eerieindiana | Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: Party Planning

Edgar Teller set the mug of coffee down gently on the one empty spot on his living room table. Marilyn smiled up at him, one hand holding a pretty spray of green and purple ribbons. In the other she held an enormous pair of scissors, the blades apart and gaping widely.

"Morning," she said, tilting her head for a kiss.

"Morning," he said, bending down to deliver it. "Need any help?"

Marilyn put the scissors aside and scooted over, leaving space for Edgar to settle beside her.

"No," she said. "These are just a few party favour samples I'm putting together for the Mayor to look through. Wanted to give him a few options before he settles on a theme for the big celebration next month."

Edgar made a face.

"It's a Halloween party," he said. "Isn't that the theme? Halloween stuff?"

Marilyn made a face back at him.

"Considering you and your brother huskers once spent three hours debating the exact correct shade of Hunters Green to use on your team shirts for the last Shuckers Bowlathon, I'd think you'd appreciate the importance of deciding these things ahead of time."

"It was more like five hours," said Edgar, his shoulders tensing at the memory. "At one point I thought Sergeant Knight was about to arrest the entire lodge and lock us up on general principle. Apparently there's some by-law on the city books that lets him do that. And anyway," he added quickly, "You're not supposed to know about that. Our bowling shirts are secret."

"You shouldn't get them made at the screen-printing shop at the Mall then," Marilyn countered.

Edgar shrugged.

"Remember Tod McNulty? Marshall's friend with the spiky hair and the thing in his lip?" Marilyn nodded. "Well, he works there on the weekend and he's got a surprisingly good eye for colour for a kid I've only ever see wearing black."

He picked up one of the goodie bags and peered into it's tissue paper-lined interior.

"I like this one," he said. "Orange with black bats, you can never go wrong with bats at Halloween."

Marilyn scrunched her nose.

"You don't think it's a bit cliché?" she said.

Edgar shrugged.

"Your cliché is my traditional," he said. "Though I imagine Chisel will do his usual trick of wanting tentacles on everything. It's like he doesn't understand that Indiana's landlocked - with him it's all squids that and scientifically inaccurate octopi that. I'm glad he's not the Kernel; our secret hats that you're not allowed to know about would be covered in all sorts of wriggly appendages."

"I actually made him one with a bit of a Lovecraft theme," said Marilyn, rummaging amongst the glitzy packaging until she came up with one the deep blue-black of the lake at midnight. She passed it to her husband. "Seafoam green tissue for the lining and a Cthulhu motif in silver."

"Unsettling and repellent in a way that can't be expressed in human words," said Edgar, shuddering and setting it on the floor out of sight. "He'll love it."

Marilyn nodded, then sighed.

"It's a shame," she said. "I've been really excited to show off some of the new range of table gifts I've been working on, but if he goes full Deep One with the décor I doubt anyone will willingly open the bags." She lifted a long cardboard box from the arm of the sofa and balanced it carefully across her lap. "See?"

"Wow," said Edgar, picking up a waxy pinkish block carved into a cat with it's back arched. "You made all these?" He spotted a familiar shape and reached for it. "I know this guy!" he said. "This is that Vincent Price soap we've got in our bathroom." He sniffed it, familiar smells of apple and cinnamon coming clear even through the layer of shrink wrap.

"Yep," said Marilyn, with obvious pride. "That was from my first test batch. I wanted to see how long it took to go from Frederick Loren to Henry Jarrod to full Anton Phibes. It lasted a lot longer than I thought it would," she added thoughtfully.

"Oh," said Edgar. "I should tell you, I've been patting it down with your makeup tissues every time it got wet. I was trying to keep it Price-shaped for you."

Marilyn stared at him.

"You dried off my soap," she said.

"I swear I didn't know it was an experiment," said Edgar. "I thought it was just a cute novelty soap you'd picked up from somewhere and I didn't want it to wear out too fast."

"So every time you washed your hands in our bathroom, you've been carefully towelling off a bar of soap shaped like Vincent Price's head," said Marilyn.

"I'm really sorry," said Edgar. "I've messed up all your data now."

Marilyn reached out, taking his hand in both of hers. The tray with it's display of tiny novelty soaps slid off her knees, bats and pumpkins and Boris Karloffs bouncing all over the living room floor.

"I love you," she said.

First Date by

froodle, in which a young Edgar Teller shows off one of his earlier inventions

Breakfast Conversations, in which Syndi and Marshall are very small, and very much themselves

Under the Bed, in which Syndi has a friend over

Popcorn by

froodle. Friday night is always movie night in the Teller household.

The Toll, in which a parcel arrives and there is a fee to pay

Charitable, in which there is fundraising for... something?

Door Prizes, in which here is a cake tin

Fountain, in which Marshall has an excuse, and Edgar does not agree

Belt Match, in which Algernon the Invincible saves the world

Volun-Told, in which Marshall takes preparation very seriously

Shears, in which Edgar is concerned for the contents of his garden shed

Parking, in which Marshall makes a hasty exit

The Teller Home for Displaced Youth by

froodle, in which Edgar harbours some doubts about his new home town

Lawn by

froodle, in which Marilyn Teller contemplaces some yardwork

Back to School, in which Marilyn visits the Eerie Mall

Distractions, in which Simon and Marshall walk home from school

Product Testing, in which Marshall and Syndi have input in the latest Things Incorporated invention

Film Festival, in which there is breakfast at Tiffanys, and much carnage

Cake Day, in which it is Marshall's birthday

Prestidigitation, in which Syndi poses as a fortune teller

Camoflage, in which Fifi has a plan to infiltrate the Teller household

Preventative Measures, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over a facemask

Gallery, in which Syndi and Marshall clash over art

Tornado Day, Revisited by

froodle, in which Syndi learns exactly what it means to be Miss Tornado Day

Induction, in which the role of Miss Tornado Day comes with yet another hidden catch

Classes, in which Syndi trains for her new role

Competing Traditions, in which Dash and Marshall wait out the Easter weekend in the Teller's garage

Easter, in which Marshall receives a note

Truth in Advertising, in which Marshall is in trouble, and Radford is confused

Shampoo, in which Syndi is troubled by soapy residue

Wildlife by

froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

If You See Something, Say Something, in which Marshall is questioned by Sergeant Knight

The Party Fowl, in which Marilyn goes to some lengths to ensure Syndi keeps to curfew

The Party Fowl Cometh, in which the titular beast makes an appearance

Return of the Party Fowl, in which Syndi makes it home safely

Capability, in which there are Bigfoots

Nursemaiding, in which Syndi is much put-upon

Culinary Delights by

froodle, in which Syndi's terrible cooking may or may not have been an accident

Confectionary, in which Syndi has been baking again

Pirates, in which there are pirates

Rules of War, in which there is a waterfight

Exterior, Garden, Night, in which there is camping

Camping by

froodle, in which Syndi cannot sleep

Co-Defendants, in which Marshall seeks revenge

Artist in the Family by

froodle, in which an immortal creature takes a liking to Syndi

Virtual Reality, in which Things Incorporated branches out into the realm of home entertainment

Dressed for the Occasion, in which Syndi's weather goddess duties require a certain look

Without Due Care and Attention by

froodle, in which Syndi finally becomes mobile

Road Safety, in which Marshall does not

Typewriter, in which a familiar peacock logo makes an unwelcome reappearence

Golf Course, in which a reseeding does not go well

BBQ, in which the Tellers have a bonfire

Giveaway, in which Marshall buys a milkshake

Spa Day, in which Marshall has a gift for his sister

Prognostication Engine, in which horrorscopes are insufficiently detailed, and Marshall is cross

Hangover, in which Marshall drinks too much and makes a terrible enemy

Castle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Concealment, in which there is a costume party

Party Guests, in which a costume party is attended

Waiting In by

froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Harmonic Resonance, in which Syndi's craft table is disturbed

Spoiled, in which the Tellers are menaced

Postal, in which there is gunfire, and letters

Drive, in which Edgar has a convertible, and is filled with fear

Food Aggression, in which Lisa-Marie comes to visit, and the Tellers sibling dynamics have not changed

Statistically Possible, in which Marshall has the figures

Misdirection, in which Syndi is a cunning and treacherous foe

Targeted Marketing, in which here are illuminated signs on taxis

Rare Appearance, in which there are egg rolls, and also ghosts

Brunch by

froodle, in which Marilyn does not appreciate Edgar's help in the kitchen

Winter Picnic, in which there is snuggling

Corn Critters 7: Rise of the Super Crop, in which Marshall makes a grave mistake

Advent Calendar, in which Marilyn prepares for Christmas

Weaponised, in which Simon, Syndi and Marshall prepare for Christmas

Handmade by

froodle, in which the Tellers receive a Christmas package from Marilyn's mother

Window Paint, in which Harley helps Eerie Elementary decorate for the season

Pantomime, in which the Tellers enjoy some traditional Christmas entertainment

Decorative, in which Eerie's wildlife get into the spirit, and Marshall is worried

Dinner Conversation, in which Marshall and Syndi revive an old argument

Poor Life Choices by

froodle, in which Syndi loves her brother anyway

Public Spaces, in which there is a vampire, and Mayor Chisel appreciates municipal art

Lillian by

froodle, in which Marilyn's mother has concerns

Visitor by

froodle, in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Nap by

froodle, in which Marshall has a quiet moment in the Secret Spot

Underwater, in which Lillian travels to another timeline, and has a much-overdue conversation

Cygnet, in which Lillian and Harley visit the lake

Auction, in which a clear-out is happening

Hand Me Down/Keepsake, in which the clear-out continues

Administrative, in which Things Incorporated's latest invention is very sad

Sickbed, in which Marshall has an upset stomach

War Zone, in which Marshall is sad, and Syndi is a good big sister

Salvage Rights, in which Lillian and Harley return to the lake

Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward

Hostage, in which Syndi is captured, and is very displeased

Hometown by

froodle, in which Mars and Syndi visit New Jersey

Deterrent, in which there are pigeon spikes

Crafting, in which Syndi is about to graduate from college

Mixed Media Messages, in which there is glitter

Fresh Sheets by

froodle

Product Testing, in which Things Incorporated's newest beverage is... something.

Tradition by

froodle, in which Dash and Marshall decorate a Christmas tree

Civic Duty, in which the Ladies Society for the Beautification of Eerie take up their posts

The Craft, in which the Ladies encounter the all-female wolf pack from Trick 'r Treat

A Time for Giving, in which it is Christmas, and Danielle comes back

Eww... in which Simon is making bad relationship choices

Freelancing, in which Sara Sue does graphic design

At the Dinner Table, in which an invitation is extended, and Dash is suspicious

Presentation, in which the Mayor has an edict, and Simon has a plan

Preparations by

froodle. Winston Chisel, the morning he became Mayor.

Confluence, in which Eerie experiences a midsummer and a full moon and takes full advantage of both

Harvest, in which it is 1979, and the Harvest Moon is rising

Hungry, in which the Mayor is unimpressed

Licensing, in which Chisel lays down some bureaucracy

Light Pollution, in which there is a newcomer in town

The Storm, in which Mayor Chisel has a very specific job for Eerie's resident weatherman

Not Welcome, in which there is an intruder at the World o' Stuff

Reading Room, in which Marshall looks around

Subsidence, in which the Loya Order of Corn experiances some structural issues

Shattered Dreams, in which there are space whales

Greenery, in which there are hanging baskets

Loss Prevention, in which there is hubbub at the Eerie Mall

Targeted Marketing, in which Radford has some promotional material

Capability, in which the are Bigfoots, and Marshall is unwell

The Listener, in which Eerie dreams, and Melanie watches

Populace, in which it is just another normal day

Still, in which there are worst things than Old Bob

Clockface, in which there is an early start, and a character death

CAT, in which two members of the Canine Liberation Army go on patrol, and have an unpleasant experience

Blue Apron, in which Mayor Chisxel considers an expansion to the town by-laws

National Garlic Day, in which there are vampires, and restauranteurs, and conflict

Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward

Strawberry, in which Eerie celebrates the summer

High Speed Sanitation, in which there is a street race

World Chocolate Day, in which there is a heatwave

Pressure Tactics, in which Chisel faces off against Eerie's ravens

Upgrade, in which there are changes happening at the Eerie Library

Waterlogged, in which there is a problem with the Eerie water supply

Bag for Death, in which Radford is a born salesman, and Radford is learning

Eww... in which Simon makes bad choices

Public Spaces, in which there is a soiree

Deterrent, in which there are pigeon spikes

The Bad News List, in which Dash is himself

Leisurewear, in which the Loyal Order of Corn has a surprisingly generous leave policy

Jackolantern, in which there is a disturbance at the local pumpkin patch

Pest Control, in which the Mayor is an unhappy customer

Frost Spiders, in which Eerie's Christmas decorations are very beautiful

Freelancing, in which Sara Sue takes a consultancy gig

Presentation, in which Chisel has an edict, and Simon has a plan

Email, in which Marshall is 29 and Eerie is never as far away as you think

Agenda, in which the Mayor takes a meeting

Visitor, in which Marshall's grandmother comes to stay