Work Text:
It started out as a harmless activity. One that they could get away with since Wesker was in the annual department meeting Irons made him go to every year. Whilst there was a meeting every 2-3 months he would attend, these annual meetings would take up an entire day, maybe even two if things dragged on a bit. Marini, on the other hand, was more open to the idea of these activities and the team just relaxing at work.
After a variety of activities, ranging from the best painted mug to a full on scavenger hunt around the police station, this year was more tamed from the last. This year the activity was pumpkin carving. Carving pumpkins was something that the team had voted on when Wesker had a meeting with Irons the other week. Some of the bravo team members, who didn’t start their shift until the evening, had come in just for this.
Jill and Tyler had brought in the carving equipment, whilst Barry, Brad, Frost and Chris had gone out and bought everyone a pumpkin. Given the size of some heads depended on what pumpkin they received. They had cleared their desks, putting down pieces of tarp so they could easily hide evidence of it ever happening. Once everything was in position: everyone having a pumpkin, everyone having some equipment and a piece of tarp, they were free to start.
Whilst it was a fun activity, the team turned it into a pumpkin carving competition, judged by Marini and Rebecca, who hadn’t known in advance as she had only started two days ago. Forest had to explain to her what was going on as she nearly panicked over the files disappearing, and that it became a tradition amongst the S.T.A.R.S. operatives every meeting that they knew Wesker would be gone for the day.
It was practically silent, apart from the quiet whirring of the computers and the quelching sound from scooping out the pumpkin seeds. Jill was sculpting a masterpiece… a pumpkin throwing up. Barry did a classic pumpkin face. Brad carved a scared pumpkin. Frost carved the S.T.A.R.S. logo, whilst Forest carved the RPD logo. Edward sculpted a bat and Richard carved an owl. Kenneth carved out Halloween around his pumpkin and Chris carved out an attempt of Wesker along with Boo written underneath it.
“See? Clearly I’m going to win.” Chris confidently declared as he glanced over at Enrico and Rebecca, who were quietly conferring their decision with one another. Jill smirked, swivelling in her chair to face him, “Really? Your failed attempt at Wesker has let you down.” She remarked, a small laugh escaping her lips causing Chris to pout. The other joined in their laughter watching the two bicker back and forth.
After a few minutes, Rebecca and Enrico turned to face the rest of the team, “So, before we start: all the pumpkins were creative.” Marini started off, gesturing to all of them pumpkins displayed on the desk, “However, we had to pick a winner for your activity day, so in third is Brad.”
Rebecca took over, “Second is Jill’s. Finally, the winner is…” She paused as the team banged on their desks creating a drum roll effect, “Tyler!” The team paused, confused for a moment. They were sure that she hadn’t stayed at the station today. Normally, she’d watch in amusement as they fail the activity, the only activities she took part in were the mug painting and scavenger hunt.
Marini smirked proudly as he saw the others confused, he gestured behind them. There, stood by the entrance of the armoury was Tyler with a pumpkin on her head. The pumpkin itself was carved out into a terrifying face. She raised a hand waving it at them in a slight sarcastic manner.
“No. No! Her pumpkin wasn’t on the table!” Chris pointed out, standing up and trudging over to her. Whilst in height, he loomed over her, she just glanced up at him. Her expression was hidden by the pumpkin head, but behind it she was smirking, “Therefore, hers doesn’t count!”
“It counts Chris. There was never a rule that stated it had to be on the table. It just had to be carved. Rebecca chimed in, causing Chris to turn to her, sending her a look. He didn’t mean it – he was acting a bit childish from this and he was internally kicking himself over not thinking of this before she did.
“Not my fault that I kept to myself and carved a head. Plus, gives me a chance to snap a few pictures on the rooftop.” She comments, removing the head. She smiled at him, shaking her head at his childish behaviour before she placed the pumpkin on his head, patting the fruit. That somehow seemed to reduce the tantum causing Jill to laugh.
“What the hell is this!” Welp, guess all of them were doing overtime after this.
But then again, this would be the last time. The last time they would doing this meeting activity – everyone would be dead by the next meeting rolled around.