Sam brushed aside being referred to as a 'little shit.' He'd been called much worse over the decades. Besides, he had gotten everything he wanted out of his interaction with Ayumu. Which was to scare the living daylights out of him. If the zombie wished to engage further than that was his prerogative, not Sam's. Speaking of which it seemed like they were finally going to start things! Following after the others, Sam could barely restrain himself from wanting to bounce all over the place as Loyal tried to explain things! All of it turned into white noise as Sam glanced around. So many pretty lights! So many tents! Ugh! Why didn't people get as enthusiastic about Halloween as they did carnivals?! Halloween would have been so much better off! As the child mentality continued to affect Sam's thinking, it wasn't until Loyal brought out the blow horn causing Sam to let out an inhuman screech.
Growling in Loyal's direction, Sam folded his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. Get tickets, don't touch the attractions, blah blah blah! He wanted to get to the tents and have fun already! That was why they were here wasn't it? To have fun until they couldn't stand it anymore? Well, Sam couldn't
stand listening to Loyal drone on for another second or two! As Loyal let the group split up to go to the tents as they pleased, Sam resumed jumping up and down like the world's most energetic sack baby. So many fun things to do! So many fun people to meet! Would they even have time to meet all of them? Oh, who cared! Even if Sam only got to meet three of them he'd still have plenty of fun!
Glancing over towards Aika and Luso, Sam frowned behind his mask at what they ultimately end up choosing. An illusionist? Wasn't that basically just magic tricks? Why couldn't they have gone to see someone cool like the daredevil? He did things that Sam wouldn't have expected any other human to do! What if he got hurt and Sam wasn't there to laugh at his misfortune? What a wasted opportunity! But, he didn't want to leave his friends behind either. So sucking it up, Sam quickly waddled after Luso and Aika and whoever else decided to end up tagging along to the Illusionist Tent. This guy likely didn't know a thing about magic! Probably just some human who fooled all of his human audiences because humans didn't know real magic like Sam did! He was created by witches for crying out loud! This guy wouldn't know magic if it said 'abra kadabra!' right in his face!
The sack baby was not happy to say the least. But he wouldn't be a party pooper and ruin Aika's fun. Even if he hoped he ruined Dolly's fun. Because Sam didn't like Dolly possibly being alive. It meant that he had competition for being friends with Aika and that wasn't something Sam looked fondly upon. But his grudge against Dolly would have to be put on hold as the group entered the Illusionist's tent.
The sight that heralded the group's arrival into Arvid's tent was a peculiar one to say the least. With magician-related items scattered about on dressers, in jars, cabinets, the list went on! All the while some strange music could have been heard in the background. Seeming like a much more subdued carnival-related melody. Although it still had somewhat of a more foreboding atmosphere to it. But none of that interested Sam in the slightest. Ignoring the comfy looking rugs that were apparently were the patrons of the tent were meant to sit, he rushed forward.
Stopping at the table with what appeared to be all sorts of decorated pumpkins. Some even had fake eyes put on them! This was a disgrace in Sam's eyes! Jack o lanterns were meant to be scary and lit! Not painted up and left sitting on a table like this! Least of all in some phony baloney magician's tent! Why the very thought provoked Sam into grabbing one of the pumpkins and holding it over his head with his intent clear! If whoever ran this tent was as skilled in magic and illusions as they were paraded to be then he'd stop Sam before he got too far!
"GRRR!"
A second passed and nothing happened.
Another second went by and the pumpkin was still in Sam's angry clutches. He was almost disappointed. He had gotten himself all worked up into a fury and nothing was going to even come of it? Well, Sam couldn't truthfully destroy a pumpkin as it'd be going against his own rules. But these pumpkins were already being misused in Sam's eyes! What good were they just sitting on this table where they wouldn't be seen unless someone entered the tent and what use would a magician have for pumpkins anyway? Before Sam could think any further on whether or not it'd be good if he smashed this pumpkin, a rabbit appeared near Luso and Aika/Dolly, the rabbit seemed to take an immediate liking to Aika and glanced up at her. Before long a tall lanky figure adorned in typical magician attire frowned as he stood in between Luso and Aika and glanced down at the rabbit while twirling his wand absentmindedly in his other hand.
"Hm, it seems like someone's not a very happy camper are they, Houdini?"
*cute lil bunny noises*
"Right you are, my loyal and faithful companion!" The man who could only be the Illusionist glanced back and forth between Luso and Aika with an apologetic look on his face.
"Houdini and I do sincerely apologize for not attending to you lovely people earlier! Houdini and I were a bit famished and we've only just arrived back! I'm glad you two haven't taken to violence against pumpkins like your friend has. But don't worry, we'll mediate the situation. Won't we Houdini?"
*cute lil bunny noises intensifies*
Sam glanced over in the direction of Houdini and Arvid and sneered behind his mask. So this was the magician/illusionist they had been set up to see? He looked like a walking mix between a poker card and a checkerboard! It was a shame Sam's hands were occupied holding up the pumpkin or else he might have lifted up his mask to blow a raspberry Arvid's way. Now, if he had any previous contemplation about smashing the pumpkin they were gone! He'd probably regret it later but this was the heat of the moment! So as Sam threw the pumpkin down, Houdini leaped from Arvid's arm and Arvid waved his wand.
"When the threat of pumpkin smashing arises, I think comfort is the necessary response!"
When Arvid's words hit the breeze, Houdini vanished in a puff of smoke and in his place was a pillow with two bunny ears poking out of it. The pumpkin didn't smash upon hitting the tent floor as Sam would have wanted but instead landed safely on the bunny pillow. Sam was left dumbfounded. What had just happened? There had been a rabbit that Sam would have likely kicked away had it tried to hurt him but that hadn't been the case at all! Instead, the bunny turned into a pillow! Noticing by Sam's body language that the spirit was confused, Arvid made his way over and picking up the pumpkin set it back up on the table and knelt down to look Sam in the eye.
"Hey, hey, I understand if you're upset. I was running late and I have no room for excuses. As the fine people who came to see my performance, you deserve the best treatment that Arvid and Houdini can afford to dole out! But these pumpkins were gifts to me by people who came to see my act long before you! So I can't have you going around and smashing them. Now, are you feeling any better?"
Arvid asked as Houdini returned into his normal form and took his place back atop Arvid's arm. Sam didn't respond for a moment or two feeling quite embarrassed which was new for the spirit. He normally didn't care who he bothered/messed with but didn't go as far as bodily harm unless they were a rulebreaker and he never felt guilt for any of that. But after seeing this, Sam wasn't quite sure. He had taken Arvid and this act as a whole for one big joke. But not only had Arvid said what Sam could only assume to be an incantation, it
worked! His bunny had turned into a pillow and prevented Sam from smashing the pumpkin! There were no smoke and mirrors or tricks that Sam could see. Which is why if the group listened closely they could hear sniffling coming from behind Sam's mask.
Frowning at the implication that he had upset one of his guests, let alone a child, Arvid glanced at Houdini who glanced back.
"I apologize for making your friend cry. So therefore I will remedy the situation. With a happier side of things!"
*excited lil bunny noises!*
The 'happier side' of course referring to Houdini leaping off Arvid's arm and vanishing in a poof of smoke again. This time as the smoke cleared, there stood what appeared to be another Sam. Only this Sam possessed very notable bunny ears sticking out of the top of his mask.
"Hehe!"
Normally, the real Sam would have been annoyed that there was another one of him. He was the only guardian of Halloween after all! It didn't need two people looking out for it! But he could see why Arvid had made his bunny take this form. It was meant to cheer him up. Something that Sam didn't think he'd ever need in all of his time of existing. But hearing his giggle brightened the spirit right up and the sniffling ceased as he giggled right back at Houdini!Sam.
"Hehe!"
Pleased that Sam seemed to be okay, Arvid finally returned his attention to Luso and Aika and whoever else decided to enter the tent.
"So, now that we're all okay, how's about introductions? I don't think your friend here is much of a talker so would you mind introducing him for me, Little Missy?" Arvid asked, directing the last question to Aika as Sam hadn't really given the illusionist the impression that he'd be doing much talking of his own.
"As you may have guessed by now, I'm Arvid the Illusionist and that right there is my partner, Houdini! We are delighted to have you at our tent!"
