Time passes much more quickly in Rohandor and many long and happy years have gone by since the characters retired to enjoy their respective 'happily ever afters,' their greatest foes were imprisoned in the Forever Stone, bound in an eternal sleep. Until Now.
Happily Ever Afters takes place in Rohandor, a mystical realm on another plane of existence from our own. Here our favorite Disney heroes and villains live in a world all their own; Alive, but far from well. Heroes and heroines fight to keep peace while newly freed villains seek their revenge. Come join us in an epic adventure as the characters you love clash in a struggle that will determine the fate of Rohandor!
HEA is an AU canon-only animated crossover Disney Play-By-Post Role Play with minimal word count.
HEA Staff
News and Updates
4/24/21: We've been on hiatus for a number of years now. I don't know that I'm entirely ready to return BUT I have been cleaning up the site and working to update everything since a number of movies have released. There is still A LOT of work to do but if you see this update and were an active member of the site prior to the hiatus, please send the Yen Sid account a DM to let me know you're still interested in playing and if you wish to retain your current roster. I hope you've all been doing well and staying safe!
Happily Ever Afters is a play-by-post forum role playing game based on the movies and television series of Disney and Pixar. It was created for recreational and entertainment purposes only and not intended to step on any toes, offend, or infringe. We did not create nor do we own the content from the Disney and Pixar stories and movies. None of the threads and writing on this forum is associated or affiliated with Disney/Pixar in any way. We do not make any money off of this site or its content. The icons used in the Forum Information & Statistics and those like it throughout the board as well as the BBC buttons and smileys were taken from a layout called Absolute Madness made by PookyTart from Userbar Depot. All of the other graphics used on this board were found, created, or otherwise edited by Yen Sid or Te Fiti. Please don't steal or use any graphic from this board without explicit permission. All storylines and plots used in the threads/topics were created by the staff and members of HEA and should not be copied or used on another board without permission.
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 13, 2017 21:43:51 GMT -5
Participating Characters:Sally , Jack Skellington Forum Location: Halloween Town Time of Day: an hour before dawn Weather: clear, starry Thread Location: Spiral Hill Premise: Jack has something to ask Sally
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin Song!
Halloween had come to an end. All the citizens of Halloween Town had gathered in the town square after returning from their night in Rohandor. Energy was high and everyone was congratulating one another on the year’s Halloween success. Everyone had worked so hard to make the night truly horrible and it had paid off. As usual, Jack was showered with complements and praise but he humbly waved this off, thanking everyone again.
The Mayor called everyone’s attention to begin giving out prizes and Jack breathed a small sigh of relief to have the attention drawn away from him. Other years he may have basked in the glory of his success a while longer, but tonight he had other plans and he was anxious to begin.
While Jack and Sally had mostly stayed together that night, they had become separated during the grand re-entrance into Halloween Town. Jack stepped up on the edge of the fountain now to look for her, his dark eye-sockets scanning the crowd. Finally he spotted her, his face lighting up with a smile, and swiftly made his way to her side.
“Sally…” He took her hand in his. “Will you join me for a walk through the Pumpkin Patch?”
He and Sally had met over the past two weeks to think up a few scares for her to try. They had practiced together and as a result Jack was positive Sally had won more scares that night than on any of her previous Halloweens. It was very likely the town would give her a prize or two for her improvement and Jack felt a moment of worry that she would choose to stay and watch instead of join him. If so, he would have to do a lot of quick thinking to keep his plans on track... or perhaps abandon them all together for another night.
Everything had to be perfect.
Jack waited, trying not to look as anxious as he felt.
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 14, 2017 9:30:09 GMT -5
After Sally was made by Doctor Finkelstein, she'd looked down from his laboratory on the festivities of Halloween night each year and desperately wanted to be part of it. She was a monster, after all; a spirit of the holiday, if a second generation one. Then, when Sally left the laboratory after Jack's attempt to borrow Christmas, she'd been able to, finally.
Creeping through Rohandor with the other townsfolk, earning scares and bringing Halloween to each doorstep had been a dream come true. Yet, Sally grew more and more doubtful of her contributions to the town-wide effort each year. That year, just a number of weeks before, Sally finally confessed her inhibitions to Jack and the two had worked together to refine a unique scaring method for her.
October Thirty-First came and, though deeply nervous at first, Sally came to find that her new approach was perfectly suited for her. She'd been so busy scaring mortals and enjoying herself that the night bled through her fingertips, until the throng of monsters and ghouls in the town's train completed their circuit and reentered the realm of Halloween Town.
Sally joined in the singing and final, theatrical close to their holiday, and for the first time the real thing made her former, laboratory daydreams pale in comparison. With a round of enthusiastic applause, their song finished. Sally watched Jack uncomfortably shrug off his adoring public with a tickled smile. Her attention was stolen when the Mayor began the traditional award ceremony.
She felt Jack's presence at her side and looked sideways at him. "You did terribly, Jack!" she said brightly. That's when she saw something odd about him. Some air or distinct attitude that didn't match up. Sally's brow raised in curiosity. Jack caught her hand and asked her if she would join him on a walk through the pumpkin patch. At once, Sally's desire to watch the awards being given evaporated.
"More than anything," she said in a quiet, earnest whisper. It sounded like the perfect ending to the night. Sally glanced around them, saw that all eyes were turned toward the Mayor, and slipped away from the crowds alongside Jack, bound for the nearest town gate and the pumpkin patch, graveyard and spiral hill beyond.
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 14, 2017 17:18:20 GMT -5
To Jack’s relief, Sally didn’t hesitate to accept his invitation. A bright, uncheck smile spread over Jack’s skull and he too glanced around at the other Halloween Town citizens. Once both skeleton and rag doll were sure they wouldn’t be noticed, both of them crept away.
To get to Spiral Hill, one had to walk through the graveyard. They strolled at a leisurely pace, side by side, hand in boney hand. The yellow halloween moon was full and low in the sky and covered the landscape in an eerie pale glow. The pumpkin patch, still a little ways ahead of them, was dotted with glowing jack-o-lantern smiles beneath the shadow of Spiral Hill.
“You were the stuff of nightmares tonight.” Jack smiled mischievously, remembering the screams and shrieks Sally had inspired. He turned his round head to look at her directly. “… Do you… still feel like you’re a poor scarer?” Jack asked this with a gentle honesty, genuinely wanting to know how Sally had liked Halloween now that they had prepared for it and practiced. He had been completely unaware that she had felt such trepidation about scaring before and now he wanted to be sure he was not misunderstanding her feelings again. Sometimes there was nothing better to do than ask directly.
… And this question was infinitely more easy to ask than the one that had been quietly ringing in the back of his mind since their first scaring lesson.
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 15, 2017 14:53:51 GMT -5
Down the lane that wound through Halloween Town's main gate they strolled, their inhumanly long limbs and each's peculiar stride somehow matching the other's perfectly; just like their hands, hers small and delicate, his long and spindly, matched despite all reason. Sally was still basking in the energy and contentment following a successful Halloween when Jack, as they passed through the graveyard, broke their silence.
Sally's eyes lit up at his praise, half-bashfully flattered, half-genuinely excited. She'd been curious if he would give her night's performance a review, as the Pumpkin King and also her scaring consultant. "Thank you, Jack. So were you," she tacked on a glowing, "as per usual," on the end. Sally squeezed his hand tighter in hers when she noticed he was looking down at her in question.
The ragdoll returned the glance. At Jack's question, Sally didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pursed her lips and faced forward, eyes playing over the mismatched gravestones while she turned her thoughts over in her head. "I feel like I really helped the Town bring Halloween to Rohandor," she said. Sally finally looked back at Jack and grinned. "Which is an incredible feeling! But I'm eager to keep improving."
Sally raised her brow at Jack. "So long as my tutor is still up for the job?" By now they had finished winding their way through the mounds of graves and had come to the very base of the spiral hill, which loomed high overhead. The stars lost behind a haze that only a full moon managed to radiate eerily through; the Jack-O-Lanterns leering up from the nearby pumpkin patch; the distant murmur of celebrations coming from the townsfolk in the square.
Everything was so right that Sally didn't ever want the sun to rise.
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 15, 2017 21:46:14 GMT -5
Jack could tell that Sally had really enjoyed herself this Halloween, perhaps for the first time. Her grin lit up her eyes and Jack felt his heart sing at the sight of her obvious happiness. He’d helped her find her confidence. From here, she would only become more terrifying. In a few years like this one and the humans would begin to create urban legends about her.
“It would be my pleasure.” Jack said this earnestly, laying his free skeleton hand over his chest as if swearing an oath. Thinking up new scaring strategies with Sally had been a welcome relief after a long day of holiday planning. Every evening Jack had looked forward to seeing her… and yet, even with that time set apart for one another, Jack had missed her during the day. It had been very difficult for the Pumpkin King to focus on the task at hand, especially with his head full of… well, plans that had brought him here, to the foot of Spiral Hill.
It was a beautiful night. If there had been snow on the ground, it would have been exactly like that night they’d first kissed after freeing Sandy Claws from Oogie Boogie. Jack again turned to look at Sally, at the way the moonlight fell over her face and made her eyes sparkle. She had a contented smile on her face that gave Jack courage. He cleared his throat and turned to face her fully before taking both of her hands in his.
“Sally… you are my dearest friend. I am always happiest… always my true self… when I am at your side. It is… unlike anything else I have ever known. Even the way Christmas made me feel pales in comparison to how I feel when I’m with you.” Jack hesitated now, watching Sally carefully, his expression open and hopeful and anxious all at once. Jack had felt so alone before meeting Sally, but she had always seemed to understand how he felt. Before he continued, he had to be sure she felt the same way about him.
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 16, 2017 9:17:49 GMT -5
She sighed in gentle satisfaction when Jack agreed to continue helping her refine her scaring. Sally had been so grateful for his help, not only because she needed it practically, but because by making time for her in his hectic pre-Halloween schedule they were able to see each other at least once a day.
The business at Sally's boutique combined with Jack's responsibilities leading up to the holiday as the Pumpkin King meant - before scheduling scaring lessons, that is - they were hard-pressed to find one another. Once or twice whole days had slipped through their fingers, and Sally had felt an ache stronger than she could describe.
Now that they were on the coarse, charcoal-colored grass of the Spiral Hill's base, Jack stopped and cleared his throat. This alone fixated Sally's attention on the skeleton. She knew many, if not all, of his mannerisms and habits (just as he probably knew hers). Clearing his throat, in present company without an audience, meant Jack was about to say something important or difficult, or both.
Jack turned, taking her hands in his and Sally stared up at him, expectant and encouraging. While he spoke, her insides fluttered and warmed and her expression unfurled into one of total empathy, adoration and passionate devotion. When he was finished, Sally stepped closer to him, gazing up into his eye sockets. "I feel the same. I was so lonely before that Christmas. I felt like there was half of me missing."
Sally tilted her head, drawing their clasped hands up against her chest. "But I found it." She had no idea what Jack was leading into, but his words were so beautiful, and so shared by her own soul that Sally was lost to the romantic spell of it all.
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 16, 2017 20:38:59 GMT -5
Sally stepped closer and lifted their hands up to her chest, never taking her eyes off Jack’s empty sockets. She spoke without hesitation, confidently confirming that she felt the same way. That banished the rest of Jack’s doubts (few as they were) from his mind and he knew that this was the right thing to do.
“After Halloween Town joined to the rest of Rohandor… I read every book I could find. There is very strange and powerful magics out there, Sally, but the most powerful is called True Love. It can break curses and heal lands and mend broken hearts. I kept coming back to it again and again, trying to understand it. I even looked for it when we traveled through the islands together. But I was wrong!” Jack shook his head, an excited smile on his face. “It wasn’t out there. It’s here.” He gave her hands a light squeeze. “Its us. Its that better-than-Christmas happiness I feel when I see you. Its the sadness I feel when we must part. You are my true love.”
Jack was still looking at her adoringly in the moonlight. He took a deep breath and stood a little taller.
“… In the stories… True Love leads to Happily Ever After. That’s… well, from what I can tell, that’s being together with your true love now and forever. We have all of time stretched out before us, Sally, and I want to spend it with you.”
Jack had thought about what he would say, over and over, and it had never been enough. He loved giving a good speech, but this wasn’t the same thing. Now that he was standing before her, trying to explain himself, the words he’d prepared flew from his mind. In the end, he just got to the point, the question itself.
“I am the Pumpkin King. And… I would be happy— forever after— if you would be my Queen.”
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 17, 2017 10:31:19 GMT -5
The air was charged, like how it got before Doctor Finkelstein called down lightning to power his experiments. Something momentous was about to happen, but Sally didn't realize it. She was too busy watching Jack, reading his skull and knowing that he had something extremely important to say. Sally was curious as to what and, seeing clearly that Jack was wrestling with something, wanted to offer comfort and encouragement instinctively.
Finally, he started to speak. Sally's brows furrowed while he began to explain. As he carried on, her expression furrowed. Her eyes widened and her lips pulled in a thoughtful smile. The concept of true love sounded wonderful and automatically Sally couldn't help but draw parallels between it and the two of them, standing there on the Spiral Hill.
That's when Jack explained where he had found this true love he was looking for: in them.
Sally felt suddenly lightheaded with happiness; her chest ached with longing for Jack, even though he was right in front of her. He brought up "Happily Ever After" and explained what it was and for the first time Sally had an idea of where he was headed. She couldn't breathe. Sally wanted to interject again to say that she felt exactly the same, but she couldn't find the words and Jack didn't seem finished.
After a break to collect himself, he spoke again. Sally's eyes shone with more light than ever before. She took a shallow breath. "Oh, Jack," she gasped, hardly more than a whisper. She beamed up at him, tears rimming her lashes. "There's nothing else I'd rather be." Sally couldn't control it anymore. She threw her arms around Jack's torso and leaned up for a kiss, hugging him more fiercely than ever before.
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 17, 2017 23:01:00 GMT -5
Jack kept both of Sally’s hands in his as they stood close together, his head bowed toward hers. For a moment his words seemed to hang in the air. The wind rustled the leaves at their feet and played with the red yarn of Sally’s hair. The jack-o-lanterns whispered to themselves. A queen! A pumpkin queeennnn!
Sally said his name so softly Jack might have misunderstood had he not been watching her lips form the word. Then, those lips became a radiant smile. That smile in itself was answer enough for Jack, and he felt himself smiling too. When Sally spoke again, Jack heard her clearly. He laughed happily, the sound of his voice echoing off the nearby tombstones. She threw her arms around him and he did the same, holding her close. When she rose up on her toes for a kiss, Jack threaded his boney fingers through her hair and kissed her with all his feeling— his love— behind it.
When the kiss ended, Jack didn’t bother to move away just yet, but kept his arms around her. There were more things Jack wanted to talk to her about— this celebration he’d read of called a Wedding, Sally moving in to his manor, how they would tell the citizens of Halloween Town, etc— but the moment was so perfect Jack couldn’t bring himself to end it quite yet.
He was still looking at her with this dreamy, contented look on his skull when suddenly he blinked and gave a small gasp. “I forgot something important.” Jack kept one arm around her while he moved the other long limb to reach into his coat pocket. He pulled out a small, black velvet bag.
Now, regrettably, he did have to let go of Sally. He needed both hands to do this properly. Releasing her, he pulled at the rope that held the bag closed and used one long white finger to draw forth a very small ring from within. It was silver with a black gem but it had been crafted in such a way that the stone was set around a pair of skeleton hands that appeared to be holding it in place. “I told Sandy Claws about this and… he said to do it right I needed a ring. His elves made it after my own design.” Jack gently took Sally’s hand in his and slipped the ring onto her small finger.
Now he looked back at her eyes. “It’s a human custom. From what I understand it means… well, that my heart belongs to you.” Jack smiled widely, hoping she would see the appeal in the human ring tradition that he had. Of course, if she didn’t like it, she didnt have to wear it. At this point they had been together long enough that Jack trusted she’d tell him how she truly felt, one way or another.
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 20, 2017 10:30:56 GMT -5
Their kiss was perhaps the most passionate they'd shared since their first, that Christmas night so long before. Sally was left lightheaded, and was grateful that Jack kept his arms around her because she may have lost her balance without the support. They drew away from one another, but only far enough that they could gaze into each other's eyes.
Suddenly, something dawned in Jack and widened his eye sockets, ending their haze of spellbound contentment. Sally watched questioningly while Jack stepped back and produced from his coat pocket a small, drawstring bag. Quite intrigued, and wondering what this important thing might be, Sally watched Jack pluck from the bag a small ring set with a black gem.
"A ring?" she repeated to him, when Jack said Sandy Claws told him he needed one for this moment. He took her hand and tenderly slid the ring into place where Sally admired it in heartfelt gratitude. "It's lovely." Jack continued, explaining the mortal custom and what it symbolized. When he had, her eyes widened and shone with more adoration.
Now it was her turn to appear as though she just realized something. Sally's face lit up with an idea and she went quickly to work, lips pursing with her fervor. From her pocket she pulled the spool of thread that she always kept there. Drawing out a length, she snipped it off with a small pair of shears. Her hands worked deftly while she lifted the shears up again and cut off a single, red lock of her hair.
Twisting and twirling and tying, in moments Sally had made a sturdy cord, primarily the dark hue of her threading, but highlighted by the single, bright scarlet strand of her hair. She bound it into a small circle and reached for Jack's hand. "And mine," she said, slipping the ring on Jack's finger, "belongs to you." Sally beamed up at him. She tilted her head and grinned. "I like this human custom."
Post by Jack Skellington on Nov 20, 2017 22:31:08 GMT -5
Sally seemed pleased by the ring custom. The black stone sparkled in the moonlight when she moved her hand. Jack took a breath, about to ramble off a list of other human customs they may want to consider, but the words died on his teeth as Sally began to pull thread from her socket. Jack tilted his head to the side, watching curiously. She had no visible tears— what did she need to sew?
She snipped off a piece of her hair and Jack couldn’t keep the surprise from his features. By the time he made up his mind to ask what she was doing, she was finished. She took his hand and slipped her own ring onto his skeletal finger.
“A ring!” Jack stretched out his long arm and admired it, wriggling his long fingers. The spiral of red was his favorite part— and so cleverly woven! Jack turned back to Sally and again pulled her close, kissing her happily. Jack had never considered that Sally would give her heart to anyone else, but now that she’d officially made the symbolic gesture, Jack was thrilled. “I will never take it off.”
Jack gestured up to the spiral hill. “Let’s watch the moon set.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and walked with her to the top of the hill. When they were both comfortably beside one another, Jack put his arm around her.
“Sandy Claws told me about a ceremony called a Wedding. Its to celebrate the exchanging of hearts.” Again Jack held out his hand and looked at the ring she had made. Lowering it to his lap, he turned his head to look past Sally toward the town. “We could invite the entire town. I'm sure once I explain to them they'll be eager to help."
For it is plain as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
Post by Sally on Nov 29, 2017 9:20:35 GMT -5
Jack seemed taken aback at first by her gift, but quickly traded that for delight. Sally was glad. She knew that her ring was much more hastily managed and simple than the one he had given her. Still, Sally thought that the fact it was made of the same substance that held her together was a romantic thought.
Sally began to say something - to tell him that she would never take her ring off, either - when Jack's long arms swept her up and toward him. She felt breathless while he craned his skull down and they shared another kiss; joyful beyond imagining, but no less passionate than their more tender one previously.
When Jack drew away, he gestured to the spiral hill, looming steeply beside them. "I'd like that," she answered in a soft voice when he suggested they watch the moon set. Sally strode in a daze of gladness up the hill beside Jack, arm-in-arm with him. When they reached the top, Sally rested her head on him and couldn't shake the small smile fixed on her lips.
Jack then spoke of other customs that Sandy Claws had spoken off, particularly a wedding. Sally wasn't quite as extroverted as Jack. She enjoyed being part of Halloween and exciting events like it, but what Jack talked about made it very clear that all attention would be fixated on them. Sally reflected and decided that that was the most worthy reason to suffer the spotlight - to celebrate her love for Jack.
Sighing contentedly, she lay her hand atop the one that Jack rested in his lap. "Tell me more about this "wedding" custom..."
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Welcome to Happily Ever Afters!
Tony Dracon: Responded to your PM, Kat/Ratigan, incidentally.
Jun 27, 2018 20:25:02 GMT -5
David Xanatos: Kat's back. Hope the vacation was fun.
Jul 21, 2018 21:00:05 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: 'Twas a good trip! I'm sad it's over, but at the same time I'm glad to be back home so I can finish up my cosplays for a con next month and hang out with my cats
Jul 26, 2018 12:34:56 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Hope the cosplay goes well. I'm putting away a little extra for a con in a few weeks. and yay cats, they're always good company. Except for that one who slaps me unprovoked XD. So what cosplays do you have in mind unless they're secret?
Jul 26, 2018 17:07:41 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I'm cosplaying Pearl from Steven Universe and Joseph Joestar from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure!
Jul 26, 2018 23:16:41 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I'm almost done both of them, I just have to finish styling Pearl's wig and fix up Joseph's gloves and wristbands
Jul 26, 2018 23:17:31 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Awesome. Had to look up Jojo because I'm not hip with the modern pop culture but I hope they turn out well.
Jul 30, 2018 15:33:15 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I only just started watching the anime last year and I haven't even touched the manga, so I'm barely hip with it lol. fortunately I have my cosplay buddy guiding me through the whole experience
Jul 30, 2018 22:29:38 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: also I finally finished the gloves! They were more of a pain to work with than I expected, but they'll hold together... I hope...
Jul 30, 2018 22:30:13 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Niceness. Hoping they hold also. Got the Dublin comic con next Saturday here. Hoping to meet Karl Urban.
Aug 1, 2018 19:05:32 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: Cool! I think he's coming to my city in the fall, if I remember correctly. Hope you enjoy the con, Daryl!
Aug 2, 2018 19:10:23 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: I spoke too soon. Karl Urban had to cancel for schedule conflicts. They got Nick Frost though, I'm gonna ask him if he'll sign my Hot Fuzz.
Aug 3, 2018 18:08:47 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: Dang! Nick Frost is great though, I love his character in Into the Badlands
Aug 4, 2018 22:54:36 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Enjoy your weekend Kat, hope the costumes came out as you wanted.
Aug 10, 2018 16:49:31 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Met Nick Frost and Michael Dorn at the weekend. Both very nice blokes.
Aug 13, 2018 15:22:59 GMT -5
Dodger: Happy 2019 everyone
Jan 1, 2019 10:54:04 GMT -5
Yen Sid: If anyone is passing by I posted a Hiatus update. Hope everyone is doing well!
Apr 18, 2021 11:31:09 GMT -5
Yen Sid: I've temporarily disabled account creation while I update the site. Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for your patience!
May 9, 2021 18:31:45 GMT -5
Owen Burnett/Puck: Checked the site again and saw the update! Here's hoping to a revitalized 2022.
Dec 15, 2021 14:41:27 GMT -5