[ chapter nine ] embrace the musical

CRICKETS ECHOED IN THE PUB as soon as the chatter of those who were enjoying their drinks faded. They stared at the strangers. A glass shattered when someone's grasp eased, dropping it on the tile flooring.

"What offer?" a man in the crowd questioned.

Loki flinched at the smashed fragments thumping on the ground, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Nicholas glanced at him, questioning his sudden response whereas he said nothing. The god of mischief appeared surprised by his own reaction. The corners of his lips twitched, attempting to come up with a solution to have everyone enjoying their stay at the tavern.

"All the drinks are on me!" Loki shouted across the room raising his hands to appear more excited about his claim.

Regulars blinked, glancing at each other, trying to make sure the Loki variant was serious. Even if he didn't mean it, he had a companion. 

It took them a moment to rejoice and celebrate this remarkable moment. 

Every single person started to scream with happiness as magical drinks of all kinds of color and flavor appeared on their tables. The bartender was lucky to be a wizard or he wouldn't be able to handle this amount of orders.

"Whee, why did I say that?" Loki expressed as he right away regretted his choices, heading to the table that was close to the stage.

Something slimy rubbed against Loki's shoulder which frightened him, he turned quickly at the person dressed in a suit that looked almost like a real frog.

"I just wanted to say that you are my favorite Loki," Frog-man declared as he took a long sip of champagne. His voice was high-pitched and monotonous, that is why Loki was glad when the man walked away done with his speech. 

"And you are my favorite Frog!"

The Frog-man would probably stand there another minute nevertheless Loki's sour expression with thumbs up discouraged him.

"What? Was that like that was offensive or something?" Loki asked Nick but he rather interrogated him back than answer his rhetorical and very obvious question.

"I'm hundred percent sure that was a person, not a real toad. . ."

"What did you mean exactly by the offer?" Nicholas questioned him back as he was sitting at a nicely set table. 

Nick was constantly looking around since he has never seen so many interesting personalities. There were not only witches and wizards but also dark fairies and other mythical creatures, associated with magic.

"Nothing!" Loki blurted out.

Nick frowned, "Okay. . . That didn't convince me at all."

Loki sighed.

"I—I just thought you said something, but you didn't. Why do you keep asking things? Just forget it, okay? Everything's fine," he shrugged and reached for a menu to see the list of drinks.

Nick glanced at a skeleton that was drinking a bubbly orange liquid. 

The liquor ran through his bone body and then spilled on the ground, as there was nothing to hold it. Skeleton's jaw dropped with following blue flames spewing out of his mouth. Nick reached in disgust for a menu too, wondering if they had something normal, however, he was stopped as the menu suddenly disappeared from his hands.

"This one is alcohol-free," Loki chuckled, swapping the menus as he was more interested

"Hey!" Nicholas blurted out irritably, thinking that the god would let him try at least something with alcohol from the bar menu.

"What year is it?" Loki questioned a guy to his right who was already quite drunk.

"Time is pretty much relevant here, am I right?" The man spread his arms, taking a peek at his friends when one of them slapped him on the top of the head.

"It's 2041," he uttered with a hiccup.

"Ha! Jokes on you! You're not even born yet," Loki shook his head with a playful smirk on his lips. His hand slammed on the table and just as that two drinks appeared and were automatically assigned to them. 

2041, Nicholas thought. Exactly the year when his reality ended.

"Actually I was born in 2025. . ." Nick whispered, later on registering that it didn't affect anything as there was a full glass right in front of him. His drink was yellow and translucent, therefore he was disappointed in Loki's selection. 

He was a little afraid to take a sip and when he did he realized it was apple juice, "Really?"

"Believe me, that's the safest drink here," Loki winked at him, excited to taste the one he ordered. It was similarly colored as periwinkle with dragon fruit fusion and steamy foam on the top. 

Just when he picked up the drink, the lights in the pub dimmed. Most likely he spilled it on himself but when everyone started clapping again he was a bit confused so he started clapping as well.

The clatter of heels was coming from the raised stage. The microphone squeaked a little as someone touched the microphone's steel mesh head. The woman nodded to the band which was on the edge of the podium. That was when the first piano and violin tones started playing.

This is the beginning of the end
ache as an oasis in the middle of dunes of sand
Was I ever honest to the mad man
since there's nothing holding me down

On cue, everyone in the pub went silent, except the lady singing a ballad with a warm husky voice as her hand was elegantly rubbing the microphone stand.

If I tried to run away
there wouldn't be yesterday
the wave would sweep me back
to the sea of endless lies...

A purple cloud transformed the classic condenser microphone into the one that could be held in a hand. She managed to sing an impressive high note, making a pose at the end with her long curly hair flowing forth and back. A spotlight flashed, finally revealing the lady, one of the most famous witches — Agatha Harkness. 

The music fell silent.

Agatha stepped forward, adjusting her brooch attached to her dark purple blouse; its shoulders were filled with pads, and the fabric glitter underneath the light like a starry night. 

The blouse was perfectly complemented with flared pants, it took the audience a moment to realize that it was a jumpsuit.

"Bring it on, boys! It's Harkness time!" Agatha raised her voice. And at her command, the instruments resounded again. Nicholas chuckled as she referenced MC Hammer.

The light turned off, just for a second, as soon as it lit again, Agatha Harkness was walking from right to the left, sliding her right foot forward and back, ending with a spin as trumpets mimicked her movements.

New Salem is the right place to be
I made it from scratch, it was created by me

Agatha raised a hand that formed a bubble reflecting all the places in New Salem and then it popped with a black explosion.

In this beautiful town, we set bad free
look at all those bad guys, they're scary, I'll guarantee

She moonwalked and a violet ripple of her movements formed a figure that represented each of the villains that could be found here. Loki hit Nicholas in the shoulder Nicholas as he perceived his iconic headpiece, "Look!"

You don't believe me?
I swear I am not like the other witches
those like me don't end up in ditches

Agatha's wicked laugh echoed in the pub as the caricature of a witch wearing a pointy hat vanished.

They need to know that I am the only hunter
Don't worry, I won't kill you, Gunter
It's just the way it goes
being cruel is what I chose

She hugged a man and pinched his face as she was leaving him, on purpose she stabbed his back, to express how cruel she truly was, followed by an oops gesture. 

His massive body was falling to the ground, it reshaped itself into bats that flew away, forcing others to cover their faces. The pub changed into a graveyard with background dancers, having them and Agatha dance between the tombstones as moonlight was shining on them.

People are sick and twisted!
risking up their lives desperately
everyone in the valley knows that
even the six feet under-dead

Someone's rotten hand, gesturing a peace sign, arose from the ground with specks of dirt crumbling from its palm.

This can't stop me from smiling!
There's something satisfying
About letting poor people dying

When they're ready to give up on everything and despair trying
That's simply satisfying!

It looked like the ground began to crumble as Agatha had trouble balancing, at the end of the chorus she fell into the hole. The scenery shifted as she was now standing on both feet, holding an ornamented cane.

New Salem is a town that draws you in
I made it from scratch, it was created by me

In this beautiful town, we love good killing spree
those guys hate mortals, I'll guarantee

As soon as the cane touched the ground, complemented with dancing, the fireplace behind her lit on fire.

Believe me!
You don't see villainous types that often
and if you do, have you brought a coffin

Agatha ran to the audience bypassing the famous villains, bouncing her hips to the tables, until someone startled and spilled the drinks on themselves. She eventually stopped at the table in front when she was coming back to the stage.

Look at his face, so soft and youthful
just guess who's life was a bit more ruthful

She ruffled Nick's hair and touched his cheek during a spin. Her cane hit the table and burst into a cloud of purple dust and that was the impact of everyone that sat behind them to stand up in order like a wave.

"M-Mine?" Nick uttered in confusion, completely taken away by this interaction. He looked around as everyone was getting up, locking eyes with a person that was staring at him this whole time.

That's just the way it goes
You better listen to my words
being cruel is what we chose

Those people out there are absurd
They think that they know everything best
and that makes us upset 

as yet

If their plan is to pull you down the line
make sure they are the ones who'll cry
cause it's our time to shine
kill 'em
and don't forget to tell their families
 last goodbyes!

Agatha pulled the tablecloth and drinks from the table and then she relocated there on the top, finishing the bridge with a high note as villains surrounded her with jazz hands. 

She exhaled loudly, walking down again to make a new entry. The villains all turned towards Loki and Nicholas, copying Agatha's creeping pace whilst singing a syllable.

"The name is Agatha Harkness. . ."

"Welcome to New Salem," Agatha Harkness uttered with a wide smile.

"Now, boys, end them!" She pointed at them, revealing that the tips of her fingers were tinted black. Both of them blinked in doubts as the group went after them, trying to duck once again.

When their backs straightened, they both were standing in the town square, encircled by the residents that danced continuously to the beat of the music.

People are sick and twisted
risking up their lives desperately
everyone in Salem knows that
even the six feet under-dead

This can't stop us from smiling!
There's something satisfying
About letting poor people dying

When they're ready to give up on everything
and stop trying, we're here to save their crappy day
with population decay, if not, they're probably lying!

People are sick and twisted
risking their lives desperately
recklessness leads to dying

And that is just satisfying!

The circles made Nicholas and Loki dizzy, so it took them longer to realize that the song was actually over. 

They were dazzled by the sharp rays of the spotlight and stunned by the number of special effects, mainly the fan as it was pounding their faces.

Agatha Harkness was sitting in the audience, proudly clapping and cheering over the performance, wiping a non-existent tear from the corner of her eye.

"I don't know why, but this makes me so emotional," she uttered with a fake sob.

The reaction of tourists did not appeal to her much.

"Scratchy?! Maybe we should really get rid of the fan for the next gig. . ."