Halloween inspired ficlet.
This one does NOT go with Bloody Angel, but I hope you enjoy it all the same!

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“Our kitchen is swarming with these things…why?” Dew asks as he prods at the hard bright orange flesh of a large pumpkin resting on the island counter, watching it wobble slightly before turning towards the sound of heavy steps as Mountain walks in carrying a pumpkin both taller and wider than his torso.

“All Hallows Eve is coming up,” the tall ghoul huffs in reply as he sets his burden on the floor before swiping the back of his hand across his brow, smearing dirt as he tries to wipe away sweat. “Time to carve these bad boys and place them throughout the Ministry.”

“That sounds boring.”

"No one said you had to help."

"Good. Cuz I wont."

Dew curls his lip and sticks his tongue out at Mountain while crossing his arms over his chest and the taller ghoul just rolls his eyes and moves to the sink. Dew watches him, bored out of his mind, as he shifts the oversize gourds on the counter to set out large metal mixing bowls. Over the noise he hears a familiar set of footsteps come up the hall.

"Whoa. That's a lot of pumpkins. Why'd Mounty move his patch indoors?"

Dew turns to see Phantom step in and look around with wide intrigued eyes shining behind his chrome half mask.

"Halloween time!" Mountain chirps happily as he grabs a large knife with a serrated edge and stabs it into the top of the pumpkin in front of him, cutting out a rough circle. "We take these pumpkins, scoop out their guts then carve faces in them before lighting a candle inside them."

"But…why?" Phantom's pointed ears draw back slightly with nerves as he inches closer, watching Mountain pull the section he carved out of the pumpkin, making a face at the dangling slimy looking strings he cuts off into the bowl before setting the top aside.

"Tradition and decoration. We turn them into Jack-o-lanterns to ward off evil spirits." Mountain sets the knife down and reaches in to start clawing out large goopy handfuls of more slimy guts and seeds from within, his eyes glancing up at the other ghoul. "Wanna come try?"

Phantom swallows audibly but gives a small nod, his curiosity quickly getting the better of him. He's entirely focused on the tall ghoul as he moves forward, forgetting the multitude of other pumpkins in his way and quickly trips over a large one sending it rolling as his arms shoot out and pinwheel. He tries to catch his balance but instead manages to throw it off more as he knocks into pumpkin after pumpkin before he's grabbed from behind by a pair of sturdy warm arms, a grunting puff of air washing over his ear.

"Fucking…You've got to be the clumsiest ghoul I've ever seen! Gotta pay attention, man."

A fierce flush lights up Phantom's exposed half of his face as Dew holds him up, his arms tight around his middle, chest against his back. He can feel the heat radiating off the fire ghoul heating his own body. Or was that from his deepening blush? He didn't know, but what he did know was that he wanted to melt away then and there. Close physical touch like this with the others was something he wasn't familiar with yet, nor was he familiar with the multitude of new emotions he was subject to here on Earth. That alone kept him frozen for longer than Dew had patience for and he quickly found himself hauled up to stand steady on his feet before he was unceremoniously turned and thrust towards the island counter with a stumble.

"T-thanks," Phantom mutters, being more careful with where he stepped until he was next to the much taller ghoul who peered down at him with a warm smile. Dew hops up on one of the stools opposite them, propping an elbow on the counter with a huff as he rests his chin on his hand.

"Do you want to scoop out the guts or carve the faces?" Mountain asks, his tone gentle as he scrapes the inside of his pumpkin clean.

"I-I… I don't know. I wouldn't know what to do either way…"

"It ain't that hard. A kit could do it."

"Dew…" Mountain says with a low growl, gaze hardening as he turns it to the bored looking gremlin after Phantom cringes at his words. "Be nice or I'll put you to work."

Dew scoffs and pokes a nearby pumpkin, watching it wobble. "It's true. Bout time he grew a pair and got over this timid awkwardness he's got goin on. Been here long enough."

"I mean it, Dew. Ease up. Not everyone adjusts at the same pace." Mountain sighs as he shakes his head before turning back to the ghoul next to him, his tone softening. "Which pumpkin do you want, Phantom?"

"Oh, um. It's…it's okay, Mountain. I'll just…watch. I don't want to get in your way." Head lowered and ears back he goes to step away but Mountain reaches out and gently rests a hand on his shoulder, stopping his retreat.

"Not in the way whatsoever. C'mon." He smiles and guides Phantom back to the counter. "Pick a pumpkin."

Phantom peeks up at him, giving a shy smile before looking at the pumpkins already on the counter. They look fairly the same despite some being shorter and rounder than others and he settles on a medium sized roundish one, pointing to it. Mountain's smile widens as he reaches over to pull it closer.

"Good choice. Now, here's what you do."

Mountain sets his gutted pumpkin aside, pulling over a new one for him before he hands Phantom one of the knives. He explains step by step how he should make the opening in the top, cutting at an angle so it won't fall into the cavity once the top is to go back on and making sure it's big enough to let him gut it with ease. Phantom follows his instructions, glancing over repeatedly to make sure he's doing it right each time receiving a smile and a nod. Mountain helps him pull the top free so the stem doesn't break after noting Phantom having some issue with it.

"Some are a bit tough, the guts not wanting to let go," he explains, cutting off the stringy guts into the metal bowl he pushed closer to him. "Now it's time to get messy. You can either use your hands or I can get you a metal spoon to scoop out the guts. Personally I find it more fun doing it by hand."

"Well if that's how you do it…" Phantom rolls up his sleeves and reaches a hand towards the open pumpkin, hesitating and withdrawing it several times. Licking at his lip and sucking in a deep breath he winces as he shoves his hand in with a squelch, quickly withdrawing with a yelp and shaking his hand free of the cold, slimy guts that stick to him sending it flying all over and across the counter where a thick strand splats across Dews face. "Oh, shit! I'm sorry!"

Dew is silent as his jaw clenches, lips pursing. He reaches up and plucks the strand off his face, throwing it onto the counter with a growl while his other arm comes up to wipe at his face to clear it of lingering juice. Next to Phantom Mountain's shoulders are hunching as he bites hard at his lips to keep from laughing, breath choppy as he tries to keep it in.

"Ya slapped me with pumpkin guts…"

"I'm sorry! I.. I wasn't expecting it to be so cold and slimy and I freaked out and you know I wouldn't ever do that on purpose!"

"You might not," Dew growls out as he stands on his stool, crawling over the counter watching Phantom pale. "But I would."

Before the two ghouls could grasp his words Dew's shoving his hand into Phantom's pumpkin to pull out a dripping handful of guts before he flings them at Phantom who yelps again as it splats onto his face and into his open mouth making him sputter and cough. Mountain can't hold back his laughter anymore and it comes roaring out, loud and reverberating as he throws his head back, hands clutching at his stomach.

"Hey. Mounty."

The earth ghoul wipes at his eyes, peeking out at Dew and as he opens his mouth to respond it's quickly filled with another splat as Dew throws a handful at his face making him now cough and sputter.

"You did not just…"

"You bet your grassy ass I did!"

"You know what this means, right?"

Dew smirks and gathers another handful of guts from Phantom's pumpkin, tail swishing behind him. "Bring it on."

Mountain moves quickly, much quicker than Phantom knew he could, Dew throwing his slimy ammo where it lands with another splat against Mountains chest but he's not fast enough to get out of range before Mountain grabs him by his hair and shoves him down face first into the metal bowl full of guts and seeds from his own pumpkin where he flails and claws at his arm and the counter with a muffled scream, trying to get free. Mountain holds him there a couple seconds before letting him go and he sits up, face dripping pumpkin juice and guts as he gasps and coughs, several seeds stuck in his hair and on his face.

"Fuck! Just… Fuck!" Dew swipes at his face as he shakes his head, flinging seeds and juice all over the counter. Mountain is doubled over, clutching the island for support as he howls with laughter. Phantom watches them, a wide smile splitting his face before he can't contain his own laughter at the situation. Never before could he have imagined anything like this. Three ghouls, topside, carving pumpkins for a holiday and ending up covered in their wet stringy guts and seeds laughing without a care in the world.

Dew sputters one last time before sighing with a deep exhale, flicking a final goopy strand back onto the counter. "Welp. Since I'm covered in pumpkin, may as well help ya get them ready now."

"That's what it took to get you to help me? Me shoving your face into pumpkin guts?" Mountain laughs again, shaking his head as he opens a new pumpkin. He's the least bothered by being covered in the mess, smiling at the pair with him.

"Nah. I was goin to eventually. This just sped it up." He hops off the counter next to Phantom who steps back, looking nervous again. Something Dew notices. "Hey. Chill. I'm a dick who gives people a hard time but I aint gonna bite you or nothin for gooping me up."

"So…you're not mad I accidentally threw pumpkin at you?"

"You kidding?" Dew barks out a laugh, shaking his head. "One of the funniest things I've had happen to me. Now." He reaches out, ignoring the slight flinch from the other ghoul before he pulls him back to the counter, slinging an arm over his shoulders. "Let's get yours cleaned out and I'll teach ya how to carve the scariest faces in them."