Pumpkin carving (Backdated to before the event)

[champagnedelis]

Characters: Francisca and YOU
Setting: The Kitchens 
Format: Either
Summary: Since it's October and there's a surplus of pumpkins, Francisca decides to make some Jack-o-lanterns.
Warnings: None 

Francisca sits at one of the large tables in the kitchen, several pumpkins around her, some hollowed, others still waiting to be disemboweled. There is a large bowl of steadily increasing amounts of pumpkin entrails, and several sharp knives to the side ready to carve.
She hums as she works, a small smile playing on her lips as she recalls brighter days when she helped make these lanterns with America when she was visiting.

Comments

[myblueskies]

Romeo had spoken to France about Jack O Lanterns already so when he entered the kitchen and saw her he smiled. "Hello Miss France!" He ran up to the table where she was.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko wandered into the kitchen, looking to clean up some stuff, when she saw a woman cutting up pumpkins. She was cleaning up her mess, so Tohko didn't have a problem with it, but since she had never seen someone carve out a pumpkin, she walked up to her.

"Miss, why are you cutting up these pumpkins?"

[champagnedelis]

Francisca glanced up and beamed when Romeo ran to her, quickly setting down the spoon she'd been using and drawing him into a hug. "Salut, mon petit," she greeted, smiling and stroking back his hair. "Have you been well?"

[champagnedelis]

Francisca glanced up at the girl and gave a polite smile. "In the spirit of the month. Have you heard of Jack-o-lanterns?" she asked, taking a small fruit knife and using the tip to lightly draw out the design of an eerily grinning face.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko smiled. "I've never seen them, but I've read about them in stories! They're usually used in Halloween...oh. So that's why you're making them. Sorry. We didn't celebrate Halloween back home, so actually seeing a jack-o-lantern is a bit odd." Tohko explained nervously.

[thebigsister]

What are you doing?

[The question, innocent enough, comes from someone who for once seems to be dressed for the occasion. The tall, lanky figure peers at the pumpkins curiously, head tilted at an odd angle.]

[champagnedelis]

She smiled and nodded, taking the small knife and stabbing into the pumpkin along the traced lines until the eyes and mouth have been made. "I used to make them with my... children," she answered, shrugging and putting the lid back on the finished lantern. "I thought the children around the tower might like them."

[champagnedelis]

[Glances up at with a curious look and smiles.]

Making some Jack-o-lanterns. [Grabs one of the finished ones and holds it up to show.]

[tohko_amano]

Tohko nodded. "They probably will. I can't remember a story where people didn't like jack-o-lanterns. May I help? I've never made one, but it could be fun."

[thebigsister]

Jack-o-lanterns?

[That head tilts some more. Eleanor sounds genuinely confused.]

What are those?

[champagnedelis]

"Of course!" she answered, smile growing. "It's quite simple really. Here," she added, passing over a hollowed out pumpkin and a small knife. "Try drawing out a face with the knife first and then cut into it properly to make the holes."

[champagnedelis]

"Just that - lanterns. Quite popular in my world around Halloween - which should be soon here," she answered, taking the lid off the lantern. "You put a candle in here and the faces light up - quite eerie at night time. They were originally meant for scaring off spirits, but are more of a novelty these days."

[thebigsister]

Oooh.

[Eleanor seems fascinated by the concept.]

We didn't have those back home.

gah sorry for format switch - been doing 3rd person all day;;;

[champagnedelis]

[Tilts head with curiosity.]

Where are you from, ma belle?

Oh, would you like to make one? I was hoping to put a few up here and there in the tower but I only have two hands versus hundreds of pumpkins.

It's okay! I can switch to prose if you'd prefer <3

[thebigsister]

Oh. I'm from Rapture.

[The helmet tilts again.]

I'd... love to help, but I don't know if I'd be any good.

No no, action's fine! :)

[champagnedelis]

Ah, so not from my world...

[Shrugs and passes a hollowed out pumpkin and a knife along the table.]

It's quite easy - I used to make them with my children. You just draw out a simple face and carve it out.

[Gets another pumpkin and shows how she draws out a face and then hollows out an eye.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor watches for a moment, then carefully removes both the ADAM needle and the steel harpoon from her wrists. Those will just get in the way, won't they? Hopefully she won't be needing to stab anything right now. Her hands, in contrast with the battered suit, are quite delicate looking.]

That seems... easy enough.

[She approaches some more, looking at the pumpkins curiously.]

Hmm. Let's see if I can do it!

[Five points if you name the person who forgot to take off the helmet.]

[champagnedelis]

[Glances up curiously at the helmeted head and asks slowly:]

Can you see clearly enough through your helmet? You might cut yourself by accident...

[thebigsister]

Oh! Yeah, I can, but it probably looks silly, doesn't it?

[She chuckles a little, before pulling it off and offering a sincere smile.]

I'm just used to wearing it all the time now.

[champagnedelis]

[Smiles at her and shakes her head.]

Understandably. If I had my armor I'd be more keen to wear it now but... Ah well, no use crying over wishes.

[Shrugs and sets about finishing the pumpkin she started.]

Have you been here long, Miss...?

[tohko_amano]

"Alright.." Tohko took the knife, and carefully cut a smile on the pumpkin. It looked a little off, but at least it still looked like a smile. The eyes looked a little too big, but Tohko thought they weren't too bad. "How about this?"

[fuhgeddaboudit]

"What're ya doin'?"

A metal girl in a school uniform with an axe fixed to her shoulders approached, leaning over to inspect the pumpkins curiously.

[faithstaynight]

Would it be too weird to call the resurfacing memory of something that only happened a little over two months ago "nostalgia"? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, this just feels all too familiar for Jeanne; she had met Francisca this way, hadn't she? Walking into the kitchen and spotting the nation as she putters about. The thought brings a smile to the Servant's face, and she approaches, curiously looking at the gutted pumpkins.

"Ah... so this is what you were talking about earlier, is it?"

[thebigsister]

Oh. I'm sorry, where're my manners?

[She shakes her head and offers a wry smile.]

I'm Eleanor Lamb, pleased to meet you. And, I've been here since February, I believe.

[champagnedelis]

Francisca beamed, giving the girl a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Perfect! The point of this is to have fun, so make the faces as silly as you please."

She took on of the uncut pumpkins and proceeded to eviscerate it with practised ease.