[OTA] Pumpkin Faces

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

The weather was somewhat back under control, a little chill but certainly not an unhealthy one. The snow was melting, and the colors were turning, and that made Juan Pedro want to be outside.

His youngest class was in the middle of the afternoon, after school, and he decided that instead of dance lessons, today they would carve pumpkins. He'd purchased a whole bunch of them, and had them set up in the green, and he surprised the kids by claiming a field trip where he took them outside, and presented to them their trip.

Pumpkins, paper, child safe scissors, child safe carving sets, glue, paint, brushes, a whole assortment of goodies to do up some great jack o lanterns. They wouldn't last til halloween but they'd certainly be a fun, creative way to spend an afternoon outdoors. And there were plenty of the orange squashes for more than just his students. If any adults or young people decided to come and join the fun, the better.

To keep in the mood of Spanish dance class, he'd set up a sound system that was playing latin music, as he sat down with the kids to start working on a pumpkin. So far, it seemed a great success.

Comments

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

It's a bit early in the season, really. And it's not something a person necessarily expects to see in the melting snow of the Green. And those are the reasons that Eileen is stopping to study the array of children scattered about with pumpkins on her way down to the stables.

Not because it looks like fun.

Surely.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

Juan Pedro laughed at something one of the kids had said about his pumpkin carving, his eyes darting up, and that's when he spotted Eileen. Smiling, he set down his tools and dusted the snow off the backs of his pants as he stepped over several bent heads and a few pumpkins to make it over to her.

It was never too early to have fun, and this would provide a good chance for the kids to practice before the 'real deal'. He bent down into a small squat to smile at her directly "Hello Eileen. Where is my Ace off to, today?"

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

As is usual, she dips very slightly into something like a curtsy. She's not wearing a skirt, but the primness can't be repressed.

"To see Evander." Given the chill, she'll rock very slightly from foot to foot, keep the circulation up. "I don't know that he'll want to go out today, but I've not seen him since it started snowing."

Monty had assured her that the horse was just fine, but she liked seeing things for herself.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He smiles, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head, interested. "Evander? Is that your friend?" She seemed cold, so he pulled off his scarf and slowly moved to wrap it around her neck. It was wool, and very warm, and he tied it carefully around her throat and up to her chin to help her keep warm.

"Do you think he would like to come carve pumpkins with me and the kids? If he would, you are both welcome to come back here and join us. I would very much like that."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

As usual, she stands perfectly still when a trusted grown-up is fussing at her. There's even the faintest lift of a smile to her lips as he tugs the scarf comfortably tight. It will take a moment to warm up, but the gesture is sweet and will help before long.

"Thank you." It's perfunctory, of course, but still meant. "And it's a very kind offer, but I think I'll come back by myself. Evander wouldn't quite fit in here, and I suspect he'd have a difficult time participating."

Elisha's been training her to be a troll just a touch unhelpfully sarcastic.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He smiles back, his own lips not at all timid in their curved position. "You are most welcome my Ace. I would hate it for you to catch a cold." He raises an eyebrow at that though and asks innocently.

"Why, does Evander have a fear of other children or pumpkins? Does he find halloween scary?" He doesn't get it, not at all.

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, she's still a good deal kinder than her King. Her lips press briefly together before she simply shakes her head.

"He's not particularly fond of children, but I'm not certain horses have much opinion on Halloween."

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

"Hor-horses?" he starts to laugh "Why do you tease me this way, niñita?" He patted her shoulder and stood up, grinning.

"Go see the horse, and come back if you want, afterwards. There will be a pumpkin with your name on it."

[lowtohigh.livejournal.com]

"Probably because I don't get out enough." Hopefully he doesn't really mind--it's got a fairly natural, moderately bright little smile on her face, which has been scarce these days.

Her head bobs, fingers tugging at the scarf. She'll have to bring it back, if nothing else. Maybe, you know. Make a pumpkin as well.

"Will you really be here in a few hours?"

[headfollowheart.livejournal.com]

The lines at the cafes are dwindling as the temperatures rise, but Zoe has what one would call a coffee problem, and so she's clutching a cup of coffee - cinnamon hazelnut - in one hand as she cuts across the Green back towards Spade Castle. The sight of Juan Pedro and his class, though, has he pausing, brows raising.

"Cabin fever?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

Juan Pedro has a coffee/nicotine problem, so he can't judge her when she trudges through the frosty grass towards the castle. He smiles at her, when he spots her and waves a spoon covered in pumpkin guts at her.

"Not exactly, I just thought the kids would enjoy it, and give them a chance to socialize while getting into the October mood. Though it is nicer outside, and it is good they get some sunlight."

[headfollowheart.livejournal.com]

As problems go, those were fairly harmless ones, really. Zoe turned, wandering over towards the giggling class of children and JP. "We've all been cooped up a lot this last week. I came over here for the air as much as the coffee."

Well, almost as much as the coffee.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

A young girl, maybe 13, ran over to ask him his opinion on the drawn sketches she wanted to cut out for the eyes. He took a moment to give his opinion, which of course was positive and encouraging, before she ran back to her friends and the three of them giggled, looking at Zoe and JP and then bending their heads back over their pumpkins, whispering.

"Yes, this is true. If you are not in any rush, there are plenty of pumpkins. You can make one too, if you want." He grinned. "It is as good an excuse as any to have a little fun and enjoy the afternoon sun."

[headfollowheart.livejournal.com]

They were going to be the talk of the teenage gossip circuit. Zoe could hear the stories now - forbidden romance would be in there somewhere. She remembered how it went; thirteen wasn't that many years ago.

She looked down at her skirt, sweater, boots and leather jacket (http://www.polyvore.com/zoe_autumn/set?id=38069533&lid=1810103) and shook her head. "No dressed like this, I don't think. Where are you putting them all?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

JP shrugged a bit helplessly at Zoe. These things happened, he was surrounded by pre-teens and teens several times a week. You just kind of got used to it.

He winked as he went back to scooping out seeds, scraping the inside of the pumpkin with the large spoon. "I am not, the kids will take them home. They belong to them now. And I do not want to deal with rotting pumpkins in a few weeks that I will then have to dispose of."

[headfollowheart.livejournal.com]

She shook her head and laughed a little - which, admittedly, probably wasn't helping things.

"Ah, very clever of you. All of the fun but not all of the mess." Of course, he might have parents or butlers after him with pitchforks, but...doubtful. Just glaring.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

"I am maybe too clever. I have bought too many pumpkins, I think I will be eating them for a few days, at this rate. But, yes, not so much of the mess."

He wouldn't mind, he would rationalize why the exercise had been beneficial to his students, and take the glaring with all the smiles and charm he had to offer in response.

[take2andcallme.livejournal.com]

After being cooped up in Club castle for the last few days thanks to Weather (the capital letter earned by the particular level of disgust in his mental voice when saying it), Caleb's spending as much time as possible outside. Right now, he's cutting through the green, coming back from picking up some paperwork from the other side of town when he spots Juan Pedro and his class spread out on the grass and veers over to say hello.

"You know, you're going to give yourself pneumonia sitting on the ground in this weather."

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He laughed up at his friend, as he finished cutting the top stump off a pumpkin, and setting the lid aside, to scoop out the seeds with a large spoon.

"We are sitting on cut garbage bags, amigo. We will be fine. If any of the kids start sniffling, I will move us all inside." But getting pumpkin all over his studio floor would be a nightmare.

"They seem fine, I do not think we are in danger. Do you have time to join in the festivities?"

[take2andcallme.livejournal.com]

"If you miss my office that much, you could always just come visit, you know." His deadpan voice held just the smallest hint of amusement as he held up the hefty manila folder in his hand. "Working, unfortunately, but I think I've got a few moments to spare."

Dropping down cross-legged next to JP, Caleb watches the pumpkiny disemboweling, tapping his fingers on his thighs to the music. "What brought on the sudden field trip?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

The look he shot back was amused and teasing as he said softly "That would be a change, since you are the one visiting me the most. I may just catch a cold to do that."

A shrill laugh went up from one of the teenage girls off to the side, when Caleb sat down. It may be unrelated, as a few of her friends joined in with the giggling. It may not be.

"The storm kept us all inside, and the weather is getting better. I figured it would be appropriate for the time of year, give the kids a little fun outdoors, and allow them to socialize outside of the couples they are usually paired up in." The spoon scraped along the inside. He'd done about 10 of these, so he was becoming a bit of an expert at it.

[take2andcallme.livejournal.com]

"Or you could just visit. Unless you've mysteriously forgotten the way," he shot back, ignoring the giggling off to the side. There always seemed to be quite a bit of that around these two unlikely friends, probably because of just how unlikely they were--the taciturn doctor with his head buried in work and the carefree, charming dancer. And besides, girls at that age always seemed to be giggly about something or other. He rarely even noticed it anymore, instead eyeing the speed with which JP was emptying out the pumpkin.

"I don't know whether to be awed or nervous about how handy you are at that," he said, nodding at the nearly scraped-clean gourd.

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He rolls his eyes, laughing "That would be impossible. It is a few store fronts away."

A few minutes prior they'd been giggly over Zoe and JP, imagining some kind of secret love affair. One never knew with the young. But seriously, it could have nothing to do with them, even.

He chuckled, shrugging "Gut a few of these, you will also be handy. And you are a doctor, you are probably even better at this than me." He held out the spoon, having another one handy "Want to help? There are a lot more of these to do."

[take2andcallme.livejournal.com]

Shrugging, Caleb took the offered spoon. "I haven't done this in years," he answered, shifting closer to JP and pulling the pumpkin closer to his lap. "Not since college." Freshman year, to be precise, when he and his friends had carved a full set of pumpkins making fun of a particularly evil professor. "You want me cutting or scooping?"

[tangodebaston.livejournal.com]

He picked up the second spoon, and grinned, focused on finishing his own pumpkin. "It is not difficult. Scrape in circles, I find, works the best."

"You can do both, there is a knife there, after you cut, gut. You can throw the seeds in that bag between us. I will send them to the kitchens for toasting."