Roasted Chestnut/Peanut Butter/FOTD Smoothie
Author: Casey and Marina
Story: Shifts: Index - Just Pre-Shifts
Challenge: Roasted Chestnut 2 (reindeer) [Marina], Peanut Butter 3 (wind/air) [Casey], FOTD (sockdolager: A decisive reply, argument, a heavy, finishing blow) [both]
Toppings & Extras: Malt (“I expect I’ve saved the day, right?” - Moving Pictures, Terry Pratchett: Christmas Gift from Bookblather) [Marina], Malt (Pot Luck: Fruit of your labor from Marina) [Casey], Fresh Peaches (You might also enjoy intriguing encounters, although everything might not be exactly what meets the eye.), Sprinkles, Smoothie[both]
Word Count: 464
Rating: G (despite the cut text :P)
Summary: Mariah Harper, Reindeer Hunter
Notes: Once the mental picture existed of Mariah examining an indoor blow-up reindeer, this just had to happen. ETA: The twins are four in this piece.
The large cartoon eyes painted on the faded brown plastic bored into Josh so hard that for a moment, all he could do was stand as still as a pole, bound to the spot by terror. Then he shrieked and tore for his room, nearly tripping in his haste to get away. He slammed the door and curled up with his hands covering his face.
Mariah was already in their room, playing with a puzzle, and she now looked up with wide eyes. "Joshie?"
"It's evil," he managed.
She blinked. "What's evil?"
"Mom's reindeer!"
His twin hopped off her bed, going over and peering out the door. She tilted her head. "Why's it evil?" she asked, head still out the door.
"It just is!" Josh had no idea how Mariah did not see it. The creepy expression, the way it loomed over him...he buried his face in his arms. "It was staring at me!"
"It is kinda creepy," she agreed after a moment and shut the door, turning back to him.
"I don't like it," he muttered into his elbow.
"Want me to kill it?" Mariah asked thoughtfully.
Josh poked one eye out to stare at her. "You can't do that."
She grinned, a look that he knew usually spelled trouble. "Course I can. I can be a reindeer hunter!" she added, sounding far too thrilled.
"But you can't really kill it," he said, as if that should be obvious.
She scowled. "Can too. Watch," she told him and slipped out the door.
Josh did not want to watch. He hunched up tighter and kept his face hidden, hoping that the reindeer would not suddenly come to life and attack Mariah first.
About five minutes later, Mariah returned triumphantly, leaving the door wide open this time. "Dead reindeer," she announced proudly.
He peeked out again. "What?"
"I killed it! Come see," she said, holding out her hand to him. He slowly uncurled, took her hand, and let her lead him back out to the living room. She bounced at his side and then pointed at the spot where the reindeer had stood. It was now fully deflated and Mariah had thoughtfully shoved the head under the couch.
Josh blinked. "You killed it."
"Told you," Mariah said, sounding a bit annoyed by his continued disbelief.
He flung his arms around her, vastly relieved. "Thank you, 'riah!"
She beamed. "Welcome! It was fun."
He grinned. "Let's go play reindeer hunters with the horses."
"Okay! You can be the hunter first, if you want."
Half an hour later, Catherine walked into the room in search of something, found the deflated reindeer, and lifted it up with a deep frown. Upon discovering the suspicious puncture hole in the neck, she turned toward the twins' room and yelled, "Mariah!"
Story: Shifts: Index - Just Pre-Shifts
Challenge: Roasted Chestnut 2 (reindeer) [Marina], Peanut Butter 3 (wind/air) [Casey], FOTD (sockdolager: A decisive reply, argument, a heavy, finishing blow) [both]
Toppings & Extras: Malt (“I expect I’ve saved the day, right?” - Moving Pictures, Terry Pratchett: Christmas Gift from Bookblather) [Marina], Malt (Pot Luck: Fruit of your labor from Marina) [Casey], Fresh Peaches (You might also enjoy intriguing encounters, although everything might not be exactly what meets the eye.), Sprinkles, Smoothie[both]
Word Count: 464
Rating: G (despite the cut text :P)
Summary: Mariah Harper, Reindeer Hunter
Notes: Once the mental picture existed of Mariah examining an indoor blow-up reindeer, this just had to happen. ETA: The twins are four in this piece.
The large cartoon eyes painted on the faded brown plastic bored into Josh so hard that for a moment, all he could do was stand as still as a pole, bound to the spot by terror. Then he shrieked and tore for his room, nearly tripping in his haste to get away. He slammed the door and curled up with his hands covering his face.
Mariah was already in their room, playing with a puzzle, and she now looked up with wide eyes. "Joshie?"
"It's evil," he managed.
She blinked. "What's evil?"
"Mom's reindeer!"
His twin hopped off her bed, going over and peering out the door. She tilted her head. "Why's it evil?" she asked, head still out the door.
"It just is!" Josh had no idea how Mariah did not see it. The creepy expression, the way it loomed over him...he buried his face in his arms. "It was staring at me!"
"It is kinda creepy," she agreed after a moment and shut the door, turning back to him.
"I don't like it," he muttered into his elbow.
"Want me to kill it?" Mariah asked thoughtfully.
Josh poked one eye out to stare at her. "You can't do that."
She grinned, a look that he knew usually spelled trouble. "Course I can. I can be a reindeer hunter!" she added, sounding far too thrilled.
"But you can't really kill it," he said, as if that should be obvious.
She scowled. "Can too. Watch," she told him and slipped out the door.
Josh did not want to watch. He hunched up tighter and kept his face hidden, hoping that the reindeer would not suddenly come to life and attack Mariah first.
About five minutes later, Mariah returned triumphantly, leaving the door wide open this time. "Dead reindeer," she announced proudly.
He peeked out again. "What?"
"I killed it! Come see," she said, holding out her hand to him. He slowly uncurled, took her hand, and let her lead him back out to the living room. She bounced at his side and then pointed at the spot where the reindeer had stood. It was now fully deflated and Mariah had thoughtfully shoved the head under the couch.
Josh blinked. "You killed it."
"Told you," Mariah said, sounding a bit annoyed by his continued disbelief.
He flung his arms around her, vastly relieved. "Thank you, 'riah!"
She beamed. "Welcome! It was fun."
He grinned. "Let's go play reindeer hunters with the horses."
"Okay! You can be the hunter first, if you want."
Half an hour later, Catherine walked into the room in search of something, found the deflated reindeer, and lifted it up with a deep frown. Upon discovering the suspicious puncture hole in the neck, she turned toward the twins' room and yelled, "Mariah!"