(no subject)

[skeleton_king]

At the end of the battle, Jack steps on the final bug.

His nemesis is defeated. Probably not permanently, if enough bits of him regrouped.

He wanders away from the scene, away from the crowd, turning back to watch Chris. The man in red, at his greatest level of power, now that Christmas Eve has arrived and the twelve days of Christmas are beginning. He watches as Chris retrieves his reindeer, and then with a smart nod of thanks, departs for the front door.

As Jack leaves the forest, he looks up into the sky, hearing the sound of sleigh bells, and by the magic of time, seeing the lobster man fly across the sky.

As he does, a sprinkling of snow starts to fall on him.

"What's this? What's this?
Is this a happy end?
What's this?
Result I can defend?
What's this?
Must be a Christmas game!
What's this?
It's really very strange..."

Comments

[the_gene_genie]

Gene stands and watches and then, when the skeleton has finished singing, walks over. he says nothing for a time, just snaps his Zippo shut as he lights a fag.


'All done then.'

[skeleton_king]

Jack turns to him.

"My newest friend, if you don't mind,
I will now join you by your side,
Where I will come to meet my fate
And just be glad we
Could work so freely
And save your man, before it was too late
Your people, they were great."

He walks back towards Gene.

"May I tell you one more secret, Gene Hunt?"

[the_gene_genie]

He privately thinks friend is pushing it a bit, but only nods.

'Yeah, if you like.'

[skeleton_king]

Jack catches a snowflake, gently.

"I don't enjoy being a king."

He stares at the snowflake.

"I am sorry I grabbed you for calling me names. It is merely necessary for me to look frightening; I would not have hurt you."

[the_gene_genie]

'Oh yeah, bein' a king must be awful.'

The sarcasm is not veiled, though he doesn't try to emphasise it because he doesn't think he needs to. He waves off the apology.

'Why don' you stop doing it, then?'

[skeleton_king]

Jack laughs.

"It is not like your kings and queens, in their pomp and luxury. I live in an ordinary house and spend every day trying to organise hundreds of people, the vast majority of whom have the intelligence of a pigeon, and who know nothing other than making preparations for Halloween.

"I can't stop for the reason I gave you earlier; there is nobody qualified to take my place that isn't a good deal more evil than I. That's why I tried to be Santa as well this year. I was tired, and so terribly bored."

[the_gene_genie]

He is supremely unsympathetic to this sort of complaining, to be honest.

'Yeah, me an' all. Though instead of making stuff for Halloween, I've got 'em making a dog's dinner of every investigation on the books.'

Which is perhaps a little harsh, but there are days Gene really doesn't feel kindly disposed towards Chris at all.

'Train someone up, if you don' like it. Choose who to pass it on to. Boredom's not an excuse for doin' what you've done.'

[skeleton_king]

"I'm not giving it as an excuse." Jack says. "The second part of my secret was the pertinent part: I didn't want you having nightmares that I might have broken your neck. I wouldn't have."

[the_gene_genie]

Gene lets out a low chuckle.

'I've been threatened by worse than you, mate. By people who would 'ave.'

No nightmares for Gene. Not about stuff like this. He sucks deeply on his cigarette, and then tosses it away, mostly un-smoked.

'Come on, then. Two weeks, like we agreed.'

[skeleton_king]

Jack chuckles in return.

"I bet you won. Good job on the dislocation, by the way."

He follows him, without complaint.

[the_gene_genie]

'Always.'

He tilts his head in recognition of the compliment - he's not usually so modest, but there's no one around to show off to - and leads the way to the cells.

He might not approve of anything Jack's done, but he appreciates the way he's taking responsibility now. If only everyone did that....he'd be bored as hell, but in theory it's a nice idea.

'Good job on finishin' Bugman off.'

[skeleton_king]

"Thank you." Jack says. "I'm afraid it's not impossible that he might regroup - if we didn't get every single bug, which I doubt, it would only take one to start rebuilding. But I think he will think twice before he decides to steal and try to eat one of your people again."

He follows Gene to the office.

"Is there anything else you need to know, for paperwork? Do I have to sign a formal confession?"

[the_gene_genie]

'Well, we know what to look for now. It's all we need, pretty much. An' it's not like those bugs aren't obvious if they show up again.'

He puts a hand to one of the cells, which opens up soundlessly.

'Nothin' to sign. I'll write a note for the rest of Security, that's all. Baby'll give you what you need.'

Do skeletons eat, for example? He's not about to ask.

[skeleton_king]

Jack stares at the cell for a moment.

It suddenly occurs to him that everything he worked for, and hoped for, really has gone. He'll be missing Christmas in this box.

But he steps into it without complaint.

If Gene doesn't want him to sit there singing for the next two weeks, better give him something to do.

[the_gene_genie]

Alas, Gene does not do entertainment. He just closes the cell up.

;You want a note put up in the bar, so your mates know where you are?'

[skeleton_king]

Jack considers.

"Yes, please." he says.

Beat.

"I am not sure I have any mates, but then there is nothing to lose."

He sits down on the bunk, bending his bony legs.

"What can 'baby' give me?" he asks.

[the_gene_genie]

He shrugs. He feels a bit for Jack - not in a girly way - but his lack of friends is hardly his problem. Maybe he'll come down and see him in a few days.

'Stuff to read. Food, if you eat. Towels if you need to wash. I dunno, I've never been locked up here. Pack of cards, if you like playin' patience? Just ask an' see if you get it. There's no way for you to get out, so there's not much reason for her to say no to stuff.'

[skeleton_king]

Jack nods.

Most of those, he doesn't need. He doesn't know how to play patience. But he has an idea.

"I do not plan to escape. How long will you be keeping me here?"

[the_gene_genie]

'Two weeks, like I said.'

From his tone, he thinks this is rather generous.

'It's not like you pushed someone around, or chucked a drink at 'em.'

[skeleton_king]

"I see."

Jack nods.

"Thank you, Gene Hunt. Merry Christmas."

[the_gene_genie]

He snorts quietly, and turns away.

'Yeah. Merry Christmas.'

As he walks away, he thinks maybe he won't enforce the full two weeks.

Y;know. As it's Christmas.

[skeleton_king]

After he walks off, Jack looks up.

"Baby? Black and white paper and scissors, please."

Baby provides these, and he snips carefully, catching the bits safely so as not to make a mess.


"They said there'd be snow at Christmas,
They said there'd be peace on Earth,
But instead monsters needed training
Making presents for all they're worth
But we never saw Christmas morning
Its winter's light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
Just a sleigh crashing down, set on fire.

I sold them a dream of Christmas
I sold them a silent night
And I told them a fairy story
And the tale of the Israelite
And they believed I'd be Father Christmas
They looked to the sky with excited eyes
'Til from skies I was torn and they were so forlorn
As they saw what they thought my demise."

He starts to hang black and white paper chains around the cell.

"I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain and sadness,
Leave your heart and let your road be clear.
They said there'd be snow at Christmas
They said there'd be peace on Earth
Halleluiah Noel, be it heaven or hell..."

He sprinkles his paper snowflakes on the floor...

"The Christmas we get, we deserve."