Nevermoor One-shots

The Bet Master Part 2

"Cadence, how much do you wanna bet Jack will dress up as a pirate on Hallowmas?"

Cadence spat out her drink all over Hawthorne's face. "WHAT?"

"Ugh, yuck." Hawthorne frantically tried to wipe all the water/saliva/whatever else was in her mouth off his face. He quickly ran to the bathroom and washed it off, running back to Cadence.

"So. Let me repeat my question. How much do you wanna bet Jack will dress up as a pirate on Hallowmas? Plus, a bonus 'Shiver me timbers!' and a pirate pose." Hawthorne asked again, this time staying a safe distance away from Cadence.

Cadence was a smart person. She knew better than to rashly bet with Hawthorne (especially after past experiences had shown that Hawthorne was rather cunning). But the chances of getting Jack to dress up as a pirate on Hallowmas were slim to none. They've tried before, by bribery, promises, begging, yelling, asking Morrigan and Jupiter to ask him, all to no avail.

Jack was really stubborn.

But this time it could work in her favour. Whatever trick Hawthorne had up his sleeve was almost definitely NOT going to work, and she could win back her money from all the previous bets.

She grinned. "200 bucks for the costume, 50 bucks for the pose, and another 50 bucks for the 'Shiver me timbers!'"

Hawthorne's eyes widened.

"Deal."

---

"So, Jack, I've got a couple of costumes for you to dress up this year for Hallowmas. Which one would you like?" Cadence came into the smoking parlour with a bunch of different clothes, to find Jack playing Monopoly with Morrigan.

Jack looked up from his game. "Huh?"

"Costumes for Hallowmas. You know, the spooky celebration where people go trick-or-treating, the one where you have to dress-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know what Hallowmas is." Jack rolled his eyes. "Why are you providing me with costumes?"

"Oh, you know, being the nice friend I am, I decided to...er...offer costumes to people! You know, free costumes!" Morrigan snorted so loudly and Cadence shot her a look of annoyance.

But Jack said, "Well, let's see what you have for me."

Cadence displayed a number of interesting costumes, such as old witches, ghosts, devils, and even the wundersmith, to which Morrigan raised her eyebrows. Jack looked the most interested in the wundersmith costume, while Morrigan rolled her eyes.

"No pirate costume this time?" Morrigan asked, amused. Cadence flinched, and Morrigan raised her eyebrows.

"No...pirate costumes are just so not for Jack. They don't suit him. At all."

Jack raised his eyebrows in turn. "So all the bribing and begging and yelling last year-and last last year- and last last last year- was all for nothing?"

Cadence grimaced. "Yes."

"Wow." That was Morrigan.

"So, which costume are you gonna choose?" She gestured back to her options of clothing.

Jack grinned. "Sorry, but I already have my costume."

"You do?" The girls asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I do."

"What are you wearing then?"

Jack gestured to his clothes. "I'm currently wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Or if you're wanting specifics, socks, underwear, yeah, that's all."

Morrigan groaned. "I mean for Hallowmas."

Jack feigned a look of understanding. "Oh, you should've specified!" Morrigan rolled her eyes, while Jack smirked. "I'm not telling you."

---

"Where is he? If he continues to take his time, there won't be any sweets left in any of the houses." Morrigan sighed in frustration as she paced the room.

Cadence and Hawthorne were both being unusually quiet, both nervous, but for a different reason from Morrigan.

Suddenly, Jack came out. Morrigan gasped. Cadence groaned. Hawthorne whooped.

"Yeah, Jack! Good for you!" Hawthorne gave Jack a thumbs up.

Jack was dressed in full pirate gear, with his daggy clothes, bandana, and of course, his eyepatch, looking like a full 'Pirates of the Caribbean' wannabe.

Jack immediately struck a pirate pose and yelled "Shiver me timbers!", then scowled at Hawthorne, but grinned at Cadence, who looked like she was about to cry. Morrigan just stared open-mouthed at Jack, unable to speak, unable to comprehend anything that was happening.

Hawthorne sauntered over to Cadence and held out his hand. "300 bucks, please!" Cadence slapped them aggressively onto his hand, along with a few curse words and glares.

Hawthorne then walked over to Jack and gave him 100 bucks, slipping the rest into his pocket. Jack grinned at Hawthorne and said, "Remember the deal. No annoying me for a month." Hawthorne nodded obeyingly and shot Cadence a smug look.

Morrigan was still speechless.