[Gift] 2.3 Lush Pumpkins - Alistair and Satin

Alistair stared at his pocket watch, the three hours were nearly up and he was just about to get ready to go out after Harry when the barn door swung open. In stepped Harry but he had his hands tucked tightly out of sight and his mouth was pressed shut until the door was closed behind him. Once inside, he found it was only him and Alistair alone again. He released a sigh of relief and let his arms fall to his sides.

The younger man hurried over and gently took Harry’s hands in his own. “Did you… did you have to fight it?” He gently rubbed a thumb over the blackened flesh, it was obvious Harry had transformed to some degree as his skin was as dark as coal as well as cold and rough to the touch. The older man nodded and pulled one hand back to rub his temple.

“Werewolf. Idiot of one, I think they were pretty young. We can talk about it on the train ride back, I don’t want to discuss it here, too open.” His voice was more gravelly than usual as well. “Do you have my gloves? I couldn’t find them in my coat.”

Alistair hurried over to their tack, searching Daemon's bags until he found them and brought them over to Harry. “Are you still good to make it to our appointment at the pumpkin patch? We can skip and try to come back later, or get a room at the inn instead…”

Harry shook his head and once he had his gloves on patted Alistair on the shoulder. “No need, I’ll be fine. Part of the reason it took me so long to come back was because I recovered out there, just need a bit more time and we can get on our way. Would you mind having one of the farm hands help with getting the cart ready and Daemon hooked up?”

Alistair nodded and gave his lover a quick kiss on the cheek before guiding him to sit down on a spare hay bale. He hurried out of the barn, getting everything taken care of for them and helping with loading the apples into the small one man cart they had rented.

Soon Harry was joining him, looking far less pale and more like himself. He didn’t open his mouth however when he smiled and waved with a gloved hand. The older man took the cart, guiding Daemon down the lit road with Alistair following behind on Satin. Both horses had completely calmed down while being in the barn. Alistair had snuck them both a couple apple slices and had the rest himself while waiting for Harry but he swore it was the last he was giving them that night.

The small pumpkin farm was quickly coming into view as well as their various patches set aside for guests to pick from. Seeing it brought a smile to Alistair’s face, he hadn’t had a chance to do something like this since he was a child long before the darkness fell. He was grateful that despite how harsh times had become, farmers now tried to accommodate the best they could like before the eternal night.

Since the area was much smaller they set Daemon up in a dedicated area for horses with buggies or carriages. Satin was tied up far enough away to prevent her from trying to snack on the apples in the open cart. Alistair gives her another quick kiss on the nose and a gentle petting. “Be a good girl now, I’ll be right back.” The mare simply snorts in return and lowers her head to scratch an itch.

Alistair hurries to catch up to Harry who was already nearly at the entrance to the patch. Similar to the apple farm they had gotten in just ahead of the rest of the crowds and so there was a variety of pumpkins to pick from. Alistair wished he could squeeze Harry’s arm in excitement but they were in public so he resisted the urge.

The pair moved from pumpkin to pumpkin, gently nudging them this way and that to inspect them from every angle. Some had rot starting on the bottom, others were either too big or small for their needs. Finally Alistair spotted the perfect size and he hurried over, twisting back and forth and finding nothing amiss. “How about this one?” He lifted it up, huffing a bit at its weight and snapping it off the vine before handing it to Harry.

Carefully the older man lifted it, struggling far less than Alistair and inspected it all over. “Looks good to me, let’s keep it. Can you bring it back to the cart? I’ll look for another.” He hands it back to Alistair who grunts as he takes it in his arms.

“S-sure, I think I can survive.” He chuckles and carefully carries it back, watching out for vines and rocks he had missed on the way in. As he reaches the horses he pauses before Satin, holding it as she sniffs the strange orange object. “What do you think, girl? Pretty perfect huh? They have so many lush pumpkins here, I’m kinda surprised…” He hefted the gourd into the back of the cart, groaning at its weight. “Kinda surprised at how good quality they came out. I wonder if folks have been developing better fertilizer or something.” He rubbed his chin, getting a bit of dirt over it. “Well whatever it is, I’m grateful for it. We’re gonna make some good old jack-o-lanterns like I used to with Mum as a kid.” He grinned and gave her a quick pat before returning to the patch. The mare’s ears flicked at his words and she watched him as he hurried back over.

Just as he reached the entrance Harry was exiting with another pumpkin of his own. “I like the shape and color of this one, what do you think?” He held it up, it was pale white and a bit more stout but very thick. Alistair grinned and nodded, giving him a thumbs up before returning to look for a few more. They had planned to mostly decorate the front deck and maybe put a couple out back. Alistair remembered Harry claiming no more than five but maybe he could sneak in a small one they could keep in the kitchen.

One by one they filled the remaining space up in the cart and Alistair snuck his little mini gourd in, Harry rolling his eyes at the idea but allowing it anyway. Alistair returned to the horses, giving them pets and telling them how good they were while Harry managed payment this time. Finally he mounted up on Satin and Harry led the way back out onto the road. They had a bit of a train ride before they would be back home with their goods. Then tomorrow they would begin prep for their hallows eve party.