#achi baba

Shenzi petulantly scrutinised the trick-or-treater.“So … You’re coming to us, begging for stuff … wearing this get-up.  And you’re not only begging, you’re actually threatening us, like ‘Give me stuff or you’ll be sorry’ or something like that.”Would the trick-or-treater be impressed, maybe even frightened, if she extended her claws?  She had been taken care of them, they looked good, long and more importantly sharp … Oh, she surely wouldn’t tire of looking at them.  Was the trick-or-treater aware of them as well?“What makes you think we have things to give away anyway?  Or what makes you think we would give away things?”

“What’s going on?”Both Banzai and Ed curiously peeked around the corner – and immediately frowned.  A lion-cub-costume?  Honestly?Ed definitely wasn’t having this; he snarled at the guiser and walked away, back to his corner, rolled up and grumbled.

“This kid wants something.  A treat, probably, or he’ll trick us.  Pretty bold move, if you ask me.”

“Right.  Did you tell him –”

“That we wouldn’t share any potential ‘treat’ we might have?  I did.”

“Good.  Let’s hope he gets the hint.”Banzai stared down the guiser. ‘Trick or treat’, huh?  ‘Reward me for not tricking you’, is that what he was trying to bring across?  Is that what he wanted?!

... And Banzai didn’t want to be tricked, especially not by someone wearing a lion-cub-costume.  What if the kid was particularly wicked, wicked and creative regarding tricking people?...“You’re in luck, titch.”Trying to ignore Shenzi’s befuddled expression, Banzai grabbed a ribcage, broke off three ribs and handed them to the guiser.“There you go, one for each of us.  They taste pretty bland, but at least it’s something to chew on.”

… Ed was remotely familiar with the concept of flower crowns: They looked nicely, they scented nicely, they made him look nicely.But these … What was up with these?Sure, they had a nice scent to them as well, even nicer than the previous flower crowns, a delicious scent, a mouth-watering scent …No.  Just no.  These were flowers, flowers weren’t meant to be eaten – and with that mindset, he seemed to prove more self-control than Shenzi.

“What are you doing?!”  So Banzai was as baffled by Shenzi’s behaviour as Ed.  So this was not exactly the normal thing to with these special flowers crowns.

“How does it look like to you?”  Glaring at her friends, Shenzi put another petal in her mouth and ostentatiously chewed it.  Did she enjoy these perplexed stares?  Well … These petals were quite enjoyable, yes!

“Like – I – Uh – Do you think that’s safe?”  Banzai examined his crown uncertainly.  It didn’t exactly look like something one could wear … or should wear … One should rather do something else with it, judging by the blissful scent …

Shenzi only shrugged in response to him.  “Dunno.  But there’s no way I’ll wear that lardy thing on my head.  Would only be a waste.”Another petal.

Eyeing his friend, Ed plucked off a petal as well, carefully licked it – and immediately put the entire thing in his mouth.  So the scent hadn’t been any sort of setup!  Not only had it smelled deliciously, but even tasted the same way!

… Wasn’t Shenzi usually the sceptic in the bunch, alarmed by most unnatural things?  And now she ate plants emitting … un-plant-y smells?  Rather good un-plant-y smells, admittedly?Hem.Tasting one of those smaller petals wouldn’t hurt or kill Banzai … hopefully …He picked a tiny one, took a deep breath, put it in his mouth …—!

“Ohh”, Ed chirped, swaying his head around to make the beautiful lush flowers sway with him.Yeeaah.  This wasn’t too bad, to be frank: The flowers looked lovely, they had a nice scent to them, and they probably really flattered his looks.He should try to get ahold of some more of these crowns …

“Word, Ed!”  Shenzi was still preening herself – spinning her crown around so the best-looking flowers were facing the front, brushing through her bangs, smoothing her fur … “I love this, I could get used to this –”

“Doesn’t suit you though.  Neither of you.”Puling a sulky face, Ed turned to Banzai: Yes, his friend’s flower crown definitely did not suit him; not because of the flowers however.He wasn’t aware of Banzai’s reason to pout, and he was sure that Banzai wasn’t aware of it himself, but if he made this face which made him look as miserable as sin, a flower crown wouldn’t be able to fix that either.

“Excuse me?  I looked great, and so does Ed”, Shenzi hissed, spinning around to glare at Banzai.

“I said it doesn’t suit you.  You might pull it off once you get rid of that fringe of yours.”

“Pshaw!  You’re just jealous because you hardly have a hairstyle!  You wish you had my amazing hair!”

“As if I’m jealous of that greasy mop!  I’d rather be completely naked than –”

— Ed stopped listening after that declaration.  As far as he was concerned, Banzai, Ed and Shenzi had always been naked and even were right now.He had stopped listening, but still kept an eye on his bickering friends, an eye on Banzai’s crown which boded to slip off his head any moment …

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