[EVENT] 'Tis the Spooky Season...

[vrdr_mods]

Autumn is drawing on in the Velvet Room and its environs. The days are colder, the nights are crisper, leaves are a riot of colour ready to fall from the trees. And (besides all the pumpkin spice popping up for some reason) that means only one thing: Hallowe'en!

As the season approaches, you may undergo a mysterious transformation. Perhaps you wake up with wings, or hooves, or gills! Or perhaps your transformation will change more, go deeper... perhaps to your very soul. Who can tell? You might wake up as an animal, or a mythological creature. Or as anything at all.

Transformations will reverse on the morning of November 1st. Probably.

In the meantime, Destinyland is celebrating the holiday. Cheerful Jack-o'-Lantern Shadows have set up on street corners, handing out flyers advertising the park's seasonal festivities. In the days leading up to the 31st, Destinyland will host all the usual fun: Hallowe'en games, Trick or Treat for the babies (and the not-so-babey), the Gorb fortune teller, Shadow-run food stalls serving spooky meals and treats, and, of course, the haunted house with its array of friendly, candy-giving Shadows. Or maybe they're not so friendly.

On the night of Hallowe'en itself, there will be a parade at the park and a grand party out in the main square with food, music, and plenty of space, though characters are not obliged to attend. However, if you wish to show off your new form, see what transformations have been wrought on your fellow guests, or simply take the chance to celebrate, it may be a good opportunity...

Who knows? Perhaps you'll even see some special guests.

[ooc: Welcome to our second Halloween event! This post will serve as a mingle for the duration of the event. Feel free to invite friends to play as guest characters, too! There will be a toplevel, and guest characters are simply whisked into the setting to engage in festivities, with a slight ghostly aura. For an example, see the thread here from last year!]

Comments

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Ren awkwardly uses a a wing to pat Goro's head.

[fogboundcrow]

Oh. That's new. New and... interesting? He leans into the pat and then—

"...wait. Weren't we trying to get you cereal?"

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Yeah. Or...anything for me to eat. Please."

[fogboundcrow]

"Cereal might be difficult, unless you plan to eat it straight from the bowl... or attempt to maneuver silverware with your talons." Still, he sets the cereal box and bowl on the counter.

"I was going to get some fish from the refrigerator..."

[mirrorkechi]

If Igor turns this place into some sort of circus he’s going to actually hunt him for sport.
He just scoffs at that and sits down.
“I’m really not seeing the appeal to this place” he haaaates it here. But no need to rant at a child about this, he can rant at someone who isn’t a child like a responsible person.
Or hannei.
He actually growls at the mention of thumbs, or his lack there of. This fucking SUCKS-
“Yeah well I’d rather clogged drains than this. Had to break down the door just to get out of the apartment. Hannei doesn’t have thumbs either!” At least the door will repair itself after a bit, small mercies.
… oh my god how the hell is he supposed to shower will water be bad for him? He’s on fire-
Fuck this place!
He huffs, and a puff of smoke trails out from his nostrils.
“…anyways, I don’t believe we’ve met. You’re… Raven right? Hannei said you were one of the kid me’s here” hopefully he isn’t getting anyone confused, though with this whole situation maybe he can be excused for any confusion.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Fish?" Ren perks up. "I can eat fish."

[fogboundcrow]

"Then fish it is."

Hum de dum. He places the bowl and cereal back, bringing two plates to the counter instead. Then he makes his way over to the fridge, opening it carefully and rifling through the drawers for... aha! Salmon. Delicious salmon.

His mouth waters at the mere sight. It's so tempting to just dig in. His eyes dilate, but... but! He has to share, so... two large pieces of salmon, going right on the plates...

Which he reluctantly brings to the table before climbing into a chair and finally digging in. Nom, nom, nom.

[fogboundcrow]

"Oh, you're from Hannei's world." His face scrunches up for a moment. That does sound inconvenient... and potentially hazardous, given the smoke and fire. "Ren doesn't have opposable thumbs, either. He seems to be some kind of harpy, for better or worse."

[mirrorkechi]

He nods, “I got here recently, though if I could avoid this madness maybe I should have hoped to arrive later…” but that’d have left Hannei alone longer and… hm never mind that possibility sounds worse.
“I know code names are needed here because of the… overlap…” And while he hasn’t exactly picked one out… well, Hannei did have a suggestion he didn’t hate.
“So I suppose I’ll be Mockingbird for now” until he thinks of something better at least.

Ok How many people here lost their thumbs for the sake of this Halloween gag??? He just looks unhappy.
“Well, this better not last long then” he grumbles. But looking out at the decorated theme park, well he supposes it’s not all bad.
“At least the festive events seem fun” small victories

[unfoggedlotus]

"It's...not your fault." Confused, Ren looks down at his own body. Yep, still very much...Ren. "Need help?"

Phoenix and Renée

[herewardbound]

▶ THE BALLAD OF SWEENEY TODD
Swing your razor high

---

It had started, really, as a building fog rolling in across the streets of Yongen-Jaya. It clung to the ground, low enough to obscure the feet but nothing else, a low trill of strings from some unobserved orchestra.

It was easily excused as nearby shops observing the festive occasion- save for whispers amongst the nearby cognitions, verging on... song?

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd, they hissed.
His face was pale and his eye was odd

A low, distant rumble of thunder. Woodwinds soon joined the string, playing an ominous harmony, one that promised a tale of vengeance and death.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
Who never thereafter were heard of again
He trod a path that few have trod
Did Sweeney Todd

The demon barber of Fleet Street...
A figure rounded the corner of the alley by the theater, an Akechi- but his face high and pale, with deep shadows around the eyes. His dress antiquated, almost Victorian- and his hair black with a white streak. And the moment he appeared, lightning flashed overhead, the unseen orchestra screaming into full ensemble, the brass section awakening to play the overture.

The effect was somewhat ruined when he took a step intended to accommodate legs much longer than they were, at present, and nearly fell over. The passersby dispersed, the moment passed, and the unknown newcomer righted himself with a curse, glaring into the open doorway. "Igor. What the fuck."

▶ THE BARBER AND HIS WIFE
Locked to Falcon and Futaba

---

The door to the Sakura residence swung open, to reveal two familiar faces, walking across the threshold. The first was Renée, missing her glasses but clad in a shoulderless blue prom dress, a corsage on her left wrist and looking highly amused. The second was... just an Akechi. Looking grumpier than usual and dressed like a Victorian barber. For some reason.

Phoenix sighed, and called out. "Hello?"

▶ NO PLACE LIKE TOKYO
And the vermin of the world inhabit it

---

In spite of initial annoyance, life went on. Phoenix and Renée both could be found in their usual haunts, with him making frequent visits to friends- or inviting them over to catch up, if they'd been so inclined, or taking time to study in the pleasant atmosphere that was Leblanc, and she found often around the myriad bars and bookshops of Tokyo, when she wasn't at home- though on occasion, Renée did make one of her appearances completely drenched in what was... probably fake blood. In any case, either of them seemed to be in relatively high spirits, throughout the week leading up to Halloween.

Alright, you sir, how about a shave?
Come and visit.

[lilcomputer]

Door, open. Steps, two people. Ears were perked and she was already leaping for the door. Her four eyes peered around the corner at "Renée!" She shouted. Tail wagging as fast as it could, not that it had really stopped today. There was already a bandage wrapped around the fluff from it being hit too hard against something.

She peered at the Akechi there's only one she knew that Renée would put up with, but he didn't look... human. Her eyes blinked individually as she processed, "Phoenix?"

Amamiya Ren aka Joker from the P4kechi AU | BUPPY TIME

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren's transformation happens late, much later than anyone else's. It happens the following night, in fact, long after everyone else in the house has gone to sleep.

Several new, strange noises emerge from the kitchen of the Dojima residence as a massive, mostly-quadruped-partially-biped canine, seven foot at the shoulders, with dark shaggy fur and piercing golden eyes rummages through the drawers. It hears you the moment you even think about entering the room, and its ears swivel towards you, snuffling deeply through its long snout to catch your scent.

Do you approach?

[butterflyaffect]

Renée smiled warmly, when she was tackled, returning the embrace. "Hello, Futaba. As you can see, we've returned."

[herewardbound]

As for the 'stranger'... he smiled awkwardly, and opened his arms for a hug as well. "Yeah. Looks like I'm not the only one Igor's playing a joke on. But... it's me."

[pancakeboy]

Approach? Magpie is not only approaching, he's listening from behind his bedroom door, evoker in hand. Whatever this is, it's invaded the wrong home.

Eyes glinting, teeth bared, he puts the gun to his head, throws open the door, and fires.

"PERSONA!"

Wolf and Rookmon

[rookandhound]

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Trick or Treat (But mostly Trick)

---

Most unwisely, someone, probably Igor, had decided that one of the surliest residents of Inaba was going to wake up this morning as a ghost. Equally unwisely, he gave that same resident all of the powers of truly experienced poltergeists.

He had been, initially, furious.

And then he'd thrown a glass through a window.

Which had spawned ideas. If he was going to be stuck as a damn ghost until whatever this was wore off... then he was going to have some fun with it.

Maybe you'd been nearby when one of the empty homes of Inaba had burst into flame. Or perhaps you'd been wandering down the streets of Toyko when you'd been suddenly met by the dragging footsteps of something massive, out of sight, groaning as it approached...

Or perhaps you'd been alone in the night, when the air began to chill, your breath making fog as it left you, hollow laughter echoing from an unknown direction.

In any case... you've been selected for some holiday hellraising.

[minipancake]

And, as part of the Inaba outskirts burst into flame, Wolf and Rookmon may (or may not) hear quiet panting from the dark. And the scuff of a paw. A distinctly oversized paw.

[lostgemini]

You know, when Kou woke up this morning with wings, a tail, fangs, claws, horns, and far too much fluffy hair to be comfortable, his first thought was 'fuck this shit', so he went back to bed, fully intending to sleep this away. He's not playing this game, Igor. He's not. As if being here wasn't awful enough, now he's been turned into some sort of... creature? Half-dragon? Whatever.

So he closes his eyes, ignoring the strange feeling of his new limbs, but-

THUD!

-suddenly he's no longer in bed, but in the middle of Destinyland... lying facefirst on the ground, his jaw aching. He sits up with a groan, realizes where he is, and curses.

Isn't this just lovely? He hopes nobody saw him like that.

Perhaps you did? Or perhaps you heard the cursing. Or perhaps you run into him as he gets up, and decides he might as well take a look around, if he's going to be forced to. Geez, what a pain, right?

[OOC: Imagine a gijinka of this. That's Kou rn.]

[lakebrat]

And—there is a tall figure nearby. A softly glowing, golden, almost angelic figure, right down to the halo behind his... large, soft-looking fox ears. And the fan of nine oversized tails that spread out behind him.

"Are you okay?" says the figure. It has Goro's hair. And Goro's voice.

[lostgemini]

Kou's eyes narrow at the glow instinctively, blinking until they adjust. Then, they widen, before he remembers-

... Right, this is just another fake. It's not- it's not him. It's not Goro.

He lets out a small sound that sounds almost like a growl. Or perhaps it's pained?

"Fine," he mutters, pushing himself upright, looking away from the glowing figure. His tail lashes. "As much as I can be, at least."

[lakebrat]

Goro peers at him, trying his best to keep those damned—tee-hee—tails in check. An ear twitches. He's quite a bit taller than usual, which is taking some getting used to.

"I didn't expect to see anyone appear out of thin air," he says. Maybe it's the horns and what all, but something is off about this guy. "How are you finding the tail?"

[fogbornphantom]

"Yes, please." The claws of his right hand grip the edge of the bed, while he holds out his right one for Ren to lift as needed.

Ballad

[tricksterviolet]

Briar sees the 'new' Akechi fall flat on his face. She knows better to approach, to put them in danger with her new form. And yet, against her better judgement, she can't leave him without checking to make sure he's all right.

So she carefully steps forward, and... something Phoenix may notice as he starts trying to get up is the sight of zori sandals and the bottom of a black kimono surrounding by swirling shadowy energy. At least, until the figure starts kneeling down to hold a hand out to him.

It's then that the figure becomes more recognizable, the one and only Briar, though her hair is slightly different, being held back by a black ribbon and her eyes are a more vivid red than usual.

"Are you all right...? That was a sudden fall."

She doesn't smile, frown, or anything, her expression is just a little blank. If anything, she seems a bit distracted...

A

[vessel_ken_amada]

Ken enters the house half awake, still sleepy after a bad night. He dragged himself there, only because he had promised Raven the day before that he'd at least make the effort to watch a movie with him instead of doing nothing all day.

But when he arrives...

"Aaah!" he exclaims, when he sees a big furry thing rampaging the fridge.