skeleton_king | (no subject)

In the back garden there is the sound of sleigh bells... though they seem to be ringing a little flat.

There is a mighty BANG, and the next moment a burning sleigh with skeleton reindeer crashes down into the garden, scattering presents around, and throwing a skeleton figure in a singed red Santa costume out onto the ground. The reindeer shatter into pieces.

For a moment, the figure looks dazed, unconscious even. A ghostly dog returns Jack's jawbone to him, and then Jack slowly gets to his feet.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas - Poor Jack (Lyrics)" (Watch on YouTube)

"What have I done?
What have I done?
How could I be so blind?
All is lost, where was I?
Spoiled all, spoiled all
Everything's gone all wrong

What have I done?
What have I done?
Find a deep cave to hide in
In a million years they'll find me
Only dust and a plaque
That reads, 'Here Lies Poor Old Jack"

But I never intended all this madness, never
And nobody really understood, well how could they?
That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?

Well, what the heck, I went to do my best
And, by god, I really tasted something swell
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did!

And for the first time since I can't remember when
I felt just like my old bony self again
And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King
That's right! I am the Pumpkin King!

And I just can't wait until next Halloween
'Cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream
And, by God, I'm really gonna give it all my might
Uh oh, I hope there's still time to set things right..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

skeleton_king

"Your one escaped. He hasn't made it back?" Jack says.

He can keep the farting teddy, it doesn't even smell too bad.

"You were right, it was my people, but even I still don't understand why. They have the one from Christmas Town safe, there was no reason to take another, let alone ransom him. Perhaps we could chalk it up to some bizarre admin error?"

From:

the_gene_genie

'Perhaps we bloody couldn't.'

His voice takes on a distinct tone of ire.

'Are you tryin' to tell me that not only did you bloody kidnap Santa, now you've lost him?'

From:

skeleton_king

"I authorised the kidnap of a different Santa, not yours." Jack says.

He sighs and shakes his head.

"I know I should have gone and checked on them sooner after they brought that Easter Bunny in, but it never occurred to me that they'd take a second Santa. Perhaps they simply wanted your most delicious Christmas foods so much..."

The ghost dog floats around to sniff Gene, wagging its' translucent tail.

"I never intended to harm anyone here." Jack continues. "I just wanted to bring them Christmas myself. I tested out the presents; they had such fun with the pox, that I couldn't quite bring myself to own up at the time."

From:

the_gene_genie

'So that bloody was you.'

He knew it. This is what happens when people have to sod around with evidence. If he'd just nicked him then, none of hte rest of this mess would've happened.

He pulls deeply on his cigarette, glaring at the skeleton and waving the ghost dog away.

'If you think people enjoyed that pox, you're bloody deranged. Now tell me - where is he? He's not here. If he's not wherever you're from, where else is left?'

From:

skeleton_king

"I asked a little man, he said it was fun." Jack says.

He sighs. And thinks.

"It doesn't add up. Lock, Shock and Barrel took the first one. Why take another? Why leave a signature, the shadow on the moon? Showing off? But then why ransom the spare?"

He leans against the burning wreck of his sleigh.

From:

the_gene_genie

Gene is confused, though is careful to make sure none of this shows on his face. Jack isn't behaving like criminals usually do. He seems almost as much in the dark as everyone else.

But that doesn't change what's happened already.

'Not my problem, mate. You-' he points at him, all business now, because this conversation is better held right next to the nice cell he'll be locked into for a while, '-need to come along with me.'

From:

skeleton_king

"For goodness sake, hush, let me think!" Jack says, waving a hand at him.

From:

the_gene_genie

The scowl is instantaneous, and he tosses his fag away.

'You what?'

From:

skeleton_king

"You do bang on so, just give me a moment." Jack says.

His gaze falls on a bug, scuttling across the ground.

A big, googly-eyed bug.

The type of bug that doesn't belong here at all...

From:

the_gene_genie

Gene's fury is rising, but he reminds himself that he hasn't yet found out where Santa is. And that's pertinent, given how close Christmas is.

His gaze follows Jack's, and his scowl deepens. He bends, and scoops the thing up.

'Been a lot of these around lately. Anythin' to do with you? Keep in mind that if you try sayin' 'no' again, I'll break your fingers off.'

From:

skeleton_king

The hollow eyes turn to stare at Gene, then a bony hand reaches out in a flash to grab Gene's around the wrist of the hand holding the bug.

"Do not make threats to the Pumpkin King.

"How long have these bugs been here?" He asks urgently.

From:

the_gene_genie

Gene just stares back at him, utterly impassive.

'Hands off, Skinless Wonder 'less you want an extra few days on your cell time.'

He'll be damned if he's going to back down from a walking pile of bones.

He opens his hand, and lets the bug drop.

'Couple of weeks. A month. Why's it important?'

From:

skeleton_king

Jack stands, not letting go of the arm.

"We're not looking for one of mine." he says. "These bugs are part of a dangerous creature called Oogie Boogie. He is from my world, but he is a holiday figure, like myself, and Santy Claws. He must have overheard Lock, Shock and Barrel.

"Your Santy Claws is in grave danger indeed."

From:

the_gene_genie

...finally they're getting somewhere.

It's a shame that the satisfaction of that is muted by the fact that Jack has not let go of his arm.

'Good. Great. Where is he, an' how do we get him?'

He puts his free hand over the bones clasped over his wrist.

'Last chance, Fatso.'

From:

skeleton_king

The other hand shoots out and grabs Gene by the throat. Not enough to actually damage him, more to make a point.

"I told you, do not insult the Pumpkin King. I am not going in your cells. I am your only hope, foolish swearing human Gene Hunt, so stop calling me names and listen."

From:

the_gene_genie

Listen, with a hand around his throat?

Gene's face screws up; he grips at the second joint of Jack's fourth finger, and twists>/i>.

From:

skeleton_king

"Ow."

The skeleton lets go, though he appears more surprised than hurt. He yoinks back the finger.

"Mine. Come, we have to go."

From:

the_gene_genie

'Where?'

He gets the distinct impression he's not in charge of this arrest, and there's not much that bugs him more than that.

From:

skeleton_king

"Into the forest." Jack says. "And preferably wih a search party. The number of doors to my world has been increasing, and Oogie may well decide Santa isn't worth keeping if Christmas day dawns and he hasn't done anything of interest, and he may then decide to eat him. Aside from the indignity of you arresting me, the Pumpkin king, you won't be able to get your Santa back without me."

He looks back at him.

"Allow me to help put this right?"

From:

the_gene_genie

Gene looks at him for a long time. On the one hand, he doesn't trust him as far as he can throw him. On the other, he knows he's in over his head - bastards with shotguns are what he understands, not monsters and bugs, and boogeymen on the moon.

And he always goes on instinct...which is telling him that Jack's surprise at this other monster showing up was genuine, and he really didn't plan on kidnapping the bar Santa. That doesn't excuse the other shit he's done.

'Yeah, you can put it right. But you're still doin' time once it's over. You need to be clear on that.'

From:

skeleton_king

Jack halts for a second.

"I will take responsibility for my actions." he says.

A pause, and then.

"Providing you arrest me in private, I will come quietly. If you do it in public, I must uphold my reputation for being fearsome, if my monsters have access to this place."

He looks at Gene with what would be eye contact, if his eyes worked that way.

"Anyone can be a monster. The growling woman. The blue-haired mutant. The doctor who smells of death. But my monsters, they are largely stupid.

"Anyone can be a monster. Only a few can lead them. And I may have led them foolishly, dreaming of bringing them Christmas for the first time, selfishly wanting that glory for myself... but you must realise I never intended to hurt anyone."

He looks down at the presents, broken on the ground.

"If my monsters do not think of me as scary, they will not follow me as king. They will end up in the hands of someone like Oogie, and then there is no telling what lengths they will go to. They might start killing, even eating people, like Oogie does. I cannot allow that to happen to Milliways, or the Real World at home. I must remain scary. Do you understand?"

From:

the_gene_genie

Gene, possibly to his credit, does not laugh. He just looks at him.

'Well, that depends. See, I'm not usually in the habit of makin' deals with criminals when I've got 'em bangs to rights.'

On the other hand, Santa is still missing.

And on the other other hand, there is no one who understands the power of reputation more than Gene Hunt.

'...yeah. All right then. No public arrest. You'll get a couple of weeks, and you won't object. I'll do it when no one's lookin'.'

From:

skeleton_king

Jack bows.

"Thank you." he says.

"We should gather people quickly."

From:

the_gene_genie

He nods, sharp now.

'We'll ask back at the bar. There's always people in this place who'll go for stuff like this.'

He sticks his hands in his pockets, and starts to saunter back towards the building. It never sits quite right with him, trusting a bastard to just submit to arrest when the job's done. But there isn't much choice here - and anyway, he believes the bloke, and Gene always goes with his instinct.