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Famous Mari Mancusi Quotes

“Where have you been?" I asked weakly. A few minutes ago I would have rather died than questioned him. Let him know I care. But I'm too sick to be strong, kick ass Rayne at the moment. "Vegas" he says. I raise an eyebrows. "Uh, okay. Win anything?" I can't believe he was off gambling as I lay dying. I mean, I know poker is hot and all, but couldn't he have waited a couple of days for that straight flush? "I got what I went for, if that's what you mean." "What, a lap dance?" He chuckes. "Even sick, you're still funny, Rayne.”

DyingVegasRayneBlood CovenJareth
Book:Stake That
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“She brought the hot chocolate slowly to her lips, breathing on it to cool it down before taking a sip. She sighed dreamily as the thick chocolate slid down her throat, sweet and delicious. "Yum," she said. "Try it again, Jack. You're going to like it." Jack did as he was told, this time taking a much smaller sip. His mouth curled to a grin as he set the cup back down. "Well, that's pretty good," he admitted. "It's like someone took a pile of Halloween candy and melted it down, then added milk." He sniffed the cup. "Thought it'd be better if they used the expired kind. Then we might get some actual curdles." He took another sip, managing to get a blob of whipped cream stuck in his fake beard. Sally giggled, then grabbed the rag to blot his face. "You're a mess," she teased. And he smiled back at her. "I know," he said. "But you love me anyway, right?" Sally felt her cheeks go red and she quickly grabbed her mug again, bringing it to her face to hide it. She knew Jack was just being silly. But the way he was smiling at her--- as if, in that very moment, she was the only other person in the world--- well, it felt far too lovely.”

RomanticHot ChocolateSally And Jack
Book:Sally's Lament
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“This is why I needed you to come with me. Imagine if I had discovered this place all by myself. Who knows how much damage I'd have managed to do?" "I can't even imagine," Sally said. "Good thing you have me to keep you in line." "Good thing indeed," Jack said, reaching across the table and placing his hand over hers. His expression turned serious and when he met her eyes with his own, Sally's breath hitched. "Thank you for bringing me here," he said softly. "This was exactly what I needed." Sally nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She couldn't believe she'd almost chickened out and stayed behind. Missed out on this special day with Jack. Seeing the light in his eyes. Hearing the joy in his voice. Just the two of them together. No one knew where they were. No one knew what they were doing. And the only thing that mattered was that they were doing it together. Maybe she needed to face her fears more often...”

RomanticIndependenceSally And Jack
Book:Sally's Lament
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“She knew it too well, that terrible empty feeling that stemmed from loneliness. That desperate desire to be close to something--- someone. Someone who understood you. Someone who allowed you to be yourself without any strings attached. Perhaps, all along, it hadn't been freedom or adventure they'd truly craved that night in the graveyard, she thought suddenly. Perhaps it had been connection. She looked up, realizing Jack's face was near hers. He gave her a timid smile, reaching out to brush a lock of yarn from her eyes. Sally felt her leaves swirl, and her first instinct was to jerk away, laugh, break from the moment and make it all a joke. But no. That was the coward's way out. She needed to face her fears. To be the Sally she so desperately wanted to be. The Sally she saw reflected in Jack's dark eyes. "Jack..." she whispered. His name felt like a prayer on her lips. "Oh, Jack." "Sally..." Jack closed his eyes. Tilted his head. Began to lean closer.”

RomanticConnectedSallySally And Jack
Book:Sally's Lament
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“After stepping out of bed, she got dressed, slipping on her new patchwork dress and enjoying the feel of the soft cotton against her cloth skin. She'd sewed it together out of fabric she'd found in the dumpster--- the remnants of old and discarded costumes--- and was pretty proud of how it had come out. Christmas clothing was cute and all, but Abigail had been right--- it was extremely itchy. Not to mention a little boring. No dress should be limited to just one pattern or color, she thought with a smile. Which was why her new shop's name was so perfect: Patterns and Potions by Sally.”

SallyPatchworkIndependent WomanRagdollDress Shop
Book:Sally's Lament
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“We could try something else..." she suggested, not wanting to bruise his ego along with his backside. But Jack only shook his head, his dark eyes glistening. "Are you kidding?" he cried. "I'm not letting some silly ice skates defeat me!" Of course you won't, Sally thought fondly, watching him scramble to his feet again, wobbling a bit but somehow managing to stay upright this time. Jack didn't let anything defeat him. It was one of the things she'd always admired about him.”

DeterminedResoluteJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“But first I have to sew my leg back on. Properly this time, so it doesn't come apart again." She reached for her leg, her hands still shaking from residual adrenaline after their near escape. She hoped she'd be able to thread her needle. Jack placed a hand over her arm. "Allow me," he said, and Sally's eyes widened as he carefully aligned her lower leg with the stub of her knee. "I can do that---" she started. But Jack put a finger to her lips. "I know you can," he said, meeting her eyes with his own. "But right now your hands are still trembling from trying to help me up and I don't want you to hurt yourself. So why don't you just rest for a second? Allow me to make myself useful for once." He wagged a playful finger at her. "You don't get to save the day every time, you know." Sally tried to laugh, but it came out more like a choke as grateful tears began to well in her eyes. A part of her still wanted to argue, to insist she could do it herself. But then, Jack already knew that, didn't he? Even in the darkness she could see his confidence in her, reflected in his dark eyes. Sally had always hated when Dr. Finkelstein had sewed her back together. It made her feel weak. Helpless. Yet another thing he didn't trust her to do on her own. Another way to retain control. But Jack wasn't trying to control her, she realized. He was trying to help her. And wasn't it nice, sometimes, to lean on another? To trust that someone cared enough to do the job right?”

HelpfulSally And JackJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“Oh, Jack," she whispered, leaning longingly against the gravestone. "I know how you feel." Suddenly there was a shift beneath her--- the gravestone crumbling under her added weight. She cried out in surprise, trying to move, but only managed to lose her balance in the process. She was flung from her hiding spot, tumbling forward into a wide-open space. And when she managed to look up again? She found herself staring straight into the eyes of Jack Skellington.”

Gothic RomanceSally And JackJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“So you really think these all represent different holiday lands?" he asked, pulling open the door with the large bird on it. "What do you think this one could be?" "A holiday to honor turkeys?" Sally guessed. Though somehow that didn't sound quite right. "Maybe," Jack mused. "But why would anyone want to honor a turkey? They're such dumb birds. Really, the only good thing to do is eat them." He closed the door, then headed over to the tree with the heart on it. "This one's probably Dissection Town," he decided. "They spend all year long harvesting organs, and one day a year they gather together to eat them." Sally made a face. "Or maybe it's Love Town?" she suggested. "And their holiday is filled with lots of romantic proclamations?" Jack looked disappointed by this idea. He moved on to the tree with the four-leafed plant. "Garden Town," he pronounced. "They're completely vegetarian. And they hate turkeys with a passion.”

ThanksgivingDifferent WorldsAssumptionsValentines DayUnawareSt Patrick S DaySally And JackJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“After all, I'm Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King. And you're Scary Sally, the doll who can single-handedly frighten away an entire town just by using her head." He bared his teeth menacingly. "They have no idea who they're dealing with." A chill spun down Sally's back as she caught the fierce look on Jack's face. It was the kind of swagger he usually reserved for Halloween night, and she had always been enthralled by it. That confidence! That conviction! That look that told her he seriously believed he could achieve anything--- if he just put his mind to it. And maybe Sally could, too.”

Sally And JackJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“Did I hurt you?" he asked worriedly. She shook her head wordlessly. It did hurt a little, of course--- it always did. But so much less than when Dr. Finkelstein would carelessly jab his needle into her cloth, without caring how she was feeling or even if his stitches would hold for the long haul. But Jack was different. Meticulous. Gentle. And instead of feeling uncomfortable, she felt a strange warmth settle in her stomach.Soon Jack finished, giving her a shy smile as he tied off the last stitch. And from the look on his face, she realized he'd felt something, too. Maybe it wasn't exactly the same. Maybe not as strong. But something. Which made her feel even warmer.”

ThoughtfulSally And JackJack Skellington
Book:Sally's Lament
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“She didn't know where these visions came from or why they would come. Perhaps it was a side effect of whatever process Dr. Finkelstein had used to bring her to life. Or maybe the old brain he'd stuffed in her head had been psychic when it belonged to its person. Or maybe it was just a rag doll thing; she had no other doll friends to compare to, so she couldn't be sure. But while she didn't know why the visions came and she couldn't predict when they would come, she was sure of one thing. They were usually trying to tell her something. Something important. And she needed to pay attention.”

SallyPremonitionsRag Doll
Book:Sally's Lament
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“The town seemed to be full of oddities. Like the garden of strange snow statues, carved to look like little round men with jaunty black hats and carrots for their noses. And the leafy green bouquets with white berries tied up in bows hanging over archways all around town, often with two people smooching beneath them, as if the leaves were sprinkled with some kind of love potion. And then there was the large rotating contraption of wooden animals spinning round and round as jaunty music played from a hidden speaker. Even stranger, several children were riding on these animals, squealing in delight as they spun. Looks like fun, Sally couldn't help thinking.”

ChristmasSallyTownMistletoeDifferent WorldCarouselSnowmen
Book:Sally's Lament
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“And then there were their dresses. Fancy cotton confections of candy-colored frills and bows, with puffed sleeves and ribbon sashes. Sally had never seen such dresses before, and for a moment, she felt a little inadequate when she gazed down at her own homemade ensemble, rather plain in comparison. But then, she'd made this dress herself, she thought. And who was to say she couldn't make one of theirs, too, if she just gave it a try? In fact, if she could find the right material, she was almost positive she could re-create one of these ensembles back in Halloween Town, adding her own special Sally touches, of course. For example, their sashes were practically screaming to be replaced by proper spiderwebs. And a few slashes with a serrated knife would give the puffed sleeves a lovely shredded flair. Her mouth curled as she imagined herself walking past the fountain in her hometown square, sashaying in a swish of silk and spiders. Halloween Town wouldn't know what hit them! And what if, her mind whirred, others wanted a dress like this, too? She could take orders. Charge money. Maybe even eventually open her own shop. Support herself so she would no longer be reliant on Dr. Finkelstein. She gasped at the idea. This could change everything! Feeling almost giddy, she studied the dolls' dresses, taking the time to memorize every detail while happily munching on her sugarplums. Christmas Town was truly amazing, she decided. Even if it was very different from home. And while she'd always be a fan of the grim and gruesome, she saw now that fun and festive was actually pretty great, too.”

AmbitionCreative ThinkingSallyRagdollDress Making
Book:Sally's Lament
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“In the meantime, you should head home. People have seen you with us now. And if we go down, I don't want to take you with us." Tammy looked at her for a moment, then gave a grudging snort. "You're a brave toy," she said. "I'll give you that." She paused, then added, "Just be careful, all right? A lot of people underestimate Christmas Town. But nightmares can lie in the dreamiest of places." "Well, that's good," Sally declared, flashing Jack a look. "Because it just so happens we have a lot of experience with nightmares.”

HeroineSallyRagdoll
Book:Sally's Lament
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“She leaned toward the door, breathing in deeply, rejoicing in the moldy scent of death and decay that lingered on the other side. Ah, home, she thought as she dove headfirst into the abyss. After tumbling through blackness, she arrived just like before, this time plopping down in a nice thick pile of fallen leaves. She laughed in delight as she rolled in the pile for a moment, enjoying the feeling of fall tickling her cloth skin.”

SallyHome Sweet HomeHalloween Town
Book:Sally's Lament
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