Work Text:
It's been exactly 5 hours, 43 minutes and 18 seconds since Thorn has been carving a face into a pumpkin. Three of them have already been thrown away, the design carved into them having been judged unsatisfactory by Victoire. Thorn is really disappointed that his claws don't work on the pumpkin in front of him. A few well-placed cuts could have made a beautiful face appear on it! But he is forced to use a knife, and his patience. A lot of patience.
Who is the idiot who suggested to Victoire to celebrate Halloween? Ah! Yes! Of course! Archibald. He arrived six days before, with a big smile on his face and two long fangs in his mouth. He explained to Victoire what Halloween was all about: disguises, sweets, tricks... Of course, Victoire was very excited at the idea, and Archibald even more so. Thorn, on the other hand, was exasperated. Another activity that involves noise and social interaction? For him, that's the most terrifying thing about this party.
However, the rest of Thorn's little family shares Archibald's excitement, and a dozen people are coming to the manor tonight to celebrate Halloween. Despite Archibald's insistence, Thorn refuses to wear a costume, but he has agreed to help Victoire carve pumpkins.
Still bent on his fourth pumpkin, Thorn's patience begins to wear thin as his frustration mounts: this is the last pumpkin he has, and he doesn't want to disappoint Victoire. As he is working on carving a round eye, the kitchen door opens behind him, letting Archibald in. The latter is wearing a black cloak that hangs on the floor, the inside of the collar pulled up around his face. The former Ambassador has powdered his face to make it look paler, and two long fangs run down his chin. Seeing Thorn concentrating on his carving, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, Archibald bursts out laughing and asks, "Well, dear Treasurer, are you carving your portrait? I can't wait to see the rest of the family!"
Without saying anything, Thorn stands up, his sculpture in one hand. He gives a quick punch to the bottom of the pumpkin to open it up, turns around and rams it down on Archibald's head.
Thorn leaves the room without a word, but smiling inwardly. For that alone, it hasn't been such a bad day.