[ voice ]

[hispoisonsmile]

Well, we've already had members of the Church comment on Halloween, so I shan't add my opinion to the fold. It isn't as if it truly matters, anyway-- it is a holiday that people will celebrate the way that they have always celebrated it, and there isn't a thing anyone can say that will change that

Comments

[jushinkan]

[There's the sound of a few pages being turned... and then-]

The carved pumpkins were originally carved turnips, actually. They are meant to mimic the 'will-o-the-wisp', and it's said that the faces scare away evil spirits.

Nowadays it's just used as an amusing little activity in the Halloween tradition, alongside bobbing for apples, dressing up and pranking.

[hispoisonsmile]

[ there's something.. strange.. about this person. he sounds normal enough, but-- that isn't possible, is it? the demons have never been conversational like this.

for a long moment, there's no response. at last, though: ]

Oh, how interesting. Still, it doesn't really explain why a turnip or a pumpkin is supposed to represent a will-o-the-wisp..

Why bobbing for apples?

[jushinkan]

[No hints from Xellos. He won't give an answer to why he's talking to him~.]

I'd assume it's the light inside. Maybe the face represents the soul the will-o-the-wisp is supposed to be?

Why not? I hear it's a lot of fun!

[hispoisonsmile]

Hm. Perhaps so.

I don't really understand where the tradition came from. It may be silly to wonder, I suppose, but such things interest me.

[jushinkan]

I suspect that it's just another way to celebrate the harvest. You know, apples and such come to the end of their season around this time. It's a mashup of traditions, that's all.

[hispoisonsmile]

Yes, but I wonder who first thought it would be a good idea to drop apples in a barrel of water and pick them back out with one's teeth.

[jushinkan]

Well, which man looked at the udders of a cow and thought it'd be a good idea to drink what came out?

[hispoisonsmile]

That seems to be relatively simple to determine as compared to apple-bobbing. Milk is milk, and human infants are nursed at their mother's breast, after all. I suppose someone decided that one animal was as good as another.

[jushinkan]

Then why not milk cats or rats or indeed any other animal that makes it?

[hispoisonsmile]

Cats are pets, rats are dirty, and cows are large animals that provide a great deal of milk. Is that not so?

[jushinkan]

A cow can be a pet.

And what about horse-milk? You never see that either.

[Yes, now he's just being intentionally silly~.]

Or we could domesticate walruses.

[Xellos? Evil? Nonsense!]

[hispoisonsmile]

I'm not certain I know what a walrus is, Sir.

[jushinkan]

That's a new one.

[More pages flipping]

A walrus is a large mammal that lives on beaches and in the ocean. While it does not exactly need water to survive, it is much more graceful when it is swimming, having flippers instead of legs.

The males grow large tusks, and tend to keep a harem of several females each.

[hispoisonsmile]

I.. see. Perhaps I should look one up in the library.

[ locked; ]

Begging your pardon, but is there a reason you are talking to me? Demons do not generally make casual conversation with me.

[jushinkan]

It'd certainly be a worthwhile experience!

[Locked]

Hm?

... Oh, so you figured that out, huh? Well, you're sharp!

locked;

[hispoisonsmile]

Of course I am. Even chipped as you are and as I am, I am certain we recognize much more about one another than most others would. That does not, however, answer my question.