Lock just kept his grip on Carver for the moment and let her rant.

"Rig him up like a puppet," Lock said with the faintest smirk. "Make him dance."

He rested his head against hers, and once her vines were released, he gently wrapped his tail around some of them to metaphorically hold her hand. He continued to speak in solidarity to keep her focused on him and not her creator.

"Jam his wheelchair controls," he suggested. "In the [i]swamp[/i]."

Jack only grabbed at her vines when she threw the pebble.

"Carver," he said gently, "that's enough."

He kept his grip only tight enough to restrain them as he pondered on what to do. Carver was normally one of the more mild-mannered of the trickster group, and her words of resentment spoke of far deeper issues, ones that told him enough that it was probably best she didn't go home tonight.

It was probably [i]also[/i] best that she not stay with Lock, Shock, and Barrel, either. While her friends clearly supported her - and while Lock's tone at the moment was clearly meant to be more humorous than troublesome - Jack knew just how much more devious Boogie's boys could be. He [i]especially[/i] didn't want this rant getting into Shock's ear, because the oldest trickster would most [i]certainly[/i] be willing to help Carver plot out her vengeance and cause trouble against the doctor once their punishment was over.

"...I think it's best that you stay with me and Sally for tonight," Jack said, once Carver settled down.

She might not like it. He didn't care. It was the only way she [i]wouldn't[/i] be going to the evil scientist's tower tonight. That, and he knew Sally could relate with her and help her to better handle this.

Lock started to protest, but stopped. When Carver wasn't facing him, he mouthed a quiet, "thank you" to Jack so the pumpkin creature wouldn't see. He didn't really want Carver going to the lab tonight, either, because he wasn't sure Dr. Finklestein would [i]ever[/i] let her out again after this. Lock just held Carver's cage in his arms for the moment and kept his tail around her vines. He tightened his grip a little to better assure his friend of his presence and support.