[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

[fogboundcrow]

"You're warm." Blink, blink. Very warm. Toasty. Warm lap... special lap.

[gorobo]

"... What does that have to do with-"

Raven is a cat. Cats love heat.

Ah.

"You're seeking out heat," he says, vaguely amused.

[fogboundcrow]

...Damn it. Cat instincts are so weird. He pouts again.

"I am never going to live this down..."

[gorobo]

"I'll remind you until the end of time," he hums, "and then some."

Surprisingly, he's not too upset with this arrangement.

The contact is... well, he's still not fully comfortable with it, but it's just Raven. And Raven is a cat now. Sort of. It's... fine. Raven won't do anything to him. Just like Futaba-chan, he's... okay. There's no need for the instinctual want for distance.

It's just Raven, and Falcon feels... somewhat relaxed, actually. Without thinking, he reaches over to scratch behind Raven's ears- just barely pausing before he actually does so. His hand hovers, but it's probably not the best idea. Raven's still human at his core, after all.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven's ears flick up. His eyes follow the movement of that hand. On one hand, petting would be... embarrassing. On the other hand, petting. Scritches...

"Um." Well, this is awkward. "Go ahead...?"

[gorobo]

Oh.

Well. Then...

"If you're sure you don't mind," Falcon says, making sure all his limiters are firmly in place. He waits one more moment to give Raven a chance to change his mind...

But then he lowers his hand, and gives a gentle scratch behind Raven's ear. It's... nice. He doesn't get much out of it sensationwise, his body not exactly made for this, but... his sensors detect the beating if Raven's heart. The warmth radiating off him. While he probably can't understand just how soft it is in reality, even with his limited senses, Raven's fur is pleasant to the touch.

He finds himself relaxing a little more.

[fogboundcrow]

Oh. That's... different. But the touch is also... nice? He leans into it, relaxing in turn and... purring?

"...I have no idea how I'm doing this."

[gorobo]

"Ordinarily, cats produce a purr by dilating and constricting the glottix," Falcon rambles off, mindlessly sharing the knowledge as he continues to pet behind Raven's ear. "It causes air to vibrate, and-"

... But it was probably a rethorical question.

"... That said, who knows when it comes to Igor's bullshit."

[fogboundcrow]

"Well, that is interesting." Mm, it feels so nice. He even closes his eyes, enjoying the sensation.

[gorobo]

"Isn't it?"

Raven is really enjoying this, isn't he?

Falcon can't deny it's... relaxing, if nothing else. There's a small smile on his face as he continues to pet behind Raven's furry ears, fascinated with the way they occasionally twitch. Even without a proper sensation of touch, he can tell they're extremely soft. Kitten fur.

[fogboundcrow]

Mmm. Comfortable. He's not entirely sure why, but he has the strong urge to just... curl up and get cozy.

"Honestly, I should consider myself lucky. My balance hasn't been thrown off as much by the tail as Hiro's has by his new wings, and Joker outfitted Crow with heels to try and offset his now digitigrade legs. Hiro's horns also have caused him to get caught in the doorway a few times."

Humorous as it is, it's hardly convenient.

[gorobo]

Falcon heaves out a sigh at that, feeling his frustration rise once more. Seriously?

"What a pain," he says, "I can't believe you're all just... okay with that. Igor changes you all on a whim, and you still consider him benevolent?"

... Though he can't deny that it's nice to pet behind Raven's ear. He scritches juuuust below it, before smoothing the hair out, and repeating the process. It's very... calming. The purr is such a nice sound, too, resonating with his systems in a very soothing way.

"Well, at least you seem to be enjoying it," he hums.

[fogboundcrow]

"I wouldn't say I approve per se, but there are far more malevolent things he could do. Plus, he kept his word, and Wagtail's life has improved significantly due to the knowledge he gained here."

Mmm... Soothing scritches. He relaxes further, getting into a comfortable position. "Hiro is the least resentful person I know besides my Shadow, and Crow..." His nose wrinkles a little. "I just know he and Joker have... ideas."

[gorobo]

Well, good for Wagtail, but Falcon's still not convinced this whole thing is a net positive. Just because one person's life improved doesn't mean the rest doesn't suffer. How is that fair? He holds back a growl. Fucking Igor, meddling with people who didn't ask for it.

Though Raven continues, and Falcon's nose wrinkles, cringing. "Please don't mention that." Gross. Gross gross humans. Eugh.

But Raven seems otherwise relaxed, his purring loud and happy, and Falcon can't help but relax himself.

"At least he's left me alone," he sighs, "if I got changed... I don't know if his guard dogs could contain me, come hell or high water."

[fogboundcrow]

"You'd have every right to unleash your full fury..." Mmm... So much lovely scritching. It's getting so comfortable that Raven lowers his head and rests his chin on his cute lil' paw hands.

[gorobo]

Oh god, that's adorable. Why the hell is Raven so adorable? This is... super weird. But for once, Falcon can't say he minds very much. He pets Raven's head, enthralled.

"They did promise," he says, after a moment. Not that that means much to him, but...

[fogboundcrow]

"Good. It'd be cruel for them to go back on such promises..." Mm... His paws flex and relax. Getting nice and cozy.

[gorobo]

Is Raven... kneading him? While it doesn't hurt, his sensors alert him to small sharp objects trying to penetrate his mesh. Ordinarily, he might react to that, but the thought of disturbing Raven when he seems so relaxed doesn't sit right with him.

"I'd hope you join me in my revolt, if that were the case."

[fogboundcrow]

"A little rebellion never hurt." He pauses. "Well, that's a lie. Most rebellions bring inherent violence and bloodshed, but they also bring with them sweeping change..."

For better or for worse. It depends.

Mm, this is nice, though. Cozy conversation on a comfortable lap. He even yawns, showing all those pointy teeth.

[gorobo]

Falcon can't help but chuckle at that.

"Isn't that the Phantom Thieves' whole thing? Rebelling against adults who ruin lives without consequence?"

He can't fault them for that; never has, not really. It's just, the way they go about it... it leaves an uncomfortable crackle in his wires, something like what he imagines human nausea to be. His hand twitches against Raven's furry ears momentarily, though he quickly smooths out the disturbed fur.

Hm.

He leans back against the bench, closing his eyes with a soft whirr of his fans.

[fogboundcrow]

"Well, I will be a Phantom Thief when I'm older. Why not get in some practice while I'm here?" Heh. He relaxes again, yawning once more. It's just so comfy...

The sound of the fans alone are almost enough to lull him to sleep.

[gorobo]

"You don't have to be just because Crow is," Falcon murmurs, "you're your own person."

And yes, technically Crow is Raven from the future, but... well, Falcon's feelings on Crow have been made clear time and time again. No need to reiterate them. That's not his point, anyway.

He blinks one eye open at the sound of the yawn; has scanners indicate Raven's metabolism is slowing down, like when you're about to go to sleep. Is he tired? Falcon wonders as he continues to pet behind his ear. Then again, cats do sleep around 16 hours in a day, so maybe it's just his more feline instincts.

[fogboundcrow]

"I believe the Phantom Thieves' cause to be a just one on the whole." Mmm... But this is nice. He blinks slowly. Sleepy eyes...

[gorobo]

"..." Falcon doesn't say anything in reply to that. It's not like completely disagrees, but he also doesn't fully agree. Even so...

Pet pet pet. Raven seems to be enjoying this, and Falcon can't say he isn't, so he continues to pet.

"... My scanners indicate that you're about to fall asleep."

[fogboundcrow]

"Oh." His ears perk up, eyes wide. "...Do you need me to move?"

But the pets are so nice, and Falcon is so warm...