Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: Milestone

[froodle]

Stacks of boxes in pink and purple crowded the long banquet table, jutting out over the edges in an explosion of curling ribbon and leaked icing. Marshall Teller stood on tip-toe to reach the uppermost box, easing it down gently so as not to disturb the contents.

He flipped the lid open, and frowned.

“Hey, Tod?” he called. “Did you order two dozen doughnuts for tonight?”

Tod McNulty peeked out from behind a partially-assembled cake stand decorated with cheery cartoon ghosts and grinning skeletons. He looked worried.

“No,” he said, dumping an armload of purple streamers and edging out from around a stack of plastic chairs. “There should be four dozen.”

Marshall set the box down and began checking the tickets taped to each of the glossy pastel parcels.

“There’s a second box,” he said, pulling it free with the tight, careful movements of a seasoned Jenga player. He raised the lid, inhaling the sweet scent of deep-fried dough and sugary frosting, and counted quickly. “It’s okay, you’re good, everything’s here.”

“Phew,” said Tod, returning to the cake stand.

“I thought you hated doughnuts,” said Marshall, pulling the sticky rings out two at a time and arranging them in a towering pyramid atop a spidery metal frame designed for exactly that purpose. It had taken six months of shop class to build, but he had to admit, it looked impressive.

“I do,” said Tod. “They’re just sweaty bread covered in chemical sludge. I don’t know how anyone could ever choose to eat them. They’re literally the lowest form of pastry.”

“And yet,” said Marshall, pulling a kick-stool out from beneath the table in order to reach the highest tiers, “Here I am using fifty-two of them to build a skyscraper to celebrate your twenty-first. You realise you’re allowed to veto snacks you don’t like on your birthday.”

“I know,” said Tod. “But everyone else likes them, and you know I couldn’t ever resist Grandma’s Kitchens’ Halloween aesthetics.”

Marshall wiped a smear of red and black icing off the front of his shirt.

“I guess that also answers my next question about the thirty pounds of gummy worms when you don’t eat gelatine.”

“Tapioca starch and pectin,” said Tod. “Never under-estimate what the Future Homemakers of America club can pull off with enough notice.”

Marshall stepped back to admire his handiwork. A mountain of black and red loomed above him, its sides smooth and steep and unclimbable, slick with frosting.

“It looks pretty good,” he said. “Do you want help with the streamers or shall I set up the gummy motif of the dark lord Set devouring the world?”

“Dark lord, please,” said Tod, stringing tiny articulated skeletons onto a black and orange banner. “If you’re looking for the tiny jelly humans cowering in fear as the world ends, they’re over by my backpack.”

“Wow,” said Marshall, fetching them. “The Homemakers really know their stuff.”

Tod nodded.

“Best class I ever took,” he said. “I heard the Wilson Twins are going to offer an advanced course at the college next fall. I’m hoping to get enough credits in my Mundane Nightmare classes to qualify for enrolment.”

Marshall flicked one of the tiny gummy people. It wobbled and trembled as though in fear for it’s tiny gummy life.

“I think you’ll do fine,” he said.

Tod grinned.

“Thanks, man,” he said. “That means a lot, coming from you.”





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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 is awesome! I can't stop imagining gummy dark lord Set now.

[froodle]

We have a super expensive boutique chocolatier in town (not actually very good chocolate, which is a shame) but I would love a gummy artist specialising in apocalyptic themes to set up shop next door.

[evilinsanemonkey]

omg i want to go to Tod's party

[froodle]

The music will probably not be to my taste but there will be much confectionery!