A small breeze passes through the Hinterlands forest on a December afternoon. The thin trees sway easily with the movement, their leaves long lost to the cold weather. A loud rustling sound emits from nature as three small figures move along an implanted dirt path. The sound of twigs snapping underneath their heels interrupts this calm silence. A small hand clutches at a signature witch's hat as they trudge forward. They've been walking for what feels like ages. The children shiver when they feel the chills from a nearby gust of wind blowing right through them. She hears their whimpers and turns her head to scoff at them.
"Oh shut up, you babies! It's not that bad."
Lock shoots her an irritated look as he rubs his arms, his breath showing in the air. "Why couldn't we have taken the bathtub? My feet hurt!"
"Mine too!" Barrel whines.
"We didn't think we'd need it! Remember ? We were supposed to be back hours ago." Shock throws her hands in the air and kicks a nearby pebble. "All we had to do was fill this stinkin' bag."
She holds up the trick-or-treating bag she'd been carrying for effect, and their frowns deepen at the sight. The amount isn't anywhere near what they hoped to have. They expected to have an overflowing bucket's worth of treats, if not, filled to the brim…but what they ended up with was half of that. And most of it isn't favorable - there are less sugary sweets than usual, and a majority is noticeably candy corn. That thought makes them stick their tongues out in disgust, and they dramatically turn their heads away so they won't have to picture it.
The three avoid each other's gazes as they continue on. The message is clear in the air. The boss will surely be upset seeing the results of this week's candy quota. They tried their best to collect what they could, but their luck could only go so far within the days after Halloween. Most leftover candy had been given out or already eaten. They were lucky enough to even find kids who still held onto their stash! It would've been enough to fill their bag completely. But then that ragdoll had to come and ruin it….!
They grit their teeth at the memory.
Their luck afterwards hadn't been the greatest. Their next idea was to steal what they could from the town's local candy shop - only for that to end in a disaster! The shopkeeper found them stuffing hard candies in their pockets and promptly kicked them out. They planned to at least pull a trick or two if they couldn't get their goods. But what made things worse were the Witches - who insisted on making them suffer while they were already kicked down. Their spells were always painful and humiliating! The boss had a good laugh seeing them turned into toads from their last encounter. They had to leave town afterwards, effectively losing out on any of the candy they'd been hoping to obtain that day.
The rest of the week was... unfortunate . They scraped together what they could from alleyways and trash cans. The only thing people were willing to give away was their candy corn and popcorn balls. But Oogie Boogie wasn't a huge fan. They share his interest in the quality stuff - the chocolates, lollipops, and the gummies! But such delicacies were hard to come by. Especially post-Halloween. They can only hope he'll understand…
Their fingers twitch anxiously as their treehouse comes into view. They are nearly home now. They can already imagine how upset he'll be, and what punishments are inevitably coming their way...they gulp loudly as they climb down the hill and approach the broken bridge leading to their small house. A small elevator awaits them, its movements creaking with the wind while it sways side-to-side. They almost don't want to go in. The three briefly glance down and find the abyss between the ground and their house. One wrong step and it will be a long way down…
Shock opens the small door without a word. Lock and Barrel pile in before they yank on the rope to be hoisted up. It doesn't take long before they're in the warmth of their own treehouse. As warm as it can be, with all the broken windows and holes in the walls, that is. They shuffle around nervously as they approach their shrine to Oogie Boogie. It is where they usually give him their offerings and bring him his requests. The masks of past trick-or-treaters are hung on the wall as a morbid reminder to the three not to disappoint him. A large tube sits expectantly as the bag is brought to its entrance. The three hesitate before they all push it inside. The sound of it sliding down into the Boogeyman's lair is deafening. The children drop to their knees and bow in its direction, muttering apologies and crossing their fingers and toes.
'Take it, take it, take it…!' They silently plead.
…
A moment passes. Two, even. They slowly raise their heads and look at each other in disbelief. That is, before they're interrupted by a loud scream:
"KIDS! GET DOWNHERE!"
Lock, Shock, and Barrel jump in alarm. Their heartbeats go a mile a minute in their small chests. They scramble to their feet and rush to the entrance of his lair, wasting no second to hurry to their master. He doesn't like to be kept waiting; they've learned that plenty of times in the past...they anxiously slide down into his casino and momentarily find themselves engulfed in darkness. They panic only for a second before the lights come on. That's when they find themselves standing in the middle of slot machines, caged skeletons, body bags, and roulette wheels.
Oogie's casino is cold and dark, since the boogeyman himself resides there. Other times it would appear colorful and energetic, and that's when he would put on a show to his unfortunate victims. When he would encourage them to gamble their souls away in unfair and rigged games. They've never been allowed in during those times - they were told they were too young at their age - but they can see the colors and often hear his singing. Sometimes they even sneak down just to get a peek as to what's going on. They usually get a kick out of it…but not when * they're * the ones down * here*!
They hear something moving in the room, and a shadow stares at them from the floor. The trick-or-treaters let out audible gulps.
"Any particular reason ya' three brought me... THIS !?"
The bag they previously dropped down is thrown harshly at them, and an assortment of candy corn and popcorn balls all drop out at once. Some even hit them in the face. They back away instinctively and begin fidgeting with their hands. They think of an excuse on the spot - one worthy enough that Oogie himself would believe, and forgive them for..!
"S-Sorry, boss!" Barrel is unfortunately the first one to speak. "We did what we could! Everybody was out of candy!"
"I've seen you three do better. This is PATHETIC !" The darkness snaps at them.
Its eyes narrow suspiciously as it advances on them, climbing on the floor to their feet and surrounding the walls around them. Their figures start to shake in fear. It almost feels like his shadow is swallowing them whole; they can feel his presence everywhere in the air. By the time they open their eyes, everything is nearly pitch black again. They hold onto each other tightly as they think of what to say. It's starting to suffocate them. They won't have much time to talk.
"It's-it's because of Sally!" Shock spits out. "We were so close to getting that candy we promised you, but she ruined everything!"
The shadow pauses in its movements from holding them within his grasp. He slowly lets go of the children and sinks back into the ground, earning relieved sighs from them. Its eyes look about them in interest as it crawls away on the floor and onto the walls again. They relax their postures at this sight. They much prefer it on the walls than under their own feet. His shadows are always unpredictable and downright scary. They sometimes hated it.
"...Doll face?" He repeats.
Oogie Boogie goes quiet for a minute, which is an unusual gesture from him. He revolves the dice around in his burlap 'hand' as his tongue slithers its way from his mouth. He licks his lips as he watches his bugs devour the sweets. Oh, how they love candy. Many of his bugs enjoy the sugary sweetness - his ants devouring the delectable goodies before his very eyes. Even he can't help indulging every Halloween. To feed his bugs and what they desire. But they demand more .
'And we will soon deliver' , he thinks to himself.
He reaches for the ants when they're finished and allows them to crawl on his sack and enter through his mouth. He feels complete again. He breathes a sigh of relief as he takes his physical form - manifesting himself in front of his henchman, who stand wearily before him. They're absolutely tiny compared to his 10 foot form - which towers over the small figures as he looks at them with interest. He comes forward and the snake slips from his mouth - hissing at them just to keep them on their toes. He's amused with the way they jump.
"I remember her," He comments to himself, withdrawing away to look at the floor. " She's the one that got away. That ragdoll…"
It's been years , and he should know since he's been counting the time. The time since he attempted to finally bring Bug Day to the surface and take Halloween Town rightfully as is. He ordered his henchman to fetch Jack Skellington to overthrow him, only to receive a strange ragdoll instead. He vividly remembers her red hair and blue skin. How soft and innocent she was...sounded completely confused and helpless. The finest damsel he'd ever received, if he'd say so himself. And she was quite the company at that time - her perfectly shaped legs, and other body parts he had the gratification to feel…she looked the most like a human he'd seen in a long time.
And he loved humans.
"She was the WORST !" Lock butts in, apparently feeling too comfortable at this second. "We tried getting candy from those kids in town, and she acted like she could tell us what to do!"
"She called us 'despicable' !" Barrel snickers.
"Yeah! And she has this whole shop of hers we plan on destroying!" Shock proudly exclaims to him. "Just you wait, boss! We're gonna break the windows and steal her stuff and-"
"-Wait, wait! Tell him about the part of being Jack's girlfriend!"
Barrel's words make the other kid's jaws drop open in shock. He realizes what he said seconds too late and smacks his hands over his mouth in surprise. He regrettably turns in Oogie's direction and winces at his reaction. It's exactly as the three of them expected, as Boogie's expression turns into one of rage. His entire form seethes as he registers his words. He advances on his youngest pupil in particular and practically screams into his ear:
"YOU DARE MENTION HIS NAME IN MY LAIR!?"
"I didn't mean to!" A tear slips from his eye as he covers his face. "I just...I thought-"
"-Thought WHAT, huh? That I'd wanna hear ANYTHING about that bony imposter!?"
Barrel begins to cry, earning concerned looks from Lock and Shock. The larger man glares at him for a second more before angrily huffing and turning away from his figure. The other two go to comfort their cohort in his absence and carefully watch the boogeyman's burlap form as he retreats to another part of the room. He's observing one of the many skeletons kept in his traps - painfully stuck in them forever, to remain like that until he is bored of them. It notices he's watching and struggles within the locks. At times, they often remind him of his arch-nemesis...which is partially why he even keeps them around. Hoping that Jack Skellington will end up in a trap of his someday, forever trapped in an eternal Hell like he is.
After a minute, he mutters to himself. "So Jack's finally got a girl..?"
The trick-or-treaters overhear him and nod their heads. Shock is the first one to stand. "It's been all the town's talking about this year."
He turns to them curiously. "Well? How long's he had her?"
"We don't know..." Lock rolls his eyes. "We don't really care about that mushy stuff, anyway! It makes our stomachs sick."
"Yeah! Love is gross!" Barrel agrees with him, drying his tears. The other two giggle in agreement and pretend to shove their fingers down their throats.
"Well, ya' better start warmin' up to it, because I've got a job for you three."
They perk up at this invitation. He comes back to them and wraps his arms around their figures, bringing them into a small huddle so no one nearby can overhear. They get excited at this moment - they're always eager to hear about Oogie's plans! They're usually so destructive and terrifying. They're honored to be the ones executing them for him. Anything he'd like them to do...and they would do it, no questions asked! He offers the most delicious rewards if they do him good…like his snake & spider stew! The three would do anything for another bowl of that !
"I want you kids to go into town and learn more about this ragdoll. About…Sally." He corrects devilishly. "Get to know what she's like. What she does. Where she lives…I want to know all about her."
"Gee, why is that?" Barrel inquires at the odd request. He pats his green hair innocently.
"Wouldn't it be fair to get to know my old pal's girlfriend?! I think it is!" He places a 'hand' on his 'hip'. "You do this for me...and I won't even eat you, despite how hungry I am right now."
They gulp at his words and nod weakly. They've always been afraid of being eaten by him. That's why they give him all the candy and food he wants...to keep him full, so he won't have the appetite for children again. He's delighted at their compliance and pats them on the back, remarking how much he believes in them. They grin at his approval, already craving for more of it.
The Mayor of Halloween Town watches in amazement as the skeleton speedily gets through their work for the day. A smile is stretched on his conical face as he watches the documents get filled out before his very eyes. The way Jack Skellington completes them in only a matter of seconds is almost mesmerizing to watch. It looks like he's memorized where the signatures go and what exactly to fill out. Like he's done this hundreds of times before...He's lucky he's already finished his part of the job, otherwise he'd be slacking off with how much staring he'd been doing! The politician clears his throat as the Pumpkin King successfully signs the last one, and puts it in its rightful pile with a proud look on his skull.
"All done!" He announces to him.
"-That they are!" He removes himself from his seat to eagerly collect them. "The way you work is so incredible, Jack! You know how glad I've been to get all this stuff done!"
He cracks his knuckles before leaning back in his chair. He deserves the rest from all the wrist movement he's been doing. "Of course, Mayor. I want this year to get through as easy as possible."
'It certainly will be..!' The other man thinks, as he files the pile of paperwork into their rightful folder within a cabinet. This past Halloween was the fastest they'd prepared for in a long time. And everything went smoothly in all parts of the process..! This year seems to be just as promising. Sally's sewing shop has done many successes for the town. All the residents are supplied with enough clothing and costumes to last for years to come! It's been generating enough revenue for Halloween Town as well. He came in one time and thanked her personally for her contributions, especially after she patched some of the holes in his old pants.
"Are things still doing well between you and Sally?" He asks curiously, while she is still on his mind. The skeleton's expression lights up at the mere mention of her name.
"Wonderful, Mayor, simply wonderful…she deserved that award, really. She's been having the best of times working. It's nice to know our investment paid off."
"I'll say! At any rate, we won't have any issues during the winter anymore. I remember how many requests we used to get asking for clothes and scarves...and those were such a hassle making and reusing...now, we won't have to worry about such a thing! We have a lot to thank her for!"
He closes his eyes and thinks of her, his ribs warming at the image. He tries to picture her right now, working over a sewing machine. The way she'd have to brush her hair behind her shoulders, her determined look while she straightens stitches and irons the clothes...he's always admired watching her work for these things. To chuckle to himself every time she narrows her eyes when she can't get the thread through the needle at times. He wishes he was there with her right now…
"I know I do, especially." He breathes as he shuts his eyes. "She's made me such a happy man. I can't remember the last time I've felt like this…"
"With all she does for the town now, you'd think she'd excel at something like the Halloween plans! It would be nice to have some more help around here, wouldn't it?"
He pauses from his thoughts to shoot a confused look at his coworker. "You mean asking for her help around the Town Hall?"
"Oh! Well, you know...I suppose it isn't my business to say but…wouldn't she make a delightful Pumpkin Queen?"
Jack stops leaning in his chair altogether. The Mayor notices his upright posture and begins to sweat, nervously correcting himself:
"It's just a thought, that's all! She was so much help with those Halloween costumes...what if she can do more for the town? You and I have to do so much, and sometimes I remember how there used to be a King and Queen at one time. So much work got done back then!"
The skeleton bites his lip and directs his gaze at the table. The shorter man notes his silence and chuckles uncomfortably. He hopes he hasn't crossed a line at all...
"Anyway, I'll be going, now. I have to sort through the comments and concerns from the last town meeting. Any improvements will be for tomorrow's work, as I'm sure you haven't forgotten-"
"-Yes, yes, Mayor. I understand. Good luck with that."
He tips his tall top hat before leaving the skeleton alone in the room. Jack finds his stare unmoved from the wood on the table. He taps his fingers impatiently before reluctantly moving his gaze to the walls and floors. It's always quiet when he's left alone in this room. He really * should * move a clock on the wall somewhere in here, one that makes that loud ticking noise…it would stop him from hearing his own thoughts, like he is right now.
'A Pumpkin Queen…'
Jack Skellington clenches his hands. This thought has not gone away, no matter how much time has passed. It always finds its way to him again and again. And it's always from someone else's lips that aren't his own - someone besides himself insisting that Sally would make the perfect Queen…yet, the thought originally came from his own tongue. After the witch sisters got so jealous over her, his words reminded them of his own deep desire, that he hadn't even realized he had to begin with…and now everyone else around him are starting to realize it, too.
"Hmm." He muses.
Halloween Town has gone without a Queen for many, unimaginable years. True, things may have gotten done in a fashionable amount of time back then...and, yes, the town felt more complete with two rightful rulers instead of one . Where both crowns had a head to occupy...Jack only wore his on Halloween nights, ages ago...back when he wanted to be seen as the rightful ruler - the terrifying Pumpkin King...but that lost its spark as time went on, and he grew exhausted and depressed with all the expectations. He's kept his crown in a drawer at home since, remaining dusty and forgotten throughout all these years. It reminds him too much of the town's ideal expectations of him. Everyone always treats him differently when he wears it. He's more feared, respected, and admired.
And he never liked that.
For a moment, he pictures Sally wearing that crown. How natural it would look on her...sitting rightfully on top of her blood-colored hair, the golden colors complimenting her blue, stitched skin...would she be happy wearing it? Or would she be like him, fearing all of the expectations? The skeleton wears a troubled frown at that thought, realizing he'd never know the answer until he'd bring the question to begin with. Of course, he hopes for the first scenario - but even if the worst happens, he at least can sympathize and help her in that situation…
'Am I really thinking about this..?' He blinks in surprise. 'Do I want to... proposeto Sally?'
How could he not , really? After all this time he's spent with his dearest friend...the one he's come to recognize as the love of his death; the beautiful ragdoll creation sculpted by the hands of the town's mad scientist...he's loved her ever since she showed him her kindness. Her care, her genuine concern for his well-being...he's promised to take care of her after taking her in his own hands. And he's done his best. After all this time together, growing into something more - keeping their own pets, finding their purpose in town, and even sharing their own bed together...
'There's only one more step to take, isn't there?'
He feels warm at this revelation. He wants to make Sally his Pumpkin Queen. He's always wanted to...yet, even as he reaches for a pen, he finds his hand shaking. In fear of what she might say...if she'll even accept the offer, or refuse the proposal. He shakes his skull to get rid of these concerns. She's happy with him, isn't she? And it's been enough time...there's no way they can rush into this, is there? He's walked around the idea as much as possible, but now he can't stand it any longer. This is a desire of his, to make Sally his wife so they can officially care for Halloween Town together…
He loves her with every fiber of his being. And he wants to prove that.
He taps the side of his face as he finally grabs a pencil and several sheets of blank papers. He begins to furtively sketch on its surface, working the instrument for a solid few minutes before stopping and setting it down. He's surprised at the image that stares back at him. What his hands naturally worked on, faster than he could come to terms with it...he stares at a sketch idea for an engagement ring. It's a small ruby surrounded by the legs of a spider, with stones on the side representing its eyes.
He discards it and starts working on another paper. This time, this head is the face of a jack-o-lantern, the orange stone representing a pumpkin. He finds this one rather humorous - a representation of a Pumpkin ruler. It reminds him of the time Sally first asked him if he ruled over pumpkins, and he finds it in himself to chuckle at the memory. He observes the page for a full minute more before moving it aside and starting on yet another sketch.
He continues to do this for a solid hour, getting all his thoughts and ideas down on several pieces of paper…the moment his hands start moving, he simply can't stop until his head is finally empty of ideas.
"Thank you! Come again!"
Sally bids goodbye to her latest customers, the Corpse mom, Bertha, and her son, Ethan, as they walk down the street and wave to her. Her request that day was almost an odd one. She was asked to re-stitch the eyes closed on her child. The seamstress was nearly hesitant to complete such a task if he hadn't insisted otherwise. She recalls feeling surprised after hearing what he told her:
"It doesn't hurt at all?" She asks. She tests this theory by puncturing his gray eyelid with the needle. He barely flinches, to her amazement. He shakes his head.
"Not really! I can see a lot better when they're closed. It's more comfortable for me, this way. Mommy makes sure I get the stitches tightened every year!"
She works on moving the needle carefully. "You know, it doesn't hurt when I stitch myself, either."
"Really!?"
She laughs. "Oh, yes. I don't feel a thing!"
The rest of their session went smoothly. Ethan even thanked her for saving their candy from Lock, Shock, and Barrel. That's when she remembered about those mischievous trick-or-treaters and apologized for what they did to him. He insisted he was okay since she helped out, and thanked her once she was done. Even the mother was impressed with the work, and she was tipped for her generosity. Bertha made a comment on how she'd return every year to do this, since she trusted her precise hands. She felt honored.
Sally closes the door to her shop and cleans up the thread left on the desk. She collects the thimbles, needles, and fabric laying loosely on the tables from throughout the day. So far, it's been successful, since she's had customers come in asking for rather easy tasks from her. In her free time, she sits by the windows and watches the other shops nearby. She's noticed things have been hectic for them lately. She's seen a lot more of those trick-or-treaters ever since their previous encounter - they've been around town, playing pranks on people and constantly demanding candy on their doorsteps.
She's been uneasy during this time, keeping a close eye on them...making sure they don't take a step anywhere near her shop. And so far, she's been left unbothered. It seems they've been heeding her advice. She's delighted to be left alone and resumes her business as usual. It still doesn't stop her from being on-edge most of the time, worried that they're going to play one of their tricks or vandalize her shop at any second…
…
She gets that feeling right now. Things sound almost too quiet outside. In the middle of the day like this, she usually hears the town children playing and sees more citizens walking around. But it's nearly desolate outside, especially near her shop. She looks confused as she takes a step outside and peers around. It seems everyone is further in town and not around this area. She places a hand on her hip in thought, wondering as to why. As she turns around, she jumps at the sight that surprises her. There, standing before her, are the three children - Lock, Shock, and Barrel.
They take off their masks and grin wickedly at her. She's already uneasy about this situation, especially since they aren't doing anything. She crosses her arms impatiently and glues her eyes to them. She can't tear her gaze away, lest they do something when they're not in her line of sight. Things are quiet for a few seconds as she glares at them, and they take it upon themselves to start speaking.
"Hello! Um...S…Sarah?" Barrel greets with uncertainty.
" Idiot !" Lock smacks him. "Her name's Sally!"
"Oh! Right!"
"What are you three doing?" She asks suspiciously. She remembers Jack's and the Witch's words not to let her guard down around them. They shrug their shoulders casually.
"We're here to watch you, uh…" Shock starts.
"-Watch you work!" Lock finishes. Barrel nods in agreement.
"Yes, to know what you do…"
"And what for ?" She presses on, leaning towards them and tapping her foot in impatience. Why would they be here to watch her work? As far as she understands, children don't find much amusement in watching someone sew clothes together or patch holes...that's why the parents often let their little ghouls and ghosts play outside when they come here. Even the kids let this show on their face, but they quickly correct it as they think of what to say.
"We know everybody in this town! But not you ." Barrel informs.
"-And we would like to know. So, we want to watch you." Lock finishes.
She doesn't understand them, and she isn't sure if she ever will. She looks around their figures to see if they're hiding anything behind their backs. She notes they don't have any bags or slingshots on them. Not like the ones they've used to terrorize the other shopkeepers...she shudders remembering these incidents. It's all the more reason to not trust them. They notice the apprehension on her face and glance at each other, thinking on how to convince her.
"We promise we won't get in your way!" Shock pleads.
"Yeah; we'll even stay outside and watch you through the windows!" Lock adds.
"-Are you sure you three only want to watch? You don't have any tricks up your sleeve, do you?" She continues to eye them from head-to-toe. They make small crosses over their hearts and hold their other hands up.
"Promise! We aren't hiding anything!"
"...Hmm. Alright, but I want you three to stay seated! You can't move a muscle until I tell you to." She tells them firmly. They nod in agreement.
Reluctantly, she allows them to follow her into her shop and directs them to the chairs right by the door. They sit themselves down and look up expectantly at her. They're even clasping their hands in their lap, sitting almost politely...for a moment, she believes she sees three behaving children. It reminds her of this feeling she's had before, where she feels a little pity for these ill-mannered children...who are just in terrible care…it wouldn't be the worst thing to give them the benefit of the doubt, right? And if they act well today, it can prove to her that they're capable of change..!
"Well?" Shock asks rudely. "Aren't you gonna do something?"
"O-Oh!" She's snapped back into reality. She heads towards one of her sewing machines and checks the thread in it. She points at them a second after. "Just...make sure you three don't move."
She resumes her business like usual, changing the thread and ensuring everything is working. Once it's performing to her approval, she starts mending buttons on one of the projects she's been working on. The trick-or-treaters watch her from a distance. She glances up at them every now and again just to make sure they're still in their seats. They remain where they are and even wave to her. Every time she looks down, they allow the boredom to show on their faces. They'd prefer to be anywhere but here.
"So, uh, what do you exactly do?" Lock eventually pries. They seem to be confused with what she's doing. She sets down the fabric and flattens her dress.
"I'm the seamstress, so I sew clothes, patch holes, mend buttons and the like...anything that involves sewing work, really…"
They still look bored with her answer, but pretend to seem interested when she looks at them. Barrel scratches at the side of his head.
"What are you doing right now..?"
"I'm mending a button." She holds it up to show them. They tilt their heads but say nothing more. She lets it fall back on the table and momentarily resumes her work.
"And uhh…..this is your shop, right?" Shock continues to pry, looking around. The other two copy her and finally take a good look at everything around them. They take note of everything they see, in case anything is interesting enough to tell their boss. She feels a little nervous with their eyes being on everything and stumbles to answer:
"...Yes. This is where I sew things for others, and keep all my projects. This is also where people tell me what they want and pay me."
She's trying to put things as simple as she can, so they may understand. She can't exactly tell how old they are, but she assumes they're still young enough...the three eventually stop looking and continue to observe her working. She feels a little more relaxed when they have their attention on her. Several minutes pass before she stands and moves to her front desk, which is closest to them. They take this opportunity to talk some more.
"How long have you and Jack been together?" Lock abruptly asks. She looks up and blinks once or twice.
"Huh..?"
"You and Jack. How did you guys meet? How long's it been?" Shock repeats for him. Sally slides a drawer shut as she thinks carefully of the question. Why are they asking about her relationship? She figures it must be because they know Jack better than her…they've known him a lot longer, and must want to know since she's involved with him...
"Well, we met after he rescued me from the Bug King. So I would say we got together maybe a year or two after that…"
"That sounds like awhile." Lock comments. She blushes and smiles.
"I suppose so…"
"Do you live with him?" Barrel quickly asks. The other two glare at him, until they realize they also want to know the answer. The ragdoll hesitates with this one, but finds no harm with it and eventually caves in.
"Yes, I've moved in with him at his Manor."
"So, if you're not here , then you're there ..?" Lock pushes. She grows more uneasy with these questions and stops what she's doing entirely. These are starting to make a lot less sense. They can tell she's growing suspicious and start playing with their hands nervously, acting as casual as they can.
"I'm anywhere I want to be. But, yes, I'd say I mostly spend my time in my shop or at Jack's home…"
"Cool! Thanks for telling us!"
The three suddenly jump out from their seats and run quickly out the door, turning to wave briefly before disappearing down the streets. She finds this gesture extremely odd as she rushes to the door frame and watches them go. Then she looks around and notices everything is still in its place. There is nothing missing nor is there a mess anywhere…so they followed her instructions and didn't even move an inch while they were here. At least she can trust them to listen...Because of this, she shrugs off their peculiar behavior.
There really is no harm in telling them more about her...right?
