Farmer's Market

An Unusual Array Of Characters

   -Now, I'll have to warn you two, the Lady broke the silence as the pulled up in front of a gate. A few of the people you'll meet today will seem dangerous. Others might actually be. Do your best to leave the house in one piece. Did I make myself crystal clear?
   Monday, who's silhouette was entirely composed of many pieces and would who whould rather have it stay like that, made a coughing noise which rattled through her glass.
   -I said, did I make myself clear?
   -Yes ma'am, came both of the voices from the backseat. Something seemed wrong to them, as if the Lady's mood had changed all of a sudden. Some time ago they were laughing at the little Lego figurine Lady Alligator had superglued just above the car radio, a little Lego alligator with a hat put on. She didn't seem up to joking now, so they just didn't joke. A simple, temporary solution to a more complex problem.
   They exited the car together, gravel crumbling under their feet as they stepped out. In front of then stood the biggest mansion they had ever seen, and as Lady Alligator pressed a button, possibly to alert the owner about her presence, Monday couldn't help but wonder how old could the building be. Toby, on the other hand, was asking himself how many hours does cleaning the place take.
   The gate was opened by an extraordinarily tall man, who was also dressed quite sharply. A carefully ironed shirt, a dark brown vest, and darker slacks. Yes, he is an absolutely normal man from all points of view, if you didn't count in the fact that his head  is in no way attached to his body, and instead rested in a jar of green liquid which seemed to levitate a few centimeters above his neck.
   -Adalana! he joyfully called out. And Toby, long time no see, is it?
   -Salvador! Always a pleasure seeing you, you know, smiled the Lady, but I just have to ask, how in the world do you know Toby?
   Toby grinned. Oh, he knew the man alright. He knew how to fix his car and he knew that he sleepwalked, because less than a year ago that weirdo's car broke down and he spent 3 days stuck in the town, and slept on the farm's couch because Toby agreed to take him in and help him out. Following those events, they kept in touch.
   -We've met before, said Toby. But man, I didn't know you lived in a whole Victorian mansion!
   Now, the author kindly asks of you to remember that Monday is also present, for the poor girl has been standing awkwardly behind those two,  and made no attempt at conversation until a very specific point where the glass reflected a ray of light into Salvador's eyes.
   -You're new, he remarked.
   -A bit, she shrugged. I'm Monday.
   -Salvador Vince. With no correlation to the artist, he smiled.
   -Why is your head in a jar? were the next words that came from the other's direction.
   -I'm harder to kill, he said as if it was clear as the light of day, and Monday nodded, because it made perfect sense to her.
   Toby sighed, and instantly knew those two would get along perfectly. 'Maybe having glass as a component just makes you be weird.' he shrugged.
   -Well, ain't I rude. I forgot to invite you in, laughed Salvador. Follow me!
   The masion's grounds were enormous, you had to admit. Extraordinarily well kept bushes and flowers, and trees that each grew fruit in certain seasons, making so that those who lived in the house always had them on hand for jams and cakes. Salvador himself insisted on it, as he was sure that without having little fruits oh hand at all times, his ridiculous housemates would surely forget about their existence altogether and die of scurvy. And he was right.
   The doors swung with a bit of effort, revealing a very comfortable, wide living room. A currently unused fireplace, couches, pillows, rugs and tables. Marble staircases.
   Salvador stepped forward and pressed a button, making a sound similar to that of a large church bell echo through the house. This noise was, of course, followed by a series of audible crashes, curses and cries from all directions. Truly, the house residents were quite busy. The man walked calmly to the bottom of one of the stairways from where, under the incredulous eyes of Moday, Toby and Adalana, came down what looked like... Nothing. A striped blue shirt and black pants all around an unseen, seemingly human form. The man, who's name we'll learn later, looked clearly uncomfortable as he tried to go down the stairs.
   Salvador was grinning as if he was expecting something bad to happen. And it did, for the shape slipped and fell. Now, you really can't blame him for bursting into laughter as he pulled the other back up.
   -Honestly, Griffin, one day I won't be here and you'll break you spine!
   -And that day would be a blessing, sighed the man. He had a raspy voice, and sounded tired enough that it was safe to assume at least 48 hours have passed since his last nap.
   He extended his hand to the others to introduce himself, and it took them about 2 seconds each to guess where his palm would be. The closest guess was Monday's, who took him hand directly, and the worst was the Lady's, who grabbed him by the wrist, causing him to let out a laugh like a bark.
   After him followed a colorful array of people, who each introduced themselves and made their way to the couch. So, after all was said and all was done, in a circle among the fellas we already know sat:
   Maisie and Pica, two lovely old ladies and their cat. They would've been the perfectly ordinary duo if it weren't for the fact that Pica was a ghost. She couldn't shake anyone's hand, so she simply just waved.
   Marlene, who was.. a skeleton. The fact that her head was in a carved pumpkin was also notable.
   And a girl with bangs and darker skin, named Pygmalion, whose clothes were covered in a fine powder of what was probably stone.
   Now, in such an array, it was normal that both Toby and Monday would feel a bit skittish. It was Lady Alligator who first spoke up, and as she pulled out and waved the photograph her words echoed through the house, but were perhaps a bit less professional than she'd have liked them to be.
   -Alright mates, who here woulda' know the dead bastard of a farmer from the next town over?