Work Text:
He still couldn’t believe they convinced him to do this.
Sal stood awkwardly, watching people pass by as he was stuck in the carnival of Isle II.
Chauncey had claimed that since they became debt-free, it would be a good idea for the three to get out together at least once to celebrate. Ollie was hesitant to the idea, but still agreed since he was getting stir crazy from their days of being holed up on the farm. While Sal on the other hand, only agreed because it was hard to say no to the excited look on Ollie’s face. (Chauncey probably knew he’d fold to that, the prick-)
He wouldn’t have been so reluctant if they say, went to some nice quiet little place somewhere on Isle I. Hell, he would’ve been less upset if they decided on that clip joint boat he heard nothing but mixed things on.
Yet no, it was the carnival. Ollie was convinced to come for the rides (he seemed especially excited when Chauncey mentioned the carousel), while Chauncey made it clear he wanted to try some sweets from some Baroness lady who sold them here. He went on about how he heard her stuff was considered ‘Grade-A’ and how some people came here just for them and-
Sal had tuned it out halfway through. It was nice to see his friends excited. He’d only seen them this happy since they learned their contract was burnt.
But Sal? Sal himself was not happy, he hated carnivals.
It wasn’t really the places themselves. No, it was more so what lurked inside them.
He didn’t tell the others of course. He already felt dumb enough just for having this stupid fear of his. He knew they would find it ridiculous and make fun of him for it. (Well, Ollie would probably try not to tease him too hard. Chauncey would be merciless.)
Sal sighed as he leaned against a pole. “How long d’ya think he’s gonna take?”
Ollie let out a hum in thought. “Well, depends on if he decides to get into a chatty or...catty mood. He told me this lady ain’t someone to mess with. Knowin’ him he might not take his own advice and-”
“Ha. That’s true. If we’re unlucky, we might be here for an hour.” He huffed at the idea, “’m willing to ditch him as payback so you can get yer horse ride or whatever.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but ain’t that a little too mean?”
“Ollie, we came out here to have fun, not so we cou...”
Sal trailed off. He thought he saw...No, there couldn’t be one out here. This was the least crowded area and away from the more bizarre attractions. (He didn’t have Ollie camp out here with him because of that he swore-)
He grabbed Ollie’s hand and began tugging him away. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
“Huh? But we told him we’d wait-”
“We’ll stay close enough that he won’t get lost. Come on le-”
“WELL well well, what DO we have here?~”
Two hands landed on the pair’s shoulders. Sal froze up while Ollie yelped, both turned back to see-
Oh no. It was just as he thought.
Sal saw the one thing he dreaded seeing. A clown.
A clown dressed in red and blue, color split half and half across his body. The wide grin across his face was meant to be friendly, but Sal could only see it as unsettling.
“My my! I didn’t think I’d meet a couple of depressin’ lookin’ fellas like you out here!”
“Uh, beg yer pardon?” Ollie tensed up. Who was this?
“I’m always on the lookout for sad saps in need of cheerin’ up, but wow!” Beppi let go of their shoulders, placed his hands on his hips, and glanced between them. “You two are the gloomiest I’ve seen in a while!“
The onion’s frown grew. That only helped prove the stranger’s point, but could anyone blame him with what he was hearing? He was hoping Sal could get this guy to leave them alone (or at least be a little less blunt), but he wasn’t moving or saying anything. And when he looked into his eyes, he looked scared.
The stranger noticed this and just laughed, “Wow, you especially! What’s the matter Mr Tato? Clown got your tongue? Hahaha!”
“Don’t call me that.” Sal managed to get out, but went back to being frozen in terror. Why did his laugh have to be so high-pitched and creepy-
Ollie stood in front of Sal. He was freaked out by this weird man too, but he had to at least try to get this guy to back off for his sake. “Listen uh, Mr….”
“Oh!” The clown did a little bow. “It’s Beppi. Beppi The Clown. Oh and pleeease don’t call me Mr The Clown. That’s what they called my father y’know?”
“R-Right. Sure. Uh…” Ollie nervously looked from side to side wondering when Chauncey would get back. He could really use his assertiveness right now. “We’d...prefer to enjoy the carnival on our own so maybe you cou-”
Beppi gasped. “On your OWN! Oh don’t be silly! Why would you come to a carnival if you didn’t want to enjoy a performance?”
“Uh, maybe to see the sights or-”
“Oh ho ho my little friend!” Beppi poked Ollie’s nose. The onion covered it afterwards. “The sights are fun, sure. But can they provide you with-”
He turned around and appeared to be crafting something. The two tried to slowly back away and run, but the clown was too quick.
“This!”
Suddenly in Beppi's hands was a bouquet of brown balloon dogs. They barked and tried to leap towards the vegetables (whether to play or attack they didn’t know), only being held back by the strings grasped in his hand.
Ollie let out a nervous squeak and huddled close to Sal, terrified of the loud noises and beady eyes.
Sal managed to snap out of his freeze state and yelled, “H-Hey! Get those things outta here!” Enraged that the clown was also scaring his friend now.
“Hmmm. I coulda sworn you fellas looked like dog lovers. My intuition is never wrong.” He held the stringed dogs behind him and let them go, shooing them in the other direction but never looking back. He just kept staring at them, pondering, before he seemed to think of something else.
“Perhaps you prefer the classic?” He pulled out a red balloon dog sculpture, one that didn’t move or bark at least. “Ta-Da!”
Sal, still annoyed and nervous, lashed out and popped the balloon dog with his hand. “We don’ want yer damn dogs ya balloon bastard!”
Beppi gaped with a shocked look. Sal hoped he would get the hint and leave, but no, the clown just tutted at him.
“Language! There are CHILDREN here! You’re almost as bad as Bon Bon!” He pulled out a bar of soap from god knows where. “You need to wash out your mouth mister.”
Beppi brought the soap uncomfortably close and Sal started breathing heavily. This guy wouldn’t leave him alone and he kept getting closer and closer with that creepy smile and-
“Don’t touch me!” He snapped. Literally, as he violently bit down on Beppi’s hand.
Ollie screamed. “SAL!” He shook his friend “WE CAN’T BITE THE PERFORMERS THEY’LL KICK US-”
The two quieted down as something easily slipped past Sal’s teeth. They looked down to see the clown’s bitten arm, now deflated and limp.
Beppi held it with his good arm as his grin widened. “Guess you didn’t appreciate me givin’ you a hand huh?”
A moment later the vegetables began screaming and crying. Beppi kept chasing them in a circle with his deflated arm as they desperately tried to get away from him. He cackled all the while, still thinking this was all in good fun and not registering the terror in their yelling.
“Oh fellas! I got our treats! Gah, that lady had a bit of a temper. Almost as bad as-” Chauncey arrived carrying a variety of sugary goods, but his excitement turned to confusion upon seeing his friends being chased by a...manic clown?
He sighed. Left alone for ten minutes and this happens. Shifting all the goods into one arm, he grabbed the clown by his collar scruff...thing when he ran by him.
Beppi let out an ‘Ack!’ but didn’t seem phased other than that. In fact, his smile remained as wide as ever. “Oh another one? A three for one deal on veggies, eh?”
“Hey,“ The carrot looked back from where he came, "I think that Baroness was lookin’ for ya to discuss...somethin’. Sounded important.”
“Oh?” The clown scratched his head. “Hmm. My scheduled unprompted visit wasn’t for another coupla hours.” He shrugged. “Ah well, better go have a quick check in! Ta-ta!
The clown ran off, leaving nothing but a puff of smoke behind.
Chauncey sighed. He did feel a bit bad for leaving the lady stuck with the clown, but he had a sneaking feeling she’d have no problem dealing with him. “What a loudmouth, least he was easy to get rid of.”
“Ch-chauncey…”
“Though gotta say it’s kinda funny-”
“Chauncey...”
“Didn’t take that long for you two to get into trou-”
“CHAUNCEY THIS IS NOT THE TIME!” Ollie finally yelled, stress reaching a breaking point.
“Huh?”
He realized Sal hadn’t said anything. When he looked at him, he was just staring at the floor, muttering words he couldn’t make out except for a few curse words.
The carrot grimaced. That angry outburst wasn’t like Ollie, and this certainly wasn’t like Sal. In all his years with him, he hardly ever got upset like this. He could probably count the times with just his hands.
Whatever happened while he was gone must’ve been bad for him.
“Sal.” Chauncey handed the goods to Ollie, who hesitantly accepted them. He gave Sal a couple of pats on the head. “You don’t look so good. We can go back if you want.”
The potato looked up, looking like a cornered animal. “Please.”
“Alright. Let’s get you home big guy.”
When they got back, the first thing the two did was get Sal on the couch, and wrapped the comfiest blanket they had around him.
Chauncey put the snacks he had gotten on a side table, and left to give them some space.
Ollie, meanwhile, laid on the comfort. He held Sal’s hand and rubbed circles on it while giving him gentle affirmations. (‘There, there. It’s ok if ya need to cry again.’)
He wasn’t actually listening to the onion’s words, but his voice itself was still comforting, and it kept him grounded as he tried to relax.
After a bit, Chauncey came back to check back on him. Sal didn’t look him in the eye. He never felt guilty for anything, yet he felt angry at himself for ruining their day out, all because he freaked over some comedian.
“Chauncey...I...”
“If yer thinkin’ bout apologizin’ don’t bother.” He sighed as he sat beside him. “Wouldn’t have been fun if that clown came back and caused trouble anywho, and there’s a good chance it woulda happened regardless of what we did.”
“...Don’ mean I can’t be mad at myself for makin’ a fuss over nothin’.”
“Psssh! Nothin’ my ass. Some guy got all up in yer business and ya got upset ‘bout it. That’s na-tu-ral.”
“...Thanks.”
“Ya don’t need to thank me ya big lug, just statin’ the facts.” He gave him a pat on the back, gentler than usual.
“I just…” He paused, still embarrassed to admit it. “Figured you guys mighta thought I was a dolt for bein’ scared of clowns.”
“Of course we wouldn’t!” Ollie gave his hand another gentle rub. “I’d never make fun of ya for bein’ afraid of somethin’!”
“Yeah. I’d make fun of ya for a lotta things, but that ain’t one of em’. Hell after THAT, I get why you’re scared.” He shuddered at the memory of that clown grinnin’ while holding his limp arm.
Sal looked down and smiled for the first time since the incident. He felt a bit sappy, but the two did make him feel better.
Even if they fought a lot, he really was lucky to have these guys as his closest companions.
“Come on-” Chauncey held up one of the wrapped candies from the snack pile. “Why don’t we try some of these? I’ll even split a lil’ of my share if it’ll cheer ya up faster.”
Sal rolled his eyes. “Sure, just don’t change your mind, ‘kay?”