[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

[herewardbound]

"Not this one, and not anymore. I'm as human as you." A beat, as she considered that. "Or as you normally are, I assume."

"It's complicated. But yes, we were here, we left, we came back. Don't... ask me how we did it, it happened largely without our input or consent. I'm Phoenix. I, ah... am usually taller. And significantly more avian."

[linkclickakira]

"Uh huh," Akira says- not convinced at all as he narrows his eyes at her. "That doesn't really answer my question, does it?" His voice pulses- as if someone else was talking along with him. There's a sardonic curve in his smile because as things are- her appearance is already making him wary.

Nonetheless, he likes where this is going. This was just supposed to be another interaction added to his otherwise dry social life here but these two have vital information about this place. About damn time. He doesn't let his hostility stay for long however- pursing his lips into a hesitant smile which greatly betrays his look as he nods and pretends like he doesn't want to jump Phoenix and ask him- "So you did put some input. Interesting" he starts then chuckles as he offers his hand out again.

"You can call me Kira," he begins. "More human and boring unlike you... you were taller?" Guess that explains the tripping and the statement that IGOR ASSISTANT just said. "You can fly too?"

[herewardbound]

"The answer is no, then, I don't work for the Igor who runs this place, who is as different from this one as you are from anyone else here with your name and face. I have, in the past, worked for an Igor, but for personal reasons don't do so any longer." In spite of the wariness, Renee didn't seem to take offense.

Phoenix shrugged, and took the offered hand, shaking it. "If you're new, the short version is, died one or more times, went to Hell, most of the time I'm a two-meter-plus bird demon for complicated reasons, thought it'd be fun to dress up as a character from a famous film to go to a Halloween party, wound up back here, apparently Igor thought it would be funny to make the costume a little more complete. But I guess I'm not the only one being subjected to that. Can't fly, though. Might be a possibility with maigc but we're not there yet."

[linkclickakira]

Ah.

Akira despises Igor. Truly. The truth didn't even pertain to the fact that he was merely suspicious of her, he didn't know how far Igor was willing to go to cater to his inhabitants. Having an assistant play friendly with the patrons seems as simple of a strategy as any.
I have worked for an Igor changes things. His shoulders relax as he squints at her still but figures that excuse is certainly a little unique to be made up on the spot. Doesn't mean it needs to be true but its better to avoid poking fingers at others right now. "I see." His expression eases as he poses a smile at her. "That is fair." His voice lowers from a dozen to just two- resonating into each other. "Can't really blame me for being careful, you know?"

"And...what you were saying..." His eyes widen as he finally realizes Phoenix's words. "The fuck you mean-" Okay. Hell. Literally. This guy is a two-meter plus demon. "That would mean..." he looks up and gauges the height. Another 20 centimetres. How daunting.

"Wow that is one hell of a short version," he chuckles at the sheer absurdity. "No pun intended of course. Igor certainly likes making use of the circus he has organized here with us."

"I think...I don't know. Do I remind you of a demonic creature?" He spreads out his arms then brings one up to pull down at the collar of his sweater- lowering it to show a hint of the tattoos on him. "I just...woke up like this. Shirtless on the road. My hotel was obliterated dude and Igor couldn't even *bother* to tell me what I am supposed to be."

[herewardbound]

Phoenix snorted. "Yeah, if it sounds insane, take it from me, I lived it. Honestly, I just stopped questioning shit right around the time Ren Amamiya's talking fucking cat turned into a helicopter."

He tilted his head, examining. "It's the eyes, mostly. And the horns. And the overall... vibe. Easy way to check, though, if this all comes with the requisite trappings and powers. If you stick your hand in mundane fire and don't get burned, strong possibility that's what you are."

[linkclickakira]

Is he...hearing things?

"Talking cat...Mona? What are you talking about?" He looks at him like he just grew another extra head or is this another persona bullshit he didn't get to be part of in his own world. Honestly? If he had a ready persona he could have easily breezed through his current issue.

He's still thinking about what the other just said so when he comes to- his gaze flickers as he looks down at his hands and hums. "Should we...uh test it then?"

[herewardbound]

"Does your Morgana not... talk, or transform?" What?

If nothing else... magic was based on knowledge of arcane principles, and shouldn't have been intrinsic to his form. And this, after all, was really just a cantrip. He drew a circle in the air, cupped his hand, and then-

Fssssht. Like a match sparking to life, a candle-sized flame appeared in his palm. "Oh, good. That still works. Would've been a pain in the ass if it didn't." He held it out.

[linkclickakira]

"No..." he draws out and he almost sounds like something stepped on his foot- judging from the way his expression falls into a frown. "You guys got a talking cat as well...?" A cat who can talk. A cat who can turn into a helicopter. He thinks Igor has finally brought him to hell itself- showing him worlds far better than his own. Of course he still loves his own cat and he would never trade him for anything in the world but...the thought of having someone to talk to while being attached to the hip (like his Morgana was) would have been healing. "My Morgana can fart in my face but you know what? He's cool like the rest." He splays out his hands- convincing himself more than the other.

Squinting down at the Sweeney Todd, his head jerks back as he watches the fire sparkle in his palm. His eyes widen. "That is...I was fully ready to just burn my hand on the stove, dude," He leans down to carefully stare at the flame. "Oh-!" He stares down at it and brings his hand closer- pulling at the sleeve of his hoodie so that it doesn't get singed by the burning wick.

He feels the warmth but when he brings his fingers further into the flame, his hands remain undisturbed. "Huh."

Focusing on the flame, he pinches his fingers together and observes as the fire follows his trail before breaking off from its main source- now hovering over as he lets it go and watches as the fire floats over his hand. Unlike the candle-sized flame though, this one was a ball. A tiny sun in the clasp of his hand which was now slowly growing in size.

Oh, its grown into a football size! Totally not something to be worried about.

[herewardbound]

"I think I prefer yours," he replied, deadpan.

He did, however, watch with interest as the flame grew. "I'm going to hazard a guess that's a 'yes'. It's a good thing everything grows back here, otherwise uncontrolled pyromancy might be cause for concern. In the circumstances... I'd say find what joy you can with the weird-ass transformations while they last, this shit never has a long shelf life. Maybe if you're lucky you'll get to keep the costume."

[linkclickakira]

"I also prefer mine," he says because now he doesn't know what other interesting comebacks Morgana would have made if he actually knew how to talk to him.

However now he wonders if that would have somehow stopped him from doing half the stuff he's done in his universe.

"Uh..."

The fire ball continues to grow as it floats from his palm. "You know, I would totally agree with you right now like I honestly love flying in the air but like- I also don't want to burn up Leblanc this is like my sacred space, man."

"STOP!" He says after a pause- staring down at the large ball of fire that continues to exponentially grow to the size of a football.
He yells at the ball- watching it continue to grow. "Okay, alright. Stop- ball. I get you." His attention slightly diverts from Falcon and Renee as he turns away. "Ah- Phoenix??! HELP??"

He quickly rushes out of Leblanc- flicking his hand as embers fall and the growing panic within him doesn't seem to dissipate.
"Okay- goodbye ball AH!" He cries over his shoulder as he rushes out of the cafe and throws the fire ball as if he were pitching for baseball except- he doesn't seem to recognize his own strength as the ball launches into the sky like he just did a homerun.

"Uh."

[herewardbound]

"Okay, it's fine, just carry it outside and- wait-"

Happily. The fireball, once thrown, stopped in midair as Renée held a hand out, smothering the flames before they could land elsewhere- and presumably cause problems.

... "That works, too."

[butterflyaffect]

"I'm going to hazard a guess that's a 'yes' on the demonic power."

[linkclickakira]

Akira looks back and forth between them, now seemingly embarassed by his reaction as he tries to cool it off with a cough and a wry chuckle.
His attention flickers on Renee for a moment before he sighs. "Yep. A demon." Makes it a bit poetic since he's fighting god in his own universe.

He flicks his fingers and focuses on his own body- finding it becoming lighter by the second. For a moment, he looks down- finding himself a few feet above the ground before letting his hands relax- now settling down on the ground again.

"I guess I will do a flight test later," he grins at them. "You guys want coffee? I initially came here for that."