39 days till Halloween [video]

[quickattackjack]

_{[At first it's hard to tell that the Pumpkin King is upside down. He's hanging off the common room sofa in the Breeding Centre with his legs draped over the back. A pokemon toddling by along the cushions is the only clue to his position.]}

You know, I've been wondering...just how many of you were dead before you arrived? I admit it's gotten a little lonely on the network. We dead folk must stick together!

Comments

[video]

[quickattackjack]

Well, yes, but that was our job.

[video]

[notakaijuu]

Y-you're job?! That doesn't sound like a very good job...

[video]

[quickattackjack]

It was a lot of fun, actually! Everyone loves a good scare every Halloween. Most everyone, anyway.

[video]

[notakaijuu]

At least you weren't a ghost. They're even scarier than skeletons.

Re: [video]

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[OH.]

[OH, SAKURA, NO.]</sub>

I beg your pardon, they most certainly are not.

[video]

[notakaijuu]

[ OHGODWHAT.

No words to describe her expression right now. ]

Eeek! I-I, u-um, uh, un. S-sorry! [ Then she turns the 'Gear to face the wall. ]

[video] asdfgg SAKURA BB ;-;

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[ >8I THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT.]

[KIDS THESE DAYS. DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT NOTHIN'.]

[His smile returns instantly and he prattles on as if nothing happened at all.]</sub>

One thing I like about being alive, though, is having a heartbeat. I never realized how nice it was to have one...or that I missed having one at all.

[video] SAKURA DOESN'T LIKE HALLOWEEN TOWN.

[notakaijuu]

[ Sakura is not turning the 'Gear to look at the screen even if Jack promises puppy dogs and kitties with rainbows and ice cream.

There is several seconds of silence after Jack says that.

Shh, hold on, she's trying to regain her ability to speak. ]

U-um. I-I guess that it would be w-weird to not have one....

[video] BUT HALLOWEEN TOWN LOVES YOU, SAKURA

[quickattackjack]

It's sort of comforting, actually. Things may be bad, but if you take a moment and listen, you've still got your heartbeat. You're alive. You can do something about it.

[video] NOPE, HIDING UNDER THE COVERS FOREVER.

[notakaijuu]

I-I guess I've never thought about it. Since I've always had a, um... a heartbeat.

[video] DAMMIT THE MONSTERS CANT FIND YOU THERE.

[quickattackjack]

I never thought about it when I was alive...or I don't suppose I did. I can't really remember what it was like the first time.

[video] GOOD. STAYING HERE FOREVER THEN.

[notakaijuu]

D-does that mean you're really old?

[ Speaking very quietly. She's afraid of offending him. ]

[video] ;-; sorry for delay life go boom

[quickattackjack]

_{[Jack sucks his lips inwards to make himself look even older and toothless.]}

That it does, my dear!

[video] It's fine! I hope everything's going better.

[notakaijuu]

[ She turns the 'Gear back around now. She's sitting with her legs pulled up to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. Her expression is curious now. ]

How old are you?

[video] FULL OF SINUS COCKTAIL INJECTIONS AND ZYRTEEEEC

[quickattackjack]

_{[Jack opens his mouth...then shuts it and looks thoughtful. Just how old was he. He knew he'd been around for quite a while. All the Halloweens sort of melted together.]}

Old as....Jack-o-lanterns!

_{[Close enough.]}

Sounds like a party! \o/

[notakaijuu]

[ She giggles a little at that. ]

That sounds really old. I have friends back at home who are really old, too.

[quickattackjack]

Really? How old are they?

_{[Jack tilts his head. He knows there are many beings out there far older than he is. They always had the best stories when they weren't trying to smite you.]}

[notakaijuu]

I don't know exactly. But they're older than me, and older than Daddy, too.

[ Two old, not-really-human friends. ]

[quickattackjack]

Hah, yeah? They must be pretty old then. How old are you?

[notakaijuu]

I'm eleven!

[quickattackjack]

_{[Eleven whole years of survival was something to be proud of in Jack's opinion! The human world was an unforgiving one. He grins.]}

Really? When's your birthday, I'll have to remember it.

[notakaijuu]

April 1st!

[ A beat. Then her hands fly to her mouth in surprise. ]

Oh! That's coming up soon!

[quickattackjack]

It is, isn't it! What would you like? Goldenrod has all sorts of shops.

_{[He wants to make up for spooking her earlier. He's read all about April 1st but only entertains the thought of getting her a gag gift for a moment or two. That would be mean and she IS only a kid.]}

[notakaijuu]

You don't have to get me anything, Mr. Jack! But, um, I really like the dolls that Goldenrod has.

[quickattackjack]

We'll see!


_{[Luckily for Sakura, Jack has learned a little more about gift giving since That Christmas.]}