LePouvantail

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Behemoth nodded, then reached down to carefully break the stalk. He made sure to leave a good length of vine for her to decide on how to trim and shape her usual "ponytail".

"Will put inside Big Pumpkinhead," he said. "No one will take."

As promised, he started to trek towards it, unaware of Jack's presence.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Behemoth went over to the pumpkin he spotted and knocked on it. From the sound of it, it would be good for a traditional carving like she currently sported, but not detailed flesh work.

"Will find one," he promised. "Plenty more pumpkins."

He wandered the pumpkin patch with Carver on his shoulders, and tended to it as he searched for a good one. Occasionally, he let Carver down to assist him, as she was still serving her punishment, but so long as she was working, he could continue to enjoy her company. Finally, after an hour or two, he found a sizable pumpkin with thicker flesh.

"This one?"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

"Scare easier," Behemoth agreed. "Will be fun."

He turned his head with a somewhat expectant look.

"Not mean, though," he said reassuringly.

Behemoth grabbed a shovel to mix the new pumpkin scraps into the old compost so it would break down easier. Just as he finished, something caught his eye. He set the shovel down, then walked over to a decently-sized pumpkin that hadn't been harvested yet.

"New head?" he asked.

She'd had her current one for a little while now. While Carver took pains to make them last, she always had to replace them eventually. Behemoth liked to keep an eye out for suitable pumpkins for when the occasion inevitably arose.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

"Yes," Behemoth answered. "Help scare."

He chuckled when she offered to let him join her and the tricksters.

"Don't want trouble," he said softly. "Got enough here in town."

Behemoth smiled and picked up the pumpkin debris she brought to carry to the main compost heap.

"Good trick. Scared me."

He dumped out the buckets upon reaching said heap, then gave her vines another affectionate pat and gently shook his head as he said:

"Don't do again."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Behemoth gave her a sage nod.

"Not plant as much, then," he said. "More mulch for the Big Pumpkinhead."

He pointed to the large jack o'lantern that served as the crown jewel of the pumpkin patch. He held still so she could crawl up onto his shoulders and secure herself. Jack probably wouldn't mind her having a short break.

"Been good. Tending to my pumpkins."

He dug out a particularly stubborn root as he spoke, then reached up to pat one of her vines.

"Missed you," he said. "Good company."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock rolled her eyes and held up the acetone.

"Like I was already doing?" she asked.

For her part, she didn't look at Carmilla again and simply went to fix the ladder. She also started formulating a back-up vengeance plan for after Halloween in case Carmilla followed through on her threat to report back to Jack.

~~~

In the pumpkin patch, Behemoth was hard at work upturning soil and clearing out old vines and debris where the harvested pumpkins had been to plant new ones. He patiently waited for Carver to bring the leftover pumpkin scraps to become mulch, and smiled when he saw her pumpkin head.

"Good harvest this year," he said. "Make bigger harvest next year."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

"Then ten seconds of waiting wouldn't have mattered, either!" Shock exclaimed.

She crossed her arms and glared at Carmilla.

"You heard her, Charmelia," she said. "Why don't you get back to sharpening your fangs, or whatever it is you vampires do?"

Shock then turned to retrieve the acetone from the floor. She listened for Carmilla and gave a slight smirk once her back was turned and the vampiress was unable to see it.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock smirked when Agatha finally stepped in.

"Worth it," she said sweetly. "I won."

Her smirk quickly became a glower when Carmilla threatened to get Jack involved. Like hell was she going to take that threat lying down.

"No it wasn't! You knocked the ladder over because you can't wait like a proper monster!"

Shock turned to Agatha. Her expression dared the other witch to take Carmilla's side.

"You saw it!" she exclaimed. "She started it!"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock took note of where Carmilla was positioned and shifted her own position so that when Carmilla tried to throw her off, it would hit her inner thigh instead. Admittedly, she didn't mind too much.

"Guess you're just not a fan of snake root," Shock said with a grin. "Who knew it'd double as a vampire repellent?"

Carmilla managed to knock her off. Mostly. Shock kept a grip on Carmilla's wrists and pulled the vampiress with her. She then curled in her knees both to prevent Carmilla from straddling her, and to give herself leverage to kick her off. Shock let go of her wrists as she kicked, then pushed herself back on her feet.

"Good to know. I'll use more the next time I take a bath."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Shock quickly tackled Carmilla and pinned her down. She then grabbed for her rival's wrists.

"Leaving so soon?" she asked.