LePouvantail

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Barrel tried to think of what could fit those specifications.

"...Proper drum work?"

He may or may not have been joking. Barrel scurried through the window and down the second rope ladder.

"Sure thing," he said, as he headed for the living area. "Oh, did you get the frog?"

Lock was already in the main room and halfway through a cigarette when Barrel brought Carver in. He glanced at the pumpkin creature when his little brother set her down on the couch.

"Guessing things didn't quite go as planned?" he asked with a smirk.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

It only took a moment, as Lock was fed up with the drum lesson and went to the living areas to smoke. Barrel scurried out of the lair and up the rope ladder. He snorted as he tried to hold back his laughter.

"What'd you do to piss her off?"

Of the three of them, Carver took the least abuse from Shock, so whenever she crossed a line with the tricksters' leader, it was almost always spectacular. Barrel also doubted the doctor tied her vines into knots...and particularly of the kind she couldn't easily pull herself free from.

But he obliged and pulled her over his shoulder so he could bring her down into the lair. While he couldn't make out exactly what she was saying, he briefly heard Shock cursing from the tree house before the water from the bathtub drowned it out. It was probably best to stay down in the lair for a few hours. Maybe he'd warn Lock.

Maybe.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

It took a few tries to walk without shaking, but Shock managed. Once more, she took extra care to pass the doctor's bedroom, but the second she was home free, she picked up her pace and all but ran down the ramp. She needed to get out of here, and fast.

She didn't even realize they'd forgotten the glue remover and the frog, but those could wait another day. Right now, they needed to get back to the tree house.

And as soon as they were in the clear, Shock noticed Carver's resigned posture.

Good, she knew her place.

The oldest trickster grabbed several of the pumpkin creature's vines in fury and tied them into tight knots. She was frustrated. Carver could be frustrated for a while too. Shock made sure to yank tightly and tie knots upon knots. Once satisfied, she started back for the tree house in a huff. She was going to need some time alone.

The sound of drums could be heard as they got closer. It sounded like her brothers had decided to put off collecting forget-me-lots. Whatever. So long as they did it. Shock headed up to the tree house proper. She needed a bath and to clear her head, along with other things.

She heard the drums stop as Lock berated Barrel for the latest set.

"Damn it!" he cried. "You were doing so well! Why do you do this?"

"Because it's fun!" came Barrel's reply.

"If you'd just do the damn set the first time..."

Shock rolled her eyes as she climbed into the tree house proper.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

"I'm going to fucking murder you," Shock muttered.

But she did as Carver said and stood by the window. Huh. She was rarely here long enough to take advantage of it, but Carver had a pretty good view from here, particularly Jack's house. Shock just focused on the view of Halloween Town to keep her mind off the corpse flower's affects. It helped a little.

"Yeah, yeah," she said. "Just hurry."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock shifted a bit uncomfortably in her spot. No, that time was definitely a residual effect of the corpse flower. Still, she could resist the urge. Thoughts of trouble often helped curb it.

Just go already, you old codger! she thought.

Dr. Finkelstein glowered. His upper lip furled in agitation.

"Perhaps you should spend more time studying so you don't risk doing that," he said. "Make some use of that pumpkin brain."

From down the hall, Jewel's voice rang.

"Darling? Is everything all right?"

Dr. Finkelstein called over his shoulder.

"Yes, dearest! Just a false alarm!" He glanced back to Carver. "Behave yourself, and keep it down."

With that, he turned to go. As soon as the door shut, Shock let go of her hat and stepped forward. Her legs shook a little, but it was nothing she couldn't handle.

"Bad influence, nothing," she said. "We're the reason you have any fun!"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Dr. Finklestein wheeled a little closer to take a look on the screen. Shock quietly made herself smaller. This was a bit close for comfort, but the doctor's back was to her.

Barrel on-screen happily crunched on the spiders as he turned the page, looking pretty satisfied with himself. It was just enough to convince Dr. Finklestein of Carver's story.

"I don't understand why you hang around them when there are plenty of other children your age around town," he said curtly. "They're bad influences and nuisances all around. A few good deeds here and there hardly makes up for all the headaches that Boogie's bunch cause."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock started to push back, but quickly realized what Carver was doing. She slid behind the shelf and even moved to pull down the brim of her hat to further keep hidden. She stood as still as a mummified corpse as the doctor entered Carver's room. While she didn't see him, Shock heard the soft hum of the wheelchair's gears and battery from the doorway as Dr. Finkelstein entered the bedroom to yell at Carver.

She really hoped the corpse flower had nothing to do with it, and it was just her usual inclination for getting into trouble, but she found the potential of getting caught pretty thrilling.

Shock kept a careful eye on Carver from her hiding place. It was her only warning if the doctor got too close.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

"They're WHAT?!" Shock cried.

Carver's instinct to move had been wise. Shock reached for her throat, but had to settle for a vine. She squeezed it as tightly as she could. She lowered her voice and hissed through gritted teeth.

"Damn it, Carver!"

Shock threw the vine away from her, then stood up.

"Let's just get what we came for and go," she said.

She could always kick the pumpkin creature around later.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

That got her to laugh again, but she stopped when Carver asked how she was feeling.

"Uh...okay? Why?"

Shock sat up and glanced at her. She realized she forgot to ask how those flowers distracted the doctor and his companion.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock teetered on the edge of the bed, knowing she was in for a good show. What was that idiot about to get himself into...?

It took a few minutes of casual banter between Agatha and Barrel to get to the payoff. And when it did, Shock quickly pressed both of her hands over her mouth so her wicked laughter wouldn't attract attention. She collapsed back into the bed and took a minute to compose herself.

"He really doesn't get it!" she exclaimed, once she had a hold of herself again. "Oh my Death, she couldn't have been more obvious, either! Who else in town has siblings who can't get in the back room?"

She lost it again at Barrel's confused, "You're welcome."