#markus oc

“Ya don’t need to watch this, doll.” Markus said to you one night as you joined him by the vegetable garden. “I know how sickenin’ it is to ya. Especially when you’ve never killed before.”

“I’ve skinned goats and hunted pheasants.” You replied softly, bending down by the tangled mess of vines that was Markus’ somewhat human form. You used a small spade to dig a little deeper into the earth and Markus sprinkled some fingers into the hole.  You planned to plant more pumpkins tomorrow. So Markus could lay in the open without seeming to be out of the ordinary. 

“It’s not the same, love. And you know it.” Markus said. But didn’t bother to try to usher you away. If you wanted to help, then there was no time like the present to become immune to a little death.

“I know. But I wanna make sure you do it properly. Since last time you left the villager’s boots on the body.” You couldn’t help but tease. And Markus sighed dramatically. Dipping his head, as if in great despair. 

“The one time I do something wrong.” Markus murmured. Irritation biting at the edge of his words. “Instead of all the good things I do for you; you instead tap-dance on the one mistake.” 

You shrugged and flicked his head. Chuckling at the way tried to slap your hand away, even as the hollow echo radiating from his carved eyes.  “You know I am grateful for your... help.” 

“Funny way of showin’ it, doll.” Markus grumbled. And suddenly his form collapsed in on himself. His human form untangled itself into a mess of green vines and dug himself into a softer patch of the garden.  You knew he was immediately absorbing the nutrients from the carcass beneath the ground. 

“I’ll cook you a nice roast when I get a cow next.” You suggested. “Maybe with some herbs and spices.” 

Markus hummed in delight at the thought. The sound rippled through the hollowed out pumpkin and the carvings cracked and formed an expression close to dreamy.  “That, my dear, would be fucking amazing.” 

_______________________________________________________________

After you returned to your house and blew out of the candles; Markus settled down in the dirt to rest.  He couldn’t sleep entirely. But if he stayed still long enough, with his eyes closed and his head looking like a regular pumpkin, Markus could almost imitate sleep. 

And as he did, his vines stretched out far throughout your land. Only to the fence of the gardens and your home. Spreading the nutrients he absorbed from the carcass and distributing it about your estate.  It wasn’t much, but Markus enjoyed a little green. Especially when it brought a soft smile to your face whenever you see your little colourful petals bloom.

Finally settling in for the night, Markus started to let his mind drift.  It didn’t go far, much to his irritation. Since his vines sensed movement on the far side of your home.  There was only one set of footsteps. But they were heavy, and Markus felt the distribution of the person’s weight on the pads of their feet. They were sneaking.  Pushing through your few lanes of corn towards your house.  And Markus didn’t exactly like how this person seemed to be carrying something on their back. 

Too lazy to move, Markus shifted his vines beneath the soil. The person looked down, feeling the earth tremble beneath his boots. And then, the ground exploded and a thick black vine captured the Human in Markus’ grasp. And he knew instantly who the trespasser was. 

“Oh, (y/n) will love this.” Markus smirked. And with a hard tug, the vine slithered into the ground. The man clawed at the grass, screaming and begging as his body started to sink beneath the surface of the earth.  His last breath was cursing your name, and his hand dragged down a corn stalk in a last attempt to save himself from this unknown monster. 

You barely even stirred that night.  In your dreams, you heard whispered pleas and wet paper being shredded. But you slept soundly, and witnessed nothing. 

Until early in the morning you felt cold tendrils wrap around your leg. They were gentle and soothing, until the sharp pricks of their thorns pierced into your skin.  “Ow! What the fuck, Markus?” You grumbled. Kicking away the Being’s vines as he loomed over you by the side of the bed. 

“I have something to show you.” Markus cooed excitedly. Practically bouncing on his vines beside you.  You mumbled softly and pushed back the blankets. Dragging yourself up into a sitting position to rub the sleep from your eyes. 

“Couldn’t it wait when it’s more morning?” You asked, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. 

“No. Because the crows will be all over it! Come on, doll-face. Let’s go.” Markus, growing impatient, grabbed you around the waist and hurled you over his head. You yelped, but the vines around your torso held you firm as the Pumpkin on walking tendrils exited the house.  You smelled it before you saw it. And you didn’t want to see it, but Markus’ excitement was a little too contagious... for your liking.  But as he set you down by the corn stalks, you noticed two things. First, there was a stalk missing.  Secondly, there was now a scare-crow standing where the missing stalk once was.  And you didn’t need to ask. You knew who was nailed to the post, bloody and torn. Straw stuffed into his dismembered arms and legs. Stitched together crudely enough that you could see your old rival falling apart before you. 

“Oh my God.” You whispered. So many emotions burst through you.  Fear. Disgust.  Satisfaction.  Nausea.  So weird emotions entangled themselves in your gut that you felt your blood run cold. 

“He was sneaking towards the house last night.” Markus said. Choosing to ignore the horrified expression you were wearing. “He was carrying an axe. Sharpened and heavy too. Didn’t much like how that looked so I killed him.” 

You stared up at the farmer. After hearing that, you weren’t feeling as bad for such a fate. But there was still that little bit of disgust.  “Are you going to take him down before he starts rotting?” You asked. And Markus shrugged. 

“To be honest, doll. I don’t think the gardens would like someone like that in their soil. He’s rotten to the core. I was thinking of tearing him up some more and throwing him in a river for the nymphs to eat,”  That didn’t sound too bad. And you admitted to yourself that you didn’t like the thought of your old rival being in your garden.  It just didn’t feel right. Even though the thought of some amazing produce being grown from him, and sold to the markets, would be a good final fuck you.

“Ok, do you need help?” You asked and Markus looked down at you with a curved eye socket. Cracks formed the expression of doubt as he tilted his head towards you. 

“No, doll. You stay here and do the farming thing. I’ll deal with the body. I just wanted to show you that I could decorate... a little.”  You chuckled and shook your head. 

“Are you suggesting you wanna start decorating my farm with bodies, Mark?” You asked and the pumpkin looked at you in horror. 

“By the Gods, no! I didn’t mean it like that. Just... I don’t know. Maybe some hedges. Or stones. Something other than plants. Some actual trees would be nice.” 

You looked around your farm. It was very bare of trees and anything other than small plants and produce. Maybe you could use a few shapely hedges or rocks to fill in the space you had.  “Alright. I can understand that. How about, I leave you in charge of decorating. But if I don’t like it, it has to go.” 

Markus was obviously excited by that notion. He tried to hide it. But the little wiggles his vines did as he pretended to think over your proposal was both adorable and not very subtle.