Belated Pumpkin Pie 1
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE: Real World AU
Challenges: Pumpkin Pie 1 (ghost/ghost story), Papaya 11 (it’s not what it looks like)
Toppings & Extras: Whipped Cream (wide variety - youngest: Ry at 4, oldest: Sorin & Ren at 14 (Vlad’s too cool at 16 to go ghost hunting)), Chopped Nuts (RWAU), Sprinkles (Bri)
Word Count: 1,282
Rating: PG
Summary: The gang goes ghost hunting with mixed results
Notes: Pretty sure I’m going to do these all Whipped Cream and with the Chopped Nuts premise: What if the NIEE main cast knew each other as children in the modern world? They live in the same neighborhood and go to the same school. Various cameos by more minor/KIN characters will surely happen at some point. Take place Fall, 2005. Sorin is legally an Opalin here, but circumstances pretty much are the same - his bio father, Dennis, is in jail for rape and Edward is raising them. Also, pardon the lateness - life has been insane!
Go make Golden Cone nominations!
“So we all have to be really quiet-” Bri was instantly interrupted by at least five voices.
“Why don’t we have flashlights? I want a flashlight. Sorin, can I have a flashlight?”
“Don’t be a baby, Ani.”
“You can’t see ghosts with a flashlight, silly!”
“I don’t want to see a ghost.”
“This is stupid. Ani, don’t worry, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“Don’t be a spoilsport, Sorin.”
“What if we don’t see a ghost anyway? Then it’s been boring and we’ve failed.”
In fact, the only one that stayed quiet was the youngest one present and sole four-year-old. Rylia sucked her thumb and watched the older kids.
“Thank you, Ry!” Brighton said in some relief, although he wasn’t entirely sure why she had been invited. He supposed it was because she and Jessie were neighbors and he wasn’t about to not invite Jessie.
Rylia grinned around her thumb. “I wanna see a ghost,” she said, surprisingly clear despite the impediment.
That silenced the older kids, all of whom seemed instantly embarrassed that they were complaining when the baby wasn’t. Five-year-old Stella just looked relieved, as usual, that Ry was the baby and not her as she gripped Jay’s hand.
“I borrowed my dad’s digital camera,” Beau said proudly, holding it up. “I’ve heard you can see orbs in a lot of the pictures and they’re like a type of ghost.”
“Borrowed without permission,” Ren muttered.
“Same thing,” Jessie said airily. “Now are we gonna go or not?” She looked among the dozen gathered kids. “I’m guessing most of us are out without permission so we should see the ghost and get home before our parents notice.” Her gaze lingered on Sorin, who had his arm protectively around Ani. He looked away. All the neighborhood kids were aware that something wasn’t quite right at the Opalin household, but it was an unspoken rule that it was not talked about mostly to protect Sorin and Ani’s feelings, but also because Vlad would beat up anyone who mentioned it. Vlad, at almost 16, was just enough bigger than them to be scary.
“Thank you, Jess!” Bri said and spread his arms wide for effect. “Now, as I was saying, we have to be very quiet. Ghosts are tricky and don’t always like to be seen. Plus, we’re sneaking up by the Mackinroe house and we don’t want to wake Iris.”
A collective shudder went through the kids at the mention of the overbearing, righteous, mothering teenager.
“Follow me. I know the best place in the neighborhood for ghosts,” Bri told them and then headed off, listening to the other kids fall into a ragged group behind him.
“Sorin,” he heard Ani whisper, “are you sure there aren’t ghosts?”
“Even if there are, what ghost is going to get past all of us?” asked Jez, with all the certainty of an almost seven-year-old. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Ani.”
“Shh!” Jessie and Bri said at the same time and exchanged grins.
They snuck through three backyards, including the Mackinroes, without issue, finally reaching the wood at the backside of the neighborhood. Bri turned and motioned them close. “Okay, now we got to be extra specially quiet, okay? We’re getting close.”
“Bri, this is just the woods. There’s no ghost here,” Ren said skeptically.
“Shh. There won’t be if you’re stupid and noisy,” the nine-year-old shot back.
Ren and Sorin exchanged a look and rolled their eyes. “Fine,” Ren said, obligingly lowering his voice.
“Beau, be ready with your camera.”
The other boy held it up, face dimly lit by the viewscreen.
“Everyone ready?”
At the nods, Bri turned and took only two steps before the noise started. Low at first, then getting steadily louder. The hair on the back of the boy’s neck rose and he swallowed hard. He hadn’t really expected a ghost.
“S-Sorin?” Ani said.
Ry appeared at Jessie’s side in an instant, sucking harder than ever at her thumb, although she didn’t grab the older girl’s hand. Stella pressed herself against Jay’s side. Jez folded her arms and scowled. Mick, as quiet as usual, moved to Beau and Ren’s side. Beau raised the camera, although his hands trembled slightly.
“It’s got to be a coyote or wolf,” Colin said stoutly, putting a hand on his sister’s shoulder.
“Do we have coyotes here?” Jay asked, interested.
“Shh!” Bri said.
“It kinda sounds like the ghosts in stories,” Stella said tremulously. “You know, woooo-woooo.”
Before that thought could really process, three somethings jumped out at them, making wild noises. The suddenness of the attack scared even the hardiest of the kids and half of them screamed. Bri was thankful he was not among them.
Ry, as fearless as ever, narrowed her eyes at the white apparitions, stepped forward and kicked one hard in what appeared (amongst their jumping and whooping) as a shin.
“Ow! Shit! Vlad, the kid kicked me! You didn’t tell me your brother’s baby friends would fight back!”
“Vlad?” Sorin asked dangerously, stepping forward. Ani was crying, as was Stella, and most of the rest of them were as white as any potential ghost.
Rylia examined the situation a bit longer and then kicked the boy hard in the shin again. “That’s not being nice,” she lectured, “and you made Stella and Ani cry! Meanie.”
“Ow, Jesus, kid, lay off!”
“Vlad?” Sorin repeated, stepping up to the middle of what was now identifiable as three humans - older than any currently present - in white sheets.
The middle one now pulled off his sheet and sighed. “Ani, it was just a joke, you can stop crying now.”
She tried, sniffing pathetically.
“You shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” Ren said, glaring at the almost sixteen-year-old. None of the group really got along with Vlad anymore.
“Leave off, Ren.”
“You be nice to Renny!” Ani said shrilly.
“Ani, let Ren fight his own battles,” Sorin said tiredly. “C’mon, guys, we should head home before we’re missed.” He pinned Vlad with a look that spoke volumes. “So should you.”
His brother’s minions, two big boys named Kilgor and Juke, pulled off their own sheets. “Vlad doesn’t have to do what you say.”
Sorin didn’t say anything, even as he put an arm around his still sniffling sister, just holding Vlad’s gaze.
“No, I don’t, but he’s got a point,” Vlad said grudgingly. “It is getting pretty late.” Even if the older boy was too cool for them anymore, all of them knew he still took his schoolwork seriously, especially since he had just started his junior year. And then there was Edward Opalin.
Subdued, and a lot of them still angry, the kids decided that meant it was time to head home. They were just doing so, heads hanging, when Beau let out an excited yelp. “Look, guys, look!” he said excitedly. Not a lot got Beau excited so most of them turned around. He was proudly holding up his father’s camera. “Look at all the orbs! We did see ghosts.” He grinned at them. “’Specially around Kilgor, Juke and Vlad.”
The three oldest boys exchanged wide-eyed looks, just the slightest bit nervous.
Beau pointed the camera at them and snapped another picture. How Bri has missed the flash, even in the scare, he wasn’t sure as it blinded him now. By the time his vision cleared, Beau was examining the picture on the little screen. “That one too! I think they like us.”
At that simple statement, smiles and grins broke out among the kids. Ry reached out her thumb sucking hand and patted the air. “Good ghosts,” she said happily. Bri straightened with pleasure. His adventure had been a success after all.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE: Real World AU
Challenges: Pumpkin Pie 1 (ghost/ghost story), Papaya 11 (it’s not what it looks like)
Toppings & Extras: Whipped Cream (wide variety - youngest: Ry at 4, oldest: Sorin & Ren at 14 (Vlad’s too cool at 16 to go ghost hunting)), Chopped Nuts (RWAU), Sprinkles (Bri)
Word Count: 1,282
Rating: PG
Summary: The gang goes ghost hunting with mixed results
Notes: Pretty sure I’m going to do these all Whipped Cream and with the Chopped Nuts premise: What if the NIEE main cast knew each other as children in the modern world? They live in the same neighborhood and go to the same school. Various cameos by more minor/KIN characters will surely happen at some point. Take place Fall, 2005. Sorin is legally an Opalin here, but circumstances pretty much are the same - his bio father, Dennis, is in jail for rape and Edward is raising them. Also, pardon the lateness - life has been insane!
Go make Golden Cone nominations!
“So we all have to be really quiet-” Bri was instantly interrupted by at least five voices.
“Why don’t we have flashlights? I want a flashlight. Sorin, can I have a flashlight?”
“Don’t be a baby, Ani.”
“You can’t see ghosts with a flashlight, silly!”
“I don’t want to see a ghost.”
“This is stupid. Ani, don’t worry, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“Don’t be a spoilsport, Sorin.”
“What if we don’t see a ghost anyway? Then it’s been boring and we’ve failed.”
In fact, the only one that stayed quiet was the youngest one present and sole four-year-old. Rylia sucked her thumb and watched the older kids.
“Thank you, Ry!” Brighton said in some relief, although he wasn’t entirely sure why she had been invited. He supposed it was because she and Jessie were neighbors and he wasn’t about to not invite Jessie.
Rylia grinned around her thumb. “I wanna see a ghost,” she said, surprisingly clear despite the impediment.
That silenced the older kids, all of whom seemed instantly embarrassed that they were complaining when the baby wasn’t. Five-year-old Stella just looked relieved, as usual, that Ry was the baby and not her as she gripped Jay’s hand.
“I borrowed my dad’s digital camera,” Beau said proudly, holding it up. “I’ve heard you can see orbs in a lot of the pictures and they’re like a type of ghost.”
“Borrowed without permission,” Ren muttered.
“Same thing,” Jessie said airily. “Now are we gonna go or not?” She looked among the dozen gathered kids. “I’m guessing most of us are out without permission so we should see the ghost and get home before our parents notice.” Her gaze lingered on Sorin, who had his arm protectively around Ani. He looked away. All the neighborhood kids were aware that something wasn’t quite right at the Opalin household, but it was an unspoken rule that it was not talked about mostly to protect Sorin and Ani’s feelings, but also because Vlad would beat up anyone who mentioned it. Vlad, at almost 16, was just enough bigger than them to be scary.
“Thank you, Jess!” Bri said and spread his arms wide for effect. “Now, as I was saying, we have to be very quiet. Ghosts are tricky and don’t always like to be seen. Plus, we’re sneaking up by the Mackinroe house and we don’t want to wake Iris.”
A collective shudder went through the kids at the mention of the overbearing, righteous, mothering teenager.
“Follow me. I know the best place in the neighborhood for ghosts,” Bri told them and then headed off, listening to the other kids fall into a ragged group behind him.
“Sorin,” he heard Ani whisper, “are you sure there aren’t ghosts?”
“Even if there are, what ghost is going to get past all of us?” asked Jez, with all the certainty of an almost seven-year-old. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Ani.”
“Shh!” Jessie and Bri said at the same time and exchanged grins.
They snuck through three backyards, including the Mackinroes, without issue, finally reaching the wood at the backside of the neighborhood. Bri turned and motioned them close. “Okay, now we got to be extra specially quiet, okay? We’re getting close.”
“Bri, this is just the woods. There’s no ghost here,” Ren said skeptically.
“Shh. There won’t be if you’re stupid and noisy,” the nine-year-old shot back.
Ren and Sorin exchanged a look and rolled their eyes. “Fine,” Ren said, obligingly lowering his voice.
“Beau, be ready with your camera.”
The other boy held it up, face dimly lit by the viewscreen.
“Everyone ready?”
At the nods, Bri turned and took only two steps before the noise started. Low at first, then getting steadily louder. The hair on the back of the boy’s neck rose and he swallowed hard. He hadn’t really expected a ghost.
“S-Sorin?” Ani said.
Ry appeared at Jessie’s side in an instant, sucking harder than ever at her thumb, although she didn’t grab the older girl’s hand. Stella pressed herself against Jay’s side. Jez folded her arms and scowled. Mick, as quiet as usual, moved to Beau and Ren’s side. Beau raised the camera, although his hands trembled slightly.
“It’s got to be a coyote or wolf,” Colin said stoutly, putting a hand on his sister’s shoulder.
“Do we have coyotes here?” Jay asked, interested.
“Shh!” Bri said.
“It kinda sounds like the ghosts in stories,” Stella said tremulously. “You know, woooo-woooo.”
Before that thought could really process, three somethings jumped out at them, making wild noises. The suddenness of the attack scared even the hardiest of the kids and half of them screamed. Bri was thankful he was not among them.
Ry, as fearless as ever, narrowed her eyes at the white apparitions, stepped forward and kicked one hard in what appeared (amongst their jumping and whooping) as a shin.
“Ow! Shit! Vlad, the kid kicked me! You didn’t tell me your brother’s baby friends would fight back!”
“Vlad?” Sorin asked dangerously, stepping forward. Ani was crying, as was Stella, and most of the rest of them were as white as any potential ghost.
Rylia examined the situation a bit longer and then kicked the boy hard in the shin again. “That’s not being nice,” she lectured, “and you made Stella and Ani cry! Meanie.”
“Ow, Jesus, kid, lay off!”
“Vlad?” Sorin repeated, stepping up to the middle of what was now identifiable as three humans - older than any currently present - in white sheets.
The middle one now pulled off his sheet and sighed. “Ani, it was just a joke, you can stop crying now.”
She tried, sniffing pathetically.
“You shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” Ren said, glaring at the almost sixteen-year-old. None of the group really got along with Vlad anymore.
“Leave off, Ren.”
“You be nice to Renny!” Ani said shrilly.
“Ani, let Ren fight his own battles,” Sorin said tiredly. “C’mon, guys, we should head home before we’re missed.” He pinned Vlad with a look that spoke volumes. “So should you.”
His brother’s minions, two big boys named Kilgor and Juke, pulled off their own sheets. “Vlad doesn’t have to do what you say.”
Sorin didn’t say anything, even as he put an arm around his still sniffling sister, just holding Vlad’s gaze.
“No, I don’t, but he’s got a point,” Vlad said grudgingly. “It is getting pretty late.” Even if the older boy was too cool for them anymore, all of them knew he still took his schoolwork seriously, especially since he had just started his junior year. And then there was Edward Opalin.
Subdued, and a lot of them still angry, the kids decided that meant it was time to head home. They were just doing so, heads hanging, when Beau let out an excited yelp. “Look, guys, look!” he said excitedly. Not a lot got Beau excited so most of them turned around. He was proudly holding up his father’s camera. “Look at all the orbs! We did see ghosts.” He grinned at them. “’Specially around Kilgor, Juke and Vlad.”
The three oldest boys exchanged wide-eyed looks, just the slightest bit nervous.
Beau pointed the camera at them and snapped another picture. How Bri has missed the flash, even in the scare, he wasn’t sure as it blinded him now. By the time his vision cleared, Beau was examining the picture on the little screen. “That one too! I think they like us.”
At that simple statement, smiles and grins broke out among the kids. Ry reached out her thumb sucking hand and patted the air. “Good ghosts,” she said happily. Bri straightened with pleasure. His adventure had been a success after all.