voidtreckerexpress | it's halloween, lo-ween, everybody!

Entry tags:

it's halloween, lo-ween, everybody!

Who: Everyone's Invited!
Where: Various decorated carriages!
When: Horseshoe 31.
What: Della is hosting a Halloween party! Come for treats, tricks, and trouble!
Warnings: N/A, will update it needed.

The room is dark…why aren’t the lights on? But as the doors fully open, a voice begins laughing darkly…

… although if you’ve ever heard the voice of Della Duck, you’ll recognize her immediately.

“Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange?”

Suddenly there’s a big THUD as someone drops from the ceiling, the lights flash on, and Della herself, dressed as a zombie – ripped apart clothes, fake blood here and there, drawn on scars - wiggles her fingers before laughing joyfully. “Happy Halloween, everybody! Let’s party!”

Tasty Treats

A big buffet table of candy and punch has been laid out! Mini chocolate bars and multi-colored lollipops, gummy worms and candy corn, all sorts of sweet and sour shenanigans, ghost-shaped cookies and mummy-looking muffins! There’s plenty to eat, with absolutely no healthy alternatives.

There are also small wrapped bags of candy with the letters “T.o.T” written on them. If someone tells you, “Trick or Treat!” you have to share your candy! Or keep it to yourself, you monster.

Haunted House

Thanks to Seto Kaiba’s projections, a neighboring carriage has been converted into a Haunted House! While it’s all a trick on the eyes, it gives the illusion that there are several floors of spookiness. Each floor has a different theme –

#1 Serial Seriousness – Every so often, a masked intruder pops out at you, with long claws or chainsaw, ready to give chase! Be careful, or you’ll be the next victim!

#2 Zombie Zaniness – Moans and groans of the undead can’t be unheard. Rotting arms will try to swipe at you through the floorboards!

#3 Ghostly Games – You can see through them, and they can see you too! Each mirror reflects a different dastardly demon!

#4 Deadly Doctors – In this hospital, it’s not the awful health insurance that’ll kill you! Beware the bloody nurses and their extra big needles!\

#5 Fishy Fears - … Wait, what? … Okay, this last floor was clearly designed by Della. It’s like Under the Sea, but with sharks and octopi and kraken - and Della insists this is the worst floor.

Feel free to have your characters braving the house, or trying to scare people within!

Dance Floor

If being haunted isn’t your thing, nothing wrong with getting your groove on! Ask DJ Della what kind of song you’d like to play, and she’s happy to put on the list, from a classic Monster Mash to something more somber and soulful for you slow-dancing-romantic-vampire-types.

Turnip Carving
… Look, they didn’t have pumpkins. Anyway, you’re encouraged to carve scary and silly faces in these veggies! There is a contest, but everyone will be a winner, from “Most Realistic” to “Most Depressing” !

Movie Mania
Kick back and relax – and be horrified – at the otherworldly horror films! Like the horrific monster mime, “That”, the relentless umpire-mask wearing killer, “Monday the 20th”, and the endless array of the undead, “Midmorning Of The Not Wholly Alive”!

Some of you awful people might be thinking of popping up and scaring the theater-goers and this is /winkwinknudgenudge/ totally not approved. /plausible deniability/

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
In one secluded, quiet, and verrry dark carriage, lit only by candles, here you are encouraged to tell the scariest stories you can think of! What eerie legends will you share from your world, or do you dare to make it up as you go along?

Make your own top-level, and happy haunting!

Also, if your character would like to dress up, costumes are available for this night only!

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Right? [ He'll play along! Always happy to do so! ] Whoever they are, this mystery friend of ours. Heh. [ Is Senku sneezing up a storm? Roland sure hopes so! ]

[ He quirks an eyebrow up at Gen, lips upturned in a smirk. ] Well, with your kind of style, I don't doubt that. But if I was speaking for myself, I wouldn't worry either. Trust me. [ Even if he did start popping out white hairs way too early. All part of the job. Anyway. He takes a glance at his table setup now up close and gestures to it with a careful wave of his hand. ]

What's this about card tricks and the future?

[ Grins ] Just keep taking care of your fabulous hair, my friend. You're well on your way there.

[ And then - his grin broadened. ]

Well, you've seen one of my tricks before, of course. I could pull another from my sleeve if you'd like.

Or, perhaps you'd be more interested in me seeing where your fortunes lay?

[ Wow, maybe he shouldn't have told Gen so much about how he valued his looks, huh!! But that's fine, he takes it all in stride, chuckling with a shake of his head. ]

I haven't even figured out your first. It keeps me up at night. Heh.

[ And while on a regular day, Roland would probably avoid anything to do with where his fortunes lay...maybe it's the atmosphere tonight that gets him to rethink that. ]

Okay then. Show me what you've got, Mr. Fortuneteller. [ Why not. Just for fun. ~~Not like he knows what the future holds for him anyway.~~ ]

Well, I can't exactly give my secrets away to you, can I, my friend?

[ He took out his personal deck of cards and began to shuffle it, before laying them out. Roland had seen this deck before - the hand-drawn art - but Gen didn't use the scientific cards for his trick before. ]

[ He lay out: Electromagnetism, Four of Clubs, Eight of Diamonds, the Queen of Diamonds, and the Ten of Diamonds. ]

Hmmm ... oh, this is uncanny, isn't it, my friend?

[ Roland keeps his eyes on the cards as he shuffles, then eventually drawn into. Blinks at the exclamation, unknowing. Plus, there was a card he didn't even recognize...

He was just full of surprises, this one. ]

What is it? What's uncanny? [ Roland peers at the set that's been pulled for him. No meaning jumping out just yet. ]

[ He tapped the first card, Electromagnetism, that he pulled first. ]

This card is to represent you.

Taking opposing forces, and marshaling them together for a singular entity, a single goal. In theory they oppose each other, but you gather them together. They'll pull you forward as you command them.

It shows your determination and willpower, your intrinsic command.

[ He hummed. ] And I did shuffle these cards.

Hm.

[ Well, that could just be quite general. This is how fortune tellers get you, after all. The rest of the work is because your mind starts connecting what applies to you and what doesn't...but it is...Roland would agree, uncanny. But then again, that same card Gen reveals is also a representation of Roland's greatest failure. ~~For now. Maybe,~~ ]

[ Roland masterfully diffuses this by smiling slightly at Gen, in a light joke. ] No need to lay it on thick for my benefit. I'm sure you say that to all your customers.

[ He crosses his arms, nods towards the table. ] What about the rest?

[ Gen chuckled at that. ]

Habit, my friend. But I do keep the cards for these readings pretty random, genuinely. It's more interesting to see what unfolds this way.

[ He tapped the next card, Four of Clubs. ]

This is what's currently motivating you - harmony, homecoming. You're making peace with the others on this train, my friend, and helping us feel more at home here.

[ And the next card, he tapped Eight of Diamonds ]

And this is your upcoming goal for the next mission - developing your skills and mastering them.

Really, instead of drawing these cards, I could've simply told you those things.

[ The more he listens, the more he wonders if Gen was pulling his leg. Was he actually a fortuneteller for real...? This was all chance? Or maybe the cards themselves had an arbitrary meaning, and Gen just knew enough about him to infer these things?

Regardless. It's gotten him quite amused. ]

I will say that I have been made to explore more skills. Hobbies, you could even call them. [ He stifles a low chuckle. ] Senku's been kind enough to work on my gun upgrade for me. I actually do need to practice with that, since it's new. [ Did the cards know that too? ]

All right. I'm ready to be blown away. You've been on the money so far, Master of Fate.

[ Last two reveals. ]

[ Clearly, Roland had never studied how fortune tellers ply their craft. ]

[ He gave him a smug, knowing smile in turn, not giving anything away. ]

Of course. My inner eye is infallible, after all.

Here is your obstacle - [ He tapped the Queen of Diamonds ] and here is your distant future. [ Tapped the Ten of Diamonds. ]

In this position, the queen represents a conflict between your balancing your work, and your leisure time. And I believe I'm not the only one who's noticed how you tend to overwork yourself, my friend.

But the ten of diamonds, that's long-term success and security - so I don't believe you have much to worry about. So long as you are mindful of that obstacle in your path, and don't let yourself burn out.

[ He peers even closer then, the cards committed to memory as Gen explains each meaning in detail. Of course the obvious was the Queen of Diamonds; and really, that's when the illusion truly breaks and Roland realizes Gen is just mining from what he already knows about Roland. Truly, anyone could have told him that, and he hears it often enough from Tidus and Inigo -

- but the last one, the Ten of Diamonds.

Ten of Diamonds. Ten of Diamonds. ]

Hm.

[ He almost reaches out to touch the said card, but hesitates when he's close to the edge of the card. Something about Gen's reading on it turns him slightly fixated, eyes a little too focused on the Ten of Diamonds...

Whatever it is that goes through his mind then, passes when he blinks. Roland retracts his hand and offers Gen a smile that could be interpreted as cheeky, as if that didn't happen at all. Back to normal. ]

Listen, message received loud and clear. I'll do better to remember we have three meals a day. Now, when am I getting my real fortune told? Heh. [ Which is clearly just a jest, made obvious with a stifled chuckle. ]

[ He thought maybe they were starting to become friends - so he didn't simply laugh and play along, letting Roland hide behind that clear obfuscation. ]

[ Gen picked up the ten of diamonds and twirled it in his fingers. ]

It appears I struck closer to home than I'd meant?

[ His expression drops somewhat, bordering between stoicism and thoughtfulness. Eyes that catch the twirling card in Gen's fingers, one he'll remember for a while yet. Ten of Diamonds. ]

...You could say that. [ Roland's been caught, that much is certain, so he doesn't pretend anymore. He'll walk over and lean his back against the closest wall by Gen, arms crossed. ] It's a good reminder to have. That even though the rest of my fortune is telling me to slow down, I can't stop no matter what.

[ Look at what's at stake, after all. It's a silly fortune telling game but nevertheless. It's enough for Roland to take it as it is; that his work is far from over. If he wants success, long term security, well. It's going to be up to him. ]

True enough, but ... [ Gen snapped his finger in one hand, backpalming the card in the other to make it disappear. ]

... Not stopping and giving up, doesn't mean you can't pause or set a healthy pace.

The biggest challenge, when you've got a marathon instead of a race, is reminding yourself to save your energy for when you need it most.

[ His smile was sharp. ] So I won't let you burn yourself out, my friend.

[ He thinks nothing of the card trick anymore, knowing Gen was just that good with sleight of hand. Instead, he lets a heavy silence fall like a blanket over him, listening to what he's told though none of it is new. From his own family, to his advisors, to his king and even here on the train...It's a hard pill for him to swallow.

For now though, he just offers a smile, more genuine this time, no longer feigning how he feels. He's thankful that despite the short time they've known each other, Gen was comfortable enough to say that to him. ]

Thanks. I guess I should be scared. After all, you've got tons of practice watching over Senku by now, right? [ And he doesn't doubt that Senku works just as hard, if not harder. They both spoke of one another highly, so he can tell just by that. ] At any rate...I appreciate it. I hope to make your future prediction a reality. In time.

What, scared? Of me? I'm pretty harmless, Roland, you should know that.

[ Such an innocent smile. ]

And, you're very welcome. I'm sure you're stubborn enough to see your good fortunes come true. In the end ...

[ He shrugged a little. ]

My cards don't see the future. They tell a story about how people can bring about the futures they want to have. The actual power is in their hands.

[ He truly, truly doubts that. Gen's got that look, and he's too good at hiding what he really means. It's impressive - but no less frightening when he thinks about such potential. In another life, Gen would have been a good teammate to have in his campaign trail, but he'll try not to think about that for now. ]

[ He takes to looking at his own hands when Gen mentions it. Younger, smoother, but no less calloused from the work, this time holding to a sword rather than the pen which signs bills and laws to life. ]

Yeah. I couldn't have put it better myself.

[ Roland closes his hands and tucks them back against his chest, crossed in ease. He tilts his head slightly at Gen, eying the cards. ] What about you? Are you allowed to tell your own fortune or is that strictly against magic code? Heh.

My own fortune? Ah, I do that all the time.

[ He pulled the ace of spades from his sleeve. ]

If you don't mind me choosing ahead of time the card I'll use to represent myself.

[ Gen handed Roland his deck. ]

Please, shuffle them - this way, you know I'm not stacking the deck and cheating on my own fortune.

Edited 2020-11-26 02:11 (UTC)

[ The Ace of Spades? Roland takes the deck of cards and shuffles it nicely, an accordion shuffle then collapsing at the middle. ]

Why'd you pick that one out?

[ He pulls out four cards then, just as Gen did for him: the Two of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Seven of Spades, and King of Clubs. ]

Here we go. Let's see if I've got the knack for it too. Anything?

"It's my calling card, my friend!" Gen told him with a little grin. "I used it as my signature for all my performances."

"But also ... it represents someone who's used to making great breakthroughs, someone successful, someone who's filled with new ideas. And maybe that's aspirational, but that's certainly the person I try to be."

He hummed, as he looked at the array.

"So, what motivates me here, is partnerships and a mutual drive and respect for the person I admire most. Bang-on, you would definitely accuse me of stacking the deck if you hadn't drawn that card yourself."

"Now my goal for the next mission? New opportunities! Abundance! In other words - resources. Senku-chan needs ever more supplies for his projects, and I am loathe for him to become bored. It's a solid goal."

"My obstacle, oh. That's ominous. Betrayal. Deception. So, that is something to look out for. Perhaps something isn't what it seems, or someone can't be trusted. Either way, I know I'll need to be on my guard."

"But, something to be hopeful for in my future ... a natural-born leader? Someone with a great and clear vision of his own projects, someone of great character?"

Gen's smile was playful. "Well. He is in my future. But I didn't need any cards to tell me that. Isn't that always the case, my friend?"

"I should hope to see you in a performance one day. I knew you've got that star quality about you. Heh."

He has to say, though it's a sentiment mixed with the idea that Gen not only has the charisma to be on stage...but the wily, sly nature of a real deal thespian too. With regards to the cards, however, he's smiling quite wide. Was this the magic all along?

"Well now. Looks like I've got a new future ahead of me after all." He returns the cards to the deck and shuffles it back into an accordion, tapping the edges with the sides of his wrist. Roland is genuinely pleased that he somehow picked cards which Gen might have found accurate to some degree...with Senku at the orbit. Naturally, as he would have assumed no other.

"Getting all that right, I could be helping you out with fortune telling. Looking for an assistant, maybe? It's a retirement plan contender."

"Why, thank you!" Gen said, giving him a little bow. "I'm not sure if I can pull of anything quite like what I did back home, before everything changed for us, but it'll be a fun challenge."

But the offer had Gen grinning wide, looking crafty. His eyes twinkled, and he tapped his chin, thinking about that. "Oh. I used to perform strictly alone, but that was because I was loathe to give up any of my secrets. On the other hand ... perhaps you would make a useful assistant ..."

Edited 2020-12-04 16:49 (UTC)

"Uh oh. What a look you've got there, Gen." He answers casually, playing along well. "All I ask is to take it easy on the newbie, heh. But I can tell you I'm a fast learner, and your magician's secrets are safe with me."

Which really is just code for, Roland would love to help you out sometime in the future. It already sounds fun!

Gen's smug grin in turn hid his deep skepticism, his natural distrust for those who wanted to learn his magic. He liked Roland. He really did. He'd trust him with their plans, he knew Senku would lean on him if needed. So.

Was it really such a terrible thing, to have him assist in something so silly?

(Something so fundamental to Gen?)

"I'll be gentle, my friend, I would promise that," Gen winked. "We'll see when it comes on our schedule, however ... we have some more pressing projects."

"Pressing projects? Sounds important. Heh. But keep it in mind. You know I'm happy to help friends out when I can." He won't pry, knowing these two had their own ways of working; and they were neither scared nor hesitant to ask for the muscle in case it was needed. Between the two of them, they had talent he wanted to support, to see flourish on the train for the time they were here.

"Well, don't let me keep you from more customers. Fortunes need to be read, tales need to be told. You know the drill."

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fun_thementalist - 2020-12-13 02:59 (UTC) - Expand

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it's halloween, lo-ween, everybody!

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First card the random tarot generator gave me was Chariot so whelp.

XD gotta figure out his tarot card myself!

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