Shock pondered for a few minutes, before a smirk crossed her lips.
"...It's been a while since we've done something as a family," she said, primarily meaning her and her brothers, but with the implication that Carver was free to join in too. "And Halloween Town's been a little too quiet lately."
She stood up from the table and headed back for the soundstage.
"Let's go see what toys we haven't played with in a while."
The exterior of the tree house hadn't changed much over the years. The interior, which had been perfect for them as kids, had to be adjusted to accommodate their growth. The small kitchen area was gone, since Barrel took over the one downstairs, and there was no need for it. Many of their bigger weapons had been moved around or gotten rid of entirely, ironically because they'd been outgrown - what good was a catapult they could no longer launch each other off of, and was difficult to bring into Halloween Town proper? Their walking bathtub remained in its usual corner, still in use for both hygiene and transport, though with less emphasis on the latter when it was difficult for the three - or four, when Carver joined in - of them to ride in. It still carried whatever tools and equipment they needed, however, and just the sight of it in town made citizens nervous about what they could be up to.
The old Oogie shrine no longer existed, long since taken down to be replaced with the slide entrance. A few mocking signs that said things like, "Beware!" and "Watch Your Head!" hung around it, punctuated by the tricksters' creepy artwork on the walls. The rest of the main area was covered in scattered blankets and pillows that generally got kicked to the side when not in use to create a path between the main entrance and the slide, revealing the tree house's main purpose now. A few shelves had been attached to the walls to hold some of the trio's more personal items. A lot of their childhood artwork still decorated the walls, and had been added to over the years. Chalk and crayon since gave way to permanent marker and spray paint, with a mix of other mediums as they felt like it.
But it was the armory Shock headed for, with all their weapons, firecrackers, potions, poisons, and other items of mischief, all of it far more organized now than when they had been kids. Their "toys," as they liked to refer to them. It was the room that had changed the least, aside from an expansion to hold a bit more.
"So much good stuff," Shock said, as she surveyed the room, "so little time."
~~~
Barrel tried to imagine the smaller witch doing such a thing, and giggled at the thought that the old woman who was barely taller than he was as a child actually hit it with that much force. He quickly composed himself, especially when she tilted her head to better look at him.
Well, there went his plan of more thoroughly looking through the back room.
Unless...
"Well..." Barrel said, as he nervously reached for the back of his neck, "not me, anyway. That's usually Shock's expertise. I was just looking to stock the cupboard."
He patted his gut to make his point.
"L-like I said," he continued, trying not to sound suspicious. "I'm mostly here for spider legs. And alligator eyes, now that I think of it, and...well, not sure yet. I was hoping to get a look around. See if there's anything new to try."
That was a good enough reason for him to examine things under her wonderfully large nose, right? Barrel shrugged at her last statement.
"Nothing says, 'I love you' like being able to smack some sense into your siblings when they're being stupid," he said. "Plus, it's never a dull moment. Hell, if we don't fight sometimes, then something's wrong. Besides--"
He proudly puffed out his chest. While Barrel tended to be round like his name implied, he wasn't overweight, either.
"--Gotta keep in shape somehow."
