[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

A new Ken reveals himself

[warped_ken_amada]

[On the evening of October 31st...]

Well. Observing had been amusing for a while, but it had started to grow boring. It was time for Ken to show himself.

Wasn't there supposed to be some kind of parade that night? A good opportunity to talk to several persons, then. The information he was bound to learn on this pocket dimension's inhabitants was sure to be valuable.

One could find this Ken looking around the party at his leisure. Maybe buying some food at this or that stand, or maybe watching the parade.

[fogboundcrow]

That's a new Ken. Interesting.

Raven's ears flick forward, and he makes his curious approach, nibbling on a stick of ikayaki. "I don't believe I've seen you here before."

He smells different from the other Kens. That's already a clear signifier.

[warped_ken_amada]

"Oh, hello there. You would be correct, I am rather new."

He extended his hand.

"I am Ken Amada. And you are?"

[fogboundcrow]

"Goro Akechi, though with so many of us, you can call me Raven." He accepts the offered hand. So far, so good.

Hopefully this Ken won't mind a little fluff.

[warped_ken_amada]

"So you are the Raven who made the information board. With everyone so transformed, it's a bit difficult to tell who's who. In any case, nice to meet you."

Ken has to admit, he never had to shake a cat-human hybrid hand before. It was novel.

[fogboundcrow]

"Yes, that has been a touch inconvenient. Nonetheless, the feeling is mutual." This Ken certainly carries himself with a different demeanor.

But perhaps that's to be expected, given the precedent with other people.

[warped_ken_amada]

"So, what are you up to?"

Great conversation opener, in his experience.

[fogboundcrow]

"Just enjoying the festivities, I suppose..." He certainly feels more forward in conversation, but that's not inherently a bad thing.

[warped_ken_amada]

"Anything in particular that you were doing before joining me?"

Come on, be a little more talkative here.

[fledglingcrow]

Jay thought for a moment that it was his ken, but then... well he didn't look exactly like him, his face didn't have the mark he had grown to like, and he didn't exactly look the same age.

With his small embarrassment of being a victim to the Halloween transformations, he spoke a simple, "oh! Hey there!"

[warped_ken_amada]

"Oh, hello. My name is Ken Amada. What's yours?"

Likely another variant of Akechi, younger than most. If he remembered the information from the board correctly, this one was likely to be Jay, but could also be Wagtail.

[fledglingcrow]

"Jay, at least here, back home I'm Goro Akechi, but that's what a lot of people here are so it's not very uncommon. You really came at an interesting time, we don't normally have all this fun stuff," he gestured to his ears.

[warped_ken_amada]

"So I've noticed. Do you like yours?"

[fledglingcrow]

"It took a while to figure out," He said a bit embarrassed, "but I did get to spend more time with someone I care about."

[warped_ken_amada]

"Oh, so you've made friends around here? How long have you been here?"

[fledglingcrow]

He paused to think about it. "Uh, a few months now." He said thinking a bit.

[warped_ken_amada]

"I see. What are you favorite things to do around here? I'm new, so I'd appreciate the advice."

[seekerofjustice]

"Hmm? Amada-san?"

The new Ken may spot someone approaching from out of the corner of his eye... A mostly transparent figure, that being one of the many versions of Goro Akechi.

"Ah, it seems I was correct. You're new here, aren't you? I hope the current state of affairs haven't been overwhelming you or otherwise disconcerting."

[warped_ken_amada]

Well, that's the first time someone here greets him by name. He supposes he shouldn't be too surprised, there are two other "Ken Amada" running around.

"I'm indeed new here! I'm Ken Amada, although I suppose you already knew that. Who might you be?"

[seekerofjustice]

"Ah, my apologies! I should have introduced myself to begin with... Please, call me Dove."

Dove can't help but get a slightly sheepish tinge to his smile as he says that, realizing his rudeness. He needs to remember that not everything is some mystery to be solved...

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Have have you been enjoying your time here? You've arrived during the Halloween celebration, so I do hope you'll forgive anything particularly surreal you may see... such as my current state, as an example."

He tilts his head a little as he says that, raising a hand to his chin. He seems to mean that in good humor, but there's a slight hint of embarrassment to his own situation.

[warped_ken_amada]

"Well, nice to meet you, Dove-san. You do look rather pale, but you're not the first person I've seen here, I'm used to it by now."

He is curious about one thing though.

"Do you know what caused these transformations?"

[seekerofjustice]

Dove can't help but get a tiny bit sheepish at the mention of his paleness. It's true, he does look pale... that is, when he's spotted.

"Ah, it must be another aspect of my transformation then. Being a spirit makes it rather difficult to see your reflection, as you can imagine, so I hadn't realized I was quite so pale."

But then the question of what caused the transformations arises, and Dove pauses.

"The transformations... Before I explain, I should make certain first; do you remember encountering an unusual man in a blue room when you first arrived here?"

[warped_ken_amada]

"I do know who Igor-san is. Are you saying he's the one responsible?"

Interesting. So the master of the Velvet Room is the one transforming people?

[seekerofjustice]

"In my time in the Velvet Room, that has been the case, yes. He seems to be doing it to encourage the people here to make bonds and interact with one another. Though I do admit I question how becoming a ghost would encourage it..."

He puts a finger to his chin, thinking on it slightly... before looking back at Ken with a polite smile.

"I'll admit, my own transformation has its positives and negatives. Certain things are convenient, but otherwise there's many inconveniences that counteract the few positives it has."

[warped_ken_amada]

"Well, it's not just you, I don't think I'm understanding either. Maybe it's to create a festive atmosphere for Halloween or something? But the method seems a little extreme."

But now his curiosity is piqued.

"How does being a ghost feel like?"