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There were certainly many advantages to having a mechanical eye, and when the server around him was beginning to fill with spooky (or… spoopy) decorations then, well, who could blame him for wanting to get in on the fun? It helped that he had picked up a little redstone know-how from working with Mumbo over the seasons, but it helped more that he was living with Etho - and that Etho was just as enthusiastic about his prank plans. He watched as Etho modified his eye, giving the prosthetic tiny legs that looked like those of Ren and Doc’s Walkers.
“You promise I’m not going to find this crawling over my pillow one morning?” Etho asked, handing the remote controlled creature to Iskall, who dutifully shook his head. It was strange only having one eye that worked, but he wouldn’t be without his second for long. Once he was done with his practical joke, Etho would restore it for him. Just another reason not to scare Etho.
“Absolutely not, you’re my basemate. As my basemate, you have no reason to fear.”
“Uh-huh.” Etho hummed, his eyes creasing ever so slightly as he smiled behind his mask. “Well, if you get anyone too well, I know nothing. I’m not taking revenge meant for you.”
“Of course!” Iskall beamed, offering Etho a wave and a farewell. “See you later!”
# # #
First on Iskall’s list was the people of Boatem. They were the furthest to travel to and he’d barely seen Mumbo this season. He wouldn’t put him or Etho on a list for revenge, but he might stop by to get an explanation. He found Mumbo building quietly on what Iskall had heard lovingly called the Armchair - and he could see why. For a moment he let himself admire what his redstoner friend had created: far out of his comfort zone and absolutely beautiful. He needed to come to Boatem more often, Impulse’s factory had maybe quadrupled in size and Grian’s alleyway became more colourful and more fleshed out with every passing day - not to mention the fact that both Pearl and Scar had built mountains of their own. It was incredible.
But he wasn’t here to gawk like a tourist, nor was he there to shop, so he got to work controlling his little Eye Spider and watched closely as the robot walked up behind Mumbo. Under the cover of trees and shulker boxes, Iskall managed to be close enough to hear how it all went down.
“Oh!” Mumbo jumped, then he laughed and got down to his knees to get a better look at the thing. “Oh, oh wow. Okay. That is cool, that is very cool. Oh man, it looks just like Iskall’s eye! Wait, Iskall?” His attention was drawn away from the device and started scanning the horizon. He supposed he should have expected it would have gone this way, but he’d still hoped for a little bit more shock. At least the only way to go was up now!
“You were supposed to scream.” Iskall said, revealing himself as he approached Mumbo to retrieve the robot. “I’m sure Etho can teach you how to make one if you’d really like.”
“Hang on, that’s… That doesn’t just look like your eye.” Mumbo laughed, and Iskall smiled as the other seemed to be slightly more afraid. “That is some serious dedication.”
# # #
Next stop was the Big Eyes. Tango would be another person joining Etho’s Eye Spider Masterclass, but his intended target was in fact Bdubs. The man would have a much bigger reaction and that was what he needed after Mumbo’s morbid curiosity. He spotted him beside Lulu’s hitching post and hid among the trees before controlling the device and sending it down the hillside toward him.
The moment Bdubs spotted it, he got what he’d be looking for.
“Argh!” Bdubs stumbled backward, away from the tiny thing until he backed up into one of his crescent lights, and Iskall made the little robot follow him. As he clambered up the slabs to get away from the device Iskall had to cover his mouth to stifle a laugh. This was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
“Tango! Keralis! Which of you is behind… Scar?! Is it Scar?! Is this revenge for the Swaggon?!” He shouted. Clearly he hadn’t gotten a good enough look at the thing, so Iskall made it creep closer still.
“Stop it! Stop! Pearl if it’s you you can have the damn clocks just--” The screaming paused, Iskall peered through the grass to see Bdubs now slowly leaning down to get a closer look. He must have realised it was all just redstone, and that it wasn’t something that was going to hurt him. “Iskall? Why does your eye have legs? Why is it-- Where are you?”
The scare was over, Iskall removed himself from his hiding place and began to explain everything all over again. Now that he didn’t have to be quiet, though, he indulged in laughing about the whole affair until his stomach hurt and Bdubs’ grumpy eyes softened and laughed with him.
# # #
Heading west, Iskall’s next stop was Stress’s ravine. It was no secret that he had a soft spot for her - and no secret that his feelings were at least somewhat requited - but they’d been too busy with their own projects to really discuss things. It only seemed fair to also give her a spook, and it gave him an excuse to see her. A win-win really. As he dropped down into the ravine he was careful not to make too much noise, and he could hear her quietly singing to herself. While sneaking up and pranking his friends was one thing, listening to Stress singing gave him reason enough to stop and listen for a moment. Maybe he ought to make more time in his schedule to come out and see her, the server was more than just building and sometimes he could get caught up in his projects.
Rather than stand and intrude for too long, Iskall placed the little robot on the ground and sent it scurrying into the home Stress had carved for herself out of the cliff face. It was several long seconds before he got a reaction, but when he did it dwarfed even Bdubs’.
“Oh my God!” He heard the scream, a clatter of something, and then quiet. That… That wasn’t funny. That was concerning. Immediately forgetting about his pranking, Iskall let himself into Stress’s home and quickly searched the first room he came into to see what he could piece together. What he had to go on was a very frightened Stress, with wide eyes, pale skin, and a quick rise and fall of her chest, and an Eye Spider on the ground with the sharp side of an axe having completely immobilised it.
Honestly, he should have seen that coming.
Forgetting about the contraption for now he turned his attention to Stress, guilt consuming him as she seemed to slowly ground herself.
“What even--”
“It was a joke.” Iskall explained. “Well, it was meant to be a joke. I scared Mumbo and Bdubs and I thought I’d give you a Halloween fright too, I didn’t want it to be this bad.” He told her. “Can I come closer? Are you okay?”
Stress nodded, silent for a moment as he approached her, and then something seemed to click into place in her mind.
“Oh my God, that was your eye, I’ve broken your eye! Iskall I’m so sorry!” She fretted, but he only laughed as he enveloped her into his arms.
“I’ve broken plenty over the years, Mumbo’s probably fed up of making them for me, but it’s easily replaced. It doesn’t matter, what matters right now is that you’re alright. I really didn’t mean to scare you that much.”
After he spoke he felt Stress let out a long breath, her tense body practically melting against his, and he felt loose arms drape themselves around him. The hold was for her more than anything, but he had to admit that it quelled an awful lot of the rising guilt within him. He would have felt horrible if he’d truly scared her for more than a few moments, and he was quite content to stand in this embrace for as long as she needed to calm down.
“Well, since I’ve blinded you, do you want to stay?” Stress asked, her words muffled against his shoulder. “It’s just me anyway, it’d be nice to have a bit of company for a night.”
For a moment Iskall considered declining and returning to the Savannah with Etho, but hadn’t he been lamenting just minutes ago about how he’d gotten too distracted by his plans to really spend time with the people he cared about? A sleepover at Stress’s base sounded perfect, and maybe he’d even find the courage to talk about how he really felt with her. After she’d been brave enough to face up to his prank, it was only fair that he stepped out of his comfort zone too.
“I’d love to.” He smiled, squeezing her a little tighter in his arms.
So he forgot about every other commitment he had, and he did.