(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

[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."