Watching and Listening - An Empires SMP AU

Surprise

          The last day of October dawned bright and early. Jimena awoke from a surprisingly dreamless sleep and smiled at the sun. Then she got out of bed and came face to face with Grian.

           "Ahh!" Jimena shrieked, her wings flapping outward in a flight or fight defense mechanism, purple energy at her fingertips ready to strike until she realized who it was. "Grian!" Jimena scolded. Grian laughed. "Surprise!" He giggled.

            Just then, False shot through the door and pinned Grian to the floor, blade at his neck. He let out a strangled, surprised cry. "False, I'm fine!" Jimena said quickly, wrenching the sword from her hands. "He just surprised me!"

           False reluctantly let Grian go and the two of them got up, scowling at each other. "What was that for?" Grian asked, rubbing his neck, which was a startling shade of burgundy. "I heard Jimena scream so sorry if I jumped to conclusions just to be safe," False said.

           "Maybe I should be more careful with my surprise wake up calls," Grian muttered. "Yes. You should. I do not like surprises." False huffed. "Uh, good morning," Jimena tentatively waved, trying to diffuse the stiff mood. "Morning." The other two said. "Um..." Jimena said, hesitating, "Anyone want eggs?"

           It did the trick. Soon the three of them were laughing and choking on False's cooking and seemed to have forgotten the rough start the morning had gotten. But Jimena knew False well enough to know that the tinkerer had filed away the incident to memory, or at least had tried to, what with her confusing memory. Jimena just wondered what was going on in her head.

           "Anyway, Jimena," Grian said, "Today's the day we give Timmy his Halloween surprise party!" "Yay!" Jimena cheered childishly. "Halloween surprise party?" False asked. "The one I told you about, remember?" Jimena reminded. False thought for a second and then lit up. "Oh yeah, I remember." She paused. "Am I supposed to go?" "You don't have to if you're uncomfortable," Jimena said comfortingly. False let out a relieved smile.

           "Anyhow," Grian said with a mischievous grin, "Let's go surprise Timmy now!" "Okay, I'll go get my costume," Jimena said, finishing off the last of her burnt egg and rushing to her room to go and change. Ten minutes later, the rogue Watchers were in their costume and flying to Tumble Town.

           When they arrived, they weren't the only ones there. Joel and Lizzie were there dressed as dolls; Lizzie wearing the tag hat despite how it clashed with her Halloween costume and several hermits were cautiously keeping their distance from her. Scar had come as a Mr. Potato Head toy with interchangeable add-ons. Keralis was the embellished spork. Scott wore the frilly pink dress that he'd been looking at, and Gem was a cowgirl.

            Jimena stared at the two of them, remembering what she'd seen. She glanced at the cowgirl's head and noted no antlers. Jimena wondered what was going on between Scott and Gem and if it was anything she should be worried about. Just then, though, her throughts were distracted by the arrival of the sheriff.

           "Surprise!" Everyone shouted to a very surprised Jimmy. His eyes darted around, noting their costumes, and then it all clicked. "What is this?!" He shrieked, marching over to them. "Why are you all dressed up like Toy Story characters?!" "Wait, that was the theme?" Jimena asked Grian, who merely gave a knowing smile.

           Jimmy suddenly noticed her, the little girl standing next to Grian in her pink bear costume. "You converted her?!" Jimmy shrieked in protest. Jimena held up ber hands, slowly figuring out what had happened. "If I did anything wrong, sheriff, blame Grian." She said. "Jimena, you snitch," Grian groaned, but he was laughing pleasantly. Jimmy started shouting at Grian for roping Jimena into the prank.