To whom it may concern

Simon Holmes hit pause on the blurry, unsteady cellphone-camera video that promised irrefutable proof of a satanic Bigfoot cult holding dark sabbats in the woods around Wolf Mountain, and leaned back in a wobbling computer chair held together by duct tape and the whims of the universe. The brilliant blues and golds of a summer sky streamed in through his bedroom window, making bright patches on the threadbare carpet. He poked the toes of one bare foot into one sunlit rectangle, wriggling them in the warmth, and smiled.

The manticore, dozing in a sunbeam of it's own, opened one eye and swiped lazily at his outstretched leg. Simon laughed and pulled it back. He slipped down from his unsteady perch and opened his bedroom door, the light spilling into the dark hallway beyond. He was thirsty.

Crossing the hall on his way to their small, cramped apartments' small, cramped kitchen, he passed the closed door of the master bedroom. Inside, thunder rolled and wind shrieked, accompanied by the crack of lightning and the scream of trees bent to breaking point by a hurricane.

"Mars?!" he shouted, seizing the brass door handle with it's scratched fingerplate etched in protective runes and shoving the door open. "Marshall? You okay?"

Marshall, who had been lying on his bed with his feet propped against the windowsill, tried to sit up too fast and only succeeded in headbutting the heavy tome of occult lore he'd been holding outstretched above his face.

"Oww," he said, dropping the book and clutching the bridge of his nose.

Inside his room, the air was calm, a light breeze rippling the voile curtain that lay drawn across a half-opened window. From the scarred and battered workbench in the corner, the storm raged on.

"Oh," said Simon, sagging against the doorframe in relief. "Sorry! I heard noises, I thought you were being attacked by malevolent weather again."

"Nope," said Marshall, taking his hands away from his face after a cursory examination to make sure nothing was broken. He swung his legs over the rumpled bed covers and stood. "Not today, anyway."

Simon had to raise his voice to be heard over the maelstrom.

"Then where is that sound coming from?"

Marshall looked embarrassed. Crossing the room, navigating piles of laundry both clean and not, he crossed to his makeshift desk and fiddled with the volume knob on a portable CD player that stood atop an uneven pile of black and white composition books.

"Sorry," he said. "I didn't realise it was so loud." He picked up the leather bound grimoire he had been reading when Simon burst in, laying it on a bedside table cluttered with coffee cups and dirty plates. "I was doing some research and, well," he pointed at the beautiful summer sky beyond the glass, "It felt weird reading about that stuff when it's so nice outside."

"Ah," sad Simon.

"I didn't mean to freak you out," said Marshall.

"No, no," said Simon awkwardly. "It's fine, I shouldn't have barged in..."

"I mean, if I was being attacked by a sentient gale in my own bed, I would definitely have wanted you to," said Marshall.

"But you're okay?" said Simon.

Marshall grinned.

"I'll be fine as long as you don't tell my mom it was me that borrowed her 'sounds of nature' relaxation tapes," he said.

"Your secret dies with me," promised Simon, holding out his clenched fist for the secret handshake.





Microwave-verse

Bonfire by froodle, in which Pinocchio is ruined forever

Gingerbread by froodle, in which there is a witch in the Eerie Woods

Leaves by froodle, in which plantlife finds Marshall entirely too enticing

Offspring by froodle, in which there are dragons

Based on Your Previous Purchases by froodle, in which Mars should really pay attention to Amazon's reccomendations

Housework by froodle, in which a rota cannot be agreed upon

Breakfast by froodle, in which Dash's attempts at cookery do not go well

Ghost in the Machine by froodle, in which a new laptop opens an old wound

Consequences by froodle, in which an encounter with leprechauns leaves the boys very tired indeed

The Microwave by froodle, in which Andrea Fantucci returns to Eerie after a considerable absense

The Eldritch Abomination in the Room by froodle, in which the microwave is most definitely not discussed

Basic Household Maintenance by froodle, in which manticores are inconsiderate houseguests

Torrential by froodle, in which there is a storm, and the boys eat ice-cream

Linens by froodle, in which Dash X makes a bed

Night Music by froodle, in which Simon is woken by a nocturnal visitor

In For The Night by froodle, in which Dash refuses to leave the house

Hound by froodle, in which Simon makes a friend

Errands by froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list

Waterlogged by froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Rainbow by froodle, in which Dash fails to properly appreciate Michael Flatley

Jackolantern by froodle, in which the local pumpkin patch has a problem





The Weather Series

Wally by froodle, in which a certain weatherman doesn't lose his temper, but is sorely tried

Vacation by froodle, in which Weatherman Wally visits a tropical paradise without ever leaving Eerie city limits

Sick Day by froodle, in which Weatherman Wally does not go to work

The Storm by froodle, in which Mayor Chisel has a very specific job for Eerie's resident weatherman

Setting the Scene by froodle, in which Wally prepares for Christmas

Holidays are Coming by froodle, in which something else prepares for Christmas

Garden by froodle, in which Wally eats ice-cream

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Stormfront by froodle, in which Wally takes a hands-on approach to firefighting.

Sisters by froodle, in which we visit Normal, Illinois

Still by froodle, in which we find out there are far worse things than Old Bob

Midsummer by froodle, in which the Eerie Express returns, right on schedule

Castle by froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Squall by froodle, in which Wally and Old Bob have a disagreement