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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Several years had passed since that fateful Christmas Eve. Halloween Town was changed by the knowledge of Christmas, and in time, other holidays. Every year on Christmas Eve, Sandy Claws made it snow as a gift to Halloween Town, and was a well-appreciated gesture among the creepy crawlies and macabre monsters.
It was far from the only change.
Oogie Boogie no longer lurked in the outskirts, destroyed by Jack as a final straw after the boogeyman tried to do away with Sandy Claws and Sally. Very few missed him - only three people in the entire town, in fact: his young henchmen, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. The trio came out with the rest of the town that first Christmas Eve to play in the snow, and even threw the first snowball right into the face of the Pumpkin King himself (much to Jack's amusement and laughter). For the first time in their devious little lives, they found joy in something other than trouble.
As the years passed, the little tricksters, no longer influenced by Oogie, became more playful at first, then began to test their new limits. If there was one thing the town could have been grateful to Oogie for, it was that he used to keep Lock, Shock, and Barrel both in check and occupied. When they weren't pulling pranks, they often looked for offerings to send down to the boogeyman's lair, or ran tasks for him, as under Jack's orders, he was forbidden to leave his underground home.
Now with more free time, and even more freedom than before, the sinister siblings occupied their time by finding new ways to cause trouble. More than that, something happened to them that rarely happened to the undead in Halloween Town.
No one - not even the trio - noticed it for many years. But there came a day where Lock came to Sally to help fix his shoes because they had mysteriously gotten too tight. Then Barrel found his shirt no longer covered his belly, and Shock realized the hem of her dress lifted above her knees. The changes were slow, gradual, but in time, there was no mistaking it: the tricksters were growing up. The common theory was it had something to do with Oogie's death. Lock, Shock, and Barrel had been with him for so long that perhaps under his influence, maybe even his power, they remained ageless, and as each year passed, a little of that influence left.
But no one knew for sure.
Several more years passed before they finally broke out of childhood and grew into teenagers. It made Halloween Town long for the days when the devious brats were small enough to crawl into spaces they weren't supposed to be and be satisfied with wrecking a few things and taking a few sweets. With age came maturity, nuance, and greater intelligence for more elaborate trouble.
In time, other changes came: the siblings better established themselves apart from their group.
Shock, always the most cunning, practical, and dominant of the three, completely declared herself as their ringleader after Oogie passed, instead of merely the guiding force keeping her brothers somewhat on target with their tasks. Her devious mind matured over the years from simple pragmatism to quiet calculation, which made any prank she was involved in a lot worse than it could have been had it been solely left in the hands of her brothers, and made dealing with her in person a hassle.
Barrel shot up like a weed, almost a head taller than his older sister, and no less round. He had always been the one easiest to get along with and sway over, and that didn't change much. In fact, it seemed Barrel had outgrown a lot of his need for trouble, or at least, wasn't up to the more obvious antics like his older siblings.
Lock, the middle child, and always struggling to crawl out of Shock's shadow, changed the most. From his outfit (some of the pieces stolen from mortals on ventures out on Halloweens past) and his newly-styled horns to try to appear taller than his sister, to his constant need to stick out from the group, he was the most reckless and noticeable, and often fought with Shock in public over her domineering attitude. But he found a way to channel that newfound rebellion.
Oogie's lair changed as much as its new occupants. Long gone were several elements in the casino. The giant roulette wheel was now stationary, and the yellow torture table in the middle long since removed. Many of the torture devices had been moved around or taken out entirely, though the lighting system remained to be re-purposed for a new kind of stage. Some of the old skeletons hung around the room, a mock audience to be entertained. The old chute had been replaced with a wider one, and then lengthened, the pipe circling the room at careful angles so those coming down from the tree house wouldn't get stuck or slide too quickly. The upper window now sported a rope ladder as a way out, with another rope ladder hanging from the bridge.
In the middle of the roulette wheel, several instruments had been set up, though it had taken time to get them all down here. Lock tuned his guitar as he waited for the others to arrive for the day's practice.
Shock controlled most of their other day-to-day operations. The Devil's Pitchfork was his idea, and something he could boss her over if she wanted to remain his lead vocalist - even if part of him would never admit he let her sing lead as a way to keep her out of his hair. Still, it gave him a petty thrill to have something to hold over her head for once, and Lock would savor it for as long as he could. And he had to admit, she had a great shriek, which worked for the style they played.
The chute rattled as someone came sliding down. Lock glanced over and saw the three-toed white feet first. Long pants with bones on them followed the feet, then a hoodie with a rib cage and arm-bones on the sleeves, and finally, a round, grinning face and wild green hair. Barrel somersaulted as he landed, then stood on his feet.
"You're actually on time for once," Lock said.
"Clown sprung my trap early," Barrel grinned. "You should've seen his face! It fell off and bounced into the sewer!"
"Yeah, yeah," Lock said, decidedly unimpressed. "Where's Shock?"
Barrel frowned in annoyance that his older brother brushed him off so quickly. He tapped his fingers on a snare drum just to make noise.
"On her way with the others," he answered. "They got caught up at the witch's shop."
Lock rolled his eyes.
"Probably to catch up with her 'bestie', Agatha."
That got Barrel to snort with laughter. Shock and Agatha tolerated each other at best. Neither of the two witches ever stayed in the other's presence longer than they had to. Barrel climbed in his seat behind his drums.
"Guess I'll warm up while we wait for the girls," he said.
Lock just nodded and went back to tuning his guitar.
~~~
The Witch's Shop was the go-to for ingredients, potions, charms, and the occasional odd item. Shock hung out just outside the shop while she waited for the vampire twins, having no need to actually go inside today. Carmilla insisted she needed a refill of her throat spray to enhance her singing. Shock shared her opinion of such as she shared a cigarette with Carver.
"Delicate little Charmelia," she muttered as she handed it over. "'Oh, my voice is just so fragile without it!' Please. She's not doing most of the shrieking."
It was far from the only change.
Oogie Boogie no longer lurked in the outskirts, destroyed by Jack as a final straw after the boogeyman tried to do away with Sandy Claws and Sally. Very few missed him - only three people in the entire town, in fact: his young henchmen, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. The trio came out with the rest of the town that first Christmas Eve to play in the snow, and even threw the first snowball right into the face of the Pumpkin King himself (much to Jack's amusement and laughter). For the first time in their devious little lives, they found joy in something other than trouble.
As the years passed, the little tricksters, no longer influenced by Oogie, became more playful at first, then began to test their new limits. If there was one thing the town could have been grateful to Oogie for, it was that he used to keep Lock, Shock, and Barrel both in check and occupied. When they weren't pulling pranks, they often looked for offerings to send down to the boogeyman's lair, or ran tasks for him, as under Jack's orders, he was forbidden to leave his underground home.
Now with more free time, and even more freedom than before, the sinister siblings occupied their time by finding new ways to cause trouble. More than that, something happened to them that rarely happened to the undead in Halloween Town.
No one - not even the trio - noticed it for many years. But there came a day where Lock came to Sally to help fix his shoes because they had mysteriously gotten too tight. Then Barrel found his shirt no longer covered his belly, and Shock realized the hem of her dress lifted above her knees. The changes were slow, gradual, but in time, there was no mistaking it: the tricksters were growing up. The common theory was it had something to do with Oogie's death. Lock, Shock, and Barrel had been with him for so long that perhaps under his influence, maybe even his power, they remained ageless, and as each year passed, a little of that influence left.
But no one knew for sure.
Several more years passed before they finally broke out of childhood and grew into teenagers. It made Halloween Town long for the days when the devious brats were small enough to crawl into spaces they weren't supposed to be and be satisfied with wrecking a few things and taking a few sweets. With age came maturity, nuance, and greater intelligence for more elaborate trouble.
In time, other changes came: the siblings better established themselves apart from their group.
Shock, always the most cunning, practical, and dominant of the three, completely declared herself as their ringleader after Oogie passed, instead of merely the guiding force keeping her brothers somewhat on target with their tasks. Her devious mind matured over the years from simple pragmatism to quiet calculation, which made any prank she was involved in a lot worse than it could have been had it been solely left in the hands of her brothers, and made dealing with her in person a hassle.
Barrel shot up like a weed, almost a head taller than his older sister, and no less round. He had always been the one easiest to get along with and sway over, and that didn't change much. In fact, it seemed Barrel had outgrown a lot of his need for trouble, or at least, wasn't up to the more obvious antics like his older siblings.
Lock, the middle child, and always struggling to crawl out of Shock's shadow, changed the most. From his outfit (some of the pieces stolen from mortals on ventures out on Halloweens past) and his newly-styled horns to try to appear taller than his sister, to his constant need to stick out from the group, he was the most reckless and noticeable, and often fought with Shock in public over her domineering attitude. But he found a way to channel that newfound rebellion.
Oogie's lair changed as much as its new occupants. Long gone were several elements in the casino. The giant roulette wheel was now stationary, and the yellow torture table in the middle long since removed. Many of the torture devices had been moved around or taken out entirely, though the lighting system remained to be re-purposed for a new kind of stage. Some of the old skeletons hung around the room, a mock audience to be entertained. The old chute had been replaced with a wider one, and then lengthened, the pipe circling the room at careful angles so those coming down from the tree house wouldn't get stuck or slide too quickly. The upper window now sported a rope ladder as a way out, with another rope ladder hanging from the bridge.
In the middle of the roulette wheel, several instruments had been set up, though it had taken time to get them all down here. Lock tuned his guitar as he waited for the others to arrive for the day's practice.
Shock controlled most of their other day-to-day operations. The Devil's Pitchfork was his idea, and something he could boss her over if she wanted to remain his lead vocalist - even if part of him would never admit he let her sing lead as a way to keep her out of his hair. Still, it gave him a petty thrill to have something to hold over her head for once, and Lock would savor it for as long as he could. And he had to admit, she had a great shriek, which worked for the style they played.
The chute rattled as someone came sliding down. Lock glanced over and saw the three-toed white feet first. Long pants with bones on them followed the feet, then a hoodie with a rib cage and arm-bones on the sleeves, and finally, a round, grinning face and wild green hair. Barrel somersaulted as he landed, then stood on his feet.
"You're actually on time for once," Lock said.
"Clown sprung my trap early," Barrel grinned. "You should've seen his face! It fell off and bounced into the sewer!"
"Yeah, yeah," Lock said, decidedly unimpressed. "Where's Shock?"
Barrel frowned in annoyance that his older brother brushed him off so quickly. He tapped his fingers on a snare drum just to make noise.
"On her way with the others," he answered. "They got caught up at the witch's shop."
Lock rolled his eyes.
"Probably to catch up with her 'bestie', Agatha."
That got Barrel to snort with laughter. Shock and Agatha tolerated each other at best. Neither of the two witches ever stayed in the other's presence longer than they had to. Barrel climbed in his seat behind his drums.
"Guess I'll warm up while we wait for the girls," he said.
Lock just nodded and went back to tuning his guitar.
~~~
The Witch's Shop was the go-to for ingredients, potions, charms, and the occasional odd item. Shock hung out just outside the shop while she waited for the vampire twins, having no need to actually go inside today. Carmilla insisted she needed a refill of her throat spray to enhance her singing. Shock shared her opinion of such as she shared a cigarette with Carver.
"Delicate little Charmelia," she muttered as she handed it over. "'Oh, my voice is just so fragile without it!' Please. She's not doing most of the shrieking."
SystemofEleven
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2 yrs ago
Carver leaned against the wall as she slowly inhaled the smoke. She didn't have to exhale, as it simply leaked out through the pumpkin vines that formed the flesh of her chest. Her latest face was fairly simple: a few thin lines skimmed from the surface to create the impression of eyes sewn shut, and a long thin hole that formed a twisted grin in its resting state. A natural crease in the gourd served as a brow ridge, and the curved stem hung in place of a ponytail per her usual. Her last head had been extremely detailed, with depth and shading that looked exquisite even in sunlight. Once this head reached an annoying level of rot, she'd probably do something like that again. She had just felt like mixing it up this time around.
"Hey," she shrugged, "At least she has the spray. How much more whining do you think she'd get up to if she didn't?"
Carver flicked some ash off the end of the cigarette, then handed it back.
"Besides, it provides all sorts of extra ammunition for you. Have you gotten her to admit how she figured out whatever daywalker was using it in the first place? Agatha did say she brought the basic recipe in herself, after a jaunt in the Human World. One has to wonder where she got it and how she learned it was a thing..."
---
Meanwhile, Lilith flicked a lace hand fan placidly as she waited for her sister to finish the transaction. Carmilla read the instructions on the bottle, ensuring nothing had changed -- it never did, but she always checked -- and opened it to take a suspicious whiff. Just one mislabeling of an ingredient had been enough to scare her into paranoia for an afterlifetime; the witches never did figure out what had caused the mishap, after all. Why did they even keep garlic blossoms in their shop, anyway??
Agnes tapped her long fingernails on the counter impatiently. Finally, the younger vampiress handed over a small bag of dead man's toes and packed the bottle into her handbag.
"Thank you for your purchase!" Aggie called cheerfully from her end of the room. "The Witch's Shop is proud to provide the best bargain in town!"
The twins thanked them politely, and glided toward the door.
"Hey," she shrugged, "At least she has the spray. How much more whining do you think she'd get up to if she didn't?"
Carver flicked some ash off the end of the cigarette, then handed it back.
"Besides, it provides all sorts of extra ammunition for you. Have you gotten her to admit how she figured out whatever daywalker was using it in the first place? Agatha did say she brought the basic recipe in herself, after a jaunt in the Human World. One has to wonder where she got it and how she learned it was a thing..."
---
Meanwhile, Lilith flicked a lace hand fan placidly as she waited for her sister to finish the transaction. Carmilla read the instructions on the bottle, ensuring nothing had changed -- it never did, but she always checked -- and opened it to take a suspicious whiff. Just one mislabeling of an ingredient had been enough to scare her into paranoia for an afterlifetime; the witches never did figure out what had caused the mishap, after all. Why did they even keep garlic blossoms in their shop, anyway??
Agnes tapped her long fingernails on the counter impatiently. Finally, the younger vampiress handed over a small bag of dead man's toes and packed the bottle into her handbag.
"Thank you for your purchase!" Aggie called cheerfully from her end of the room. "The Witch's Shop is proud to provide the best bargain in town!"
The twins thanked them politely, and glided toward the door.
GM
LePouvantail
Member
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3 yrs ago
Shock smirked, took one more drag, then gave Carver the cigarette with the indication she was done with it. She then ran her fingers over the spikes on her collar, liking the feel of the points against her gloves. She'd stolen it from Lock a while back, and wore it like a trophy. That he hadn't been able to reclaim it said all it needed to.
"Enough to buy a vineyard," Shock replied.
She smoothed down her skirt and leaned against the wall. Her last dress had torn beyond repair after a prank gone wrong. As an easy solution to salvage most of it, Sally simply made it into two pieces: a crop top, which covered what it needed to, but exposed her stomach, and a miniskirt she often wore with a belt. The skirt had a torn slit up the left side thanks to her rough and tumble lifestyle, revealing her dark leggings and thigh-high boots underneath. The top was torn across the chest as well, something she took advantage of on jaunts in the Human World, but in Halloween Town, just considered part of her look. A pair of black opera gloves that had seen better days overlapped her sleeves.
Shock locked her gaze with the Wolfman as he passed by with a snarl, though it could have simply been his usual expression. She was used to other Halloween Town citizens keeping their eyes on her, given her reputation.
"Like she'll tell me anything," she pointed out. "But...Lock using his charm on Lillith hasn't amounted to anything yet."
The little bell above the shop rang as the vampire twins finally rejoined them. Shock observed them only for a second to pick out Carmilla. Then again, even without the usual tells that gave each twin away, the one holding the little shopping bag marked her easily.
"Got your oil for your squeaky wheel?" she asked.
"Enough to buy a vineyard," Shock replied.
She smoothed down her skirt and leaned against the wall. Her last dress had torn beyond repair after a prank gone wrong. As an easy solution to salvage most of it, Sally simply made it into two pieces: a crop top, which covered what it needed to, but exposed her stomach, and a miniskirt she often wore with a belt. The skirt had a torn slit up the left side thanks to her rough and tumble lifestyle, revealing her dark leggings and thigh-high boots underneath. The top was torn across the chest as well, something she took advantage of on jaunts in the Human World, but in Halloween Town, just considered part of her look. A pair of black opera gloves that had seen better days overlapped her sleeves.
Shock locked her gaze with the Wolfman as he passed by with a snarl, though it could have simply been his usual expression. She was used to other Halloween Town citizens keeping their eyes on her, given her reputation.
"Like she'll tell me anything," she pointed out. "But...Lock using his charm on Lillith hasn't amounted to anything yet."
The little bell above the shop rang as the vampire twins finally rejoined them. Shock observed them only for a second to pick out Carmilla. Then again, even without the usual tells that gave each twin away, the one holding the little shopping bag marked her easily.
"Got your oil for your squeaky wheel?" she asked.
SystemofEleven
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2 yrs ago
Carver's mouth line stretched and curled upward when Wolfman glanced at her, forming loose swirls at its corners. She purposefully took as long and deep of a drag as she could. Her whole body appeared to smoke as he continued on his way, moving to the other side of the path. Once he was a bit farther away, she tossed the cigarette to the gutter.
"Sure, but does she know that? Sometimes acting like you know can be just as useful." Carver went quiet as the door opened, one side of her mouth uncurling to form a smirk.
The two vampiress sisters paused in the doorway to open their umbrellas. Carmilla raised her head and sniffed disdainfully at Shock. "A squeaky wheel is better than one that's not moving at all. How unfortunate that there's nothing that can improve your voice."
Lilith sighed. "May we please move toward the Lair while you two are sniping at each other? I'd like to get there before the sun goes far enough down that I have to hold my umbrella sideways." She hid a quiet yawn behind three fingers. "It's far too early for it, anyway."
"Sure, but does she know that? Sometimes acting like you know can be just as useful." Carver went quiet as the door opened, one side of her mouth uncurling to form a smirk.
The two vampiress sisters paused in the doorway to open their umbrellas. Carmilla raised her head and sniffed disdainfully at Shock. "A squeaky wheel is better than one that's not moving at all. How unfortunate that there's nothing that can improve your voice."
Lilith sighed. "May we please move toward the Lair while you two are sniping at each other? I'd like to get there before the sun goes far enough down that I have to hold my umbrella sideways." She hid a quiet yawn behind three fingers. "It's far too early for it, anyway."
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Shock smirked as she pushed herself from the wall to head towards the tree house.
"Can't improve perfection," she said with a grin, showing off her pointy teeth.
Shock readied herself, then made sure to emphasize her talent to put Carmilla back in her place. She made sure this particular range perfectly mimicked a bat to drive the point home.
"Not when I can screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech at different pitches."
Wolfman glanced over his shoulder at the sudden high-pitched noise, and this time, that snarl was definitely aimed at Shock, especially with how his ears flattened to try to drown it out. Shock gave him her sweetest smile before she gestured for the others to follow.
"Come on," she said, this comment now aimed at Lillith. "I'm sure lover boy is waiting for you."
"Can't improve perfection," she said with a grin, showing off her pointy teeth.
Shock readied herself, then made sure to emphasize her talent to put Carmilla back in her place. She made sure this particular range perfectly mimicked a bat to drive the point home.
"Not when I can screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech at different pitches."
Wolfman glanced over his shoulder at the sudden high-pitched noise, and this time, that snarl was definitely aimed at Shock, especially with how his ears flattened to try to drown it out. Shock gave him her sweetest smile before she gestured for the others to follow.
"Come on," she said, this comment now aimed at Lillith. "I'm sure lover boy is waiting for you."
SystemofEleven
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2 yrs ago
Carmilla scowled. "I can screech just fine. Your slightly improved range doesn't make up for your lack of skill when it comes to actually singing."
Lilith rolled her eyes at the lover boy comment. "Teasing your brother about me doesn't work when he isn't here, Shock. Call him whatever you want; it won't peel any of my skin." She glided after Shock and her twin followed her sourly, muttering to herself. If not for their supreme vampiric grace, one might have described Carmilla's movement as 'trudging'.
Carver took up the rear. The pumpkin face resumed its normal expression, and she flicked one of her blades in and out idly as she walked. If she heard Carmilla's under-the-breath passing shot about the eldest trickster's temptress skirt being wasted on such a bitch, she said nothing.
Lilith rolled her eyes at the lover boy comment. "Teasing your brother about me doesn't work when he isn't here, Shock. Call him whatever you want; it won't peel any of my skin." She glided after Shock and her twin followed her sourly, muttering to herself. If not for their supreme vampiric grace, one might have described Carmilla's movement as 'trudging'.
Carver took up the rear. The pumpkin face resumed its normal expression, and she flicked one of her blades in and out idly as she walked. If she heard Carmilla's under-the-breath passing shot about the eldest trickster's temptress skirt being wasted on such a bitch, she said nothing.
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Shock just rolled her eyes as she made her way out of town.
"At least I don't need a potion to make it sound good," she said.
She shot a glance over her shoulder at Lillith as she walked.
"And I'll make fun of him whenever I damn well please."
It didn't take too long to reach the tree house. Having outgrown it, the birdcage elevator had long since been taken down and replaced with a rope ladder in lieu of a front door. The rope ladder stretched down through a large hole in the bridge and into the ravine. Shock walked over the rickety footbridge without a care until she got to the ladder, then scaled down it until she reached the large, round window that lead into the lair-turned-sound stage. It was faster than going up into the tree house proper and using the slide, and they were already running late.
After some careful maneuvering, she crawled in through the window and used the second rope ladder to get inside.
"Took you long enough," Lock said.
Barrel was tapping out a simple beat to warm up.
"Even I got here on time," he said.
"Talk to your girlfriend," Shock said, far from in the mood for this, "or rather, her pet."
She climbed down about four rungs, then jumped to clear the rest of the way. Lock glared at her, not really in the mood to fight either, but knew he had to somewhat keep the peace.
"I know you and Carmilla don't get along, but can you at least save it until after practice?"
Shock rolled her eyes and came over to test the microphone.
"Fine."
Lock just nodded, then glanced up to see if he could spot the vampire bats. He did a quick once-over, smoothing down his red T-shirt with its ripped sleeves, made a quick adjustment to his belt, and with it it, his dark pants. Lock then shifted his stance to appear taller and more confident, helped with a small boost from his boots. He waited until the vampires reformed, before giving a decided smirk to Lillith.
"There's my little leech," he said, keeping his tone careful with excitement to see her, but also in control.
Shock just shook her head. What was it with the love-bats and their cutesy nicknames?
"At least I don't need a potion to make it sound good," she said.
She shot a glance over her shoulder at Lillith as she walked.
"And I'll make fun of him whenever I damn well please."
It didn't take too long to reach the tree house. Having outgrown it, the birdcage elevator had long since been taken down and replaced with a rope ladder in lieu of a front door. The rope ladder stretched down through a large hole in the bridge and into the ravine. Shock walked over the rickety footbridge without a care until she got to the ladder, then scaled down it until she reached the large, round window that lead into the lair-turned-sound stage. It was faster than going up into the tree house proper and using the slide, and they were already running late.
After some careful maneuvering, she crawled in through the window and used the second rope ladder to get inside.
"Took you long enough," Lock said.
Barrel was tapping out a simple beat to warm up.
"Even I got here on time," he said.
"Talk to your girlfriend," Shock said, far from in the mood for this, "or rather, her pet."
She climbed down about four rungs, then jumped to clear the rest of the way. Lock glared at her, not really in the mood to fight either, but knew he had to somewhat keep the peace.
"I know you and Carmilla don't get along, but can you at least save it until after practice?"
Shock rolled her eyes and came over to test the microphone.
"Fine."
Lock just nodded, then glanced up to see if he could spot the vampire bats. He did a quick once-over, smoothing down his red T-shirt with its ripped sleeves, made a quick adjustment to his belt, and with it it, his dark pants. Lock then shifted his stance to appear taller and more confident, helped with a small boost from his boots. He waited until the vampires reformed, before giving a decided smirk to Lillith.
"There's my little leech," he said, keeping his tone careful with excitement to see her, but also in control.
Shock just shook her head. What was it with the love-bats and their cutesy nicknames?
SystemofEleven
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2 yrs ago
Carmilla scoffed. "It doesn't make me sound good. I do that. The potion just makes it so I can sing for longer without damaging my highly developed vocal cords."
Lilith simply shrugged. "I didn't say you had to stop teasing him, only that there was no point. I don't care either way."
The twins waited for Shock to descend, then motioned for Carver to go next. The pumpkin head shook side to side. "One more smoke break," she said. "You go on ahead."
Both shrugged and stepped off the ledge into the ravine. They fell slowly, still holding their umbrellas over themselves, and only turned into bats just as they reached the window. It didn't take much flapping to swoop into the lair and down to the floor. They returned to their normal forms in a small puff of smoke, and carefully stowed their umbrellas away again.
Carver took a seat on the rope bridge and rested one arm on what functioned as a knee joint. She expected she'd have a good five minutes, at least.
Lilith straightened her dress, then stepped over to Lock. She bowed her head a bit but finding him still too far down to reach, she casually lifted him by his waist to kiss him properly without disturbing her posture. Carmilla waited for her to put him down before gliding forward.
"Hey Lock, could I have a moment?"
Lilith simply shrugged. "I didn't say you had to stop teasing him, only that there was no point. I don't care either way."
The twins waited for Shock to descend, then motioned for Carver to go next. The pumpkin head shook side to side. "One more smoke break," she said. "You go on ahead."
Both shrugged and stepped off the ledge into the ravine. They fell slowly, still holding their umbrellas over themselves, and only turned into bats just as they reached the window. It didn't take much flapping to swoop into the lair and down to the floor. They returned to their normal forms in a small puff of smoke, and carefully stowed their umbrellas away again.
Carver took a seat on the rope bridge and rested one arm on what functioned as a knee joint. She expected she'd have a good five minutes, at least.
Lilith straightened her dress, then stepped over to Lock. She bowed her head a bit but finding him still too far down to reach, she casually lifted him by his waist to kiss him properly without disturbing her posture. Carmilla waited for her to put him down before gliding forward.
"Hey Lock, could I have a moment?"
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Lock tried to stand on his toes, but found himself lifted by Lillith.
"H-hey!" he cried. "Not in front of--!"
She was already kissing him. Shock and Barrel both burst out laughing, Barrel dropping him drumsticks and nearly falling out of his seat, with Shock clutching her sides at their brother's distinct misery. Lock reluctantly kissed Lillith back, trying his damnedest to fight the blood rushing to his face from his tall girlfriend having to pick him up like a child. He gave her a small smile when she pulled away, though there was a distinct gray tinge to his cheeks. The second she set him down, Lock turned to his siblings.
"Knock it off!" he screamed.
That only got Shock and Barrel to laugh even harder, with Barrel actually falling out of his seat that time, and only stopping when he hit the floor. Shock got control of herself a moment later, then brushed away some hair that fell into her face.
"Little lover boy need a little help?" she asked.
"Shut up!"
Shock smirked and went back to testing the microphone. Barrel tried to find the drumsticks he dropped. Face still gray, Lock turned to Carmilla.
"If it's about the lead position, don't ask," he said.
Even if he had half a mind to give it to her for this session just to piss off Shock.
Which actually gave him an idea...
"H-hey!" he cried. "Not in front of--!"
She was already kissing him. Shock and Barrel both burst out laughing, Barrel dropping him drumsticks and nearly falling out of his seat, with Shock clutching her sides at their brother's distinct misery. Lock reluctantly kissed Lillith back, trying his damnedest to fight the blood rushing to his face from his tall girlfriend having to pick him up like a child. He gave her a small smile when she pulled away, though there was a distinct gray tinge to his cheeks. The second she set him down, Lock turned to his siblings.
"Knock it off!" he screamed.
That only got Shock and Barrel to laugh even harder, with Barrel actually falling out of his seat that time, and only stopping when he hit the floor. Shock got control of herself a moment later, then brushed away some hair that fell into her face.
"Little lover boy need a little help?" she asked.
"Shut up!"
Shock smirked and went back to testing the microphone. Barrel tried to find the drumsticks he dropped. Face still gray, Lock turned to Carmilla.
"If it's about the lead position, don't ask," he said.
Even if he had half a mind to give it to her for this session just to piss off Shock.
Which actually gave him an idea...
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2 yrs ago
Lilith ignored the siblings' laughter and glided over to double check her theremin was set up properly. Carmilla smoothed out her expression carefully.
"Not the lead position, but maybe a lead position. Just in the parts of the songs that aren't screeched, to get the best use out of my singing voice. Don't you want your music to sound the best it possibly can? I'm wasted singing nothing but background."
"Not the lead position, but maybe a lead position. Just in the parts of the songs that aren't screeched, to get the best use out of my singing voice. Don't you want your music to sound the best it possibly can? I'm wasted singing nothing but background."
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Lock pretended to ponder the request for a moment. He moved a hand to his chin as if in thought, and even his tail flicked once to indicate the gears turning in his head. Lock peered around Carmilla to look at Shock.
"...Actually," he said, a devious smirk on his lips.
Shock's head snapped toward him with a glare.
Don't you dare, she told him silently. Lock's smirk only widened as he turned back to Carmilla, and then to her sister. Payback time.
"Lillith," he said sweetly, just to get her attention, "I actually have been working on a new song just for you. And I think this is the perfect time to bring it out."
Shock's glare darkened. He didn't care. Lock picked up the folder he used to hold his music and thumbed through it, before he found what he was looking for.
"It's called, 'Siren Song'," he said, as he handed over a copy for the twins to look over, "and it's written to showcase all that practice you put in to give my dear sister a break when we're ready for a live performance."
Lock glanced over to Shock, who looked ready to kill him, but he knew he won this round.
"...Actually," he said, a devious smirk on his lips.
Shock's head snapped toward him with a glare.
Don't you dare, she told him silently. Lock's smirk only widened as he turned back to Carmilla, and then to her sister. Payback time.
"Lillith," he said sweetly, just to get her attention, "I actually have been working on a new song just for you. And I think this is the perfect time to bring it out."
Shock's glare darkened. He didn't care. Lock picked up the folder he used to hold his music and thumbed through it, before he found what he was looking for.
"It's called, 'Siren Song'," he said, as he handed over a copy for the twins to look over, "and it's written to showcase all that practice you put in to give my dear sister a break when we're ready for a live performance."
Lock glanced over to Shock, who looked ready to kill him, but he knew he won this round.
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2 yrs ago
Carmilla beamed, but tried not to look too smug or arrogant. After all, the trickster siblings were all known to be rather capricious, and she didn't want to give Lock a reason to change his mind. She was pretty sure she could take Shock if she decided to start a fight though. And anyway, vampires were above that sort of thing.
Lilith accepted the sheet music with a raised eyebrow. The overlapping wordless vocals, combined with a focus on the theremin, made for an eerie, enchanting effect; the periodic rising of the drums and xylophone with only light background screeching added an increasingly ominous air. She wasn't overly romantic herself, but she appreciated the gesture.
She also wasn't naive; it wasn't unlikely that Lock had prepared this a while ago and kept it ready for a time he was most interested in frustrating his sister.
Lilith accepted the sheet music with a raised eyebrow. The overlapping wordless vocals, combined with a focus on the theremin, made for an eerie, enchanting effect; the periodic rising of the drums and xylophone with only light background screeching added an increasingly ominous air. She wasn't overly romantic herself, but she appreciated the gesture.
She also wasn't naive; it wasn't unlikely that Lock had prepared this a while ago and kept it ready for a time he was most interested in frustrating his sister.
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Lock gently tugged Lillith's sleeve so he could kiss her cheek, partially to seal the gift, and partially to irk Shock even more. Shock flipped him off, which got him to grin. Barrel snorted with laughter, but watched himself so he didn't drop his drumsticks again.
"Just trying to protect your beautiful voice, sister dear," he said.
Even if they both knew this was a deliberate gesture to piss her off. He watched as Shock's annoyance faded into an eerie calm. Maybe he'd gone too far.
...Maybe.
Lock cleared his throat, then called towards the window.
"Hey, Carver, you coming?"
"Just trying to protect your beautiful voice, sister dear," he said.
Even if they both knew this was a deliberate gesture to piss her off. He watched as Shock's annoyance faded into an eerie calm. Maybe he'd gone too far.
...Maybe.
Lock cleared his throat, then called towards the window.
"Hey, Carver, you coming?"
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2 yrs ago
Lilith knelt down to allow it, gave his ear a gentle bite, then returned to tuning her theremin like nothing had happened. Carmilla quickly stashed her copy of the new song and began setting up her own instrument. She didn't particularly approve of her sister's relationship with one of the trip, but it wasn't worth arguing over and it did come with perks by association.
Carver climbed down the first ladder and poked her head through the window curiously. "That was fast. What, no pre-practice cat fights today? Whose deathday is it?"
She didn't wait for an answer before completely entering the lair and heading over to the xylophone. Unlike all the other instruments, hers didn't have any electric components or complex mechanisms that needed to be checked over before playing. She picked up her mallets and twirled them between her finger vines.
Carver climbed down the first ladder and poked her head through the window curiously. "That was fast. What, no pre-practice cat fights today? Whose deathday is it?"
She didn't wait for an answer before completely entering the lair and heading over to the xylophone. Unlike all the other instruments, hers didn't have any electric components or complex mechanisms that needed to be checked over before playing. She picked up her mallets and twirled them between her finger vines.
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
Lock quickly cleared his throat after the bite to try to prevent even more grayness darkening his face, before he picked up his guitar. He strummed a few notes to check his previous tuning. Barrel looked over to Carver.
"Not mine," he said with a shrug.
Shock shot the pumpkin girl a small glare.
"Shut it," she said, already in a foul mood.
Lock waited for everyone to get situated.
"All right," he said. "Warm-ups. On my mark. Three, two, one..."
As always, it was vocal exercises first, more for the girls, as they did most of the heavy-lifting in that regard, before a few quick tunes to do an instrument check and get the band in the groove. They wouldn't start the new song until later, partially so they could finish fine-tuning the last one, and partially to let Shock stew on the fact that she would be taking secondary vocals for once, while the vampires took the lead.
If anything, Lock knew Shock would need to vent, and would therefore give it her all when it came to shrieks, screams, and strange sounds.
More importantly, he watched and listened for the rest of the band. Barrel kept a good beat, but was inconsistent with his drum work, as usual. Lillith moved with fluid grace on her theremin. He was actually grateful she had a second one at home to practice with so they didn't have to lug it over all the time, and that practice showed. Carmilla was on her A-game as well; if anything, her rivalry with Shock meant both of them were always trying to out-do the other.
Until he noticed the synthesizer fall back in favor of her singing. As usual.
Only Carver could get anywhere close to Lillith in terms of perfection, but even then, he caught some sour notes.
That did it. Lock halted practice.
"No, no, no!" he said, making a gesture to stop.
"What was wrong with that?" Shock asked.
By her tone, she was still pissed at him. Lock waved her off.
"Not you. Carver, that's a b-flat, not a c-sharp. You did that last week too. And Carmilla, don't let the synthesizer fade off like that."
Lock glanced to his brother.
"And I'll get to you in a moment."
Barrel stuck out his tongue.
"Not mine," he said with a shrug.
Shock shot the pumpkin girl a small glare.
"Shut it," she said, already in a foul mood.
Lock waited for everyone to get situated.
"All right," he said. "Warm-ups. On my mark. Three, two, one..."
As always, it was vocal exercises first, more for the girls, as they did most of the heavy-lifting in that regard, before a few quick tunes to do an instrument check and get the band in the groove. They wouldn't start the new song until later, partially so they could finish fine-tuning the last one, and partially to let Shock stew on the fact that she would be taking secondary vocals for once, while the vampires took the lead.
If anything, Lock knew Shock would need to vent, and would therefore give it her all when it came to shrieks, screams, and strange sounds.
More importantly, he watched and listened for the rest of the band. Barrel kept a good beat, but was inconsistent with his drum work, as usual. Lillith moved with fluid grace on her theremin. He was actually grateful she had a second one at home to practice with so they didn't have to lug it over all the time, and that practice showed. Carmilla was on her A-game as well; if anything, her rivalry with Shock meant both of them were always trying to out-do the other.
Until he noticed the synthesizer fall back in favor of her singing. As usual.
Only Carver could get anywhere close to Lillith in terms of perfection, but even then, he caught some sour notes.
That did it. Lock halted practice.
"No, no, no!" he said, making a gesture to stop.
"What was wrong with that?" Shock asked.
By her tone, she was still pissed at him. Lock waved her off.
"Not you. Carver, that's a b-flat, not a c-sharp. You did that last week too. And Carmilla, don't let the synthesizer fade off like that."
Lock glanced to his brother.
"And I'll get to you in a moment."
Barrel stuck out his tongue.
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2 yrs ago
Carmilla wasn't trying to put her singing forward to the exclusion of all else, but she did catch herself putting more focus on one than the other as they played. She tried to correct for it, which resulted in overcorrecting, and then she had to correct for that. Honestly, she wasn't sure which would bother Lock more -- the fading of the synth or the inconsistency between the two -- so she was pretty much just waiting for him to call everything to a halt and chew them all out anyway. Again.
Unlike her sister, Lillith didn't think so much about the technical aspects of the singing. It kept her a few steps behind Carmilla in terms of vocal purity, but it freed her up to pay more attention to her instrument without getting distracted or confused. When the music stopped, she pulled out a small file and began working on sharpening her nails.
Carver looked at Lock, her mouth shrinking to form a short flat line. "It's not an orchestral xylophone. It doesn't have a c-sharp," she reminded him dryly. "I also told you this last week."
Carmilla crossed her arms, head held high. "And unlike the purple--," she caught herself before saying something that might instantly lose her this opportunity. "Unlike Shock, I'm basically playing two instruments at once. Maybe you could put her on the synth while I'm singing, so that she has more to do and I can focus on my voice."
Unlike her sister, Lillith didn't think so much about the technical aspects of the singing. It kept her a few steps behind Carmilla in terms of vocal purity, but it freed her up to pay more attention to her instrument without getting distracted or confused. When the music stopped, she pulled out a small file and began working on sharpening her nails.
Carver looked at Lock, her mouth shrinking to form a short flat line. "It's not an orchestral xylophone. It doesn't have a c-sharp," she reminded him dryly. "I also told you this last week."
Carmilla crossed her arms, head held high. "And unlike the purple--," she caught herself before saying something that might instantly lose her this opportunity. "Unlike Shock, I'm basically playing two instruments at once. Maybe you could put her on the synth while I'm singing, so that she has more to do and I can focus on my voice."
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LePouvantail
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3 yrs ago
"You didn't--!" Lock started, but the conversation came back almost instantly, and the look on his face said as much.
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose and waved her off.
"Yeah, yeah, fine," he said. "Just...we'll work on it."
Shock turned to Carmilla, knowing that unfinished "purple" comment was directed at her. It was her signature color, after all. No one else in town wore it.
"Why, because you can't multitask, Charmelia?" she asked. "Thought you were better than me?"
"Shock, stop it," Lock said. "After practice."
"Hey, she started it," Shock said as she shoved a finger towards Carmilla.
Both siblings glowered at each other.
"My turf," Lock forcefully reminded her, "my terms."
That got his sister to back down. Lock took a moment to gather his thoughts and calm down before turning to Carmilla.
"And she's actually right," he said. He was trying very hard to be patient, though it was waning quickly. "You're better than that. I know you are. And Barrel--"
Barrel perked up.
"Hmm?"
"Can you please hit the right drums?"
"What, like this?" Barrel asked, as he started a set.
Lock tried to redirect him.
"No not that--Barrel, stop! That one! No, that one!"
Lock marched over and directly snatched the drumsticks from his hands.
"Hey!"
Barrel tried to take them back, but Lock passed them down to his tail, where he could hold the drumsticks away from Barrel's long arms. Lock then used his hands to point to the proper drums in the set, from the toms to the kick drum, to the cymbals, and made Barrel repeat the pattern he pointed to, and only handed the drumsticks back when he was satisfied.
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose and waved her off.
"Yeah, yeah, fine," he said. "Just...we'll work on it."
Shock turned to Carmilla, knowing that unfinished "purple" comment was directed at her. It was her signature color, after all. No one else in town wore it.
"Why, because you can't multitask, Charmelia?" she asked. "Thought you were better than me?"
"Shock, stop it," Lock said. "After practice."
"Hey, she started it," Shock said as she shoved a finger towards Carmilla.
Both siblings glowered at each other.
"My turf," Lock forcefully reminded her, "my terms."
That got his sister to back down. Lock took a moment to gather his thoughts and calm down before turning to Carmilla.
"And she's actually right," he said. He was trying very hard to be patient, though it was waning quickly. "You're better than that. I know you are. And Barrel--"
Barrel perked up.
"Hmm?"
"Can you please hit the right drums?"
"What, like this?" Barrel asked, as he started a set.
Lock tried to redirect him.
"No not that--Barrel, stop! That one! No, that one!"
Lock marched over and directly snatched the drumsticks from his hands.
"Hey!"
Barrel tried to take them back, but Lock passed them down to his tail, where he could hold the drumsticks away from Barrel's long arms. Lock then used his hands to point to the proper drums in the set, from the toms to the kick drum, to the cymbals, and made Barrel repeat the pattern he pointed to, and only handed the drumsticks back when he was satisfied.
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2 yrs ago
Carver sat quietly on her stool. Lock quickly realized his mistake and didn't try to keep at her, so she didn't feel a need to say anything. Instead, as soon as she heard the word "purple", she held up two fingers, silently counted them down, then pointed at Shock. At the name "Charmelia" she unfurled the vines around her chest to make it seem like she was a little bit bigger than she was.
"Don't call me that!" Carmilla snapped, baring her fangs at Shock. She stood straighter and squared her shoulders, appearing even more strictly rigid than Lillith, her high collar fanning out like a cat raising it hackles. The vampiress only mostly settled down when Lock used the word "better" even though everyone knew that's not what he meant by it.
Carver made sure Lock wasn't focused on her, then mimed a very enthusiastic and spastic drum banging. As soon as Barrel started up, she let loose a vine to serve as an angrily waving tail while going through the motions of trying to grab something from someone.
Shock broke her glaring contest with Carmilla and glanced over at the pumpkin creature, who immediately fell still and switched to looking bored.
"Don't call me that!" Carmilla snapped, baring her fangs at Shock. She stood straighter and squared her shoulders, appearing even more strictly rigid than Lillith, her high collar fanning out like a cat raising it hackles. The vampiress only mostly settled down when Lock used the word "better" even though everyone knew that's not what he meant by it.
Carver made sure Lock wasn't focused on her, then mimed a very enthusiastic and spastic drum banging. As soon as Barrel started up, she let loose a vine to serve as an angrily waving tail while going through the motions of trying to grab something from someone.
Shock broke her glaring contest with Carmilla and glanced over at the pumpkin creature, who immediately fell still and switched to looking bored.
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LePouvantail
Member
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3 yrs ago
When Carmilla stood straight, Shock moved a hand to one of her gloves as if she were about to pull it off. The vampire might be a bit bigger and stronger than her, but so was Barrel, and she could kick his ass easily. She had no doubts she could take Carmilla if it came to it. But the vampiress backed down, and so did she. Still, Shock locked eyes with Carmilla, punched one fist into her hand, then pointed to the window that lead outside. If Carmilla really wanted to make good on that threat, she was more than happy to oblige after practice.
"Now try it again," Lock said, having not noticed Carver's pantomiming behind his back.
Barrel took the drumsticks back and started the set again. And immediately missed the pattern. Lock tried to snatch the drumsticks again, but Barrel was ready for him this time, and held them out of his older brother's reach with a grin, much to Lock's chagrin. He pitifully tried to take the drumsticks back while Barrel held him back with one hand. Tired of waiting, Shock left her post at the microphone and casually walked behind the drum set while her brothers were distracted with each other. She snatched the drumsticks away from Barrel.
"We don't have all night," she said coldly, "so play the damn drums."
Barrel started to argue, but one look in her eyes set him straight. Lock and Carmilla had both taken hits at her patience. He decided not to push Shock any further.
"Okay, okay," he said.
Shock handed them back, then went back to the forefront. Lock had Barrel play the set again, and once it was correct, he picked up his guitar.
"From the top," he said.
Hopefully, this next attempt would go smoothly.
Shock's threat seemed to have done the trick to get Barrel to focus, and so far as the xylophone, he'd worry about it later. Lock channeled his focus into his guitar and just listened, deciding to make mental notes this time around, unless something was very obviously wrong.
"Now try it again," Lock said, having not noticed Carver's pantomiming behind his back.
Barrel took the drumsticks back and started the set again. And immediately missed the pattern. Lock tried to snatch the drumsticks again, but Barrel was ready for him this time, and held them out of his older brother's reach with a grin, much to Lock's chagrin. He pitifully tried to take the drumsticks back while Barrel held him back with one hand. Tired of waiting, Shock left her post at the microphone and casually walked behind the drum set while her brothers were distracted with each other. She snatched the drumsticks away from Barrel.
"We don't have all night," she said coldly, "so play the damn drums."
Barrel started to argue, but one look in her eyes set him straight. Lock and Carmilla had both taken hits at her patience. He decided not to push Shock any further.
"Okay, okay," he said.
Shock handed them back, then went back to the forefront. Lock had Barrel play the set again, and once it was correct, he picked up his guitar.
"From the top," he said.
Hopefully, this next attempt would go smoothly.
Shock's threat seemed to have done the trick to get Barrel to focus, and so far as the xylophone, he'd worry about it later. Lock channeled his focus into his guitar and just listened, deciding to make mental notes this time around, unless something was very obviously wrong.
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