LePouvantail

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Aggie frowned, but had to agree.

"I have noticed Barrel rarely interferes when his older sister is up to something..." she said. "And he just as rarely plans a trick."

"And toying with other monsters' feelings, well, that is rather cruel," Agnes said.

She grinned, almost a little too eager to assist.

"Shock doesn't seem to...relate to such matters, so we'll just have to communicate it on her terms. After all, nothing would be more heartbreaking to her than a trick not going quite according to plan, hmm?

"Mm-hmm," Aggie agreed.

"Just a minor inconvenience," Agnes said, "but one that will affect her for a little while."

"We certainly wouldn't know anything about that," Aggie said, with a glance to the doorway where their brooms rested.

She glanced over Agatha's notes.

"You may not know when, but do you know where she intends to strike? Because the simplest solution would be to hex her boots, then place the activation charm at the threshold."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Both of the older witches looked at each other, then back to their niece.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Aggie asked. "I know you and Barrel have gotten close recently, but Shock can be...well..."

Agnes was already pondering it.

"...Petty," she said, with a knowing tone and the faintest smile. "So I suppose your Aunt Aggie and I would like to know why you've agreed to it."

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Lock played it off as "Corvin" having found the rat, frightened it, the startled rat running up the scarecrow's pantleg, and being amused by the ensuing chaos. Such a shame Lillith missed it, really.

Lock happily walked with her when she untied his leash.

~~~

Something crashed at the sudden yelling. Agnes cursed, as she almost had that damn monkey's paw back in its case. Some shuffling followed after as she and Aggie chased it down, caught it, and locked it away again.

"I swear, if someone doesn't buy that thing soon, I'm going to burn it," Agnes muttered.

"Nonsense," Aggie countered. "They're quite valuable to the right customer."

They quickly flew upstairs, then set their brooms beside Agatha's door and entered her room.

"What is it, dear?" Aggie asked.

"A hex?" Agnes said, upon getting the reason. A suspicious note crept into her voice. "What kind of hex?"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Lock smirked, as he already caught the loophole.

"Sure thing, pumpkin stump."

His smirk widened when he got the message. It was probably further vengeance against Barrel for screwing up the broom trick to fully satisfy her pettiness. Why else would she ruin Barrel's attempt at one?

Lock watched Carver storm off, but it didn't matter. He'd be in a much better mood when Lillith got back.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Lock sulked at head pat.

"And where am I gonna go?" he grumbled.

He probably could, with enough effort and twisting his body, jump up onto the edge of the fence and finagle the leash to get it off, but with his luck, he'd get himself free right as Lillith got back. It therefore wasn't worth the effort.

"Oh, like I have any choice about my height, either," Lock said bitterly. "You've only been shorter a few days. I've been the shortest for years."

He smirked.

"And you're already falling to pieces about it. Baby legs."

Lock would have flicked his tail if he could.

"So if you're done proving you can't drink your own potion, what's the message?"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Damn.

Lock's disappointment quickly became horror when he realized what the punishment was: more for Lillith abandoning him than being chained to the fence.

"Wait! We can walk back! Lillith--!"

But as soon as she gave him the command, he sat down, albeit grudgingly. He glared at Carver, but otherwise just quietly sat where commanded with a pout.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

The second he felt the tug, Lock realized his mistake. He quickly answered her.

"Uh...a spanking?" he asked, with a slight grin and a hopeful lilt in his voice.

He flipped Carver off behind his back. Even without seeing it, he knew the pumpkin creature was having a silent laugh at his expense.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Lock watched "Corvin" search for the rat with a devious smile on his face.

"I'm sure you'll make short work of it," he said in that same calm, even tone.

He groaned when he realized Lillith forgot something. Lock didn't mind going where Lillith wanted him to. He did mind having to go all the way back into town. The little devil dug his heels in.

"All the way?" he whined. "We just got here!"

Banding Together in Halloween Town

Fortunately, Carver wouldn't have to go far to find Lock. Unfortunately, it was because Lillith was leading her boyfriend through the pumpkin patch to one of their favorite nooks. They stopped to see "Corvin" at the wall and trying to hop. Lock grinned.

"Are you having a little trouble there, Corvin?" he asked.

Lock kept a careful, polite tone to appear helpful to the "newcomer," but he knew "Corvin" would catch his drift. The smirk on his face as he stood just behind Lillith so she wouldn't see it confirmed it.

Banding Together in Halloween Town

The tour now over, Behemoth started to head back to the mulch pile.

"Sure she'll come 'round," he said. "You two be good friends."

He smiled at "Corvin".

"Always like new friend."