and we could be foolish of us to let the opportunity to learn more slip by."
Ivy blinked, and Jack tried not to read rejection in the minute facial expressions on her face. "So, what would that mean?"
Jack sighed, leaning forward and tapping the bottom of the scroll, where each Council member had signed their approval. "You, of course, can decline. But now that you're one of us -" and he couldn't hide the shiver of glee that gave him, to have the truth of the statement be inked into her skin, "- I'll be candid, Halloween won't leave you so easily. This is a way for you to communicate with us." He flashed her another toothy grin, adding, "show us that mix of humanity!"
Ivy rolled her eyes, but curled up the scroll and shoved it into her own jacket pocket. "You know what? Let's do it. Halloween might not leave me alone, but it's not gonna get rid of me either."
"Then it's a good thing none of us want to be rid of you." Jack did his best attempt at a wink, both his sockets closing, aware that it would make Ivy laugh. "Shall we introduce the Town to its newest Citizen, then?"
Ivy bit her lip but nodded, slinging her jacket across the back of the chair, leaving her Mark on full display. He held out his hand, having full faith that she would take it.
Flesh and bone overlapped, the hum of Halloween magic in their fingers.
Jack walked Ivy down the stairs, smiling at how her eyes darted around the Manor, her eyes tracking onto the newly-revealed elements that were woven into the dark wood, or hidden in the shadows. Jack wondered if her hearing had adjusted yet as well - he could sense the small gathering of a crowd outside, the word of Jack's proposal no doubt having flown around the Town. He heard Zero barking eagerly, the nervous clicking of the Mayor's head, and the flapping of dozens of bat wings.
He paused before the door, straightened his waistcoat and smoothed over his skull. Ivy paused beside him, a slight hesitancy in her stance. Her heart rate picked up as the sounds of the Citizens outside became audible to human ears.
"The hard part's over, right?" Jack asked, trying to pull her from her thoughts. "What steps would you like to take forward?"
Ivy thought about it, the renewed strength of her aura lighting up the air around her, a soft glow on her face. "Whichever one is next," she answered finally, shrugging in forced casualness. Jack smiled at the sight of the Monster she'd become and opened the door.
It gave a dramatic creeek as it opened, catching the attention of the clustered monsters outside, a clear curiosity on their faces. Jack tried not to pout as some of the more careless trampled his plants as they craned their many necks, trying to see the result of a human becoming a Citizen.
Well, Jack thought to himself with a sneaky grin, might as well give them what they want.
He grasped Ivy's hand and held it high, letting her Mark be shown to every keen-eyed member of Town. Her heartbeat pounded beneath him, but there was a certainty to her posture and a new gleam in her eye that made his ribs swell with pride.
"This is Ivy Kunze, our newest Citizen and Ambassador of Halloween!" His voice was full of unmistakable authority, carrying over the crowd and declaring it to be woven into Halloween, unchangeable as the march of time itself. "Welcome, Ivy, welcome to -"
The Town seemed to take a breath, before an overwhelming shout of "Halloween!" washed over the King and Citizen, making Jack's skull buzz.
"This is Halloween!" The kids cheered, small fireworks erupting from Rosie's palm and Angus flapping his wings so hard a small dust storm rose up.
"Halloween!" The vampires shouted, Vlad in the center of them, a wide-eyed Bezata hesitantly by his side, joining in the chant after a sharp rap on the head.
"Halloween!"
"Halloween!"
Sally was there, applauding with bright eyes and her trademark soft smile (Jack's stomach flipping accordingly). Nicholas had his arms crossed, but he still tipped his head back into a howl. The Creature didn't shout but clapped his large hands together, an approving, small smile on his stitched face. The Mayor's face still glitched, but the longer Ivy's Mark was on display the more he slowly clicked towards his usual cheerful expression. The Witches sat atop their brooms, high above the heads of the others, cackling with mixed glee and triumph. Jack couldn't stop his own grin from spreading as he looked across the faces of his family, more grateful than ever that it had grown by one more.
The moonlight broke through the clouds and made Ivy's dark hair glow, and, not to be outdone, the Wind came barreling through the crowd. Jack was nearly knocked down but Ivy remained steady, lowering her arm and letting the Wind spin around her, knotting her hair, causing goosebumps across her flesh, and making her aura swirl in ribbons of red and brown. The cheers slowly died down as the Wind did, small chatter breaking out as the Citizens seized the opportunity for a social gathering. Ivy looked over her shoulder, eyes a bright flash as she took him in.
"I think that went well." She flexed her fingers and tilted her head down at the Mark, a new wave of shock going across her face. "Oh, my god, my parents are gonna kill me."
"I certainly hope not," Jack quipped, putting a hand to her back and ushering her out to meet the others. "I don't want to see you here permanently any time soon, alright?"
Ivy's response was lost as she was dragged into the thick of the crowd, still giving the Halloween version of cheers. Jack stayed back, folding his arms behind his back and watching the fray.
Fabric brushed against his side, and the sweet smell of fresh blood drifted upward, his heart reacting accordingly.
"I'm glad the process worked," Sally said softly. The two of them were the only still creatures, the rest losing themselves to admiring the newly-glowing Citizen. "How are you feeling?"
Jack hummed, the vibration traveling down his bones. "I'm… grateful, I suppose. This was a gamble - unfortunately, it's still a gamble. But if this hadn't worked… this might have been much worse."
"Do you think she'll be back?"
Jack snorted. "Before or after her next death?" Even as he said it, his insides twisted with anticipatory grief.
"Both, I suppose." Sally's hands were folded in front of her, and Jack's ribs tightened as he noticed she was fiddling with her fingers - the same way he was behind his back. He remembered the way her hand had felt in his own, and ached with the urge to untangle those soft blue fingers.
"I think she'll find a way." They both watched as Ivy scrambled atop Chifte's shoulders (stealing the Clown's form) and wielding a torch, jutting it towards the sky where Rosie's firecrackers exploded. "Will you be alright when she leaves?"
Sally laughed softly. It was such a rare sound that Jack's bones seized up, and he was immensely grateful there was no audible catch of his breath. "I think I should be asking you that," she teased, looking up at him through her (long, dark) eyelashes. "I'll be alright. How are you doing with everything else?"
"Well," Jack stammered, "I know she'll -"
Sally's hand twitched, as though she were about to take his hand, and the motion caused his voice to falter. "You've been so focused on her, and for good reason, but - you were in the fights, too."
Jack shook his head. "I'll be fine. Nothing that I haven't come back from before. There are other things to concern myself with."
Sally's head tilted, and Jack tried to avoid looking into those almond eyes, but, as always, she pulled him in. "But, Jack," she began, forehead crinkling adorably in concern, "you deserve to take a break, too. Aren't you -"
Her fingers drifted towards his torn sleeve, where a slight acid had built up from the ghost's fire power. Jack jolted away before she could make contact, certain that the gentleness in her hand and the concern in her eyes would burn him worse than any attack.
"I'll be fine," he repeated. "A bit - ragged, yes, but - I can recover."
Sally's hand was frozen in space, daring to reach out more before withdrawing, the mixture of relief and disappointment hanging in the air between them.
"Well, then," Sally said carefully, her hand drawing back. "I hope you know you can rely on me to… patch you up."
Jack held his non-existent breath until she gently turned her gaze back to the party, shaking off the weight of her supportive stare.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
February 22
11pm
"Aufwachen, Princess!"
Bezata jolted awake, rolling off the couch, her legs and torso tangling in Vlad's cloak. The vampire in question glared from his position in the chair next to the human, legs and face twisted.
"I said I had it under control," he hissed.
"Oh, no doubt, but this is a lot funnier, right?"
"Ivy, love, please don't start -"
"Ugh…" Bezata slowly sat up, fumbling for her glasses and blinking at they crowded above her: King Jack, impossibly tall and bones glowing white in the moonlight, Vlad, who looked odd without the black cloak and whose pale forearms glowed in the moonlight, and Kunze between them, thin white rope looped over her chest and tossed behind her shoulder. The moonlight behind the trio cast long shadows over the human, causing her heart to begrudgingly beat faster.
"'S going on?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. "What happened?"
"You passed out at the party," Kunze said, no restraint of glee in her tone. "No sleeping in the nighttime here!"
"Ugh." Bezata dropped her head back onto the sofa, but felt her limbs respond when Vlad reached over and lifted her to her feet, cold hands on her face causing her to wince. The party, yes - she remembered being twisted around by the children, covering her ears from a prolonged howling contest, her eyes burning from the torchlight. The last thing she remembered was sitting down for just a moment, her eyes slipping shut as she watched the fireflies dance, the sensation of something thick and warm wrapping itself around her as she drifted off. With a wince of disgust, Bezata realized she could still feel some slime stubbornly clinging to her hair and skin, and knew she reeked of fountain water.
"The Ambassador reminded us that your portal closes within the hour," Vlad said dryly, letting go of Bezata once it was clear she could stand on her own and taking back his cloak, wrapping it around his surprisingly strong frame. "So we've elected to let you leave sooner rather than later."
That woke Bezata up, the grit in her eyes vanishing in her excitement. "Really?"
"Sure thing," Kunze drawled from where she was leaning against her skeleton, arms crossed. Bezata's eyes dropped to the tattoo on the other's bicep, swallowing at the way it almost seemed to move through her fuzzy vision. She stumbled over to a basin and splashed water on her face, wincing at the freezing droplets that clung to her to her eyelashes.
"The Creature has a shit ton of rope that he's letting me steal -" Kunze tapped the ropes in question, rubbing her nails against the frayed edges, "- so I'm gonna pop through a Gateway and then give you a lift out. Sounds good?"
"O- ok," she stammered, eyes flickering between the three figures. "When do we leave?"
"Now," the skeleton said, a hint of sadness in his tone. "We'll accompany you to the Forest, but somebody is rather insistent that we not see you all the way -"
"Look, an Angel of Death wouldn't tell you where our way in was," Kunze huffed, rolling her eyes. "Like hell I'm gonna contradict her."
The skeleton was - it couldn't be pouting, but that was the closest word Bezata could think of. "Well, perhaps if you -"
"If we could focus on the matter at hand," Vlad interrupted smoothly. "Their departure?"
The King's scowl only deepened, one hand ghosting anxiously across Kunze's back. Bezata's nails dug into her palm, thought not enough to draw blood - that seemed to attract Vlad's attention, and she didn't want to deal with his admonishing look this early in the… evening. She shifted her feet, looking out at the paned glass separating Vlad's home from the elements. "Do we need to do anything?"
Kunze snorted. "Other than avoiding the other Citizens from hunting us down and giving us more curses for our journey? Not really."
"Curses?" Bezata squeaked.
"I mean - you know, blessings," Kunze said, with a hand wave that felt far too casual. "Shit like that."
"One day," King Jack said mildly, "I will find a way to control that language of yours."
"Welche?" Kunze asked with a wicked grin. "Deutsch? English? Halloween- hmm. Halloween-sprache?"
Vlad's nostrils flared in frustration. He settled one broad hand on Bezata's shoulder, gently ushering her forward, while the other dug into the collar of Kunze's jacket, scruffing her like a kitten and manhandling her towards the door.
"Vlad, if you please," the skeleton groaned, thinly veiled irritation bleeding through. The vampire paused at the threshold, dark eyes looking down at his fleshy burden.
"She's no longer a guest," Vlad sniffed. "Her welcome has long been revoked."
Kunze gave a dramatic hiss, hand flying to her side. King Jack instantly swooped in, removing the girl from the vampire's grip and chastising them both. Bezata, already outside in the cool moonlight, felt a strange mixture of amusement and exasperation as Kunze slyly made eye contact with Vlad, giving him a cheery wink that had the other's pale skin flushing.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The walk through Town wasn't as overwhelming as Ivy had anticipated - a few monsters gave solemn nods, their eyes looking over at the strange group. The moon was creeping further across the sky, the stars trailing gently behind, and Ivy took slow, measured steps, skateboard tucked under her arm, her chest twinging in a mixture of anticipation and dread. The Citizens were glowing less than they had been earlier, but Ivy still marveled at the way that muted colors ghosted along on the Wind, at the way the very air around them was bright with particles. Bezata unknowingly walked through a cloud of bright orange specks, which clung to her glasses and hair like pollen. The fabric of her clothing seemed much louder than normal, brushing against her newly-sensitive skin. She could smell Vlad's cologne, the dried blood on Bezata's elbows, the dust that fell off Jack's hands. Off in the distance, a bird flapped its wings, the sound traveling until it hit Ivy's eardrums.
And best of all, Jack's hand was still in her own, soaking in the seconds.
They left Town, Edgar croaking out a mournful "Farewell!" The cobblestone gave way to cold dirt, the bristles of dead grass brushing their shoes. Bezata's eyes kept flickering about, and Ivy sighed how alert both Vlad and Jack's aura's were. It seemed colder out here, the air more tense and ready to snap, far from the warm lanterns of Halloween. She looked over her shoulder at the Town, brightly lit up in warm orange and yellow tones. Some of the children gathered by the Gates, pressing their faces through the bars and waving. The ghost of Sally's last hug wrapped around her, the sweet-smelling hair brushing against her face. "Don't let the Doctor give you any shit, ok?" She said, as evenly as she could.
Sally, as always, had seen through her. "None that I won't give back." She'd cupped Ivy's cheek, the soft fabric of her skin soaking in the heat of Ivy's own. "Be well, my friend. Until we meet again, know you're as much a part of me as my own stitches."
Ivy'd snorted even as she blushed. "Don't get all sentimental on me, doll."
"Well," Sally had responded in a conspiratorial whisper, "I had to get it from someone."
Ivy felt a genuine smile creep onto her face at the memory. The scene of rot and pie was on the breeze, the night air wrapping around them, and the Town glowed. She stared as long as she could, determined to keep the mental image in her head.
"This is as far as you asked to go, yes?"
Vlad had paused, one hand still fixed to Bezata's shoulder, the human subconsciously leaning into it. Ivy turned away from the light of the Town, gazing instead into the dark tree line. It seemed to swallow any remaining light from the Town and sky, with only the whisper of branches scraping against each other being heard.
Ivy tried very hard not to look at the small gap between bushes that led the way to - to his cave.
"Keep your wits about you," Jack was warning. "You shouldn't run into trouble, but don't stop and speak to anybody you encounter. Just focus on finding your exit."
"You think you can find it?" Ivy asked, skepticism creeping into her tone.
"I'll have to." Bezata looked through the trees, setting her shoulders back.
Ivy chewed her lip, thoughtful, then snapped her fingers. "Hey! The Wind can help!"
Bezata raised an eyebrow, looking doubtful even as the first breeze began to waft around the group. "How?"
"The Wind knows where our entrance is," she explained. "Saw me fall out of it and probably you, too. Have him toss you in the right direction."
Bezata paled but nodded. "Uh - ok."
Jack glanced up at the moon, slowly creeping across the sky. "Bezata, I'd suggest you get started - you too, Ivy, start looking for that Gateway."
Bezata nodded, and Ivy cast a glance around them. Her jacket hung heavy around her, brushing against the sensitive skin of her Mark, and her skateboard rested heavily against her thigh. Reluctantly, she held it out to Bezata.
"You better haul this up with you," she said, swallowing back her pride. "It's my first time going through a Gateway by myself, there's no way that I can focus on making sure it won't dematerialize or something."
Bezata's jaw hung open, but the combinations of Ivy's glare and Vlad's sharp elbow jolted her into motion. She took the board, tucking it under her arms. Ivy almost managed to turn away, but threw a sharp finger in Bezata's direction.
"If there's even one scratch on my baby -"
"Ivy, focus." Jack took hold of her shoulders, forcefully steering her away from the other girl. "It's got scratches on it, anyway."
"Yeah, well, I'll know if it's a new one."
Bezata blinked and looked down at the board, a clear battle of whether or not to believe Ivy on her face. Vlad stepped forward, one thick eyebrow raised, and Bezata instantly straightened up, schooling her features to one of cool determination.
"Excellent," the vampire praised, patting her on the shoulder. Ivy rolled her eyes but Jack flicked her in the head, getting her to focus.
"I'll have to be a bit away so that the Gateway will form," Jack said, his face drooping but resolute. "I know you can do it."
"I should hope so," Ivy joked. "You've shown me how enough times."
Beside them, Vlad stood stiffly, his long-nailed hands still curled onto Bezata's shoulders. "Good luck getting back to the Human World." He glanced over at Ivy, his red eyes narrow. "Don't let this one - or any others - change how you present yourself, understood?"
Ivy bristled. "Hey now -"
"I will," Bezata interrupted with unusual confidence.
"Would you like me to remove your memories of this event?" He asked, somehow more serious than normal.
Bezata looked over to Ivy and Jack, her eyes trailing over the former. "Doch," she said after a long moment. "I think I would like to remember this. Blackmail, if nothing else."
"Oh, great," Ivy muttered. "She learned how to have an attitude."
"An excellent suggestion." Vlad said, ignoring Ivy completely. He gave her one final pat, then stood back and gave a curt bow to the other three. "Bezata. Ambassador. Majesty."
And, with a flap of his cloak, the vampire twisted into a bat, soaring off into the night.
Bezata watched him fly, a wonder to her eyes. She turned towards the other two, her expression open and earnest.
"You go first, then you'll pull me up." It wasn't quite a question, but Ivy answered all the same.
"I will. I'll make sure you get home. I know promises don't mean much from me, but -"
"You've never promised me anything," Bezata interrupted, yet again. "So… I think that it does. I believe that you will."
"Yeah, well." Ivy squirmed, oddly embarrassed. "You just do your part and make sure you're at the entrance in time."
Bezata nodded solemnly, then turned to Jack. "Thank you for your help, Your Highness."
"I've told you, just Jack." He smiled at her all the same, even as his sockets flickered nervously into the trees. "If you need any help in there, just give a shout, ok?"
"I will." She turned towards the Forest then paused, uncertainty in her tense shoulders.
Ivy huffed, stepping forward and nudging her forward. "C'mon, Princess. I'll see you on the other side."
With a final toss of her head, and Ivy's skateboard tucked under her arm, Bezata marched into the darkness of the trees and vanished, not noticing the bat that tracked her every movement from overhead.
Jack and Ivy were left alone.
A sudden weight seemed to descend upon the pair, the air pressure shifting around them. Ivy forced herself to swallow, eyes still fixed to the tree line, more from the inability to meet Jack's gaze than track the other girl.
"Ivy?"
"Gateway!" She gasped, shoving her hair away from her face. "Yeah, of course, next step, get the Gateway -"
She spun around, accidentally catching glimpse of Jack, who held -
"You did earn this," Jack said with a warm smile, one hand outstretched, something nestled in his palm. "Tenfold, I would think."
It was hard to swallow again, for a much different reason.
"Shut up," she choked out, even though Jack had fallen silent. "You're - ugh. What am I supposed to -"
"Take it, I'd think -"
"Shut up." She reached out and took the short, fat candle from Jack's palm: the same one that had sat hidden in the skeleton's pocket not two weeks ago, the symbol that she'd passed her first scare class. It was black with an orange wick, and dried ivy leaves wove their way around small sketches of bones. It sat heavily in her palm, the scent of smoke and cedar gently wafting upwards.
Her eyes burned. "Shut up."
"I didn't say anything," Jack said, amused. "Congratulations on making your first step towards being a proper Scarer."
Ivy harshly drew the sleeve of her jacket across her eyes and nose, forcing herself to look up and meet Jack's face. Surely it was impossible for bone to look so soft, but, like other impossible things, Jack seemed to pull it off effortlessly. "Yeah, well. Gotta take the next steps, right?"
"And I cannot wait to see them." Jack gave one of his grins that made Ivy's ribs clench, something so different from the eerie ones he'd turn to nosy Council members. She went to put the candle in her pocket, but her hands were shaking too much and it fell to the ground. She shook out her limbs in frustration, swooping down only for Jack to beat her to it. Kneeling on the ground, arm slung over his knee, he carefully tucked the candle into her pocket, giving it a secure pat.
"There now. Take good care of that - and of yourself."
Ivy raised her gaze to Jack's, her shoulders hunching as the knot in her throat returned. He was at rare eye level with her, head tilted as his sockets took in the shaking of her hands and stubborn mist in her eyes. She would never be sure which of them had moved first, but it didn't matter - all she knew was that Jack's arms were wrapped around her, her chin nestling perfectly in the groove of his shoulder. She bit her lip and pressed her face against his shirt, fingers bunching in the fabric as she shuddered. Jack shushed her gently, one hand cradling her head, the other smoothing along her shoulders.
"It's alright, love," he whispered. "You're alright."
Ivy gave a wet laugh - the only way she could trust herself to speak. "It's stupid," she sniffed. "I'm probably gonna see you again - " the Mark on her arm gave a twinge, as though in affirmation - "so I dunno why I'm all...y'know. This."
"Because it is hard," Jack said simply. "I'm -" his grasp tightened on her, just a fraction. "I can't cry," he said softly. "I almost envy you for that, but - but don't take my calm face to mean that I'm not grieving, too." He sighed shakily, tangling a finger in her hair. Ivy stayed silent, wondering if he could feel the hot tears drip from her face through the fabric of his coat. "I know I'll see you again, one way or another, but this -" another squeeze. "I'm still sad this is coming to an end."
Ivy nodded as much as she could, tucking herself closer as she whispered, "me too. Thanks for - for everything. For being my friend and a dad and - everything."
"Oh, Ivy." His thumb rubbed the back of her skull. "Thank you."
For a long moment they stayed like that, not bothering with the passage of time or the responsibilities that lay before them. Ivy's heartbeat thudded between them like a promise, and both tried to fight the fear that if they let go, it would never happen again.
At long last, Ivy drew back, though Jack's hands still fell to her shoulders. Before she could take a deeper breath, Jack's thumbs were moving under her eyes, gently wiping away the tears that still leaked out. Ivy saw the grief etched on Jack's face, too: the impossible, sorrowful tilt of his sockets and crease in his brow, the way his lanky frame sagged downward, how his shoulders slumped even as he attempted to put on a smile.
"You'll keep an eye out for Halloween and Gateways, yes?" His voice cracked slightly and Ivy swallowed, forcing a smile of her own.
"Yeah," she rasped. "Like I said, you guys aren't getting rid of me."
Jack shook his head, looking utterly fond. "You are...ridiculous." He pulled her head forward enough to plant a kiss to the top of her head, leaving Ivy to giggle. "I do love you, my dear."
"Love you too, Jack." She grasped his hand and squeezed. "Have for a while."
The Wind came back, lifting Ivy's hair and whispering a reminder in her ears as it froze the tear droplets clinging to her eyelashes. She straightened up, bizarrely looking down at Jack for a moment before he too stood, both hands settling on her shoulders once more.
"Wind says Bezata found the way out." She picked at the rope slung across her body, taking a few more deep breaths. "Guess it's my time to shine, huh?"
Jack laughed, turning her around and rubbing the pads of his thumbs against the top of her jacket before leaning down to whisper in her ear. "It's always that time, but if I could give a bit of advice: now that you have your new sight… I'd suggest looking for the Gateway with your eyes closed."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, despite knowing Jack couldn't see it. "How's that gonna make a difference?"
"Trust me, love."
Well. He had a point, there.
She stepped forward, letting Jack's hands fall from her person before closing her eyes and stifling a gasp. Even though her eyes were shut, she could somehow sense everything nearby - light was exploding behind her eyes, swirls of color as bright as a galaxy in the night sky. She held up her hands and marveled at the energy racing through them, all flesh and bone melted away for pure light to leak through. She heard Jack laugh softly behind her, the black energy wafting over and the taste of black licorice on her tongue.
"Focus, Ivy," he said warmly, and the new Citizen watched in wonder as his words floated around the dark world, before floating away into particles on the Wind, towards…
Hmm.
In the silence that came next, Ivy re-focused her efforts, feeling the edge of uncertainty that swirled in the air around her. Literally swirled, she realized, watching as all the energy around the small patch of grass seemed to be streaming towards one small spot, near the base of a tree. She crept forward, one hand flapping excitedly behind her to alert Jack.
The Gateway was hypnotic in the dark, somehow both colorful and empty at the same time. She let her eyes flutter open, taking note of the slight shimmer in the air, close to the ground. She knelt down, feeling static build up on her arms and head as she leaned close to it. The tree was barely visible through the Gateway, warped and faded. She let her hand ghost through the Gateway, pins and needles immediately shooting up through the limb, the Wind blowing gently on the other side. She retracted her hand, shaking it out, and swallowed hard. The exit lay before her, what she'd been trying to find for months. Another home was on the other side, all she had to do was lean forward…
She hesitated, then looked over her shoulder.
Jack stood there, a few paces back, his hands folded neatly behind his back. The moonlight shone down, making the bone of his head glow. The black energy that gently swirled around him faded into the black of the night, and his empty sockets were impossibly soft as he tilted his head and stared down at her. Her mouth opened and closed, a question in her eyes, for no words able to convey the emotions that spiraled inside her like a leaf on the Wind. For a long moment, they stared at each other, the future patiently waiting alongside them.
Jack gave her a small smile, then nodded.
She gave a grin of her own, turning back to the Gateway and squaring her shoulders. Then, with a deep breath and a twinge of her heart, Ivy leaned into the Gateway, letting the cold wind and whirling colors rearrange her molecules as she left the world of Halloween behind.
Two chapters left!
-Aria