Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: Persuasion Tactics

[froodle]

Takes place directly after "Common Ground"



Marshall Teller pulled the top of his bulging duffle bag closed and tied a complicated knot in the cord keeping it shut, counting off as he did.

“So after we sneak into the Festival of the Black Corn and make sure the Loyal Order aren’t inadvertently opening a portal to a hell dimension, we’ll swing by the troll caves and check for those missing campers, then head to the World o’ Stuff for lunch and come back here in time to pick up our passes for the Theriomorph exhibit at the Eerie Museum of Unnatural History and-“

He glanced over at his most trusted associate and the rest of the day’s plans died on his lips. Setting the heavy pack down on the cluttered kitchen table, he leaned over and gave Simon’s shoulders a gentle shake.

“I’m awake!” said Simon, his head snapping up. The dark circles under his eyes were purple-black and his freckles seemed almost ash-grey against the pallor of his skin. Marshall hooked one sneakered foot around the leg of the nearest kitchen chair, pulling it towards him, and took a seat.

“You okay?” he asked. “You look a little... walking dead-ish.”

Simon gave a credible zombie groan that was only half a joke, and rubbed at his face with both hands.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

“Did the Sandman come back?” said Marshall. “I knew that amulet Dash sold me was a hoax, I one hundred percent knew he wasn’t to be trusted-“

“The amulet’s fine,” Simon interrupted, waving him to silence. “The Sandman is off enjoying his first beach-free holiday in millennia and the Dreaming Sands continue to fall through the Hourglass of Slumber at the appropriate eight-hour intervals.”

“Oh,” said Marshall, deflated. They both sat quiet for a moment, Simon’s head drooping over his folded arms.

“It’s Harley,” Simon continued eventually, his voice heavy and slurred with exhaustion. “Well, not him, but... you know that gang of creepy kids that keeps trying to recruit him?”

“The Children of the Corn one, the Village of the Damned one or those twins that get off on filling elevators with blood?” asked Marshall.

“The Children of the Corn left him alone after Isaac tried taking his corn dolly off him and Harley bit one of his fingers off,” said Simon. “And the twins just leave notes saying “do you like us yes/no” in the mailbox and run away laughing when he tries to talk to them, so I think things on that side have run their course. No, this is that triker gang that affiliated with the Canine Revolution last summer.”

Marshall ran through a mental list of Eerie’s pre-teen social clubs, doomsday cults and sporting groups.

“Peaked caps and short pants?” he said. “Constantly yelling at the fat Rottweiler up the street for not being ominous enough?”

“That’s the one,” said Simon, slumping over the table with his arms splayed in front of him. “The last few nights they’ve stood outside his window doing a weird choral chant invoking his full name.”

Marshall made a face.

“I wouldn’t have thought ‘Harley Schwarzenegger Holmes’ fits all that well into the tune for ‘Ave Satani’,” he said.

“It doesn’t,” moaned Simon, face down amidst the disassembled parts of a home-made flamethrower. “That doesn’t stop them from trying, though.”

Marshall patted his friend’s arm in sympathy. Simon began to snore.





Holmes Brothers

The End by froodle, in which Simon reads Harley a bedtime story

Drains by froodle, in which clowns are evil, murderous sacks of shit, and Simon is having none of it

Kaleidoscope by froodle, in which Simon has cause to regret buying cheap toys at the World o' Stuff

Sneakers by froodle, in which the latest Sky Monsters are released

Reception by froodle, in which Simon has problems with his mobile phone

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo





Trusted Associates, Inc.

Halloween by froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve

Surprise by froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year

The Glade by froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th

Egg Hunt by froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities

Boardwalk by froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising

Lady in Red by froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues

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

Seafoam by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside

A Night at the Circus by froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves

Taking a Break by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R

Model Railway by froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie

Shoreline by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie

Parade by froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot

Homestead by froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class

Hound by froodle, in which Simon makes a friend

Errands by froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list

Slyboots by froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.

Waterlogged by froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Facilities by froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

Castle by froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Euclid by froodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo

Comments

[deifire]

This gets more and more awesome! Poor Simon.

[froodle]

Harley is a super popular avatar of destruction. Sadly, it's mostly Simon paying the price for it.