Twisted Wonderland 2

A Playful Streak

You walk around the bazaar some more when Cater points something out.

"Hey, what's up with all those blue ceramic pots and urns over there?"

"There are a lot of different sizes. What are they used for?" Trey asks.

"Oh, tons of things." Jamil says. "You can store things like grains and coffee in them, use them as flower vases, you name it. And this urn here is used to ward off bad things."

Trey tilts his head. "Is there a story to that?"

"In one part of the young man's tale, some people were chasing him. So he hid himself in an urn, and in doing so, evaded danger."

"We have one of these in front of our house too." Najma says. "They're supposed to keep bad vibes from coming inside."

"Somethin' tells me it don't do squat. Check this! Hup!" Grim leaps onto the rim of the urn.

"Hey, don't climb on the rim!" Najma warns. "If you do, something bad might-"

Grim slips and falls into the urn.

"Grimmy fell in the urn!" Cater exclaims. "Between this and the canal, he's really committing to the bit."

"Get me outta here! Y/N, pull me out!"

You're about to help him when Malleus stops you. "Don't indulge him. This is what he gets for mocking a local tradition."

Jamil chuckles. "Let this be a lesson to stop messing around, Grim."

Najma snickers. "You're one to talk, Jamil. You got in one of those things too when we were kids."

Jamil's grin drops. "Hey..."

"Grim's one story, but Viper?" Malleus shakes his head. "I can't fathom why he would."

Najma laughs. "Mom was getting on him about something, and so he pulled the urn over himself to hide under it. He started tiptoeing away while the urn was still over him and I saw it and freaked out. I was all like, 'The urn grew legs!' Boy, that's something I'll never forget."

"Wow." Trey chuckles. "Hard to imagine Jamil doing that."

"I know!" Cater agrees. "That's so precious!"

Jamil sighs. "Look, I was just a kid, okay?"

"Oh! I actually have a picture of it." Najma pulls out her phone. "Wanna see?"

"Why do you have that? No!" Jamil swipes her phone. "Don't you dare show them!"

Najma laughs. "I'm kidding. What, you think I walk around with your baby pictures?"

Jamil rolls his eyes, handing Najma back her phone.

"I'm still in here!"

"Okay, calm down." Trey chuckles. "I'll get you out."

Once Grim is free from the urn, your group continues to walk in the bazaar. Grim walks behind Malleus, grumbling. "That was the worst."

"Thanks for embarrassing me in the process." Jamil groans.

Malleus stops walking, turning to Grim. "Grim."

"Yeah?"

"You've been trailing after me for a while now. Why is that?"

Grim smirks. "I've been walkin' in your shadow 'cuz it's hot. Galaxy Brain Grim, that's me!"

You inwardly groan. "Grim, why?"