The Masquerader and the Jester [Rascal x Female Reader]

Chapter 12: Tricks And Treats

Chapter Song: "Halloween" -Siouxsie and the Banshees
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

As it turns out, Rascal was telling the truth about the grave origins of classic fairy tales. Despite knowing differently, a part of you still wanted to believe it was nothing more than a cruel prank. This internal conflict weighed heavily on your mind for the rest of the night. It was also the primary motivator for conducting deep-dive research on the topic. What you found confirmed Rascal's claims and led you down a dark rabbit hole you were unprepared for.

You met up with everyone in the Glitter Force in the following days to discuss your findings. Candy was excluded from the conversation, much to her dismay. But everyone agreed that it was for the best after you warned them about this subject not being for the faint of heart. At first, Emily, Kelsey, Lily, April, and Chloe were horrified by what you shared, but they eventually reached a point of unwavering skepticism. Every time you tried combatting their disbelief, they just insisted on how kind and loving all the fairytale characters in Jubiland were, including the depraved ones you had mentioned. On the other hand, Pop and V didn't want to even entertain the subject and thought you were reading too much misinformation online. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't persuade them to think otherwise. In the end, no one believed you. You were dumbfounded by their persistent refusal to open their minds and conduct their own research. Sadly, there was nothing you could do but take your mind off this dilemma to plan for your upcoming Halloween slumber party.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and you were in the kitchen, setting up the last of the decorations. You finish hanging the orange pumpkin string lights on one of the walls before stepping back to admire your handiwork. Altogether, it had taken approximately three hours to decorate the house for the Halloween party tonight. If it weren't for your parents' help, this daunting task would've been much more time-consuming. A satisfied sigh leaves you as you head over to the refrigerator for some refreshments. After grabbing a water bottle and a few snacks, you take a seat at the dining room table and enjoy a moment of solitude.

This silence is short-lived once your mom enters the kitchen with a bag full of empty boxes and containers. She places the bulking sack on the floor before taking a long chug from her glass of water on the counter. In the meantime, you munch on some snacks and mindlessly scroll through your phone, ignoring her presence. "Phew, that was a lot of work," Mom said, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I'm so glad we're finished!"

You take a swig of water and nod. "Yeah, me too!"

"So, are you excited about your sleepover party?" Mom asked as she began rinsing the leftover dishes in the sink.

"Of course I am! It's been so long since I've had any friends over, which also makes me a bit nervous. I just hope it all goes well."

"I'm sure it will be fine! There's no need to stress out about it. The hardest part is over and done with." She makes her point by motioning toward the various Halloween decorations and furnishings in the house.

"That's true! I love the spooky atmosphere we created!"

"Me too, and so will your friends. I'm so glad you finally have some now."

You take your eyes off your phone, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"We're just happy for you, that's all." Mom turns off the kitchen faucet and begins putting away all of the dishes in the washer. "I don't think you understand how relieved your father and I have been lately. You're actually getting out of the house and spending time with real people, not make-believe ones."

You open your mouth to retort. "I don't––"

"For the longest time, you believed he was a real person, but now you know differently. You're living in the real world and not fantasyland, or should I say circusland." Mom playfully rolls her eyes and chuckles. "That imaginary friend you had was this crazy circus clown. What was his name again? Randal?"