Pumpkin Face

"Halloween?" the Town Intermediate asked, tilting his head in curiosity and causing his four-cornered hat to dip dangerously low over his forehead.

"Yeah, Halloween- All Hollow's Eve, Day of the Dead," Jack explained.

"Sir," Sam interrupted, looking up from watching the group of children that sat playing with the toy that Jack had brought along for some unknown, but likely unimpressive, reason, "Day of the Dead is not a Halloween celebration."

Jack waved his hand in dismissal, ignoring the confused frown on the Intermediate's face. "Whatever. Point is, it's not dangerous. It just glows a little."

A low, tinny whine rose from the midst of the group of children, causing them all to shriek and jump back.

"And makes noise," Jack added.

The Intermediate's mouth twisted into a frown, and he stepped through the group of children, all of whom had come creeping back to poke at Jack's toy once more. He picked it up, shushing the children's complaints. He turned the squat, orange thing around in his hands till the two glaring eyes and gap toothed mouth stared up at him. The thing howled again, the eyes glowing red. The Intermediate held the thing out at arm's length a look of disgust on his face.

"What is it?" he asked, handing it back to Jack, who immediately handed it down to the children crowded around his legs.

"It's a toy. It responds to movement and is meant to scare children," Jack answered. The pumpkin howled again, sending the children into a flurry of giggles before they all tried to grab it from the hands of the little girl who had taken it from Jack.

"There are no children in your group. Why would you bring such a device?" the Intermediate asked.

"I believe O'Neill was planning on using it for a 'prank,'" Teal'c addressed the Intermediate as he, Daniel, and the Town Consul joined the group.

"I don't understand," the Intermediate said.

"A joke. I was going to try to scare Carter with it."

Sam gave Jack an exasperated look. "Sir."

"And Daniel," he added. "Teal'c was in on it, too," Jack defended himself when Daniel gave him a look nearly identical to Sam's, only with less tolerance in it.

The fake pumpkin howled again, and this time the children giggled and teased the boy who held it in his hands before it began making its rounds around the group once more. The Consul looked unamused, but the Intermediate no longer looked worried.

"Pardon us a moment," the Consul said, excusing himself and the Intermediate. The two of them moved a short distance away where they spoke amidst a flurry of hand gestures.

Jack took advantage of the break and turned to Daniel and Teal'c.

"So..." he drawled, eyeing the oddly shaped hats perched atop their heads. Daniel reached up and pulled his off. Teal'c continued to ignore the existence of his own.

"It's part of their welcoming ceremony," Daniel explained. "Each village apparently has their own hats that signify that a guest belongs to that village. What happened here?"

"The Colonel's pumpkin went off in his pack. Toibs thought it was some sort of Goa'uld device and that we were spies," Sam explained, giving Jack another exasperated look.

Jack shrugged as another moan and more laughter came from the group of children. "What happened at the meeting?" Jack asked, then glanced at the hat still sitting on Teal'c's head. "Aside from playing dress up."

Daniel sighed. "They're willing to trade their naquada with us. They also have several texts that the Consul intimated might have some information on the, um, Ancients. He was less willing to share those with us, but-"

"I'm sure you'll get it sorted," Jack interrupted. Daniel inhaled as if to start speaking, the decided it wasn't worth it and shared a look with Sam, who shrugged.

"They return," Teal'c said. The four of them turned to face the Consul and Intermediate. The Consul looked slightly irritated, and his eyes kept wandering over to the group of children. The Intermediate merely looked put out.

"I'm sure your companions told you that we are willing to trade with you? The Scholar told us you would have to tell your Consul of our acceptance, and that he would send another group with official documentation?"

"The who?" Jack asked.

"Um, me," Daniel said.

"Ah. Yes. Our...Scholar. He told you right; once we tell General Hammond, he will send someone else."

The Consul nodded slightly. He glanced at the Intermediate, then at the group of children. "I look forward to meeting them." He dipped his head in a final acknowledgment and headed back toward town.

"I guess that's our cue to leave," Jack said, shifting his shoulders to adjust his pack.

The Intermediate smiled tightly. Once more he waded into the group of children and plucked the pumpkin from their hands. Both the children and the pumpkin whined. The Intermediate ignored them and handed the pumpkin back to Jack.

"It was an honor meeting you," he said, tipping his head and making his hat wobble dangerously.

Jack took the pumpkin. "You, too."

The Intermediate watched as the four of them said good-bye to the children and headed back towards the Ring. Before they were completely out of earshot, the Scholar's voice drifted back.

"I can't believe you thought you could scare us with that."

Followed by a low, echoing whine.

END