Chapter 6

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"It is a simple question," Jack stated as he leaned against the doorframe of my workroom. "Did you have anything to do with Sniz's missing stock?"

"What kind of name is Sniz?" I asked, not bothering to even look at my "guest". "I mean, I don't want to spit on anyone's namesake, but can he even say his name without spitting? Horrible name for a snakeman." I might have been a little sore still from the way he had treated me earlier that week.

"Oogie." Jack ran a boney hand over the flesh of his face. "Just answer me, please. And answer truthfully. Did you, or did you not, steal from his stock after causing a scene?"

I couldn't help but snort at that. "Me? Causing a scene?" I finally turned to face him. "Did I steal anything from him after he refused to sell me his goods just because he believed that he would have to report everything I buy back to you? That is what you meant to say, right?"

"Oogie-"

"Listen closely, Jack Skellington," I hissed. "I have done nothing wrong. I have never hurt anyone, nor intentionally tried to. I build gaming machines, not doomsday devices. I have done nothing of ill will towards you, the townspeople, or the humans, and yet I can't even get a jar of spiders without scrutiny. And now I find out that, under your order, all my purchases are to be noted down and reported back to you, as if I were some lowly human criminal."

"I had to do something, Oogie," Jack tried to explain. I took a moment to note the lack of his atrocious nickname for me. "You have holed yourself up here for so long without letting anyone know what you were doing."

"What is it to you what I am doing? Why must you know?" I glared up at him, gritting my teeth. "Why must you make my life harder than it was it already is?"

Jack sighed, placing his hands gently upon my shoulders. "You know why." His thumbs rubbed small circles into my pale flesh. "You have a great mind and an eye for tinkering, but it is a dangerous gift. You might not mean to do any harm, but one day your mind may race ahead of you and mistakes will be made. I don't want to just protect my people, but you as well, my friend."

I shake him off.

"I asked you about the theft in order to give you a chance to redeem yourself, but I can see that you will not answer my question, let alone atone." Jack crossed his arms and stared me dead in the eye. "You were seen rolling those accursed dice of yours beforehand." I instinctively fingered the pair hanging from my left ear. "You had followed their 'wisdom' and decided before you had even come close to his stand that you were going to take what you wanted, so don't try to tell me that it was because he refused you unjustly."

"You have your doll," I hissed back in return, "and I have the Hands of Fate. Are we done here? You have already decided on my answer before you even asked me."

"No, we are not done, Oogie." Jack towered over me. "You can't keep doing this and I can't keep cleaning up the messes that you make. I am the Pumpkin King! I cannot keep turning a blind eye to you out of pity."

"I don't need your pity!" Sickened at the sight of him, I turned away and slammed my palms down on my work desk, scattering the various papers and tools there. "Nor do I deserve it! The pity you give me is only equal to the pain you are inflicting. Stop trying to drag me down and there will be no need for any more of these meetings."

I heard Jack sigh behind me. "I am tired of this. We have had this conversation over and over again, but you still never learn from it."

"Neither do you."

Jack's shoes clicked as he exited. "We all play a part, Buggie, and mine is not to look after you," he hesitated in my doorway, "but... take care of yourself."

And like that, he was gone.

"I do not need the Pumpkin King to look after me," I muttered, removing the cloth that hid away my precious projects from his prying eyes. "One day, I will be the Pumpkin King."

I ran my slender fingers along their forms, taking in the expensive synthetic skin. Very little was on the metal frames due to the fact that I was taking my time to make sure every little detail was perfect. No use in using such fine, realistic materials if I left seem lines.

At the rate that I was going, I estimated that they would be finished in just three days' time, maybe a little more if I encountered anymore... delays. Seeing how that conversation went with Jack, I doubted that anyone would be coming to check on me for a few days at the least.

Picking up my discarded tools once more, I set to work on my kids. 

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⏰ Last updated: Feb 12, 2016 ⏰

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