It must be around somewhere...

Askblog/Independent Roleplay hybrid for Sadistic Pumpkin. Sideblog of @askpikase

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

  He flinched at the sudden scream. Sure, he expected to be unwelcome, but not like this? The man took a few steps back in confusion and turned to look at the girl.

  “U-Uh, I think I should probably leave…? I-I’m really sorry for all the trouble…” He bowed his head a bit, then continuing to back away from them both.

  “I’m sorry, Nik... I-I don’t know why he’s acting like this...”

  “I’M BEING SAFE IN FRONT OF A MANIAC”

  She pulls her friend into an embrace to silence them, sending an apologetic smile to the kind man who, as far as she could tell, did nothing wrong.

  “I’ll see you another time, then...”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“You… y-you’re…. you!”

The pumpkin boy is shaking, backing away in fear. Tears well up in his eyes as he remembered what had happened last time.

“Jack? Jack, are you okay? What’s wrong? Hey!”

“Are you back for seconds…?”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   Jack? So he was right, but… Why was he–? His head swiveled a bit between the girl and the smaller male in confusion. 

   “M-Me..?” He didn’t understand what the problem was! “I-I don’t know what you’re– Ah-!” His hand went to his head as it seemed to pound. His vision blurred for a moment, causing him to stumble. He took a moment to push it down and the brief yellow surge in his eyes disappeared

   Why was he scared? “Hey, are you alright, friend? What’s the matter…?” He didn’t remember what he just said.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

Jack stumbles, falling backwards in panic. His face is contorted into blind, pure fear

"GO AWAY!! GO AWAY!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!'

"Jack, stop it! Tell me what's wrong!"

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Oh, okay! Yeah, I can do that. He’s really very nice if you get to know him, though.”

She shifts the pastries around a bit, not wanting to drop them.

“I like it too! That sounds nice!”

She giggles a bit, not noticing the bright pumpkin boy that had dropped his cane and stood motionless a little ways ahead of them.

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “I really hope so, friend. For now, I just don’t want to make him uncomfortable!” He covers his mouth, positively beaming.

   That’s when he looked ahead to find the strange just ahead. Yet there was only a look of innocence and curiosity towards the boy. Was that him…? It couldn’t be! He was so young! 

   There had to be a reason he was staring, though? Ah well, he’ll simply wait to be introduced instead of assuming things! Smart move, Nikolas, you chould get a gold star for thinking that up.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“You… y-you’re…. you!”

The pumpkin boy is shaking, backing away in fear. Tears well up in his eyes as he remembered what had happened last time.

“Jack? Jack, are you okay? What’s wrong? Hey!”

“Are you back for seconds…?”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Yeah!”

Master had certainly been very… upfront with his interests and opinions. At least with her.

“Ah, it’s not very far from here…”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “O-Oh! Right. I almost forgot what we were doing. That was a really good story, friend. You should tell me another story sometime.”

   He’s willing to listen to another again, but he wouldn’t want to upset Jack… Ah. Right! The man put the two pastries he had into the girl’s hands, smiling to her warmly.

   “Those are for your friend! I feel like I wouldn’t be welcome to give anything to him, I’d like you to do it instead, if that’s okay.”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"Oh, okay! Yeah, I can do that. He's really very nice if you get to know him, though."

She shifts the pastries around a bit, not wanting to drop them.

"I like it too! That sounds nice!"

She giggles a bit, not noticing the bright pumpkin boy that had dropped his cane and stood motionless a little ways ahead of them.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Yay! Well, it started with this man called Stingy Jack who invited the devil to a bar. After they got their drinks, he said he had no money, so the devil should shapeshift into a coin to pay, then change back when the bartender wasn’t looking. But when they did it, Stingy Jack pocketed the devil coin next to a cross, keeping the devil from changing back. And he only let the devil go when they promised not to ask for his soul for another year. A year passes and Stingy Jack convinces the devil to climb a tree, and draws a cross on the trunk so they can’t get down. And he only helped the devil get off when the devil promised to leave him alone forever. Soon after, Jack died. He was too mean for heaven, and the devil was too angry to let him into hell. So Stingy Jack was forced to wander Earth forever, using a carved out turnip with a hot coal in it to light his way. The Irish then started to carve lanterns like Jack’s to keep him and other wandering spirits away.”

It was taking everything she had not to talk in an excited babble. She really loved to tell this story.

“So a jack-o-lantern would never lie, lest they be like the very person they’re supposed to keep away. That’s what ‘he’ told me.”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   He listened with awe to the tale. Despite the darkness of it, he was amazed regardless. But… something was off about what she was telling him. It was… strange? Yet, Nikolas still couldn’t put his finger on it.

       It wasn’t really important, probably, so he decided to drop it.

   “That’s really interesting… So the moral is to be honest, huh?” He definitely couldn’t live that way. 

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"Yeah!"

Master had certainly been very... upfront with his interests and opinions. At least with her.

"Ah, it's not very far from here..."

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Sure!”

She grins as she starts walking, clearly pleased with their reaction. It was always fun talking about this.

“There is! Do you know where jack-o-lanterns came from? If not, I’ll tell you~”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   It was nice to see her smile. He personally didn’t get to see it that much the whole time they were here. At least, as much as he’d like.

        He just really wanted to help.

   “No, I actually don’t know! Please tell me.” The older man beamed with interest and curiosity.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Yay! Well, it started with this man called Stingy Jack who invited the devil to a bar. After they got their drinks, he said he had no money, so the devil should shapeshift into a coin to pay, then change back when the bartender wasn’t looking. But when they did it, Stingy Jack pocketed the devil coin next to a cross, keeping the devil from changing back. And he only let the devil go when they promised not to ask for his soul for another year. A year passes and Stingy Jack convinces the devil to climb a tree, and draws a cross on the trunk so they can’t get down. And he only helped the devil get off when the devil promised to leave him alone forever. Soon after, Jack died. He was too mean for heaven, and the devil was too angry to let him into hell. So Stingy Jack was forced to wander Earth forever, using a carved out turnip with a hot coal in it to light his way. The Irish then started to carve lanterns like Jack’s to keep him and other wandering spirits away.”

It was taking everything she had not to talk in an excited babble. She really loved to tell this story.

“So a jack-o-lantern would never lie, lest they be like the very person they’re supposed to keep away. That’s what ‘he’ told me.”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“He’ll probably ask what I was doing anyway… I don’t like to lie to him, so it’s probably just better if he meets you.”

She hadn’t ever lied to Jack. She kind of smiles.

“Did you know? A jack-o-lantern never lies.”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “I really hope he doesn’t get mad for this, friend. I really don’t mean any harm…” His brows were knitted with slight concern, then turning to her curiously soon after she spoke again.

   “I didn’t know that. Is there a reason for that?” He paused. “-Oh, but first, lead the way back home. We can walk and talk at the same time, okay?”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"Sure!"

She grins as she starts walking, clearly pleased with their reaction. It was always fun talking about this.

"There is! Do you know where jack-o-lanterns came from? If not, I'll tell you~"

[faeriemusings]

A heart’s a heavy burden.

Howl’s Moving Castle (via faeriemusings)

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“If it’s not any trouble… I don’t want Jack to worry. He might be upset I was with a stranger, though…”

She really felt bad about all of this. She should do something nice for Nikolas sometime.

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “And I don’t want you to walk home alone…” His gaze turned upwards in thought.

   “…Oh! I know! How about I walk you there but I won’t have to lead you all the way home? Just so he doesn’t have to be worried about me?” That didn’t really come out the exact way he wanted it but hey it worked with him too so he’s not complaining.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“He’ll probably ask what I was doing anyway… I don’t like to lie to him, so it’s probably just better if he meets you.”

She hadn’t ever lied to Jack. She kind of smiles.

“Did you know? A jack-o-lantern never lies.”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

  Kind of nods and hesitantly starts to eat the pastry. She has no strong opinion.

  “It’s really nice…”

                                                                  Liar.

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “I’m really glad! Bear claws have always been my favourite since I was little.” He looked out, scanning the area around them again before checking his phone. That’s when he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

   “Hey, do you wanna head back home? I can walk you back. It’s gonna get late soon and I wouldn’t want you to be alone like that.”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"If it's not any trouble... I don't want Jack to worry. He might be upset I was with a stranger, though..."

She really felt bad about all of this. She should do something nice for Nikolas sometime.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

 “Of course, friend! I’m positively absolutely a hundred percent sure that I don’t mind at all,” He chimed to the female.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Willow. I’m Nikolas Waltz!” Following that, he turned his attention to the cashier. Thankfully it was a new worker. They wouldn’t recognize him in this case.

  Once the taller had paid and had the sweets returned to his hand, he passed the bear claw to the girl before having her head out with him, Of course, he only turned his head to wave and thank the cashier with an energetic smile.

  Kind of nods and hesitantly starts to eat the pastry. She has no strong opinion.

  “It’s really nice...”

                                                                  Liar.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“A bear claw? No, I don’t think so…”

She stares at the pastry with a gentle smile, but her eyes are empty.

“… Even if I had, I don’t think I’d really remember it.”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   To her response, he chose a few more sweets. One with applie filling, the other with blueberry. “Then you can try it! If you don’t like it, I have a different one, then.” 

   With his free hand, he ruffled the girl’s hair before carefully leading her toward the front to check out.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“You’re really sure you don’t mind…?”

She fixes her hair that’s hopelessly disheveled no matter what and looks at the pastries, still feeling kind of bad about the whole thing.

"Um... I'm Willow, by the way. Willow Wisp."

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

She stares at the pastries, blinking. There’s a strange pain in her chest… like an overcrowded kind of feeling. Her head feels a bit funny, too. Almost as if it was stuffed with cotton…

Ah, and there goes get vision.

The girl stumbles in place as everything turns black, a hand on her head and a frown on her face. She stops moving for a second to steady herself and return to normal, then continues as if nothing had happened.

“Uhm… I don’t know, really! It’s hard to choose…”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   His gaze was flickering back and forth often. A few shoots he’d send were for those who may possibly still looking, the other to be certain that the younger girl was alright. When he saw her stumble, his hand reached out to hold onto her shoulder.

   Waiting for her to be steady once again, he slowly moved his hand away. It was hesitant. As she spoke, his eyes began to survey the options they had as well. He reached over to grab one of the pastries.

   “How about a Bear Claw? Have you ever had one of these before? It’s one of my personal favourites.” Nikolas gave her a warm smile as he held it up a bit for her to see.

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"A bear claw? No, I don't think so..."

She stares at the pastry with a gentle smile, but her eyes are empty.

"... Even if I had, I don't think I'd really remember it."

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

  “Uhm…. Everyone, really… but mostly people my age?”

  She taps on her lip in thought. There weren’t many examples that came to mind, so it was really hard to say.

  “And he gets really, really upset when they try to touch me…”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   “Weird, I’ve never heard something like that before.”

   With that description, he sounded less like a family member and more like an insecure lover. How silly was that? He wouldn’t say anything just from that information alone. Hopefully she wasn’t being taken advantage of..? No, assumptions are never good.

   He stopped in front of a pastry section, turning to look at the girl. “Anything here you like?”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

She stares at the pastries, blinking. There's a strange pain in her chest... like an overcrowded kind of feeling. Her head feels a bit funny, too. Almost as if it was stuffed with cotton...

Ah, and there goes get vision.

The girl stumbles in place as everything turns black, a hand on her head and a frown on her face. She stops moving for a second to steady herself and return to normal, then continues as if nothing had happened.

"Uhm... I don't know, really! It's hard to choose..."

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

    “Really?” His brows were thrown up in surprise. Though he suppose he could understand.

  Was that not strange to her? He can understand being protective, but meeting new people is something encouraged by him! Who even was Jack? A sibling? A cousin?

  “That’s kinda weird! Is he antsy about a lot of people or just some people?”

  “Uhm.... Everyone, really... but mostly people my age?”

  She taps on her lip in thought. There weren’t many examples that came to mind, so it was really hard to say.

  “And he gets really, really upset when they try to touch me...”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Um, yeah! But I…. I don’t think I want anything with a pumpkin in it anymore.”

Yeah, that would be weird…

“Um, sorry to just change my mind like that? I just… pumpkins are kind of a weird subject with me.”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   He casually began to walk, gesturing a bit for the other to walk with him. Despite wanting to be friendly, he couldn’t help but find himself watching others who looked at them strangely. It was only out of protection for the girl.

   “Oh, no. I don’t mind if you change your mind. Just go ahead and have whatever you’d like, okay?”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"Jeez, I'm not used to people being this nice. But I guess I'm not used to people in general."

The heartless pumpkin laughs a bit, twirling her tangled hair around a finger.

"Jack gets all antsy when I talk to new people..."

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

“Yeah. I’ll be okay. ‘He’ never lies. I can just ask Jack…!”

She doesn’t realize she’s a few steps ahead of spouting nonsense.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that…”

[carminepools-deactivated2017070]

   It’d be best if he didn’t say anything about it. So that’s what he decided to do. “No, it’s alright, friend. I understand.” He pulled his hair back a bit as he spoke.

   “Do you want to go buy your snack, now?”

[asksadisticlanterns-blog]

"Um, yeah! But I.... I don't think I want anything with a pumpkin in it anymore."

Yeah, that would be weird...

"Um, sorry to just change my mind like that? I just... pumpkins are kind of a weird subject with me."