[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

[gorobo]

It is, at that time, that Falcon appears in the hallway. In his hands are two pumpkins- creepy smiles carved into them. He looks a little... disheveled, but otherwise no worse for the wear. He raises an eyebrow at the strange new Goro, almost asking what he's doing with Renée... but he's quick to realize.

"Well, look what the- dog dragged in," he says, lips quirking just slightly. The mention of Igor drops his mood, but he tries not to show it. At least Igor didn't change him, as promised. "Took you long enough."

Even so, good to see them back.

[herewardbound]

That smile, if nothing else, was a reassurance, a point of familiarity. "It's good to see you, Falcon. Anything major I missed?"

[gorobo]

Well... a bunch of things, really, but none of them he readily wants to discuss in front of Futaba.

"Just some new arrivals," he grunts. One in particular stands out... for less than stellar reasons. "You know how it goes."

[herewardbound]

"Well, it's been a whole entire fucking thing. I'm relieved it's only been a month or so here because on my end it's been more than six."

[lilcomputer]

"You keep doing that," she says counting how long he's been away from her between the two trips.

She moved away from Renee and towards Phoenix, nuzzling in on instinct. She was glad her earlier energy burst had knocked most things down so she wasn't making more of a mess. "What top two things?"

[herewardbound]

Tragically, the hugs weren't nearly as nice. There was a lot to be said for feathers.

You keep doing that.

"... Sorry, Futaba. If I'd had my choice it wouldn't be for such long periods at once and you'd know when I was going to be gone in advance. As for what happened... It's been a lot, and things got really dangerous for a bit, but everyone made it out okay and things are... looking up."

She probably didn't need to know the gory particulars.

[lilcomputer]

Her fur made up for some of the lack of feathers. She closed her eyes. "I'm just glad you two are okay. You came back to me too, that's what's important." Her ears pinned back a little giving away that she worried, but that was the price she was going to have to pay.

[gorobo]

"We've been managing," Falcon hums, shuffling past them to put the pumpkins outside- they can place them properly and put candles inside later.

"Good to hear things are looking up down there, though." Futaba really was worried- he's had to comfort her more than once. She's a strong kid, she really is, but sometimes... well, she is just a kid. While Falcon was certain Phoenix and Renée would be fine, there's only so many times he could tell her that before it started to ring hollow.

... Perhaps, he was just a little worried himself. Just a little

"Good to have you two back, either way."

[herewardbound]

He stood, after a moment, giving her a pat on the head. "They're probably going to be shaky for a bit, but for now... things are relatively stable. More people on the team, no more exterminations, supposedly. The family's doing alright, though there was a scare with some assassin that popped up and the Overlords are as much of a pain in the ass as ever. I'm starting to worry I might have to get publicly involved, but that's a concern for future me. But..."

Futaba received a gentle squeeze. "Nothing you need to worry about. I am a master of the trade of phantom thievery, and anyone trying to catch me by surprise is going to have to get up pretty damn early in the morning."

"Or just get to you before you've had your coffee, since you're functionally dead to the world anyway."

"Thank you, Renée."

"The elusive leader of Nautilus, caught at last because some unsung hero of a barista took pity on his poor liver and served him decaf."

"Motherfucker, if you serve me decaf I will respond with gunfire. So help me."

[lilcomputer]

She blinked, processing, before closing her eyes, forgetting that she had two ears and a tail that now shared her emotional state. Her ears were pinned back, and her tail that had been wagging nonstop before was still for the first time today. She had always tried so hard not to show when she was feeling down or worried about the three of them.

"Maybe you should make sure there's no decaf in hell, not like anyone needs to watch out for their heart." She joked.

[gorobo]

Falcon takes note of Futaba's worried body language, his face twitching momentarily with concern... before he takes a moment to ruffle her hair.

"I'm sure the great leader of Nautilus," he says, a playful lilt to his voice, "wouldn't succumb so easily, even without his nasty morning coffee."

He shoots Phoenix and Renée a look. Better not worry her more than you need to.

[herewardbound]

Well, that... wasn't received as intended. He sighed, quietly, and pulled Futaba back into a hug. "Just a joke, Futaba. I'm not gonna die. Phoenix, remember? Cheating death is my best trick."