David Rose (ewwwdavid) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2021-10-24 19:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !complete, !completed gdoc, !log, [portal] nightmare before xmas, david rose (ewwwdavid), ~2021 october, ~~loki laufeyson (punygod) |
Who: David Rose and Loki Laufeyson
What: Killing Oogie Boogie
When: During the Nightmare Before Christmas plot
Where: Halloween Town
Warning: Just murder of Oogie Boogie.
Status: Completed via Gdoc
This was perhaps the strangest thing that Loki had ever experienced. He had followed some of the townsfolk through the portal--when in Rome, right? Better than Pompeii, anyway--and found himself magically transformed. Transformed into… walking clay? His hands came up and he inspected them, in awe and wonder at the magic of this new realm. Something here was overpowering even his own glamour, which was a feat in and of itself.
The longer he stayed in this world, however, the more he grew to dislike it. There were small children running around unsupervised, throwing pumpkins about. It was constantly dark and dreary, and though Loki didn’t mind a bit of maudlin or macabre, this was taking it a bit far. And the worst part of all was … the singing. Suddenly and inexplicably, the people and creatures surrounding him would burst into song. This was just … unacceptable.
“You have got to be kidding.” He turned and glanced down the street as some kind of a parade was following the cobblestones in his direction.
---
David hadn’t experienced a portal during his time in Madison Valley, so he decided to see how this one was. He had no idea what to expect, but when he entered the portal to Halloween Town, he supposed he should have expected something like this. After all, it was close to Halloween. So why not have a portal that took people of Madison Valley into this sort of situation?
He held his hands out in front of him, flexing his fingers for a brief moment. Now that he definitely didn’t expect. He was what? Claymation? That was unusual.
“This is ridiculous,” he said out loud, echoing Loki. He hadn’t meant to echo the other man, but so it was.
He looked over at Loki, arching an eyebrow. “First time here, I take it?”
---
“Is it that obvious?” Loki mused, mostly to himself. He certainly was new to this world, and this … strange experience. He was a victim of the TVA’s meddling with the timeline, and again a victim of Sylvie’s plans and charm and viciousness. Sylvie’s everything. As much as Loki wanted to get back to her, he’d run out of ideas. Everything he’d thought to try had failed him. It seemed there really was no way out of Madison Valley unless the town gave him the opportunity.
He thought maybe there would be some kind of loophole in this place. But it was absolutely insane. He was made of clay. Clay witches and vampires were singing. It was, indeed, ridiculous.
“And you?” Loki asked, making idle conversation.
---
“I haven’t been in Madison Valley long,” he explained. “Perhaps a month. This is my first experience with….” He waved his hand in the general direction of Halloween Town. “This.” He hadn’t known what to expect when going through the portal. And while it was a lot to take in, he wasn’t quite sure he was disappointed.
He remembered watching Nightmare Before Christmas as a child, and this was definitely giving off those sort of vibes. While he wouldn’t admit it out loud, it was a little… intriguing, at least.
“I wonder if Jack or Sally are here,” he murmured.
---
Loki was frowning now. He folded his arms across his chest and stared out at the parade of monsters wandering by. They didn't celebrate this holiday on Asgard. Loki was only vaguely aware of the Midgardian-American holiday where children dress up in costumes and wander the streets begging for food. (They didn't have candy on Asgard, either.)
"Jack and who?" Loki asked, thinking of the man he'd met in the bar the other day.
---
“Jack Skellington. He’s from this world, I think,” he said. “Jack the Pumpkin King or something. I don’t know Sally’s last name, I don’t even know if she has one. She’s a rag doll.” He looked at Loki a bit sheepishly. “This is from a movie. Nightmare Before Christmas. I watched it when I was a kid.”
He looked around for a moment, his head tilting slightly. “I suppose it makes sense that a portal to this place would happen around Halloween, though,”
---
"Jack the Pumpkin King," Loki repeated incredulously. If that wasn't the stupidest thing he'd ever heard... but maybe Pumpkins meant something different in this world than they meant on Asgard. Or even Midgard. But then the other man mentioned a movie? This being from a movie?
Loki raised an eyebrow. "We have walked onto the stage of a Midgardian movie?" He asked. That was what they called it, wasn't it? On Asgard they had wonderful plays, Midgardian movies were the same, were they not?
"I am not as familiar with Halloween as maybe I should be. Is it the celebration of the autumnal equinox?"
---
“He’s not actually the king of pumpkins,” he explained. “He just calls himself the Pumpkin King.” He considered Loki’s next question for a moment. “I’m not sure,” he said, honestly. “I think we’re in a fictional world created for the movie. I’ve never experienced something like this before…” Of course, he’d only been in Madison Valley a short time. Of course he hadn’t experienced everything.
“I suppose, yes,” he said. “Though that’s supposed to start in September. I think it has more to do with Samhain,” he said, unsure of where exactly he got that information. “It’s an ancient tradition where people would dress up in costumes to ward off ghosts.”
Yes, David knew things. He just didn’t always express what he knew.
----
"Because that makes it so much better," Loki deadpanned. King of pumpkins or no, it was still ridiculous. The whole thing was. Loki wasn't sure he was going to be able to wrap his mind around being inside a fictional world. Then again, with the multiverse shattering, perhaps it was possible. Perhaps what was fiction in one world was actually just bleeding through into another universe. Now he had a lot of things to consider.
"Ah," Loki knew Samhain. Funny how he hadn't made the connection before now. Then again, he hadn't ever come face to face with it in this way. Midgardian holidays always seemed so... boring.
"I suppose we should explore. See if there's anything worth discovering."
---
David looked over at Loki, arching an eyebrow at the man. “Oh, it is so much better, really.” No, David, it wasn’t.
“I’m not exactly sure what there is to explore here,” he admitted. “Lots of Halloween festivities, to be sure. And some so-called Pumpkin King lingering here somewhere. ...unless he’s currently in Christmas Land or whatever it’s called. Trying to capture Santa.” Yes, David was fully aware of how insane he sounded.
---
The mention of Christmas brought a slight curl to Loki’s lip. He wasn’t especially fond of the idea of other gods. Even though he’d gone through a life changing experience over the last… however long (time is relative), he was still Loki. There was a lot of self-centered-ness in him, a lot of pride and vanity, and a lot of greed. Still, he didn’t make any nasty comments about it.
“Well, if you’re interested, I could use a companion on my adventures through this strange new world. Shall we wander this way?” He was trying to make the best of it, though he was quite miserable. At least misery loves company.
He turned to walk without waiting to see if the other man was going to come along. “Besides,” he added, “it’ll help to have someone to complain to about the insanity of this place.”
---
David considered his options for a moment. He could turn around and go home, he could explore on his own, or he could explore with this dark haired man. He wasn’t sure what compelled him to go with the latter of the options, but once Loki started walking in a direction, David decided to follow. After all, Loki needed someone who knew what this world would likely consist of.
Yes, that was the reason. Really.
It wasn’t because David was intrigued by Loki, or the fact that he found Loki to be a bit attractive. Because who wouldn’t want to explore Halloween Town with an attractive Norse god? Not that he knew Loki to be a Norse god. Not yet, anyway.
“It’s only going to become more insane,” he said, as they walked. “I’m David,” he offered.
---
“I am Loki of Asgard,” the norse god responded. He almost followed it up with and I am burdened with glorious purpose... but that wasn’t entirely true. Not anymore. He glanced over at the other man. “Though, I am not normally made out of clay.” He lifted his hand and swirled his wrist around.
“What else do you know about this world?” Always pressing for more information.
---
“Loki of Asgard, huh?” he asked, idly, as he looked around. It was strange, being claymation in a claymation town. “Wait, you’re not made of clay all the time? Damn it, Loki, way to crush my hopes and dreams.” He gave Loki a small smile as he spoke, before continuing to look around.
“All I really know is Jack visits Christmas Town, wants to bring Christmas to Halloween Town, and it all goes… well, not well.” He shrugged. “But it’s Halloween all the time here. ...they get ready for the next Halloween immediately after it ends”
---
Loki’s eyebrows bounced up at that, as a little smirk tugged on his lips. He enjoyed the tease. It was amusing.
“Sounds very… Midgardian. The blending of holidays, the idea that holidays must be the way the Midgardians think it should be.” Loki had heard about Midgardian wars, and how they started over silly things like religion and particular ways of practicing beliefs and rituals.
“So we are to see… what? Vampire bats and spiderwebs? How droll.”
---
David found himself somewhat pleased by the slight smirk that appeared. He couldn’t help it, despite his best efforts. It was always nice to have his jokes and his teasing appreciated. It wasn’t something that always happened, so when it did? David was pleased by it.
“We can go try and find Oogie Boogie,” he suggested. “He’s the supposed villain of the movie. He’s the one who actually ends up kidnapping Santa, and torturing him or some such nonsense.”
He shrugged slightly as they walked. He knew his explanation of Oogie Boogie and Santa wasn’t the best, but hey. At least he knew more than Loki did about Halloween Town.
---
He definitely knew more than Loki did about Halloween Town. Loki was interested in this Oogie Boogie or some such nonsense. He was willing to seek out the monster, if need be. Perhaps slay it? Now that would be quite entertaining.
Loki gave a little clench of his fists, and his blades appeared in his hands. He smirked softly, looking down at them.
“Well, then. Let’s go hunt this Boogie person. It sounds like a villain which might need to be taught a lesson.”
---
David eyed the blades that just randomly appeared as Loki clenched his fists. Now that was interesting. A useful skill to have, if needed. Not that David was really much of a fighter. He didn’t particularly have any use for weapons or anything of the sort. It seemed that Loki did, though, so David was going to allow the other dark haired man to do the fighting.
He wasn’t against leading Loki to Oogie Boogie, though. He wanted to see this Oogie Boogie character, anyway.
“Alright, then,” he said, and started in the direction he thought Oogiie Boogie would be. Not that he knew for sure, though.
---
Loki didn't want to admit that he had no idea where he was going. When David started down the path in one direction, Loki was more than happy to turn and follow him down the cobblestones.
"What can you tell me about this Boogie creature? Strengths, weaknesses... we can't just allow him to continue on this path, if he's going to... what was it? Kidnap the Santa Claus?" Loki flipped the daggers around, then held them at his sides. "Anything that will help me in destroying him."
---
David laughed softly at Loki’s words. “I don’t believe for a second that you care whether Santa Claus is kidnapped,” he told the man. “I think you just want to kill someone. Or maim, or seriously injure.” He had a feeling he was right, and he had no qualms in calling Loki out on that fact.
“Well. I’m not exactly sure what Oogie Boogie is,” he said. “He’s…” David considered this for a moment. “A boogeyman.” He thought that was right, at least. “I think he’s immortal, too. So like you.” Perhaps David was calling Loki a boogeyman. Perhaps he wasn’t. But he thought Loki was immortal, if he remembered correctly.
---
“What?” Loki gave a little laugh when David accused him of just wanting to kill someone. That was definitely the old Loki. But the old Loki was still inside of him, wasn’t it? “Don’t be silly. I care deeply about protecting the Santa Claus from this Boogie person.”
He gripped his daggers a little more tightly as they moved together down the street. Cobblestone. Sidewalk. Whatever it was, it was made of clay.
“Like me.” Loki deadpanned, then rolled his eyes. “Yet, I can be killed,” he knew all too well. “So if this Boogie is like me, he can be killed.”
---
“Oh, yes, I forgot,” David said. “All you gods like to protect symbols of other gods’ holidays, right?” He smirked slightly as he spoke, his face still as animated as it was when David wasn’t made out of clay. He couldn’t help it, he had no control over his facial expressions. And he had many, many facial expressions.
One for each occasion.
“Can you?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “Then I suppose Oogie Boogie can be as well.” He wasn’t certain killing the villain of this particular story was a wise decision, but he was going to go with it.
To see what Loki could do.
---
Considering that Loki had only a vague idea of who Santa was, and even more vague of an idea who Oogie Boogie was, the idea that he was deeply interested in protecting one from the other was a bit absurd. Still, Loki was willing to get behind this cause. It might be one of his steps toward redemption. A way to make amends for the evil on his ledger, so to speak.
"Indeed we do," he answered, sounding almost irritated in his response. Are you calling him a liar, David? Are you??
Loki gave another twist and flick of his wrists, and the daggers disappeared. He could call them again when they reached the lair of this Boogie person. "I am sure he can. So long as it bleeds, it can die."
---
Yes, David was quite possibly calling Loki a liar. It was very, very possible. “Oh do you?” he asked. “Is that the truth or is it just the… mischievous answer?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
As they were walking in (hopefully) the right direction, David spotted what appeared to be three children dragging a wriggling bag behind them. He thought they were children, at least. It was hard to tell here.
“Look,” he said. “We need to follow them.” If he wasn’t mistaken, these were the three who took Sandy Claws to Oogie Boogie.
---
“I will let you ponder that a moment longer, and see if you come up with your own answer.” Loki had temporarily forgotten that he was made from clay. He lifted a hand to flip his hair out of his face, and frowned a little at the sight of it.
Loki's frown deepened when David pointed to the… children? “They are children,” he said, stating the obvious. “What do they…” He paused. “Is that a … bathtub? What’s inside it?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Was that the Santa Claus?
Now Loki was beginning to realize he had no idea what a Santa Claus was.
---
David had to laugh at Loki’s statement. “Yes, there are children in Halloween Town, Loki. Very observant. I can see you going far in life.” He snickered softly at this, knowing full well that he was being a bit too sarcastic. “They’re children who have Santa Claus.”
Then, just in case Loki missed the point, “They’re going to lead us to Oogie Boogie.”
Though they didn’t realize that’s what they were going to do. “We just need to make sure we’re not noticed or they’ll literally take us to Oogie Boogie.”
---
This whole world seemed vastly inappropriate for children, but who was Loki to question it? He was still frowning as they watched the children with the bathing tub.
"Oh. Is that all?" With a gentle flick of his wrist, a glamor fell over the pair of them, making them nigh but invisible to the naked eye. Apparently, Loki's magic was still strong, even in claymation.
"They can neither hear nor see us now. Come, then. Let's be quick." Then Loki continued on the path, following the children toward the lair of Oogie Boogie.
---
David should have known that Loki’s magic would work in Halloween Town. Of course he hadn’t thought of it, though. He wasn’t too terribly familiar with magic, he was still relatively new in Madison Valley. So it only made sense that he didn’t think to ask Loki to disguise the pair of them.
“Are we really going to kill Oogie Boogie?” he asked, as they walked. “Do you even know what a Santa Claus is?”
He felt these were valid questions. Of course he did, or else he wouldn’t have asked.
---
Loki was a God. Of course his magic worked in this backward town.
“Does it matter?” Loki asked with a smirk. If David claimed that this Boogie monster was a villain, then Loki would take him out. Part of Loki’s work to make amends for all the bad that he’d done over the course of his life. Especially his recent life.
“Show me where to stick my daggers, and I’ll save your Santa Claus.”
---
“No, I suppose it doesn’t,” David said, after a moment’s consideration. “I was just wondering if you knew whether Santa Claus was a villain or not.” He shrugged slightly at this. Santa wasn’t a villain, but how was Loki to know that?
He pointed, “Look, they’re going in there.” Just in case Loki wasn’t paying attention.
“I want to see you kill Oogie Boogie,” he admitted.
----
Loki was taking a lot of things on faith at the moment, trusting that David wasn’t leading him astray. (Not that he really would have minded either way.) He was a God of Mischief, and what would be more Mischievous than taking care of some other world’s villain? Besides, he had a lot of tensions that he wanted to get rid of. A lot of violence in his heart that needed an outlet.
“Then you shall get your wish,” Loki said, moving to follow along after the children with the tub. “Keep up, David.”
Together they moved through the doorway and paused, watching the children push the Santa Claus down some strange pipe.
--
“Are you saying I’m being too slow?” he asked, as he followed Loki and the children with Santa Claus. Not that he particularly cared what this man called him. This God of Mischief. He wasn’t here to impress Loki. He was just here to explore Halloween Town. And, apparently, to assist in killing Santa Claus.
“I guess we’re going to have to go down the pipe,” he observed.
Going down a pipe was the last thing David wanted to do right now, but he was already this far into it. He might as well go all the way.
---
Loki smirked softly. “Not at all, David. The glamour will be stronger if we stay together.” He watched the children, then nodded. This would do. Loki wasn’t afraid to go down the pipe, he knew that the Boogie was down there. Loki and David had to take care of the Boogie to save the Santa Claus.
“Follow me.” He offered, motioning toward the pipe. Then he climbed up and slid through, all the way down the pipe.
---
David followed Loki, not wanting to make the glamour less effective. He wasn’t crazy about going down the pipe, but if that’s what they were supposed to do, then that’s what they were going to do. He did want to see Loki kill Oogie Boogie and save Santa Claus.
Or, he wanted to see Loki try. He wasn’t entirely convinced that he could manage it, but he didn’t see why he wouldn’t be able to.
Oogie Boogie was a fictional villain after all. He should be somewhat easy to kill. Hopefully.
---
When they landed in Oogie Boogie’s chamber, it was a circular room. The Boogie was torturing the Santa Claus on some kind of a table, throwing him around and singing. Loki actually sneered.
Singing. Disgusting.
Loki moved further into the room and was about to interrupt the song, but something prevented him. Some kind of sorcery, something he couldn’t break through. He frowned swirling the daggers around in his hands and attempted again. But something was holding him back until the end of the song.
Loki let the glamour melt away, by the time the Boogie finished singing, Loki and David were fully visible to the monster, and Loki was smirking softly. Waiting to be noticed.
---
“I thought you were going to kill him, Loki,” David teased. He had a feeling some sort of magic was holding Loki back, over Loki being unable to actually go through with it. He had no doubt that Loki would be able to at least get closer to Oogie Boogie than this.
He recognized Oogie Boogie’s song, from having seen the movie a few times as a kid.
Once the song was finished, David tilted his head slightly. “He can see us now, can’t he?”
---
“Oh yes.” Loki said, taking a few steps forward. The enchantment that was holding him back had lifted, his daggers were solid in his fists. He was smirking his devil’s smirk. No Boogie could frighten him, no creature made him nervous. Except the Hulk. And Thanos. And possibly He Who Remains.
Oogie Boogie noticed the pair of them and tossed Santa Claus onto the table so he could spring over it toward Loki and David. He moved with a good amount of agility for a dude made of a burlap sack.
Loki wasn’t impressed. He crouched slightly as the Boogie came closer.
“Who’s been sent down here, huh?” Oogie Bookie said, narrowing his eyes at the God and his friend. “Ooh, I’m really scared now! Look at those little needles you’ve got there!”
“Is this the sarcastic banter portion of the fight? Can’t we just get on with it?” Loki asked, with a gentle roll of his eyes. He was about to lunge forward, when Oogie Boogie gave a cackle that stopped him in his tracks.
Oogie then stepped one of his feet onto a button on the floor that made the whole contraption start to spin.
---
David took a step back when Oogie Boogie noticed them, and another when the creature came toward them. He hadn’t expected Oogie Boogie to actually notice them. Or be so damn agile. And he had absolutely nothing to defend himself with. He supposed sarcasm, epic eyebrows, and a complete lack of control of his facial expressions counted as weapons that could be used against Oogie Boogie.
“Well, Loki,” he said. “Here’s your chance.”
Yes, he was counting on the God of Mischief to kill the Oogie Boogie creature. It was Loki who wanted to come down here, after all. He was sure Loki to take care of it.
---
Loki crouched slightly, bending his knees just a little as the platform began to move. A wicked smile crossed his features as he realized this wasn’t going to be a one-and-done deal. It was going to take actual work, which was exactly what the Trickster God was looking for. Something to challenge him just a little; a win that would make him feel accomplished.
He motioned to David. “Go protect the Santa Claus. I’ll deal with the Boogie.”
Oogie Boogie seemed offended by that. His mouth and eye holes in his burlap turned mean, frowning and scowling at the Trickster God and his friend. “That’s Mister Oogie Boogie to you! And who do you think you are coming in here and trying to steal my prize?”
Loki had to take a step back to avoid… flat walls that swung into place, swinging knives? The whole platform was turning now, Loki had to keep his wits about him. He ducked, twisted, and turned, then brought up both daggers.
“I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose!” Loki had to say it at least once. He bounced up onto the next round of swinging walls, these ones with guns attached, and then flipped--spiraling through the air. He landed on the Boogie with a deft kick straight into the Boogie’s stupid face.
Oogie Boogie stumbled backward after the kick, a seam of his burlap shedding a thread. He didn’t notice, nor was he concerned. He bounced back up to his feet. “How dare you! Don’t you know who I am??” Boogie screeched.
“I don’t care,” Loki responded, then dove forward with both daggers raised. They sunk deep into the burlap, and he tore downward and outward, shredding the outer fabric (clay cloth fabric?) and releasing a torrent of insects.
It was disgusting. But the Boogie shrieked a few times, then went silent as the bugs scattered. The contraption stopped moving. All went silent.
---
David decided to listen to Loki when the Trickster God told him to protect Santa Claus. He could definitely do that. Unless, of course, Oogie Boogie decided to go after him instead of the threat of Loki. That was definitely a possibility. David was going to be the one standing in between Oogie Boogie and his prize.
It seemed that the burlap sack that was Oogie Boogie was focused on Loki, though, and that was a good thing. Beneficial to David, at least. Perhaps not so beneficial to Loki.
“That was… gross,” he said, in reference to the insects leaving Oogie Boogie. “But good job on actually killing him. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to.”
---
It was very quiet in the large room. Loki moved some bugs aside with his shoe, still marveling in the fact that he was made of clay. Then he gave his wrists a little flick and the daggers disappeared. He reached up and straightened his shirt, then flipped some hair out of his face and turned to David and the Claus.
“There were powerful magics in this place,” Loki responded smugly, “but none more powerful than I. Let us help the Santa Claus out of here.”
---
“Of course they weren’t more powerful than you,” he said, only partially able to curb his sarcastic tone. Yes, Loki had been able to kill Oogie Boogie but he didn’t have to be so damn… smug about it.
“We should probably take Santa Claus back to Christmas Town,” he suggested. “I don’t think he would particularly want to stay in Halloween Town.” He eyed Santa for a moment, “Unless you want to see if Oogie Boogie comes back?” HIs question was aimed toward Santa, who frantically shook his head no.
“Good. Now we just have to find the trees.”
----
Had David met Loki? Of course he had to be so damn... smug about it. It was practically part of his DNA.
“Christmas town now?” Loki asked, sounding quite impatient. He sighed, but then nodded and motioned toward the exit.
With Loki’s magic and Santa Claus’s magic, it didn’t take much to get the three of them out of Boogie’s lair. And then they were starting off toward the forest.
“I’m not sure what a Christmas Town is, but I’ll follow your lead.”
---
“Christmas Town is like Halloween Town. Only with Christmas instead of Halloween.” David gave Loki a look as he spoke. A you really should have known that look. Once they were in the forest, David easily found the circle of trees that signified different holidays. Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas, among others.
“Santa, I believe this one is yours,” he said, motioning toward the tree with the tree-shaped door. It really should have been obvious. “I’m not going in, though. No Jew worth his weight in anything would be caught dead in Christmas Town.” Though his family did have Christmas parties every year…
Though that was beside the point.
---
Loki nodded. He understood holidays--they had holidays in Asgard--but when it came to the differences between the Midgardian holidays, he was at a loss. Eventually they reached the circle of trees, and Loki glanced at the images on the different trunks. Actually, the one with the egg on it looked a little interesting. But then David motioned for Santa to go through the one with the tree on it.
“Don’t look at me. I’m not even human.” Loki held up both hands, as if to absolve himself of any association with the holidays.
After the Santa Claus gave many thanks again (which Loki waved off), Loki watched the Santa Claus disappear through the tree. The tree-shaped door on the tree (ironic.) closed behind him.
Loki turned to David. “I think it’s about time to get out of here.”
---
"I think that's a very good idea," David said, once Santa Claus went through the appropriate door. He'd had enough of Halloween Town and the shenanigans that went with it. For the time being, at least. He had remembered enjoying the movie as a child, but this was vastly different from watching a movie.
That didn't stop him from humming This is Halloween as they headed toward the portal's exit though. What could he say? He was in the spirit of the holiday.
Which was better than being in the Christmas spirit.