Meanwhile in Halloweentown
Oogie Boogie has managed to spin some of what was happening in New Orleans in her favor. Of course she did. She had to throw the dice. Everyone was watching her do so. A shimmy, a shake, and she let them go and though it wasn’t perfect snake eyes, she was making do.
It was a shame that she lost her pretty sex ed teacher, and her prettier gym teacher over in New Orleans. She’d make a show out of it, of course. An assembly would be called for in the school - after New Years, of course. There was still a lot to celebrate. Fireworks went off in Halloweentown. She might not rule over the entire town but she had her sway with the ‘mayor’.
The assembly was to explain some of what was happening. The Horned King uprising. The dead attributed to him. The dancing? Well, that was Maleficent’s daughter of course. Delta, who had once been a part of this school. Where did she learn such magic? Well, it was a gamble but Oogie might insinuate she learned that sort of devilry from right here. Halloweentown High School.
Those that were lost were mourned, dramatically. Pictures of Aphrodite, of Bubbles, of the other staff and students whom they had lost. Prevalent were the Horned King’s own sons. Hypno and Lena. Ace and Libi. Even Maz, Jax and Babyface were on there, since they hadn’t been seen in a while. She wasn’t looking that deeply into Babyface. At least, not yet.
But she also took this opportunity for a little fun manipulation. By telling the truth. Those spells have not worked their way into Halloweentown. Even if the portals had become closed - well, that just meant that they were all the safer here.
She would take the survivors into her own large busom. Those that were affected by the magic, who lost loved ones, should consider themselves to be little Boogies, for she was going to take care of them. They were a family, here in Halloweentown.
Not many were left. Students used to come and go between school and the city all of the time. And it was around the holidays, so people were going through to do their holiday shopping. It was a mess. But there was still her loyal Spade. Her Barrel.
But there were the vultures. There were always vultures after the smoke cleared. Much like the redhead that they had seen darting through the halls, they helped themselves to what was left. Scavenging.
Christmas came early for the Vultur boys. Presents that people left behind, sitting gift wrapped and pretty. They had some solid finds. Watches and magical items, clothing and sex toys. Valentin felt like the luckiest boy alive when he unwrapped a present full of art supplies, hugging it close to his chest. Nicolai wasn’t as easily amused, but he found some trinkets, things that he could use, books that he could read.
Classes would continue. Not all of them of course, masters of their field were missing but some. The essentials. Oogie herself would put on a class in the auditorium each day, teaching about life. Not something that could be found in every class.
Things like how to brew your own Plan B, or a quick magical abortion. How to break a man’s penis before he could rape you with only one quick movement. How to best clean blood out of clothing, and get the red traces off of skin. How to frame someone else for murder. What essential things to have in your car if you plan on being on the road for a while. How to count cards while playing games. How to not get caught counting cards while playing games. How to use your physical assets to their utmost potential.
None of these were graded. You got an A just for showing up. The marking system was always more on the lax side here, with Oogie actually recognizing that different people were in different places education wise, learning wise, mentally, socially, and it all took it’s toll on how work was finished.
That was probably thanks to Barrel and his own deficiencies. He was brilliant in some ways, but ... very mentally challenged in others. It helped her to recognize it. And to recognize that recognizing it would earn her favor. It was an easy win.
So she’s laying low and taking care of what she’s gotta take care of. The timing was unfortunate. She did so hate when the holidays got ruined. And the door being closed was a pesky problem too but she would figure it out.
As a part of Halloweentown and not the high school, Jock chilled out in the cellar of the drag club. Not that there was much in the daytime when it came to sunshine but one can never be too cautious. The weird shirt selling, drug making, sometimes DJing vampire was affected by the changes in NOLA cause damn, there went his drug lab and now he’s gotta start from scratch. Gotta start again with the supercrack.